What a cold, deep voice!
Even lying on the bed, Xin Yu's body trembled.
She really couldn't believe it was Mu Yichuan's voice. He said he'd be back in three days, and it's only been two!
How could he be so unpunctual!
And, and, she thought she'd just cursed him!
Make amends, make amends!
Xin Yu screamed inwardly, then cried out, "Mu Yichuan, how can you be so good to me! I... I missed you so much!"
He leaned against the wall, raising an eyebrow at the little woman nestled in the blankets. His expression changed so quickly!
"Missed me? Missed the Liu family?" Mu Yichuan was furious at the thought of the inexplicably appearing photos.
This woman was not only disobedient, but she also had no sense of danger whatsoever! "Shouldn't we get you another bodyguard?"
Xin Yu nimbly flipped over, feigning surprise as she glared at Mu Yichuan. "Mr. Ninth, why are you back! I thought I was hallucinating!"
Getting her a bodyguard? They might as well just lock her up!
His lips twitched slightly, but he remained standing, watching Xin Yu's masterful performance.
That intense gaze was clearly filled with displeasure. Xin Yu's heart pounded, and she had no choice but to speak again, "Mr. Ninth, when did you arrive? Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
If he had told her beforehand, would she have run off? Mu Jian definitely knew, but he just didn't tell her!
The two of them were clearly deliberately trying to ambush her!
Not giving her any freedom!
Although she thought this in her heart, Xin Yu's words were as sweet as honey. She couldn't possibly risk ruining her bright future! "Mr. Jiu, you didn't just arrive in the capital, did you?" Xin Yu shuffled around to within two steps of Mu Yichuan, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "Have you eaten? Are you hungry? Should I make you something to eat?"
"You can cook?" He raised an eyebrow, incredulous. With all her part-time jobs, how could she possibly have time to cook delicious food?!
He refused to entertain any illusions.
"Why wouldn't I cook?!" Xin Yu retorted, her eyes defiant. How could he underestimate her like that?!
After all, she had lived independently for five years!
Unlike him, who had been waited on hand and foot since childhood!
Xin Yu had come to the capital intending to remain independent, but things had taken an unexpected turn with him!
Thinking of the marriage agreement, Xin Yu felt a pang of unease.
Just as Cheng Yao had said, even with Mu Yichuan, the marriage agreement, and even the ring on her finger—
Real marriage isn't that simple! "Then you cook me some noodles." Mu Yichuan frowned, disliking Xin Yu's sudden silence. She seemed preoccupied, even her eyes held a faint sadness.
He still preferred the girl who was like a little superhero, the clever little woman who could change her expression at any moment!
"No problem!" Xin Yu patted her chest confidently. What a small ambition!
As she spoke, she started to walk downstairs. Passing by him, she was suddenly pulled into his arms. Startled, she exclaimed, "Mu Yichuan, what are you doing!"
"Let's settle the score first!"
Settle the score? Xin Yu looked at him, puzzled. Was he still thinking about the Liu family?
"Just now, you..." Mu Yichuan said slowly, making Xin Yu blink rapidly. What was wrong with her?
"You used 'you' five times, making me feel old for five minutes. How do you account for that?"
This little woman, she's been using honorifics lately. Is he really that old? "What?" Xin Yu genuinely felt there was no one more petty than Mu Yichuan in the world. "That was respect! To express my—"
His slender fingers pressed directly onto Xin Yu's cherry lips, his eyes clear and bright, devoid of their usual ambiguity, yet his words were incredibly irritating, "Another one. I need your kiss to rekindle my youth."
Damn!
Xin Yu's eyes widened in shock. This really wasn't the fake Mu Yichuan; she was absolutely certain!
Because he was always this shameless, scoundrel, and thick-skinned!
She resignedly accepted his kiss, which lasted a full six minutes…
Finally, Xin Yu almost succumbed, leaning weakly against Mu Yichuan's shoulder, panting.
But then he spoke, his voice hoarse, "Make me some noodles."
Xin Yu smacked him, thinking, "What a bullying bastard!"
However, after calming down for a while, she went downstairs to the kitchen and quickly made a bowl of noodles.
After finishing, she realized she was hungry too; Cheng Yao had been exploiting her all day!
Xin Yu quickly went back to the kitchen to get a bowl, intending to share the noodles.
"What are you doing?" Mu Yichuan sat down like an emperor, looking at the scallion oil noodles in front of him; the presentation was passable.
"I'm just worried that you...you eat too much at night, it's bad for your stomach, so I'm helping you share." Xin Yu bit her lip; she had just said "you" again—wouldn't she get kissed again?
"No need, it's perfect." With that, Mu Yichuan didn't stand on ceremony and started eating.
What do you mean, perfect!
This guy doesn't know how to share!
How can he so naturally enjoy the fruits of her labor!
Hmph!
Mu Yichuan lifted his eyelids, glancing at the sulking little woman standing beside him. To be honest, the noodles she made, like her, tasted very good.
"Want some?"
Xin Yu pouted her delicate nose, looking at Mu Yichuan and nodding deeply.
