A flicker of panic and embarrassment crossed Xin Yu's clear black eyes.
She leaned back, trying to avoid Qiu Zhi's sudden closeness.
"W-what are you doing?" Just as Xin Yu felt she was about to collapse, she saw Qiu Zhi's cherry-red lips move up and down.
"You're not out of your mind."
Huh?
How could he be so sure?
"Really...don't we need to get checked?" Xin Yu pushed him with her small hand. Did she need to talk like that? Bullying the younger one!
"No." He didn't move. "You're just stupid."
His tone was vicious.
Xin Yu was stunned for a moment before she reacted, slapping Qiu Zhi on the shoulder. "You're the stupid one!"
She had asked him so earnestly, and he was mocking her in return! "Not stupid, but dumb?" Qiu Zhi straightened up, asking earnestly, his peach blossom eyes flashing with concern. Before Xin Yu could answer, he nodded to himself, "Indeed dumb, going around telling everyone you're sick."
Xin Yu's lips twitched with anger. "Qiu Zhi! I'm asking, do you want everyone to avoid seeking medical help? Wouldn't you starve to death then?!"
"Whether I die poor or rich, it's none of your business." He just didn't want to see her in the hospital!
Xin Yu frowned tightly. Although furious, she sensed something was wrong with his words and chased after him. "Qiu Zhi, tell me the truth, did Mu Yichuan not pay you for my hospital stays? If not, I'll..." pay you now.
Why did he look at her like she wanted to devour him? Had she said something wrong?
Isn't paying back debts a matter of course?
"Yeah! Ninth Brother forgot to pay the bill!" Qiu Zhi was so annoyed by Xin Yu's thought process that his teeth itched. He grabbed her arm with one hand. "Then pay it back now!"
"How...how much?"
These days, isn't it the debtor who's in charge? Obviously, she wasn't. Her heart trembled.
"No cash, card payment—"
"WeChat transfer?" Xin Yu interrupted Qiu Zhi, only to see his expression darken further.
"No!" he said firmly. "Pay back with your bare strength."
What...what does this mean?
"From now on, all the cleaning work in this hospital will be handed over to—" Before she could finish the word "you," Xin Yu shook off Qiu Zhi and rushed out of Zhong'ao Hospital.
Good heavens!
That Qiu Zhi guy is the one who's out of his mind!
She would never be a cleaner...
Three days later.
"Wow, Yuanzi, I didn't even notice, you've lost so much weight!" Xin Yu grabbed Cheng Yuan's hand, looking her up and down.
"Pfft," Cheng Yuan reached out and tapped Xin Yu's head. "Ayu, you're talking nonsense! Look at my belly!"
"Oh, everyone has one!" Xin Yu said with a grin.
"Ayu doesn't!" Cheng Yuan looked her over seriously, clicking her tongue in admiration. "Your figure is so perfect! It's just that the skirt is too long. If it were above the knee, your long, white legs would be even more beautiful!"
"I wouldn't dare," Xin Yu pouted, looking at her friend in her blue and yellow A-line skirt. "Our Yuanzi is definitely a top beauty in the slightly chubby category now."
"Stop teasing me," Cheng Yuan said, comparing herself to Xin Yu, "Oh dear, shouldn't we hurry downstairs?"
Xin Yu checked the time. "Let's go, Qiu Zhi is probably already here."
When the two went downstairs hand in hand, Qiu Zhi was talking to Old Master Mu. He had thought he would have to explain things properly, but unexpectedly, Old Master Mu was quite agreeable.
"It would be good to take Xinyu out to meet people," Old Master Mu pondered. "That way, when I host a banquet for her in a while, she won't feel too unfamiliar."
Qiu Zhi paused. Old Master Mu really cared about Xinyu!
"Grandpa," Xinyu called out, and Qiu Zhi looked over with him.
Both of them were startled, a look of amazement flashing in their eyes. Qiu Zhi tilted his head slightly and touched his nose.
He stood up and walked to her and Cheng Yuan's side. "Is everything ready? Can we go?"
Xinyu nodded, glancing at herself. Cheng Yuan hadn't said there was a problem, so why did Qiu Zhi seem so awkward?
"Xinyu, have fun. Tell Grandpa when you get back." Old Master Mu also stood up and slowly strolled over.
Xinyu quickly reached out to help Old Master Mu. "Grandpa, I will."
The two interacted very naturally, and Xinyu found it amazing how they seemed to have become so familiar in just a few days.
You see, back when she was with Mu Yichuan, she would occasionally think of Old Master Mu and feel he would dislike her!
"Not bad, I think Old Master Mu likes you quite a bit!" Qiu Zhi said as soon as they got in the car.
Xin Yu wrinkled her nose, raised an eyebrow, and met his gaze in the rearview mirror. "You knew all along, didn't you?"
"What?" Qiu Zhi stopped looking at her, pretending to focus intently on the road ahead. This little girl was clever enough!
Even he was suspicious!
Seeing him laugh it off, Xin Yu didn't dwell on it. She couldn't let him drive!
She reached into her bag and took out a small card, stroking the phoenix-and-iris design on it.
"Ayu," Cheng Yuan called softly. She looked at her friend's drawing, even more exquisite than the one in Chairman Cheng's room, seemingly imbued with a touch of life, but…
Cheng Yuan remembered accompanying Xin Yu to the three major jewelry stores in the capital two days ago, wanting to have a ring remade, but no one agreed to help.
