An awkward silence filled the room; you could hear a feather fall.
Xin Yu felt like she was being pricked by thorns, her stiffness suggesting she might break at any moment. She was now absolutely certain that Mu Yichuan was doing this on purpose.
"Mr. Jiu, thank you so much for your help this time. When you visit Nanshi again, I will definitely—" Zhang Chen began warmly.
Mu Yichuan waved his hand slightly to stop her, seemingly impatient.
"Eating so little?" He leaned close to Xin Yu and asked gently, as if they were deeply in love.
Xin Yu clearly felt the warning conveyed by his cold fingertips…
"I ate a lot with my tutor at noon, so I'm not very hungry yet."
"Xin Xin, your enrollment went smoothly—" Zhang Chen's unfinished words were abruptly cut off by Mu Yichuan's raised eyebrow.
Xin Yu glanced at Mu Yichuan, then simply put down her knife and fork and looked at Zhang Chen. "I went smoothly, Zhang Wan, she…"
"She's fine!" Zhang Chen said quickly, then lowered his eyes slightly, intimidated by the intense atmosphere in the room.
Another awkward… long, agonizing wait…
"Mr. Jiu." The door to the private room was slightly pushed open, and Xin Yu saw a dark figure. Mu Yichuan had gotten up and left.
Phew, she exhaled a large breath, and the atmosphere in the private room gradually returned to normal.
"Xin Xin, you… you rejected me just to be with Mr. Jiu?" Zhang Chen grabbed Xin Yu's arm and questioned her.
Xin Yu frowned and forcefully shook off his hand. "Zhang Chen, are you out of your mind? What does my breakup have to do with him?!"
"Xin Xin, leave Mr. Jiu. He's the richest man in Qing Dynasty, his family's influence is boundless. You can't afford to offend him!" Zhang Chen tried to grab Xin Yu again, but she quickly took a step back.
"What's going on between him and Zhang Wan?" Xin Yu asked coldly.
"Xin Xin, are you even listening to me? I... I really still like you. I've been thinking about you all these years. Come back! Or I can come to the capital to develop my career!"
"Xin Yu is so disappointed in them. Who on earth isn't listening to the other?!" "Xin Xin…"
"I made it very clear that day at the Chuan Yi Club, there's no possibility between us!" Xin Yu interrupted him. "If I were you, I would be wholeheartedly dedicated to reviving the Zhang family, not begging for mercy by offering up my own sister!"
"Xin Xin? So I'm that worthless in your eyes?!" Zhang Chen's face suddenly contorted with rage as he approached step by step.
"Who do you think you are? Always aloof and arrogant like a princess? Ha, that night you still ended up with Mr. Jiu—"
The conversation abruptly ended, a deathly silence. Xin Yu felt as if her heart was being torn apart.
It wasn't because of Zhang Chen's sudden change of attitude, but because she truly hadn't refused to be with Mu Yichuan…
This was the result, stark and bloody…
Ignoring everything, Xin Yu wanted to leave. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Mu Yichuan walking towards her, so dashing, exuding an undeniable kingly glory and nobility.
Everyone who saw him was mesmerized.
"Finished talking?" His indifferent tone held a hint of mockery.
"Why?" Xin Yu's bright eyes couldn't conceal her grievance and anger.
"I have to make you do it willingly."
"But I've already forgotten what it meant to be willing that night." How could she possibly do that to someone she'd never even met...?
"You can forget, but you can remember. Wife."
Wife? What a ridiculous word!
"I don't even know my husband's name!" Xin Yu took a deep breath. "I'll talk about it when I remember."
With that, Xin Yu turned and strode quickly away, leaving Mu Yichuan silently curving his lips behind her.
Xin Yu walked sadly down the bustling street. The wind of the capital slowly brought her back to her senses. Something must have happened in these three days! She had to find out and clear her name...
"You haven't even compensated me, and you think you can just leave like this?"