"I need to leave now. Add me on contact, and we can talk on our phones later," Yun Shulian said, pulling out her phone, a hint of urgency in her voice. She didn't notice Yusheng casually glancing in Mu Qi's direction.
As Yun Shulian opened her phone app, Yusheng was already ready with his QR code. Without a second thought, Yun Shulian scanned it and added Yusheng.
Yusheng seized the opportunity. While Yun Shulian was adding his contact information, he deliberately feigned impatience, appearing very reluctant.
In the teahouse not far away, Ling Xue, who was watching this scene unfold, smiled with satisfaction. She picked up the floral tea on the table and took a sip, a smirk playing on her lips.
Seeing Mu Qi clench his fists, staring fixedly in Yun Shulian's direction, Ling Xue couldn't help but feel a knot of tension.
Was it time now?
Shouldn't Mu Qi be rushing over to slap Yun Shulian and then kick her away?
Ling Xue mentally ticked off the moments.
To her surprise, even as her hopes were running high, Mu Qi made no move. As Yusheng and Yun Shulian were about to part, Mu Qi seemed to shrink back into the shadows, as if afraid Yun Shulian would see him.
Ling Xue put down her teacup and sat up straighter, her body instinctively tensing.
Was Mu Qi planning to pretend he hadn't seen anything?
Even after being betrayed by Yun Shulian, Mu Qi wasn't going to break up with her?!
No! She couldn't let Yun Shulian just walk away like this.
Ling Xue quickly took out her phone and sent a message to Yusheng.
As soon as Ling Xue sent the message, Yusheng immediately lowered his head, looking at his phone.
Soon, Yusheng stepped in front of Yun Shulian again.
"Be careful!"
Yun Shulian hadn't expected Yusheng to suddenly rush in front of her. Seeing a car about to hit Yusheng, Yun Shulian's pupils contracted sharply, and she reached out to pull him back.
"Are you alright?" Yun Shulian clutched Yusheng's wrist, her heart pounding with lingering fear.
"It hurts~" Yusheng, leaning against Yun Shulian, opened his eyes briefly before closing them again.
"Where does it hurt?" Yun Shulian pulled him towards the roadside, frowning slightly.
"Both shoulders hurt." Yusheng's voice was small, sounding aggrieved.
Yun Shulian paused for a moment, then said, "Wait here for a bit. I'll call 120 for you."
"Miss Yun, kind Miss Yun. Don't leave me alone. I'm scared." Yusheng opened his eyes a sliver and leaned closer to Yun Shulian, taking the opportunity to cling to her.
Mu Qi, watching from not far away, stared intently at the intimate closeness between them, his breathing growing ragged.
Two voices warred in Mu Qi's mind.
One voice said: Lock her up. Lock her up. Yun Shulian is yours.
The other voice countered: Don't lock her up. If you lock up Nian Nian, they will both return to an ice-cold state.
"Then get off me first." Yun Shulian frowned, disliking Yusheng's proximity.
She knew she should be checking on Yusheng's condition, but for some reason, Yun Shulian felt an inexplicable irritation.
"It hurts too much, Miss Yun. I really can't move." Yusheng lay motionless against Yun Shulian, feigning unconsciousness.
Yun Shulian, helpless, felt for Yusheng's pulse. Then, using his chest as leverage, she pushed him to sit by the flower bed, called 120, and then called Mu Qi.
Mu Qi's phone rang in his pocket. He took it out and answered.
Since Mu Qi didn't speak, Yun Shulian pulled the phone away from her ear. Seeing that it was connected, she put it back to her ear, "Mu Qi?"
Mu Qi stared in Yun Shulian's direction, his lips pressed into a thin line. After a moment, he softly replied, "Mm."
"Are you busy?" Yun Shulian's brow furrowed slightly again, guessing she might be disturbing him.
Veins bulged on the back of Mu Qi's hand, making one suspect he might crush the phone at any moment. "Not busy."
"Oh, Mu Qi, I'll be back a little late today." Yun Shulian glanced sideways at the seemingly frail Yusheng beside her, her face full of reluctance.
Unfortunately, she had her back to Mu Qi, so he couldn't see her unwilling expression.
"Why?" Mu Qi's voice was hoarse, sweat beaded on his forehead, and his whole body trembled slightly.
"Because... because I want to practice a little longer. So, my dear husband, be good, work hard, and wait for me. I'll be back soon."
Yun Shulian had initially intended to say it was because she had encountered an unlucky yoga instructor.
But thinking that Mu Qi might overthink things, especially since she had thrown away those pills for him not long ago, Yun Shulian didn't want Mu Qi to have any accidents now.
"Okay, husband?" Yun Shulian's voice was sweet, but her eyes, fixed on Yusheng, were full of disdain.
"Mu Qi?"
Yun Shulian waited for a moment, but Mu Qi fell silent again.
"Mu Qi, what's wrong? Is something..." Yun Shulian's gaze shifted from Yusheng, and she began to worry about Mu Qi on the other end of the line.
"Mm, it's nothing. I understand." Mu Qi managed to say, then quickly hung up.
He feared that if he waited another second, he would be unable to resist dragging Yun Shulian back and imprisoning her forever.
Mu Qi couldn't bear to lose control and hurt Yun Shulian, but he couldn't live without her either.
"Mu Qi, do you see? Yun Shulian's heart has long since changed. She doesn't love you. She likes that male yoga instructor! To her, you're just an ATM."
Seeing Mu Qi's emotional state, on the verge of losing control, Ling Xue quickly emerged from the teahouse, intending to further stoke his anger.
"Nian Nian, why do you like that man?"
Mu Qi's face was pale. The majesty in his phoenix-like eyes was gone, replaced by a look of profound pain.
Upon hearing this, Ling Xue froze for a moment.
She had never expected to see Mu Qi's vulnerability instead of his anger.
"What reason could there be? He's young, handsome, clingy, and cute." Ling Xue's tone was perfunctory. She never imagined Mu Qi would ask such a humble and insecure question.
Mu Qi lowered his gaze and touched his face. "Clingy and cute? I can be that too."