Xin Yu trembled slightly, inwardly cursing Mu Yichuan!
She didn't want to accept his ring without knowing why!
So Xin Yu stared at the small box, hesitating to open it.
"What are you waiting for?" Mu Yichuan picked up Xin Yu's fair hand, brought it to his lips, and bit her ring finger.
Oh God! Spare her!
Did he have to be so obvious in his hints?
Or was he so certain she loved this gift?
"I...I—" Before she could utter a word, Mu Yichuan startled her back.
He didn't waste any more words and opened the box himself. Sure enough…
It was a small platinum ring!
So dazzling and sparkling on the black velvet!
Xin Yu frowned slightly, reaching out to gently pick up the ring. She was really curious about the engraved pattern; it seemed familiar!
Where? She racked her brains, when suddenly, her eyes lit up!
The pattern was exactly the same as the one on the paper in the pig's head piggy bank!
"Does this... have any meaning?" Xin Yu examined it repeatedly. She was right; she'd compare it to the one in the pig's head piggy bank later.
Mu Yichuan took the ring from her hand, holding it horizontally so the words inside were clearly visible. "So straightforward, don't you understand?"
...!
Xin Yu's clear, bright eyes widened in shock. The words on it were—"I am Mu Yichuan's wife!"
Holy crap!
Who would engrave such a long message on a ring?!
Even wedding rings usually only have the other person's name engraved, right?
"Let me put it on for you." Mu Yichuan pulled Xin Yu's hand, but she quickly pulled back, curling her left ring finger, unwilling to put it on.
He maintained his pulling motion, his thin lips pressed tightly together, his clear eyes icy cold…
Xin Yu was incredibly frustrated. His silence alone was enough to overwhelm her. Reluctantly, she extended her ring finger, letting him guide it.
Only then did Mu Yichuan's smile soften slightly. He held Xin Yu's ring finger, looking at it. "Not bad."
Xin Yu remained silent, completely disagreeing with his assessment…
It wasn't until they entered the Nanlong Villa that evening, watching Mu Yichuan go into the bathroom, that Xin Yu finally relaxed a little. How many brain cells had she wasted arguing with him all day!
She absolutely couldn't go to his territory again!
Thinking this, Xin Yu took her sketchbook and went into Mu Yichuan's study. She found the papers in the piggy bank, and sure enough, it was what she expected.
Tilting her head, she examined the two items. What did they mean?
Could it be that Mu Yichuan had started an organization similar to the Sun Moon Cult? "It doesn't look like it," Xin Yu muttered, leaning against the bookshelf, her dark eyes slightly narrowed. The drawing was somewhat abstract, resembling some kind of animal or flower, not crude, but rather possessing a delicate beauty upon closer inspection.
After staring at it for a while, she still couldn't figure it out. Putting away her piggy bank, Xin Yu opened her sketchbook to draw the picture, only to find a page torn out.
Was it that back view she had subconsciously drawn?
It must have been torn up by that guy, Mu Yichuan!
He… he's simply… speechless.
However, Xin Yu pouted, deep in thought. The portrait indeed didn't quite resemble Mu Yichuan; even she herself wasn't entirely sure who it was. But that wasn't a reason for him to tear up her drawing!
Besides, it could be her own creation, incorporating fictional elements—wasn't that acceptable?
"Hey, Yuanzi." Xin Yu remembered something and dialed Cheng Yuan's number. "What's our Yuanzi doing? Look at me, such a terrible best friend! I couldn't even be with you on this night of the full moon and family reunion."
"Yu's just being a little jealous," Cheng Yuan chuckled. "Should I be a little jealous too, to make it fair that you've been spending all your time with Mu Yichuan?"
"…" Xin Yu was annoyed; her carefully cultivated mood was ruined. "Don't mention Mu Yichuan!"
Cheng Yuan chuckled twice more, then suddenly became serious. "Yu, did you remember something?"
"No…" Xin Yu said, sounding a little downcast. "Yuanzi, I was just about to ask you something. Don't overthink it, and don't misunderstand me."
"How could I?!"
"That's good. I'll ask you." Xin Yu took a deep breath. "Before I transferred schools in middle school, did I have any contact with Liu Shuihan?"
"…" Cheng Yuan was taken aback; her seemingly healed heart ached slightly again. "Yuanzi?" Xin Yu called cautiously. Sigh, she knew asking Cheng Yuan would be a difficult question. "I just want to confirm if there's anything wrong with my memory."
There was still no response from Cheng Yuan. After a long while, a voice came from the other end: "Ayu, are you saying you don't remember anything from before?"
...!
Why is that Liu Hen's voice?!
"I...I didn't," Xin Yu denied. She didn't think there was anything wrong with her memory; at least she had never had such confusion before. "Henhen, you didn't go home? Then your brother—"
The door was flung open.
Mu Yichuan stood in the doorway with a sinister air, looking at Xin Yu with extremely cold eyes.
Xin Yu looked at him too. Why that expression? Had she offended him...? Could it be that he overheard what they just said? Before Liu Hen could answer, she made an excuse, guiltily hung up the phone, and said to Mu Yichuan, "I...I just wanted to call Yuanzi."