"Good heavens, this design is too intricate, I can't make it."
"Ugh, miss, are you here to ruin the brand? You want me to engrave this design on such a small surface as a ring?!"
Everyone reacted the same way, which was quite a blow to Xin Yu.
She didn't know where Mu Yichuan had made the ring he gave her before, and now she wanted to make it, but she couldn't!
However, she liked the phoenix holding an iris; the design gave her a strange strength and made her feel at ease.
But…
She couldn't very well go up to Mu Yichuan and say—Mu Yichuan, give me another ring, could she?
That would be too embarrassing!
It would make her seem like she was desperate to get married!
"Ayu," Cheng Yuan nudged her friend, who was lost in thought, "Your phone is ringing."
"Ah… Hello, Mu Yichuan?!"
"What's wrong? Why are you making such a fuss?" He was a little annoyed, as if she had something to hide. "No, nothing!" Xin Yu stuck out her tongue. She dared not say she was thinking of him... how to give him the ring. "Was everything alright over there today? Is your back okay?"
Although Xin Yu had asked this every night during their phone calls these past few days, Mu Yichuan still felt pleased. He truly enjoyed Xin Yu's concern.
"Mm."
"By the way, I have some good news for you. Yuanzi, Qiu Zhi, and I are going to a banquet on a luxury cruise ship!"
Hearing her excited voice, Mu Yichuan was instead annoyed. "You like cruise ships?"
She had never told him!
"Yeah, I like them. I've never been on one." Xin Yu and Cheng Yuan exchanged a knowing glance and smiled knowingly.
Mu Yichuan, however, glared at her. "I have a private cruise ship, and I've never heard you say you wanted to go on one."
"What!" Xin Yu exclaimed again. "You have a private cruise ship?"
She had never heard of that!
"..." Mu Yichuan really wanted to give Xin Yu a good talking-to. "What doesn't Ninth Brother have!" Qiu Zhi added sarcastically. "Private cruise ships, yachts, airplanes, islands... what do you want to experience?"
"I've never known," Xin Yu murmured. No, to be precise, she had never thought about it.
But now, thinking about it, who is Mu Yichuan?
The new generation heir of the Mu family!
The renowned Ninth Master!
"I'll be back soon," Mu Yichuan's deep, magnetic voice came again.
"Um, then..." Xin Yu paused, a little embarrassed.
"Then what?"
"Could you bring something back from S country for me?" Although she had said it, Xin Yu still felt it wasn't appropriate, so she added, "If it's inconvenient, or if you're not feeling well, then forget it."
"Don't treat yourself like an outsider," he chuckled.
Just as Xin Yu was about to speak, Mu Yichuan's voice came through again, "How many times have you been inside me?"
"...Mu Yichuan!" Xin Yu yelled, quickly moving to the side. If Cheng Yuan heard this, she'd be utterly humiliated.
"I misspoke," he said politely, "It was inside you."
"..." Xin Yu almost hung up, but thinking of the consequences, she held back and quickly changed the subject, "Could you bring me back some handicrafts from Country S? Preferably those with ethnic or religious characteristics."
"A new business opportunity?"
Xin Yu's eyes widened in surprise. How did Mu Yichuan know? Did Mu Yi'ai tell him after the meeting that day?
Otherwise, how would he know? No one's been following her lately!
"Hmm? No, just looking." Xin Yu dismissed it. It was too early a thought; it was best not to bring it up, in case it didn't work out.
"Okay."
After hanging up with Mu Yichuan, they arrived at the banquet venue shortly after and boarded the cruise ship.
Xin Yu and Cheng Yuan followed behind Qiu Zhi, secretly observing the ship's layout and the men and women attending the banquet.
"Wow!" Cheng Yuan exclaimed, eyes wide. "It's so big here! The men are so handsome, and the women are so beautiful!"
"..." Xin Yu blinked twice, then chuckled. "Can we omit the last part? Just look at the handsome men!"
The two chatted casually for a while, until Qiu Zhi finally couldn't help but turn around and glare at Xin Yu. "You still want to experience this?"
"What!" Xin Yu blushed. "Can't I even look at people standing there? Don't tell me you didn't look at the beauties!"
She didn't believe it!
However, Qiu Zhi really didn't look anymore. Not only did he never have that thought, but today, looking around the entire cruise ship, there was probably no one more beautiful than Xin Yu.
At least, that's what Qiu Zhi thought. He'd been convinced of it ever since he saw her at the Mu family's old mansion.
Of course, everyone else thought so too. From the moment Xin Yu entered, almost everyone's eyes had lingered on her, but she hadn't paid any attention.
"Junior Sister Xin Yu."
Hearing the voice, Xin Yu paused, turned around, and sure enough, it was Cheng Che.
She hadn't expected him to be here too. Had the host invited him as well?
"Senior Brother Cheng Che," Xin Yu greeted politely.
"You came with Dr. Qiu?" he asked, nodding politely to Qiu Zhi.
"Yes." Xin Yu didn't say much, feeling uneasy. Perhaps it was the influence of Cheng Yao lately, but seeing Cheng Che this time, she felt his blue eyes had changed.
It seemed there was a darkness hidden beneath his eyes…