Xin Yu pouted, closing her eyes in dissatisfaction.
But her mind raced, pondering Mu Yichuan's words.
Cheng Yuan's condition wasn't optimistic, and neither was hers…
She couldn't say she regretted asking Mu Yichuan if he would still marry her, but she wasn't as resolute as she had been when she fell down the stairs last night.
"Mu Yichuan?"
No answer.
Xin Yu secretly lifted her left eyelid, trying to peek at him, but before she could fully open her eyes, she was startled by his cold gaze and closed them tightly again.
Mu Yichuan shook his head helplessly. The little girl clearly wasn't resting; her eyes were constantly darting around.
Indeed, Xin Yu racked her brains trying to guess Mu Yichuan's true thoughts. Was he lying to her?
Otherwise, why would he have answered so simply?
"You…" She opened her eyes and glanced at Mu Yichuan, wanting to ask, but she didn't dare to speak. If he admitted it as readily as before, how would she face him? Her already unwavering resolve faltered.
"What?!" He glared at her, then fell silent again, focusing on driving.
Xin Yu looked at his somewhat indifferent profile, her heart sinking further. She regretted rushing to ask him so rashly.
"Ayu." Mu Yichuan suddenly spoke, glancing over during a red light.
"Hmm." She sat up slightly, wondering if he wanted to explain something.
"The design competition is being held at the Technology Building. The proposals and competition rules have been sent to your email. Do you have any opinions?"
"…" This topic was completely unexpected for Xin Yu.
The jump was too abrupt!
"I… haven't… had time to look at it, haven't had time to think about it…"
"Then what have you been thinking about?"
"You." Xin Yu admitted frankly.
But, damn it, Mu Yichuan was silent again!
Why? Had he changed his mind?
Had he given up on her? A growing sense of regret washed over her. Why had she been so foolish as to try and make amends?
The car drove smoothly, but Xin Yu's heart was pounding.
In the quiet car, they could hear each other breathing.
Xin Yu twisted her hands, head down, and after a long pause, finally looked up, her face a little droopy. "Where are we going? Home?"
"No," Mu Yichuan replied curtly.
Then, silence fell again…
Xin Yu was so frustrated she wanted to jump out of the car. He wasn't even talking to her!
She didn't want to talk to him either!
But why did she feel so sad?
Her eyelashes fluttered. Xin Yu closed her eyes, forcing herself not to overthink. Maybe Mu Yichuan was just in a bad mood…
"Asleep?" After what seemed like an eternity, Mu Yichuan's voice came as Xin Yu's head spun.
She opened her blurry eyes, looking at his handsome face, her gaze drifting out of the car window. Where was she?
Huang Shidai.
"Why did we stop here?" Xin Yu was still dazed, blinking her dark eyes. "We have to go to the hospital to see Yuanzi."
His dark eyes were deep and intense.
"Get out."
"You want to buy something?" Xin Yu, being led by Mu Yichuan, twitched her lips. Was his throat sore today that he was mute?
He didn't even have the strength to speak!
"I'm still a patient! I can speak."
"Hmm?" Mu Yichuan turned his head slightly, looking at Xin Yu. "What are you muttering about!"
"N-nothing." Xin Yu shook her head hurriedly, inwardly cursing herself for being spineless.
The two took the elevator directly to the 8th floor of the mall.
...!
This floor actually housed a huge wedding dress shop.
Xin Yu had never been here before, so of course she didn't know this place held such a hidden gem.
But, a wedding dress shop! "You...why did you bring me here!"
"Are you really stupid from the fall?" Mu Yichuan touched Xin Yu's forehead. "To try on wedding dresses, to marry you."
"..." She was stunned for a while before raising her hand and slapping Mu Yichuan's chest repeatedly. "Mu Yichuan, you bastard!"
He frowned, looking at the suddenly acting crazy little girl.
This...
Xin Yu felt uneasy under his gaze. Her hand stopped, but she still grumbled, "Why...why didn't you say anything the whole way! I thought—"
"Thought what?" Mu Yichuan grabbed Xin Yu's slender waist, and she instantly pressed against his chest. "Who was injured yesterday? Shouldn't they rest?"
"..." She didn't say a word in rebuttal. He had indeed told her to rest. "But why didn't you say anything?"
"Say what?"
"Of course, your willingness to marry me...ah!" Before she could finish speaking, Mu Yichuan picked her up and carried her directly to the VIP fitting room.
"I've put up with you for a long time."
"What are you going to do?" Xin Yu's pupils contracted in fright, her small hands bracing against Mu Yichuan. He'd even brought her to the bridal shop, so why was he speaking through gritted teeth?
"You...you said you wouldn't bully me anymore! You, the dignified Ninth Master, can't bully the weak." She stammered, "I've done nothing to you, why have you put up with me!"
His hawk-like eyes locked onto Xin Yu, his cool fingertips tracing her skin. "My willingness to marry you, how much more do you want me to show it!"
He'd even knelt down to propose!
"Ahem." Xin Yu turned her head away, a little embarrassed. She had indeed been overthinking things. "I thought you didn't want to talk to me anymore."