"Come here." His deep voice sounded, followed by a pat on his leg.
This…
Xin Yu took a step, then stopped. Was she supposed to sit on his lap to eat?
There were so many chairs!
Mu Yichuan's gaze was deep, but he didn't care. After all, it was her who was eyeing the food.
"Is it good?" Xin Yu had to use the question to remind the elegant man that she hadn't eaten yet!
"It's alright." He looked up, pursed his lips, and picked up a noodle, placing it in his spoon. "Here you go."
Xin Yu's dark eyes lit up like they'd been struck by a match, and she leaned forward.
But…!
Mu Yichuan elegantly put the spoon in his mouth, his eyes unusually smiling.
"You! This is noodles I made!" Xin Yu was speechless with anger. If she didn't know she couldn't beat him, she would have snatched the noodles away.
"I know." Mu Yichuan, as if deliberately, picked up his spoon, took another sip of soup, and continued, "Isn't this what you did to please me and ask for my forgiveness?"
Please him?
It seems so…
But why did he tease her in the first place!
Seeing Xin Yu trying to adjust herself and refusing to come closer, Mu Yichuan stretched out his long arm and pulled her onto his lap. "Want to eat? Eat like this."
"No, no, I don't want to eat." Xin Yu quickly waved her hands; eating like this would definitely cause indigestion!
She tried to get up, but Mu Yichuan held her back. He picked up a noodle, just like before, and brought it to Xin Yu's lips. "Good girl."
She hesitated, then opened her mouth and quickly slurped the noodles in.
"Mmm." She genuinely praised her own cooking skills; they were still so good!
Seeing her satisfied expression, Mu Yichuan couldn't help but smile. The two of them took turns eating, and soon the bowl of noodles was empty.
Xin Yu touched her stomach, feeling a surge of happiness.
Glancing at the ring on her ring finger, she quickly held it up, turning to Mu Yichuan and asking, "Does the design on this ring have any meaning?"
He didn't answer, instead taking her small hand in his and playing with each hair.
"Hey, I'm asking you a question." Xin Yu stared at his thick eyelashes, which drooped, obscuring his wise and deep eyes. "This design is in your piggy bank, and it's also in our home in Nan Yubei City. And, do you know what?"
Mu Yichuan looked up, seeing his reflection in Xin Yu's clear, dark eyes, so pure. "I ran into Cheng Yao's aunt today, the chairwoman of Ya Culture. She actually knew this pattern too, and even asked me where I got the ring!"
"Oh?" Mu Yichuan released Xin Yu's hand, then used his index finger to twirl a strand of her hair. "And what did you say?"
"Me?" Xin Yu blinked. What could she say? "I didn't know what the pattern meant."
Besides, Cheng Yao showed up and pulled her away…
"Don't know the pattern? Don't you know you're Mr. Jiu's woman!"
Faced with his provocative question, Xin Yu could only twitch her lips; she really didn't know how to respond.
Could she say that?! To a complete stranger she'd just met!
"Then, what does this pattern mean?" After all that rambling, could he at least answer her question?
"Want to know?"
Xin Yu nodded, her eyes wide.
Mu Yichuan took her small hand again, saying slowly and lightly, "The noodles I gave you earlier were just enough to appease you so I wouldn't punish you."
He gently kissed her lips. "If you want to know the secret of the pattern, shouldn't we do something else?"
Xin Yu's mouth gaped open. What kind of person had she encountered?!
"Isn't this something that can be solved with just a few words! Calling you a shrewd businessman is an understatement!" She had to exchange everything? A shrewd businessman! A truly shrewd businessman!
"My business is just a matter of lifting a finger."
Lift a finger? Lift a finger!
"I...I don't want to!" Xin Yu refused directly, her face flushed.
He knew she was itching for a fight; she wasn't going to take the bait!
"Let go, I'm tired, I want to sleep!" She moved, effortlessly getting off his lap.
"Fine, if you don't want to do business, then forget it."
Was he really that kind? Xin Yu glanced at Mu Yichuan sideways, but didn't see anything amiss.
"It's just taking a bath, isn't it?" He stretched out his long arm, pulled Xin Yu upstairs, and asked in a low voice, "Did you have other ideas?"
A bath? He'd actually take her bath?
She frowned, her face flushed, she'd fallen for his trap again…
Up in the bedroom, just as Xin Yu was about to ask about the pattern again,
Mu Yichuan's deep voice came, "I'm going to exercise my rights as a husband."
"Mu Yichuan, you…you…" Xin Yu pointed at him for a long time, "How could you do this!"
He glanced at her lazily with his dark eyes. What was wrong with him? Was the agreement signed for nothing? Was the ring given away for free?
"Then…then let's do business!" At least that way she could find out the secret of the pattern.
"You refused just now." Mu Yichuan's tone left no room for argument.
"I…I just hadn't thought it through!" Xin Yu smiled obsequiously, "Mr. Jiu, please reconsider."
Is this little girl being coquettish?! Mu Yichuan grabbed Xin Yu and headed towards the bathroom. "Okay, let's do business first, then be husband and wife."