Ah Mo.

Xi Xiaye looked at the two who slowly walked in in shock. She remembered that this morning when she had called Ah Mo, he was still in City B. Did he not say he would return tomorrow?

The two of them walked in one after another. Mu Yuchen's expression was plain as usual, but it looked like there was something on his mind.

"Where did you go?" She took over his windbreaker and frowned to ask. When she touched the windbreaker, it felt wet.

"Took a trip to the outskirts. Have you had dinner yet?" He casually put his arm around her shoulders and walked into the villa. Ah Mo greeted Xi Xiaye too, "Missus!"

Xi Xiaye nodded at Ah Mo. Seeing that they looked travel-worn, she said, "I just returned and showered too... I'll go make some food for us."

Mu Yuchen nodded as he turned to look at Ah Mo. "Have a seat. Go home after dinner. Have a cup of tea with me."

Ah Mo nodded when he heard the invitation. He forced a smile on his downcast face and looked gratefully at Xi Xiaye. "Okay, then I'll have to trouble you, Missus."

"No worries..."

"Just cook some egg noodles. It's pretty late," Mu Yuchen said before walking to the living room, trailed by Ah Mo.

While Xi Xiaye just looked thoughtfully at the two of them, she hesitated for a moment, then walked towards the kitchen.

...

Mu Yuchen sat for a while on the sofa as he brewed the tea while Ah Mo sat across him.

"Lingshi's flight is arriving at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Your sis-in-law should have told you. What do you think? Don't you have any thoughts to tell me?"

Mu Yuchen leisurely took out the tea leaves from the bottom drawer. As the tea was brewing, he looked to Ah Mo with a still gaze. Upon seeing Ah Mo's desolate expression, he silently lowered his gaze and continued, "It's been about five years... There are some things that we should still face. Do you blame me for it too?"

When Ah Mo heard that, he was stunned. He looked up and fixed his eyes on Mu Yuchen, then he shook his head. "No... I would never blame you, Master."

When he heard this, a faint smile surfaced on Mu Yuchen's extraordinarily handsome face instantly. He kept the tea leaves away and said calmly, "I remember that on the first night Grandfather brought you home from the orphanage to the Mu residence, Lingtian rejected you. He pushed you down from the balcony, and you hurt your head. You had to get five stitches... Because of this, Lingtian always felt very guilty and blamed himself. After that, he was very careful with you. I never thought that you and he would become such good brothers and friends..."

When he said this, Mu Yuchen suddenly stopped what he was doing. There were some tranquility and distance in his eyes. He fell silent for a while and finally inhaled. "Actually, I always knew that the reason Grandfather brought you back to the Mu family was mostly because of him. When we were young, you, Lingtian, and Lingshi were closer."

As Ah Mo listened to Mu Yuchen, he could vaguely feel the faint bleakness in his tone, so he reassured, "Master, you will forever be the Master that I vow my loyalty to!"

With a calm smile, Mu Yuchen slowly leaned over and picked up the boiled water. He leisurely steeped the tea as he said, "You don't have to keep treating yourself as a servant of the Mu family. The name you are registered with is Mu Lingmo. You and Father are father and son, so legally we are brothers. This is not something that can be changed.

"A person can't choose where they come from, so you don't have to feel sad. Your parents might have gone through some trouble so they had to give you up, but when there's a new life placed before you, what reason do you have to not accept it?"

As Mu Yuchen said this, he finished brewing the tea. He handed Ah Mo a cup. Noticing Ah Mo remaining silent without a word, his handsome brows raised. "Otherwise, why do you think I went to such great lengths of moving you away from me and letting you be in charge of Movie City? With Lingshi's personality, she said she's respectful and fearful of me, yet when it comes to you, she completely trusts you. I hope that you can help her laying the ghost of the past to rest. Of course, this would be considered doing me a favor too..."

"Master, I..." Ah Mo's handsome face stiffened as he looked at Mu Yuchen at a loss.

Mu Yuchen looked warningly at him. He did not want to continue, so he picked up his tea and sipped lightly before changing the topic. "After Qingming, the meeting to bid for the South River project will take place. Qi Kai will be our strongest opponent. Your sis-in-law has put in a lot of effort for this. In the next few days, Father's end will be getting in touch a lot with Qi Kai's people too."

