His Beloved Treasure

The sofa was soft, and she hugged herself as she leaned into its back.

It was as if the entire world was at peace.

The restlessness that had gripped her just moments ago seemed to finally find its calm now.

She listened quietly to her own heartbeat, took in the rhythm of her breathing, and lost herself in dreams of their beautiful future.

The fashion store had been open for a few days, and she had heard that it was doing quite well. She had never shown up and had no desire to; she hired professionals to manage it and continued to focus on her designs.

The wedding dress she was designing for Mu Qingxin was almost complete. She closed her eyes for a moment to think, then opened them to look out at the tranquil world, picturing the moment Mu Qingxin would appear before everyone in the dress.

She was a beautiful girl and would surely be the most beautiful bride.

But for some reason, Mu Yichen’s figure unexpectedly appeared in that vision, and he was dressed in a groom’s attire.

Qin Mu wondered if this would become a curse; every time she designed a wedding dress, she always saw Mu Yichen’s shadow. Could Yichen have cast a spell on her?

Thinking of Yichen’s occasional resentful gaze, Qin Mu fixed her eyes on the distant mountain.

One day she would climb to the top of that mountain and propose to him.

Propose to Yichen?

Qin Mu was startled by the thought that had suddenly appeared in her mind. Wasn’t she against marriage? Why would she want to propose to him?

She sat for a while longer, and after figuring out what she wanted to do next, she left with her bag on her back.

It was as if she had never been there; she closed the door gently and then turned around.

As the sky gradually darkened, Qin Mu returned to the Mu family home just as Mu Yichen’s car also arrived; the two vehicles pulled into the parking spaces together.

After getting out, Mu Yichen walked towards her and, with sharp eyes, focused on her beautiful face, he asked, ”How did it go?”

”No problems!”

Qin Mu looked up at him, certain in her reply, then added with a flick of the hand, ”Today was really something, wasn’t it? I pushed Qin Haiming into a corner with no way out, and Zhang Rujia was at a loss too.”

”Let’s go inside.”

Mu Yichen extended his hand to gently drape over her shoulder, and the two walked into the house together.

A little later, Qin Mu called Wen Runuan, who was at a company gathering, sitting reluctantly beside Jing Qing, so she was not in the best of moods; the call was a good excuse to step away.

She quietly answered Qin Mu’s call in the restroom, and after washing her hands and drying them, she saw Jing Qing come in; her eyes couldn’t help but shift. Why did she feel like Jing Qing was following her?

After entering, Jing Qing also turned on the tap and began to wash her hands. Wen Runuan glanced at her through the mirror for two seconds, then snickered and walked out.

”You’re pregnant!”

Jing Qing suddenly asked, the volume of her voice low enough to attract attention but not high.

It was then that Wen Runuan turned back around, yet appeared completely unfazed: ”Yes!”

Jing Qing’s downcast gaze made it impossible for Wen Runuan to guess what she was thinking; all she could do was wait for Jing Qing to finish washing and look up.

Jing Qing turned to her with a smile: ”Don’t be nervous, I was just asking casually. Congratulations, though!”

”Thanks!”

Seeing Jing Qing’s indifferent attitude, Wen Runuan could only casually express her gratitude before walking out first.

Yet Jing Qing remained standing there motionless.

Wen Runuan’s pregnancy was, of course, good news for her, but she had just heard something that made her frown—Jing Qing appeared to be on the phone with Qin Mu.

Qin Mu and Wen Runuan were already in the same boat, and Jing Qing hadn’t expected that the seemingly ordinary girl would quickly gain the support of the most capable person in Rongcheng. After a year of battling, Jing Qing would naturally not underestimate her opponent. She would need to carefully consider each move in this year’s game.

After Wen Runuan returned, she spoke a few words to Director Zhang, who was making a call in front of her. Director Zhang looked up at her, seemingly confused by her meaning, until Wen Runuan nodded at him, prompting him to stand up, ”Carry on, everyone, I have something to attend to and must leave now.”

The company’s artists were used to Director Zhang leaving first, but this time—

”Wen Runuan, come out with me!”

When Director Zhang called out like this, everyone had the same thought.

Wen Runuan followed him outside, and once the door was closed, Director Zhang wrapped his arms around her.

Some bored artists were peering through the doorway and even taking photos: Director Zhang’s embrace around Wen Runuan’s waist, the low whispers into her ear—such intimacy was self-explanatory; everyone understood.

—

The Mu Family.

That morning, in the warm and vintage living room, the family sat together. Mu Qingxin read the newspaper aloud earnestly, and after hearing the report, each member of the Mu family had their own thoughts, but only Mu Qingxin laughed and said, ”I didn’t expect that girl Qin Mu to be quite skillful!”

Feng Fanghua and Mu Zihao said nothing, nor did the elder gentleman, but Mu Qingxin felt that what was done was quite satisfactory.

Qin Mu was curled up on the sofa in her room, having finished reading the news on her phone. It featured a pitiful photo of Qin Mingzhu being rejected from a hotel and sensitive words from a source, mentioning the broken father-daughter relationship—all of which had not escaped her attention.

She wasn’t excited, nor thrilled, because she knew that Qin Haiming wouldn’t just abandon Qin Mingzhu like that. There was still much to do; this was merely a beginning.

The girl who had dared to insult her mother was destined to fall into destitution and helplessness.

Mu Yichen came out from his shower, dressed in high-quality dark pajamas, and sat down beside her, casually placing his arm behind her, and softly asked, ”You don’t like the effect the news has had?”

”Not at all! I’m just thinking about the next move for Qin Mingzhu and Zhang Rujia. Zhang Rujia will certainly help Qin Mingzhu find a place to live, right? I have to do something to ensure they don’t have it too easy,” she said, turning to look at him.

Mu Yichen nodded, ”Mm! I’ll help you keep an eye on them.”

”Great!”

Qin Mu smiled and leaned into his embrace, ”Qin Mingzhu and Zhang Rujia must be hating me to death by now!”

”Mm! So, will you continue?”

Mu Yichen asked her with a flutter of his long lashes and a seductive tone.

Outside, the sunlight was faint, and Qin Mu leaned into his shoulder, her gaze ruthless.

”To weed without removing the roots is to leave troubles for oneself.”