After saying that, she looked at Mu Yichuan with bright black eyes, raised her hands, clasped them together, and wrapped them around his neck.
"You haven't given up on me, have you?"
"Dream on."
With that, he frantically captured Xin Yu's lips, their kiss entwining and swirling, their breaths instantly igniting the temperature in the fitting room.
His fiery tongue filled her mouth, making her gasp for breath.
"Mu Yichuan, stop..." Finally free, Xin Yu quickly warned, "This is a bridal shop!"
"So?" Mu Yichuan's voice was hoarse. As he said, he had held back for too long.
This kiss was absolutely electrifying.
It was unstoppable.
"You...you don't care about your image?" Wasn't he the boss of Royal Era?
The employees outside were all watching!
If word got out, even the thickest skin wouldn't be able to withstand it! "Tch." Mu Yichuan's voice carried a hint of amusement as he whispered in Xin Yu's ear, "Who cares about image? I only need Xin Yu."
With that, he resumed his advances…
When the last piece of clothing covering her upper body was removed, a cool sensation washed over her.
Ugh.
"Mu Yichuan, really, I don't want to be here." She quickly grabbed her clothes, smacking her head hard as she did so. She had no self-control; she'd been led astray so easily.
"Really not?" he chuckled.
"Yes, please." Xin Yu began to put her clothes on, and Mu Yichuan didn't stop her.
"If you take the initiative back home, I'll stop."
"…" Xin Yu's dark eyes darted around a few times before she nodded.
We'll talk about going back home later. Who says you can't back out!
After being fussed over by the staff for a while, when Xin Yu stood in front of Mu Yichuan, her eyes clearly lit up.
She couldn't resist moving to the mirror. Her floor-length white wedding dress accentuated her exquisite curves.
"Miss Xin, you're absolutely stunning!" exclaimed a staff member, fiddling with the folds of the fabric. "This wedding dress was designed by the French designer J. Look at the floral pendants—they're made of the world's lightest tulle, 99 in total, each with its own meaning."
Xin Yu picked up a pendant and examined it; indeed, each one was unique. Looking up again, she saw Mu Yichuan standing beside her.
He was wearing a black suit today. Perhaps because of what happened last night, he wasn't wearing a tie; the top button was undone, and his handsome face was slightly stubbled, but this didn't detract from his aura; instead, it added to his maturity and composure.
"Still saying you don't miss me?" Mu Yichuan whispered seductively in Xin Yu's ear.
*Swish.*
Xin Yu's face flushed and glowed like a ripe apple, alluring and rosy.
She had just been staring at Mu Yichuan, completely mesmerized!
"What's there to be shy about, hmm?" he continued, his deep voice like a freshly brewed cup of fine coffee, its aroma filling the air.
Xin Yu nudged him shyly.
"Mr. Jiu and Miss Xin, you're such a perfect match!" the staff exclaimed.
Her gaze fell on the two of them in the mirror. Standing next to the tall Mu Yichuan, she did indeed look quite petite, but thankfully, the wedding dress elevated her elegance, making her slightly worthy of his radiant presence.
"Mu Yichuan, is it really possible?" She stared at his hand, which was tightly clasped around hers. Could they really get married?
Would Old Master Mu really not interfere again?
"Why not!" Mu Yichuan said firmly, stroking the ring on her ring finger. "I want to marry you, you want to marry me, it's only natural!"
Xin Yu pursed her lips, tilting her head slightly. If only this moment could last forever! No need to bother thinking about those unhappy things anymore…
"What kind of ring is this?" Mu Yichuan suddenly asked, his hand reaching out to remove the ring from Xin Yu's right hand.
"Hey! What are you doing!" She quickly curled her finger, trying to pull her hand back.
"You're only allowed to wear the ones I give you!"
Domineering and authoritarian!
"This…this is a gift I gave myself!" Xin Yu's bright black eyes sparkled. "Honey, you can't be so stingy."
"Then give me this!" Mu Yichuan simply didn't want her wearing rings on both hands.
"You can't fit them!" Xin Yu compared his fingers to hers; a man's fingers, no matter how long, are always thicker than a woman's.
Mu Yichuan glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "If you want to give it to me, I have plenty of ways to handle it."
"…" She just didn't want to give it to him; this was a dream she had planted in herself.
"Hmm?" The last syllable rose, full of threat.
Xin Yu pouted, tilted her head back, and complained, "Mr. Jiu is bullying me again!"
But before Mu Yichuan could react, she suddenly remembered something, grabbed his hand tightly, and said seriously, "I have something to show you."
"I don't want to see it! I want this ring."
Xin Yu's lips twitched. Why was he acting like a child, still throwing a tantrum?
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the staff around them looking down; they were probably secretly laughing!
"Mu Yichuan, what I'm about to say is very important! Come with me."
But after only a few steps, Xin Yu felt that dragging such an expensive wedding dress was inappropriate. After fussing and changing for a while, she finally pulled Mu Yichuan to the fitting room.
She took out the ring she had found from her handbag.