Mu Yuchen!

You wicked businessman!

He always wondered why Mu Yuchen would give him such benefits. It was a trap after all!

The said benefits were not received yet, but now he was involved in this whole conflict. Was Mu Yuchen using him?

"You bastard, Mu Yuchen! Why did I believe you!? I must be mad!" Second Master Qi yelled as it dawned on him, but after that, he understood he did not have any other choice. Mu Yuchen had probably seen that and...

...

When Li Si found Ji Zitong, she was preparing to set up her store.

It was not very big. It was just a small store with the interior almost done. Ji Zitong was busy placing the flower baskets down.

Ding!

"Assistant Li? Why are you here?" Ji Zitong straightened up as she looked at Li Si in surprise.

"May I sit here?" Li Si smiled.

Ji Zitong nodded as she grabbed a towel to clean her hand and invited Li Si in. "Please come inside. It's pretty cold out there. Things are still a little messy as we're not open yet. I hope you don't mind!"

"You don't have to be so humble, Ms. Ji. It looks great." Li Si went in.

Ji Zitong handed him a glass of warm water. "Have something warm to drink."

"Thank you."

Li Si took a sip before putting it aside. He took out a cheque from his briefcase and gave it to Ji Zitong. "Ms. Ji, please take this. It's Master's reward for you, and he has approved your resignation."

Ji Zitong was stunned to see the large sum on the cheque. She frowned slightly before shaking her head, refusing to take the cheque. "I don't need it. I just did my job. Please give it back to Chairman Mu. I'm just glad that Director Xi is safe."

Li Si smiled and left the cheque on the table before her. "I'm afraid you don't know how Master works, Ms. Ji. He'll never take back anything that he has given out. This is what he thinks you deserve. Everyone's satisfied with your performance, and there's still a long future ahead, so maybe we might work together again."

Ji Zitong pushed the cheque back. "I have my own principles as well and I only take what belongs to me. Please pass this message to Chairman Mu for me."

Li Si looked at the aloof Ji Zitong and then glanced at the cheque again before sighing. "Ms. Ji, you impress me. If you insist, I'll go and let Master know then."

Ji Zitong nodded. "Thank you, Assistant Li."

Li Si smiled as he stood up. At the same time, his phone started ringing. Li Si quickly took out his phone and noticed it was a call from Su Chen.

"Hello, Master Su Chen."

Su Chen's voice quickly reached him back. "Mmm, it's me. I have something to pass to your Master. Ah Chen said you're nearby Dong Huan Road."

Li Si responded, "Yes, I'm at Dong Huan Road right now!"

"Give me a specific location. I'll head over."

Li Si walked out to the entrance and looked at the store sign covered by a red cloth. "Master Su, I'm at the second junction of Dong Huan Road. There's an unopened flower store called 'Smile'. I'll wait for you right here. It's Ms. Ji's store."

"Smile? Alright, I'll be there in five minutes," Su Chen replied before hanging up the call and continued driving his Land Rover.

"Xiao Chen, you're getting older now. Ah Chen is one year younger than you and he's a father already. You're 33 this year. Aren't you worried?" Su Yu frowned as she looked at Su Chen from the front passenger seat. She continued when he ignored her, "When I went to decorate Ah Chen's baby room a few days ago, I heard from his grandmother that Ah Chen met with his wife through a blind date, and they are doing well together! Your brother-in-law and I are great together as well, so you don't really have to hate the idea of blind dating so much. It's the New Year now. You should get yourself a girl!"

It was Su Chen's turn to frown. He did not even look at Su Yu as he retorted, "Since when were you worried about me as well? You insisted on not getting married before too. Didn't you only get married at 30?"

"I'm not worried, but I have to listen to our parents and grandfather nag me about it. Have you ever considered how I feel? Do you think I really care about you?" Su Yu glared at her brother unhappily.

Su Chen narrowed his eyes at her before switching on the music player in the car.

"Just let them be, alright? Forced marriage is not what I want. Can you imagine waking up to a stranger that you have no feelings for at all?" Su Chen's sharp gaze stunned Su Yu. She almost forgot her brother had always been blunt and straightforward.

"Then, list down your type and I'll find one according to your standards!" Su Yu said.

"I'm not that free. Give me another few years." Su Chen did not sound very interested, and his expression looked pretty unhappy as well. "Marrying for the sake of marrying is not wise. Not everyone is as lucky as Ah Chen, so it's great if you meet the right one, but you'll have to bear the consequences if otherwise happens."

"But you have to give it a try in order to know if it's the right one," Su Yu argued.

Su Chen did not reply. Instead, he slowed down the car and then parked by the roadside. Picking up the bag beside him, he asked, "Just this?"

"Mmm."

He got out of the car after Su Yu's reply. Looking up, he saw the sign 'Smile' under the red cloth.

