Xin Yu was extremely anxious.
She hurriedly gathered her documents and, while walking towards the elevator, dialed the phone.
Before the call connected, Cheng Yuan respectfully greeted her, "Good morning, Chairman."
Xin Yu looked up at Cheng Shuya and politely returned the greeting.
"Xin Yu?" she called out somewhat uncertainly, "Is that you?"
"Oh." Xin Yu paused for a moment, then smiled, her eyes crinkling, as she looked at the elegant chairman in her lake-blue dress.
"Huh, you're not wearing your ring?" Cheng Shuya's gaze lingered on Xin Yu's left hand.
Ring? Xin Yu raised her hand.
Bang.
The same gunshot rang out, triggering an uncontrollable headache.
Xin Yu quickly leaned against Cheng Yuan.
"Ayu, what's wrong?"
She simply shook her head, but instinctively felt something was wrong with her body; why did she always have these inexplicable headaches? "Are you alright?" Cheng Shuya asked with concern. "I didn't mean anything by it."
"I know," Xin Yu quickly explained, she really didn't mind Cheng Shuya's question.
"That's good."
Xin Yu watched the elevator display numbers climb, then looked at her hand.
She had asked the most important question of her life.
"Why do you remember my ring?" She couldn't seem to recall what the ring looked like.
Cheng Shuya was taken aback, looking at Xin Yu with a mixture of confusion and worry.
"I meant to ask, is my ring special?" Xin Yu tilted her head, trying hard to remember. She clearly knew the ring existed, but why would a stranger remember it?
There must be something unique about it, right?
"You?" Cheng Shuya looked at her, then at Cheng Yuan, and patiently answered, "Yes, the design on your ring is the same as the painting in my office."
"Really?" Xin Yu was surprised. "Can I see it?"
Ding.
The elevator arrived. Cheng Shuya looked at the open elevator doors, then at Xin Yu's pleading expression, and smiled calmly, "Okay!"
Hiss…
When Xin Yu saw the painting, four words were etched into her mind—Phoenix Holding an Iris!
Oh my god!
How could she forget this design!
She remembered misunderstanding Mu Yichuan's meaning when he said "I miss you"!
"Ayu?!" Cheng Yuan supported Xin Yu, her face full of worry, "Have you been working too long? Is that why your head hurts?"
"No…" Xin Yu shook her head, taking out her phone, "Chairman, can I take a picture?"
"Of course." Cheng Shuya was very calm, although she found Xin Yu's behavior strange; she seemed to have genuinely forgotten the design.
Xin Yu thanked her, and the three of them took the elevator down to the first floor.
Cheng Shuya couldn't help but mention, finding Xin Yu quite obedient, "If you're not feeling well, go see a doctor."
Her words were subtle, but Xin Yu understood immediately—
Something was wrong!
"Ayu!" Cheng Yuan pulled Xin Yu to sit on a bench next to the company. "What's wrong with you? Your face is deathly pale!"
"Yuanzi, I... I think something's wrong here." Xin Yu pointed to her head. "I can't remember a lot of things."
"Like what?" Cheng Yuan looked at her head and remembered the two times she'd gasped for breath with headaches earlier, realizing it was serious.
"Like what I told you before, about Brother Shui Han," Xin Yu didn't notice the tremor this name caused Cheng Yuan, "Everyone tells me I have a past with him, but I don't remember a single thing."
How could this be?
If it was truly such a profound first love, how could she have no recollection at all! "Also, I don't remember what the murderer looked like."
"What!" Cheng Yuan trembled in fright, then quickly lowered her voice and asked, "What murderer?"
"..." Xin Yu snapped back to reality, realizing she'd blurted that out. "N-nothing."
"Yu, you have to tell me if something's wrong! We're good friends!"
"I know." Xin Yu patted Cheng Yuan's hand, holding up her left hand. "I can't even remember the design of the ring Mu Yichuan gave me."
This was something she couldn't tolerate!
Her token of love with Mu Yichuan—she'd forgotten it!
"But Chairman Cheng remembers." Xin Yu's eyes reddened. "Yuanzi, I'm scared, I really have a problem."
Cheng Yuan's eyes also reddened. Taking advantage of her friend's lowered head, she quickly wiped away her tears. If what Xin Yu said was true, then...
"Shall we go to the hospital?" she suggested. "Get a CT scan or something; maybe they can find out the cause."
Xin Yu nodded sadly. That was the only option.
"Let Qiu Zhi, the top doctor, give me a thorough check-up, but I have to emphasize to him that I must keep it a secret from Mu Yichuan."
Mu Yichuan…!
"Oh no!" Xin Yu shuddered at her own words. "I have to call Mu Yichuan right away… Hello, sorry, I'm working overtime. Have you eaten?"
"…" Only Mu Yichuan's heavy breathing came from the other end of the line, but he didn't speak.
"Mu Yichuan, what's wrong?" Xin Yu almost dropped her phone. "Does your back hurt? Are you feeling unwell? Is no one taking care of you?"
Beep beep beep.
The call ended.
"Ayu." Cheng Yuan was completely infected by her friend's anxiety, and considering her past impression of Mu Yichuan, she felt that Xin Yu's life was really tough.
