"It's fine. Let's go home." Seeing Yun Shunnian lower her head, looking like she had done something wrong, Mu Qi realized Yun Shunnian had misunderstood. He didn't mean to blame her, he was just genuinely curious.
Upon hearing this, Yun Shunnian looked up. "Mu Qi, you're really not angry?" Because of her, Mu Qi had gone to a meeting with lipstick marks on his face. It must have made a spectacle of him for everyone in the conference room.
However, Yun Shunnian didn't know that, setting aside the fact that Mu Qi only cared about Yun Shunnian and no one else. Even if Yun Shunnian made Mu Qi wear lipstick marks to work every day, he would probably be more than happy to do so.
Mu Qi said calmly, "There's nothing to be angry about."
Yun Shunnian was finally relieved. Her eyes curved into crescents, and she reached out to continue wiping the lipstick marks for Mu Qi. "Mu Qi, lower your head a bit."
Hearing this, Mu Qi immediately complied and bent down, making it easier for Yun Shunnian to wipe.
"Mu Qi, is all your work done for today?" Yun Shunnian asked casually.
"Mm."
This remark was overheard by Assistant Li, who was standing at the door of Mu Qi's office.
Assistant Li grumbled to himself, *All done? Then what are all these in my hands? Ever since Miss Yun arrived, our workaholic President Mu hasn't left work on time, but all his work is still finished the next day.*
Assistant Li guessed that Mu Qi must be going home to work overtime. Alas, he couldn't figure out who this Miss Yun was, to be able to make the tyrannical President Mu set aside his own matters just to take her home to rest.
Assistant Li felt envious. He decided to find a wealthy older woman tomorrow and be doted upon.
"Hey, Assistant Li, what are you doing there? Come here!" Yun Shunnian had finished cleaning the lipstick marks off Mu Qi's face and was about to leave when she saw Assistant Li standing at the doorway, holding a stack of documents and looking lost in thought.
"Oh, Miss Yun, I'm here..."
Assistant Li received a sharp glance from Mu Qi and immediately changed his words: "Sorry, Miss Yun, I took a wrong turn." Assistant Li turned and walked back.
Yun Shunnian watched Assistant Li's retreating back, stood on tiptoe, and whispered into Mu Qi's ear, "Mu Qi, is he really your assistant? Why does he seem not very bright?"
Assistant Li: "..." Couldn't you wait until I was further away to say that?
***
"Mu Qi, where are you going?" After returning to Qiyuan, Mu Qi received a call and was heading out before dinner.
He was immediately stopped by Yun Shunnian, who pulled him back, halting his departure.
"You eat first, I'll be back soon." Mu Qi expressionlessly peeled Yun Shunnian's hand off his arm and turned to leave.
After her rebirth, Yun Shunnian had almost always stayed by Mu Qi's side. Now that Mu Qi was leaving so suddenly, Yun Shunnian felt a bit panicked.
"Aunt Ning, why did Mu Qi leave so suddenly?" Yun Shunnian asked listlessly at the dinner table, addressing Aunt Ning.
Aunt Ning: "Miss Yun, I dare not speak ill of the master's affairs."
Yun Shunnian pouted, disagreeing with Aunt Ning. "Aunt Ning, we are family."
This time, Aunt Ning did not respond to Yun Shunnian's remark.
Yun Shunnian completely lost her appetite. She merely picked at a few mouthfuls of rice from the large table of dishes and put down her utensils.
"Aunt Ning, do you think... Mu Qi is looking for another woman? Am I going to have to make way for someone else soon?" Yun Shunnian slumped onto the chair, like a soft, boneless lump of exhaustion.
"Miss Yun, you don't need to worry about that at all. I watched the young master grow up. I can clearly see his feelings for you. Besides, even if the young master didn't like you, he would never act recklessly," Aunt Ning said earnestly to Yun Shunnian, trying to reassure her.
However, Yun Shunnian's focus was clearly not on what Aunt Ning was trying to convey. "Pah, pah, pah, Aunt Ning. Mu Qi definitely, absolutely likes me, right, Aunt Ning."
At this moment, Yun Shunnian immediately sat up straight in her chair, her crescent-shaped eyes wide open as she looked at Aunt Ning.
Aunt Ning: "..." Aunt Ning was an honest person and couldn't bring herself to say anything against her conscience. She also truly couldn't fathom Mu Qi's thoughts.
Yun Shunnian waited for a long time, but did not receive a definite answer from Aunt Ning. She dejectedly stood up, ruffled her hair, stomped her feet forcefully, and walked upstairs.
Soon, the moon climbed higher in the sky, and Yun Shunnian, lying in bed, tossed and turned, her mind filled with thoughts of Mu Qi.
Finally, Yun Shunnian couldn't stand it anymore. Since the landline at Qiyuan, used to contact Mu Qi, had a password, she got up to find Aunt Ning to call Mu Qi.
Ring, ring, ring...
Yun Shunnian watched the bright display screen of the phone, her index finger tapping repeatedly on the table.
Just as Yun Shunnian thought the call wouldn't be answered, Mu Qi's low, husky voice suddenly came from the other end.
"Hello."
Yun Shunnian immediately asked, "Mu Qi, why aren't you back yet?"
Before Mu Qi could respond, a woman's voice suddenly came from the other end of the phone: "Mr. Mu, are you hot? Shall I fan you?"
This voice belonged to Yun Rong. Yun Shunnian's eyes sharpened, and the hand holding the receiver tightened unconsciously. "Mu Qi! Where are you? If you don't want to see me now, then we never need to see each other again."
There was a brief pause on the other end, but after a moment, a cool voice still came through: "Jiang Jing Villa."
Upon hearing these four words, Yun Shunnian froze, but quickly regained her composure. She hung up the phone and rushed outside.
Aunt Ning quickly picked up Mu Qi's phone, to see if he had any instructions: "Young Master, Miss Yun has gone out. Should I stop her?"
"No, have someone follow her."
"Yes, Young Master." Aunt Ning hung up the phone and immediately made arrangements.
Jiang Jing Villa was left to Yun Shunnian by her grandfather, so Yun Shunnian was very familiar with it. But why was Mu Qi there? Yun Shunnian didn't have time to think deeply; she could only floor the accelerator.