Instantly, a distinct masculine scent enveloped her!
Xin Yu felt a daze from the cool, refreshing scent, forgetting to react.
His hands were so tight, it even hurt a little…
Who is this person? It doesn't seem to be Mu Yichuan's embrace.
Mu Yichuan?!
The moment that name entered Xin Yu's mind, she quickly regained her senses and struggled violently. She… she and Mu Yichuan were still video chatting!
Breaking free from Liu Shuihan's embrace, she hurriedly reached for her phone, wanting to explain, but her hands were shaking so badly that she lost her grip and the phone fell directly under the table.
When she picked it up again, the phone was broken…
She subconsciously looked at Cheng Yao, but he seemed to be just realizing what was happening, his peach blossom eyes both playful and cold, "Shuihan, who is she?"
Xin Yu stared at Cheng Yao in shock. This guy's acting skills are truly impressive! She and Cheng Yuan were clearly brought in by him!
Brought back to his senses, Liu Shuihan was extremely embarrassed. His gentle face flushed slightly. He had just… been unable to control himself.
His 30th birthday party was forced upon him by his parents. It seemed to be filled with immense glory, but there was nothing to be happy about, because he had lost the little girl he had waited for for ten years.
He thought he would never see her again in this lifetime…
Just as he was about to go through the motions wearing a mask, he suddenly heard that name he hadn't heard in so many years—Ayu. He stared at her, stunned. She had grown up, but her appearance was still charming, and her eyes were still clear and captivating! His body embraced her faster than his reason…
"My God, what's going on? Is that girl Mr. Liu's girlfriend?!"
"No way, I've never heard of her before."
"Wasn't that girl brought by Young Master Cheng just now—"
The room instantly erupted in excitement, then fell into a chilling silence. People were curious, yet wary of their wealth and power…
"Cheng Yao, Xin Yu is my sister's junior high school classmate." Liu Shuihan tried to keep his voice steady, but his unwavering gaze betrayed his true feelings.
Liu Shuihan's voice was broad and clear, like a spring in the desert, perfectly complementing his gentle demeanor. Xin Yu glanced at him awkwardly, completely bewildered by his actions. Why had he embraced her?
Do they know each other…?
Looking at Liu Hen and Cheng Yuan, one seemed somewhat wooden, the other clearly wounded!
Xin Yu's heart skipped a beat. Oh no, Cheng Yuan must have misunderstood! "Yuanzi…" Xin Yu called out, but Cheng Yuan kept her head down and ignored her. Just as she was about to bend down to explain again, a slightly weary voice rang out—
"Xin Yu, is that really you?"
Xin Yu quickly looked up. It was Liu's father, whom she had met before. "Hello, Uncle Liu."
"Xin Yu, long time no see!" he said with some emotion. "When did you come back? I heard you went to South America?"
Got to South America…
Looking at Liu's father with suspicion, Xin Yu could only smile bitterly. How could she explain that no one wanted to take her to South America?
"Alright, let's not talk about such sad topics. It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!" Liu's father naturally noticed Xin Yu's mood and quickly changed the subject. "Ever since you moved, Henhen has been talking about you a lot. After the banquet today, be sure to come to our house for a visit."
"Okay." Xin Yu responded listlessly. At this moment, her heart was filled with Mu Yichuan and Cheng Yuan; she didn't want anyone to misunderstand.
"Let's go greet the other guests first, we'll talk later."
As the Liu family moved to other tables, Xin Yu immediately grabbed Cheng Yuan's hand, saying, "Yuanzi, I have no idea what happened just now. I… I don't know Liu Hen's brother."
Cheng Yuan then looked up, her eyes slightly red.
Xin Yu's heart tightened, and she stammered, "He… he probably mistook me for someone else, or maybe he was helping Liu Hen hug him…"
"I'm going to the restroom." Cheng Yuan slipped away.
"Hey!" Xin Yu tried to follow, but Cheng Yao pressed her back into her seat. "What are you doing?"
Didn't he just pretend not to know her?
"You know Liu Shuihan?" Cheng Yao was completely different from his usual playboy self; he was chillingly cold.
"No."
"Then why did he hug you?"
"Shouldn't you ask him that?" Xin Yu turned to look at Liu Shuihan, who was focused on toasting and talking to someone. She really didn't recognize him. "Look at that." Cheng Yao raised an eyebrow, releasing Xin Yu and reverting to his usual smug expression. "Ninth Brother will be here soon anyway."
Damn it!
Xin Yu was startled, her scalp tingling. Mu Yichuan had definitely misunderstood!
She got up and walked towards the bathroom, calling him as she went, but after five attempts, Mu Yichuan still didn't answer…
"What should I do?" Xin Yu stood outside the bathroom, stamping her feet in frustration. She dialed again, calling out, "Yuanzi, I'm waiting for you outside."
"Hello."
As soon as Xin Yu finished speaking, the call connected as she hoped. She called out urgently and tremblingly, "Mu Yichuan…"
"Madam."
Gah, it's Mu Feng again?!
"Madam, Mr. Ninth is busy right now, please wait a moment." Mu Feng was about to turn around and hand the phone to Mu Yichuan when his voice suddenly turned gloomy and sharp.
