Hot, a sudden, inexplicable heat and thirst gripped her body.
In an instant, Xin Yu felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, her whole body shivering.
Where was she? What happened to her? She felt so awful…
That's right, it was that bastard Mu Yichuan!
He actually… in broad daylight, doing this to her…
So casually! How could he be so shameless!
Tears streamed down her delicate face, an unstoppable stream of grievance.
"Qiu Zhi!" Mu Yichuan growled, "What's wrong with her? How could she suddenly have a fever?"
"It's normal for people who eat grains to get sick and have a fever." Qiu Zhi scoffed. He'd been called over in the middle of the night for such a minor ailment, but he didn't dare neglect the renowned Ninth Master and gave Xin Yu a thorough examination.
"Stop crying!" Mu Yichuan angrily stopped the drowsy Xin Yu. She'd cried twice today; it was truly frustrating! "Be gentle with women, especially sick women," Qiu Zhi kindly advised, placing the medicine on the bedside table. "Take it three times a day, morning, noon, and night. It should be fine in two days."
"Just one kind of medicine?" Mu Yichuan frowned, annoyed by Qiu Zhi's casual attitude.
"Every medicine has some side effects. This little woman can't withstand such treatment." Qiu Zhi finished speaking, grabbed his medicine kit, and hurriedly left.
Watching his brother run away, Mu Yichuan suddenly realized he was indirectly "insulting" her!
Damn it! That talkative Cheng Yao!
Isn't she healthy? How can she be so easily agitated?
Besides, he hadn't even used too much force!
"Waaah...don't go..."
"Stop crying!" Mu Yichuan was irritated by Xin Yu's sobs, her voice cold.
Who's so angry? Is he yelling at me? Is it my father? That's how he used to yell at her back then! "Mommy...don't go...Ayu...I miss you..." In her dream, Xinyu clung tightly to Nanshi's arm. "Mommy, Ayu...I feel unwell..."
Mommy?
Mu Yichuan looked at the trembling Xinyu, curled up in the middle of the bed, her eyes closed, appearing pale and lonely.
"Treat women gently." Gentle...
"Alright, stop crying." Mu Yichuan changed his tone, leaning closer to Xinyu and gently wiping away her tears. "Tell me before you feel unwell in the future."
Xinyu groggily snuggled against Mu Yichuan's hand. Was it her mother?
Only she was truly gentle to him, but...Daddy...betrayed him!
"Mommy...don't go, you still have Ayu..." Xinyu gripped Mu Yichuan's arm tightly, like a drowning person finding refuge.
"Ayu?" Mu Yichuan murmured, feeling the little woman's embrace, his annoyance lessening somewhat. "If only you'd been this obedient from the start!"
"Mommy..." Xinyu rubbed against Mu Yichuan, like a kitten seeking affection. "Mommy, someone bullied Ayu... Mu Yichuan... he bullied me."
Mu Yichuan's dark eyes widened instantly. This woman...!
She actually complained in his dream? That he bullied her?
"How... how did he bully you?" Mu Yichuan's deep voice seduced Xinyu, his lips brushing against her ear.
"He... he's not human! He's a bastard... so casual..."
He's casual! Mu Yichuan vigorously rubbed Xin Yu's head, which only provoked Xin Yu to whimper twice in dissatisfaction. "If I were so casual, you wouldn't be my first woman!"
"Don't go." Xin Yu felt dizzy and lightheaded, and could only cling tightly to Mu Yichuan. "Don't go, Ayu misses you."
"Don't want me to leave?"
"Mmm..."
"Then say it again—miss me." Mu Yichuan pressed a button on the bedside table.
"..."
Mu Yichuan raised an eyebrow and patted the dazed little woman. "Then I'm leaving?"
"No!" Xin Yu was heartbroken. How could her mother be so cruel, leaving her in Qing China and going to a foreign land? "Don't go, Ayu is great, she studies hard, and I can earn money too. I can support you, I will never betray you… I will always protect you…"
Mu Yichuan held the soft, petite woman in his arms. "Sleep."
Xin Yu slept for two days and two nights. If it weren't for a pair of eyes constantly watching her, making her back stiff, she really wanted to sleep a little longer.
She was so tired, her whole body ached!
"Awake? Get up and take your medicine." Mu Yichuan said condescendingly.
Xin Yu tilted her head in annoyance, missing the slight hint of relaxation in his eyes. "I'm better, I don't need it."
Bang! Mu Yichuan slammed the cup down on the bedside table, splashing water.
"What's wrong with you?" She woke up and immediately started contradicting him.
Xin Yu's dark eyes met Mu Yichuan's in surprise. He had the nerve to ask her what was wrong?!
If it weren't for him, would she have gotten sick?! "Nothing's wrong, I'm just better now, I don't need the medicine anymore." Since yielding only brought humiliation and indifference, she would absolutely, positively never yield to him again!
Xin Yu felt her neck stiffen, waiting for Mu Yichuan's outburst of anger, but all she got was silence.
"If you're not taking your medicine, get up and eat."
The shock in Xin Yu's eyes grew even more pronounced. What was wrong with this man? Was he regretting it? Was he blaming himself?
