OFCC – Chapter 62

A series of urgent knocks on the bedroom door completely shattered the charming and ambiguous atmosphere on the bed.

If it were one of the villa’s hired aunties, the knocking would have been much more polite. But the person at the door clearly wasn’t, and even Yi Wulan frowned.

In the next second, the roar from outside the door revealed the answer: “Mu Yanxi—Yi Wulan! Open this door for me!”

Hearing this, Mu Yanxi was so startled that she rolled off Yi Wulan, yanked the blanket over herself, and felt the guilt of someone caught cheating in bed.

Then, under Yi Wulan’s complicated gaze, she felt she was overreacting, quickly threw the blanket off, and feigned a calm and composed expression.

Mu Yanxi, who had just been glaring with red eyes and threatening to fight someone to the death, was now stumbling over her words. She directed Yi Wulan, “You, you go.”

Yi Wulan nodded and reminded her, “But she’s probably here for you.”

The knocking grew heavier. “Mu Yanxi, if you don’t open this door, I’m going to break it down!”

A chill ran down Mu Yanxi’s back. Feeling that Yi Wulan had a point, she ran her hands through her hair a couple of times and staggered over to open the door.

The person outside was none other than Mu Yanqing, who had just called Mu Yanxi.

Mu Yanqing wasn’t as reserved as Yi Wulan; she looked like she was about to explode from waiting.

The moment the door opened, before she even got a clear look at the person, she launched into a tirade: “Mu Yanxi, are you deaf? I’ve been knocking for so long and you didn’t open the door? If I didn’t know better, I’d think that frigid Yi Wulan was doing something unspeakable with you…”

Then, Mu Yanqing’s words abruptly stopped.

Mu Yanxi, who had opened the door, had teary eyes and disheveled clothes. The blouse that should have been tucked into her pencil skirt was half-tucked and half-out, and the skirt itself was covered in stubborn wrinkles, as if it had been pushed up for some pose for a long time.

Yi Wulan, who followed behind her, was dressed more normally, but her clothes were also quite wrinkled. Her face was wooden and filled with hostility, and… there were two tiny, almost unnoticeable cuts on her lips, still oozing blood.

It certainly looked like something unspeakable had happened.

Their conflict had escalated to… a physical fight?

Mu Yanqing’s pupils contracted. Looking at Mu Yanxi, who had her head bowed and didn’t even dare to make eye contact, she became even more furious. She grabbed Mu Yanxi and dragged her out. “You, get over here.”

Seeing this, Yi Wulan followed.

This was, after all, the Yi family’s old residence. The elders of the Mu and Yi families were on good terms. Old Madam Yi, who had gone upstairs after dinner, had reappeared in the living room at some point, chatting with a housekeeper. Mu Yanqing’s sudden visit had naturally been announced.

The old madam sighed with emotion as if reminiscing, “These kids have all grown up. Each one is successful and has made something of themselves. They’re much more capable than their parents.”

The auntie had always been good at pleasing the old madam and echoed her sentiment, “Each generation is bound to be more promising than the last. Aren’t they all your children?”

The old madam was coaxed into continuous laughter. “How did you learn Xiao Mu’s sweet-talking ways?”

“Speaking of Xiao Mu,” the old madam sighed silently, “this child’s personality is much more cheerful than when she first returned to the Mu family. Before the marriage alliance, I heard them say Xiao Mu had a bad personality and wasn’t suitable for Lanlan. But the two times I’ve seen her, hasn’t she been quite well-behaved?”

The auntie nodded. “Miss Mu is well-behaved and sensible, a perfect match for the Eldest Miss.”

Just as she finished speaking, Mu Yanxi suddenly came running down the stairs as if being chased by a vicious dog.

The old madam looked over at the sound.

She saw Mu Yanqing chasing after her, leaping down the stairs in two or three steps, grabbing the back of Mu Yanxi’s neck, and wrapping her other arm around Mu Yanxi’s chest. “What are you running for? I came all this way to see you, and this is the attitude you give me? Don’t think I can’t control you just because you’re married. If you make me, I’ll really teach you a lesson.”

Mu Yanxi: “Let go! If you don’t let go, I’m going to bite you! I’ll really bite!”

