Xin Yu frowned slightly, filled with too many questions.
Why did he want to see her so late?
Could it be about Mu Yi'ai?
Before knocking, Xin Yu sent a message to Mu Yichuan before entering.
"Grandpa?" She approached and saw Grandpa Mu leaning against the rocking chair by the window, his gaze drifting far away. "Why aren't you resting so late?"
Grandpa Mu snapped out of his reverie, sat up slightly, and gestured to the chair beside him. "Ayu, sit."
"Grandpa, is it urgent?" Xin Yu sat down obediently.
"Nothing urgent, just wanted to see Ayu." Grandpa Mu smiled faintly. "Last time, thanks to you, otherwise, sigh..."
Xin Yu knew he was referring to Mu Yi'ai, and a lingering fear gripped her heart.
If Nan Juechen hadn't retained a sliver of reason back then, he probably really would have killed Mu Yi'ai.
"Grandpa, don't be too sad," Xin Yu leaned forward. "One day she'll understand."
Grandpa Mu simply nodded slightly, clearly not believing his daughter would change her ways.
After a while, he turned to look at Xin Yu, his gaze clearly scrutinizing her. "Ayu—"
He paused, making Xin Yu even more uncomfortable. She instinctively felt he had something to say, and something important at that, so she remained silent, waiting.
"If you had to choose between Liu Shuihan and Qiu Zhi to marry, who would you choose?"
…!
Xin Yu froze, her body instinctively straightening as she stared at Grandpa Mu in shock.
Why did he ask such a question?
Why did she have to choose between these two?
Couldn't she just say that Mu Yichuan was currently her only option? "I...I..." Xin Yu struggled to compose herself. "I won't choose anyone!"
Old Mu wasn't too surprised, seemingly anticipating her choice. He pondered for a moment, "What if your grandfather wants you to choose one?"
"Why?!" Xin Yu shouted.
Why should she?!
He wasn't even her grandfather!
Even if he were, he had no right to demand anything of her.
Even her parents didn't have that right or ability!
"Because your grandfather wants to take good care of you while he's still alive."
"..." Xin Yu's heart clenched like her brow. She couldn't deny Old Mu's concern for her, but was this a form of emotional blackmail? "Grandpa didn't take good care of your grandma, and I don't want to have any regrets about you." Grandpa Mu sat up straight and took Xin Yu's hand. "Child, Grandpa truly hopes that while I still have breath in my body, I can watch you live happily."
"Grandpa, why do you say that!" Xin Yu said, feigning ease. "Your health is still very good!"
Grandpa Mu shook his head and said bitterly, "I can't take it anymore, I'm old."
Xin Yu didn't actually believe him. In her eyes, Grandpa Mu was definitely a sprightly old man; although his back was a little hunched, he was still wise and strong.
"I… have someone I like," she said firmly, pursing her lips.
"I know." Grandpa Mu patted Xin Yu's hand, his deep-set eyes understanding. "But Grandpa doesn't agree."
He said he knew, but he didn't agree!
Xin Yu stared at Grandpa Mu, her clear black eyes filled with shock, incomprehension, and even anger! "He won't bring you happiness."
"How does Grandpa know?!" Xin Yu forcefully pulled her hand away. She wasn't exactly a model student, and she'd been putting on an act for a long time, which had been exhausting. "Whether he can bring me happiness depends on our future relationship!"
How could one person's judgment lead to such a sweeping conclusion?
"Constantly accommodating the other person will only make both of you feel exhausted." Old Master Mu's tone was as gentle as ever. He understood Xin Yu's strong reaction.
After all, after what happened with Mu Yi'ai, everyone else's rebellion seemed trivial.
Accommodating the other person?
Had she been accommodating Mu Yichuan? Or had Mu Yichuan been accommodating her all along?
Was it the latter? He, such an arrogant and noble man, had indeed lowered himself when he was with her.
Just exhausted… Did he really think that?
"Child, Grandpa has been through this. I won't lie to you." Old Master Mu sighed softly. "Grandpa has met many people. I can tell at a glance who is suitable for you and who isn't."
Really? Xin Yu thought sadly, could he really see at a glance that Mu Yichuan wasn't suitable for her?
"Grandpa, I know you're doing this for my sake," Xin Yu blinked her dark eyes, her long eyelashes still damp with tears, "but I don't want to accept it. I'm only 22, I'm still young."
"Yes, 22..." Old Mu stood up, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back.
Every step he took felt like a blow to Xin Yu's heart. She didn't understand what he was considering now. No matter what, she would never agree to Old Mu's suggestion.
Towards Liu Shuihan, she felt apologetic and guilty, but she couldn't remember anything from the past.
As for Qiu Zhi, she couldn't even talk about love. He was Mu Yichuan's good friend, and Grandma Qiu's grandson!
"Grandpa promises you we'll bring this up again after you graduate with your master's degree," Old Mu stood in front of Xin Yu, solemnly, "Then can you promise Grandpa you'll remove him from your choices?"
"Who?" Xin Yu asked knowingly. "You said the person you like."
