Xie Lin finally understood. He stared blankly at Huo Shiqing and said, "Shiqing, you really care about Mu Beiyin."
After a pause, he made a straightforward promise: "I won't bring this up again. As a friend to both of you, if she really is that person, I'll stay neutral and help neither side."
Huo Shiqing gave a slight nod.
Just then, Xie Lin's phone rang.
He raised an eyebrow. "Looks like she's settled things on her end... It's time for me to make an appearance!"
On the other side—
Mu Beiyin followed Mu Qianrou to see her "new room."
Mu Qianrou led her to a side hall on the basement level. After turning a few corners, they arrived at a door.
In a typical villa, the first floor would be the living room, with studies and the master bedroom on the second and third floors.
The basement usually housed the home theater or servants' quarters.
By assigning her a room in the basement, Mu Qianrou's intentions were crystal clear.
Mu Beiyin narrowed her eyes. She had assumed Mu Qianrou and Lin Ru would at least put on an act. Yet even when they needed her, they dared to give her the basement? Were they handing her leverage on a silver platter?
Two fools.
Mu Qianrou put on a face of sisterly concern. "Sister, this is the best empty room in the house. You'll stay here, okay?"
The entire room reeked of mold.
Mu Qianrou looked smug as she stared at Mu Beiyin.
So what if she got close to Xie Lin? She was the true heiress of the Mu family. Mu Beiyin, that little bastard, was only fit to sleep in the basement!
Mu Beiyin glanced around. "The best room?"
"Yes," Mu Qianrou said, biting her lip with a face of forced tolerance. "All the rooms in the house are already occupied. After all, you haven't been home for the past ten years. This servant room is the only one left."
"If you like it, I'll have your luggage moved in now. But then again, you're so poor you probably don't have much luggage, do you?"
Mu Beiyin let out a light laugh.
Was Mu Qianrou trying to humiliate her? Did she really think she was doing her a favor?
Mu Beiyin looked around and suddenly asked curiously, "If my room is in the basement, then where do you sleep, sister?"
Mu Qianrou couldn't help but boast, "I live in the master bedroom on the second floor—it's over 300 square meters! Mom and Dad love me so much, they knocked out several guest rooms to make me a walk-in closet. So now the entire second floor is mine."
"Sister, don't feel upset. They only treat me better because I've been with them all these years."
As soon as she finished, she eagerly watched Mu Beiyin's face, expecting to see jealousy.
But Mu Beiyin only gave a simple "Oh," nodded, and then commented thoughtfully:
"Although I've been away for ten years, I remember Chairman Mu's taste wasn't this bad. But after marrying Lin Ru, even his aesthetic has gone off the rails."
"Maybe that's just the influence of mistresses. After all, decent people usually wouldn't fall for one."
Mu Qianrou nearly exploded with rage. She was clearly talking about the room—what nonsense was Mu Beiyin spouting!?
"Sister, don't be so passive-aggressive. If you're jealous of me and my mom, just say so. Why drag Dad into it?"
Mu Beiyin interrupted with a blink and asked innocently, "I'm just commenting on Chairman Mu's taste. Why are you so worked up?"
"This villa belonged to my mother. So technically, I'm the only rightful owner now."
"If Chairman Mu arranged for the owner to live in the basement, that must mean he thinks the basement is the best place to be."
"If he prefers the cramped, musty basement over the spacious upper floors, then clearly his taste is... rather unique."
"Sigh, he used to be a normal person. But after marrying Lin Ru, he's completely lost it. Is something wrong with his brain? Maybe he needs to see a doctor."
Mu Qianrou choked: "!"
What the hell was she even talking about!?
"Dad's perfectly fine! He doesn't like the basement. He lives upstairs! Sister, are you making things up on purpose?"
"Oh, so Chairman Mu, Lin Ru, and you all live upstairs in the master bedrooms."
Mu Beiyin turned to her, smiling faintly. "Then why is the owner of this villa being put in the basement?"
The room instantly fell silent.
Only Mu Beiyin's voice echoed softly.
"You, an illegitimate child, sleep in a 300-square-meter master suite. But I, the rightful heiress, am expected to sleep in the basement. Sister, you and Lin Ru are truly shameless."
The servants bustling nearby all lowered their heads, afraid to speak.
—Wasn't it true? The eldest miss was the daughter of the first wife, so she'd been neglected.
But even so, treating her like a servant? That mistress really went too far!
Mu Beiyin finished speaking and walked straight upstairs without looking back.
Mu Qianrou was fuming, biting her lip hard. But when she realized what was happening, she panicked and rushed after her.
What was Mu Beiyin trying to do?! A country bumpkin like her should feel grateful to sleep in the basement!
Was she trying to fight her for the room?
Within a minute, Mu Beiyin reached the second floor of the villa.
The lighting was excellent, the rooms spacious and bright—a world apart from the basement.
She looked at Mu Qianrou's bedroom: floor-to-ceiling windows, a luxurious bed, rows of walk-in closets—even the carpet beneath her feet cost six figures.
Everything in the room screamed that Mu Qianrou was the real princess of the Mu family, living a life of privilege.
Mu Qianrou finally caught up, panting and gritting her teeth. "Sister, could you stop making a scene? There really aren't any extra rooms up here…"
Mu Beiyin nodded. "I know."
Mu Qianrou was about to explode. "If you know, then why—"
"I don't want another room. I want yours," Mu Beiyin said calmly. "I'm giving you half an hour. Move out."
Mu Qianrou looked as if she'd been struck by lightning. She couldn't help raising her voice. "What did you say—"
Mu Beiyin enunciated clearly, "I said, I want your room. Don't you understand?"
"Sister, you…" Mu Qianrou's eyes welled up with tears, spilling down her cheeks.
"What's going on?" Mu Yaohui and Lin Ru came upstairs upon hearing the commotion.
Seeing Mu Qianrou's teary eyes, Lin Ru instantly flew into a rage. She shoved Mu Beiyin hard and snapped:
"Are you done yet?! Can't you stop bullying Qianrou for even a day!?"
Mu Beiyin asked leisurely, "Which of your eyes saw me bullying her, Ms. Lin?"
Lin Ru nearly exploded, "If you weren't bullying her, why is Qianrou crying!?"
Mu Qianrou threw herself into Lin Ru's arms, sobbing, "Wuwuwu… it's not that. Sister just didn't like the room I arranged for her… She said she wants my room and told me to move out… Mom, Sister really didn't bully me…"
Mu Yaohui scowled. "Why are you trying to steal Qianrou's room!?"
Mu Beiyin clicked her tongue. She had to admit—Mu Qianrou's act as a fragile, innocent flower was pretty convincing.
With just a few words, she'd painted herself as the pitiful victim.
Mu Beiyin asked flatly, "Dad, are you sure you won't let me have Mu Qianrou's room?"