"I'm going back." Xin Yu stood up abruptly, but turning to look at Cheng Yuan, she was worried. She had been tricked into having those photos taken.
"Xin Yu."
Hearing someone call her name, she quickly turned around. It was Old Master Mu! "Grandpa, what brings you here?"
Grandpa Mu grasped Xin Yu's arm, his eyes visibly relaxing. "I called you so many times, but you didn't answer, so I came to see you."
Xin Yu looked up at him with clear eyes, filled with gratitude and guilt.
"Grandpa, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I was working overtime and forgot about dinner."
"It's alright, it's alright." Grandpa Mu also felt guilty. How could he let his granddaughter do such a hard job? "Child, Grandpa will throw you a lavish banquet tomorrow."
So everyone would know her identity, and then, even if she had to work, no one would dare make her work overtime.
"A banquet? No, no, no!" Xin Yu quickly refused. How could she accept such treatment!
Whether she was truly his granddaughter was still up in the air!
"Child, you still haven't accepted Grandpa?"
"No!" Xin Yu reassured him, "Grandpa, I... I don't like those kinds of occasions."
Grandpa Mu pursed his lips, his deep-set eyes flashing.
Cheng Yuan was completely bewildered, wanting to ask but hesitant to. How did her best friend suddenly gain a grandfather?!
Xin Yu glanced at her stunned friend, grabbed her hand, and introduced her to Grandpa Mu, "Grandpa, this is my best friend. Could I invite her to stay at the old house for a while?"
Once she caught the culprit who took the photos, it would be fine.
"Of course," Grandpa Mu readily agreed. In his current state of mind, he would have given Xin Yu the moon without hesitation.
"That's wonderful!" Xin Yu smiled gratefully, affectionately taking Grandpa Mu's arm. "Grandpa, you're so kind!"
With Cheng Yuan's matter resolved, she felt instantly relieved.
Grandpa Mu smiled happily too, while Cheng Yuan remained stunned and at a loss.
"Grandpa, have you had dinner? Let me treat you to dinner!" Xin Yu nudged Cheng Yuan, leaning closer, "I'll explain later."
"Okay!" Grandpa Mu thoroughly enjoyed the pure family joy his two children brought him. So, when the three of them returned to the old house, it was nearly 11 PM.
After quickly settling Cheng Yuan in, Butler Mu hurried off to accompany Old Master Mu.
"Yuanzi, I'll explain to you tomorrow," Xin Yu bowed to her friend, then pointed to Mu Yichuan's room. "I have to go see him first."
Cheng Yuan nodded; she was tired anyway. "Then I'll process your adventure story properly tomorrow."
Knocking on the door, Xin Yu opened it. Sure enough, Mu Yichuan was still there, sitting on the bed reading documents.
"Not asleep yet?" she asked softly, walking to the bedside. "Are you tired?"
No one answered her.
"Mu Yichuan, do you remember when I mentioned letting Yuanzi stay at the villa?" Xin Yu sat down beside Mu Yichuan obsequiously. "You agreed then, so I let her come to the old house."
Still no one answered her; only the sound of pages turning filled the air.
"Are you angry?"
"Yes."
Finally, a response. "Mu Yichuan, don't be like this. You know, Yuanzi is my only good friend, closer than my family." Xin Yu looked at Mu Yichuan's tense profile and covered his face with her small hand. "It's mainly about that photo. I'm worried she might be in danger."
"…" Silence again.
"I promise, I'll stay obediently in the old house, and I'll tell Yuanzi that neither of us will cause trouble!" Xin Yu vowed, placing her small hand under Mu Yichuan's large palm.
"…" He ignored her and didn't take her hand.
Xin Yu pouted, her dark eyes darting around. "Mu Yichuan, you know what? I've known Yuanzi since I was little. Once, I accidentally broke a neighbor's egg, and Yuanzi made me a plastic one to save my spanking."
"Why are you still ignoring me?" Xin Yu leaned over Mu Yichuan's documents. "Please, don't be angry. I promise she'll only stay for a while."
He glanced at Xin Yu with his clear, bright eyes. "Tell me a few more embarrassing stories, and I promise I won't be angry that you came home late."
Huh?
He's only angry because you came home late?
Not because Yuanzi moved in?
"I went to dinner with Old Master Mu."
"Of course. He didn't eat anything tonight waiting for you."
Xin Yu paused, her previously vanished guilt returning.
"I haven't eaten either."
She moved closer to Mu Yichuan's lips. "Do you want to eat now? I'll make you something?"
His brow furrowed. He hadn't expected Xin Yu to be so obedient. Was it to thank him for letting Yuanzi stay?
He leaned down and bit her lip. "I missed you."
"I'm sorry, something came up tonight." Xin Yu didn't dare mention the ring, afraid of angering Mu Yichuan, and afraid of worrying him.
"Kiss me." He commanded.
...
"Is just kissing here enough?" His deep, magnetic voice sounded.
"You're so annoying." She wouldn't tolerate this!
"This part really needs it." He swept the documents off the bed and reached out to take Xin Yu's soft hand.