Before she could even speak, Mu Yichuan shot her a sharp glare, as if he could see right through Xin Yu's soul.
"Whether you're punished or not is in your own hands." He then carefully examined the simple knee pads. For some reason, he felt a softness in his hands, just like the little woman before him.
Punished?
Xin Yu scoffed inwardly. Did he know what she was about to say?
"I—"
Snap! Mu Yichuan snapped his fingers, interrupting Xin Yu's words.
"Go back." Mu Yichuan stretched out his long arms and pulled Xin Yu into his embrace, a sight that practically ignited every corner of the Imperial Era.
"My God! Is that Mr. Jiu? Our boss? Really?"
"How could it be? Who's that woman in his arms? I've never seen her before!"
"Shouldn't you be asking if that's a woman?! When has Mr. Jiu ever had a scandal? Let alone been with a woman!"
"..."
Xin Yu naturally didn't hear these comments, but her eyes widened—
She watched as the men who had followed them to the Land Rover deftly placed over a dozen large and small bags into the trunk!
"This? You bought this?" Xin Yu clearly saw women's clothing inside...
"Yes." Mu Yichuan said matter-of-factly, raising an eyebrow and glaring at Xin Yu. When did this woman become as reasonable as him?
Him? Xin Yu just wanted to know why he bought so many clothes?
"Everything you touched tonight is here."
Ah...
Everything you touched... is here...
My God! Xin Yu, are you committing some kind of sin? "I was just looking around," Xin Yu explained, chasing after Mu Yichuan. She didn't like these things at all, and even if she did, she wanted to earn the money to buy them herself.
"You can look around at home too," Mu Yichuan said, placing his large hand on Xin Yu's head with a hint of pity.
"That's such a waste!" Xin Yu pulled Mu Yichuan's hand away, refusing such intimacy. "Can...can we return it?"
Return it? Who would want something Mu Yichuan bought if he returned it?
Mu Yichuan lifted Xin Yu's chin, drawing closer, his dark eyes fixed on the small woman before him, slowly uttering a few words, "Return, is possible. Money, for you."
"..."
Xin Yu blinked, processing his words. This jerk!
Rogue! Bastard! "Looks like you don't want to back out." Mu Yichuan released Xin Yu, casually got into the Land Rover, and said coldly, "Get in."
Looking at Xin Yu beside him, who wasn't happy about the full trunk, Mu Yichuan grabbed her waist, pulling them closer. She certainly had some pride!
"So you want to keep your distance from me?"
Xin Yu glared at Mu Yichuan for a moment, then quickly lowered her eyes. She didn't dare provoke him; he was shameless enough to do anything!
"Speak."
"I...I didn't."
She's putting on quite a show!
Mu Yichuan lightly bit Xin Yu's lip. "You don't even want to use my card?"
Xin Yu's eyelashes trembled. Mu Yichuan's words sounded dangerous!
But she had to express herself! Opening her clear, dark eyes, Xin Yu considered her tone, "I just felt that wasn't right, besides, I don't have that many... needs."
Xin Yu was taken aback by Mu Yichuan's slightly narrowed dark eyes. He suddenly chuckled, "How many needs do you have? Your husband can satisfy them all!"
"..." Narcissistic! Bastard! Pervert!
"Since you don't want your husband to satisfy your needs, then... I'll take the card back!"
Really? Xin Yu was slightly startled, looking at Mu Yichuan incredulously.
"But, you still have to satisfy your husband's needs!"
His needs...!
Xin Yu bit her cherry lips hard, the emotions in her eyes impossible to hide. How could she end this farce?
Mu Yichuan gently kissed her eyes, "What? Feeling cheated?"
He chuckled, "Feeling cheated? I'll give you the card back—"
"I don't want to!" Xin Yu's shout was loud, and somewhat aggrieved. Even though she had inexplicably sold herself that night, she still believed she absolutely wasn't doing it for money! And it was absolutely impossible for her to do it for money! "You've got guts!" Mu Yichuan stroked Xin Yu's pale lips with his index finger. "For that alone, I'll make that marriage agreement last a hundred years!"
"..." Xin Yu trembled, unsure whether to feel relieved or sorrowful!
Mu Yichuan remained silent, his gaze fixed on her for a long time. Thankfully, he didn't make a move, which slightly relieved Xin Yu; at least she wouldn't "embarrass herself" in front of the driver!
But as soon as Xin Yu got out of the car, before she could even stand properly, Mu Yichuan swept her up in his arms...
"W-what are you doing?" Xin Yu stammered, startled. "I'm not fully recovered yet!"
"Tch..." Mu Yichuan clearly didn't believe her. His pace didn't slow at all, and he went straight into the bedroom on the second floor.
"Mu Yichuan, you can't do this!" Xin Yu braced herself against the man leaning beside her with all her might.
"Okay." Mu Yichuan said calmly, turning Xin Yu over. "Then let's try something else."
"I...that's not what I meant! I...um."
Mu Yichuan smiled faintly, pulling Xin Yu into a kiss. After a long while, he released her. "Then what did you mean? Try them all tonight!"
"..."
Xin Yu, who woke up early, really wanted to just sleep. Her whole body ached as if it had been disassembled and reassembled. She struggled to turn her head; she was alone in the bedroom.
