Xin Yu said as she put out breakfast, her little face full of mischief and excitement.
Mu Yichuan watched, unable to resist reaching out to pinch her cheek, only to be met with a protest from Xin Yu.
"What are you doing?" she asked, rubbing her cheek and pouting.
"Smooth, delicate, and textured," Mu Yichuan blurted out, unreservedly staring at her cheeks full of apple cheeks, unable to resist the urge to kiss her.
No sooner said than done.
He did it.
"Hey, I have a major discovery to tell you," Xin Yu dodged, truly not understanding why he, despite being sick, was still so sexually unsatisfied.
"What?"
"I just saw Qiu Zhi seem to be interested in Yuanzi." Xin Yu herself didn't quite believe it, but Qiu Zhi's behavior was too strange. "Do you think it's possible?"
"Impossible!" Mu Yichuan immediately concluded, of course knowing why Qiu Zhi acted that way.
"Really?" Xin Yu twitched her nose, thinking Qiu Zhi had finally understood. "Okay, fine, you got excited for nothing."
"Worrying." Mu Yichuan tapped her head.
"Yuanzi isn't just my friend, she's family." Xin Yu briefly explained Cheng Yuan's background. "Of course I worry about her. I hope she marries someone who loves and cherishes her."
Mu Yichuan paused, saying nothing.
Xin Yu naturally didn't notice his unusual behavior. After helping him eat breakfast, the two tacitly went about their own business.
She sat there, opened the blueprints, and began refining them. This was the first project her supervisor had helped her submit, and she was determined to complete it well!
After finishing his work, Mu Yichuan looked up and saw Xin Yu tilting her head, diligently revising the drawings. For some reason, he suddenly felt a sense of familiarity with her.
He was somewhat mesmerized.
"What's wrong? Want some water?" Xin Yu, after being stared at for a while, finally belatedly noticed and quickly asked, "Is something still bothering you?"
"Yes, it's uncomfortable here." Mu Yichuan's dark eyes flashed with a smile as he reached out and placed Xin Yu's hand on her forehead.
"Headache?" she asked anxiously, "Should I call Qiu Zhi?"
"Rub it for me." He leaned against the bedside, letting her soft little hand gently massage it, "Ayu..."
"Hmm?" Seeing Mu Yichuan call out but then fall silent, Xin Yu was a little worried, "Does it hurt a lot?"
"No." His deep voice was still a little hoarse, and a little suppressed, "It feels very comfortable."
"Then lie down and get some sleep." Xin Yu massaged him for a long time until he fell asleep.
Sigh.
It seems he's really exhausted. Even an iron body can't withstand four days and four nights without sleep.
Xin Yu tucked him in, checked the time, and made a plan. She ran to Qiu Zhi's office. "Qiu Zhi..."
"Why are you here?" He was clearly not welcoming her. "Shouldn't you be watching over Ninth Brother?"
"Did I offend you?" Xin Yu retorted, but her attitude wasn't bad. His attitude had changed since she returned from S country. Oh...
"You... you gave up your chance to go to S country to Yuanzi, but you promised." Xin Yu finally realized, so that's why!
Qiu Zhi's peach blossom eyes flashed, and the corner of his mouth twitched noticeably. This woman's brain was really different from ordinary people!
"How about this, when I have money in the future, I'll invite you again," Xin Yu said generously.
"Don't bring up things that are a long shot," Qiu Zhi glanced at her, but felt inexplicably pleased.
"No way," Xin Yu said confidently, "Our website is doing quite well, and we're even planning to introduce S country's ethnic products."
"You have time to do this?" Qiu Zhi was quite surprised by her energy and talent.
"Not really, actually the biggest investor is President Zhang, and we have Henhen, Brother Shuihan—"
"Stay away from Liu Shuihan!" Qiu Zhi pounced like a cheetah, speaking menacingly, making Xin Yu tremble.
She looked at him, confused.
"Are you made of wood?" he mocked sarcastically.
Xin Yu blinked, "Wh-what?"
"Can't you understand Ninth Brother's heart?"
"I don't…" Xin Yu's dark eyes flickered. Did understanding Mu Yichuan's heart mean staying away from all men?
She disagreed.
"That's for the best!" Qiu Zhi commanded, "Go back and keep an eye on Ninth Brother!"
Mu Yichuan had visibly tensed up when he opened his eyes that morning and didn't see her.
"I...I came to ask you for a favor." Xin Yu suddenly remembered her purpose. "He's asleep now, and I want to go back and make him something to eat."
Qiu Zhi raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "You can cook?"
Why this reaction? Shouldn't she be able to?
"Okay." This time, Qiu Zhi readily agreed.
Xin Yu hurriedly thanked him and excitedly set off...
"Ninth Brother?" Qiu Zhi opened the door and saw Mu Yichuan sitting on the edge of the bed, looking down at the drawings in his hands. "The little girl said you were sleeping!"
"Awake." Mu Yichuan didn't look up. "Where is she?"
"Going back—"
"Oh." He interrupted indifferently. He thought she would stay by his side, never leaving.
Qiu Zhi knew Mu Yichuan well. Seeing his sudden coldness, she knew he'd misunderstood. She explained, "The little girl went back to cook for you."
His hand visibly trembled, but he didn't look up, intently studying Xin Yu's design drawings. He'd actually misunderstood her…
When Xin Yu returned to the villa with the ingredients, the housekeeper was quite surprised. "Madam, you haven't been back in so long!"
