Xin Yu looked at Mu Yi'ai with a conflicted expression, unsure how to answer.
After a moment of stalemate, she looked up at Mu Yichuan. He seemed slightly better than before, but his expression remained cold and stern.
"Are you going to tell me or not?!" Mu Yi'ai grabbed Xin Yu angrily, her cat-like eyes glaring.
"I'll send you to America."
"What?!" Mu Yi'ai was shocked, her eyes filled with disbelief. She stood there stunned for a moment before turning and running away.
"Hey, where are you going?" Xin Yu tried to chase after her, but Mu Yichuan stopped her. "Will she…will she be alright?"
If she went to challenge Nan Juechen again, it would be a disaster.
"Why haven't I seen you so concerned about me?" Mu Yichuan raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes gleaming.
Xin Yu pouted slightly, remaining silent. Did he need her concern? Seeing him stand there without speaking, she had no choice but to change the subject. "Didn't we say we were going down for tea?"
Mu Yichuan wrapped his long arm around Xin Yu, protecting her as they entered the elevator. "What kind of wedding dress and wedding do you want?"
"..." Head bowed, she trembled, almost falling, and quickly reached out to steady herself on the elevator.
What was Mu Yichuan saying?!
Why was it still this topic?
"Are you... going to stay here for a long time?"
"I don't like you always changing the subject. It's a problem we'll have to face sooner or later, why bother?"
Hearing his magnetic, low murmur, Xin Yu clenched her fists, suppressing her emotions for a long time before finally answering, "Can we discuss this after you go back?"
"No." He said it domineeringly and decisively.
Xin Yu bit her lip helplessly, looked up, and met Mu Yichuan's gaze. "Then tell me, why are you asking now?"
Is it because of that Qi family's heiress? Because she forced her into marriage? "I said, I won't be a shield!" Xin Yu's voice rose several octaves. "Until you give me some explanation, I won't agree to anything you say, nor will I discuss this topic with you again!"
"Just because of the Qi family's daughter?" Mu Yichuan stared at her darkly, as if trying to bore a hole through her. "It has nothing to do with Liu Shuihan?"
...!
Xin Yu laughed angrily, but the laugh didn't reach her heart, much less her eyes. "Mu Yichuan, I've said it many times, don't follow me, don't spy on me! You have no right to!"
Cold and terrifying.
Dangerous.
In an instant, he seemed like a different person, like a demon from hell.
Xin Yu felt a pang of sorrow, murmuring tremulously, "Do you think we can still communicate?"
"Tell me, do you have any feelings for Liu Shuihan?" His voice was devoid of any warmth, making one feel even colder.
"No!" she shouted. "I have nothing to do with him, I have no feelings for him, I remember nothing! Because something's wrong with my head, are you satisfied now?!"
With that, Xin Yu ran out.
She really didn't want to see Mu Yichuan again, this cold and heartless him, this domineering and forceful him, this him who wouldn't communicate or explain to her.
Tears welled up again.
"Don't cry!" Xin Yu told herself, her fingers clenched together, forcing herself to stop. "Don't cry, don't be like Mom. Until you're sure, no one is worth crying like this!"
Mu Yichuan could catch up with her in a few steps, but he only followed a couple of steps behind, watching her wipe away her tears.
He couldn't say he wasn't heartbroken, but at this moment, he preferred to stay by her side.
Her answer that she had no feelings for Liu Shuihan gradually eased his mind.
Mu Feng was also following not far away, his head sweating with anxiety, but he didn't dare disturb Mu Yichuan.
Because he had never seen Mr. Jiu like this in the ten years since he started working for him.
However, in the end, he still steeled himself and approached.
"Mr. Jiu," Mu Feng called softly, head bowed, "the old man is having a heart-to-heart talk with Liu Shuihan."
"Hmm."
Mu Feng looked up, dumbfounded. Who was it that smashed their phone in anger just now? How could they be so calm in the blink of an eye?
Didn't Mr. Jiu want to know what Old Master Mu and Liu Shuihan talked about?
"Mr. Jiu, Liu Shuihan told the old man everything about the past," Mu Feng considered his words, "the old man seems quite moved."
"Hmph!" Mu Yichuan's eyes were fixed on Xin Yu in front of him, completely unaffected by the outside world. "Moved? What a childish old man."
"But, what if the old man is persuaded and agrees to matchmake Madam with President Liu…" "Do you think she's the type to be set up with someone?"
Mu Feng looked up at Xin Yu walking quickly ahead. His intuition told him she wouldn't, but, "What if Madam remembers?"
Mu Yichuan paused, frowning at Mu Feng. He'd never considered this question.
He'd always had absolute confidence in Qiu Zhi's medical skills.
However, there were exceptions, like…
"Have someone take the old man to the beach. Tell him Xin Yu is waiting for him there." With that, Mu Yichuan quickly caught up with Xin Yu.
"What are you doing?" she struggled. "I don't want to go with you! I want to find Yuanzi!"
No matter how coldly Mu Yichuan looked at her, Xin Yu still steeled herself and called Cheng Yuan.
