His Beloved Treasure

”He was obedient? That kid never listened from the time he was young, if I told him to go east, he’d go west, huh! Just take the years you were away, I tried so many ways to get him to come back, but he stubbornly stayed in France. When he came back for the New Year, I wanted to keep him grounded for a few days, but he managed to climb down from the second floor and left with his backpack, not even looking back.”

As the old man spoke of that stubborn youth from those days, he felt as if those times were still lingering before his eyes.

Qin Mu listened, her heart feeling somewhat damp. She knew his family probably didn’t approve of him always going to Paris to see her, but she didn’t know he’d dare to climb down from the second floor.

”I’m telling you this without any other intention, so don’t overthink it. Now that the two of you are together, nothing makes this old man happier.”

The old master saw a subtle change in her expression and gave her a hint.

”Mm!”

Qin Mu nodded, then wrapped her arms around the old man’s shoulders, gently leaning on his shoulder, ”I know!”

The old man felt comforted to see Qin Mu acting coquettishly on his shoulder. He was always worried she wouldn’t feel at home here and was too reserved.

Especially with Feng Fanghua’s sharp tongue.

But it seemed that Qin Mu was adapting well, which eased his mind.

Feng Fanghua had ordered someone to prepare breakfast for Mu Yichen early. After getting up and washing briefly, Mu Yichen came downstairs. When he heard noise in the kitchen, he doubted it for a second, slowed his footsteps subconsciously, and tried to control his heartbeat. However, when he cautiously entered the dining room, hoping it would be her, returning to make porridge for him, he saw the auntie in a light-colored shirt and pants instead. The anticipation and anxiety on his face immediately turned into disappointment, and his eyebrows furrowed.

”Don’t come over tomorrow, I’m feeling much better today.”

Mu Yichen still slowly walked over, his voice somewhat hoarse as he spoke.

”You look in poor condition still. The young mistress and the little miss are doing fine there, it’s the Madam who can’t stop worrying about you, young master.”

”I’m a grown man, a little cold isn’t going to do much to me. It’s just...”

Mu Yichen suddenly didn’t want to talk too much with the auntie, and resignedly sat there eating his flavorless meal.

”Does the young mistress know you came to cook for me?”

Mu Yichen couldn’t help but ask.

It had only been one night, yet it felt like an eternity.

”She knows! She got up early this morning, said she slept too much the past few days, so she’s been sleeping a little less these two days. She’s been chatting with the old master since the morning. I greeted her when I came out.”

The auntie stood by responding.

”Didn’t she leave you a few words for me? Or a message to pass along?”

Mu Yichen couldn’t help but ask another question.

”Well— the young mistress said to make sure you rest well, and if you’re too tired, to not go to work.”

The auntie thought for a moment before speaking.

But her subtle expressions couldn’t escape Mu Yichen’s eyes. Seeing her like that, he simply lowered his eyes to continue eating without making it difficult for her any longer.

He thought how the woman had acted like she couldn’t be away from him for a minute yesterday, but this morning she’d already forgotten about him?

The phrase ’out of sight, out of mind’ must have been created for her.

The auntie couldn’t help but laugh softly at the sight of him but immediately turned to clean up the kitchen.

Mu Yichen went to work after eating and made a phone call to Qin Mu, waiting at the doorway for her to pick up.

”Hello?”

”What’re you doing?”

”Playing chess with grandpa, if you’ve got something to say, say it quick, otherwise I’m going to lose again!”

Qin Mu’s voice was filled with anxiety, not paying him much attention.

Mu Yichen—

”Just hang up already, he’s got nothing important to say, getting in the way of our game!”

”I’m hanging up! I’m hanging up! Hanged up, all right!”

Qin Mu said she’d hang up, and she did. Mu Yichen stood at the doorway, looking up at the sun that wasn’t too fierce in the sky yet feeling the urge to commit murder.

Could someone tell him why, with so many rooms in the apartment, he had to let that woman go stay with his parents?

Not coming back was a loss, and yet she still had the mood to hang up just like that, completely disregarding him, wasn’t she?

And to think she said she was worried about him...

Mu Yichen hung up the phone with a cold feeling in his heart.

Come noon, Qiao Yi visited his office looking completely worn out.

Mu Yichen put down the document in his hand and leaned back in his chair, frowning at him, ”You’ve been completely drained?”

Qiao Yi looked up at him, his headache worsening due to the seemingly nonsensical comment.

”That woman’s not mine alone.”

Qiao Yi irritably ran his hands through his hair, slapping himself a couple of times to stay calm.

Mu Yichen, curious, asked again, ”How many?”

Qiao Yi...

What made it even more awkward was Mu Yichen’s deadly serious expression, which was why he found it so embarrassing that he had thought Mu Yichen wouldn’t bother about it or that he might even offer some comfort.

”If only I knew... I went to the bar to find her yesterday, and I saw her drinking a toast with another man. The important thing is, she was sitting on that man’s lap, and he was touching her waist...”

Qiao Yi was on the verge of jumping up but neglected the fact that the man across from him had been celibate for too long.

”Stop! Don’t describe anymore, okay?—I’ve already got the picture!”

Mu Yichen squinted towards the window, emphasizing very solemnly!