Xin Yu carefully straightened Mu Yichuan, leaning him back in his seat, her clear black and white eyes filled with worry.
She reached out and placed her small hand on his forehead; it was burning hot.
His lips were pale, unlike his usual healthy cherry blossom color; they were tightly pursed.
"Sigh..." Xin Yu sighed softly. He was just a normal person; he needed to eat and could get sick.
Thinking this, she moved closer to him, putting her arms around Mu Yichuan, and said with heartache, "We'll be at the hospital soon."
When Qiu Zhi saw Xin Yu, he was about to scold her, but unexpectedly, it was Mu Yichuan who was sick!
His pupils contracted, looking at Mu Feng in disbelief, "How could Ninth Brother have a fever?"
Mu Yichuan's body had always been made of iron!
Could something serious have happened? "I remember the last time Ninth Brother was sick was three years ago?" Qiu Zhi asked while examining him, his tone full of reproach. "What kind of work have you done!"
Mu Feng quickly lowered his head, clearly struggling with his thoughts. He secretly glanced at Xin Yu, who assumed he wanted her to plead for him, and spoke calmly.
"He was sick three years ago, so he should be sick now. His body needs to build up immunity through the virus. What's the big deal?"
Qiu Zhi glanced at Xin Yu and said sarcastically, "You seem quite philosophical about it."
Xin Yu pouted, about to speak, when Mu Feng interrupted her. He knew that if they didn't clarify things because of him, Ninth Master would definitely scold him when he woke up.
"No...it's not like that." Mu Feng's eyes flickered. "Ninth Master is probably exhausted. He hasn't slept for four days and four nights..."
Xin Yu shuddered, looking at Mu Feng in shock. "Why? Did something go wrong at the gymnasium again?"
Her gaze fell on the man lying on the bed, asleep with his eyes closed, and her heart ached even more.
Qiu Zhi snorted at Xin Yu, "Are we even talking about viral immunity?!"
Xin Yu remained silent. Mu Feng glanced at the mocking Qiu Zhi, scratched his head, and said, "Well, Mr. Jiu wanted to come back to see Madam as soon as possible..."
His pupils constricted sharply.
His heart tightened rapidly.
Xin Yu froze on the spot.
He...he worked day and night to get back as quickly as possible?!
She didn't say anything, remaining standing there, only feeling a stinging pain in her eyes.
Qiu Zhi also fell silent. He knew that Ninth Brother liked the little girl, but he hadn't expected him to like her so much.
After a series of examinations, he stood in front of Xin Yu. "It's not a big problem. You stay here. If Ninth Brother wakes up, tell him to drink more water."
"Okay," she responded softly.
Only when she and Mu Yichuan on the bed remained in the ward did Xin Yu go over, take his hand, and press it against her cheek.
"Why are you being so silly?" Isn't separation a common occurrence?
As the saying goes, "If two hearts are truly in love, what does it matter if they are together every day?"
Xin Yu nestled beside him, clutching his large hand. "I was very angry about the competition with Qi Qianjin, but I missed you so much after coming back..."
Ring ring ring.
"Hello?" Xin Yu quickly sat up and grabbed her phone. Good heavens, she had actually fallen asleep next to him! "Professor?"
"Why does your voice sound strange? Are you feeling unwell?" her professor asked with concern.
"No, it's not." Xin Yu scratched her head, seeing that Mu Yichuan was still soundly asleep, and got up to go to the window. "I... I just fell asleep."
"Is the design draft due the day after tomorrow okay?"
"Yes, it's fine. The first draft is almost done; I'll just revise the details."
Hanging up the phone, Xin Yu looked out the window. The city lights were just coming on, a vibrant scene.
As if remembering something, she quickly turned around, her small hand covering Mu Yichuan's head again. *Phew...*
Thankfully, the fever was gone. She had been so negligent.
"Ah..." Just as she was sighing, she was suddenly pulled into a hug, nestled in Mu Yichuan's arms. "Did I wake you? Are you thirsty? Let go of me, I'll get you some water. Qiu Zhi specifically told me to."
"Let me hug you first." Mu Yichuan didn't want to let go, his voice hoarse, feeling reassured by the faint fragrance emanating from her.
"Drink some water first... then hug me." Xin Yu was a little embarrassed, but his health was paramount. "Okay?"
She helped him sit up and forced him to drink a large glass of water. "You don't seem to be sweating at all. I wonder if it will relapse later?"
Mu Yichuan's lips curled into a smile, his hawk-like eyes fixed on Xin Yu. He pulled her into his arms.
"Ayu…"
"Want to lie down and rest again?" Xin Yu wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his broad chest. "I…missed you too."
The earlier argument on the way here was just a fit of pique.
Hearing this, Mu Yichuan hugged her even tighter, wanting to meld her into his body.
The two embraced silently, as if separated for a long time and then reunited, until Qiu Zhi knocked and entered. Mu Yichuan didn't let go of Xin Yu.
Qiu Zhi awkwardly touched his nose. "Ninth Brother, let me check you again."
"No need, I'm fine." Mu Yichuan refused. Seeing Xin Yu, all his problems disappeared!
"Let me go." She moved up slightly. "How can I not get checked!"
Besides, being so intimate in front of Qiu Zhi wasn't really appropriate.
