His Beloved Treasure

Xiaomei and the others were discussing what kind of base to use for their hotpot dinner tonight. A handsome designer said, ”It has to be mild. If it gets any spicier, my face will be ruined.”

He was a young man, clearly a well-known designer, with a good physique, but his face always seemed to have a few small pimples.

”Hahaha! We should make your face explode with pimples—all over!”

Xiaomei teased mischievously.

”Where’s Qin Mu? I want to see her.”

Qin Mingzhu marched in and immediately glanced at the spot where a few people were happily chatting. She yelled sharply, thinking, ”You dare ignore my texts? Then I dare come here and find you myself.”

Xiaomei and the others turned to look at the woman who had just entered. Xiaomei couldn’t help muttering a curse under her breath, then rose from her chair. ”Miss Qin, do you really think this place is a market? Come and go as you please, see whoever you want to see, and shout orders? This is a fashion design studio; get your facts straight, will you?”

”Why is there always so much nonsense coming out of your mouth? I’m here to find Qin Mu. What does that have to do with you?”

Qin Mingzhu glared with big eyes, full of disdain for Xiaomei.

”Whether it has to do with me is not for you to decide; it’s for Qin Mu to say.”

Xiaomei lifted her chin arrogantly, a habit cultivated by Qin Mu herself, now showcased to its fullest.

”You... Forget it, I don’t feel like talking to you. I’ll find her myself!”

Fuming, Qin Mingzhu stomped off towards the staircase.

Everyone initially just wanted to see her make a fool of herself, but remembering her previous theft, Xiaomei suddenly dashed to the staircase entrance. ”Hey! Our Qinqin isn’t here! Get back down immediately!”

——

Qin Mu and Helian Hao arrived at the hospital, both silent. Xiaomei was already crying uncontrollably.

”I don’t care—you have to avenge me! I nearly broke my bones!”

Through Xiaomei’s sobs, Qin Mu felt both heartache and relief.

To fall from such a height and not suffer broken bones—this girl really had some tough luck.

Qin Mingzhu hadn’t followed them, but Wang Huanyu soon rushed in.

After calling Qin Mu, he went straight upstairs, first apologizing to Xiaomei, then saying, ”I’ve already prepaid the medical fees. If there’s anything else you need, please call me directly. Once again, I apologize on behalf of my wife to this young lady.”

Xiaomei became visibly nervous when confronted with Wang Huanyu’s imposing figure, instantly behaving much more compliantly.

Zhao Huai stormed in like a rabbit on the run, and saw the room full of people surrounding Xiaomei.

Qin Mu and the others were startled upon seeing Zhao Huai, but Xiaomei’s eyes instantly welled up with tears, ready to cry at the mere sight of him.

Wang Huanyu looked at Zhao Huai and froze, exchanging brief, awkward glances with him. Zhao Huai uncomfortably cleared his throat, relieved to see Xiaomei unharmed. Though he had questions to ask, he restrained himself in Qin Mu and Helian Hao’s presence.

”Since your buddy’s here, we irrelevant folks will leave first. Let’s catch up later tonight.”

Qin Mu, Helian Hao, and Wang Huanyu left together.

Qin Mu gently closed the hospital room door from the outside, the sound startling the girl inside, who felt her heart skip a beat.

Zhao Huai, however, didn’t care. Now that they were alone, he immediately sat down beside her. ”Was it Qin Mingzhu who hurt you?”

”She gave me a shove. But how did you get here so fast? Weren’t you outside the city?”

Xiaomei blinked her wide, watery eyes at Zhao Huai.

”Ran through seven or eight red lights. I’m guessing Mu Yichen will dock all of my pay this month—that cold-hearted guy!”

Zhao Huai gritted his teeth and glared at her while talking.

Xiaomei, though aching all over, suddenly felt like laughing.

Of all the boys she’d known since childhood, he was the first to rush over at her call, blowing through multiple red lights without hesitation.

Xiaomei felt a sudden, unfamiliar warmth swelling in her heart. Zhao Huai sighed, then pulled out his ringing phone to find a series of fine notifications. Laughing bitterly, he turned to the blushing girl beside him. ”Reimburse me?”

Holding the phone up to Xiaomei, he showed her the screen.

She couldn’t focus on the screen—his arm, through the blanket, was pressing down on her hand.

The last time she was this close with a man was after Jian Yan’s surgery.

Xiaomei held her breath, then lowered her gaze with a faint hint of melancholy.

”What’s wrong?” Zhao Huai seemed puzzled as he noticed her dejected expression.

”Nothing! I just thought of someone.”

Xiaomei shook her head, looking adorably foolish.

”A man, huh?”

Zhao Huai frowned.

Xiaomei glanced at him briefly, then lowered her gaze again, nodding slightly.

”Hah!”

He let out a sarcastic laugh, standing up and exhaling in frustration with his hands on his hips.

Realization washed over him—why did he rush here so desperately?

