The moonlight, like water, streamed into the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows, carrying the unique coolness of an autumn night.
Xin Yu, staring at the ceiling, felt a chill in her heart, just like the night…
A strong arm held her tightly around the waist. The arrogant and sharp-tongued Mu Yichuan, when awake, was now asleep like an innocent baby.
He had "forgiven" her, but hadn't told her who had left him.
Xin Yu slowly stirred, turning to look at his perfect profile. Having grown accustomed to his domineering presence, she couldn't imagine he was someone who had been hurt. Could it be him?
She wasn't sure…
Staring at Mu Yichuan for a long time, Xin Yu felt no sleepiness. Instead, she remembered something: they… hadn't taken any precautions.
She stayed up until dawn, then secretly got up, quickly washed up, left a note, and hurriedly left.
The streets were deserted and chilly in the early morning. Xin Yu stood in front of a pharmacy for a while before stepping inside, but the words "I want to buy birth control pills" stuck in her throat, impossible to utter.
"Give me a pack of masks," Xin Yu said, grabbing a mask and fleeing. Once outside, she vigorously rubbed her flushed face, muttering resentfully, "Masks, oh masks, I'm counting on you, otherwise I'll be the first person in the world to die of embarrassment!"
She finally found an open pharmacy near school, put on the mask, and successfully bought the medicine, unaware that the car that had been following her was already taking pictures of her…
Today's class was the least attentive Xin Yu had ever been in her over ten years of schooling.
Although she kept her eyes on the blackboard, her mind was racing with calculations. When get out of class ended, she rushed to Nan Yu.
He gave Xin Yu a cold glance and walked away silently.
"Hey!" Xin Yu chased after Nan Yu. "Nan Yu, stop right there!"
Seeing him not stop, she ran and tripped him, but after several attempts, he remained silent, his expression utterly indifferent.
"Tell me, what do you want?"
She now wanted to know Mu Yichuan's secret, and he had her under his thumb...
"Too bad, I like to keep things mysterious, and besides—" Before Nan Yu could finish his revenge, Xin Yu saw his pupils shrink, and then she was pulled into his arms.
"This is for you!" A rough voice sounded from behind, and then a long, blue velvet box was forcibly shoved into Xin Yu's hand.
Blinking for a long time, Xin Yu finally remembered that the person who had run away was... the acne-ridden boy!
He actually gave her something?! Realizing what was happening, Xin Yu clutched the box, intending to chase after the boy with acne to return it, but Nan Yu stopped her. He raised an eyebrow, his scar on his face twitching slightly. "Let's go."
"But..." she shook the box in her hand. How could she take someone else's things for no reason?
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Nan Yu said indifferently.
Xin Yu sighed helplessly, pursed her lips, and stuffed the box into her bag. Oh well, she'd just have to return it tomorrow...
Following Nan Yu, the two drove westward, the city a bustling metropolis in sight. It was her first time visiting the capital, and she hadn't expected to find herself in this state of mind. She was about to learn about Mu Yichuan's past?
"It's not too late to regret it now," Nan Yu said coldly, stopping the car by the roadside. "Why do you think I'll definitely regret it?" she asked sincerely, puzzled. "Even if I know Mu Yichuan's secret, know his past, will I definitely regret it?"
Nan Yu paused, his gaze slightly lowered, and after a moment of silence, he opened the car door. "Then get out."
Here?
Xin Yu got out and looked around. This was just an empty plot of land in the bustling capital. To the north and east were high-tech industrial parks and upscale residential communities, and to the southwest were the Baimu Mountain range and the Baimu River.
It was indeed unusual. Shouldn't such prime real estate have been developed long ago? Real estate developments, parks, entertainment facilities—it was a sure thing, provided it was launched.
Xin Yu voiced her questions, and Nan Yu paused again. He hadn't expected her to be so insightful and connect it to his professional knowledge.
"Because Mu Yichuan won't allow development."
"Oh?" Xin Yu observed the surroundings again, somewhat confused by Mu Yichuan's intentions. She could see the commercial value of this place; how could Mu Yichuan not! Nan Yu stopped speaking and led Xin Yu to the riverbank, pointing west. "See that? At the foot of the mountain."
What's that? A tombstone?!
Xin Yu ran over in a few quick steps, and it really was…!
"The Tomb of Mu Yiqing and Qiu Feng."
She turned and tilted her head to look at Nan Yu. "Who are they? Mu Yichuan's brother and sister-in-law?"
"Mu Yichuan's brother and… Mu Yichuan's childhood sweetheart."
…!
Xin Yu's dark eyes widened in shock. She turned back to look at the tombstone, stunned for a long time. She had left him, forever. That's why he said those things yesterday, right?
"Yesterday was the anniversary of his death?"
"Yes." Nan Yu stared at Xin Yu's somewhat silent and desolate back, suddenly unsure whether what he was doing was right or wrong. "Why...why are they buried together? And here?"
"Because Qiu Feng loved Mu Yiqing, the fifth son of the Mu family," Nan Yu said calmly, his voice as clear and ethereal as an autumn afternoon. "There was a car accident here three years ago..."
At the mention of it again, Nan Yu stiffened, his heart aching as if being torn apart.