“Go ahead and bite. If you don’t bite me to death, you won’t get any pocket money from now on.” Mu Yanqing’s hand, still gripping the back of Mu Yanxi’s neck, ruffled her hair a couple of times. “Do you submit? Are you still going to run? Kneel and apologize, and I’ll forgive you.”

“Don’t even think about it, get lost!” After saying that, Mu Yanxi really did bite down on Mu Yanqing’s arm.

Old Madam Yi: …

Yi Wulan: …

The auntie standing to the side didn’t know how to console the old madam, who had just been put at ease. The moment she said Mu Yanxi was well-behaved and sensible, she was proven wrong on the spot.

The old madam let out an “ah,” looked at the two Mu sisters, and murmured, “Indeed… indeed, Xiao Mu has become much more sensible.”

Auntie: … Old Madam, please wake up!

Hearing the voices, the fierce cuteness in Mu Yanxi’s eyes hadn’t yet faded as she glared over. Her gaze fell on the old madam’s gentle eyes, and then, in a second, she froze.

Mu Yanqing took the opportunity to pull her hand back, wiping it haphazardly on Mu Yanxi’s clothes, then grabbed Mu Yanxi’s hair and laughed. “Who are you telling to get lost? Do you submit? Still want to run?”

Mu Yanxi suddenly closed her eyes and squeezed two tears from her already moist eyes.

“Stop acting. Who are you trying to look pitiful for?” Mu Yanqing was long used to her theatrics. She reached out and pinched Mu Yanxi’s cheek, not forgetting to add disdainfully, “And you haven’t even taken off your makeup this late at night.”

Mu Yanxi looked like she had been wronged and couldn’t catch her breath.

Mu Yanqing paused for a moment before looking up.

Sure enough, in the next instant, she saw the old madam being helped over. “Xiao Qing, how are you still like this after all these years?”

Mu Yanqing was the same age as Yi Wulan, both being the firstborn children of their respective families, so they naturally received more attention from the elders. She had often visited the Yi residence as a child. Being caught in this scene by the old madam at nearly thirty years old was indeed a bit embarrassing.

Especially with the mature and steady Yi Wulan, her contemporary, standing right beside her.

Mu Yanqing: …

Mu Yanqing slowly let go of Mu Yanxi and gave her a small push. “You’re in someone else’s house, watch your image.”

Mu Yanxi turned her head with a wronged expression, but her words were quite self-righteous. “Aren’t you the only outsider here?”

It was already past nine o’clock. The old madam, having chatted with Mu Yanqing for a while and watched such a drama, was planning to go to bed. Although she seemed to be the only elder in the Yi family at present, she had experienced her share of struggles in her youth.

She couldn’t accept the matter of her children fighting over the family property at first, but after more than a decade, no matter how much she couldn’t let it go, she had come to terms with it.

At least, a few of them were saved.

As she passed by them, the old madam gently wiped the tears from Mu Yanxi’s face with a tissue. “It seems Xiao Mu has learned quite a lot in the entertainment industry.”

Mu Yanxi immediately stopped her tears and said with a grin, “I’m a future household name, a dual-threat actress and singer. Others have to make an appointment to see me, but if Grandma wants to see me, I’ll definitely come running back right away.”

The old madam laughed so hard her fingers trembled. She couldn’t help but pat her cheek, her gaze shifting between Yi Wulan and her. “Alright, alright, I’m an old woman. I won’t disturb you young people.”

After the old madam left, the butler and the auntie also departed, leaving only the three of them in the vast living room.

Mu Yanxi watched the old madam’s retreating back, her gaze unintentionally falling on Yi Wulan.

Yi Wulan met her gaze.

As if suddenly remembering something, Mu Yanxi shot Yi Wulan a fierce glare.

Yi Wulan frowned in confusion.

She was fine in the bedroom just now, why was she suddenly angry again?

Mu Yanxi had been dragged all the way down by Mu Yanqing and had lost so much face in front of the old madam that she was about to breathe fire. Seeing Yi Wulan’s clueless expression, her anger shot straight to her head.

But just as she was about to erupt, Mu Yanqing patted her on the head. “Come with me, I have something to tell you.”

“What’s so important? Did you really have to come find me in the middle of the night?” Mu Yanxi said casually, “Don’t tell me Xinyu is going bankrupt?”