"Master Su!" Li Si quickly greeted him.

Su Chen looked around and was stunned for a moment when he saw the person behind Li Si.

Ji Zitong never expected to see him again. She had not seen him since then, and now they were reunited after several months.

"When can you return me my letter, Chief Su?" Ji Zitong's face turned stiff as Li Si left.

Su Chen gave her an amused glance. "Didn't expect you to be doing this."

"It's none of your business." Ji Zitong stared at him. "You said you'd give it back when you return."

"I remember saying that we'll see when I get back. Do I look like the kind of person who'd go back on my word?"

Su Chen's sharp gaze made Ji Zitong gasp and she closed her eyes. "Who knows what you'll do? We don't have a good impression of each other anyway."

"So, do you mean I don't have to return the letter to you anymore?" Su Chen laughed as he pulled his coat tighter around himself and was about to leave!

"Stop right there!" Ji Zitong was enraged as she quickly grabbed Su Chen's shoulder. "Give it back to me, you bastard!"

Su Chen was very alert, so he reacted in time when Ji Zitong tried to grab him. His iron grip stopped her hand accurately as he closed in.

She was dumbfounded as she smelled his wild scent. Pain blossomed in her head when she bumped into his solid chest.

Su Chen was surprised when the woman fell into his arms. He backed off before he could embrace the gentleness, but his first reaction was—

This woman was strong!

He leaned against his car as he looked down to notice that the woman in his arms was stunned. Two of them frowned and pushed each other away moments later.

Not only did they not separate, but they were also clumped even closer together. Ji Zitong was wearing a woven sweatshirt, and it somehow got hooked onto Master Su's zipper. After struggling for a while, there was a loud rip!

Ji Zitong looked down.

Mmm!

Red color!

Fiery red!

She put on a teasing grin and smirked at Su Chen. "Chief Su, I didn't expect you to be quite sexy, but I think you deserve to be called a pervert right now!"

Su Chen's expression darkened as he looked downwards. He quickly grabbed his trousers and his eyes were turning into a thunderstorm. Just as he was about to erupt in madness, Su Yu's voice reached him from behind.

"Xiao Chen, what are you doing? Who is this girl? Is this the girl who was mentioned to grandfather the other day?"

Before Su Chen could react, he quickly fixed his outfit and looked at Ji Zitong's mocking grin. He swore that this was the most embarrassing moment in his life! His face was strained as he stared at Ji Zitong. However, a smile suddenly appeared on his face.

Su Yu walked to Su Chen and was looking at Ji Zitong, seeming interested.

"Xiao Chen?" Su Yu called out to him again as he did not reply.

"That's her indeed! We recently got into a fight. Haven't you guys always wondered why I don't like anyone else? I'm interested in her. If you can convince her to marry me, maybe the elders at home will get a grandchild or two in a few years," Su Chen whispered to Su Yu as his eyes were filled with deception. Then, he gave Ji Zitong a slight bow.

Game on!

He then ignored Su Yu's dumbfounded expression and went back into the car.

Su Yu came back to her senses when she heard the sound of the car engine. She did not have time to talk to Ji Zitong. Instead, she bowed to her as well. "Hello! I'm Su Yu, Su Chen's sister. Nice to meet you. We'll meet again!"

Ji Zitong had no idea what Su Chen had told Su Yu earlier, but she knew that the way this strange girl looked at her was odd. It was also peculiar that Su Chen suddenly calmed down even though he was so angry moments before, especially his last gaze at her before he left.

Her body shuddered as she thought about it. She sensed a chill travel down her spine and she could not stop shaking.

...

City Z was filled with a festive air this New Year, and it was really a lively one for them.

Inside Xi Xiaye's room at Hospital T.

Xi Xiaye could finally walk around after staying in bed for several days. Thanks to Mu Yuchen, she had not been disturbed and rested well for the past few days, so her weak body was slowly recovering.

In order to help her kill time, Mu Yuchen brought her a few books from home too.

Xi Xiaye was now reading a book on the bed. While she was really engrossed reading, she felt a warmth on her shoulder as red dates were delivered right to her mouth. She chewed on one before turning her head aside to find that the man was already beside her before she even realized it.

"Didn't I ask you to go home and rest? You've been here for several days. It'll be fine with Mother around." He had lost so much weight in the past few days, and she felt really bad.

"It's fine." He gave her a simple reply and put a coat over her shoulder. "Remember to wear an extra layer of clothes before you go out. The doctor said we'll be able to be discharged after our son's condition has stabilized. You seem really bored here."

She closed her book and left it aside before giving him a hug. She buried her face into his chest and inhaled the wonderful scent of soap on him. Then, she looked at him and mumbled, "Do I look very ugly now? Very, very ugly? I can smell myself... Will you leave me because of this?"

