The next morning, Mu Yichuan left on a business trip.
Xin Yu watched him leave, and suddenly felt a huge emptiness in her heart.
She ate breakfast without any appetite.
She rested her chin on her hand, pouting, and stared at Cheng Yuan for a long time. The latter was even more confused and uncomfortable.
"Ayu," Cheng Yuan called softly, looking around, "Are you alright?"
Xin Yu exclaimed, then came to her senses, "I'm fine. Shouldn't I be going to work?"
Cheng Yuan had just nodded when Mu Yi'ai rushed out, "Going to work so early?"
Xin Yu looked at her sleepy-eyed appearance, wearing a mature purple nightgown. This woman was quite beautiful when her rich lady aura was hidden.
"What are you looking at me for!" she said, glaring with her cat-like eyes, becoming haughty.
"..." Xin Yu exhaled a sigh of relief. "No work today, how about tomorrow? I'll hold a regular meeting, and all of us can get together then."
Hearing this, Mu Yi'ai relaxed a bit, yawning broadly. "Okay."
She then went upstairs.
Probably to go back to sleep.
Xin Yu's lips twitched for a while before she pulled Cheng Yuan to say goodbye to Old Master Mu, and then left the Mu family's old house.
"There's a driver too?" Cheng Yuan whispered in Xin Yu's ear, completely flattered. "Ayu, tell me quickly what happened!"
She hadn't slept well all night, imagining all sorts of versions, and now desperately needed confirmation.
"You!" Xin Yu smiled, then quickly suppressed her smile, and roughly explained the situation to her friend. "Yuanzi, you can stay here with peace of mind. It's understandable to feel reserved, but at least we can look out for each other."
"But," Cheng Yuan still didn't understand, "I remember seeing your grandparents when I was little."
Although, those memories were very vague…
Xin Yu didn't know how to answer this question; she was also unclear about the current situation.
She suspected her mother and Nan Juechen, and she also suspected herself and the woman in the photo with Old Mu.
After all, how could two people in this world look so alike for no reason? So she simply shook her head at her friend, "Yuanzi, take it slow. I still trust Mu Yichuan. Although I feel like he hasn't told me many things, he'll definitely grasp the big principles."
"That's all we can do, but Ayu," Cheng Yuan scratched her head, "I feel like all the servants in the old mansion, besides Old Master Mu and Butler Mu, are really fierce."
Xin Yu paused, sighing inwardly. In this so-called grand mansion, the Mu family had already been quite restrained on the surface.
"But it's alright," Cheng Yuan smiled carefree.
"Yeah," Xin Yu nodded. She had no other choice now; she could only endure it. "Yuanzi, I don't have an internship today. I need to go to the hospital."
Cheng Yuan immediately became serious. "Should I go with you?"
"It's alright. I'll go by myself first. If there are any complicated tests later, you can ask for leave to come with me."
After saying goodbye to Cheng Yuan, Xin Yu ran to Qiu Zhi's office, but before she could even speak, she was rebuffed.
"Can't you read? Or is your comprehension limited?" He mocked, his peach blossom eyes flashing. "The sign I made before!"
Following Qiu Zhi's finger, Xin Yu saw the sign she'd made before standing in the corner—
"No Xin Yu Allowed at Zhong'ao Hospital!"
"I..." Seeing Qiu Zhi's aloof attitude, Xin Yu paused, lowered her head, and silently turned away.
Fine, since he won't help, she'll just go to another hospital's neurology department and get a CT scan.
"You...!" He stared at the empty doorway; she'd just left!
For some reason, he felt unbearably anxious.
He wanted to lose his temper.
After leaving, Xin Yu went to check on Grandpa Qiu. He was still lying there quietly, as if time had never existed.
"Girl!" Grandma Qiu grabbed Xin Yu's hand in surprise; she knew this girl still cared about them.
"Grandma, you're here so early?"
"Sigh." Grandma Qiu sighed, "I'm here to persuade that brat, A-Zhi!"
Seeing Xin Yu's confusion, she continued, "Your grandfather's old friend's son is hosting a banquet, and I wanted him to go, but the brat said it was utterly boring."
This… Xin Yu blinked a couple of times, unable to offer any opinion.
Grandma Qiu's eyes lit up, looking at Xin Yu expectantly, "Girl, could Grandma ask you to go with A-Zhi? I won't hide it from you, several big names in the American medical community will be attending this gathering. If we can establish connections, it will definitely be beneficial for Zhong Ao."
Xin Yu became increasingly confused. If the benefits were so obvious, why wouldn't Qiu Zhi agree?
And what did it mean to ask her to go with him?
Was it because Grandma Qiu wanted to teach her medicine?
"Are there any big names in Traditional Chinese Medicine?" Xin Yu had been intermittently reading that medical text and had even come up with a few entrepreneurial ideas.
"Going wouldn't hurt, would it?" Xin Yu thought optimistically.
Anyway, Mu Yichuan was away on a business trip, so she wouldn't cause trouble. It would always be good to broaden her horizons.
"Is this alright?" She was still troubled by Qiu Zhi's attitude. After being hospitalized several times recently, he seemed to dislike her. Could it be... that Mu Yichuan hadn't paid the medical bills?
That was a problem. She had to find an opportunity to ask him properly.
