"Climbing the social ladder and forgetting her roots?"
Another compliment slapped on!
Xin Yu gritted her teeth in anger, but could only suppress her rage.
What roots had she forgotten?! Even if she had forgotten, what right did her stepsister have to speak to her like that!
"Whether you truly don't remember or pretend not to, Shui Han is a very good marriage prospect!" Xin's father wasn't going to tolerate Xin Yu.
"I'm still a student, I don't want to get married." Xin Yu returned to bed, her hands clenched tightly under the covers, afraid she would explode.
"Shui Han is already 30, not young anymore." Xin's father approached the bedside, his tone softening slightly. "Although you're a student, you're 21 now, you can't be as willful as before."
"Willful?!" Xin Yu looked at her father in shock. Sometimes she really wondered if she was his biological daughter.
How could his words be so hurtful!
Could she be as willful as her stepsister?! "That girl is a pampered heiress, and what is she?!"
"I'm tired, please go home first." Xin Yu genuinely didn't want to continue this conversation; it would only make both of them uncomfortable.
"Xin Yu!" Xin's father didn't see it that way. For him, firstly, he genuinely approved of Liu Shuihan, and secondly, if this marriage could facilitate cooperation between the Xin and Liu families...
Then the future...
Thinking of this, he composed himself and calmly said, "You rest well. I'll go back and meet with your Uncle Liu first."
"Meet with what! Didn't I make myself clear?!" Xin Yu gasped for breath, straightened her back, and shouted, "I won't get married! And I certainly won't marry Liu Shuihan!"
"You—" Xin's father was so angry he almost choked.
"Dad!" Xin Ran rushed in from the doorway, supporting her father and glaring at Xin Yu. "Sister, what are you doing! How can you be such a daughter?!"
Xin Yu just stared at her; so she had been eavesdropping outside the door all along! "Xin Yu." Another person entered.
Xin Yu felt increasingly suffocated. Their conversation outside must have been perfectly clear.
"Uncle Liu..." Why was he here too?
"Are you feeling better?" Uncle Liu asked briefly about Xin Yu's condition, which eased the tension.
A moment of silence fell over the entire ward.
Only Xin Ran slightly raised her eyes and said in a strange voice, "Sister—"
"I don't have such a high-status sister as you. You should just call her by her name." Xin Yu scoffed. "That's more in line with your style."
Why be two-faced!
Xin Ran looked at her father with a wronged expression, her lips tightly pursed, looking pitiful. "Dad... I was just afraid my sister wouldn't feel comfortable asking you, so I wanted to ask what she thought."
"Xin Yu, you should—speak properly to your sister." Xin's father gave Xin Yu a disapproving look, but considering there were outsiders present, he gave her some face.
"You think I can't tell my father? Do you think I can tell you?" Xin Yu tilted her head to look out the window. Looking at Xin Ran's affected manner, she felt like throwing up.
"Sister," Xin Ran scoffed inwardly. She was truly shameless. Liu Shuihan had shamelessly come to propose, and she was acting arrogant, trying to climb up Mr. Jiu's mountain? No way!
"Father isn't unreasonable. Just say what you're thinking. Why argue with me?" Xin Ran continued gently, "Tell me, do you like Dr. Qiu or Commander Nan?"
Xin Yu frowned. How would she know about Commander Nan!
They hadn't already met him, had they?
Xin's father's face turned red with anger. His eldest daughter was really something—two of them had come!
No, three! Xin Ran had forgotten to mention Mr. Jiu! "Xin Yu, although it's a new era now, marriage is a major life event that still requires parental consent," Xin's father began to instruct. "Do what you can, and don't take on a task you're not qualified for!"
He knew the Qiu family, the Nan family, and even the Mu family.
But in his heart, his eldest daughter wasn't good enough for them!
Why bother making a fool of herself!
"Xin Yu," Liu's father spoke slowly, with a solemn tone, "Our Liu family certainly can't compare to the Qiu and Nan families, but we're not bad in Beishi either. Besides, you know Shui Han's feelings for you; he's been searching for you and waiting for you all these years."
Xin Yu's hand trembled violently.
Yet, she couldn't remember a single detail of that past! "Uncle Liu, I… I don't remember much about the past." Xin Yu bit her lip, her clear, bright eyes captivating. "You must have heard what I said earlier. I'm still a student; I just want to finish my studies."
"That's natural," Mr. Liu said calmly, showing understanding. "Actually, if we don't get married, we can get engaged first."
Xin Yu lowered her eyelids, staring at her folded hands on the blanket, feeling the cool touch of the ring in her palm.
She hadn't even figured out Mu Yichuan yet, and now Liu Shuihan had appeared!
What had she done wrong to deserve this test?!
"An engagement first is fine, Old Liu, we'll do it your way!"
"Why?!" "Dad!"
Xin Yu and Liu Shuihan's voices rang out simultaneously!
The three people besides Xin Yu were all startled, seemingly not expecting Liu Shuihan to come!
