Xi Mushan was startled when Shen Wenna questioned him. Instantly, he put up an apologetic expression on his handsome face, but he did not defend himself. After all, he was at fault in this matter...

"I understand that it's a difficult situation for you, but you should know your daughter well. I don't care how you and Yue Lingsi betrayed me back then. I also don't care how Xi Xinyi imitated her mother and attacked Xiaye, but I just hope that you can protect this peace Xiaye has found after marrying Chen. This is something you can do, isn't it?"

Shen Wenna looked at Xi Mushan straight in the eye.e, "Xiaye has always been concerned about us. I have to say that I'm not a responsible mother to her..."

"Wenna, I'm sorry... I've always felt guilty towards you all these years. Every time I see Xiaye, I'd... I went to look for you at the school before... I wanted to talk to you. If... If..."

"What for? Can't you give me some peace alone? You know very well that Yue Lingsi came and looked for me the last time. Moreover, things are over between us. Please don't be like this," Shen Wenna sighed.

"Wenna, we're not young anymore. I wish to live for myself," Xi Mushan said quietly.

"Please stop saying that. I'm tired. I don't want to argue with you on this anymore. Since you said so, then please go back to your wife and live happily ever after with her. I'm not interested in interfering at all. I'm fine. You don't have to worry. Things are great for me now. Didn't we live peacefully all this time? Why do you have to break the peace now?" Shen Wenna raised her head and looked at Xi Mushan.

"I can't let you go, Wenna..."

Shen Wenna's expression changed and she had a mocking smile on her face when she heard Xi Mushan's words. "So? Who do you think I am? Don't forget that you have your own family now. Don't make me look down on you!"

"I've never touched her except that night! Wenna, you knew that I thought she was you, so..." Xi Mushan looked guilty and his eyes were cold. "Who knew she would go overseas in secret, and even give birth to Xinyi?"

Shen Wenna laughed coldly at him. Having lost interest, she was about to head back into the house. "There's no meaning to your words now. No matter how good your reasons are, you can't erase the fact that you've betrayed me, Xi Mushan. I hope that you can be responsible and bear your faults. At least, that can still impress me."

"Wenna!" Xi Mushan coughed lightly as he grabbed Shen Wenna's hand, but she swiftly avoided him.

Xi Mushan closed his eyes in agony after he saw Shen Wenna step back into the house. He took a deep breath as the pain seeped deep into his heart. Depression shrouded him.

There were some mistakes that could never be corrected. No matter how hard he tried, there was nothing he could do.

After some time, Shen Wenna went back to school and the Mu Tangchuan couple had something to work on as well. Shen Yue and Mu Yinan were going to play golf. Xi Jiyang invited Mu Yuchen to visit West Park some time, but Xi Xiaye rejected. She really did not want to see people that would make her upset.

Mu Yuchen just let her be.

After they went back into the living room after sending them off, Xi Xiaye sat down tiredly as she accepted the cup of tea he handed her.

"I don't know what Mother told Father, but from the way he looks, he seemed pretty sad..."

"Father should still have feelings for Mother. His eyes say it all," he replied indifferently.

She gave it some thought before nodding. She then sighed, "There seems to be an uncrossable realm between them. There's nothing I can do to help."

She placed the cup down and then looked at the man beside her. She stared at him for some time before asking, "Will you make the same mistake in the future?"

He looked up from the newspaper and glanced at her. After a brief moment, he replied, "Do you think there's anyone else that can satisfy me besides you?"

"Can't you be more serious? I'm not joking around here!" Xi Xiaye grabbed a pillow nearby and threw it at him as her face blushed.

He blocked the pillow she threw with one hand, and then replied to her with a serious expression, "Do I not look serious to you right now?"

Xi Xiaye glared at him before cleaning up the table. All of them were items Wang Hui had brought over from the Mu Residence. She moved the bags a little and she saw their contents.

Velvet antler?

Velvet antler wine?

Those words reminded her of the aphrodisiac qualities of the contents!

However, did he really need it?

Xi Xiaye was stunned for a moment. She glanced at him and saw that he had already gone back to reading his papers. She then packed the stuff up swiftly, but her sudden movements actually alerted him.