"Yes, Aunt Qin, I've been staying at the old house recently." Xin Yu didn't explain much and went straight into the kitchen, which surprised Qin Shu even more.
She quickly followed. "Madam, what are you going to do? Let me do it."
"No need, I can manage." Xin Yu refused. She was going to cook a loving meal for Mu Yichuan; she couldn't let someone else do it. "Mu Yichuan has a fever; I'll make him something light."
Not getting a response immediately, Xin Yu turned around and saw the housekeeper wiping away tears with her head down. Her eyes widened immediately.
She hadn't…done something, had she?
"Aunt Qin, what's wrong?" Xin Yu put down the ingredients and approached.
The housekeeper shook her head and sighed softly, "It's nothing, I'm just happy. Madam truly cares for Mr. Jiu!"
Huh?
Xin Yu blushed slightly, a little embarrassed. She had hardly ever cooked for Mu Yichuan, and this time it was only because she felt sorry for him after seeing him sleepless for four days and four nights.
"No one has ever cared for Mr. Jiu like this before..."
Impossible?
Xin Yu, who had turned away, turned back, looking at the housekeeper incredulously, "When did his mother... and was Old Master Mu not good to him?"
"I heard that after Madam gave birth to Mr. Jiu, her health deteriorated, and not long after..." The housekeeper sighed again, "Old Master Mu was already very busy, with many children, how could he have taken care of her?"
"Aunt Qin, have you ever met Mu Yichuan's mother?"
The housekeeper shook her head, "I haven't met her in person, but Miss Qiu Feng went through Mr. Jiu's things once when he was a child, so I saw a photo."
Qiu Feng? A photo? Xin Yu's dark eyes widened slightly as she pointed to herself and asked, "Then...does she look like me?"
"Who?" Butler Qin was taken aback by the question. "Madam? No, she doesn't."
Her confident words relieved Xin Yu. It seemed she really had no connection with Mu Yichuan.
"Then Qiu Feng—" she paused, feeling as if she were secretly prying into Mu Yichuan's secrets, "is she close to Mu Yichuan? Does he like Qiu Feng very much?"
Butler Qin approached and took Xin Yu's hand. "Madam, don't listen to gossip. You must believe Mr. Jiu. He and Miss Qiu Feng grew up together, but Mr. Jiu only sees her as a younger sister."
Butler Qin knew all this?
Instinctively, Xin Yu expressed disbelief. Although Mu Yichuan wasn't very reserved with her in front of outsiders, who knew if he was just as arrogant in his youth?
"Miss Qiu Feng has always liked Young Master Qing," Butler Qin continued to explain.
"Oh." Xin Yu didn't refute. She turned to wash the vegetables, her mind blank, and blurted out, "Has Mu Yichuan ever been in a relationship?"
"Ah, this…" Butler Qin paused, looking away as Xin Yu turned to look at her. "I…I'm not sure."
She's lying!
That was Xin Yu's first instinct.
However, she gave Qin Shu a deep look, but didn't expose her, continuing to prepare food for Mu Yichuan.
She was clearly distracted.
So he'd dated someone other than Qiu Feng?
What kind of person was she?
All the way to the hospital, Xin Yu's mind was preoccupied with this. "I'm sorry I'm late. Are you hungry?"
She composed herself, deciding not to dwell on the question.
It's all in the past, isn't it?
Besides, she had dated Liu Shuihan too. As she had said before, who hasn't been young and impulsive?
"You have something on your mind?" Mu Yichuan saw right through Xin Yu.
She paused, then smiled sweetly, "No! I was afraid you wouldn't like my cooking."
His gaze fell on the various lunchboxes, and as Xin Yu opened one, a delicious aroma wafted out.
She had worried unnecessarily; it smelled delicious.
"Let's eat together."
"No, I've already eaten at home." Xin Yu shook her head. "You eat."
After saying that, she turned and opened her drawings, her eyes lighting up immediately. She turned back in surprise and asked, "You helped me revise it?"
"You drew it very well." Mu Yichuan was quite surprised by Xin Yu's sharp eye. He was afraid Xin Yu wouldn't accept it, so he only made two changes. "I slightly polished two places."
She put down the drawings, planted a kiss on his cheek, and smiled broadly. She had originally wanted to ask Mu Yichuan for help, but was afraid of disturbing his rest. Unexpectedly, he had offered to help.
"You're so nice. It feels good to have a ghostwriter." She giggled.
A tight embrace encircled her waist as Mu Yichuan pulled her into his arms. "It feels good to be kissed by my wife."
Xin Yu pushed him away. "Let's eat. I want to think about the changes you made."
"Ninth Brother, the discharge papers are done," Qiu Zhi reported as he entered.
"You're being discharged? Is that alright?" Xin Yu was still a little worried.
"It's fine." Mu Yichuan didn't seem to care. He hadn't even been hospitalized for two days after his gunshot wound, let alone a minor cold.
"Oh, okay then." Xin Yu didn't dwell on it; it was better to recuperate at home anyway.
"Wow, I really didn't expect you could actually cook?" Qiu Zhi looked at the delicious-looking dishes on the table and couldn't help but be impressed.
"Of course!" Xin Yu sniffed. "As the saying goes, poor children learn to be independent early. You wouldn't understand."