"All designed by Mu Qi?" Yun Shunnian asked, recalling the layout of Qi Yuan.
Yun Shunnian, loving the house for the sake of the person, imbued every corner of Qi Yuan with a special sentiment once it was connected to Mu Qi.
Even the flowers Mu Qi planted were seen through a rose-tinted lens by her.
"But he never said," Yun Shunnian squatted down to examine the flowers closely.
"Young Master isn't one to say such things. I suppose he planted these flowers because Young Madam likes them," Aunt Ning, seeing Yun Shunnian's reaction, already had an answer in mind.
"That should be it, I like white crabapples the most," Yun Shunnian sniffed the crabapple fragrance, her eyes like a sea of stars.
"I believe Young Madam has no need to doubt this.
Young Madam, do you know? Qi Yuan wasn't always called Qi Yuan."
"What was it called then?" Yun Shunnian asked, curiously getting up.
Aunt Ning smiled, looking at Yun Shunnian with an ambiguous expression: "Qi Yuan initially had two names, one was Yun Qi Yuan, and the other was Nian Qi Yuan."
"It seems the extra two characters were taken from Miss Yun's name."
Yun Shunnian shyly lowered her head: "Then why did he ultimately use the name Qi Yuan?"
Did adding a character mean a different price?
Yun Shunnian's imagination ran wild.
Aunt Ning: "..." How could she delicately remind Young Madam that she was a little drama queen back then, with her garish makeup every day, and wouldn't allow anything that connected her with Young Master to appear.
"Perhaps... perhaps Young Master was afraid you would object," Aunt Ning deliberated with great care.
"How could I..."
Mid-sentence, Yun Shunnian remembered how much she had rejected Mu Qi in her past life.
Ah, she had truly been blind back then. Mu Qi, with his good looks and physique, had actively pursued her, yet she hadn't seized the opportunity.
If she had been a little more proactive then, she wouldn't still be just fantasizing about Mu Qi's body now! Yun Shunnian regretted her past actions and sighed.
"Young Madam, are you alright?" Aunt Ning asked worriedly, not understanding Yun Shunnian's sigh.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Yun Shunnian said with a dry laugh, then looked around to ease the awkwardness.
"Aunt Ning, what is that place?" Yun Shunnian pointed randomly, changing the subject.
Aunt Ning thought Yun Shunnian was genuinely curious and followed Yun Shunnian's pointing finger: "Oh, that is a training ground with many training equipment. Would Young Madam like to see it?"
A training ground? Qi Yuan also had a training ground; this indeed piqued Yun Shunnian's interest, and she nodded. Su Dan Novel Network
Generally, no one was allowed in that place. However, Aunt Ning considered Mu Qi's indulgence towards Yun Shunnian, and since Yun Shunnian was the mistress of Qi Yuan.
How could "no one" include Yun Shunnian?
Thinking this, Aunt Ning led Yun Shunnian over: "Follow me, Young Madam."
Yun Shunnian followed Aunt Ning, her eyes captivated by the crabapple blossoms along the way.
It wasn't until they walked out of the sea of flowers that the training ground Aunt Ning mentioned came into view.
Suddenly, a great many men occupied Yun Shunnian's vision, and among them were a few familiar figures.
"Are these all Mu Qi's bodyguards?" Yun Shunnian recalled the familiar figures – they were the ones who had stopped her when she tried to escape Qi Yuan before.
Aunt Ning hesitated slightly upon hearing the question.
It could be said that way, couldn't it? It was better not to say too much and risk scaring Young Madam.
"Yes, Young Madam, all of them," Aunt Ning replied, deliberately omitting the word "bodyguards."
"Oh." Yun Shunnian looked at the densely packed men with little interest.
Mu Qi's perfect physique involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
Ahem, it was indeed best not to meet anyone too stunning, otherwise, they would have you completely in their grasp later.
"Aunt Ning, Shan Gong's condition isn't right," Yun Shunnian's gaze accidentally fell upon Shan Gong, who was running laps.
She spotted the problem at a glance.
Shan Gong seemed to have heatstroke.
Aunt Ning couldn't find Shan Gong and squinted to search carefully. When Aunt Ning saw Shan Gong, she realized Yun Shunnian had already reached Shan Gong's side.
Seeing this, Aunt Ning immediately found a maid to inform Young Master, while she herself hurried towards Yun Shunnian.
"Shan Gong, you have heatstroke, stop quickly!" Yun Shunnian blocked Shan Gong's path, her tone very firm.
However, Shan Gong, enduring his physical discomfort, frowned and refused: "Move aside."
Seeing Shan Gong try to bypass her and continue running, Yun Shunnian's expression turned ugly. But after only a few steps, Shan Gong collapsed onto the ground, losing consciousness.
Yun Shunnian immediately supported him from behind.
"Aunt Ning, quickly help me carry Shan Gong over there," Yun Shunnian tilted her head towards Aunt Ning with difficulty.
Aunt Ning snapped back to reality and immediately walked over: "Young Madam, what are you doing?"
"Shan Gong has heatstroke, quickly help me take Shan Gong to a shaded area," Yun Shunnian commanded urgently.
Hearing this, Aunt Ning immediately used force to drag Shan Gong with Yun Shunnian to a shaded spot.
"Young... Young Madam, what are you doing?" Aunt Ning asked dazedly, seeing Yun Shunnian quickly unbuttoning Shan Gong's clothes, unsure whether to stop Yun Shunnian.
It was broad daylight, under the bright sun...
Yun Shunnian didn't have time to answer, just quickly unbuttoned Shan Gong's clothes.
Aunt Ning tried to compose herself and calmed down.
Although Aunt Ning didn't understand, she could see Yun Shunnian was very serious and anxious.
Aunt Ning was very conservative, but thinking back to what Yun Shunnian had said about Shan Gong having heatstroke,
she understood the purpose of Yun Shunnian's actions.
Afterward, Yun Shunnian had Shan Gong lie on her lap, fanning him while pressing a few acupoints.
It wasn't until Diao Guan arrived with others to carry Shan Gong away that Yun Shunnian could catch her breath. Unexpectedly, as soon as she stood firm, she was pulled into a familiar embrace.
"Mu Qi, let go of me." Yun Shunnian looked up at Mu Qi, trying to pry his hands off her.
Mu Qi, however, directly carried Yun Shunnian away.
With a bang, the bedroom door opened.
Mu Qi placed Yun Shunnian on the bed. Yun Shunnian immediately tried to get up but was restrained by her hands.
"What did I do wrong again, Mu Qi? Why do you always bully me?" Yun Shunnian's eyes were tearful, her face full of accusation.
Her tearful beauty stunned Mu Qi, his heart feeling as if it were being scratched by sharp claws.
Suddenly, Yun Shunnian felt a soft, ticklish sensation on her eyes and instinctively closed them.
Until the soft, ticklish touch extended downward, Yun Shunnian opened her eyes and realized Mu Qi was kissing her tears!
Yun Shunnian was shocked, her mind going blank for a moment.
Mu Qi: "Baby, don't be so intimate with other men."
"Huh? You mean Shan Gong?" The soft sensation on her face disappeared, and Yun Shunnian gradually regained her senses.
Yun Shunnian's mind was filled with question marks: "Isn't he part of our family?"
"That's not allowed either," Mu Qi's tone was extremely domineering.