He raised his head and saw her flushed face. "What's wrong? Are you sick?" He put down the newspaper and wanted to help.

"Nope, it's alright. I'll do it. You sit down!" She moved around and continued to work on packing.

He had better not touch these things. She remembered that Wang Hui made her ate some supplements and she had felt odd after that.

Mu Yuchen looked at her in doubt. He suddenly grabbed the bag she packed and she quickly seized his hand. "These are mine..."

"Let me see what's inside!"

"No!"

"Just a look!"

"No, don't move!"

She hugged the bag in front of her, and at that moment, someone's phone rang. Mu Yuchen gripped her arm with one hand and took out the phone with another to answer the call.

"Xiaye, it's me..."

A deep voice reached his ear, sounding a little familiar. Mu Yuchen took a small pause as frigidity surfaced on his face.

Xi Xiaye soon noticed that something was not right. She tilted her head over and looked at the phone screen curiously.

"What's wrong?"

An unknown number greeted her sight. She was about to ask who it was, but he handed the phone to her and said softly, "It's for you."

Xi Xiaye's brows raised, then she muttered, "You're acting crazy."

She reached out to take over the phone and answer, it."Hello?"

When he heard her voice, a muffled voice which was affected by gloom mumbled quickly, "Xiaye, it's me..."

Recognizing his voice, Xi Xiaye frowned. Her body tensed up and a while after, she said, "Why are you calling?"

"The thing that you got someone to bring me... I've seen it... I want to talk to you..." Han Yifeng's low voice came through with a hint of disappointment and frustration.

Xi Xiaye leaned against Mu Yuchen and sat down. "The things I brought you have no other meaning. I just wanted to do it for myself. Besides, however you see them is your problem."

"Xiaye, I also..."

"Enough, CEO Han. I'm not interested in chatting with you. For now, you should be thinking about how to help your fiancè with those rumors."

Xi Xiaye indifferently lowered her gaze and then slowly hung up. Just as she was about to continue tidying up, she suddenly felt that the energy from the man beside her was off, so she then turned to look at him. Indeed, he did not look right. His deep eyes flickered with a cold light that she could not fathom as they stared right at her.

Xi Xiaye immediately frowned and looked up at him. "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You delivered something to him?" He asked in a deep voice, his eyes narrowed.

When she heard him, she vaguely felt that his tone was not right, and from the way he looked, she thought about something. Then, her lips curled up as she pulled at his arm and her body leaned forward. "Why do I smell something sour here? You wouldn't be jealous, would you?"

His handsome brows furrowed. The light in his eyes was sly and bewitching. Quite a while after that, he said, "What brand is the vinegar? Who would have such power? That person isn't on the same level as I am. Would I be jealous of him?"

Xi Xiaye immediately giggled gently. She went up to him with her slender body. "You smell sour from head to toe, and you're still denying it? Quickly come up with a new term called 'proud and pampered'!"

He reached out to hug her body that had shimmied up to him. When she threw himself onto him, the both of them ended up lying down. "I'm fine. I didn't..."

"Defending yourself is tantamount to covering up!"

She pinned him down below her, and stared at him like she was discovering him with the curiosity of finding a New World, yet he was frankly lazy to explain and lowered his gaze. He reached up to comb his fingers through her beautiful hair.

When she saw him keeping mum, Xi Xiaye lifted her fair and slightly cold fingers to touch his handsome face. She looked down at him and said softly, "I just got Xiao Mei to send the evidence I collected about Xi Xinyi's crimes to his office. I wanted to expose Xi Xinyi... Do you think I'm a bad woman?"

His tensed handsome face eased a little while he just let her hold his face. He pondered thoughtfully for a while, then he nodded and said seriously, "You're pretty wicked... If this were a fairytale, you'd have to play the role of a witch."

"That's true. Young witches are usually very beautiful, capable, and can even make you envious..." She merely turned his words into a compliment, a rare joke.

"Missus, actually I think that the prince and the witch are actually the most suitable pair. As long as they have each other in their hearts, they'll also live a peaceful and happy life. No matter what, they'll be the most beautiful in each other's hearts, and that would be enough."

He chuckled softly and his long arms hugged her tightly.

He and she could actually be very simple.

As long as he thought she was good, and vice versa, that would be enough!

