There's only...only one path...
Xin Yu's eyes flashed with terror as she sadly recalled Mu Yichuan's words—
"If I live and don't want you, then you'll have to prepare to live alone for the rest of your life."
"If I die, then you'll be a widow for life!"
Was he really that cruel...?
"Want to experience it again?"
Can I choose the first option?
Xin Yu twitched her brow, but Mu Yichuan suddenly pushed her down. His hawk-like eyes stared at her, sharp and cold!
This little woman actually dared to think that way!
No wonder she wasn't even interested in that special box!
"No, I don't want to experience it anymore," Xin Yu said ingratiatingly. She was definitely a shrewd and pragmatic person; if she angered Mu Yichuan again in this situation, she would definitely suffer the consequences! "Then try something else!" With that, he began his attack, fierce and furious, much like the previous times she remembered, completely devoid of the gentleness of their recent encounters…
"Ah…no, it hurts…" Xin Yu's eyes glistened with tears; she felt that Mu Yichuan was like a wild beast, punishing her.
He dared to bite her!
"Mu…Mu Yichuan, no…" Why did every visit to the old house bring such unpleasant memories?!
"No? Fine!" He actually stopped, coldly looking down at Xin Yu, a faint, chilling smile playing on his lips.
"…" Xin Yu dared not say anything more; she felt he wouldn't be so kind as to let her go.
"You…take…the…action."
…!
Xin Yu's eyes widened in shock, staring unblinkingly at Mu Yichuan's handsome face. How could he make such an evil request! In this situation, who could possibly be in the mood…
"Think it over." He parted his thin lips slightly. "If you agree, once tonight. If you don't—"
Once? If you don't agree, how many times?
Xin Yu's heart pounded, her whole body stiffening, unsure what to do!
"Ah!" Mu Yichuan nimbly rolled over, placing Xin Yu on top of him.
"Mr. Mu, please… don't do this." Xin Yu said tremblingly, "I was really… really joking just now. I… how could I possibly want to void the agreement… Look, everything I spend, use, and eat… is yours…"
Although she was going to return it.
"Good to know. I don't want what I've given away, even if it's returned!"
Mu Yichuan's words cut off all of Xin Yu's escape routes.
"How many times tonight?" His mellow voice, tinged with the coolness of the night, seeped into her heart. Xin Yu's heart skipped a beat. She looked at him resentfully. He wasn't going to forgive her slip of the tongue earlier. Then what about her…?
"That's right." Mu Yichuan wrapped his arms around Xin Yu's waist, his hot breath brushing against her ear. "I'll reward you tomorrow morning."
She didn't want anything.
…
"Get up."
A steady voice called to Xin Yu, and then she felt a slight chill on her body. She wanted to sleep!
"Sleepy…" she murmured, rubbing her head against the bed, "Cold…"
"Get up, I'll reward you."
Xin Yu suddenly opened her eyes, looking blankly at Mu Yichuan, who was already dressed. What… what did he want to do!
Wasn't last night enough?
She turned to look out the window. It wasn't even dawn yet?! It was four o'clock, and she had only slept for three hours…that was all…
"Weren't you supposed to learn kung fu?" He leaned close to Xin Yu's delicate face, giving her two light kisses. "You did so well last night, this is a reward."
"…" Xin Yu felt like a hundred grass mud horses were trampling through her mind. He was absolutely, positively a stingy guy, still holding a grudge for her slip of the tongue last night!
"Run five laps around the lake!"
"Squat in a horse stance for ten minutes!"
Squat in a horse stance?! Was he crazy? Her thighs were already sore and numb from all the exertion!
"I…I can't do it!" Xin Yu gasped for breath, her whole body completely drained.
Mu Yichuan caught Xin Yu, letting her lean against him, looking down at his little woman, his deep voice full of sexiness, "Seduce me?"
Huh? Xin Yu looked up…damn! His hand landed right on her…
Suddenly standing up straight, Xin Yu braced herself, "I…I'll squat."
"So much guts?" Mu Yichuan bent down, getting closer to Xin Yu. "I thought your moves were pretty good just now."
She turned her head away, ignoring him. Humph, stingy, wicked, shameless!
Phew…finally free from Mu Yichuan!
Xin Yu practically fled the Mu family mansion, like a fugitive!
As long as she didn't have to fight him again, she was willing to hide forever!
Xin Yu, feeling completely exhausted, hadn't had a good day. She hadn't attended classes properly, hadn't eaten well, and hadn't even slept well.
To avoid Mu Yichuan, she had made up an excuse to go see Cheng Qiuzhe early in the morning, but she was still somewhat surprised to see Cheng Che, dressed casually, also there.
"Sister Xin Yu, my uncle is going too," Cheng Qiuzhe said, tilting his head back, unable to hide his excitement.
"Okay!" Xin Yu smiled at Cheng Che. Ever since that last day's wild imagination, she couldn't help but connect Cheng Che with the masked man from that night.
"Junior Sister, you're not unwelcome, are you?" He smiled, his blue eyes warm and bright.
"How could I? Senior Brother, why do you say that!" Xin Yu quickly denied it, lowering her eyes slightly. "More people, more fun!"
"Is the matter from that day resolved?" Cheng Che had practically controlled the conversation the whole way. "Commander Nan won't cause trouble, will he?"
Xin Yu shook her head. "Yes, I have witnesses. The misunderstanding has been cleared up."