"You said that miniature camera came from Nanshi…"
Something on his mind? Does that mean he wasn't affected by what just happened?
He doesn't mind, right?
Xin Yu was thinking when Cheng Yuan came out, her eyes even redder. "Yuanzi."
"Go on with your call."
"I'm done." Xin Yu hung up, grabbed Cheng Yuan's arm, pouted, and said, half-pleading, half-coquettishly, "Yuanzi, my best friend Yuanzi, my best sister Yuanzi, my dearest Yuanzi, don't be angry with me."
"I'm not angry with you."
"I swear, I really don't know Liu Hen's brother. I don't remember many things from before in Beishi." Xin Yu pursed her lips, awaiting Cheng Yuan's "judgment." "Besides, you know about me and Mu Yichuan..."
"Ayu, I'm fine." Cheng Yuan sighed and patted her friend's hand. Xin Yu was her best friend, her dearest person. "I've already figured it out. No matter who Shui Han likes, I'll bless him."
"Yuanzi..."
"Yuanzi, Ayu!" Liu Hen suddenly ran over, her thick glasses glistening with tears. The three embraced warmly…
Even after Xin Yu and Cheng Yuan entered the Liu family villa, Mu Yichuan hadn't called!
Looks like he really was busy!
Cheng Yao had taken Liu Shuihan to another social engagement, which relieved Xin Yu. Even if Cheng Yuan didn't mind, even if they didn't know each other, she felt awkward seeing him.
"Ayu, Yuanzi, you said you came to ask me to start a business?!" Liu Hen pushed up her thick glasses, somewhat bewildered.
Xin Yu scratched her head. Before coming, she hadn't considered that Liu Hen was now considered the Liu family's daughter; starting a business seemed superfluous to her.
"That's what I was thinking, but—"
"But what?" Liu Hen grabbed Xin Yu, interrupting her urgently, "I've wanted to leave Beishi for a long time!"
"Huh?" Xin Yu and Cheng Yuan exclaimed in unison.
Is this still the same naive and clueless Liu Hen? "Ayu, what kind of business do you want to start? I'll fully support you!" She jumped out of bed, grabbed a pen and notebook, and became extremely serious, like a student.
"Henhen, do you remember the S-Net plan we talked about back then?" Xinyu lay on the bed, resting her chin on her hand, recalling, "Combining painting and IT technology, the first thing we're considering is products from S country."
"S country? All three of us studied S language." Cheng Yuan rolled her eyes, "But I've almost forgotten it all."
"Haha!" The three good friends laughed, discussing...
Meanwhile, in the capital, Mu Yichuan was already in the car. "Cheng Yao, where's Xinyu?"
"Ninth Brother, hasn't she contacted you?" Cheng Yao answered the phone seriously. "She went to the Liu family."
"Oh?" Mu Yichuan's expression immediately turned dangerous. Remembering Liu Shuihan's tight embrace and the several phone calls she'd made, he casually replied, "I was busy at the time."
"The classmate she met was Shuihan's sister."
"I'm going to the old house now. I'll be in Beishi around midnight." Mu Yichuan tapped his knee lightly, then said after a long pause, "Don't alert Liu Shuihan yet."
Cheng Yao hung up the phone, turning to look at Liu Shuihan, who sat lost in thought in the private room. He was dazed, his mind clearly already back at the Liu family.
He actually liked that little girl!
Could it be that the person he'd been waiting for all these years was Xin Yu?
But, what would he do if he knew that the little girl was Mr. Jiu's person? "Shui Han, tired?" Cheng Yao sat casually on the sofa, his almond-shaped eyes gleaming with countless hidden glints. "I'll take you home."
...
"You two go and rest. I'll pack my things tonight, and I'll go to the capital with you tomorrow!" Liu Hen was full of energy, as if she'd been given a new battery.
"Henhen, don't be so hasty. You should discuss everything with your family first," Xin Yu advised. She didn't want to come to the Liu family and end up kidnapping their daughter!
"Don't worry! I can handle it." Liu Hen was full of confidence. She could finally escape the constraints of her family!
"Why do I feel like we're child traffickers?" Xin Yu muttered as she lay on the bed in the guest room.
Cheng Yuan, all smiles, was completely immersed in the joy of reuniting with old friends and starting a business. She patted Xin Yu on the shoulder. "Yeah, I wonder if Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu will be upset with us... Xin Yu, I'm so sleepy I'm dizzy, I'm going to sleep."
"..." Xin Yu also felt dizzy. Suddenly, she opened her eyes, startled.
Why was she dizzy? She turned slightly, glancing at the empty guest room. Cheng Yuan had already gone to her room; she was alone now...
Xin Yu wanted to go out, but felt weak all over. She struggled to the bedside, then thudded off.
She finally managed to reach her phone, but she no longer had the strength to dial...
How long had passed? Feeling as if floating on clouds, Xin Yu's consciousness hadn't completely faded. She felt someone walk up to her, standing there watching her.
"Hmm..." Xin Yu opened her heavy eyelids, wanting to speak, but only soft moans escaped her lips. What was wrong with her? She hadn't eaten or drunk anything!
"Heh, what's wrong?"