But after several calls, the line remained dead—no one answered.
Xin Yu couldn't help but worry. "Mu Yichuan, I really need to go find Yuanzi. I can't get through to her on the phone."
"Isn't she an adult?"
"Yes! But we're in S country now, unfamiliar with the place and the people. What if something happens—" Xin Yu paused, afraid she might jinx it, but the words wouldn't come out; her mind would race.
Thinking about the time Cheng Yuan was secretly photographed, a cold sweat broke out on her back.
"Don't worry, the bad guys aren't here." Mu Yichuan placed his large hand on Xin Yu's head, reassuring her.
She looked up at him, pondering his words. Did he mean he knew who the bad guys were?
"Who is it?" Xin Yu grabbed his hand, tilting her head back to ask, "Who would hurt Cheng Yuan like this?"
"Come with me to see Grandpa, and I'll tell you."
"Mu Yichuan!" Xin Yu pouted. "How could you do this? One thing at a time."
He raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes gleaming with shrewd wisdom.
She moved her lips, then turned and walked towards the hotel. "I'm tired, I'm going back to rest."
Anyway, he said the bad guys hadn't come, so she believed him.
Why should she gamble with her happiness!
Being threatened by him!
"Shall I take you somewhere nice?"
"I won't go."
"Then take me somewhere nice."
"..." Xin Yu wasn't going to fall for that trap and quickly walked back.
Just as the two were chasing each other, Cheng Yuan was also chasing someone.
"Hey, please, stop!" she shouted, panting heavily, but still couldn't catch up with the person in front of her. "Hey! Commander Nan..."
"Get lost!" Nan Juechen's words were icy and unapproachable.
Seeing that he had no intention of turning back, Cheng Yuan hesitated, her steps faltering.
Was she just imagining things? She had clearly seen him staggering, as if drunk, which was why she chased after him, fearing something might happen to him.
"Then, be careful," Cheng Yuan called out again, turning to go back.
But then, a thud.
Oh my god!
Nan Juechen had fallen!
"Hey, Commander Nan, are you alright?" Cheng Yuan ran to his side, but dared not get too close. Although this man looked a lot like her aunt, his aura was too powerful for her. He was the commander of the Qing Dynasty!
However, she called him for a long time, but he didn't respond.
Gathering her courage, Cheng Yuan squatted down beside him and reached out to touch his nose.
Huff…
At least he was breathing.
But he was heavy.
He really was drunk.
Cheng Yuan used a lot of strength to help Nan Juechen up. Fortunately, she had lost weight, but her strength hadn't diminished.
Just as she was about to reach for a taxi, she was stunned by what she saw next.
"Ah!" Nan Juechen suddenly lowered his head and bit her neck.
She looked at him in shock and panic. Did he think she was a bad person and was going to kill her?!
"I...I'm not a bad person!" Cheng Yuan stammered, "Commander Nan, I just wanted to help you, if...if you—ah!"
Nan Juechen's eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed Cheng Yuan and dragged her towards his car.
"Commander Nan, I—"
"You were given to me by that woman, Mu Yi'ai?"
"Wh-what?" Cheng Yuan was completely bewildered by this statement, then seemed to understand. She raised her hands, "I'm not! She...she went out to play by herself!"
Nan Juechen felt increasingly dizzy, waves of power and heat rushing to his head, his strong self-control failing him.
He could barely hear Cheng Yuan's words, only that her voice was very clear. "Commander Nan, are you feeling unwell?" Cheng Yuan asked with concern, her hand trembling as she touched his forehead. "Oh my god! It's so hot!"
Should we go to the hospital?
"Commander Nan, what are you doing?" He... why is he pressing down on me?!
What is he going to do?!
Cheng Yuan looked at him in horror, held captive by his strength. She had no idea that her touch had completely shattered Nan Juechen's willpower!
"No...no..." Cheng Yuan screamed, even trying to pound on the car window for help, but the disparity in strength made her a sitting duck.
"It hurts!" she cried out. For the next long period, she felt like a rag doll, floating and sinking towards her inevitable death.
And the person who gave her this feeling was a man who looked a lot like her aunt.
As her consciousness faded, Cheng Yuan thought self-deprecatingly, "I should have known better than to lose weight. Being thin isn't good for me anyway."
At least she could resist Nan Juechen.
In a corner not far away, a pair of cat-like eyes stared at Nan Juechen's car, a cold smile playing on their lips.
They wanted her to go to America!
Even if she couldn't defy the old man and Mu Yichuan, she would make Nan Juechen pay the price!
A heavy price!
"Nan Juechen, enjoy the gift I gave you!"
...
When Cheng Yuan struggled to open her eyes, she found herself lying on top of Nan Juechen, the man beneath her still asleep.
His cold, resolute face showed no sign of relaxation.
She shuddered, her mind gradually returning to normal.
If the awake man saw her like this, would he kill her?
She moved her aching body, her only thought being to get away as quickly as possible.
To save her half-dead body.