“Xinyu is fine, but.” Mu Yanqing paused, the smile vanishing from her face. “Someone is coming back home.”

“He… he…” Mu Yanxi visibly stiffened for several seconds before she was willing to retract her murderous gaze and obediently respond, “Ah, he’s coming back. It has been a long time.”

Yi Wulan sensed something was off about her tone and suddenly stepped forward, grabbing Mu Yanxi’s wrist. “What’s wrong? Who’s coming back?”

Mu Yanxi was furious. She shook off her hand and threatened, “None of your business. Eighteen generations of my ancestors are coming back to support me. They’re going to visit you in your dreams tonight to settle the score for bullying me.”

After saying this baffling sentence to Yi Wulan, she walked out first.

Mu Yanxi had always been emotionally volatile, always using a cheerful facade to disguise herself, whether in front of strangers or family.

But this time, Yi Wulan subconsciously felt that Mu Yanxi’s mood was not right.

Mu Yanqing, who hadn’t left yet, clicked her tongue in amazement. “Yi Wulan, how did you provoke my Xiao Xi again? She seems really angry. Luckily I came at the right time, saved you from domestic abuse, didn’t I?”

Yi Wulan was silent.

Mu Yanqing crossed her arms and looked at Yi Wulan expressionlessly. “Alright, if you have this much free time, you should work more for Rongjia. It’s time to push forward with our collaborations.”

At the mention of Rongjia, Yi Wulan turned to leave.

Mu Yanqing was about to laugh from anger. “Tell me, how long has the Huazhen chip acquisition of over 20 billion been delayed? You never used to be this inefficient, Yi Wulan. If Xinyu loses money because of this, I’ll be the first to complain to Xiao Xi.”

Yi Wulan’s steps halted. She turned sideways and looked at her coldly. “It’s already drafted. I’ll have Gu Yan send you the contract in a bit.”

“It’s done so quickly?” She was the one complaining about the delay just now, and now that she learned it was drafted, Mu Yanqing was the one who was surprised. She remarked, “I really thought lust had clouded your judgment.”

The two of them took a roundabout way to the garden, where Mu Yanxi was sitting on a swing, casually admiring the garden’s night view.

Yi Wulan stopped from a distance, leaving space for the two sisters.

Mu Yanxi looked at the approaching Mu Yanqing and said faintly, “Elder Sister, although it’s not late yet, you came from so far away, it’ll be late by the time you get home. Don’t you need to sleep at night? Do you enjoy disturbing my beautiful evening this much?”

Mu Yanqing thought for a moment and first brought up a topic that had been bugging her all night. “I was waiting outside your bedroom door for so long just now. Were you beating up Yi Wulan? Did she, bully you?”

Mu Yanxi: …

Mu Yanxi suddenly felt that the suggestive action films Mu Yanqing mentioned sending to Yi Wulan in the dorm in her past life were probably just normal, suggestive films.

Her elder sister really didn’t seem like someone who was enlightened about matters of love.

Yet Mu Yanqing had a very certain expression. Mu Yanxi knew that if she didn’t say a few words to fool her, this matter would probably evolve in an even more ridiculous direction.

Plus, she really hadn’t figured out how to face the sudden news Mu Yanqing had brought. So she found a comfortable position on the swing, planning to properly spout some nonsense to Mu Yanqing.

But just as she struck an imposing pose, Mu Yanqing walked up to her. “Are you still going to swing?”

Mu Yanxi instantly deflated, listlessly placing her feet flat on the ground, turning the swinging swing into a stone bench, and letting Mu Yanqing scold her. “Elder Sister, I was wrong.”

Her attitude of admitting fault was excellent, but her face showed not a hint of remorse.

Mu Yanqing leaned against the swing set and said sternly, “No wonder you were so evasive and cracking jokes when I asked you about your relationship before. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have found you a new partner sooner to piss Yi Wulan off.”

Mu Yanxi shivered and said weakly, “No, no need. I have very good self-control.”

Yi Wulan, who was standing far away but could still hear the conversation, and who had been kissed countless times by Mu Yanxi in the bedroom: …

Mu Yanqing carefully observed Mu Yanxi’s expression. It really didn’t look like an act. Her grievance was genuine and sincere, and even her flamboyant demeanor had softened.

