Turning her gaze to Nan Juechen in surprise, Xin Yu's eyes then fell on his hand.
"Commander Nan?" She didn't understand why he was so insistent on holding her back, preventing her from leaving.
"Your stepsister is lying," Nan Juechen said firmly, his eyes cold and sharp.
Xin Yu's brow twitched, and she tilted her head, looking at him with suspicion. Why did he say that, and with such certainty?
Could it be…
"Commander Nan!" Xin Yu's voice was loud, but fortunately, Nan Juechen quickly covered her mouth, otherwise her voice would have carried outside the door.
Xin Yu pursed her lips, somewhat angry, but then she saw him take out his phone and dial, "Send away the people outside room 830."
After saying that, he pulled Xin Yu a few steps towards the hospital bed, "Xin Yu—"
"It seems you really did know about my mother all along!" She was both surprised and angry, so why had he been pretending not to know all this time! It's remarkable how she's treated her stepmother and stepsister like wolves all these times, how carefully she's pretended.
It turns out she's just a clown.
"Xin Yu, calm down," Nan Juechen said gently.
She took a deep breath and asked seriously, "Does knowing this mean my mother has absolutely no relation to you?"
Xin Yu didn't really know what she was hoping for. Perhaps it was because she hadn't seen her mother in so long that even a stranger with a similar appearance made her want to get close.
Nan Juechen paused, wanting to reach out and pat her head, but thankfully he restrained himself. He smiled helplessly, "Knowing your mother's existence doesn't mean I've seen what she looks like."
He was also surprised after hearing what Xin Yu said.
Her mother looked somewhat like him!
If it's true, this world is truly full of wonders.
Xin Yu's lips trembled as she took out her phone, opened the photo album, handed a picture of her mother to Nan Juechen, and then her pupils contracted as she looked at him.
He really didn't know? "Your mother..." She really does look so much like him! Why?!
Xin Yu turned around abruptly, bursting into tears. For years, she had never mentioned her mother to anyone. Before, when people asked, she would just make up an excuse.
Now, showing her the photo was like tearing open old wounds again.
The pain was unbearable.
"Xin Yu." Nan Juechen put away his phone, gently pulled her into his arms, and held her protectively. "Good girl."
"She...she doesn't want me anymore," Xin Yu murmured, her voice filled with grievance.
Nan Juechen didn't know what to say. He knew about Xin Yu's background, but he had always thought she was an optimistic girl. It turned out she was just hiding her wounds.
"Your mother will come back."
Is that so? Xin Yu just smiled coldly to herself, offering no response.
Even if she came back, how could she make up for the years she had lost?
"Don't cry." Nan Juechen gently stroked Xin Yu's head. In his arms, she looked like a sorrowful sprite. Xin Yu was embarrassed; she shouldn't have cried, she shouldn't have cried for the person who abandoned her!
Just as she was about to break free from Nan Juechen's embrace, she heard a cry of "Ah!"
Someone had actually unlocked the door and come in!
"I-I'm sorry!"
Xin Yu remembered this person; it was the intern doctor, the one who had once given Mu Yi'ai an injection.
He pushed up his thick glasses, clearly a little dazed, "I'm sorry, you... continue, continue!"
Bang.
With that, he slammed the door shut again and ran away.
"I'm sorry." Xin Yu blushed and took a few steps back. She really shouldn't have bumped into someone she knew. "Commander Nan, I'm so sorry."
Nan Juechen slightly curved his lips, indicating it was alright, but he felt empty inside...
Meanwhile, the intern doctor, Dr. Zhang, ran all the way to Mu Yichuan's ward.
"Dr. Qiu! Dr. Qiu!" he called out breathlessly, knocking on the door. For him, this was a golden opportunity to impress. Qiu Zhi, his charming eyes gleaming, walked up behind him. "What are you doing!"
He didn't even know where he was, yet he was shouting outside Mr. Jiu's door!
"Dr. Qiu!" The intern jumped in surprise, quickly lowering his head, then looking up with wide eyes, saying, "I just saw Miss Xin Yu hugging a man in the ward!"
"..." A strange light flashed in Qiu Zhi's charming eyes. He felt an urge to explode at the idiot in front of him!
"Really! I saw it with my own eyes!" The intern raised his hand to swear, afraid Qiu Zhi wouldn't believe him. "Miss Xin Yu was crying."
Crying?!
Qiu Zhi wanted to push open the door to see if Mu Yichuan was inside. Surely his Ninth Brother wouldn't be in such a hurry!
But instead, he saw his grandmother storm out, looking nothing like a seventy-year-old! "Grandma!" Qiu Zhi knew immediately that she had overheard what they had just said, so he quickly grabbed her arm and said ingratiatingly, "Grandma, you've come to see Ninth Brother so early!"
As he spoke, he glanced at the person on the hospital bed, and sure enough, she was furious and cold-faced!
"You brat! Why are you pulling me like that!" Grandma Qiu swung her arm, seeing that her grandson's wife was about to be snatched away, but her grandson was quite calm. "I'll go and snatch the girl back."