"Listen to the doctor, and you'll recover faster!" Xin Yu "educated" him, as if lecturing a child.
"Okay." Mu Yichuan actually obediently released Xin Yu, allowing Qiu Zhi to examine her…
Xin Yu stood to the side, arms crossed, unwilling to look away, not even hearing her phone ring again.
When the two men looked over, her dark eyes were still fixed on Mu Yichuan. His pupils contracted, he reached for the phone, and waved it at Xin Yu.
"Ah? My call?" Xin Yu snapped out of her daze and quickly took the phone. It was…
Liu Shuihan!
She glanced awkwardly at Mu Yichuan, thankfully he didn't react too strongly, and answered the phone, "Brother Shuihan, you're back too?"
Liu Shuihan was taken aback, knowing that Xin Yu must have seen Mu Yichuan to say that.
But just as his sister had said, since he loved Xin Yu, he shouldn't give up so easily.
Besides, she was only distancing herself from him now because she had forgotten the past! "Has Ayu eaten?"
"Not yet." Xin Yu checked the time; it was indeed dinnertime. "I'll eat later... with Mu Yichuan."
She added, seemingly trying to hide something.
Sure enough, there was silence on the other end of the phone.
"Do I have absolutely no chance? Ayu?" Liu Shuihan's voice was filled with a bitter pain, making one's heart ache. "I called you just to tell you that I saw your painting. You still remember our promise? Why have you forgotten me?"
"..." Xin Yu was stunned. His so-called promise was that phrase that kept echoing in her mind: "The mountains and rivers are beautiful, my hometown is beautiful, the people are beautiful, Ayu is beautiful!"
"Ayu, why have you forgotten me? Why?" He accused her with each word, and Xin Yu could only grow more silent.
She couldn't explain it. She had gone to the hospital today, and even the doctor couldn't solve her problem! "You say youthful vows are unreliable, but Ayu, I'll prove to you how much I love you!"
"Hello, Brother Shuihan?!" Xin Yu listened to the dial tone, a chill running through her heart.
She had finally betrayed him.
Mu Yichuan watched the trembling woman's arms fall limply to her sides, a thin layer of ice settling over his bright eyes. Had she developed feelings for Liu Shuihan again?
Through the glass, Xin Yu saw that Qiu Zhi had finished his examination. She quickly turned around, feigning casualness, and asked, "What would you like to eat? Is porridge the only option?"
The last question was directed at Qiu Zhi, but he reacted as if he'd been provoked, angrily retorting, "What do you think?!"
Xin Yu rolled her dark eyes, remaining silent, guessing he was upset about Liu Shuihan's earlier call. Thinking this, she looked at Mu Yichuan and approached.
She reached out her small hand and grasped his large one, saying ingratiatingly, "Is there anything you want to eat? I'll go buy it for you. You need to eat to have the strength to fight off illness."
"Okay." Mu Yichuan didn't say much more and let Xin Yu leave.
This surprised her quite a bit, but she didn't think much of it and set off.
"Ninth Brother, what did you say? The little girl went to another hospital for a checkup?"
Mu Yichuan leaned against the headboard and nodded faintly.
"Did she discover something?" Qiu Zhi asked in a low voice. "Could it be that Nan Yu secretly told Xin Yu something?"
"It's not impossible." He told Qiu Zhi in a cold voice what Mu Yi'ai had done. "She actually drugged Commander Nan. If it weren't for Cheng Yuan, the consequences would be unimaginable."
"Cheng Yuan?" Qiu Zhi racked his brains, trying to recall such a person. "That girl's friend?"
Mu Yichuan pondered. "Yes, she seems quite afraid of Commander Nan. She hasn't made any unreasonable demands yet, but..."
"Could Xin Yu try to persuade her good friend?" Qiu Zhi sat half-upright on the edge of the bed, considering. "If it's Commander Nan... we'll probably be in even more trouble."
"Impossible." Mu Yichuan immediately denied it. "Ayu won't be able to accept it, because Commander Nan might be her uncle."
Qiu Zhi was stunned by this information. He had mocked Xin Yu many times before and even suspected her of having feelings for Commander Nan.
"Let's wait and see." Mu Yichuan's sharp eyes flickered. "Is Grandma alright?"
"She's alright," Qiu Zhi said helplessly, "except for constantly nagging about the little girl, she's fine."
"Well, I was about to—" Mu Yichuan was speaking when Xin Yu pushed open the door and entered. He paused, looking at her. "You ran away?"
A layer of sweat beaded on her forehead. Xin Yu smiled sheepishly, wiping her forehead with a tissue. "I was afraid the porridge would get cold. You should eat quickly."
Mu Yichuan's hand, hanging at his side, trembled. She cared about him so much.
That's so nice.
Watching her bustling around, carefully opening seven or eight boxes, his heart warmed, as if the outer layer of his heart was melting.
So all his hard work in S Country was worth it.
"You and Mu Yichuan eat together," Xin Yu said, handing Qiu Zhi a pair of chopsticks. "I bought double portions." He didn't take it, giving Xin Yu a deep look with his peach blossom eyes, then a glance at Mu Yichuan before leaving.
She pouted, watching his disappearing figure through the door. How had she offended someone again?
"Come here."
Xin Yu obediently moved over, looking at Mu Yichuan, her dark eyes flashing with grievance, "Are you angry?"