"You had plastic surgery?" she blurted out. Mu Yichuan was definitely not in a normal mood, so who was this normal person in front of him?
He twitched his lips. This woman!
She truly opened his eyes!
Mu Yichuan grabbed Xin Yu's chin, not daring to use too much force. She had lost a lot of weight in the past two days. "You've had a fever these past two days, are you out of your mind?"
He was the one who was out of his mind! His whole family was out of their minds!
"Eat." Mu Yichuan released her, looking at the indignant Xin Yu. He was afraid that she would ignite his anger.
Xin Yu had a thousand reasons not to see Mu Yichuan and obey his orders, but her stomach protested with two loud gurgles.
"Drink this bowl of bird's nest soup," he commanded, slamming the bowl down in front of her.
Xin Yu accepted it without a word.
"Eating so deliciously, did you forget to say something?" Mu Yichuan raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased with Xin Yu's behavior.
Hmph, say something? He wanted her to say thank you? No way!
The contrast between their coldness and warmth, their activity and stillness, infuriated Mu Yichuan!
"Do you think I'm being too nice to you?" He stood up and walked to Xin Yu's side.
Shameless!
"You've gotten bolder? How dare you ignore me?" He grabbed Xin Yu's chin.
What a bastard! "Didn't you complain about my casual attitude? I'll show you what casualness is!"
Xin Yu, who had initially been silently accusing him, raised an eyebrow, her posture languid and fearless, saying, "How dare I complain about Mr. Jiu! You're notorious for bullying the weak and taking advantage of the powerful, so come on then!"
"Sharp-tongued!" Mu Yichuan, furious, slammed Xin Yu onto the table. The little woman beneath him was a far cry from the docile figure she had been a couple of days ago when she had a fever.
"Mr. Jiu, please bear with it these next few days, let this girl recover..."
His body screamed, Mu Yichuan practically devoured Xin Yu with his eyes, but his mind was filled with Qiu Zhi's slightly teasing instructions.
After a long while, as Xin Yu slowly closed her eyes to give her instructions, he abruptly pulled away and strode towards the door.
Huff...
Xin Yu remained motionless, letting out a deep breath, thoughtfully watching his angry back. Had she gone too far? Mu Yichuan seemed to have changed. If he truly felt remorse for his actions and was willing to repent…
"The doctor told me to let you recover for two days before eating again." Mu Yichuan, who had reached the door, suddenly stopped, turned to the side, and spoke coldly.
Damn it!
Xin Yu, have you lost your mind?!
For a bastard to undergo gender reassignment surgery, the sun must rise in the west!
Anyway, Mu Yichuan left. Xin Yu ate what she needed, tidied herself up, and headed to school, hoping to escape for as long as possible!
That afternoon was a general elective class. Xin Yu rushed, finally stepping into the classroom just as the bell rang.
Unable to choose a seat, she hastily sat in a corner. She didn't think much of it at first, but after half the class, Xin Yu frowned. The boy next to her, with his acne-covered face—
Why wasn't he paying attention? He was just staring at her!
Xin Yu glared at him, but the acne-covered boy didn't back down; instead, he became even more brazen.
Helpless, Xin Yu endured until get out of class ended, then grabbed her bag and quickly changed seats. The boy with acne followed behind her, grinning, "You're so pretty."
Her skin crawled with goosebumps. Xin Yu suppressed her nausea and said coldly, "I don't know you, sir."
"My name is—" the boy began, but was interrupted by a high-pitched girl.
"Oh my, I was saying, Xin Yu, I haven't seen you in a few days, and you've got another 'brother'?" Gao Min said sarcastically, glancing at the boy with acne, almost vomiting on the spot. "Xin Yu, I didn't expect you to have such heavy tastes."
Xin Yu turned away, not wanting to deal with this pointless triviality, but Gao Min seemed determined to argue.
She followed Xin Yu to the corner of the first row by the window, casually slamming her bag onto the table. "I'm talking to you. We're roommates, after all. Is this how you treat your friends?"
Xin Yu pursed her lips helplessly. She even knew they were roommates? Xin Yu's gaze swept briefly over the bag in Gao Min's hand. Gao Min gripped it tightly, as if afraid of dropping it. Xin Yu immediately recognized the brand—a Dior design from last year.
Last year, Xin Yu had seen Zhang Wan use the exact same bag, and several of her university classmates had been quite envious…
Gao Min is quite wealthy, isn't she?
Once this thought entered her mind, the scene from the restaurant with Mu Yichuan a few days ago resurfaced. Who was that middle-aged man? Gao Min's father? Uncle? Or…?
"What are you looking at? Aren't you very rich? Go look at your own!" Gao Min raised her chin, looking arrogant.
"I have no money." Xin Yu said, ignoring Gao Min and no longer dwelling on the events of that day. She didn't want to slander her, and she didn't want to think about Mu Yichuan.
"Oh, no money? Still broke?" Gao Min became even more smug, moving closer but not lowering her voice: "Xin Yu, you got dumped by your brother so quickly?"
"Who are you talking about!" Before Xin Yu could speak, Mr. Acne became displeased and angrily yelled at Gao Min.