Before Lu Feng moved in, Lin Wei’s kitchen was hardly ever used; it had only a single induction stove and a pot, mainly for hot pot meals with Mu Wan. However, after Lu Feng moved in, the kitchen became well-equipped, with the refrigerator stocked full of ingredients.
Liu Qianxiu stood tall by the kitchen counter, his sleeves rolled up to reveal his well-defined wrists. Despite the everyday nature of the kitchen, his presence seemed to dissipate the usual mundane air, bringing a touch of refinement to the space.
After Mu Wan had comforted Lin Wei, she remembered Liu Qianxiu. As she left the bedroom, she found him standing at the foot of the stairs. He had just finished washing his hands and was calmly drying them with a paper towel. As soon as he saw her, their eyes met, and before she could speak, Liu Qianxiu simply said, “Let’s eat.”
It was already 7:30 p.m., and after their flight back, they had only a light lunch before resting for most of the afternoon. They had then picked up the cat from Xu Xingkong’s place before coming here. After all this, Mu Wan realised she was indeed hungry.
“Oh, okay.” Mu Wan hadn’t expected him to prepare dinner in Lin Wei’s kitchen, but she was grateful. She rubbed her stomach as she descended the stairs. Liu Qianxiu took her hand, just as Lu Feng walked over.
“Lin Wei is asleep.” Mu Wan informed him, seeing how exhausted he looked.
Lu Feng visibly relaxed and finally took a moment to express his gratitude. “Thank you so much.”
“There’s no need to thank me.” Mu Wan replied with a smile. “I’m her friend, it’s what I should do.” Glancing towards the dining room, she added, “You haven’t been eating much these days, have you? Lin Wei might not be able to eat, but she asked me to make sure you eat something.”
Lin Wei’s severe morning sickness had left her unable to eat, and Lu Feng, worried about her, hadn’t been eating much either. He shook his head and managed a small smile. “No, it’s fine. You two eat, I’ll go check on her.”
Seeing his state, Mu Wan decided not to push him further. She watched as he headed upstairs before she and Liu Qianxiu made their way to the dining room.
The dinner was light, and although Mu Wan’s appetite wasn’t great, she made sure to eat something, especially since she was eating for two. As she ate an egg, she glanced down at her belly. Liu Qianxiu handed her a glass of water.
“Why don’t I have morning sickness?” Mu Wan asked. Although Liu Qianxiu was a surgeon, he had read extensively about obstetrics and gynaecology since Mu Wan became pregnant.
“Some people experience it, and some don’t. It depends on your constitution.” Liu Qianxiu replied, placing some vegetables on her plate. His gaze lingered on her stomach. “Maybe it’s because the baby is being considerate.”
Severe morning sickness could really take a toll on a person, as Lin Wei’s once bright and optimistic demeanour had become worn and fragile. Mu Wan thought about how Lin Wei had clung to her hand before falling asleep, and she felt a pang of worry.
After setting down her chopsticks, Mu Wan took a sip of water and looked at Liu Qianxiu. “Liu Qianxiu, I want to discuss something with you.”
“You want to stay here tonight?” Liu Qianxiu, already anticipating her thoughts, handed her a napkin to wipe her mouth, his expression calm.
Surprised that he had guessed her intentions so quickly, Mu Wan smiled. Propping her chin on her elbow, she nodded. “Yes, she just fell asleep, and I worry she might not be well when she wakes up.”
“Okay.” He wasn’t surprised at all. After agreeing, he added, “I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow.”
Everything was going so smoothly that Mu Wan felt a bit taken aback. But then she realised that Liu Qianxiu must have expected this and had prepared dinner for her here, knowing she would want to stay with Lin Wei. The thought that he was so understanding and supportive filled her with a warm sense of sweetness.
After dinner, Liu Qianxiu stood up to leave, and Mu Wan walked him to the door. The night had already fallen, and the small courtyard of the villa was softly lit, the warm glow of the lights pushing back the November chill.
