Xin Yu was completely at a loss for words, only feeling her heart overflow with happiness.
Mu Yichuan had actually uttered those sweet words so naturally.
"What? Stunned?" He asked ambiguously, his lips brushing against Xin Yu's, a dark glint in his eyes.
"No." Her clear eyes were filled with admiration. "I think you're amazing, to have such a creative idea."
Mu Yichuan nestled his face into Xin Yu's neck, chuckling, "Ayu has given me so much inspiration."
She didn't push him away, savoring his breath, still immersed in the drawings he was working on.
However, not far away, Liu Shuihan, holding documents, stood frozen, watching the two so intimately connected, unsure whether to leave or stay.
His heart felt as if it had been stabbed with tens of thousands of sharp knives, the pain unbearable.
He looked down at the documents in his hand, roughly guessing that Mu Yichuan had done it on purpose—ostensibly to have him deliver documents, but actually to intimidate him.
"President Liu is here?"
Xin Yu was startled and quickly tried to break free from Mu Yichuan's embrace. To her, this was, after all, the office, her workplace.
She would have reacted the same way to anyone.
But, in the eyes of the two men, it took on a different meaning.
"What?" Mu Yichuan's tone was indifferent, giving Xin Yu an unpleasant glance. Was she really that afraid of Liu Shuihan seeing this?!
"Mr. Jiu, the documents you requested." He spoke up at the opportune moment, not wanting his girl to be spoken to in such a manner.
He also didn't want to see or hear any more of Xin Yu's explanations; at least she cared about his opinion, which gave him the strength to persevere.
Xin Yu pouted slightly, reaching out her small hand to tug at Mu Yichuan's hand hanging at his side, her clear, watery eyes pleadingly.
"What's with that expression?" He wanted to expose her, to make sure Xin Yu had rejected Liu Shuihan in front of him.
"I'm hungry." Her face was flushed, her eyes flickering, making it obvious she was lying.
Mu Yichuan raised an eyebrow. "President Liu, would you like to have dinner with us?"
"Didn't we say we were going to take a helicopter ride?" Xin Yu bit her tongue, but she had to admit, she didn't want Liu Shuihan to go to dinner with them at all.
Because Mu Yichuan was just too stingy!
"Thinking about it?" Another suggestive question.
Xin Yu raised her smiling face, but then stomped on Mu Yichuan's foot, grinding it down.
"Pack your things, let's go." His foot was still under her weight, but he reached out and pinched Xin Yu's cheek.
She whimpered, rubbing her cheek with her small, white hands, and quickly packed up the drawings under the gaze of the two men. "Let's go..."
"Boss, what do we do?" Inside the black sedan behind the Mu Group building, a man wearing dark sunglasses couldn't help but ask.
Thump.
A man in the back seat, also wearing sunglasses, punched the car window. The bulging veins on his hand betrayed his terrible mood.
"Very good!" he said through gritted teeth, his voice filled with intense hatred. "Old Nine's acting was superb."
The man in the front seat shrank back, inwardly cursing himself for being so talkative. He'd only be the one to suffer if he angered his boss.
"Such a wonderful show can't just end like this." The Boss twirled the jade ring on his thumb. "Call Cheng Che over and stir things up."
"Yes!"
As soon as Xin Yu stepped out of the building, she sneezed several times. Mu Yichuan glanced at her, then pulled her into his arms. "Cold?"
"No..." Xin Yu whispered, feeling a chill run down her spine. In the end, he didn't accept her suggestion.
Liu Shuihan followed behind them to dinner.
Throughout the journey, Xin Yu displayed the demureness of a submissive woman, fiddling with her fingers with her head bowed, unsure of what to say.
Mu Yichuan didn't disturb her, but his gaze remained fixed on her. As they neared their destination, he extended his index finger and pressed it against the back of Xin Yu's hand.
He gently poked her.
Confused, she looked up.
"Boring," Mu Yichuan said with a refined air, "Just comparing whose fingers are longer."
"..." Xin Yu's lips twitched a few times, then she lowered her head again. This man was indeed boring.
"Ayu." Liu Shuihan glanced at her through the rearview mirror. Mu Yichuan's behavior and words were irritating him, and he needed an opening. "Later, you can try the glutinous rice cake from S country; it's similar to the one in Taipei."
"Really?" A hint of anticipation flashed in Xin Yu's clear eyes. She hadn't had glutinous rice cake in a long time. "They probably mainly sell mango flavor here, right?"
Just thinking about it made her mouth water.
Mu Yichuan nudged Xin Yu again. She was really giving Liu Shuihan face, completely ignoring him?
"You should try it too later; it's super delicious." She smiled, looking like a little foodie.
"Really?" he asked. "I thought you only liked mousse cake!"
Xin Yu pouted, remembering how many cakes he bought last time, and hurriedly instructed, "Don't buy too many later, glutinous rice cake is hard to digest."
"Then how many pieces are appropriate?"
"Just one piece each." Xin Yu gestured with her fingers, wondering why Mu Yichuan was so interested in this.
"So few?" He reached out and squeezed her fingers. "What a pity."