Zhao Huai turned back to look at Xiaomei, who was quietly stealing glances at him. He immediately averted his gaze; her long eyelashes lowered demurely as he stared sullenly at his sneakers.

What could he do?

For this sister he met close to turning thirty?

He didn’t know why he felt so disheartened, but he didn’t leave.

When all the test results confirmed she was fine, Zhao Huai intended to take her home. Though no bones were broken, the fall left a lingering soreness throughout her body.

”By the way! Your girlfriend might have some physical inconveniences lately—falling from such a height means she’ll feel pain for a few days. As her boyfriend, you should look after her properly.”

The surgeon, a sharp thirty-something woman familiar with Helian Hao, kept it straightforward.

”He’s my big brother!”

Xiaomei responded, embarrassed.

Zhao Huai: ”...”

Doctor: ”...”

”Alright, as long as you’re happy!”

The doctor smiled slightly, thinking, ”I’ve seen plenty like this,” and left briskly with a cool demeanor.

Xiaomei’s ears turned red in an instant.

”Let’s go!”

Zhao Huai supported her as she limped toward the exit, her hips aching badly.

Eventually, unable to bear watching her struggle, he sighed reluctantly. ”If I see that girl, she’s dead meat.”

Xiaomei hadn’t caught up yet, staring at him in a daze, until he bent down and scooped her up.

Her already flushed face now turned as red as a monkey’s butt.

Zhao Huai, however, avoided looking at her, his face slightly annoyed, carrying her out with an air of irritation.

Later that evening, Qin Mu called Xiaomei after returning home. Xiaomei spoke hesitantly on the phone, ”I’m home now! Zhao Huai brought me back.”

”Zhao Huai brought you back. So what? Why are you speaking like that?”

Qin Mu asked from her study, noticing Xiaomei’s change in tone—like she’d suddenly turned from a housekeeper into a spoiled young lady.

”No, no, I didn’t mean that! It’s just that I’m still hurting all over. Instead of comforting me, you’re nitpicking!”

Qin Mu could hardly bear listening anymore.

”This ’me’ and ’mine’—you’ve said them so many times in just two minutes!”

”How about you stay home and take time off from work? Does that count as comfort, Miss Xiaomei?”

Qin Mu reluctantly softened her tone.

”Hehe! If there’s no pay deducted and my attendance stays intact, that would be even better!”

Lounging on the sofa, Xiaomei waited for everyone to serve her.

After work, the whole household was busy preparing hotpot, except for the ’injured’ girl sprawled on the couch chatting with Qin Mu.

”Dream on!”

Qin Mu teased, then ended the call.

Mu Yichen stood at the door silently until she finished the call, then raised his hand to knock lightly.

Qin Mu turned her head and smiled at him, gesturing for him to come closer.

Mu Yichen walked in slowly.

On instinct, he softly closed the door behind him.

——

”Did you meet with the boss today? No fights?”

They chatted casually afterward.

”Hm! Almost!”

Qin Mu thought for a moment, then smiled.

”What happened with Xiaomei going to the hospital later?”

Mu Yichen had overheard it by the study room door.

”Sigh! Qin Mingzhu learned she has another sister, so she came to confront me about her whereabouts. I wasn’t there, so Xiaomei feared she’d pull a stunt like stealing my designs again. She went after her, and then...”

No need to elaborate further—it was already clear.

”In that case, Zhang Rujia’s matter is likely connected to that Miss Bian?”

Mu Yichen furrowed his brow slightly.

”Let’s not talk about that.”

Qin Mu immediately raised her hand to cover his mouth.

As night deepened, everything else that followed was extraordinarily gentle, extraordinarily heartwarming.

——

The next morning, Qin Mu woke early and sat on the couch with Feng Fanghua, sipping sweet water.

A light drizzle was falling outside; both women unconsciously gazed at the rain. Feng Fanghua smiled faintly, ”You’ve been here three years, haven’t you?”

”Mm!”

Qin Mu, lost in thought, realized how quickly time had passed. In a blink, she’d been there for so long.

”Who would’ve thought that one day we’d sit here together, drinking sweet water? Do you still blame me for the things I did to you back then?”

Feng Fanghua sat upright, warm sugar water in hand, as she asked.

”Mom, how many times have you asked me this question now?”

Qin Mu didn’t answer but playfully shot back with a question of her own.

The years had softened their tempers, their collisions, entanglements, knots, and resolutions.

With a slightly reproachful yet infinitely doting look, Feng Fanghua gazed at her. ”You little rascal, you’re really not afraid of me anymore.”

Qin Mu merely smiled.

She thought of how, when she first came to the Mu Family, just one glance from Feng Fanghua was enough to make her shiver with fear. But now...

”You’re so kind; what’s there to fear? I wasn’t scared back then either—just didn’t want to make you angry.”

Qin Mu explained. The act of sipping sugar water on this autumn morning felt exceptionally warm, exceptionally bold.

——

Mu Yichen opened his eyes to find Qin Mu gone, but lying on her side where she had been was the little one, propping her chin as she gazed at him intently.

Mu Chenghuan!