"There's no orange juice," Mu Qi frowned, then instinctively turned to get some for Yun Shuxian, but after a few steps, he realized he couldn't go down.
"Mu Qi, I'll get it myself," Yun Shuxian tightened her grip on the chopsticks, quickly stood up, passed Mu Qi, and walked downstairs.
Yun Shuxian's back gradually disappeared from Mu Qi's sight. Mu Qi looked at her retreating figure, then down at the handcuffs on his wrist, his gaze dimming.
"Madam Mu, what are you...?"
In the kitchen downstairs, Yun Shuxian poured juice while staring blankly ahead.
Sister Zhang didn't understand and didn't dare to disturb her. It wasn't until the juice in the cup in front of Yun Shuxian was about to overflow that Sister Zhang couldn't help but speak.
"Oh, it's nothing."
Yun Shuxian snapped back to attention. Seeing the juice overflowing, she showed no emotion. Her expression was indifferent as she put down the juice bottle.
Then Yun Shuxian picked up the juice and got up to leave.
Sister Zhang didn't dare to say anything more. She stood up and wiped the table.
"By the way, Sister Zhang, have you seen Sister Yang?"
Just as Sister Zhang was starting to relax, Yun Shuxian suddenly turned and asked.
Sister Zhang instinctively took a step back, placing a hand over her chest.
"Sister Yang, I saw her just now." Yun Shuxian's question made Sister Zhang confused, and she looked around strangely.
"Don't look anymore. I've fired Sister Yang for not following the rules. Not a penny!"
Sister Zhang was shocked and froze for a moment. Then, Sister Yang quickly reacted, trying to prove her innocence.
"Madam Mu, please don't worry. I'm timid and absolutely won't gossip."
Yun Shuxian observed Sister Zhang for a few seconds, then her gaze softened: "It's good that you know."
With that, Yun Shuxian turned and went upstairs.
"Mu Qi, eat quickly." After going upstairs, Yun Shuxian saw Mu Qi still standing there and quickly pulled him to the dining table.
"Didn't Niannian prefer orange juice?"
After they sat down, Mu Qi tapped the tabletop with his index and middle fingers, asking with an unreadable expression.
Yun Shuxian lowered her head in confusion and realized she had poured grape juice, not orange juice.
Yun Shuxian's voice was dry: "I want to try something different today."
"Okay."
Mu Qi picked up his chopsticks and looked at the rich variety of dishes in front of him, with no appetite.
Mu Qi knew very well how much Yun Shuxian hated grape juice. If she wanted to try something, it could be watermelon juice or peach juice, but never this grape juice.
"Mu Qi, you need to drink this."
As soon as Mu Qi came to his senses, he saw the medicinal meal in front of him.
Mu Qi curved his lips, then took it and drank it down in one gulp.
"Does it taste better this time?"
After drinking, Mu Qi met Yun Shuxian's focused gaze. Such a gaze always made Mu Qi soften easily.
"Mm, it's very good?"
Good?
This response surprised Yun Shuxian.
It was reasonable to say it wasn't as difficult to swallow, and it was a stretch to say it wasn't bad, but to say it was very good was a bit strange.
Could it be that Sister Yang added something else?
Yun Shuxian frowned slightly, then picked up the medicinal meal on the table, fanned it with her other hand to smell it. She didn't detect anything wrong, so she extended a finger to check Mu Qi's pulse.
After that, she felt a little relieved. Perhaps Mu Qi genuinely liked this taste.
After all, everyone is different, and different strokes for different folks.
"Niannian, I'm fine," Mu Qi took Yun Shuxian's hand.
"Mm, you're very fine."
Yun Shuxian could feel that Mu Qi's pulse was relatively stable, but if this continued, the dishes would have to be reheated by Sister Zhang again.
"Mu Qi, eat more." Yun Shuxian withdrew her hand and kept putting food onto Mu Qi's plate.
Mu Qi had little appetite, but he wouldn't bear to waste any of the food Yun Shuxian gave him.
"Mu Qi, are you full?"
Mu Qi was the first to put down his chopsticks. Yun Shuxian was still expressionlessly stuffing food into her mouth. It wasn't that Yun Shuxian was hungry, but she was a bit distracted at the moment.
"Mm, I'm full."
Mu Qi nodded slightly. He had eaten all the food Yun Shuxian had put on his plate.
"Are you too full?" Yun Shuxian blinked and placed her hand on Mu Qi's abdomen to feel.
Mu Qi's behavior was too obedient, so obedient that Yun Shuxian felt like she was bullying him.
Mu Qi's abdominal muscles tensed, and he pressed down on Yun Shuxian's hand: "No."
"That's good then." Yun Shuxian responded, then quickly stuffed a few more bites of greens into her mouth before calling Sister Zhang over to clear the table.
Not long after Sister Zhang left, Yun Shuxian couldn't help but half-lie on the bed, holding her stomach.
Mu Qi understood. He took a digestive aid from the medicine box and gave it to Yun Shuxian, then hugged her from behind and massaged her stomach.
After a while, Yun Shuxian slowly recovered: "Mu Qi, how did you know I was too full?"
"Niannian ate much more than usual."
Yun Shuxian's intake at each meal, morning, noon, and night, was recorded by Mu Qi.
At first, Mu Qi thought Yun Shuxian was just a bit hungry. Later, when he saw her place her hand on her stomach, he realized it wasn't the case.
"...Oh." Yun Shuxian felt a little awkward.
That night.
Mu Qi fell into a nightmare again.
In his dream, he could never have Yun Shuxian, and he could never kill the man whose face he couldn't see.
Mu Qi continued like this in his dreams, day after day.
Finally, after an unknown amount of time, Mu Qi pointed the tip of his knife at his own heart.
"Soon, this place won't hurt anymore, right?"
Then, Mu Qi's other hand also grasped the hilt of the knife. He raised both hands, gathering strength.
Just as Mu Qi's knife was about to pierce his own heart, he woke up from the dream.
The stinging sensation in his neck made Mu Qi even more awake. Mu Qi lowered his head and saw a furry head nuzzling against his chin.
"Niannian?"
Yun Shuxian, who was biting Mu Qi's neck, didn't respond. Instead, she bit harder.
Mu Qi gasped and wrapped his arms around Yun Shuxian's back.
Yun Shuxian was punishing Mu Qi.
Punishing Mu Qi for having such unrealistic dreams.
Tonight, Yun Shuxian had heard Mu Qi's sleep-talking again.
Divorce.
Divorce again.
How much did Mu Qi want to break free from her?