Qi Kai...

When he heard this, Ah Mo's eyes instantly darkened and his gaze turned cold. He clenched his fists and said, "Master, then do we want to..."

Before Ah Mo could finish, Mu Yuchen had already lifted a hand to stop him from continuing. He said, "We'll see how it goes first. We must get the South River project. This time, Qi Kai's collaborated with several companies around. I seemed to sense something odd... I want you to pay attention to the movements of the Qi family."

When Mu Yuchen said this, Ah Mo's expression suddenly froze. Vigilance flashed in his eyes while he looked in shock at Mu Yuchen and asked softly, "Master, you're saying..."

"After so many years of lying low, I've been racking my brains to look for them all these years, yet I couldn't find them. If I don't get this matter straight, I wouldn't be happy. In fact, they've been silent for so many years. Did you think they were planning to let bygones be bygones? They are planning to trick me. I'll have to let them die first."

Mu Yuchen's tone was rather calm just as his expression was still. No emotions could be seen, yet Ah Mo could sense a sharpness from his tone akin to the chilliness of cold metal striking each other. The thin and unperturbed curtains were pulled down over his master, revealing a motley and towering heart.

Surprised, Ah Mo hesitated for a moment before responding, "Yes, Master, I know what to do. And I don't blame you about that. It was Lingtian who first..."

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Give it some thoughts first."

When he saw Xi Xiaye walk out the kitchen with the dishes, Mu Yuchen finished his tea and cut Ah Mo short. He set the teacup aside and stood up unhurriedly.

Noticing that, Ah Mo turned to where Mu Yuchen was looking. When he saw that Xi Xiaye had already set the dining table, he nodded. "Okay, I got it, Master."

...

On the other end, Xi Xiaye had just finished preparing the cutleries when Mu Yuchen walked over leisurely. The tempting aroma assaulted his nostrils, so he then pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Come over and eat some. I just quickly prepared some noodles." As Xi Xiaye said that, she pushed the bowl of noodles to Ah Mo.

Ah Mo smiled and thanked her. When he turned to look, his Master had already picked up a bowl and was elegantly enjoying it. He then stuffed the noodles into his mouth.

Just as the noodles touched his tongue, Ah Mo's reaction was —

Ugh, so salty!

He reflexively frowned, and could not help but turn to look at his Master, yet his Master was...

With a gulp, Ah Mo gulped. A while after that, he braved himself and continued to pick up the noodles and eat silently. However, after a few torturous bites, he could not handle it anymore. "Missus, do you have juice?"

Xi Xiaye looked at Ah Mo and nodded. "I'll go get it for you."

"Aren't you eating?" Ah Mo asked.

"I'm not hungry. I had tea."

Xi Xiaye smiled, then she went to get some fruit juice for Ah Mo from the kitchen.

After he quickly finished the meal, Ah Mo went home, and Mu Yuchen went upstairs to shower. When Xi Xiaye was done tidying up and returned to the bedroom, he was just done showering.

Mu Yuchen stood by the bedside and watched her organizing the clothes into the wardrobe. He thought about it and could not help but say, "Missus, your culinary skills seem to have worsened."

She was busy tidying up the wardrobe when she heard his remark. She stopped what she was doing and turned to him to ask in puzzlement, "Wasn't it delicious?"

Mu Yuchen's handsome brows raised. The answer was obvious.

She then frowned. "If it wasn't good, then why did you two wipe your plates clean?"

Mu Yuchen chuckled without answering. He walked over in a few huge strides and took the clothes in her hands to put on the shelf above them. "Did you go back to Linjiang Apartment today?"

"Mmm, since no one's living there, I had to tidy it up a little and at the same time, bring some things back."

As she said this, she turned to walk to the bed and rub her slightly sore shoulders. She recalled the little interlude this evening, then frowned. After thinking about it for a long time, she finally decided to just tell him to avoid mulling over it herself and getting a headache.

"Right, today when I came out of Linjiang Apartment, I bumped into the young master of Qi Kai, Qi Lei. I keep thinking that he's always acting weird. He's prejudiced against you. Did you guys have some friction before? But I remember that Glory World and Qi Kai have always been minding each other's business. Although from the way he speaks, he keeps insinuating a target against you..."

