After spending a week in Finland, Mu Wan and Liu Qianxiu flew to Tasmania, Australia, for the second leg of their trip. By November, the Southern Hemisphere was entering summer, and the weather was just perfect. They stayed in a coastal villa on the island, where the sun was warm and inviting. Mu Wan spent a lot of time sunbathing, and her skin had taken on a slight tan, with a healthy, honeyed glow.
Meanwhile, despite accompanying her in the sun every day without using sunscreen, Liu Qianxiu’s complexion remained as pale and cool as ever, as if he were an immortal who resided in a temple, untouched by the sun.
They had a wonderful time abroad, and when they returned to China, it was hard for them to adjust back to their regular routine. After getting off the plane, Liu Qianxiu took Mu Wan to Xu Xingkong’s house to pick up their cat. On the drive home, as they passed a glittering stretch of coastline, Mu Wan remarked to Liu Qianxiu, “Living by the sea wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”
At a red light, Liu Qianxiu stopped the car and glanced at Mu Wan. Her skin was slightly tanned from their time in Australia, like a thin layer of caramel over white chocolate, making her look particularly appetising.
He looked past her at the sea and asked, “Do you want to live here?”
Mu Wan blinked in surprise. Whether it was Finland or Tasmania, the places they stayed were all Liu family properties.
“Do you have a house here too?” Mu Wan asked.
“No.” Liu Qianxiu replied.
Mu Wan’s eyes narrowed slightly in curiosity.
As the light turned green, Liu Qianxiu started the car again and added, “But we have a house here.”
Since they were married, their assets were shared, so his house was also her house.
Mu Wan was momentarily speechless.
“Do you want to live here?” Liu Qianxiu pressed when Mu Wan just smiled without answering.
Mu Wan leaned back in her seat, considering it for a moment before saying, “This place is too far from the hospital. One is in the south, and the other is in the north. If you come home from work, you won’t have time to make dinner for me.”
“Then we’ll just come here on weekends.” Liu Qianxiu suggested. The villa in the southern district was regularly cleaned, so they could move in anytime. They could have the housekeeper prepare groceries a day in advance.
Mu Wan listened to his plan but didn’t respond. At the next red light, Liu Qianxiu stopped again and glanced at her, noticing that she seemed lost in thought as she stared ahead.
“Is it not okay?” Liu Qianxiu reached over and touched her cheek.
His warm palm on her face snapped Mu Wan back to reality. She looked at him with her dark, beautiful eyes, shook her head, and smiled. “Of course, I like it. I love it.”
The idea of living wherever they wanted without any worries was indeed appealing.
“Then what were you thinking about?” Before pulling his hand away, Liu Qianxiu tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and playfully pinched her earlobe.
Her ears were particularly sensitive, and his touch made her let out a soft “Oh” , shrinking her neck and blushing. She felt her face grow warm and rubbed it against his palm, much like a puppy seeking affection.
“I was just thinking that I used to be a person with no ambition.” Mu Wan said.
As he restarted the car, Liu Qianxiu’s lips curled into a slight smile. “How so?”
Reflecting on her past, Mu Wan couldn’t help but laugh. She leaned slightly toward him and said, “After graduating from high school and entering film school, my goal in life was to become a minor actress, earning a little more than the average person. I wanted to buy a comfortable house, drive a nice car, and live out my days in peace.”
She paused here, and Liu Qianxiu’s expression remained calm as he asked quietly, “And now, aren’t you comfortable?”
“Of course, I am!” Mu Wan replied with a sigh. They had a private jet at their disposal and could travel wherever they wanted. Even in Xiacheng, they had homes in all four districts, maintained by a staff that ensured everything was ready for them to stay at any time.
“It’s precisely because I’m so comfortable that I feel like I have no ambition.” Mu Wan sighed. “Having money is really great. No wonder people chase after fame and fortune.”
After a moment, she added with a touch of righteousness, “But it’s still best to earn money through your own efforts. Like me…”
Liu Qianxiu looked at her as she pointed to herself, her eyes crinkling with amusement. “I used my own skills to find a rich husband like you.”
Mu Wan laughed before she could finish her sentence. Liu Qianxiu, watching her smile, allowed a faint smile to grace his lips as he responded with a simple “Hmm.”
When they returned to Nan Feng Apartment, the place was just as tidy as when they had left. It was already evening by then. While Liu Qianxiu went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, Mu Wan carried the cat carrier to the cat room.
She first refilled the cat bowls with food and water, then let the three kittens and Zhou Yi out. This time, she had been gone for quite a while, so as soon as the three kittens were free, they meowed and leaped into her arms.
Mu Wan giggled as the cat fur tickled her, petting each of them in turn. Zhou Yi, still a bit reserved, was soon scooped up by Mu Wan and showered with affection.