Mu Wan stood on the steps, still shorter than Liu Qianxiu, and wrapped her arms around him, leaning into his embrace. Liu Qianxiu held her close, leaning down to kiss her cool forehead.
“It’s chilly out here.” he said, kissing her cheek, which was also cool to the touch.
Feeling a little guilty about not spending the night with him, Mu Wan nuzzled against him, her face brushing his. With a playful smile, she said, “I’m not cold.”
He held her tighter, and they stood there on the steps, lost in their moment of affection.
After a while, they heard Lin Wei calling from inside the villa. They both looked up, and Mu Wan quickly disentangled herself from Liu Qianxiu.
She turned to go inside, but before she did, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips, her dark eyes looking into his as she promised, “I’ll come back home to you tomorrow.”
Liu Qianxiu’s lips curved into a slight smile. He reached up to ruffle her hair and softly replied, “Okay.”
Mu Wan smiled and hurried back inside. Liu Qianxiu watched the lights on the second floor for a moment before quietly turning to leave.
Mu Wan had promised to return home the next day, but she didn’t keep that promise. Lin Wei’s wedding was set for Monday, and Mu Wan stayed with her the entire time. Due to her morning sickness, Lin Wei’s complexion was poor, and she couldn’t do without Mu Wan’s support. Having her friend around helped stabilise her emotions and made it possible for her to eat a little.
Mu Wan stayed at Lin Wei’s house until the day of the wedding. Liu Qianxiu came by a few times to bring her things, and while she felt a bit guilty, she was reassured that Lin Wei’s wedding was only a couple of days away. She decided to stay and support Lin Wei until she got married.
On Monday, Mu Wan was busy from morning until almost noon when the wedding ceremony was about to begin. She finally sat down at a table with her high school classmates.
In high school, Mu Wan’s personality wasn’t particularly warm. She was rebellious during her teenage years, having lost both her parents and suffering under the cold eyes of the Mu family, making her more mature than her peers. Although she was beautiful, she never accepted any of the boys’ advances, and after graduation, she was admitted to the Film Academy, becoming a bit of a legend at school.
From the perspective of her classmates, her most notable achievement was getting into the Film Academy. Over the years, they hadn’t seen much of her on television or in movies, and when they did, she usually played minor roles. It seemed that being pretty wasn’t enough in the entertainment industry.
As she took her seat, Mu Wan recognized most of her classmates but couldn’t remember many names. However, she looked even more beautiful now than she did in high school, and her demeanour was much more approachable, which made her classmates feel comfortable talking to her.
Lin Wei had been very popular in high school, and the table was filled with her classmates. The class committee secretary was the first to greet Mu Wan.
“Aren’t you Mu Wan? I see you on TV all the time. You’re even prettier in person!”
As soon as she spoke, several other female classmates chimed in. At this age, many women love to watch dramas, and while Mu Wan’s roles weren’t particularly memorable, she had been in enough productions to be recognized.
Not expecting to be recognized, Mu Wan nodded and smiled, “Yes, thank you.”
“Long time no see.” another female classmate said. She reached for a bottle of red wine, offering to pour Mu Wan a glass. “It’s been so long, let’s have a drink and catch up.”
“I can’t drink.” Mu Wan said apologetically, moving her glass away. Seeing her classmate’s awkwardness, she quickly explained, “I’m pregnant.”
Her announcement was like dropping a bombshell. The former school beauty was now pregnant, stirring up everyone’s curiosity. It wasn’t long before someone asked the inevitable question.
“You’re already married?”
“What does your husband do? We haven’t heard anything about him.”
“Well, you shouldn’t drink if you’re pregnant. How about some tea instead?”
Someone kindly poured her a cup of tea, and Mu Wan thanked them before answering the flood of questions.
“I got married in October. My husband is a doctor. We kept the wedding low-key, so we didn’t inform many people.”