Mu Yanqing frowned. If she wasn’t looking for a new partner, then there was a problem with their relationship? Otherwise, why would they be fighting in the middle of the night?

After all, in Mu Yanqing’s eyes, Yi Wulan, who didn’t even dare to watch a movie, would absolutely not make a move. Even if she wanted to, she probably wouldn’t know how. She herself had never tried, so how would Yi Wulan, who was inferior to her in every way, know?

“You were quite convincing when you said Yi Wulan was deeply in love with you and forced herself on you. Don’t tell me Yi Wulan really did that to you?” Mu Yanqing glanced suspiciously at Yi Wulan’s deadpan face and immediately dismissed the idea.

“I’ve known Yi Wulan for so many years. A block of wood like her who doesn’t understand romance, what worldly desires could she have? I’ve been fooled by you too many times and have gotten smarter. I won’t believe a single word you say.”

Mu Yanxi: …

Seeing Mu Yanxi remain silent, Mu Yanqing continued to press, “Xiao Xi?”

Yi Wulan, standing to the side, really couldn’t listen anymore. Fearing that her little ancestor would be pushed too far and really start a fight with Mu Yanqing in the next second, she stepped forward and stood in front of Mu Yanxi, shaking her head at Mu Yanqing. “Mu Yanqing, you’re really something else.”

Mu Yanqing’s train of thought was not affected at all. She immediately retorted, “How can that compare to you, whose judgment is clouded by lust?”

Hearing this, Mu Yanxi’s eyes lit up like a puppy that had smelled a bone, her face full of ‘What’s this? Something’s up with Yi Wulan?’

She tugged on Yi Wulan’s sleeve. “Huh?”

Yi Wulan turned away again.

Mu Yanxi jumped off the swing and ran to Mu Yanqing. “Huh? Huh?”

Mu Yanqing glanced at her but said nothing.

Mu Yanxi stood between the two, her face full of anxiety. “Huh? Huh? Huh? Say something!”

Mu Yanqing reached out and patted Mu Yanxi’s head again. “Say what? Let’s talk about how I rushed over here in the middle of the night to care about you, but you wouldn’t even answer my call?”

Seeing that Mu Yanqing was having another ‘menopausal’ episode and starting to lecture her, Mu Yanxi lost interest in prying for information. She weakly hid behind Yi Wulan on the swing and sat down obediently. “Elder Sister, can’t you spare a thought for my long-sealed, wounded little heart?”

“Cut it out.” Mu Yanqing asked, seemingly casually, “What do you plan to do after he comes back?”

Mu Yanxi didn’t answer. Instead, she tilted her head to look at Yi Wulan, imagining the scene Mu Yanqing described, where she was actually committing domestic violence against Yi Wulan, pinning Yi Wulan to the bed, unable to move.

Mu Yanxi was instantly charmed by the scene, and even much of the gloom from hearing the news earlier dissipated.

The little fox’s eyes were narrowing when Yi Wulan in front of her suddenly turned around for some reason, catching her in the act. The garden lights were not bright enough, so Mu Yanqing couldn’t see her little expressions, but now they were all taken in by Yi Wulan.

Yi Wulan had almost developed a reflex to Mu Yanxi’s little expressions and could tell at a glance that Mu Yanxi was spacing out again. The more she wanted to avoid a topic, the more she would put on that carefree facade.

She sat down beside Mu Yanxi. “You…”

Mu Yanxi had been happily joking around, but with Yi Wulan leaning in like this, it felt like an interrogation, extremely oppressive.

Mu Yanxi was inexplicably annoyed. She turned her head and glared at her, lowering her voice, “What, stay away from me.”

A big-tailed wolf, clearly up to no good.

Yi Wulan didn’t speak. After looking at Mu Yanxi for a couple of seconds, she stood up.

Mu Yanqing impatiently kicked the swing. “If he comes home, I can’t stop him. What are you thinking?”

Instead of discussing such an important matter, what were these two doing exchanging glances with Yi Wulan?

“Oh.” Mu Yanxi turned her gaze back, but she stammered for a long time without saying anything coherent, just looking at Mu Yanqing with pleading eyes.

Mu Yanqing looked like she was about to go on a rampage.

Suddenly, the wind behind Mu Yanxi stopped.

