Xu Tang was enraged. Nothing was more humiliating than being reprimanded by one's love rival, especially when it was something that only concerned him. "You dare to admonish me? Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Do you think you deserved to be admonished by me? I'm only speaking because I think your little sister is too pitiful."

What riled up Mu Zhichen the most was that Lu Meili had to risk her life to that extent. No matter how one looked at it, Lu Meili couldn't be blamed for being rash. Even if that car wouldn't fall off, it would have exploded before Small Xixi got rescued. In fact, she should be praised from being brave.

However, none of this could change the fact that she was his beloved. It would still be slightly fine if it was someone else. But just what right did the Xu family have to get her to love them so much? She valued them more than her life but did they ever appreciate it?

It made the whole situation sound like she owed the Xu family in her previous lifetime and was currently repaying it in this lifetime.

Xu Tang narrowed his eyes coldly at Mu Zhichen. Everyone saw it – Mu Zhichen was the one picking a fight with him. He shouldn't be blamed if he retaliated. He didn't know that it was deliberately meant for him to keep losing his temper in Lu Meili's presence.

"Young master Mu, are you so proud of yourself? I wouldn't be if I were you. You understand -- just like everyone else does – that Lu Meili doesn't love you. You are just an option she picked up because she was heartbroken. A substitute. That's what you are."

Mu Zhichen's hands itched for violence. This man was quite something. How could one person afford to be so idiotic? Are you sure he had not gathered up everyone's lifetime supply of idiocity and pumped it into his brain? Wait, did he even have a brain to begin with?

"So noisy…" Lu Meili mumbled. Her mind was still fuzzy.

Mu Zhichen forgot about that idiot. "Sweetie, I'll send him away right now. We can go home after your friend gets out of danger, okay?"

Lu Meili didn't say anything against it.

She was tired too, and still scared.

It was not everyday she risked her own life like that. That moment when she thought she and Small Xixi were going to die, right before Mu Zhichen appeared out of thin air and grabbed her hand, she was terrified.

A normal man couldn't handle such a scare, let alone a young woman like herself.

"Are your hands okay?" She suddenly asked Mu Zhichen. Holding two women up against gravity must have hurt. It was shocking that his bones were not dislocated.

When Mu Zhichen saw the trace of worry in her eyes, he showed her his arm. It didn't hurt. When saving a loved one, pain was a stranger.

Even so, he looked pitiable and even winced when she touched it. "It hurts... it hurts very much."

"You should have it checked."

Mu Zhichen smiled in satisfaction when he successfully gained her sympathy. "It's alright. If you blow on it a little, it will no longer be painful."

Her mind was still in a daze. Lu Meili didn't think much of it and pursed her lips to blow onto his arm.

"Tsk. My sister is in this situation yet someone has the guts to flirt here. Why don't you take your affection to your bedroom?" Xu Tang was fuming with both rage and jealousy. Were women so easily persuaded?

One day, she was in love with him and the next day, she was snuggled in his arms and blowing on his arm like a kitten owned by him?

Truly, it was better to believe in the existence of vampires than believe that a woman was in love. These creatures were all fake.

The more he acted this way, the happier Mu Zhichen was.

That guy was only ruining his own image in Lu Meili's eyes. It was even more guaranteed that Lu Meili would never get back together with him.

___

Small Xixi only woke up the next day. There was nothing wrong with her except a few injuries. She had passed out because of the trauma.

"Sis Meili, I owe you too many lives already. Boohoo." Small Xixi was obviously looking so cute that Lu Meili couldn't help hugging her.

"Xixi, It doesn't matter. We are friends, aren't we? Or were you really expecting me to let my maid of honor die?"

"You're right. I'm your maid of honor. How can I die even before the engagement party?

Right. Sis Meili, when I woke up at some point, I saw you sprain your leg terribly. Is it alright?"

"It's fine Xixi. When we got here, Mu Zhichen had me get a full body check up as soon as you went into surgery.

I'm telling you, he was so cool yesterday. If he didn't appear in a flash like a superhero, we would both be six feet underground." Lu Meili's eyes were as bright as the sun rays seeping in through the curtains. "He was so cool! All that was missing was a superhero suit."

Small Xixi touched her forhead to check for a fever. "Eer... I'm the one who had an accident. How did you end up being the one to knock your head?"

"Do you think I'm crazy? You will not believe it because you did not see. All I heard was a rush of wind and... And I will shut the hell up now because you're looking at me like I'm a lunatic."

Small Xixi giggled. "That's not it. Don't be mad, my sweet angel. I'm just wondering what weird meds you've been taking lately. Are you even describing a human being? He sounds to me like one of those superhero-like characters from that movie you starred in last year."

Lu Meili was successfully annoyed by this little thing. "Whatever it is, we should thank him."

Small Xixi was still interested. "Where is he right now?"

He went to his office this morning. He will pick me up later."

Small Xixi's cheeks reddened. "Oh dear, I've been shipping you with my brother for years but I don't know if the ship will withhold this storm anymore."

"What's that about?"

Small Xixi looked mockingly scared. "The way you described that man just now. I thought he was a god. Ah! I think I'm shipping my sister-in-law with my brother's love rival. I'm not being a bad sister, right?"

Lu Meili laughed at this girl's antics.

Speaking of being bad siblings, it would never make sense unless she heard it from Small Xixi. "Xixi, was your phone switched off yesterday? Otherwise, why would you use mine to call for help?"

Small Xixi suddenly looked sad and traumatized. "I did use mine. You know that the only person I could have called is my brother, right?"

"He didn't answer the call?"

"When I realized the brakes had likely failed, I hurriedly tapped the first contact on my phone. Unfortunately, I got distracted and that was why I crashed into the rails of the bridge.

Do you know, that guy did pick my call, but when I called for help, he reprimanded me for being a drama queen and faking things. He didn't trust me at all. I could only use your phone."

Lu Meili hugged the girl tightly. "Don't think about it anymore."

Though she wondered, "That guy has no sense of trust at all. He often thinks everyone is lying and denies even his own thoughts and feelings. Do you think it's an after effect of being traumatized for years?"

Small Xixi was annoyed. "Seriously. There's no such thing. He has not been like this in the past."

Lu Meili was not concerned about him as she would be in the past. She only cared about her friend.

And, where was he right now? He was obviously Small Xixi's only brother. Why was it that Wan Jia and Su Ling had to stay in hospital keeping her company at night?

He could be in the temple praying for her... she hoped.

...

"Small Xixi, you're finally awake. I brought breakfast." Wan Jia came in carrying food flasks.

"Mom, did you even sleep a wink? You only went home two hours ago."

"Don't worry. I will rest more once Small Xixi is discharged." Wan Jia opened one of the flasks.

"Oatmeal porridge?" Small Xixi didn't look pleased.

"I'll cook you more delicacies when you get better. I'll feed you, mmh?"

Lu Meili took the bowl from Wan Jia. "I'll feed her. Mom, if you don't rest, your head will hurt." Wan Jia had probably done nothing except worrying all night.

Lu Meili, on the other hand, had to rest a little at night because her ankle was too painful the previous night.

Wan Jia let her feed Small Xixi. The girls must have a lot to talk about. "You should have breakfast too. It's right here."