"Next time you encounter trouble, just mention Mr. Jiu's name, and things will definitely be resolved!"
Hmm?
Xin Yu glanced at Cheng Che, puzzled, then understood. But she didn't want it to be like that!
"Have you seen Elder Mu?" Cheng Che asked like a parent. "I heard he's a very stubborn and inflexible person, very concerned about his children, especially Mr. Jiu."
Concerned about Mu Yichuan? Was Cheng Che subtly hinting that Elder Mu would stop her and Mu Yichuan?
Even after arriving at Baimu Mountain, Xin Yu felt heavy-hearted, especially since Cheng Yuan hadn't come due to overtime work…
If it weren't for the chattering Cheng Qiuzhe, and the way Liu Hen looked at Cheng Che, she probably wouldn't have been in the mood for the whole day!
"Senior brother, this is my junior high school friend—Liu Hen." Xin Yu affectionately pulled her friend along, introducing her enthusiastically, "She's an IT prodigy!"
"Ayu…" Liu Hen instantly blushed, her face turning bright red, even her thick glasses couldn't hide the rosy hue. But she was incredibly happy; she hadn't expected to run into him again in the capital!
So his name was Cheng Che!
"Really? I happen to have a lot of questions I'd like to ask someone!" Cheng Che said humorously, completely enlivening Liu Hen's heart, even her smile becoming playful.
Xin Yu rolled her dark eyes, inwardly marveling at the unpredictable nature of fate! "Sister Xinyu, I want to go to the top of Baimu Mountain!" Cheng Qiuzhe pleaded, pulling Xinyu's hand.
"Okay, okay! Little guy!"
Everyone was overjoyed. Reaching the top of Baimu Mountain, they enjoyed the best vantage point, overlooking the surrounding beauty.
Early autumn is the most beautiful time of year; the entire mountain was ablaze with color, instantly opening one's heart!
Cheng Qiuzhe, however, ran around aimlessly, seemingly searching for something.
Cheng Che watched him intently, neither stopping him nor asking questions.
"Wah!" Just as Xinyu was scrutinizing Cheng Che's gaze, she suddenly heard Cheng Qiuzhe…cry!
"Little guy, what's wrong?" Xinyu was startled and quickly turned around, crouching down to ask and comfort him. Liu Hen stood helplessly to the side, unsure how to help.
"Let him cry for a while. It's alright," Cheng Che said calmly, a hint of heartache in his blue eyes.
Xinyu was stunned.
This must be related to the mother Cheng Qiuzhe mentioned, right? His mother went abroad?
But last time Cheng Qiuzhe said Mu Yichuan wouldn't let him come to Baimu Mountain? Why?
Could it be…
Xin Yu was startled, tightly hugging Cheng Qiuzhe and gently stroking the back of his head.
The little guy cried for a long time without making a sound, finally only sobbing that he wanted to go back.
"Senior brother, could you and Liu Hen go check if there's a queue for the cable car? I…" Xin Yu glanced at Cheng Che, wanting to stay and comfort Cheng Qiuzhe.
Cheng Che understood immediately and nodded, but after taking a few steps, he turned back and looked deeply at Xin Yu and Cheng Qiuzhe.
"Go wash your face in the restroom," she suggested, pulling the little guy towards the edge of the mountaintop temple.
"Sister Xin Yu…" Cheng Qiuzhe was still sobbing, but before he could finish speaking, he pointed behind Xin Yu and said, "Look, there's something sparkly over there, I'll go see."
With that, he ran down the slope without stopping.
"Watch out!" Xin Yu was startled when he slipped and quickly took a few steps to grab Cheng Qiu Ze. She shook her head inwardly; he was such a child. He was crying just a moment ago, and now he was full of curiosity.
"Sister Xin Yu, look what this is!" He picked up a golden plaque from the ground.
"I don't know." Xin Yu picked up the plaque and examined it. It looked like a fortune slip, but there were no words on it.
"Sister Xin Yu, look, there seems to be another one over there."
"Hey!" Before Xin Yu could grab Cheng Qiu Ze, he had already gone down and picked up three more.
The last one, gilded, had a fortune slip engraved on it—
Love is found amidst danger!
Damn it!
Before Xin Yu could even ponder the meaning of the phrase, she tragically realized that they were actually quite far from the temple they had been at! Moreover, she, who always had no sense of direction, was completely lost…
"Little one, I have bad news for you, we're lost."
Cheng Qiuzhe looked around warily. "I know the way! Sister Xinyu, come with me!"
He even patted his chest confidently.
Xinyu's lips twitched. Should she really believe a five-year-old?
Or should she climb up and call for Cheng Che…?
In a split second, for reasons she couldn't explain, Xinyu chose to believe Cheng Qiuzhe, and also wanted to take this opportunity to comfort him while they walked.
"Why were you crying just now?"
"Grandma lied to me. She said if I stood on the top of Baimu Mountain and looked north, I could see Mommy…"
"…" Xinyu's heart ached, but she still pursed her lips, her eyes looking down the mountain. "Little one… Mommy's direction should be in your heart."
"Sister Xinyu…" Cheng Qiuzhe blinked his big, innocent eyes, completely unable to understand Xinyu's words.
"We need to work hard, make ourselves amazing, and become the best we can be. Then Mom will appear."
"Really?"
Xin Yu nodded firmly.
"Who's there!"
That voice…