This was how she was like. If she had a doubt, she would just ask frankly. Otherwise, if she kept mulling over it and letting her imagination run wild, it would drain her brain juice dry.

Mu Yuchen walked to the bed and stopped in front of her. Looking down at her from above and seeing her clear eyes ask in such an honest and matter-of-fact manner, his silent eyes flickered a while. That gaze of his was unfathomable...

A while after he asked, "What did he say to you?"

Xi Xiaye sighed and met with his complicated gaze, "Actually, it was nothing. He just said... said there are some unbearable things about you."

He did not mind and chuckled before he asked, "How did you answer him then?"

"I said that he wasn't a good person..."

When he heard this, Mu Yuchen chuckled softly and could not help but pat her head, pulling her towards him.

They were silent for a moment, then Xi Xiaye suddenly heard him sigh, "He said that I'm a little unbearable... You don't seem too happy."

When he said that, Xiaye immediately answered very certainly, "Well, of course, which woman would want to hear their man be criticized?!"

When she said this, the smile on Mu Yuchen became even more bedazzling now. He hugged her tighter. "Missus, I find that you're learning how to be protective over me now. I don't know if I'm a good person or not, but I know that you definitely are."

"Why?" Xi Xiaye raised her brows and looked at him, bemused.

The smile on Mu Yuchen brimmed with warmth. "Because in my heart, anyone that's protective over me is a good person."

"Why do I suddenly find that the way you think is a little dangerous? Is that how you differentiate between good and bad?"

She looked up at him, a little shocked.

He did not object, but he said softly, "That's the most realistic way of thinking... I really hope that when we're old and gray, you'll always be like this. Maybe I'll be able to live happier. I didn't marry you for nothing then..."

Xi Xiaye was stunned. Her starry eyes twinkled before she asked, "Since that's the case, why won't you tell me about your story? In fact, now it's I who married you for nothing. You haven't even sent the betrothal gifts..."

"Didn't you say we'll be organizing the wedding on the first of October? And about Qi Kai —"

Before she could finish, he already cut her off as a lonely smile appeared on his face. "He and I have some personal grudges. It's because of Lingtian and Lingshi... Xiaye, I don't intentionally keep some things secret from you and a lot of things might happen in the future... but I just wanted to tell you that since you've chosen to be with me, even if I hurt myself, I would never hurt you..."

He paused, then suddenly smiled at her. "So, Missus Mu will always be you, no matter what happens in the future. I won't have any requests. I just hope that you can trust me just as how I will believe you. If you've got any questions, you can just ask me. That way, we can take fewer roundabouts, and have more time to enjoy these simple and beautiful times."

When she heard him say this, she was stunned. She stared at the smile on his face and felt her heart suddenly soften. Hearing him say that he trusted her made her feel immense joy in her heart.

She was suddenly grateful that he had set clear boundaries. With someone as farsighted as him, she kept feeling that she had become much franker too.

If you like it, then go have it. If you hate it, then abandon it!

If the enemy respects me, I'll respect them. If the enemy attacks me, there will be blood!

They are good people if they are good to you. They are bad if they are bad to you...

However, as she thought about this, why did she feel that she was being badly influenced by him?

She fell silent for a quite while, then looked at him. He nodded gladly too and said softly, "Okay, I will, but now I have something to ask you about."

"Mmm? What is it?" He comfortably hugged her to sit and answered openly.

Receiving his answer, Xi Xiaye's beautiful bright face suddenly blushed and she pursed her light pink lips. She stared at him for quite a while, then asked softly, "Do you have that... that thing right now?"

"Hmm? Have what?" Seeing her that way, he raised his handsome brows sneakily as he watched her silently.

When she saw his sly and unfathomable gaze, which seemed to illuminate her, the blush on her face deepened.

She winced and cleared her throat. Then, she continued and just went all out with a serious expression. "Right now, do you... like... me even a little bit?"

When she said the last few words, she was barely audible.

The instance she asked that, Mu Yuchen was stunned. His gaze at her suddenly flickered indefinitely and the curve on his lips widened, yet he did not answer her.