"Can your brain think of something else? Have you ever seen any man ignore his own woman, the mother to his son?" Mu Yuchen patted her head and just let her hug him.

Xi Xiaye smiled and hugged him for a long while before finally letting him go. Sucking a deep breath in, she still felt a little traumatized when she thought about what happened on New Year's Eve. She had almost...

Fortunately, he arrived in time and protected them both.

"Do you remember what happened that day?" Mu Yuchen suddenly asked. He refrained from asking her such questions these past few days because he was worried that her condition was still unstable, and Li Si's investigation should be finishing up soon.

That day?

Xi Xiaye frowned as her body shuddered slightly. She did not seem like herself.

She just remembered Xi Xinyi had suddenly crashed into her. It was too fast for her to react, and her mind had gone blank afterwards.

Mu Yuchen was observing her reactions. He held her shoulders and continued, "Xi Xinyi said she was pushed from behind and then crashed into you. I don't think she has the guts to lie. Did you hear anything at that time? Xi Xinyi said that person was in the car behind her. You should have at least heard the sound of the car if what she said was true. Can you think of anything?"

Xi Xiaye put a hand on her forehead as she was trying to recall the entire timeline. She felt a slight headache as she was thinking about it as hard as she could. Quietly, she mumbled, "Car... Car... I think I heard it. It was a black car... black..."

Xi Xiaye somehow remembered the tiny details after he reminded her. Before she fell unconscious, she saw a black shadow, so that should be it.

Xi Xinyi...

There was no point for her to do this. She knew it would not give her anything she wanted, or maybe Han Yifeng's cold treatment caused Xi Xinyi to dump all her hatred onto her.

Would their conflict still continue?

Xi Xiaye's eyes turned cold as her face stiffened as well.

"So, you're saying that you're sure you saw a black car drive past?"

Xi Xiaye nodded as her tone of voice sounded determined. "Mmm, it's very quiet around West Park, and there aren't usually a lot of traffic there. Cars rarely drive past, and there weren't really any other cars at that time, so I'm pretty sure."

Mu Yuchen took a deep breath as he grabbed her slightly cold hands. The expression in his eyes looked fierce and serious. "I'll find the person who did this to you."

"Mmm, how's Xi Xinyi now?" Xi Xiaye asked.

"Li Si got someone to keep an eye on her. She seems to be quite distraught these past few days," Mu Yuchen replied after receiving the news daily from Li Si.

Xi Xiaye's expression looked complicated. "Han Yifeng's absence with her child seems to have a huge impact on her. She came to me before as you saw that day when I was talking to Su Nan in the hospital. She wants me to help convince Han Yifeng and return her child to her. However, I told her that there's nothing I can do. I have no idea how she has the audacity to make such a request of me. How can she be so sure that I'd be able to convince Han Yifeng? It's between them after all." She found it ridiculous.

Mu Yuchen had a mysterious smile on his face while his tone sounded odd. "If you actually tell Han Yifeng, he might really do it. Don't underestimate your influence."

"What do you mean?" She blinked her eyes and looked at him in doubt.

He smiled and looked downward at her hand. His grip became tighter as he sighed. "I think Han Yifeng thinks of you very highly now. Apart from feeling guilty, there might be some other things involved."

Some other things?

Xi Xiaye's eyes looked empty, but they returned to normal moments later as she smiled. "It's not a bad thing to maintain a certain image to someone. A person's feelings are sensitive and fragile."

"Are you worried about him?" he asked with a frown.

Xi Xiaye rolled her eyes at him. She put her hands on his cheeks and their lips met with each other's. Their tongues explored each other's mouth as things got heated up.

He closed his eyes and enjoyed this moment.

However, he did not take advantage of the situation and stopped when it was appropriate.

Xi Xiaye's eyes were dreamy when she backed off. She looked at him seriously and asked, "Are you feeling jealous right now, Mr. Mu? It's been so long. Let the past stay in the past."

He opened his eyes and saw her cheerful smile. Then, he turned away and coughed. "What a heartless woman! I'm jealous? Do I have to be jealous of him? Don't even think about comparing us!"

She chuckled as she saw him act that way. She planted a kiss on his cheek and teased, "Mr. Mu, I realize that you're really cute when you're fussy."

The man, who was able to keep calm when closing a deal worth billions, blushed as he stared at this happy woman beside him.

Cute?

Did she just use that word to describe Mu Yuchen?

He adjusted her falling coat after she was done laughing.

"By the way, get Xi Xinyi to come over. I want to see her."

In the end, Xi Xiaye decided to talk to Xi Xinyi again. She just wanted to find out what exactly happened. If Xi Xinyi really had pushed her on purpose, then...

Mu Yuchen looked into her eyes and then nodded. "You should talk to her."