Xin Yu's heart pounded with alarm bells. She instinctively felt that Mu Yichuan had misunderstood her words!
His chauvinism…
"I meant Yuanzi is my good friend. You know I have almost no friends. Meeting my childhood friend in Kyoto, I hope I have time to nurture my friendship."
Xin Yu rattled off a string of words, but Mu Yichuan remained silent, his breathing unchanged.
"Is this alright?" She became even more cautious, but her mind was foggy, and she felt drowsy. "Don't you have friends and work too? Didn't you just leave with a word last night?"
"Jealous?" Mu Yichuan looked down at Xin Yu, whose eyes were lowered, his eyelashes fluttering, and leaned down to give her a kiss.
Xin Yu was startled, her eyes blinking like a frightened deer. Please, he mustn't be here! Things weren't clear yet. "I didn't—"
"Didn't?!"
Meeting his gloomy gaze, Xin Yu snuggled closer into his warm embrace. "I just wanted you to understand; the desire for friendship is everyone's psychological need."
Another agonizing silence followed. Xin Yu was almost asleep when he finally spoke in a refined tone, "Always remember, your husband comes first."
Too sleepy, Xin Yu's mind was a little foggy. It took her a few seconds to understand, and her voice tinged with excitement, "You agreed?"
Should this be written into the agreement, just in case he loses his temper...?
Looking at the radiance emanating from her, Mu Yichuan's brow furrowed. Was her stamina good? Or had he not exerted himself enough earlier? Thinking this, a surge of lust rose within him again. Just as he was about to make a move, the little woman in his arms tentatively asked, "Can I write this into the agreement?"
Mu Yichuan's eyes narrowed sharply, and he threw Xin Yu onto the bed. "No one has dared to question the documents I, Mu Yichuan, have signed or said. Are you sure you want to provoke me like this?!"
Xin Yu hurriedly shook her head. Oh no, she'd touched a nerve again.
She burrowed under the covers, closed her eyes, and tried to control her trembling body, attempting to fall asleep.
Mu Yichuan was increasingly annoyed by Xin Yu's series of movements. He half-lay beside her and turned her over. "Open your eyes."
His sharp eyes stared for a long time, but the woman beneath him didn't react at all. She was really good at pretending!
Cool fingers slid down her forehead, reaching her chin before returning to her nose, where her breathing was even.
"This woman fell asleep so quickly..."
A slight, genuine, somewhat helpless smile played on his lips, a smile more dazzling than the car headlights flashing past the French windows.
Mu Yichuan glanced out the window, narrowed his eyes. Tonight wouldn't be peaceful again. He looked at Xin Yu's sleeping face beside him for a moment, then abruptly got up and left.
...
When Xin Yu woke up again, it was already bright. Ignoring Mu Yichuan's departure and skipping breakfast, she hurriedly dressed and rushed out.
She had to go to Yuanzi Company at ten o'clock this morning to sign a contract, and in the afternoon she was going to meet Cheng Che's nephew. When it came to making money, Xin Yu was always meticulous!
Fortunately, despite her haste, she successfully signed the contract. The part-time job was for three months, mainly doing odd jobs for an upcoming ancient cultural and historical exhibition.
"Yuanzi, thank you so much!"
"If you keep being so polite, I'll punish you!"
Xin Yu looked at Yuanzi in surprise, she was really sensitive to the word "punishment."
"What's wrong?" Yuanzi was puzzled by her gaze.
Xin Yu quickly shook her head, hiding her embarrassment, "Nothing, I'm just happy. This event is actually related to my major, and I just heard the trainers say that your Ya Culture Company undertakes many events every year, including those related to antiques and ancient architecture!"
"My family has a lot of antiques!" A cute voice rang out, making Xin Yu and Yuanzi turn around. They saw a chubby boy in a black suit, about four or five years old, his big eyes shining with pride.
"Hello, sister! Hello, auntie!" the little boy said again.
"Auntie? Who are you calling auntie? Call me sister!" Xin Yu squatted down, pouting slightly. How could such a cute boy not be sweet-talking? "She calls Cheng Yuan sister, and I call Xin Yu sister, got it? Little Yuanzi."
The little boy frowned slightly, protesting, "I'm not Little Yuanzi, my name is—"
"Qiu Ze! What are you doing here?" He was then picked up and carried away.
"Waaah, I haven't even asked him what antiques his family has!"
"Ayu, do you think I'm fat, ugly, and old?" Cheng Yuan was a little conflicted and embarrassed.
"A little fat, but not ugly!" Xin Yu grabbed Cheng Yuan's hand, squinting and turning it left and right as if casting a spell, "However, my hands have magic power. Given time, they'll definitely conjure up a beautiful woman named Cheng Yuan!"
"Pfft..." Cheng Yuan raised her hand and tapped Xin Yu's head, "You really haven't changed a bit since junior high!"
"Oh! I have an appointment this afternoon!" Xin Yu exclaimed softly, startling Cheng Yuan. "Did you make an appointment with Mu Yichuan? Is it late? He might be violent, right?"
