White clouds drifted lazily as Xin Yu gazed at the lake before her.
Azure and serene.
A sweet feeling welled up inside her.
She took a deep breath, the air itself seeming sweet.
Xin Yu stretched out on the slope, her hands behind her head, the soft grass beneath her.
She gently closed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips…
"Ugh." Feeling someone tug at her ponytail, she freed one hand to swat at the person.
Her small hand was grasped by a large one.
"Open your eyes." The voice was deep and commanding, yet not annoying; in fact, upon closer listening, it carried a hint of joy.
"Giggle." Xin Yu laughed, shaking her head. "No way! Ah—don't tickle me!"
"Open your eyes, look at me." His breath brushed against her face, carrying the refreshing scent of mint.
Xin Yu ignored him, her eyes still closed, and reached her hand to the top of his head, stroking his fluffy hair.
"Really not opening your eyes? Then I'm leaving?"
"I said yesterday, whoever breaks their promise is a little turtle!" Xin Yu said, secretly peeking through her left eye to see him sitting beside her, gazing at the distant lake.
His large hand unconsciously stroked her small hand, one stroke at a time.
"I...I really have to go."
"Little turtle!" Xin Yu opened her eyes, watching his retreating figure, which, despite the crisp autumn air, carried a hint of loneliness.
"Ayu, you'll wait for me, won't you?"
"Where are you going?"
Before she finished speaking, the person in front of her had already reached the distant lakeside, and then his figure vanished before Xin Yu's eyes.
"Where are you going? Don't go!" Xin Yu sat up abruptly.
Don't go! "Ayu." Mu Yichuan was startled by Xin Yu's sudden movement and quickly supported her. "You're awake?"
Xin Yu stared blankly at Mu Yichuan beside her. His handsome face was now covered in stubble, and his bright black eyes were bloodshot.
Looking around, there were no lakes or meadows, only... a hospital.
She was in a hospital. Was that all a dream?
Frowning, Xin Yu recalled the scene from her dream, so vivid, as if she had truly experienced it in her life.
Who was that person? That person's back!
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Mu Yichuan reached out and touched Xin Yu's head. There was a large bump on her forehead. Had she bumped it?
"Have you been to... a lake?" Xin Yu looked up at him and asked.
A lake? Mu Yichuan's brow twitched slightly. He sat down beside Xin Yu and gently embraced her. "Ayu, are you dreaming?"
Leaning against him, inhaling his cool, crisp scent, memories of last night gradually returned…
Xin Yu reached out and grabbed Mu Yichuan's collar. "Mu… Mu Yi'ai, are you alright?"
And Nan Yu and Mu Jian.
He was slightly taken aback, not expecting his little woman to still be concerned about others.
He reached out and held her head, pulling her tightly into his arms.
"Is there anything else that's bothering you?" They embraced silently for a long time before Mu Yichuan released Xin Yu, his eyes fixed on her.
She shook her head. Aside from some soreness, she was fine.
"Last night, I was fine. I wasn't burned, and I wasn't choked. But Mu—"
"Shut up."
Xin Yu was stunned, looking at Mu Yichuan in confusion. Why was he angry again?
"Actually, I came to find Mu Yi'ai myself. Nobody… forced me."
Mu Yichuan angrily silenced her with a kiss. This woman blamed no one, instead blaming herself.
How could she be so kind?!
Feeling his forceful, domineering lips, Xin Yu pushed him away. "No, I can't breathe."
Mu Yichuan stopped, reaching out to smooth her black hair, carefully examining the bump on her forehead. "Does it hurt?"
Xin Yu's lips curved slightly. So this man cared about her.
She shook her head, raising her hand to touch Mu Yichuan's face, noticing the ring on her left ring finger.
"This," she pointed to the ring, "why Nan Yu—"
His expression suddenly sharpened, his eyes like a hawk's, his thin lips parting slightly, "Don't mention him."
What she wanted to ask was the design on the ring!
She clearly remembered there was an identical painting on the wall of Nan Yu's house!
"But, this design—"
Knock, knock, knock.
"Mr. Jiu!" Mu Feng called out quickly and respectfully, then looked up at Mu Yichuan with a strange expression before leaving.
"Be good, wait for me here." Mu Yichuan patted Xin Yu's head. "Qiu Zhi will come to check on you later."
But he left before answering her questions!
Xin Yu pouted angrily, thinking of Nan Yu. She got out of bed and walked to the window, putting her arms around her shoulders.
What happened to him last night?
Did he take some medicine?
He was like a monster!
"May I... come in?" A deep, yet firm voice asked.
Nan Juechen.
Xin Yu turned around, released her arms, looked up at him, and nodded. "You—"
"Nan Yu—" They both spoke at the same time. Seeing him pause, Xin Yu continued, "Is Nan Yu alright?"
Nan Juechen's lips twitched, and he softly hummed in agreement, "He was drugged and hasn't woken up yet."
So he really was drugged?
Could it be Mu Yi'ai again?
Xin Yu immediately dismissed the thought. Last night, Mu Yi'ai insisted on going upstairs to save Nan Yu, even saying she loved him; it couldn't be her!