The cold wind blowing from the lake was blocked, and a familiar cold fragrance mixed with the scent of plum blossoms from nearby rushed over, almost enveloping her. The swing swayed gently, carrying away some of the turmoil in her heart.

Mu Yanxi pursed her lips and said stubbornly, “Don’t stand behind me.”

Yi Wulan looked down at her, seeing through her pretense.

“Stay away from me, so people don’t misunderstand and think I’m abusing you.” Mu Yanxi glared at her again. “My reputation has been ruined by you. How are you going to compensate me?”

The corner of Mu Yanqing’s mouth twitched, looking even more like she was about to kill someone.

“Are you two ever going to be done?” Mu Yanqing was completely out of patience. “I’m asking you a question, and instead of answering, you’re flirting with Yi Wulan? And you, Yi Wulan, don’t you know not to meddle in other people’s family affairs?”

Mu Yanxi quickly spoke up, “We’re done, we’re done. I’ll just… hey, what did you ask just now?”

Mu Yanqing: …

Mu Yanqing was so angry she almost really did beat Mu Yanxi up. She turned to scold Yi Wulan, “It’s all your fault!”

Yi Wulan: …

A cold gust of wind blew, causing the part of Mu Yanxi’s blouse not tucked into her skirt to flutter, revealing a sliver of her fair waist. Mu Yanxi shivered directly.

Only then did Mu Yanqing notice that Mu Yanxi was only wearing a thin blouse in the ten-degree outdoor weather. She pushed Mu Yanxi irritably, “Go back inside.”

“You already woke up the old madam once when you first came. Are you going to disturb her again by going back?” Mu Yanxi glanced at her sister and said weakly, “My legs are numb from the cold. If you have something to say, just say it. I’ll take a bath as soon as I get back.”

Mu Yanqing stood in front of Mu Yanxi, intending to offer some familial warmth, and volunteered, “You’re so delicate, you might as well die. Come, President Mu will deign to carry you for a bit today.”

“You’re too bony.” Mu Yanxi immediately became delicate as she spoke. “Take off your coat and put it on your back.”

Mu Yanqing: …

Mu Yanqing was so annoyed she wanted to curse, but looking at Mu Yanxi’s face, her lips pale from being called out into the cold night by her, she managed to swallow her anger. “Fine, fine, fine. I’ll take off my coat and give you a double layer to make sure Her Royal Highness is comfortable.”

Mu Yanxi became picky again. “But I don’t like the smell of your perfume. It’s too cloying.”

Mu Yanqing took a deep breath and said in an incredibly gentle voice, “Mu Yanxi, don’t go anywhere. Just freeze to death in this garden.”

Mu Yanxi: …

Even though Mu Yanxi’s lips were trembling from the cold, her gaze towards Mu Yanqing was still extremely disdainful, her eyes filled with ‘Is this my good sister? She can’t even satisfy this small request?’.

Mu Yanqing held her forehead in frustration. “I shouldn’t have answered the phone in the middle of the night and driven an hour and a half here to care about you.”

Just as the two sisters were about to start arguing, Yi Wulan, unable to bear it any longer, walked forward from behind the swing. With a grim face, she threw her own coat onto Mu Yanxi, wordlessly scooped her into her arms, and turned to leave.

Simple and rough, with no regard for Her Royal Highness’s noble and delicate body.

Mu Yanqing was still waiting for the spoiled little debt collector to be picky, but who knew that the moment this little debt collector was held by Yi Wulan, she proactively wrapped her arms around Yi Wulan’s neck, nestled her head in the crook of Yi Wulan’s neck, and obediently let Yi Wulan carry her away.

She neither complained about being uncomfortable nor about the scent of perfume.

She didn’t say a word.

Mu Yanqing: …

Fortunately, the garden wasn’t far. Yi Wulan carried her all the way to the bathtub before letting go.

Even though this was the second time she had been carried like this, Mu Yanxi’s face, originally pale from the cold, had turned red by the time she was put down. She grumbled at Yi Wulan for a while, then squatted sullenly in front of the bathtub, waiting for it to fill with water.

Seeing this, Yi Wulan turned and went outside to find Mu Yanqing.

Although Mu Yanqing had often come here as a child, things were different now that she was grown up. She waited in the living room and did not go upstairs. The Yi family’s old residence was filled with old-fashioned Chinese architectural style. Mu Yanqing admired the paintings on the wall for a while before seeing Yi Wulan slowly walk down the stairs.

