"Of course I'm not a man like that, Ms. Xiaye!" Qi Lei's playful voice reached Xi Xiaye again when she arrived beside her car!

Xi Xiaye frowned, staring at Qi Lei with her cold eyes. For some reason, she had a very bad feeling about this man.

When it came to the South River project, Glory World and Qi Kai were opponents and it was inevitable for some friction to exist between them.

Glory World and Qi Kai were not involved with each other at all. Aside from the conflict that happened in the past collaborations, those matters were resolved peacefully and there were no leftover issues afterward. However, given Qi Lei's tone of voice just now, it seemed that he was very unhappy with Mu Yuchen.

What had happened?

Xi Xiaye did not give it much thought. She got into the car and gave Ah Mo a call as she put the gear into reverse.

The call went on for some time without anyone picking up. Just as Xi Xiaye was about to give up, the call connected.

"Hello, Missus?" It was Ah Mo's voice.

"Ah Mo? It's me... Is Mu Yuchen still with you?" Xi Xiaye asked with a frown.

"Master? Nope, Master went back to Maple Residence after getting off the plane in the evening. Is he still not home yet?" Ah Mo was a little anxious and his tone sounded worried.

"I'm still outside. His phone was switched off the whole time, and no one's picking up the phone at home. Never mind. I'll head back now, but I might call you again."

She hung up before Ah Mo could say anything. Revving the engine, she headed right back to Maple Residence, rushing the whole way through.

Half an hour later, the car entered the Grand Waves villa area. The car brought forth a gush of wind and after several swift turns, it suddenly braked as it stopped right before Maple Residence.

Xi Xiaye got out of the car quickly and went into the house.

Looking from afar, the villa was still pitch black. The only lights were from the street lamps by the front yard.

Xi Xiaye soon went into the villa. She switched the lights in the living room on, yet it was empty.

She left her briefcase aside and started searching everywhere. Despite calling his phone again, it was still switched off!

There was no one in the living room or in the kitchen. She looked everywhere downstairs and he was nowhere to be found. The uneasiness inside her grew stronger. Her chest tightened as she rushed upstairs.

The room was dark as well. She switched the lights in the bedroom on.

Empty!

No one on the balcony too!

Ah, the study room?

She turned around and went inside the study room.

Bang!

She flipped the switch on and the lights lit up the whole room, chasing away the darkness.

She could smell the faint smell of tobacco. Her eyes searched around and saw him lying on the soft chair beside the tall bookshelf.

His eyes were closed and he was giving off a cold vibe around him. The ashtray was already full of stubs.

Not used to the sudden light, he took a deep breath and blocked the light with one hand while he squinted his eyes and looked over at the door. She was panting with her face red. He then groaned, "You're back..."

He dragged the curtain beside him open and pushed the window outward. A strong gust of wind came inside and soon blew the cigarette smell away.

His voice sounded dry and hoarse while his face seemed exhausted as well.

"What's wrong? Why is your phone switched off? You didn't pick up the phone when I called home too!" Xi Xiaye went to the coffee table and poured a glass of water before going near him.

He pinched the space between his eyebrows before grabbing his phone. He then put it back when he saw that it was still turned off.

"Drink some water. How are you? Why do you look so terrible?" Xi Xiaye frowned as she handed him the glass of water.

"I'm alright. I'm just tired and I didn't get to rest well," Mu Yuchen gave a brief reply as he took the glass of water and sipped it a little. His voice sounded really hoarse.

She seemed worried and could not help but put her hand on his forehead.

It was burning!

Her eyes darkened. She quickly grabbed his hand and as she expected, it was nearly the same temperature as his forehead. "You're having a fever. Can't you feel it?"

A fever?

No wonder he felt out of strength and dizzy...

Mu Yuchen frowned, his breathing getting heavier. "I'm fine..."

Xi Xiaye was starting to get a headache. She took a deep breath, and before he could say anything, she called Dr. Zhong and asked him to come over immediately. She was so quick that he could not stop her.

After hanging up, she helped him up. "Let me get you to bed."

"It's fine. It's just a small fever. I don't want to sleep. I'll be fine by just lying down for a bit," he replied as he breathed heavily. He did not seem very well.