"Are you feeling alright?" Nan Juechen looked at the lost in thought, roughly guessing what she was thinking, but he didn't tell her that Mu Yi'ai had drugged him.
"Oh, I'm fine." Xin Yu smiled easily, her eyes slightly curved.
Nan Juechen's pupils contracted slightly. They stood in silence for a while. Afraid she was getting tired, he suggested leaving.
Xin Yu didn't stop him, and politely offered to see him to the door, but before she could even open it, she froze! "Mommy, hurry up!" A high-pitched voice rang out, accompanied by the clatter of high heels.
Xin Ran?!
And her stepmother, Liu Shulan!
Why are they here?!
Seeing Nan Juechen about to open the door, Xin Yu blocked it, blinking awkwardly at his surprised face.
"Mommy, this should be the room!" Xin Ran didn't even knock, pushing the door open.
Xin Yu instinctively pushed Nan Juechen into the bathroom near the door. "Excuse me, please wait a moment."
She absolutely couldn't let this mother and daughter see Nan Juechen's appearance!
Absolutely not!
"Oh, sister, why are you standing at the bathroom door?" Xin Ran looked around the room, acting as if she owned the place.
Xin Yu rolled her eyes. Even after all this time, she hadn't changed her domineering attitude.
"Xin Yu, I heard you were hospitalized. Are you alright?" Her stepmother feigned concern, but her eyes betrayed a barely concealed amusement.
"Where did you hear that? I'm perfectly fine." It's infuriating; bad news travels fast, good news doesn't.
"Sister," Xin Ran said, her big eyes twinkling, grabbing Xin Yu's hand, "Sister, how do you know the famous Mr. Jiu?"
Xin Yu pulled her arm away, staring at her stepsister, her brow furrowing undisguisedly. How did she know Mu Yichuan!
Sure enough, visiting her in the hospital was a pretense; she was really trying to curry favor! "Who is Mr. Jiu? I've never heard of anyone surnamed Jiu."
Xin Ran raised an eyebrow, inwardly scoffing. Pretending not to know him? Looks like he's only feigning illness because he couldn't hold onto someone. But her smile remained. "Sister, Mr. Jiu's surname isn't Jiu."
Xin Yu leaned against the bathroom door, feeling irritated. She hadn't contacted that family in so long, how come they seemed to know so much about her and Mu Yichuan!
"Xin Xin, why are you standing at the bathroom door? Can your body take it? Go lie down on the bed." Liu Shulan continued to play the good mother, but her eyes had already glanced into the bathroom several times.
Could Mr. Jiu be inside?
This time, she absolutely had to let her daughter see his true face! "It's nothing, I just needed to use the restroom, that's all."
"Sister, you're so out of touch! Just go if you want, we'll sit over there and wait for you." Xin Ran looked at her amusedly. Her so-called sister was still that unsophisticated girl, never bothering to put on makeup, always sporting a bare face—what man would like that!
Xin Yu sighed. This mother and daughter really hadn't changed their ways.
Always so... clueless!
"Don't wait for me, I'm going to sleep after I'm in the restroom. The doctor said I need to rest." She had no choice but to directly tell them to leave.
"Sister, you don't think you're so great just because you know Mr. Jiu, do you?" Xin Ran asked sarcastically.
Liu Shulan quickly grabbed her daughter's arm, stopping her with a look. If Xin Yu were alone in the house, they could ridicule her all they wanted.
Back then, hadn't she used the same tactic to kick Xin Yu out of the house?
But, Mr. Jiu couldn't hear this! Although, judging from the current situation, Xin Yu is clearly out of favor.
"Ranran, don't be so disrespectful. That's your older sister; you need to speak politely."
"Isn't it a bit late to start educating her so late?" Xin Yu rolled her eyes, unable to hold back her defiant retort.
"Sister, you're still talking to me like that!" Xin Ran said angrily, "Whether it's late or not, at least I have someone to educate me. What about you?!"
Xin Yu hadn't intended to pay attention to the mother and daughter, but she actually read from Xin Ran's lip movements—
"Someone gave birth but no one raised him!"
*Slap!*
Without thinking, she slapped him!
"You dare hit me?!" Xin Ran said, lunging at Xin Yu like a shrew. She turned around nimbly, "I misspoke! Someone gave birth—"
"Ranran!" Liu Shulan shouted sharply, grabbing her daughter. She was now absolutely certain that someone was in the bathroom.
She had just heard the sound of bones clenching! "Mommy! Did I say something wrong? You've always thought so too!" Xin Ran glared at Xin Yu with a sinister look. "She might have used some means—" to seduce Mr. Jiu!
Why?! She is the eldest daughter of the Xin family!
The rightful one!
And this so-called older sister is nothing but an unwanted wild child!
"Get out," Xin Yu said coldly, "or I can't guarantee I won't slap you again!"
Liu Shulan pulled Xin Ran out of the room and whispered something in her ear.
Click.
The bathroom door opened.
The hospital room door also opened.
Xin Yu was startled and quickly tried to block the door, but saw Xin Ran peeking her head in.
She had no choice but to squeeze into the bathroom.