"You just saw Liu Shuihan this morning, and you're already thinking about him?"
"..." Xin Yu's face stiffened, not daring to refute him. His aura was too overwhelming; she felt like an ant.
"Answer me!" Mu Yichuan roared, "Why did you call Liu Shuihan?!"
"I..." Xin Yu swallowed hard, her voice trembling, "I just wanted to confirm if I knew him before middle school."
Rip...
Mu Yichuan, like a madman, ripped Xin Yu's skirt to shreds!
Xin Yu looked at her half-exposed body, two flames of anger igniting in her dark eyes. What was he doing?!
Was it necessary to get so angry? "Such a strong personality!" Mu Yichuan's cool fingers caressed Xin Yu's eyes. "Then tell me, should I tear him apart in front of Liu Shuihan?"
Xin Yu trembled in fright, immediately trying to slip under his arm to escape…
But Mu Yichuan stretched out a long arm and pulled Xin Yu back. His chin rubbed against Xin Yu's smooth shoulder, his heat assaulting her senses, making every hair on her body stand on end!
"Not being honest." With that, Mu Yichuan threw her onto the desk.
"W-what are you doing!" Xin Yu struggled desperately, searching for a chance to escape. "Mu Yichuan, don't do this! You've misunderstood me!"
"Oh?" His deep voice trailed off, like a feather brushing against Xin Yu's heart, but his hand felt like a burning hot iron, searing every inch of her skin.
"Really…" Xin Yu trembled, gasping for breath, "I…I don't know Liu Shuihan at all!"
Mu Yichuan's hands continued their work, the desire in his dark eyes growing stronger…
"I told you last time, I…I don't remember…the night we first met…" Xin Yu slightly raised her body, grabbing Mu Yichuan's wicked hands, trying to give her space to speak.
"So I want to know if there's something wrong with my memory, ah…please!" Xin Yu hesitated, wishing she could disappear into the ground and never come out again, "Don't do this, Mr. Jiu, I beg you…"
"Beg me? You haven't remembered a single thing I've told you!" His hawk-like eyes were filled with a storm of anger, "You deserve punishment!"
What did she say…
Xin Yu tried hard to recall each thing, then shook her head vigorously, "I…I remember everything, Mr. Jiu…um…"
"Remember and still break the rules? You deserve even more punishment!"
"…"
Xin Yu stopped resisting, and had no strength to resist. He was certain she had deliberately offended him; no matter what she said, it was useless! On this moonlit night, under a sky strewn with stars, Mu Yichuan gave Xin Yu the ultimate physical pleasure, yet inflicted profound emotional pain upon her!
After nearly a night of passion in the cold study, he finally carried Xin Yu back to the bedroom…
Looking at the little woman curled up in his arms, Mu Yichuan couldn't help but gently kiss her rosy cheek. "Forget about Liu Shuihan!"
…
When she woke up again, Xin Yu had made up her mind: she would never speak to Mu Yichuan again!
Wasn't he powerful and influential? Wasn't he unwilling to listen to explanations? Then whatever he said would be law!
She wouldn't waste her energy resisting! Nor would she waste her feelings!
"We're leaving for Nanshi tomorrow to attend your ex-boyfriend's wedding."
"This is a dress designed for you; you'll wear it the day after tomorrow."
"Go try it on."
Xin Yu kept her lips tightly pressed together, mechanically walking into the fitting room, letting the staff work on her. She didn't care at all how beautiful she looked in the mirror! When Xin Yu emerged from the fitting room wearing the gift, Mu Yichuan paused, his hand trembling almost imperceptibly at his side.
The woman before him had skin as smooth as jade, her silky black hair loosely styled, revealing a slender neck with a few lingering, suggestive marks. A light blue dress made her appear like a fairy from the clouds, especially her beautiful, aloof face, which was captivating.
Time slipped away in Mu Yichuan's silent admiration. Xin Yu, who hadn't intended to speak, was truly exhausted from standing…
She slightly twitched her lips. "Is there a problem?"
"Yes." Mu Yichuan replied without hesitation, "Take off this dress, and don't wear it again!"
Xin Yu turned away quickly. This man was infuriating!
Wasn't this just a way of torturing her? Changing back into a T-shirt and jeans, Xin Yu stormed out, "Mr. Jiu, you don't need to prepare any formal attire for me anymore. I'll just go to the wedding like this. Anyway, you said it yourself—he's my ex-boyfriend!"
"That's a good attitude."
"..."Pervert!
"Throw away my formal attire too," Mu Yichuan ordered, leaning closer to Xin Yu. "I have to be consistent with you."
If she didn't say anything, someone as important as him attending Zhang Chen's wedding would be grateful even if he brought ghost money!
"Be careful, your ex-girlfriend will be heartbroken." Thinking of Zhang Wan, Xin Yu couldn't help but blurt it out.
God!
She really wanted to bite her tongue off!
Why did she have to say all this nonsense to Mu Yichuan!
"I have class today, I'm leaving!" Xin Yu said, and ran off.
For once, Mu Yichuan didn't chase after her or drag her back. He just stood there, silently curling the corners of his lips.