Just as she was immersed in cuddling the cats, the phone rang from the living room. Mu Wan got up from the cat room and picked up her phone. The screen flashed, showing that the call was from Lin Wei.
Mu Wan hadn’t informed Lin Wei that they had returned to China. Her schedule was fairly light for the next few months, and Liu Qianxiu could take another two weeks off if needed. The only reason they returned early was to attend Lin Wei’s wedding.
The wedding was scheduled for early November, just a few days away on Monday. Now, there were only four days left, and Lin Wei was undoubtedly in the busiest period. Although Lin Wei was from Jingcheng, she had attended high school in Xiacheng, where she and Mu Wan had been classmates. While Mu Wan was still in Tasmania, Lin Wei had sent her a WeChat message to discuss the guest list for their high school classmates.
Lin Wei was well-liked and kept in touch with many of their classmates. She had even enthusiastically suggested turning the wedding into a mini-reunion.
Thinking of this, Mu Wan smiled and answered the call. “Hello, Lin Wei.”
“Have you returned to China?” Lin Wei’s voice lacked its usual liveliness.
As old friends, Mu Wan immediately sensed that something was wrong. Her smile faded as she stood up straight, furrowing her brows. “What’s wrong?”
No sooner had she asked than Lin Wei broke down in tears on the other end of the line.
“I’m not okay, Wanwan. Please come and be with me.”
Lin Wei was crying so bitterly that Mu Wan’s heart clenched with worry. She tried to comfort her friend, and Lin Wei eventually stopped sobbing uncontrollably. By then, Liu Qianxiu had come out of the kitchen and asked, “What happened?”
After calming Lin Wei down and hanging up the phone, Mu Wan turned to Liu Qianxiu. “I need to go check on Lin Wei.”
Her eyes were filled with concern, and Liu Qianxiu didn’t ask for details. “I’ll take you there.”
By the time they arrived at Lin Wei’s home, it was already dark, and the November night carried a slight chill. Mu Wan, wearing a coat, rang the doorbell, and Lu Feng came to open the door.
Lu Feng didn’t look well either. Mu Wan still didn’t know what had happened, so she asked, “Where’s Lin Wei?”
“In the bedroom.” Lu Feng replied. Knowing how close Lin Wei and Mu Wan were, he visibly relaxed when he saw her. He looked exhausted, with red-rimmed eyes, but seeing Mu Wan seemed to give him some relief, knowing she could comfort Lin Wei.
Seeing Lu Feng in such a state, Mu Wan knew that Lin Wei must be in bad shape. Liu Qianxiu stayed downstairs while she hurried up to the bedroom. The door was closed, and Mu Wan knocked gently.
“Lin Wei?”
There was a shuffling of feet before Lin Wei came to open the door.
Only when she saw Lin Wei did Mu Wan feel a bit of relief. Though Lin Wei’s face was pale, she seemed otherwise okay. Just as Mu Wan thought this, Lin Wei suddenly turned and rushed to the bathroom, where she began to retch.
Mu Wan’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly followed Lin Wei into the bathroom. Lin Wei was sitting by the toilet, looking weak as she said, “I don’t want to have this baby. I don’t want to get married.”
Lin Wei was suffering from severe morning sickness, which, combined with insomnia, had made her feel utterly miserable, triggering pre-wedding anxiety.
This had been going on for three days. She had been holding it together, but hearing Mu Wan’s voice had made her break down completely.
Somehow, Mu Wan found the strength to lift Lin Wei from the floor and onto the bed, where she did her best to comfort her.
Time passed slowly, and as night deepened, the living room downstairs remained quiet. The two men sat on opposite ends of the sofa, waiting. Lu Feng felt more at ease after Mu Wan arrived, but not knowing what was happening upstairs, he kept glancing anxiously toward the stairs.
After Mu Wan went upstairs, Liu Qianxiu had taken a seat, quietly reading a book on interior design. After a few pages, he checked his watch—it was already 7:00 p.m.
Closing his book, Liu Qianxiu turned his gaze to Lu Feng, his expression calm as he asked, “Is your kitchen available?”
The sudden sound startled Lu Feng, who had been lost in thought. He turned back to face Liu Qianxiu, his eyes widening slightly.
Lin Wei had mentioned that Mu Wan’s husband was an extraordinary man, and even without knowing the details, Lu Feng could see there was something special about him.
“Huh?” Lu Feng responded hastily. “Yes, it’s free. Why do you ask?”
Liu Qianxiu, with his serene demeanour, seemed almost otherworldly, even in ordinary clothes. When Lu Feng didn’t respond immediately, Liu Qianxiu calmly stood up. He glanced briefly at the door to the room where Mu Wan had gone and then spoke in a measured tone.
“My wife hasn’t had dinner yet. I want to make her something to eat.”
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