Qiu Zhi was annoyed and quickly tried to comfort her softly, "Grandma, you're meddling—"
"I'm meddling!" Grandma Qiu said, slapping Qiu Zhi several times, indignantly, "You don't like that girl, but I do! Okay?"
If all else fails, she'll just snatch her back as her granddaughter, okay?
"Alright, alright," he glanced at his men, a bunch of clueless fools standing there watching him make a fool of himself. "I'll go check it out."
Turning around, he turned back to Mu Yichuan and said, "Ninth Brother, wait for me..." Good news.
That brat Xin Yu is really bold, right under Ninth Brother's nose!
Even if he gets shot.
Qiu Zhi shook his head. As he walked outside room 830, he happened to hear Xin Yu shout, "No! I refuse!"
She looked at Nan Juechen in shock. He actually offered to accompany her to find her mother!
Was he also curious about their relationship?
But she couldn't! "Why?" Nan Juechen didn't think much of it; with his power, finding someone was easy. "You don't want to—"
"Didn't she reject you already!" Qiu Zhi pushed open the door, impolite as he was, but he simply couldn't stand seeing these two together. "Commander Nan."
Xin Yu was startled, turning to look at the man who swaggered in, his peach blossom eyes filled with arrogance.
"Why are you here?" She didn't understand Qiu Zhi's attitude was so hostile. Had he misunderstood again?
"My hospital." He declared his ownership.
Xin Yu twitched her lips, rolling her dark eyes. She didn't intend to argue with him, but fearing he might say something to Mu Yichuan, she explained, "Commander Nan and I have nothing going on."
"Did you hear that, Commander Nan!" Qiu Zhi leaned back on the bed, looking every bit the spoiled brat.
Nan Juechen gave him a cold, horrified look. A mere brat dared to lecture him! "So what if I heard you! If I want to take her away, you can't stop me!"
It was just a casual remark, but the three of them froze the moment it left their mouths!
"I can't stop her, but Ninth Brother can." Qiu Zhi turned around and retorted sarcastically.
"Is that so!" Nan Juechen reached out and grabbed Xin Yu, as if only this could prove a man's dignity!
"Qiu Zhi, shut up!" Xin Yu stiffened at Nan Juechen's action, but she understood that he was provoked by Qiu Zhi.
Even if they had no relationship, what man could withstand such provocation?
"You still dare to talk back!" Qiu Zhi retorted angrily, straightening up, remaining alert. "Just wait and see how you explain to Ninth Brother."
"Who asked you to be so nosy!" Xin Yu glared at him. Why was he so stubborn? Mu Yichuan was still injured; why did he have to stir up trouble?
Besides, she had already explained herself immediately.
"I'm being nosy?!" Qiu Zhi's peach blossom eyes burned with a gaze that seemed to scald Xin Yu. She really did have a connection with Nan Juechen; she was already siding with him even before anything had happened!
"Come back with me. Ninth Brother just said he wants to see you." He commanded, a dark glint in his eyes, wanting to see what excuse she could use by bringing up Ninth Brother.
Xin Yu pouted angrily, glancing at Nan Juechen, considering how to broach the subject.
"I have something to do with Xin Yu." He refused outright, unusually domineering.
Qiu Zhi glared at Xin Yu, then turned to leave.
"Hey!" she called out quickly, not wanting Qiu Zhi to go back and tell Mu Yichuan all this nonsense. "Qiu Zhi! What are you doing! It's not a big deal."
"It's not a big deal, it's just that you've become famous in my hospital." Qiu Zhi said coldly.
He didn't know why he felt so agitated; the thought of something possibly going on between Xin Yu and Nan Juechen annoyed him! "Commander Nan…" Xin Yu scratched her head, somewhat embarrassed. "Don't take Qiu Zhi seriously; he's always been sharp-tongued."
The man at the door paused.
Why did that assessment sound so unpleasant to him?
"Hmm."
Bang!
Qiu Zhi slammed the door open.
"Really not coming with me?" Nan Juechen looked at Xin Yu, both curious and expectant.
"Later." She wasn't mentally prepared, even though this was just one of her dreams.
After speaking, Xin Yu turned to break free from Nan Juechen's hand and walk out, but saw two people standing at the door.
One older, one younger, like two statues.
The Elder Master? Mu Yichuan's older brother!
Xin Yu bit her lip, silently taking a step back, and pulling her hand away.
But who was that old man?
Suddenly, her dark eyes widened in shock. It was over!
He was Old Master Mu! Mu Yichuan's father! How could he have seen her holding hands with Nan Juechen!
Already at a disadvantage, now it's even more hopeless!
"Mr. Mu," Nan Juechen stepped forward first, calling out respectfully, bowing deeply.
But Old Master Mu seemed not to hear, staring blankly at Xin Yu, his body trembling.
"Dad!" The eldest son supported him, calling out softly, then his eyes turned intensely to Xin Yu.
She also trembled, quickly lowering her eyes and brows, walking briskly to the door, bowing as well, "Hello."
After saying that, she tried to escape.
She couldn't bear that gaze anymore; she really hadn't done anything!
She and Nan Juechen were only discussing her mother; she hadn't betrayed Mu Yichuan at all!