"Is a fever a small matter? I'll get you some medicine first..." Xi Xiaye felt like a mess inside. She was worried and freaked out at the same time when he was feeling terrible. Back then, when she was like this alone, she would just take some medicine herself and went back to sleep. Only she would know how it felt.

She found the medicine and took out the tablets for him. Surprisingly, he took them obediently.

"I'll cook you something..." She was about to get up and cook him something to eat, but as she just got up, he grabbed her wrist. "No, don't go. Just sit here."

As he dragged her back to him, Xi Xiaye could almost feel her wrist being crushed. She looked at his heavy-lidded eyes and sighed after a while. She put her other hand on his. "I'll stay here. Sleep for a bit."

He nodded and let go of her wrist before closing his eyes slowly...

"I'm alright. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep. Don't worry," he added before he fell asleep.

Xi Xiaye did not move even after he fell asleep. She just sat there quietly and looked at him with the dim lights shadowing him. It felt like he had not been feeling very well during this period. In addition to that, he had been having nightmares the past few nights.

After some time, she came back to her senses when she felt her arm getting a little numb. He seemed slightly better when she heard the sound of the doorbell chiming downstairs.

It should be Dr. Zhong.

Xi Xiaye stood up and spent some time trying to pry her hand out of his grip. She placed her hand on his forehead again. It was still pretty hot, so she sighed worriedly.

When she went downstairs, Ah Mo came over with Dr. Zhong.

"Missus! How's Master?" Ah Mo asked anxiously, his eyebrows knitted together.

Xi Xiaye moved aside and let the two of them in. "I just gave him some medicine for the fever, but it hasn't gone down. Let's go up first."

"Master stayed in the breeze for quite some time during the inspection today. I think he caught a cold. Dr. Zhong, please take a look at him quickly." Ah Mo followed Xi Xiaye to the second floor.

Xi Xiaye suddenly stopped at the entrance of the study room and turned around to tell them, "He wasn't able to rest well in the past few nights. He's just fallen asleep. Be careful."

Dr. Zhong nodded and walked more quietly after that. Ah Mo's expression seemed complicated as he looked at Xi Xiaye as if he wanted to say something. However, he was not able to say it. They then went in.

The man suddenly woke up as Dr. Zhong went near him. A dim light appeared in his eyes when he saw the other person before him. "Why are you guys here?"

"Master! How are you feeling?"

"Master, are you okay?"

Ah Mo and Dr. Zhong spoke at the same time, both concerned.

Mu Yuchen put a hand on his forehead as he glanced over at the quiet Xi Xiaye. "I'm fine. It's just a little cold and fever. She's just overreacting."

"Your body temperature is very high now. A fever is no small matter. It's your own body. You're the one who'll suffer." Xi Xiaye did not want to argue with him any further. She dragged the stool in between them away and held his arm. "Let's go back to the bedroom. Dr. Zhong, please check his condition there."

Mu Yuchen looked at her deeply in the eyes. Her expression was saying that there was no room for negotiation. A faint smile appeared on his pale, handsome face. He did not say anything and just let her drag him along with all her might.

Ah Mo wanted to help, but Mu Yuchen stopped him.

She grabbed a clean sleeping robe and made him change into it after they got into the bedroom. She wiped his face clean before Dr. Zhong gave him a checkup and gave him a flu shot.

Xi Xiaye went downstairs and made some porridge. It was already 1 a.m. when Dr. Zhong was done.

"Go back and rest earlier. He'll be fine with me here. Remember not to tell Grandfather and Grandmother. I don't want them to be worried," Xi Xiaye told Ah Mo as she sent them off.

"Mmm, I got it. Please take care of Master then. Dr. Zhong gave Master a shot, so his fever is slowly going away. It'll be fine. Don't worry, Missus."

Xi Xiaye nodded, then she added, "He doesn't seem very well these few days. I'm not sure what to do..."

Stunned, Ah Mo looked downwards as he quieted down. After a moment, he said quietly, "Missus, please spend more time with Master these few days. His mood isn't usually very good during this time of the year, and Qingming is also coming..."