"Why are you the prince and I the witch when you're actually worse than me and sinister too!?" She complained unhappily.

"I'm not as bad as you say. I'm a good person, that person's the bad one, don't be confusing right from wrong now, someone like him could only be fit with a hypocritical princess, they wouldn't know how good you are, only I have the eye to discern..."

Mr. Mu decided that he must instill a beautiful and glorious image of him in her, making Han Yifeng's image worse and worse to her.

Xi Xiaye suddenly squinted her starry eyes and watched him speak. A while after that, when he stopped, he looked at her weirdly too. Then, she laughed and the hand that gently held his arm suddenly slid down, pulling his long fingers with some warmth seeping through her palms. Under his puzzled and shocked gaze, she lowered her head and inched nearer to his lips...

The faint fragrance closed in. She could not help but be stunned by his proximity for a moment. He was a little shocked by this little girl's initiative, but he very quickly responded. Naturally, he would not let go of this, so he very generously let her take the lead, letting her take over him.

"Mu Yuchen, I've never told you this before, but I've always thought you were a good person. Of all the men I've met, you are the most handsome, dashing, and good-tempered man. Many female colleagues at the company like you too. They all say you don't look like a boss, but even more like a Prince Charming that's out of this world. Mmm... like that Piano Prince... So unlike us common mortals..." Xi Xiaye suddenly rambled to him, "The people in our department don't know about us, and even want me to chase after you and tackle you!"

When he heard her revelation, he chuckled and could not help but hold her up by the shoulders. He beamed and said, "Unlike you common mortals? Wouldn't that make me an immortal then? Prince Charming? But you chasing me, that we can consider!"

"You wish! Why is it not you chasing me? I'm the goddess among our company's male colleagues, alright?"

"I never chase after women... but, Missus, you're definitely an exception. Mmm!"

"If you dare to not make me an exception, I'll send a slap right across... Mr. Mu, do you think I've become thicker?"

"How so? Missus, you're still very slim!"

"Why do I feel like I've become thicker?"

"Let me feel you... It does feel like so... Mmm!"

Before he could finish, a fist of hers fell again. He could not help but feel helpless — it turned out that telling the truth was wrong too!

However, compared to Mu Yuchen and Xi Xiaye's happiness on this end of town, Han Yifeng's side had clouds of worry and a dismal tone.

On the sofa in the living room of the villa, Han Yifeng was looking gloomily at the entertainment news reported on his computer screen. Beside him, Secretary Wang had delivered a huge pile of newspapers to him. Huge piles of papers messily scattered the table, all reporting the latest update about Xi Xinyi.

Quite a few days had passed, yet this incident still had not fizzled out. Instead, it seemed to have become worse. The entire entertainment industry was still abuzz with rumors as all sorts of scandals about Xi Xinyi surfaced.

Naturally, it included many suspicions that people had decided to hit her with while she was down!

Han Yifeng's expression looked increasingly morose. Huang Ziyao and Han Yu had also kept calling to ask about the progress on the whole ordeal, yet he did not know how to answer them.

He studied the phone screen that had already dimmed on his table, his eyes dark. He sat there for a long time without moving until he heard Secretary Wang call out to him, "CEO Han, what do we do? These scandals cannot be suppressed anymore. Yueying is being forced to make Miss Xinyi temporarily leave the company. I heard that CEO Deng even collapsed from being angered by this..."

Secretary Wang looked a little uneasily at Han Yifeng. "The old Chairman and Madam have already called many times to ask about the situation and Xinyi, but your phone has been switched off. They're very worried."

Han Yifeng fell silent for a long time before finally answering, "Go home first. I'd like to be alone."

"CEO Han, but Miss Xinyi... She..."

"You go home first. I'll call you if I need anything." Han Yifeng propped his head up with one hand with waning interest. Then, he picked up the remote control and switched the television off. When Secretary Wang saw his boss react that way, he dared not speak further and retreated.

However, Secretary Wang had just walked to the entrance of the villa when he saw Xi Xinyi rushing in.

"Miss Xinyi!" Secretary Wang greeted nervously.

Xi Xinyi rushed up and said anxiously, "Secretary Wang? Where's Yifeng? Is Yifeng inside?"

"CEO Han is in the living room, Miss Xinyi..."

