Xin Yu was so startled she got goosebumps!
But a strong sense of curiosity also surged within her!
After all, she was studying architectural design!
Xin Yu knew all too well the struggle between wanting to turn her head to look and then hesitating.
A moment later, she heard a muffled chuckle, followed by a light tap on the forehead. "Alright, if you don't want to look, then forget it."
"Hey..." Xin Yu quickly turned her head, expecting Mu Yichuan to sit back down, but instead saw him sitting calmly beside her, long fingers holding a pen, his dark eyes sparkling.
"You're so annoying." She pouted, her gaze finally landing on the design in his hand. "Is it really okay for me to look?"
"Yes."
Having received an affirmative answer, Xin Yu sat up straight, craning her neck to look intently. Mu Yichuan wrapped his arms around her from the side, enjoying her charming yet serious expression.
"The capital is rebuilding a stadium?" Xin Yu asked, pointing to the blueprints. "Where are they planning to build it? I think this spiral structure is more suitable for emerging cities."
"No wonder Professor Dong likes you so much," Mu Yichuan raised an eyebrow. "Good comment."
Tch!
Xin Yu glared at him, clearly unhappy with his change of topic!
"Um..." she cautiously pointed to the confidential envelope beside her. "This isn't related to the architectural design competition, is it?"
Does he already have an entry?
"No," Mu Yichuan's voice was low and husky as he casually put the design back. "Don't worry."
Huh? Xin Yu didn't understand what he meant.
"If anyone tries to pull strings through me," he placed his hand on Xin Yu's head, speaking seriously, "only you will succeed."
"..." Xin Yu pouted. "I won't pull strings! I'll succeed just the same!"
Mu Yichuan chuckled. This little girl is quite confident! "Okay, after we get back from Taipei tomorrow, we'll start designing the competition, my teaching assistant."
"Do you have any good ideas yet?" Xin Yu hadn't had a chance to think about anything these past few days.
Mu Yichuan stared intently at her, leaning closer. "Usually, this time is just for thinking about you."
…!
Xin Yu was stunned for a moment before realizing that he had reverted to his shameless nature!
Fortunately, he still had some conscience; aside from talking, he didn't do anything substantial.
The next day, when the two left the hospital for Taipei, Xin Yu felt extremely uneasy, whether it was because of the gloomy weather or something else.
She tilted her head to look out the window. "I wonder if the weather in Taipei is better than in the capital?"
"Whether it is or not, it won't affect our date." Mu Yichuan drove leisurely from the driver's seat.
Xin Yu turned back to look at him. So that's why they didn't need a driver.
She couldn't help but blush, her mood brightening from gloomy to sunny.
"You really want to beat me that badly?" Xin Yu blinked her clear eyes. "Have you never lost a game since you were little?"
"I don't remember." Mu Yichuan didn't look at her, only at the road ahead.
"Hmph," Xin Yu scoffed.
"Don't remember? I bet you're just too embarrassed to say. Maybe you've been using your bullying tactics to suppress me since I was little..."
Suddenly, he gave her a cold look.
Startled, Xin Yu shrank back, immediately falling silent, but inwardly she was unconvinced. See? She was right.
"Um... drive properly." She glared at him. This man was so abnormal; just a moment ago he was giving her murderous looks, and now he's showering her with tender kisses.
"Stay put." Mu Yichuan sat up straight and continued driving. This little girl always did things that made him unable to resist, without even realizing it.
Xin Yu didn't dare move again, even her eyes were downcast. She truly didn't understand why she was being so disobedient. Seeing the scenery outside both strange and familiar, she exhaled a soft breath, the dream replaying in her mind.
"Mu Yichuan—"
"If you don't know your name, don't speak."
Xin Yu was inexplicably rebuffed, glaring at him with barely suppressed anger. "I'm talking about serious matters."
That stingy little devil who stays silent!
"B-husband—"
"Not bad, I thought you only knew how to remove the 'Mu' from your name." Mu Yichuan glanced at Xin Yu, in a good mood.
She'd fallen for his trap again…
After taking several deep breaths, Xin Yu composed herself and said seriously, "I really have something serious to say, please don't interrupt me, okay?"
"Where are we going first?"
"Oh," Xin Yu looked around, "The suburban park in Beishi."
Screech, the car screeched to a halt at the roadside.
Mu Yichuan's brow furrowed indifferently as he coldly gazed at her, his voice as icy as unyielding ice. "What are you going there for!"
Xin Yu concealed the shock in her eyes. She instinctively felt that Mu Yichuan knew everything about her, but did this mean there truly was a past between her and Liu Shuihan?
"Speak," he asked coldly, a stark contrast to his previous demeanor.
"I just wanted to take a look," Xin Yu replied, her eyes clear and pure, untainted by any impurity, just like her heart.
Ever since her first dream, she had been questioning herself. Even though she was curious and shocked by that past, she felt nothing for Liu Shuihan.
Moreover, she and Mu Yichuan had already been intimate. Coming here now was simply to confirm that lingering doubt in her heart.