Mu Yanxi looked good on camera and had a slender figure, but her height was there. Yi Wulan had carried her all the way without a word, not even pausing in her steps. Mu Yanqing really wanted to curse for the sake of her own eyes.

The two had long been accustomed to this mode of interaction since their school days. Yi Wulan didn’t like to talk, and Mu Yanqing didn’t have Mu Yanxi’s great curiosity. Even if she was talkative, she couldn’t be bothered to talk to Yi Wulan. When they were together, they could sometimes sit in silence for half a day without saying a word.

Of course, there were exceptions. One was the cooperation between their two companies, and the other was Mu Yanxi.

Yi Wulan took the teapot and handed Mu Yanqing a cup of hot tea. Mu Yanqing took a few sips, her chilled body gradually warming up. She asked, “How is Xiao Xi’s mood? Is she okay?”

Yi Wulan was silent for two seconds before asking, “What exactly did you come to tell her tonight?”

Mu Yanqing laughed and said without hesitation, “Didn’t I tell you? Family matters.”

Yi Wulan looked at her coldly.

Mu Yanqing seemed not to notice Yi Wulan’s gaze and said softly, “Mu Yanche is returning to the country. Before he came, he gave me a call.”

Yi Wulan frowned. “He’s been abroad for so many years, why is he suddenly coming back?”

Mu Yanqing took a sip of water, her eyelashes lowered, and shook her head softly. “I just don’t know what he’s coming back for. And, he and Xiao Xi are in the same circle, so they’ll inevitably meet.”

“Back then, between them…”

“It was a very bad falling out. Otherwise, my parents wouldn’t have sent him abroad.” Mu Yanqing rubbed her brow. “But if he comes back, given my position, I can only try to avoid contact. I can’t stop him.”

Yi Wulan put down her teacup, the high temperature of the water touching her fingers. “You…”

Although Mu Yanqing usually acted like a chatterbox around Mu Yanxi, at this moment, she also displayed the cold expression of someone in power, looking unwilling to say more.

Yi Wulan saw that it was about time, stood up with a grim face, and left without even a word of farewell.

Mu Yanqing called out to her, “Yi Wulan, I came over today, saying I was looking for Xiao Xi, but I was actually here specifically for you.”

The crisp sound of heels stopped, but Yi Wulan did not turn around.

“After all, it’s about Xiao Xi. It’s better to wait for Xiao Xi to be willing and let her tell you those things herself.” Mu Yanqing picked up her bag and stood up, saying in a casual, conversational tone, “Back then, she suffered a lot of grievances, which is why I’ve spoiled her a bit these years…”

“She’s fine.” Yi Wulan interrupted Mu Yanqing and walked upstairs.

Her steps were just noticeably hurried.

When Yi Wulan returned to the bedroom, she could faintly hear Mu Yanxi’s voice from inside: “I did nothing wrong, why should I avoid him? I’m not quitting the industry… Aaaah, no, no, I was wrong, I was wrong… If you don’t support me, I’ll find Yi Wulan to support me. I just won’t, I won’t!”

It was obvious that without her present, the two sisters were talking about everything.

Mu Yanqing on the other end would clearly be angered by Mu Yanxi’s words.

Just then, there was a knock on the bathroom door. Mu Yanxi’s eyes lit up as if she had finally seen her savior. She smoothed her water-dampened hair and shouted, “Yi Wulan! Come in!”

Yi Wulan’s expression was grim, as if she was wrapped in the cold air from outside, but the moment she walked into the bathroom and saw Mu Yanxi, the coldness between her brows instantly dissipated.

After seeing Yi Wulan, this life-saving straw, Mu Yanxi quickly wrapped herself in a bath towel, climbed out of the tub, half of the towel getting soaked, and water dripping all over the floor.

She staggered forward without wearing slippers, whimpering as she threw herself at Yi Wulan. “Yi Wulan, my sister is going to freeze my accounts. You won’t abandon me, right?”

Yi Wulan caught the almost dripping wet Mu Yanxi and was about to speak into the phone in Mu Yanxi’s hand.