Ah Mo did not continue. He raised his head and looked upstairs with a depressed expression and his eyes were cloudy as well.

Xi Xiaye could see the pain and struggle in his eyes. She could not imagine that the usually cool and calm Ah Mo would have such a side to him.

She kind of knew what was happening. Xi Xiaye did not press on the issue and just nodded. "Mmm, I will."

Ah Mo took a deep breath before turning around as he left the villa.

When she went back to the room with a bowl of porridge, she noticed that he was not in bed. Instead, he was just sitting in the living room after a shower, on a call with someone. He gave some brief instructions before hanging up.

"Why aren't you lying down?"

She handed the bowl of porridge to him and took the phone away from him. "Eat something. Has your fever subsided? Let me take a look..."

"Almost. Sit down. You've been busy the whole night." He grabbed her hand on his forehead and made her sit. He also put the bowl of porridge on the table beside him.

"I'm alright. Ah Mo is pretty worried about you."

He sat down beside her and she was relieved when she could feel that his temperature was not as high as it was earlier. She poured a glass of water and was going to give it to him, but he did not want it, so she drank it herself.

"Aren't you worried?"

He laughed at her. While his tone still sounded weak, there was a tint of gentleness in his voice.

Xi Xiaye raised her eyebrows and stared at him without saying anything. She then looked at the bowl of porridge before averting her gaze back to him again.

"Don't go to work tomorrow. I've asked Ah Mo not to tell your grandparents about you. I don't want them to worry," she sighed before starting to clean up the messy desk.

His eyes darkened slightly as he looked at her cleaning up. After a while, he said quietly, "Mother called me today regarding that matter. If..."

She took a pause before raising her head and looking into his deep, dark eyes. "Just let it be. I just wanted to prove my own innocence. It's fine now. If things go on peacefully from now onwards, it's going to be alright."

He looked downward and went quiet for a moment before nodding. "Sure. By the way, I heard someone gave you some flowers this afternoon. Who was it?"

His sudden question caught Xi Xiaye off guard. A cloud of doubt went past her eyes.

How did he find out?

After a brief moment of silence, she admitted honestly, "It's Han Yifeng... He apologized to me..."

His hands clenched into fists and his eyes turned complicated. He was not able to say anything.

She looked at him when she noticed the atmosphere turning odd. He did not look very well and she suddenly put her hand on top of his.

"Things are long over between me and him, so..."

After she said this, she did not continue. Her lips pursed together and she paused. Then, she leaned towards him, and as if to prove her intention with her actions, she gave him a light kiss on his cold, thin lips.

Initially, she wanted to move away right after kissing. However, as if he knew how she was like, just as she was about to move away, his arms that lay idly accurately caught her slender waist, and he used a hand to hold her back, pulling her towards his chest...

His familiar and vague fragrance rushed in as she was hugged in his tight embrace. She could even hear his heartbeat clearly.

"You and he are over while we've just... we've just begun... The fact that he can keep you thinking about him for so many years, to be honest, it really doesn't make me feel good sometimes... Mmm..."

She did not let him continue, planting a cold kiss that immediately stopped all of his words.

He gladly accepted it since she rarely took the initiative. Someone like him would not reject such things!

They wanted to stop after that little tease, yet the more they went in, the faster the fiery passion escalated. He struggled for a final strand of rationality before he remembered his condition, and said with a lot of effort in a raspy voice, "Don't... Xiaye... I'll infect you..."

The restraint he had been proud of was slowly weakening as he withstood the temptation. Previously, when he had not felt how amazing she was, he could still force himself to hold back, but now...

Once she teased him, he would not be able to stand it. He even started to feel frustrated.

Mu Yuchen, who would have thought that you who had cleanse your heart and limit your desires would have such a day too!?

Was it her overwhelming charm or his weakened skill?

...

The next day, Xi Xiaye woke up in a bout of dizziness. Unfortunately, she had caught a cold too.

Mu Yuchen applied sick leave for her while Sis Wang came over early in the morning to prepare breakfast for the two of them. The husband and wife were indeed the kinds that shared trials and tribulations together. After a simple breakfast and taking some medication, they rested for a bit before gradually feeling much better.