"Dad, what are you doing here!" he demanded coldly. Was he trying to force her into marriage behind his back?! Looking at his son, Liu's father's eyes were full of concern. His son was just too stubborn!
"Shuihan, you've come at the right time," Xin's father walked over and patted Liu Shuihan's shoulder. "We've already discussed it, and you and Xin Yu should get engaged first—"
"We discussed it, but I didn't agree at all!" Xin Yu was unequivocal. Even though she knew these words would hurt Liu Shuihan, it was better than not refusing and creating a mess later.
Sure enough, Liu Shuihan's body stiffened.
Fortunately, she recovered quickly. She said earnestly to Liu's father, "Dad, I know my situation has worried you, but I haven't seen Ayu in a long time, and many things can't be rushed."
Perhaps she'll never have to rush anything in this lifetime…
"What do you mean 'can't be rushed'! This isn't up to her!" Xin's father roared anxiously, "Xinyu, how can you be so insensible!"
"That's right, sister, look how much Brother Liu cares for you, how can you ignore him like this—"
"If you don't ignore him, why don't you listen to him!" Xinyu retorted, giving them a sarcastic look, then threw off the covers and walked outside.
"Xinyu!" Xin's father roared, this brat was really disrespectful to him!
"My head is splitting, I need to see a doctor!" Xinyu gave a helpless explanation; she and Liu Shuihan didn't have that much of a conflict.
But her father, sigh…
If her mother were here, would things be completely different?
Xinyu didn't dare think about it; the more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt.
"Ayu!" Liu Shuihan chased after her, grabbing Xinyu's arm. "I'm sorry, I didn't know my dad would do this. Don't worry, I won't force you."
She shook her head, her eyes red-rimmed, and looked up. "It's my turn to apologize. I... I really can't remember anything from the past."
Liu Shuihan stared at Xinyu in surprise, grabbing her wrist. "Ayu, what did you say! You don't remember? How could that be? You..."
"I... I don't know!" Xinyu pulled her hand away from his, trembling slightly, and said awkwardly, "Brother Shuihan, you should go back first."
"Ayu, if it's because—"
"No!" Xinyu interrupted Liu Shuihan, not wanting him to deceive himself. "This is only one reason. You know about Mu and me—"
"Don't say it! Ayu, don't be so cruel to me!"
He knew, he knew everything, but he didn't want to hear it from her.
Xinyu leaned helplessly and sadly against the cold wall, watching Liu Shuihan stride away without looking back.
That figure was lonely and desolate, carrying a deep sense of desolation.
Strange yet familiar.
"Don't go! Don't go!" Instinctively, Xin Yu clutched her heart. She didn't understand why such a voice suddenly rang in her heart!
No, this wasn't hers!
Turning around, she saw Mu Yichuan walking towards her, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun.
His steps were steady, his cold and handsome face haloed by the backlight, looking both sacred and mysterious.
Xin Yu stared blankly at him until she fell into his arms, then broke down in tears, sobbing softly.
"What's wrong?" Mu Yichuan was taken aback. Had this girl been wronged?
Why was she crying in the corridor?
Xin Yu just kept shaking her head, snuggling against him.
Mu Yichuan said nothing, simply carrying Xin Yu back to the room. The ward was now empty, the oppressive atmosphere and noise gone.
"What's wrong? Did A-Zhi bully you?" he asked in a deep voice, frowning as he took out his phone.
"No!" Xin Yu quickly snatched it back. "It has nothing to do with Qiu Zhi. I want to be discharged; I'm so restless."
Mu Yichuan's sharp eyes locked onto Xin Yu. He knew she was lying. After a couple of seconds of hesitation, he took her hand. "Your father came?"
Xin Yu's eyes widened instantly. How did he know? His men weren't here!
"Do you need me to talk to him?"
"Why! No need!" she retorted without thinking. "I can handle my own affairs independently."
"Handle them while crying?"
"I...I didn't." Xin Yu mumbled softly, blushing slightly at his exposure. After a long pause, she looked up and spoke again, "Let me be discharged."
"Tomorrow."
"Aren't you going to Beishi with me tomorrow?" Xin Yu looked at Mu Yichuan expectantly. "I want to go."
She wanted to try and remember the past! "Okay." Mu Yichuan didn't ask any further questions. He considerately helped Xin Yu finish her meal, then sat down beside the bed to start working.
Xin Yu leaned against the bed, watching him. She truly loved watching him work, and she especially enjoyed their silent moments together.
"Actually, if you're very busy, I can go by myself or have Yuanzi come with me."
Mu Yichuan didn't look up, but simply reached out and ruffled Xin Yu's hair. "Lie down and rest."
She pouted, peeking mischievously at his pile of documents. It seemed to be a stadium design, and on the envelope at the bottom was…
"Confidential!"
Xin Yu was surprised and quickly pulled her head back, her dark eyes fixed straight ahead.
Mu Yichuan turned his head, raising an eyebrow at her. "Come here."
"I'd rather not." She didn't want to pry into his secrets.
However, he seemed determined to argue with her. Holding the design drawings, he sat down directly next to Xin Yu. "Come and take a look."