Even though Mu Wan tried to downplay it, her classmates couldn’t help but let their imaginations run wild. She was so beautiful, and now that she was in the entertainment industry, having a low-profile wedding must mean her husband was someone important who didn’t want to attract attention. After all, most celebrities would make a big splash with their wedding to gain publicity. The fact that they didn’t must mean they didn’t need it.
The table buzzed with speculation, and someone asked, “Is your husband coming today?”
As soon as the question was asked, all eyes turned to Mu Wan. Feeling their stares, she smiled and nodded, “Yes, he’ll be here after work.”
She glanced at her watch. It was almost six o’clock, so Liu Qianxiu should be arriving soon.
“I’d love to see what kind of man was able to win you over.” the class committee secretary said. “Back in the day, our school heartthrob Qiu Jiang was always after you, but he never succeeded.”
“Yeah, Qiu Jiang was every girl’s dream back then! Handsome, top of the class, and his parents were in real estate.” a round-faced classmate added, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia.
“Wasn’t it Mu Qing… yes, Mu Qing, who was always chasing after Qiu Jiang, but he never accepted her because he only had eyes for Mu Wan.”
The class committee secretary laughed. “He was every girl’s dream back then, and he still is now. I saw him a few days ago—he’s even more handsome now. He’s working as a CFO for a Fortune 500 company, with a very bright future.”
Not only was his family wealthy, but he was also incredibly capable.
“I remember Lin Wei was on good terms with him, right? Why isn’t he here today?” someone asked.
The class committee secretary glanced at Mu Wan before answering, “I told him about Lin Wei’s wedding, and he said he had time, but he was worried that if he saw Mu Wan, he wouldn’t be able to resist pursuing her again, so he decided not to come.”
In reality, Qiu Jiang’s words had been much more suggestive, but since Mu Wan was already married, the class committee secretary didn’t want to say anything that might make her uncomfortable.
“That’s so romantic! After all these years, he still has feelings for her.” someone remarked.
As her classmates continued their animated discussion, Mu Wan listened as if they were talking about someone else entirely. Just as she was about to speak, she felt a weight on the back of her chair.
At the same time, she heard a familiar voice above her, low and teasing.
“Oh?”
A chill ran down her spine. Mu Wan turned around and met the dark, piercing eyes of Liu Qianxiu.
He had arrived.
The table full of chattering women fell silent as soon as Mu Wan turned around and they saw the man standing behind her. All eyes were on him, and the women at the table were visibly taken aback.
He wore a light brown linen shirt, his tall, lean frame exuding an air of effortless elegance. His hands, with their defined knuckles, rested on the back of Mu Wan’s chair, his skin pale against the dark fabric. His features were striking, his expression calm, with his long lashes casting shadows over his deep, mysterious eyes.
He had an aura that set him apart from the lively atmosphere around him, serene and cool, like a misty morning after the rain—aloof and otherworldly.
A man like this was practically a god.
For a moment, no one at the table spoke. Mu Wan finally managed to tear her gaze away from him and took his hand. His skin was cool to the touch. She stood up and, with a nervous laugh, introduced him to her classmates.
“This is my husband.”
“Wow!” someone gasped, breaking the silence. The tension dissolved as everyone marvelled at the stunning couple. It was hard not to feel a pang of jealousy—beautiful women always seemed to end up with handsome husbands.
Mu Wan could sense that Liu Qianxiu wasn’t entirely pleased. After the wedding, as Lin Wei was moved to tears by Lu Feng’s heartfelt vows, Mu Wan left with Liu Qianxiu to head home. During the drive, he barely spoke. Though he was usually quiet, tonight he seemed especially withdrawn.
When they arrived home, Liu Qianxiu switched on the lights and began tidying up the living room before sitting down on a cushion to begin his evening meditation.
