Xin Yu was utterly exasperated by Mu Yichuan.
"If you give it to me, you have to listen to me," she stared at him, looking into his unusually smiling eyes. "You, lie down and rest now, and don't bother me again."
With that, Xin Yu turned away and continued working.
She knew herself well. Without Mu Yichuan's interference, she finished the design by 7:30.
Then she stretched her body thoroughly.
"You started drawing yesterday afternoon?" Mu Yichuan had already gotten up and walked to Xin Yu's side, gently massaging her shoulders, his eyes fixed on her design. "Ayu, you've improved a lot lately."
He remembered that in S country, her designs still had many immature aspects, but in the past month, he could clearly feel that her designs had become more refined.
Xin Yu leaned back against his chest, enjoying their intimacy, but she didn't tell Mu Yichuan that she had improved so much because of him.
Because she wanted to grow quickly so she could catch up and stand beside him.
"Hey, hey..." Xin Yu straightened up, glaring at Mu Yichuan. "Your hand..."
He's so shameless!
He was supposed to be massaging her shoulders, but his hand was already on her waist.
"What's wrong?" Mu Yichuan asked, feigning ignorance, his dark eyes gleaming.
Xin Yu pouted, grabbing his hand, trying to restrain him. This...
Of course, impossible!
The man used a little force, pulling Xin Yu into his arms and trapping her.
He leaned down and gave her a passionate kiss before loosening his grip on her. "Trying to attack your husband again? This is your punishment!"
She gave a coquettish hum, turning her head away from him.
"Ayu..." Mu Yichuan nestled against Xin Yu's neck, his warm breath lingering between them.
"Hmm?" She reached out and wrapped her arms around him. "What do you want for breakfast? I have to go to the competition to submit my drawings after I eat."
"I'll give myself to you, do you want me or not?"
Giggle...
Xin Yu couldn't help but nestle against his neck and laugh. He seemed like a child after just a few days apart.
Mu Yichuan, displeased, pinched the woman in his arms, making her shiver.
"Yes, yes!" Of course she wanted him!
After Xin Yu finished speaking, the man chuckled softly again. Then he released Xin Yu, pulled her small hands from his waist, and helped her sit on the bed.
...!
Her heart skipped a beat; Xin Yu was somewhat stunned by Mu Yichuan's action.
But a certain emotion welled up inside her.
He... wanted her?
Just as she was thinking this, Mu Yichuan suddenly knelt down on one knee in front of Xin Yu, and Xin Yu's eyes widened in shock! "Mu...Mu Yichuan, what...what are you doing?" She stammered in shock, her mind reeling.
Staring blankly at him, she pulled a small velvet box from her pocket.
"Ayu, let's void the previous marriage agreement." Mu Yichuan was serious, a side of him Xinyu had never seen before. His gaze was deep, his gentle light focused intently on her delicate face. "Marry me."
Xinyu blinked hard, wanting to pinch her own flesh to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
Mu Yichuan proposed to her?!
Only three days after Old Master Mu had warned her to leave Mu Yichuan, he had actually proposed to her!
Xinyu couldn't describe the feeling in her heart...
Too many things flashed through her mind and heart in an instant.
Good, bad, confusing, clear.
Too many. Mu Yichuan's brow twitched slightly. He reached out and took Xin Yu's hand. "Ayu, won't you say yes?"
"No!" Xin Yu answered without hesitation, her face flushing red. "No, Mu Yichuan... I..."
"No no means yes," Mu Yichuan said firmly, then slipped the ring onto Xin Yu's left ring finger.
She received a ring again!
This time it was small and exquisite, with a tiny diamond, the size of a grain of rice, set in its center, shimmering with a soft purple light.
Xin Yu's clear, bright eyes gradually welled up with tears. She stared at the ring on her hand for a long time before looking up to meet Mu Yichuan's gaze. "This... is it really okay?"
"Tch." He chuckled lightly, remaining kneeling on one knee. "Whether it's okay or not, you should ask Ayu here."
He placed his hand on Xin Yu's chest, his dark eyes clear and captivating. Xin Yu puffed out her cheeks, looking at his handsome, resolute face with a hint of grievance. She slowly raised her hands, cupped them together, and pressed her warm, soft lips to his cool ones.
One warm, one cold.
A shimmering light.
"You're not allowed to bully me anymore," she said, trying to hold back her tears, reminding herself that this was a happy and joyful moment.
She should smile.
Mu Yichuan reached out and pulled her closer, caressing her lips again and again, tirelessly.
"Have I ever bullied you?"
"Yeah, you bully me every day."
"Looks like my wife isn't too satisfied with my prolonged service."
Xin Yu pushed him away, then helped him up, muttering, "You're so annoying."
...
Even after handing in the drawings at the designated location, Xin Yu felt her heart still floating in the sky, like large white clouds in a clear blue sky.
