"We're going home, aren't we? It's okay now, baby," Mu Qi said, ruffling Yun Shuni'an's hair.
"No, you have to promise me what I just said," Yun Shuni'an insisted, tugging at Mu Qi's collar.
Mu Qi: "Alright, I promise."
As long as she was safe, he could delegate these matters to others.
Mu Qi enjoyed Yun Shuni'an's reliance on him.
They soon returned home.
Yun Shuni'an managed only a few bites before she couldn't eat any more.
"Mu Qi, I'm full. I'm going upstairs," Yun Shuni'an said, getting up to head upstairs. She felt exhausted from the intense emotional swings and wanted to rest.
But Mu Qi immediately pulled her back.
"Eat a little more," Mu Qi said, placing Yun Shuni'an on his lap. He then picked up a piece of pork rib and offered it to her.
"I don't want to eat anymore, Mu Qi," Yun Shuni'an turned and looked at him pleadingly.
Mu Qi pursed his lips, the rib he held near her mouth unmoving.
Helpless, Yun Shuni'an leaned in and ate a few small bites.
Mu Qi's tightly pressed lips gradually relaxed.
"Mu Qi, I don't want to eat anymore," Yun Shuni'an rested her forehead against his shoulder and neck, as if acting spoiled.
Her soft voice made Mu Qi's heart flutter.
Mu Qi looked at the fluffy crown of Yun Shuni'an's head, his phoenix eyes softening like a pool of spring water.
"Okay, no more eating," Mu Qi suddenly picked Yun Shuni'an up and carried her upstairs.
Startled by the sudden lift, Yun Shuni'an's heart skipped a beat, and she clung tightly to Mu Qi's neck.
Soon, Mu Qi gently placed Yun Shuni'an on the bed.
"Be good, I'm going to take a bath," Mu Qi said, reluctantly stroking Yun Shuni'an's head. The affection in his eyes seemed to be overflowing.
Yun Shuni'an vaguely averted his gaze.
Mu Qi kissed her eyelashes before turning and heading to the bathroom.
With a soft click of the bathroom door closing, Yun Shuni'an blinked and came back to her senses. Realizing she hadn't showered yet, she got up and went to the guest bedroom.
About fifteen minutes later, the bathroom in the master bedroom opened slowly. Steam billowed out with Mu Qi as he emerged, filling the room.
Mu Qi was now wearing a bathrobe, and he was leisurely drying his hair with his other hand.
However, when his gaze fell upon the bed, the warmth in the room seemed to instantly freeze into ice.
Meanwhile, in the guest bedroom's bathtub, white foam completely concealed the beautiful figure within. Yun Shuni'an lay on one side of the tub, her eyes closed, her brows furrowed.
The events of the day, as well as those from before her rebirth, intertwined in Yun Shuni'an's mind.
Bloody, desperate.
These memories clung to her like sticky slugs, making Yun Shuni'an feel nauseous yet unable to shake them off.
Finally, after countless imaginary deaths in her dreams, her soul struggled free.
Seeing the real and familiar surroundings, Yun Shuni'an gasped for air, tears streaming down her face.
"Young Master," Aunt Ning respectfully approached Mu Qi in the living room.
A single glance at Mu Qi's stern expression told Aunt Ning how terrible his mood was.
"Where is the Young Madam?" Mu Qi's voice was sharp.
Aunt Ning was taken aback. "Young Madam, didn't she return to your room with you?"
Mu Qi shot Aunt Ning a look, and she immediately understood that Yun Shuni'an had disappeared again.
Aunt Ning quickly summoned people to search for Yun Shuni'an.
Seeing Mu Qi becoming increasingly agitated, Aunt Ning blurted out, "Young Master, the Young Madam might have gone to the garden. Please don't worry."
Mu Qi's expression remained grim even after Aunt Ning's words.
"Young Madam?" Aunt Ning dared not incur Mu Qi's wrath further and immediately turned to search for Yun Shuni'an.
Mu Qi raised a hand to his brow, his head throbbing.
Were all those worries, all that displayed affection, just lies?
Heh.
He knew Yun Shuni'an's usual trick: leading him to heaven only to drag him to hell the next moment.
Yet, he couldn't escape the beautiful dream she had woven.
Mu Qi's lips curved into a self-mocking smile, his phoenix eyes blazing red.
Then let's see who wins – her beautiful dream or my cage.
Mu Qi clenched his fist, clearly in a fit of rage.
With a crash, a porcelain vase shattered on the ground.
The servants scattered around flinched uncontrollably at the sound.
Immediately after, the door to the guest room was flung open from the inside. Yun Shuni'an, in her pajamas, rushed out and, seeing Mu Qi's back, ran towards him without hesitation.
Feeling the disturbance behind him, Mu Qi instinctively tried to shake her off, but Yun Shuni'an, as if powered by a strength pill, clung on tightly.
This only made Mu Qi more furious.
"Mu Qi," Yun Shuni'an jumped onto Mu Qi's back, her voice choked with tears.
Mu Qi froze. For a moment, he thought he was hallucinating.
"Mu Qi," Yun Shuni'an's voice grew urgent as she received no response.
"Mu Qi, I had a nightmare."
Still no response from Mu Qi, Yun Shuni'an's tone turned playful.
The unspoken message: Coax me!
"Get down," Mu Qi's tone was cold.
"I won't!" Since Mu Qi wasn't coaxing her and his tone was so unpleasant, Yun Shuni'an became immediately unhappy.
Mu Qi forcefully tried to pry Yun Shuni'an's hands open. Yun Shuni'an was caught off guard by his harshness and couldn't resist, so Mu Qi succeeded.
After Yun Shuni'an was pried off his back, Mu Qi unceremoniously slung her over his shoulder and walked upstairs.
"Mu Qi, put me down!" Yun Shuni'an squirmed restlessly. Mu Qi applied a bit more force, and Yun Shuni'an couldn't move.
It wasn't that Yun Shuni'an lacked strength, but rather that this position made it impossible for her to exert any leverage.
Then, Yun Shuni'an was thrown onto the soft bed by Mu Qi.
"Mu Qi!" Yun Shuni'an was stunned. For a moment, she felt like she was still dreaming.
Why was Mu Qi acting so strange?
It was also strangely familiar.