"..." Xin Yu's face fell. Sure enough, many things had been predicted long ago, but she raised her voice, "I can't!"
No one could ask her to do that!
Old Mu's expression instantly darkened. His sunken eyes focused on Xin Yu. "Child, why are you so stubborn! What's so good about Nan Juechen?"
Nan Juechen? Commander Nan?
Xin Yu stared blankly at Old Mu. What was he saying?
Did he think from the beginning that she liked Nan Juechen, and not Mu Yichuan?
"Ayu, Nan Juechen is so much older than you. Have you thought about how old he will be when you graduate in three years?" Old Mu analyzed for her.
Ah!
Xin Yu's dark eyes didn't blink. She finally remembered why Old Mu had misunderstood her like that?
That day at the Qi family banquet, when Old Mu came over, he happened to see her hugging Nan Juechen.
"Grandpa, we—"
"Child!" Old Master Mu interrupted Xin Yu, his tone somewhat exasperated, "Haven't you ever thought about why Nan Juechen is still unmarried at his age?"
"Why?" She was puzzled. She had no romantic feelings for Nan Juechen, so she had never considered this question.
Old Master Mu turned around, sighed, and sat back down in his rocking chair. "Because of Sixth Brother."
Sixth Brother? The sixth son of the Mu family?
Who is this person?
"My sixth son is also a good boy. I never expected something like that to happen. He and Juechen were not meant to be." Old Master Mu gently closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face again.
Xin Yu was shocked and quickly went over, squatting down beside him. "Grandpa, I'm sorry, please don't be sad."
But such comfort was so pale!
Although Old Master Mu didn't say the specifics, she understood it must be related to life choices, perhaps even matters of life and death.
How terrifying! "Child, promise your grandfather you can respect him, but you can't love him."
"I understand."
After some time, Xin Yu came out of Old Master Mu's room. Not seeing Mu Yichuan, she returned to Cheng Yuan's room.
"Yuanzi," she hugged her friend, "We both need to be well."
No matter what happens, live well and pursue your dreams.
"Ayu?" Cheng Yuan was confused. Why did she come back like this? "What did Old Master Mu say to you?"
The two lay on the bed facing each other. Xin Yu told Cheng Yuan everything.
The latter's almond-shaped eyes widened, stunned.
Nan Juechen had such a story?
He must love Miss Mu very much, right? Otherwise, why would he still be single at such a young age?
"Then... will she come back?" Cheng Yuan asked, unaware of the concern and sympathy in her tone.
Xin Yu shook her head. "I don't know, maybe he won't come back."
Cheng Yuan fell silent, her mind still filled with the image of Nan Juechen, so frantic and powerful, from that day. Had he mistaken her for Miss Mu Liu back then?
"Yuanzi, in the future, we should find someone who loves us like that, and then walk hand in hand with him all the way!"
"But I... I'd rather marry an ordinary person." Cheng Yuan stated; she was an ordinary girl.
If it weren't for Xin Yu, if it weren't for what happened that day, she never thought she would have any connection with people like Old Master Mu, Mu Yichuan, or Nan Juechen.
"They live such tiring, dangerous lives."
Xin Yu sighed softly. Cheng Yuan was right, but…
"Yuanzi," she pouted, feeling wronged, "If one day you find out you've been in danger because of me, will you leave me?"
"Ayu!" Cheng Yuan sat up abruptly. "What nonsense are you talking about! What happened today wasn't because of you. Even if it were, we'd still be best friends, closest people! I'm not afraid of anything, and I'll never leave Ayu!"
Xin Yu burst into tears, hugging Cheng Yuan tightly.
…
When she opened her eyes again, it was just past midnight. Her phone was flashing.
It was Mu Yichuan.
Xin Yu quietly walked out of Cheng Yuan's room and saw Mu Yichuan leaning against the wall in the corridor. His aura was calm, and his casual clothes exuded youthful energy.
She looked around a few times before walking over and snuggling into his arms. The cool scent emanating from him made her feel truly at ease.
"Let's go." He uttered only one word, but his arm around Xin Yu's waist was strong and forceful.
"Around nine o'clock, Old Mu came to see me." She watched the elevator numbers change.
"Hmm, what did he say?"
"You didn't know?" Xin Yu turned her head in surprise. Wasn't he supposed to be monitoring her?
"Not all the time."
Was that an explanation? It only made things more confusing.
Ding.
"He told me about Commander Nan." Xin Yu's words had barely finished when they arrived at the first floor.
"What did he say about me?" Nan Juechen's voice came from the elevator entrance, startling her. He was still there?
"N-nothing!" Xin Yu chuckled. "You've been talking all this time?"
Mu Yichuan stroked her hair with his large hand. "Yes, to make some arrangements. Let's go, get on the helicopter."
They exited through the emergency exit. Sure enough, a black helicopter was parked on the top floor of the hotel.
"Mu Yichuan, where are we going?" Once inside the cabin, shut out of the outside noise, Xin Yu finally spoke. "Send Commander Nan back first."
"I...can I ask you for a favor?"