Unreal.
Too unreal.
She walked with her arms crossed on the quiet street, watching the sparse crowd, a warm smile playing on her lips.
It seemed to melt away all the coldness in the world.
"Ayu, my Ayu…" Mu Yichuan's gentle murmur echoed in her ears, invading every nerve.
"I gave myself to you."
Xin Yu rubbed her forehead, her face flushed, thinking: Idiot, now you're the one giving yourself to him.
The diamond ring on her hand still shone softly…
"Xin Yu."
…!
Xin Yu suddenly stopped, a familiar voice sounding behind her.
Her spine stiffened, a strong sense of foreboding rising in her heart.
Because it was Ai Heng's voice.
She had been trying to contact him, wanting to know what had happened the night she left Nanshi.
Why she had slept with Mu Yichuan.
But he had suddenly disappeared. Today, she had just been proposed to.
He appeared.
She slowly turned around and saw the man behind her—bald, dark-skinned.
It really was him.
Ai Heng.
The only man who had helped her and partnered with her to make money during her darkest three years.
"I'm back," he said again.
"So?" Xin Yu asked coldly. She hadn't expected to be so calm upon seeing him again, no longer curious about the past.
Perhaps it was the peace and confidence brought by the ring on her left ring finger.
"Come with me, Xin Yu."
For some reason, hearing those words made Xin Yu want to laugh.
Go with him?
Who did he think she was? What was she to him? Just a former friend, a business partner.
"If you came back just to say this, then I'm sorry, excuse me." Xin Yu turned to leave.
"Leave Mu Yichuan, Xin Yu."
Ha.
Another person came along and said those words to her.
It seemed as if following Mu Yichuan had jeopardized the entire world.
"So you're also with Mr. Mu?" she retorted.
Ai Heng paused.
He took a step closer. "Xin Yu, someone like Mu Yichuan is not someone you can afford to mess with."
"Too bad, I'm determined to mess with him." With that, she turned and left, ignoring him.
Ai Heng rushed over, grabbed Xin Yu's arm, and looked at her urgently. "Don't you want to know what happened that night in Nanshi?"
"What happened?" Xin Yu looked up at him, her face expressionless, calm and indifferent.
Ai Heng paused again, not expecting her to change so much in just over three months.
Yes, she had never been so vulnerable like a little girl before.
"That night, Mu Yichuan drugged me in the room, and then…"
"So you knew all this, but you didn't save me then."
"…" Ai Heng's expression stiffened. He desperately wanted to admit his cowardice; he couldn't save her. How could he, like an ant, contend with Mr. Jiu?
"Let go." Xin Yu shook off Ai Heng. She was icy cold, yet her heart was strangely calm.
"Xin Yu, Mu Yichuan forcing himself on you wasn't the worst part. The worst part was… he later drugged you, a drug that made you lose your memory."
"You're lying!" Xin Yu roared, her lips turning white with anger, even trembling.
"I didn't—"
"How could such a drug exist in this world!" She didn't believe it. She wasn't a child; how could she believe such rumors? She took a step forward, glaring angrily at Ai Heng. "Tell me, did the Master give you some benefits, and now you're trying to lie to me!"
Ai Heng didn't speak. He had indeed only dared to appear because of the protection promised by the Master…
Turning to run, Xin Yu refused to believe these people's lies!
But Ai Heng's words still reached Xin Yu's ears, "If you don't believe me, go ask Nan Yu!"
Nan Yu?!
The man Mu Yi'ai loved to the point of madness?
The handsome young man with the scar on his face!
He actually knew about this?
Why did he know about this?
Xin Yu was exhausted from running, walking aimlessly, confused…
Looking at the ring on her hand, her heart wanted to believe Mu Yichuan, but reason kept urging her on.
Go and verify.
Go and verify Mu Yichuan's innocence. "Buzz buzz buzz." The phone kept ringing, making the skin on her legs tingle.
Xin Yu took it out and saw the name "Mu Yichuan." She hesitated for a long time before answering, "Hello."
"Where are you?" He frowned, sensing her discomfort. "I'll come pick you up."
"No, no need." Xin Yu's usually cool brows furrowed. "I'm already on the train back to the capital. See you when we get back."
She didn't explain.
She didn't know why she lied.
Her only thought now was to see Nan Yu and get some answers.
"Ayu, come back." Mu Yichuan seemed to have guessed something. "Ayu, tell me something, I can tell you."
His usually cold tone now had a hint of pleading.
"Mu Yichuan, if I ask you, will you lie to me?"
"..."
He paused.
He actually stopped.
Xin Yu's heart ached as if it were being torn apart. He had proposed to her just this morning! The usually aloof and arrogant Mr. Jiu knelt on one knee, proposing marriage.
But why was fate so unfair? His joy lasted less than three hours before it had to take away his happiness.