Mu Qi didn't hold her hand. Yun Shunan's hand clenched the air, her eyes dimming.
Overwhelmed by disappointment, Yun Shunan didn't even notice the mountain villa behind her.
Before she knew it, she was already sitting in the car.
Yun Shunan glanced sideways.
The camphor trees lining the road cast dappled shadows on Mu Qi under the sunlight, shifting constantly.
Mu Qi covered his mouth with one hand and looked out the window, like a painting. His noble aura was undeniable.
Yun Shunan disliked this painting intensely; it made her feel a vast distance between herself and Mu Qi.
Looking at the hand that naturally hung by Mu Qi's side, Yun Shunan's lips tightened.
Then, slowly, as if by accident, she reached for Mu Qi's hand.
Mu Qi turned his head as if sensing something and looked at Yun Shunan.
His phoenix eyes softened. He tightened his grip on Yun Shunan's small hand with his slender fingers, then lifted Yun Shunan's hand and pressed it to his lips.
Yun Shunan immediately snuggled closer, resting her chin on Mu Qi's shoulder.
"Mu Qi, you didn't hold my hand just now!" Her crescent eyes were filled with a wronged, pitiable charm.
Mu Qi merely glanced at her, and his heart melted. Some of his earlier melancholy receded.
"It won't happen next time," Mu Qi murmured, nuzzling Yun Shunan's forehead with his chin.
The mountain villa silently raised its partition.
He felt that his young master and Yun Shunan were different from the couples he saw on the street.
Although Yun Shunan was acting spoiled, Shan Gong saw a hint of obsession in her eyes. And though his young master was the one comforting her, Shan Gong detected dependence.
Yet, in Shan Gong's memory, Mu Qi was the one who embodied obsession.
This was too complicated; Shan Gong couldn't figure it out, so he stopped dwelling on it.
It wasn't until the sun disappeared, leaving only a streak of red in the sky.
Yun Shunan finally met Yao Zhen.
"Ms. Yao, have we met before?" After exchanging greetings, Yun Shunan directly asked the question that had been bothering her for a long time.
Yao Zhen swallowed, then subconsciously glanced behind Yun Shunan at Mu Qi.
His phoenix eyes were as cold as three feet of ice in winter. Yao Zhen immediately averted her gaze and denied, "I don't recall having the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Mu."
"Then do you remember holding my hand when you were disoriented? Were you mistaking me for someone else then?"
Yun Shunan asked.
Yao Zhen replied, "Perhaps. I'm sorry, I've forgotten."
Yun Shunan offered no comment and didn't press further.
"Then let's talk about your situation now, Ms. Yao."
As Yun Shunan finished speaking, Yao Zhen quickly glanced at Mu Qi. Seeing that Mu Qi's expression had softened, she visibly relaxed.
"Thank you for your help, Mrs. Mu," Yao Zhen said, her gaze shifting, her heart filled with gratitude.
Yun Shunan smiled slightly and waved her hand. "Ms. Yao, it's best not to speak too soon."
Even as she said this, Yun Shunan felt a deep sense of kinship with Yao Zhen.
If she wanted to help Yao Zhen, she wouldn't allow anyone to harm her.
Yun Shunan asked, "So, what exactly happened?"
Recalling something, Yao Zhen's face turned a shade paler.
"That day, I had just returned from abroad. It was late, so I decided to wait until morning to go home.
But I didn't know how that illegitimate son from the Zuo family found out about me. He actually tracked me to the hotel."
Yun Shunan's brow furrowed upon hearing this. "What did he do?"
Yao Zhen gave a wry smile. "He didn't do much, really. He just bribed the hotel staff to install a hidden camera in my room.
Then, in the dead of night, he broke into my room and forced himself on me..."
"So he..." Yun Shunan hesitated slightly.
Yao Zhen blurted out, "Yes, he recorded an explicit video of me!"
Her face turned even paler after she spoke, and her body swayed. Yun Shunan quickly steadied her.
"Now he's threatening to use my explicit video to extort my shares in Yao Corporation! He even wants to snatch a project that Yao Corporation has had its eye on for a long time!" Yao Zhen trembled with anger.
"Don't worry, I won't let him succeed," Yun Shunan reassured her, gently patting her back.
Yao Zhen calmed herself and continued, "I wanted to kidnap him and force him to delete the video, but he actually hired two bodyguards to protect him 24/7!
I hired an expert to implant a virus into his computer and destroy the video, but the expert said he had never seen such a system.
They spent a whole week searching for bugs in the system without any progress.
During that time, Zuo Nan threatened me multiple times, and I could only stall by claiming my father was on a business trip abroad." Su Dan Novel Network
"But the company's tenth anniversary celebration is approaching, and Father won't be able to stay abroad indefinitely."
Yao Zhen's lips trembled slightly. Yun Shunan helped her to a seat and comforted her, "Don't worry, I can help you."
"Really?" Yao Zhen grabbed Yun Shunan's hand with agitation.
"Of course, it's true," Yun Shunan replied.
Yun Shunan had thought that this would ease Yao Zhen's anxiety, but to her surprise, Yao Zhen became even more emotional.
Seeing that Yao Zhen was about to faint, Yun Shunan immediately pressed the bell by the bedside to call for help.
...
"Doctor, how is she?" Fifteen minutes later, after the doctor had examined Yao Zhen, Yun Shunan rushed forward to inquire.
"She's fine. She's just been under immense stress and fear these past few days, and her body couldn't cope. She'll be alright with some rest.
However, I suggest we resolve her underlying issues as soon as possible, otherwise, I fear Miss Yao might not be able to endure it much longer."
Yun Shunan nodded in agreement.
The doctor adjusted his glasses, nodded, and left.
"Young Master, here is the dinner you requested." In the blink of an eye, the moon had risen.
Aunt Ning, having received Mu Qi's instructions, immediately brought the ordered dinner to the hospital.
"Young Master?"
Mu Qi snapped out of his daze and took the dinner from Aunt Ning.
Seeing that her task was complete, Aunt Ning prepared to take her leave, but Mu Qi spoke up. "Aunt Ning, tell me, who is more attractive, me or Yao Zhen?"
This...