Mu Yanqing on the other end of the line was clearly aware of Yi Wulan’s presence and spoke first to interrupt, “Yi Wulan, this is our Mu family’s business. Stay out of it.”

Wrapped in a soaked towel, Mu Yanxi shivered from the cold and said stubbornly, “Yi Wulan and I are married, so she can get involved.”

Mu Yanqing’s roar came from the other end of the phone: “If she could get involved, would you have been about to freeze to death in the garden just now without being willing to say a single word of truth? Huh? Mu Yanxi? Your nonsense is as ridiculous as you claiming Yi Wulan is deeply in love with you and forced herself on you.”

Mu Yanxi and Yi Wulan, who had already had two incidents of being “forced” today: …

Mu Yanxi fell silent, burying her head in the crook of Yi Wulan’s neck, refusing to communicate with Mu Yanqing.

Fortunately, Mu Yanqing on the other end was also tired of talking. Seeing that she wasn’t getting a response, she finally returned the peace and quiet to the two of them.

After the call was hung up, Yi Wulan was like a tool to be used and thrown away. Mu Yanxi, who had been clinging to her so eagerly, ruthlessly pulled away from her embrace, then casually grabbed two dry towels and walked out.

By the time Yi Wulan came out of the shower, Mu Yanxi had already dried herself off completely and was lazily leaning against the headboard under the covers, not treating herself as an outsider at all.

Yi Wulan lay down on the other side of the bed. Mu Yanxi was looking down at a clickbait gossip push notification. She inadvertently met Yi Wulan’s gaze, scanned her up and down a few times, put down her phone, and asked with a smile, “Why are you acting so strange?”

Yi Wulan cleared her throat and asked softly, “Are you, in a good mood?”

Hearing this, Mu Yanxi’s smile froze. She was extremely uncomfortable with Yi Wulan’s sudden concern. But at the same time, she was also at a loss for being asked. She immediately lifted the covers with a playful smile and draped herself over Yi Wulan:

“Hey, is it going to rain red? Yi Wulan, you actually know how to care about people? Hey, is it because you’re too worried about me?”

Yi Wulan let Mu Yanxi climb on top of her, glanced at her, and said nothing.

Mu Yanxi leaned in affectionately and kissed the corner of Yi Wulan’s mouth. “Why are you ignoring me again? Weren’t you going to show me some concern? Is this your attitude?”

Yi Wulan pushed away Mu Yanxi’s lips. “Speak properly.”

Mu Yanxi played with Yi Wulan’s hair on her own, then deliberately took a strand and tied it together with the shoulder strap of Yi Wulan’s nightgown, making several dead knots. But as soon as she let go, they all came undone.

She frowned and said, “I’m in a pretty good mood. I just don’t know which of my accounts my sister is going to freeze. When you transfer money to me, make sure you don’t send it to the wrong one.”

After saying that, Mu Yanxi looked at Yi Wulan with sparkling eyes, like a child waiting for a reward after answering a question.

Seeing this, Yi Wulan took the initiative to lower her head and lightly press a kiss on Mu Yanxi’s lips. “What else?”

Mu Yanxi pouted, clearly dissatisfied with Yi Wulan’s perfunctory gesture. She leaned in herself and captured Yi Wulan’s lips, her tongue deliberately sweeping gently over the two scabbed spots, feeling the fingertips on her back curl slightly before she was willing to stop.

Then, as if dining and dashing, she said casually, “What what else? Just this.”

Yi Wulan quietly met Mu Yanxi’s gaze for a while, then expressionlessly started to move her away.

Seeing this, Mu Yanxi quickly wrapped her arms around Yi Wulan’s neck and rubbed against her coaxingly. “Alright, alright, I’ll talk, okay? Don’t be angry.”

Yi Wulan stopped her movements. Remembering Mu Yanqing’s words and considering Mu Yanxi’s feelings, she didn’t know where to begin asking.

Seeing Yi Wulan’s conflicted expression, the previously coy Mu Yanxi suddenly said, “…I’ll tell the truth.”

Yi Wulan pulled up the shoulder strap that had slipped down due to Mu Yanxi’s rubbing, frowning as she waited for the answer.

“Just ask whatever you want to know.” Mu Yanxi was like a child who loved candy, unable to resist leaning in for a couple more kisses. She said softly, “I’ll tell you everything I can answer. I won’t fool you or lie to you.”

