Heavens!
Xin Yu was terrified!
She stared blankly at the scene before her—
Nan Juechen was gripping Mu Yi'ai with one hand, dragging her towards the window, as if he were going to throw her out.
Mu Yi'ai's usually languid eyes rolled back, revealing her helplessness; even her usually strong arms and legs had forgotten to struggle.
"No!" Xin Yu shouted, rushing forward, "Commander Nan, let her go! What are you doing?!"
Nan Juechen seemed not to hear her, remaining unchanged. His tall, imposing figure exuded a chilling aura, like a dark, bloodthirsty Yama.
"Commander Nan, calm down!" Xin Yu rushed over and stood by the window, her arms outstretched, looking at him in terror. "Commander Nan, please!"
"Xin Yu," Nan Juechen said coldly, in a tone she had never heard before, "I said, don't interfere!"
He still retained a sliver of reason; he didn't want to hurt Xin Yu, no matter what their relationship was. He didn't want to harm her!
"I can't ignore it!" Xin Yu cried out, forcing herself to speak, hearing his chilling words. "I've told you before, there are many ways to love. Everyone's upbringing is different. She—ah! Let go!"
She shuddered several times in fear before placing her small hand on Nan Juechen's large hand, gripping it tightly, trying to help Mu Yi'ai breathe.
"Even if Mu Yi'ai is domineering, arrogant, and doesn't understand Nan Yu's feelings and thoughts, it's a habit formed since childhood, and it can't be changed overnight!" Xin Yu lowered her head, her whole focus on prying Nan Juechen's hand away. "That's still love!"
No one can deny it—Mu Yi'ai loves Nan Yu, loves him to the point of losing herself!
"Commander Nan, please, let go! She's almost dead." Xin Yu's voice trembled with tears, her face pale. She was truly terrified. What if someone died? Even if he was the commander of the Qing Kingdom, what difference would it make?
He would still be guilty, his hands stained with blood and lives!
"Get out of my way!" Nan Juechen's voice was like spitting ice, chilling to the bone.
Undoubtedly, he couldn't accept someone pleading for Mu Yi'ai like this!
It was still about her love for Nan Yu!
"Ah!" Xin Yu was pushed away by Nan Juechen, falling to the ground, while he reached for the window.
Bang! "Please!" Xin Yu scrambled to her feet and tried to stop him again. "Commander Nan... sob..."
She didn't know how to persuade him anymore; he wouldn't listen.
Tears streamed down her face. Through the large teardrops, she saw a face resembling her mother's—a face she both loved and hated so much.
Nan Juechen trembled, his brow furrowing deeply. Xin Yu cried, cried bitterly.
"Don't be like this, sob, I still want to see you forever," Xin Yu sobbed uncontrollably, "You hurt Mu Yi'ai, you'll be punished by law, and then I won't be able to see you anymore."
Never to see that face again.
Xin Yu leaned against the window, head bowed, tears streaming down her face, her whole body trembling.
"Do you know how I've survived the past three years? Every time I wanted to give up, I would just silently look at the photos to give myself strength, but..." Xin Yu looked up, her face streaked with tears, her dark eyes glistening and unfocused. "I saw you. I saw you during the Mid-Autumn Festival."
Heaven had shown her someone who resembled her mother.
A living, breathing person!
Was it going to be taken away so quickly?
"You don't know how much I secretly researched about you. Even when we met again, you spoke to me, but it was different from how you treated Mu Yi'ai. You were so gentle with me..."
It was as if her mother had returned to her side.
Xin Yu's eyes gradually dimmed, but it was all just a fleeting moment.
She was destined never to see her mother again, nor would she ever see that face again.
Nan Juechen looked at Xin Yu. His previously stern face softened. He released his grip on Mu Yi'ai, stepped to Xin Yu's side, and pulled her into his arms.
"You miss your mother, don't you?"
"Yes," Xin Yu reached out and hugged Nan Juechen tightly, "That's why I seek comfort every time I see you."
"Then I'll take you to see her, why won't you agree?!" He felt her still trembling.
Xin Yu's tears fell again, "I don't want to!"
Her resolve was unwavering.
"I want you to see my mother, but I won't go to her! She abandoned me, I'm only 16, and she doesn't want me anymore. Even if it was heartbreak, it was my father's infidelity, I didn't do anything wrong!"
But she left just like that.
Without a trace of regret.
"I won't forgive her, absolutely not." Xin Yu nestled in Nan Juechen's arms, accusing him with aggrieved indignation, as if this man were her mother! "Do you know how my father treated me? Do you know how my stepmother and stepsister bullied me? Do you know how helpless I felt when I was struggling to make ends meet?" She was just an ordinary girl. "I'm waiting for her to come back. I want to see when she'll return. I want to know if she still has feelings for me."
Nan Juechen felt a tightness in his chest from the warm tears. He hadn't known she felt this way.
He held her tightly, his heart aching for all the suffering she had endured.
After a long while, until Xin Yu had calmed down a bit, he asked again, "What kind of relationship do you want between us?"
