Zuo Nan collapsed onto the ground instantly.
Everyone gathered around. Yao Zhen, unsure of the situation, took a few steps forward before retreating again.
The sound of bones hitting the marble floor echoed throughout the mansion, drawing all eyes to Yun Shunnian, Mu Qi, and Zuo Nan.
Zuo Nan struggled to get up, only to fall back to the floor as if in too much pain.
However, instead of wincing in pain, Zuo Nan turned his face towards the floor, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Niannian, is it because Mu Qi used violence against you that you've forgotten our promise?"
Zuo Nan placed his left hand on his ribs and used his right hand to prop himself up from the floor, standing up with great difficulty. He looked at Yun Shunnian with an expression that seemed to convey indulgence and sorrow.
"Niannian, with our years of affection, you wouldn't just forget me like this, would you?" Zuo Nan gazed deeply at Yun Shunnian, a look that appeared incredibly devoted to everyone watching.
Mu Qi clenched his fists, the blood seeping from his lower lip growing more vivid.
Yun Shunnian's attention had been fixed on Mu Qi's lips since Zuo Nan's fall, so she hadn't noticed Zuo Nan's loaded words.
Yet, Yun Shunnian's silence caused everyone present to misunderstand.
Could it be that Madam Mu was having an affair with the illegitimate son of the Zuo family?
Mr. Mu treated her so well; was Madam Mu blind?
But if this illegitimate son of the Zuo family truly had feelings for Madam Mu, then it would be truly heartless for Madam Mu to disown him now.
One couldn't help but wonder what Mr. Mu saw in her.
And would Mr. Mu really use violence against Madam Mu?
...
Everyone's thoughts raced, but out of respect for Mu Qi, they all tacitly kept their suspicions to themselves.
Mu Qi kept his gaze fixed on Yun Shunnian, while Yun Shunnian continued to stare at Mu Qi's bleeding lips.
In Mu Qi's eyes, this was interpreted as Yun Shunnian's guilt and her inability to look up.
So she still couldn't forget Zuo Nan!
She couldn't forget Zuo Nan!
This thought gnawed at Mu Qi, his emotions churning with increasing intensity.
Why couldn't she just continue the charade at this moment?
He had believed it all!
Were all those declarations of love fake?
No, that couldn't be.
Since the baby said it, it had to be true.
It was just one Zuo Nan; he just needed to disappear.
With his phoenix-like eyes reddening, Mu Qi stared intently at the feigning weak Zuo Nan and walked towards him step by step.
His blood-stained lips were shockingly red, contrasting sharply with his pale skin, making Mu Qi resemble a demon from hell.
His phoenix-like eyes fixed on Zuo Nan with deep, fierce intent, Mu Qi silently contemplated the quickest way to eliminate Zuo Nan.
The palpable killing intent sent a shiver down Zuo Nan's spine. He turned to face Mu Qi, and his body, no longer in his control, collapsed onto the floor again.
Mu Qi truly wanted to kill him!
With so many people watching, surely not. If Mu Qi went too far, he wouldn't fare well himself!
Zuo Nan thought this, but he couldn't help but tremble.
As Mu Qi approached Zuo Nan, the onlookers silently backed away.
Just as everyone expected the pristine white mansion to be stained with blood, Yun Shunnian suddenly stepped in front of Zuo Nan.
Seeing Mu Qi's ferocious, demonic demeanor, the crowd expected him to shove Yun Shunnian aside.
But to their surprise, Mu Qi stopped.
At that moment, all the men in the mansion felt that Mu Qi was being foolish.
"You're protecting him?"
Mu Qi looked at Yun Shunnian, who couldn't meet his gaze. His brow and heart furrowed into hills, and his lips thinned into a straight line.
Consequently, the blood from Mu Qi's lips continued to seep, his lip color growing increasingly vivid.
Yun Shunnian, seeing the bright red color, felt a pang of worry and couldn't help but reach out and gently touch Mu Qi's mouth.
"Mu Qi, relax! You're bleeding."
Feeling the warmth of Yun Shunnian's fingertips, Mu Qi immediately grabbed her hand as she began to withdraw.
"You're protecting him!" Mu Qi's voice was fierce, and his grip on Yun Shunnian's hand was incredibly strong.
The pain caused Yun Shunnian to be forced to look up. Meeting Mu Qi's obsessive gaze and recalling what had just happened, Yun Shunnian immediately understood the root of the problem.
"No, I'm not." Mu Qi's grip was too strong, and Yun Shunnian struggled, a movement that only managed to enrage him further.
Mu Qi forcibly twisted Yun Shunnian's wrists behind her back.
"Didn't you say you loved me? Are you going back on your word now?"
"Yun Shunnian, why can't you just lie to me until the end?"
Mu Qi's current gaze was so fierce it could be described as mad.
Yet, Yun Shunnian saw his underlying hurt within that madness.
"Mu baby, listen to me, it's not what you think. I wasn't protecting him. I'll get him back for you later, okay?"
Yun Shunnian's crescent eyes softened as she patiently explained to Mu Qi.
"Lying to me again?" The madness in Mu Qi's eyes showed no sign of abating, his gaze fixed on Yun Shunnian as if staring into his own personal abyss.
Seeing that nothing she said seemed to work, Yun Shunnian resorted to her old, reliable trick.
Instead of struggling with her hands pinned behind her back, Yun Shunnian leaned forward, tiptoeing to pounce on Mu Qi.
*Smack.*
Yun Shunnian's lips met Mu Qi's blood, and in that instant, she transformed from an ethereal fairy into a captivating enchantress.
Yun Shunnian successfully made Mu Qi loosen his grip. Feeling him relax, she quickly pulled away.
Mu Qi's expression darkened instantly with Yun Shunnian's movement, but the next second, feeling the softness in his arms, he became somewhat lost.
Looking down at Yun Shunnian's fluffy little head, Mu Qi's phoenix eyes held not only obsession but also profound dejection.
What was an abyss?
He would still step into it, time and time again.
"Mu baby, be good, don't be angry. Anger harms your health."
As she spoke, Yun Shunnian wrapped her arms around Mu Qi's waist, her smooth forehead rubbing against his chest.