When she noticed that he did not answer after a long while, Xi Xiaye frowned. She stared at him without moving. Her expression also shifted as she waited. After that, she just pulled a long face and pushed away his long arms that were wrapped around her shoulders, pulling the blanket to herself and lying down on the bed.

Clearly, she was unhappy!

Mu Yuchen then chuckled. He turned to pull her closer and laughed. "Does anyone ask about that this way?"

"Didn't you tell me to be straightforward earlier?" She rightfully used his words against him.

"There's this thing called restraint..." He inched over with a tight embrace, his deep and sexy voice brushing past her ear.

"Restraint... Why didn't you tell me to restrain the night before?"

"You..."

Was this considered sinning? She was getting cleverer with her words!

...

Night gradually fell, and the patter of the rain outside continued accompanied by the rustling cold wind.

Outside a certain superior ward in Hospital T.

Han Yifeng leaned against the cold wall. He did not know how long he had stood there. It was only when he felt his legs turn unbearably numb that he turned to sit on a stool on the side.

Xi Xinyi was inside the ward. She came around after being sent there after her fainting spell. She went through a long torment before she fell asleep again. Yue Lingsi and Huang Ziyao had gone home, so now only he was left on-guard together with Secretary Wang who was at his beck and call.

Secretary Wang, who also stood for quite a while on the side, looked a little worriedly at Han Yifeng. He hesitated before speaking up, "CEO Han, do you want to go home to rest first? I'll watch over here. You haven't been resting well for quite a few days now."

Han Yifeng looked up at him indifferently, then shook his head with a sigh. "That's fine. You should go home."

"But CEO Han..." Secretary Wang looked hesitantly at Han Yifeng, unconvinced.

"I'm fine. You go home first. I want to be alone for a while." Han Yifeng was extremely exhausted and his raspy voice sounded weak. Without waiting for Secretary Wang's response, he leaned forward with both arms on his knees. Exasperated, he pulled at his hair and held up his heavy head.

Secretary Wang watched him silently for quite a while. He could not help but sigh on the inside. In the end, he quietly left.

The corridor was instantly empty. It was so quiet that there was an indescribable sensation of the air being stifled.

He was silent for a long while before finally gathering the courage to get up and push open the door to the ward that was tightly shut.

Just as he entered, he saw that Xi Xinyi was staring at the door with a dazed expression on her face.

"I thought you wouldn't come in!" When she saw Han Yifeng's figure, Xi Xinyi's hoarse voice came through as she looked hurt at Han Yifeng.

Han Yifeng slowly walked over. He took a careful look at her, then turned around to pour her a glass of water. His deep voice seemed to have currently calmed down a lot more. "Drink some water first."

Xi Xinyi did not take the glass. She just looked up silently at him, her eyes still glittering with tears as her beautiful eyes were swollen.

"Yifeng, I'll listen to you from now on. I'll quietly stay behind you to be a good wife. We'll be happy, and we have our baby. This time, let it past. Let's start fresh. Everything will be better, okay?"

Xi Xinyi seemed to be exhausted too. She even sounded weak when she spoke and her eyes were carefully begging him.

Han Yifeng breathed in deeply. When he saw that she did not continue, he responded, "Xinyi, once some things have happened, no matter what, we can't just pretend it never happened... You know, I've never agreed to wishful thinking, so every time after your headstrong act, I admit that I become more unhappy with you by the day. I also didn't know how long I could endure it. Every time after I forgive you, I'd tell myself, 'This is definitely the last time', but it always seemed as if this last time would always be far in the indefinite future..."

When he said this, he paused and lowered his gaze. He looked at the ring on his hand as a faint light greeted his sight. In that instant, he suddenly felt like a dimmed out lightbulb. After a while, he continued, "I'm a little tired of my one-sided efforts, Xinyi... No matter how many times I put up with you, I know that it would never be the last time. I think I might not be as tolerant as I thought. In the end, I can't protect you. Perhaps, you actually don't need anyone's protection..."

"No! No! Yifeng, you can protect me. You can protect me forever. Please don't say such things! The way you're acting right now feels so foreign to me. I don't know what to do... I also don't know how to make it up to you. I really love you. Don't do this. Please! Don't give up so easily. We've gone through the worst of times together."