As soon as Mu Wan walked in, she was surrounded by the three little kittens, who had clearly missed her. She sat on the carpet, playing with them while keeping an eye on Liu Qianxiu.
After a while, the kittens tired themselves out and waddled back to their room to eat and sleep. Mu Wan stood up from the carpet and walked over to where Liu Qianxiu was sitting. She sat down beside him at the table.
Seated on the edge of the table, she thought back on how Liu Qianxiu had always prioritised her ever since they got together. Now, thinking about how she had neglected him over the past few days because of Lin Wei, she couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty.
And that wasn’t the worst of it—he had also overheard the conversation at the wedding about how she had been pursued in high school. Remembering the way he had said “Oh” when he stood behind her, Mu Wan felt a shiver run down her spine.
“Liu Qianxiu.” she called softly, resting her arms on the table and swaying them slightly.
“Hmm?” Liu Qianxiu responded calmly, not opening his eyes.
He didn’t react to her calling his name, nor did his long lashes flutter. Mu Wan stared at him, pondering for a moment before asking, “How was work today?”
“Alright.” he replied, keeping his response brief.
“Oh.” Mu Wan acknowledged his answer, hesitating for a moment before cautiously asking, “Have you been happy these past few days?”
At her question, Liu Qianxiu’s lashes fluttered slightly. Mu Wan immediately straightened up, her gaze meeting his dark eyes. Her heart skipped a beat as he looked at her, his voice soft as he asked, “How could I be happy without you?”
Despite his discontent, Mu Wan couldn’t help but feel a warmth spreading through her heart. Now that Liu Qianxiu had opened his eyes, it meant he was starting to relax. Mu Wan stood up from the carpet, her smile returning as she walked over to his side, kneeling down beside him. As soon as she settled down, she tilted her head, letting her dark hair drape over his hand, tickling him.
With a playful glint in her eyes, she leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Liu Qianxiu’s expression remained unchanged, his deep, calm eyes watching her quietly. Mu Wan kissed him again, twice, but he remained unmoved.
“You’re still not happy even though I’m here with you?” Mu Wan pouted, a hint of frustration in her voice. “I know why you’re upset. It’s because you heard that someone liked me, and you’re jealous. But think about how many people like you—Dr. Xiao, the nurses, even your female patients. If I got jealous every time, we’d have enough to start a vinegar factory.”
As she finished speaking, she puffed out her cheeks and stared at him. “Look, I’m already carrying your baby…”
Before she could finish, Liu Qianxiu pulled her into a deep kiss.
The suddenness of the kiss made Mu Wan’s heart race, and she quickly melted into his embrace. By the time he lifted her from the carpet and carried her to the bed, she was completely lost in the moment.
The soft bed beneath her, the heat of his body above her—Mu Wan’s vision blurred as she responded to his passionate kisses, her voice trembling.
“Are you still mad?”
“I was never mad.”
Liu Qianxiu braced himself on his arms, hovering over her as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“Then why are you acting like this?” Mu Wan mumbled, feeling slightly dissatisfied as she wrapped her arms around his neck and playfully bit him.
Her teeth barely grazed his skin before he captured her lips again, his tongue gently parting her lips. Under his tender touch, she quickly melted into a puddle of warmth.
“I just wanted you to comfort me.” he replied, his voice husky.
Mu Wan’s body went limp, her mind fuzzy. Her face flushed, and she clung to his back, forgetting whatever else she had been about to say, focusing only on her need for him.
“I’ll comfort you more often from now on.” she whispered with a soft laugh, her voice filled with affection.
Liu Qianxiu’s gaze darkened slightly as he looked at her. As her grip tightened on his arm, he leaned down and responded in a low voice.
“Alright.”
Be my Patron ~ Buy me Ko-Fi
✨Be a part of the story – support my translations✨
✨Buy me some Ko-FI | Paypal to support my effort✨
✨✨Advance chapter at Patreon✨✨