"I consider you family, okay?" Just seeing her face occasionally would be enough for her.
"Family?" Nan Juechen felt a pang of self-mockery, because of Mu Yi'ai's actions yesterday, and murmured, "Okay."
"Eighth Brother! Xin Yu!" Old Master Mu suddenly pushed open the door and stood in the doorway, looking at Xin Yu, who was crying uncontrollably in Nan Juechen's arms, and Mu Yi'ai, who was lying on the ground.
"Grandpa!" Xin Yu instinctively pushed Nan Juechen away, at a loss for words.
...!
When she saw Mu Yichuan behind him, she froze, her dark eyes filled with shock, embarrassment, apology, and a hesitant, terrified expression.
Mu Yichuan said nothing, strode over, grabbed Mu Yi'ai from the floor, checked her over, and then unceremoniously threw her onto the bed, coldly saying, "Still alive."
Old Mu didn't say anything either. With his wisdom, he knew what had happened the moment he saw Nan Juechen.
It seemed his daughter had caused trouble again.
Otherwise, given Commander Nan's composure and calmness, he would never have come to cause trouble again and again.
"Someone, take Eighth Miss back," Old Mu ordered, turning to Xin Yu and saying, "Grandpa is tired, I'll go back first."
She nodded hesitantly.
After an unknown amount of time, Mu Yichuan suddenly spoke, "How long are you planning to stand here? Want to go back?"
Otherwise, what are you doing staring at the door?
"Ah!" Xin Yu gasped, snapping back to reality. Ignoring Nan Juechen's presence, she rushed over and grabbed Mu Yichuan's arm tightly. "I...I have nothing to do with Commander Nan!"
She had only seen him hurt Mu Yi'ai and was terrified, blurting out her innermost thoughts.
She truly felt for Nan Juechen, just as she said. She considered him family; perhaps he was her real uncle, who knows?
Mu Yichuan's brow twitched slightly. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at Nan Juechen, who calmly returned his gaze. He then looked down at the little girl in front of him. "Crying again?"
"I really have nothing to do with Commander Nan," Xin Yu said, tilting her head back. Her dark eyes seemed veiled, and she explained tearfully, "Really, I just—"
Mu Yichuan leaned down and kissed Xin Yu's lips, turning her around to prevent Nan Juechen from seeing their actions.
He nibbled on her earlobe. "I understand."
Xin Yu's hands tightened involuntarily. Mu Yichuan said he understood?
He wasn't angry? No misunderstanding?
"Really?" She still couldn't believe it, muttering unconsciously, "Aren't you always so stingy?"
Mu Yichuan's large hand covered Xin Yu's head. Was the little girl frightened?
She'd spoken without thinking.
Xin Yu flinched. Oh God, what had she just said! Looking up into Mu Yichuan's deep, dark eyes, which seemed to draw her in like whirlpools, she couldn't help but awkwardly stick out her tongue.
"Xin Yu, I'm going back now." Nan Juechen felt like a complete third wheel and couldn't help but say, preparing to leave.
"Where are you going?" Xin Yu hurriedly turned around. "Back to the hotel? Or to Qingguo?"
"Qingguo," Nan Juechen patiently explained. "We'll see each other again when we get back..."
Xin Yu frowned slightly, watching him leave. Why did she feel like he had something left unsaid?
Was it because of her earlier accusation against her mother's outburst?
"You've been watching the door like crazy." A strong, long arm wrapped around her waist from behind, and Xin Yu nestled into Mu Yichuan's arms, feeling warm and secure.
"Why are you here?" Gradually, she gave him complete dependence, pressing herself close to him.
So there was no misunderstanding between them. That's good.
"I'm afraid Mu Yi'ai will die."
Xin Yu tilted her head back, looking at Mu Yichuan incredulously. Was he really worried about Mu Yi'ai?
No wonder, after all, she was his sister.
"I'm even more afraid you'll run off with someone." He added at the opportune moment, as if he had seen right through her thoughts.
Last time he was hospitalized, didn't Nan Juechen threaten to take Xin Yu away to find her mother?
"..." Xin Yu leaned against Mu Yichuan, not in a hurry to explain. Only when he mentioned leaving did she murmur, "Commander Nan looks very much like my mother; perhaps they're siblings."
Mu Yichuan turned Xin Yu around, pulled her into his arms, nestled her neck, and inhaled her unique fragrance. It was truly heart-wrenching.
"Niece?"
"You..." Xin Yu struggled free, glaring at him indignantly, "Why are you calling me that? I don't like it!"
It wasn't in front of Old Master Mu, and even if it were, this confusing identity...
"Don't you want an explanation?" She wanted to know why he arranged things this way, and even more so, she wanted to know who the woman in the photo who looked so much like her was.
"I'm just asking you, are you Nan Juechen's niece?"
"..." Wasn't that what you called her just now?
"It seems you really don't like being my niece." Mu Yichuan chuckled, leaning closer suggestively, "Want to be my wife?"
"Stop changing the subject!"