"Of course!" Grandma Qiu was overjoyed. She hadn't expected Xin Yu to agree so readily. She looked at the little girl with satisfaction, confident in her judgment.
"No!" Qiu Zhi immediately declared, his peach blossom eyes burning with a desire to burn Xin Yu alive. Why was this brat interfering?
Didn't she just leave without looking back?
"What do you mean no!" Grandma Qiu glared at her grandson with exasperation. This silly boy was usually so clever; why couldn't he understand Xin Yu? "I'm not going! No matter who goes with me, I won't go!" Qiu Zhi's attitude was firm, making Xin Yu quite embarrassed.
She couldn't help but look at Grandma Qiu, "Grandma, maybe we should just forget about it then."
After having a few moments of hesitation, Xin Yu realized she had been too optimistic. Not only was she a latecomer to the field, but she hadn't even been in it for long, yet she was already thinking about starting a traditional Chinese medicine business!
"Zhi!" Grandma Qiu held Xin Yu tightly, afraid she would back down, and glared at Qiu Zhi. "I'm giving you an order, not a discussion."
"Why do you want to go?" Qiu Zhi ignored his grandmother's question and instead turned to ask Xin Yu.
Huh?
Xin Yu was stunned for a moment, stammering, "I...I'm just interested, that's all."
Qiu Zhi paused.
"Look at you! Don't you have even a shred of ambition, like a proper young lady!" Grandma Qiu criticized harshly, adopting the demeanor of a serious parent. "Tell me—"
"Then I'll go!" Qiu Zhi said, then continued with his work.
His sudden change of heart left Grandma Qiu feeling incredibly frustrated; all the things she had prepared to say were now stuck in her throat.
Xin Yu was also puzzled. Why did he change his mind so suddenly?
Bang.
Qiu Zhi pulled open a drawer and slammed the invitation into Xin Yu's hand. "Take a good look. Three days later, Beihai, the Luxury Cruise Ship."
Wow.
Xin Yu's eyes lit up. A luxury cruise ship!
She had never experienced one before, and Cheng Yuan probably hadn't either.
"Can I bring anyone?" she asked instinctively, but seeing Qiu Zhi's murderous glare, she narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Never mind."
"Who do you want to bring?"
"Huh?" He changed his mind again. "My friend Cheng Yuan. You've met her, right? That chubby, cute girl."
Qiu Zhi's gaze remained cold and sharp, but he leaned back lazily. "Then bring her."
Xin Yu was overjoyed, almost jumping for joy. She reached out and hugged Grandma Qiu.
Her little face pressed against hers, "Grandma, you're so kind! Thank you so much! I'll definitely study the medical texts diligently for the next three days!"
"..." Qiu Zhi's lips twitched several times. He really wanted to remind Xin Yu that he was the one who gave her this opportunity!
Seeing Xin Yu happy, Grandma Qiu was happy too, but she wasn't entirely pleased. After all, she wanted to create a world for just the two of them, and now another girl had suddenly appeared!
"By the way, why did you come to see me earlier?"
Xin Yu composed herself, remembering the purpose of going to the hospital. Her little face wrinkled; she had just been chased away by Qiu Zhi.
Now he had changed again.
As the saying goes, a child's face is like the weather in June; Qiu Zhi's mind really hadn't grown up yet.
But how could she mention that she had a problem with her head in front of her grandmother? How could she ask Qiu Zhi to help examine her?
"It's nothing."
Qiu Zhi raised an eyebrow, thinking she was bothered by his previous attitude.
"Oh dear." Grandma Qiu was definitely a master of reading people. Sensing the tension between the two, she decisively decided to leave. "My head's a little sore; I need to go back and rest."
"Grandma!" Xin Yu exclaimed, supporting her. "Then let me take you back."
Grandma Qiu refused, insisting for a long time that the housekeeper had come along, before finally managing to leave Xin Yu with Qiu Zhi.
"Now you can tell?"
Xin Yu blushed; being exposed was far too blatant.
"Then," she walked to Qiu Zhi's side, "can you keep this a secret? Don't tell Mu Yichuan."
"..." He merely twitched his brow.
"Qiu Zhi, look, I already promised to go to the party with you." Xin Yu's bright eyes sparkled. "Will you do me this favor?"
Qiu Zhi crossed his arms. The little girl's ability to twist the truth had grown. "Just now, I think someone's eyes lit up when they saw the luxury cruise ship."
"Really? I didn't see that. Maybe we should ask Grandma."
"How many favors do you want me to do?"
Ha!
Xin Yu's eyes crinkled. She had figured out Qiu Zhi's weakness.
"One!" She held up her index finger, her face resolute. "Just one!"
As long as he didn't tell Mu Yichuan about her mental problem.
"I already helped," Qiu Zhi said lazily. "Didn't I promise you I'd bring your friend to the party too?"
"Qiu Zhi!" Xin Yu shouted, "One thing at a time."
"No, I'm a businessman."
"Who said you're a businessman!" Xin Yu lied confidently. "That guy deserves a beating! You're the life-saving, top-notch Dr. Qiu!"
"…"
"Dr. Qiu, with your reputation, why would you care about such a small matter? Besides, maintaining patient confidentiality is one of Zhong Ao's principles."
"Are you sick again?"