Before Secretary Wang could finish, Xi Xinyi had already rushed in.

"Yifeng!"

Indeed, she saw Yifeng in the living room, sitting on the sofa looking down. His expression was grim. Xi Xinyi paused, then she walked over with moist eyes. "Are you angry at me? I've called you, but your phone was switched off. I..."

"Yifeng..."

Xi Xinyi sat down beside Han Yifeng, her eyes blinking with tears. She reached out to hold Han Yifeng's arm, her charming face now seeming haggard. She shook Han Yifeng's arm, but when she saw that Han Yifeng was still frowning, she finally could not help but droop her head down, feeling upset and heartbroken. She started to cry.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I didn't know that things would turn out like this, Yifeng... I really didn't do it on purpose, Yifeng, I... I just cared for you too much. That's why I fell so deep into it and couldn't pull myself out. It makes me really sad that you'd switch off your phone and not pick up my calls... I'll listen to you and quite the entertainment industry, okay? Yifeng..."

Xi Xinyi choked on her sobs as her tears started to fall, and very soon it soaked her shirt. All of the agony she had endured suddenly erupted. "Yifeng, don't just keep quiet. Don't be mad at me! I'll just change after this, Yifeng..."

Her unbearably vulnerable face entered Han Yifeng's sight, yet it annoyed him somehow. He did not know how to answer her. In the name of love, she had not spared using so many tricks. He could feel that maybe Xi Xinyi did love him deeply, but could he really just turn a blind eye to all of this?

"I really love you... I really regretted it after that, just so you know. All these years, I've been trying to make it up to her. I've been working hard and doing my best, but, Yifeng, ever since we returned to the country, you've been slowly changing. You haven't been doting on me as you did. In this house, you treasure everything that she gave you like that bottle of stars by your nightstand... Do you know how it makes me panic?"

Xi Xinyi cried like she had been very wronged. Her initially gentle voice had become raspy from the weeping and her hand that held onto Han Yifeng could not help but tremble.

He stayed silent for some time before Han Yifeng finally took a deep breath, and then an expression of mixed emotions flashed across his face. He turned to Xi Xinyi who was sobbing heartbreakingly and he felt his heart sink. He struggled for a while before answering, "That's enough, Xinyi. I know how you feel about me, but I didn't think that you... Since I've already chosen you and we're already engaged, why do you still have to worry? You even didn't spare getting Yu Lingling to re-open Xiaye's old scars. You know how it's Xiaye's fatal weakness. Xinyi, what do you want me to say? Now, the scandals are the talk of the town. When can you be considerate toward me? I've already said that you should retire..."

Han Yifeng had not finished when the phone on his table suddenly vibrated. At one glance, he could tell that, of course, it was Huang Ziyao. He could only massage between his brows. Shooting a look at Xi Xinyi, he saw the shock on Xi Xinyi's face. He lowered his head sadly, inhaled, and picked up his phone. "Hello? Mother?"

"Yifeng? You've finally picked up! How are you? What's the deal with Xinyi? I've called Yueying, but the line's always busy. I called West Park and no one picked up too. What's happening? Your grandfather saw the news and almost got a heart attack. You know that your grandfather has always been against Xinyi entering the showbiz, saying that a lot of people are mixed in it and how there're lots of scandals too. Nevertheless, it was you two who say that it'd be fine, and now that all these scandals have surfaced, how are you going to explain to your grandfather and everyone else?"

Han Yifeng had just picked up the call when Huang Ziyao's pressing and questioning tone assaulted his ears. Even Xi Xinyi could hear it clearly from the side and her little face instantly stiffened.

"How are you two planning to handle this? The reporters' calls have already reached the Han family. What's up with that?"

...

Huang Ziyao's every word was a like a heavy hammer, viciously knocking onto Xi Xinyi's heart. Xi Xinyi could not stop herself from trembling. Feeling a deep sorrow, she started to be absent-minded and could not stop choking on her sobs as her eyes turned bloodshot from all the crying.

"Mother! That's enough. I'll handle this. Just tell Grandfather that. That's all for now!" Han Yifeng felt annoyed and then hung up.

"Yifeng..." Xi Xinyi looked sick with worry at Han Yifeng.