"You've seen it, so what?" He tightened his jaw, his voice deepening, like the weather outside, as if a storm was brewing.
"..." Xin Yu's cherry lips trembled slightly, unsure how to answer.
"So what if you remember?"
Xin Yu's eyes widened in shock, her body stiffening as she stared at Mu Yichuan. What had he said?!
She really had amnesia?
How could that be! Had Heaven simply resolved the mystery without her having to look?!
"What if I told you you'd never remember?"
Xin Yu felt her heart pound wildly, her body trembling like a leaf, as if completely out of her control. "Mu... Mu Yichuan, what do you mean?!"
She managed to utter these words, staring at the cold, arrogant, and incomparably handsome face before her. "What do you mean by never remembering?"
Mu Yichuan's icy pupils contracted. He ignored Xin Yu, started the car, and sped off.
Less than ten minutes later, they arrived at the North City Suburban Park. Meanwhile, the dark clouds in the sky pressed down lower and lower, mirroring the oppressive atmosphere inside the car.
"Get out." His voice was calm, but it couldn't hide the turbulent glint in his eyes.
Xin Yu looked out the car window at the park, a place utterly unfamiliar, and a flicker of panic crossed her eyes.
In this secluded place, she was terrified that the moment she got out of the car, Mu Yichuan would drive off at breakneck speed.
"Didn't you want to reminisce?" he sneered, his tone unfriendly. "Get out."
Xin Yu glanced at him, seeing the increasingly palpable, surging anger in his deep black eyes. Her hand trembled violently, gripping her skirt tightly.
Bang.
They stared at each other for a moment, then Mu Yichuan kicked open the car door and got out.
Xin Yu stared blankly at his furious back, then quickly got out to chase after him. "Hey, Mu Yichuan!"
Wouldn't it be better not to be alone in a place like this?
Knowing the little girl was chasing him, he quickened his pace, but no matter how fast he walked, Mu Yichuan knew he couldn't control his emotions.
It was a feeling he'd never experienced before—jealousy, and panic…
Why was this happening?
He couldn't explain it himself; it was as if a veil had been drawn over his heart, obscuring his true nature.
He shouldn't have harbored such deep feelings for Xin Yu, yet in just over two months, he was like an addict, hopelessly trapped.
Thump!
He stopped.
She bumped into him hard.
"Ugh…" Why did you stop without saying a word!
Mu Yichuan gripped Xin Yu's arms tightly, his gaze dark and menacing as he spoke, each word distinct, "With me, you can only accept unconditionally!"
She frowned, confused. "Accept what unconditionally?"
"Everything." His gaze was chilling, radiating an aura of dominance that sent shivers down her spine.
"First of all, I don't know what you're talking about! Secondly, I don't know why you seem to know more about my past than I do!" Xin Yu looked fearlessly at Mu Yichuan. "Finally, I want to tell you that, no matter what, I'm not a puppet!"
His dark eyes narrowed slightly, his icy white fingertips tracing Xin Yu's cheek, revealing no emotion, yet inexplicably sending chills down her spine.
"Ayu."
"Mu Yichuan!" Xin Yu shouted, "You—you can't do anything foolish! Wasn't there a bet? Didn't you say you were about to win?!"
She reminded him, he clearly held two agreements binding her tightly, why was he so angry!
It was as if he wanted to devour her!
Xin Yu slightly shrank her neck, her dark eyes darting around, glancing at her surroundings. What she saw shocked her.
This… was the lakeside from her dream!
She turned and walked towards the slope, where she had half-reclined, talking to… Liu Shuihan, asking him why he was leaving? Back then, she was reluctant to part, but six or seven years had passed, and now her heart was lost in the past.
"Mu Yichuan?" Xin Yu looked at the back of the man sitting on the slope, facing the lake…
Her heart skipped a beat!
Xin Yu trembled, her heart pounding uncontrollably, and she turned her head away in a panic.
But she saw a dark shadow flash in the woods not far away.
"Mu…Mu Yichuan!" Xin Yu rushed over and grabbed his arm. "It's going to rain, let's go back!"
He glanced absently at the anxious girl beside him, then quickly regained his composure.
With a leap, he pulled Xin Yu and ran.
She dared not think further, only focusing her mind, not wanting to hold him back.
"Ah!" Just what she feared most had come to pass!
They were going too fast; Xin Yu couldn't keep up and fell flat on her face.
"Don't worry, I'm here." Mu Yichuan helped Xin Yu up, his face grave, but he remained calm and composed.
She didn't dare look back, but after running a few steps, she gasped, "Let go, I can run myself, my ring is going to fall off."
But he didn't let go.
He just held her hand tightly and ran towards the car.
"Mu Yichuan, what's wrong with you!"
Seeing him bracing himself against the car with one hand and holding his head with the other, Xin Yu was shocked. Could he be…
Drugged?
That was her first thought.
Mu Yichuan reached out and pulled Xin Yu into his arms, opened the car door, and shoved her inside.
Bang!
Xin Yu's head buzzed, her mind went blank!
She heard… a gunshot…