In the afternoon, Ah Mo followed Mu Yuchen's orders and delivered the documents, but he did not see Mu Yuchen and Xi Xiaye. There was only Sis Wang and the two maids cleaning up in the villa, so he asked while feeling puzzled, "Where's Master and the Missus?"

The busy Sis Wang thought for a while, then answered, "Master and Missus went out after breakfast."

Went out?

They are sick, have they rested enough?

Ah Mo frowned. After a short hesitation, he was about to say something. Then, he suddenly heard the howling of the strong, cold breeze brushing past. Next came the maid's cries.

"It's raining. Quickly close the windows!"

"It's the rainy season during Qingming... I'm afraid the weather's going to be like this for the next few days!"

When he heard this, Ah Mo was suddenly stunned. His expression suddenly changed and his eyes darkened.

It was the fourth of May, which was Qing Ming, the day to offer sacrifices to the dead...

On the path that was sandwiched by weeping willows towards Qingshan cemetery, a black Cayenne drove past underneath the trees before steadily stopping by a florist by the roadside.

The car door opened very quickly as Mu Yuchen got down from the car first, followed closely by Xi Xiaye.

Mu Yuchen looked at the flower bouquets before him, then said calmly, "Boss, can I have two bouquets of calla lilies?"

The boss nodded and promptly wrapped up two bouquets of beautiful white lilies. In the middle of the bouquets were even several little purple flowers as decoration.

"Let's go."

He gave her one of the bouquets and they walked towards the staircase that led up the hills. The hazy rain very quickly hid the sight of him.

Xi Xiaye turned over to silently gaze at his back that had already walked ahead. Her heart sank a little when she saw bleakness and loneliness in his silhouette. Her eyes darkened while the hand that held the umbrella tightened. With a light huff, she breathed in lightly and followed him.

These few days, people celebrated Qingming. It was a time to offer sacrifices to the dead and sweep their ancestors' tombs, remembering those who had passed away.

When they walked through the hill of tombstones, they noticed that in front of many tombstones were bouquets of fresh flowers. People must have come to pay respects earlier.

The sky was gloomy as the misty rain engulfed the entire cemetery in glum darkness.

They walked past a long staircase, and then through a small path before the two of them finally reached two tombstones.

Up front, he stopped first. Since she was not walking that quickly, she stopped in that instant too. She took a step forward and raised the black umbrella in her hand a little higher his head. Then, she followed his line of sight towards the tombstones,

The picture on the tombstone was a very young girl oozing with charisma, and she was very beautiful, yet she looked quite familiar. Xi Xiaye kept feeling like she had seen this girl before...

She looked down and saw the girl's name — Mu Zixi!

Looking at her age...

"Is she's your aunt?" Xi Xiaye turned to ask Mu Yuchen, yet her tone was certain.

One could vaguely see the similarities between the girl and Wang Hui's brows.

Mu Yuchen did not answer. His gaze just fell on the tombstone in front of him as puzzlement surfaced in Xi Xiaye's starry eyes. She looked over at the tombstone following his gaze.

Unexpectedly, it was a very young man. He looked dashing and seemed to exude sunshine. He was probably just over 20 years old in the picture.

Born on XX of the month XX in the year XX, he had passed away on XX of the month XX in the year XX.

She calculated the difference. Had he lived until now, he would have been 28 years old!

He had only been 23 when he died.

His name was Mu Lingtian!

Was he someone from the Mu family?

His younger brother?

But Mu Tangchuan and Zhuang Shurong only had him as their only son, so who was this Mu Lingtian?

From the looks of his picture, he really did not look like Mu Tangchuan and Mu Yuche.

He silently stared at the person in the picture for a long time. Then, he reached over to the bouquet in her hands, putting a bouquet on the two tombstones respectively. She was puzzled upon seeing his sad expression. She wanted to ask something, yet she held back.

Quite a while after, his deep voice suddenly came. "She's my aunty. I think you wouldn't be unfamiliar with her. Do you think she looks a little familiar?"

Xi Xiaye turned to look at him, yet his gaze remained fixed on the tombstones. She paused and looked to the tombstones too. Moments later, she nodded. "I do think she's quite familiar. It's like I've seen her somewhere before."