Yi Wulan was stunned for a moment.

Mu Yanxi waited for several seconds without hearing Yi Wulan speak. She immediately frowned and bit Yi Wulan a few times, then, taking advantage of the fact that Yi Wulan wouldn’t bully her at this moment, she recklessly misbehaved on Yi Wulan’s lips, nibbling and urging, “Hurry up and ask me! If you don’t ask soon, I’ll want to make up lies again!”

Yi Wulan: …

Mu Yanxi was always full of nonsense, especially when they were in bed, where she was completely shameless and unrestrained. Yi Wulan had learned from deep experience that if Mu Yanxi didn’t want to tell the truth, no amount of questioning would get it out of her.

And now, with Mu Yanxi so proactively asking her to ask, Yi Wulan was a little unsure of Mu Yanxi’s thoughts.

Yi Wulan hesitated for a long time before finally finding a question that was slightly less intrusive and less likely to hurt Mu Yanxi: “Do you hate him?”

Just now in the garden, Mu Yanxi would rather freeze to death than tell Mu Yanqing the truth. At that time, Mu Yanqing had only asked about Mu Yanxi’s attitude, and Mu Yanxi had deliberately changed the subject to bicker with her one-sidedly.

If she asked in the same way now, even if Mu Yanxi did answer, she would probably not feel good about it.

Yi Wulan had just managed to coax the distant Mu Yanxi back, so she didn’t dare to ask as recklessly as Mu Yanqing.

In her memory, the Mu family had always had relatively few disputes, unlike her Yi family, where after a few years, there was little family affection left.

But even though Mu Yanxi tried her best to hide it tonight, she still couldn’t fool Yi Wulan.

In Mu Yanxi’s eyes, there was unease, disgust, and even more so, fear.

But there was no trace of the family affection she had initially assumed. Even if there was, it was mixed with other emotions, making it impossible to discern.

Mu Yanxi seemed to have already guessed she would ask this question and smiled lightly. “I really don’t like him. I hope he never appears again.”

Yi Wulan frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with Mu Yanxi’s description.

Mu Yanxi’s movements paused. She also knew that the words spoken with this kind of expression had little credibility with Yi Wulan. She almost helplessly released her hands and looked at Yi Wulan’s eyes in a daze. “I, I’m not lying to you. I really hate him to death.”

Yi Wulan opened her mouth, but the word ‘why’ that she wanted to ask was suppressed.

Seeing that Yi Wulan didn’t ask, Mu Yanxi relaxed slightly and murmured, “Yi Wulan, I’m scared.”

Yi Wulan’s pupils suddenly contracted.

Based on Yi Wulan’s past experience, there was a high probability that Mu Yanxi was faking it, putting on a pitiful appearance, just like how she was freezing outside earlier, trying to avoid talking about things she didn’t want to say.

She usually put on a spoiled and willful act. Mu Yanqing had rushed over in the middle of the night, clearly on Mu Yanxi’s side, so why not continue to be a little more arrogant?

“Don’t be afraid.” Yi Wulan gently patted Mu Yanxi’s back.

“But you will all like him.” Mu Yanxi lowered her eyes and repeated faintly, “Yi Wulan, you will too.”

Yi Wulan was a little confused, but she still answered immediately, “I won’t.”

Mu Yanxi didn’t argue with her, but her voice became even more lost as she repeated, “You probably won’t… but they all will.”

If Mu Yanxi were just a reincarnated person, she might be able to face Mu Yanche as she would an ordinary person like Yi Jingming, without any scruples.

But the content written in that novel forced her to be on guard. She had subconsciously avoided the date of Mu Yanche’s return, sending those people from the Yi family to prison early, only to find that it was still unavoidable.

A clap of thunder suddenly sounded outside, and the rain began to fall again.

Yi Wulan was about to say something.

Mu Yanxi’s lowered head suddenly lifted, revealing that cheerful, smiling expression again. She kissed Yi Wulan on the lips, and when she looked up, her eyes swirled with a seductive charm:

“Alright, I’m only answering this one question for you. I won’t be telling the truth after this.”

Yi Wulan: …

It was the first time Yi Wulan had ever met someone who had to specifically emphasize that they were about to lie.

---

Get instant access to all the chapters now.