Phew...
Finally, she didn't have to face Mu Yichuan!
"Hey, Yuanzi?"
"Ayu, what's wrong? Why are you so lazy? Are you coming to work this afternoon? Zhang Hong said she wants to see you, to talk about an interview."
An interview!
Xin Yu almost forgot. She quickly washed up and dressed, then turned on her computer and carefully looked at the interview Zhang Hong had sent her. From the content, Old Mu seemed to be a very knowledgeable person.
But, he was Mu Yichuan's father! "Madam, the master requests your presence in his study," the butler said respectfully.
"He hasn't left?!" Xin Yu was startled by the butler's words. If she had known he was there, she would have gone straight to the cultural center.
"He wants you to take the card you need to return."
A card?
She moved into Mu Yichuan's study. He was looking down at documents. The midday sun streamed through the French windows, casting a warm glow on his sharp profile, highlighting his perfectly sculpted features.
This serious side of him was so different from his roguish self every night…
No one would believe it if she told them!
"Come here." As he spoke, the smile on Mu Yichuan's lips vanished. He really liked it when this woman looked at him like that!
"This is for you. I have to go to my part-time job this afternoon," Xin Yu said as she walked, secretly observing him. "And—"
"And?!" Mu Yichuan put down his pen, took the card, and slammed it on the table, looking at Xin Yu. She always had a way of ruining the perfect atmosphere. "And, I have to go to the Mu family's old mansion next week." Xin Yu's judgment was correct; this displeased him, and she was even more certain from the fleeting look in his eyes.
"To interview Old Master Mu…" she had to add.
Mu Yichuan paused for over ten seconds; clearly, this news was quite shocking to him!
"Sit here."
"If it's inconvenient, I…" Actually, she really didn't want to go either. Sitting on Mu Yichuan's lap, Xin Yu was completely unable to speak, teased by him.
"No, I'm… tired." Xin Yu pushed him away. They were supposed to be talking about serious matters, why was he starting this again!
Warm hands sizzled against Xin Yu's waist. Hearing her speak, Mu Yichuan paused, stopping his involuntary movements.
"I'll find a reason not to go."
"Okay." He said briefly, "And, next week we're going to Nanshi, have you forgotten?"
Going to Nanshi? Zhang Chen is getting married? The thought sent a shiver down Xin Yu's spine. That night, Mu Yichuan was at the restaurant…
"What? Unhappy?" His voice was gloomy. He remembered Xin Yu's outburst when she heard about Zhang Chen's wedding.
"I don't really want to go." She had nothing to do with Zhang Chen anymore! Even if she wanted to see Zhang Wan, she didn't want to see her at a wedding.
"Whether you want to or not, you have to go!" He commanded.
"Why?"
"Then why don't you want to go?" Mu Yichuan pinched Xin Yu's chin, his thin lips pressed tightly together.
"There's no reason to go."
"Accompanying my husband, is that a reason?"
"Why do you want to go? The famous Mr. Jiu is condescending to attend the wedding of a minor nobleman in Nanshi?" Xin Yu questioned. Was he going because of Zhang Wan?
"To show off."
Show off? What did Mu Yichuan need to show off!
He was born with a diamond in his mouth!
"Oh, right, I have something for you." Mu Yichuan pointed to the safe beside him.
Xin Yu looked on, completely bewildered. "What?"
"Go check it out, the password is your birthday."
Xin Yu turned the key and opened it, immediately shocked! Wow!
Inside was a stack of banknotes half a person's height, filling the entire inner room. A rough estimate put it at several million, if not tens of millions.
"What are you doing with so much money?" Xin Yu didn't dare reach out, staring blankly at Mu Yichuan. Was he laundering money?
"For you to use."
"If you don't want to use a card, use cash." Mu Yichuan walked over and put his arm around Xin Yu.
She was speechless, silently leaning against him until there was a knock at the door.
"Come in." Mu Yichuan released Xin Yu, taking out five stacks of banknotes as he spoke. "Is this enough?"
"I don't—"
"Not using it isn't skillful; using it and earning back double or even more is real ability!" Mu Yichuan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried his usual imperial grandeur.
"Oh ho, little girl, you're really rich!" Cheng Yao stepped in, his eyes darting between the two people, the money and cards on the table, and the conspicuous safe.
"I...I'll go out first, you two talk."
"What do I have to talk about with him!" Mu Yichuan was displeased with Xin Yu's reaction; he hadn't even kicked her out!
"..." Cheng Yao pouted. When had his ninth brother become so fickle? "Little girl, I heard you became my nephew Guohua's teacher?"
"Are you brothers with Senior Brother Cheng Che?"
"No!" Cheng Yao suddenly became a little exasperated.
Xin Yu sensitively sensed that this topic wasn't popular. Was there some conflict between Cheng Che and Cheng Yao?
"Stay away from Cheng Che!" Cheng Yao snorted, then glanced at Mu Yichuan. He actually allowed Xin Yu to associate with Cheng Che!
"Why?"
"Why so many whys! Aren't you henpecked?"
"You!" Xin Yu was speechless with anger. "I'm not!" "Ninth Brother, that little girl is challenging your authority!" Cheng Yao said smugly, like a child tattling.