Xin Yu paused, knowing Cheng Yuan must have been very worried about her yesterday, and solemnly replied, "I didn't make an appointment with him, Yuanzi. Don't worry about me. Although I don't know exactly what happened that led to our current relationship, he's a man of his word."
Since he promised her freedom, he would definitely keep his promise!
Cheng Yuan nodded with some concern, "That's good. I'll go back to Nanshi with you sometime this weekend."
Xin Yu silently nodded and left, but she felt uncertain. If Zhang Wan didn't say anything, and Ai Heng couldn't be contacted, even if she returned to Nanshi, she would ultimately gain nothing…
Just as she was about to take a step, she heard the rapid clatter of high heels on the floor, followed by a sharp female voice pointing at Xin Yu and saying, "Are you the new intern?"
"Yes," Xin Yu replied politely, though puzzled.
Cheng Yuan quickly stepped in front of Xin Yu. "Hello, Manager Zhang. Xin Yu is working part-time for the ancient culture exhibition."
Manager Zhang arrogantly raised her chin. "Cheng Yuan, are you saying I can't use her anymore?"
Cheng Yuan's face flushed red. She hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back. Zhang Hong was known for her bad temper in the company, but Xin Yu was her good friend, and she was afraid Xin Yu would be mistreated so soon.
Xin Yu understood the subtle tension from their posture and felt a surge of emotion. Her former friend was now protecting her.
"Since Cheng Yuan is so demanding now, I'll have to go to HR and ask for someone else." With that, Zhang Hong turned to leave.
"Manager Zhang, please wait. What do you need me to do? Just say the word. I was the one who mentioned to Cheng Yuan that I should officially start work on Thursday," Xin Yu said politely.
Zhang Hong glanced sideways at Xin Yu, noticing her pretty face with its red lips and white teeth, coupled with her slender, devilish figure, and even her clear, crisp voice. She couldn't help but scoff, "Come with me."
Xin Yu patted Cheng Yuan's hand and followed. At the parking lot, Zhang Hong tossed her a key. "You drive."
"Huh?" Xin Yu looked at Zhang Hong's Volkswagen, feeling a little guilty. Although she had a driver's license, she hadn't driven in over half a year. "I'm not very—"
"What? You're planning to make me, your supervisor, your driver?" Zhang Hong didn't say another word and got into the back seat.
Xin Yu had no choice but to sit in the driver's seat, concentrating on driving slowly, completely ignoring Zhang Hong in the back seat who was busy grooming herself in the mirror.
Suddenly, Xin Yu felt a chill run down her spine. Her brows furrowed. The car behind them seemed to have been following them ever since they started at Ya Wen Hua…
Could it be… Mu Yichuan?!
No way, he promised her! Xin Yu bit her lip tightly, continuing to observe. Zhang Hong had asked her to drive to an old house in the suburbs, so there weren't many cars on the road.
Just as Xin Yu changed lanes, slowed down, and turned, a bright red Porsche suddenly sped up from behind, followed by the sounds of brakes and a collision.
"Damn it! Xin Yu, how do you drive?!" Zhang Hong jumped up and yelled, her head slamming into the roof of the car with a thud, wincing in pain.
Xin Yu didn't have time to answer. She quickly got out of the car to check. Seeing a conspicuous scratch on the beautiful Porsche, her heart pounded. She was penniless!
"You're driving way too slowly!" A woman in a stylish bright red dress, with long, wavy brown hair, fiery red lips, and a cigarette between her fingers, got out of the Porsche.
Several words rushed into Xin Yu's mind: beautiful, flamboyant, punk, rebellious!
"Driving like that is dangerous," Xin Yu said calmly, her rationality returning after her assessment.
"Danger? Are you lecturing me?" The beautiful woman took a drag of her cigarette and slowly exhaled a smoke ring. "I can drive however I want. The entire capital belongs to the Mu family. You think I can't afford to pay for it?!"
The Mu family…
Xin Yu stared intently at the beautiful woman. Her arrogant eyes did resemble Mu Yichuan's, especially her haughty tone.
"Miss Mu? You really are Miss Mu?" Zhang Hong hurriedly jumped out of the car and rushed to Mu Yi'ai's side. "Who dares to lecture you! My subordinate is ignorant. Don't mind her. This piece of junk doesn't need your compensation!"
Xin Yu's lips trembled. What the hell was going on?! "I see you're pretty short-sighted." Mu Yi'ai tossed her cigarette on the ground and ground it a few times, then gestured with her chin at Xin Yu, not even glancing at Zhang Hong. She clearly disliked the cheap makeup on Zhang Hong's face. "If you're not paying, I'm leaving."
"No, no!" Zhang Hong watched Mu Yi'ai leave with a haughty air, then yelled at Xin Yu, "What are you standing there for? Get in the car! The interview will be late!"
Meanwhile, in the black sedan that had been following Xin Yu, a man wearing dark sunglasses looked around. "Brother, Miss Eight is gone. Should we continue?"
"Forget it. We'll continue tomorrow."
"Who's this little girl? The newcomer the Boss has his eye on?"
"Shut up." The man in the back seat snapped, then added, "The Boss's sister-in-law."