"Hmm? Two pieces are fine, but no more." Xin Yu thought he wanted to eat more, and couldn't help but remind him.
"The restaurant doesn't sell glutinous rice cake today!"
"..." Xin Yu was stunned for a second before she realized.
Stingy!
She angrily sat down to the side, looking at the scenery outside, ignoring Mu Yichuan.
Meanwhile, Liu Shuihan continued to stare at Xin Yu in the rearview mirror. Her adorable appearance, like a kitten, sent a tingling, subtle, yet irresistible itch through him.
"Ahem," Mu Yichuan coughed lightly.
Mu Feng, driving, asked with perfect understanding, "Mr. Jiu, have you been working too much overtime lately?"
Xin Yu turned around, looking at Mu Yichuan with some concern, and asked, "Are you feeling unwell? Would you like some water?"
"I'm fine." His hawk-like eyes locked onto her. "Do you really want some glutinous rice cake?"
Xin Yu immediately shook her head. "Never mind, if your throat is sore, it's not suitable to eat it."
Mu Yichuan generously pulled her into his arms. His dark eyes swept over Liu Shuihan in the front seat, sensing the slight struggle of the person in his arms. He leaned down and whispered a few words in her ear.
Xin Yu paused, pondering. The First Master is here?
Why is he in S Country too? Liu Shuihan withdrew his gaze, his hands clenched into fists on his knees, suppressing his emotions.
"What brings you here?" Xin Yu tilted her head slightly, meeting Mu Yichuan's gaze. "Help?"
He was silent for a moment before saying, "To see the old man."
"Oh." Xin Yu nestled in his arms, pondering the extent of the eldest gentleman's filial piety. Did he really need to come all this way to see Old Master Mu after just a few days apart?
Seeing him again, Xin Yu's heart still secretly skipped a beat. She didn't know why, but she always felt that the way he looked at her wasn't simple.
But it certainly wasn't love.
She couldn't help but recall his inexplicable confession last time.
"Xin Yu, are you adjusting well in S country?" After exchanging pleasantries with Mu Yichuan and Liu Shuihan, the eldest gentleman finally spoke with concern.
Her hand holding the blanket trembled. Without looking up, she obediently replied, "It's alright. It's warmer here than in Qing country."
"Where did you go?" he asked like a parent.
"That's right," Xin Yu secretly judged. He was only three to five years younger than her father.
He actually confessed!
There must be other considerations here.
"She hasn't gone out to play yet," Mu Yichuan chimed in. "Big brother hasn't met Mu Yi'ai yet, has he?"
Upon hearing that name, the eldest gentleman didn't need to ask any more questions; he could roughly guess.
Troublemaker.
"The S Country Environmental Protection Foundation is holding a charity gala the day after tomorrow. Xin Yu," the eldest gentleman invited, "would you be interested in going?"
Xin Yu's hand tightened slightly. Was he testing her? "I'm afraid that won't work." She raised her small face, her clear, bright eyes sparkling. "I'm helping out at the Mu Group right now, rushing to finish a project, so I might have to work overtime."
Seeing his slight doubt, Xin Yu added, "Grandpa promised."
"We'll see. I'll take her if I have time." Mu Yichuan gave his final conclusion, handing her the menu. "See what you'd like to eat?"
Xin Yu's back straightened. How could he be so shameless!
Didn't he monitor Mr. Mu's confession to her?
She secretly turned her head, raising an eyebrow at Mu Yichuan, only to see his dark eyes, deep and intense, like the brightest star, flashing at her.
Damn.
Is this the legendary electrifying gaze?
Xin Yu truly felt a tingling sensation run through her body just now, but before she could even grasp it, her phone rang.
"Yuanzi—"
"Ayu!" Cheng Yuan's anxious voice came from the other end of the phone. "Ayu, someone is following me and Henhen, what should we do?"
"What!" Xin Yu was so startled that she stood up abruptly, knocking over her cup and spilling the tea. "Who's following you? Where...where are you now?"
She looked at Mu Yichuan in panic, instinctively reaching for his hand, but he grabbed it and snatched the phone away.
"No matter where you are, see if there's a taxi or a private car nearby," he calmly ordered. "Try to use S language and tell them you're from the Mu Group."
"I...I...okay." Cheng Yuan seemed to have made a huge decision, rushing into the street, stopping a car, and explaining everything. The driver let them in.
"How did it go?" Xin Yu looked at Mu Yichuan anxiously, her heart pounding in her chest. He pursed his lips, pulling her into his arms, and murmured, "It's alright, I'm here."
Hearing those words, it truly felt like magic, soothing her heart. She believed him.
As long as Mu Yichuan was there, everything could be handled.
"Are they safe?" Liu Shuihan asked worriedly, trying to avoid looking at their intimate gestures.
"Yes," Mu Yichuan replied, lowering his head to stroke Xin Yu's black hair. "Shall we go check?"
He knew that if she stayed, she wouldn't be able to eat.
Xin Yu nodded frantically. For some reason, she felt that the old gentleman sitting there seemed to be deep in thought.
But what was he thinking about?
Her relationship with Mu Yichuan?
Or something else?