Mu Qi's heart softened completely.
He stroked the hand that covered Yun Shu Nian's face, then patted her head reassuringly.
Only then did he turn to look at the woman dressed in opulent attire.
"Little Aunt," Mu Qi's tone was stiff.
"Little Aunt," Yun Shu Nian immediately followed with a soft, milky cry.
Ever since he was little, she had called him Little Aunt, but this fellow had stubbornly ignored her. Now, it was only because of his little wife that he finally spoke the words "Little Aunt" for the first time.
Heh, Mu Zhen was amused by Mu Qi.
Seeing Mu Zhen's smile turn cold, Yun Shu Nian instinctively moved closer to Mu Qi.
Mu Qi immediately stepped in front of Yun Shu Nian, watching Mu Zhen with palpable defensiveness.
Mu Zhen cast a cool glance at Mu Qi, then ignored him.
"It's Nian Nian, isn't it? Come, Little Aunt will show you around here."
Mu Zhen turned to Yun Shu Nian with a gentle smile.
Upon hearing this, Yun Shu Nian immediately walked out from behind Mu Qi, wanting to go on a tour of the Mu family's old mansion with Mu Qi's Little Aunt.
Her earlier movement had been instinctive, not out of fear, but a concern that she might have left a bad impression on Mu Qi's Little Aunt.
She hadn't expected Mu Qi to directly block her, which was clearly going against her wishes.
Thinking of this, Yun Shu Nian immediately wanted to walk towards Mu Qi's Little Aunt.
However, Mu Qi's hand did not let go.
"Mu Qi?"
"Alright, Mu Qi, I'll definitely keep an eye on your wife for you. Besides, would that girl want to be constantly restrained by you?"
Mu Zhen's words struck a chord with Mu Qi.
Mu Qi released Yun Shu Nian and stood still, watching Mu Zhen lead Yun Shu Nian away.
Mu Zhen subtly turned her head to look at Mu Qi, finding him utterly speechless. Sudanshuwang.
This nephew, who had seemed cold and unfeeling in her heart for so many years, had apparently poured all his emotions onto this one girl.
Though, she had heard that on their wedding day, he eloped with someone else. Others might not know, but as his aunt, she was well aware. However, looking at the girl now, she didn't seem entirely devoid of affection for her little nephew.
Seeing Mu Zhen lead Yun Shu Nian into the courtyard, the distance between her and Mu Qi grew. Yun Shu Nian twisted her thumb and forefinger together, suddenly feeling flustered.
Would Mu Qi take this opportunity to go see Shan Gong?
"Miss Yun, I brought you here because I feel there are some things that need to be made clear to you."
Mu Zhen suddenly stopped, her usually kind expression receding slightly.
"Our Mu family has always been protective of our own. If you intend to use Mu Qi's feelings for you to harm him, then I will be the first one to not let you off."
"I love him very much, and I will not exploit Mu Qi's feelings."
"Miss Yun, remember what you said today."
Yun Shu Nian felt the sharpness in Mu Zhen's eyes and was happy that Mu Qi had such genuinely caring family members.
After speaking, Mu Zhen took out a brocade box from her bag and handed it to Yun Shu Nian.
"Of course, if you stay with Mu Qi properly, you will also be a part of our Mu family."
Yun Shu Nian nodded and agreed, "I will."
Mu Zhen, noticing Yun Shu Nian constantly glancing in Mu Qi's direction, raised an eyebrow and chuckled. She made an excuse about having other matters to attend to and left.
Yun Shu Nian immediately turned back, but to her surprise, when she returned to the hall, she saw Mu Qi and Shan Gong entering a guest room together.
Yun Shu Nian quietly leaned outside, listening to the sounds from within.
Mu Qi: "Why are you here?"
Shan Gong: "Didn't you ask me to come, young master?" Shan Gong's tone was somewhat ambiguous.
"How did you get in?"
"This is the special privilege you've always given me, young master. It's been so long since we've seen each other, you must miss me terribly, right?"
Yun Shu Nian, outside the door, pressed her index finger and thumb tightly together.
After Shan Gong finished speaking, she directly burst in.
"Mu Qi, do you think I'm easily fooled?" Yun Shu Nian looked at Mu Qi, her eyes filled with tears.
"Madam, please don't blame the young master, it was all me..."
"Shut up!" Yun Shu Nian, filled with anger, walked up to Shan Gong and punched her hard on the back of the neck.
Shan Gong cried out in pain, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
Yun Shu Nian turned to face Mu Qi.
"Mu Qi, my darling, are you feeling pained?" Yun Shu Nian's right hand pressed against Mu Qi's left shoulder, pushing him against the wall.
The loud thud against the wall demonstrated the force of Yun Shu Nian's push.
Mu Qi's expressionless face made it impossible to gauge his emotions.
"Heh." In Yun Shu Nian's eyes, this meant she had fallen from Mu Qi's heart.
"Good boy, it's time for you to sleep." Saying this, Yun Shu Nian took out some powder from her bag and sprinkled it on Mu Qi's face.
Immediately after, Mu Qi collapsed onto Yun Shu Nian.
Yun Shu Nian held Mu Qi's body, letting out a soft sigh. Then, she draped one of Mu Qi's arms over her neck and the other around his waist.
Soon, Mu Qi was carried away by Yun Shu Nian.
The people in the hall at this moment were all outside guests. Seeing how Mu Qi had been clinging to Yun Shu Nian earlier, no one dared to be the first to step forward, and thus, Mu Qi was taken away by Yun Shu Nian.
-------------------------------------
"Little Nian Nian, what's wrong with him?" The old man, seeing Yun Shu Nian, whom he hadn't seen for nearly half a month, suddenly return with Mu Qi, was filled with questions.
"Could it be that the illness Little Nian Nian can't cure? I want to see what's wrong with this young man."
The old man reached out and felt Mu Qi's pulse.
After a moment, he frowned and felt again.
"Oh, so he was just drugged with an aphrodisiac."
The old man glanced at Mu Qi's handsome face and then sighed, calling him a troublemaker.
"He really causes trouble for my good disciple!"
The old man took the towel off his shoulder and vigorously slapped it against his leg, swatting at a mosquito.
Hearing the noise the old man was making, Yun Shu Nian, who was leaning by Mu Qi's bedside, frowned.
"I gave him the aphrodisiac."
The towel the old man was swatting mosquitoes with fell to the floor. Several mosquitoes seized the opportunity and bit his leg fiercely.