"What's wrong?" Xin Yu asked, seeing him stop, turning around to find him clutching his head in pain. She quickly reached out to support him.
A car accident? Could it be that they died young like this?
And Nan Yu was also a victim?
"You...your face was like that too...?" Xin Yu froze, as Nan Yu embraced her.
...!
She tried to struggle, but heard him murmur, "It hurts."
It hurts?
Not knowing where to put her hands, Xin Yu slowly wrapped her arms around him.
His clear, watery eyes were filled with coldness and sorrow, and Xin Yu's heart ached terribly. Life is unpredictable.
How many people have paid the price for this? For every death, there is an injury; comparing the two, who can say the living are luckier?
Three years have passed. In the dead of night, does Mu Yichuan also cry out in pain in his heart...?
Nan Yu felt the softness and warmth on her body, her heart gradually calming down, but her shoulder was soaked with tears. Had she cried?! "Don't cry." His cool fingertips wiped away her tears. "It's not worth it for anyone."
Xin Yu sniffed, wiped away her own tears, and forced a smile. "Such an expensive place is abandoned, what a waste!"
To avoid embarrassment, Xin Yu turned to look at the tombstone again. "Qiu Feng? Is she related to Qiu Zhi?"
She thought of that slightly spoiled man, his petite yet resilient and optimistic grandmother, and his grandfather who was in a coma but responded somewhat to her words. She hoped this name had nothing to do with them…
"You know Qiu Zhi?" Nan Yu was surprised, then understood. Mu Yichuan must have introduced him. "Qiu Feng is Qiu Zhi's sister."
Sigh…
"His grandfather was also injured and fell into a coma in that multi-vehicle collision."
…Fate can be really cruel sometimes! "Anyone else?" Xin Yu murmured. "Did anyone else pay for the car accident? Mu… Mu Yi'ai?"
She remembered that day at the hospital, Mu Yi'ai had yelled at Old Madam Qiu, saying she had paid the price three years ago!
Xin Yu turned to look at Nan Yu with a puzzled expression, but the latter only curled his lips into a clear, self-deprecating smile, "It seems you really won't regret it."
She had inquired about everyone, but hadn't mentioned Mu Yichuan.
This could only mean two things: either indifference or excessive love, and she was clearly the latter.
…
"Ninth… Ninth Mr." Mu Feng paused as soon as he entered, his fists clenched tightly, unable to alleviate the panic in his heart.
Mu Yichuan raised an eyebrow and glanced at the documents, continuing to look at them.
"Madam…"
Xin Yu? Mu Yichuan's brows furrowed. The little girl had run off without a word this morning!
"Ninth Mr., Nan Yu took Madam to…" Mu Feng steeled himself, bowing respectfully.
*Slap!* Mu Yichuan slammed his pen down. "Nan Yu? Mu Jian has a death wish!"
He dared to let him get close to Xin Yu!
"Nan Yu took his wife to Bai Mu River." As Mu Feng finished speaking, he felt a chill run through him, his blood rushing to his head, freezing him solid. Having followed Mu Yichuan for so many years, he had never seen him so ruthless and sharp! Mu Yichuan kicked the chair beside him and strode out of the office. Just then, Mu Jian walked in…
Without thinking, he reached out and slashed at Mu Jian. The latter felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, followed by numbness, but he still said coldly, "Mr. Jiu, Dongdu University has released some photos of Nan Yu and Xin Yu."
Mu Yichuan only glanced at them; it was an ambiguous image of Nan Yu pinning Xin Yu against a pillar with one hand. "Bring Xin Yu back to Nanlong Villa."
He snorted coldly and left the office…
When Xin Yu returned to Nanlong Villa carrying a bag of art supplies, her heart was heavy with gloom, as if a storm was about to break.
Nan Yu said firmly that she didn't regret it. She didn't know; her heart was churning with various emotions, a chaotic mess, unable to distinguish whether she regretted it or not.
She went into Mu Yichuan's study, laid out her paper and art supplies, and needed to calm down. At times like these, painting was the best option.
So when Mu Yichuan kicked open the door, what he saw was this serene and beautiful painting…
Xin Yu stood beside the desk, gesturing wildly. The desk was wide and large, making Xin Yu appear petite and frail, but every movement she made exuded resilience and strength.
Her straight black hair was casually tied up, stray strands falling across her delicate face as she freely painted. Amidst the bold strokes, Xin Yu's confidence soared…
For some reason, Mu Yichuan's anger subsided considerably as she sketched.
Xin Yu made a beautiful backhand stroke, put down her pen, and looked up.
He stood dignified in the doorway.
Motionless.
Completely focused.
Suddenly, her heart ached.
She remembered the cold, desolate tombstone under the clear sky.
And Nan Yu's cry of pain.
"Still in the mood to paint?" Mu Yichuan's dark eyes were like an ancient well, deep and cold.
Xin Yu paused, looking down at the painting she had drawn—White Wood Mountain and White Wood River…
She took a light step, her steps somewhat heavy, yet her heart suddenly felt light.
Reaching Mu Yichuan's side, Xin Yu reached out and slipped her arm under his armpit, embracing him tightly.
He was stunned, feeling the soft, elfin-like figure in his arms…