This shortcut was indeed convenient, and we soon reached the intersection. Bai Yan pointed to the intersection ahead and said, "I won't see you off any further. Go out this way and keep walking straight until you reach the street. There will be a driver waiting there. Hurry up, it's never good to be too late."
"Okay. I'll invite you out again when I have time." Mu Xing squeezed Bai Yan's hand, then turned and left.
Bai Yan stood there watching her. Only after Mu Xing's figure disappeared at the intersection did she look away with a sense of loss and turn to go back.
But just as she turned around, she suddenly heard hurried footsteps at the intersection. Worried that Mu Xing had forgotten something, Bai Yan quickly turned around, but before she could even stand up straight, Mu Xing, who had rushed back, suddenly hugged her.
Before she could react, she heard Mu Xing, panting heavily, say, "I mean it, I will definitely take you away! You have to wait for me! Give me a little, just a little time..."
Her heart pounded violently, almost leaping from his chest into Bai Yan's heart. The hands that held her so tightly were so firm, and the words in her ear were so resolute and urgent that she almost felt as if she were experiencing a life-or-death separation.
Upon hearing Mu Xing's words, Bai Yan was taken aback, then couldn't help but laugh: "I know, I'll wait for you. You..."
Mu Xing emphasized urgently, "No, no matter what happens, I will definitely take you away. No matter what happens, you must believe me, okay?"
Bai Yan frowned in confusion, feeling that Mu Xing's words were somewhat strange. But without thinking about it further, she nodded and said, "Okay, I will."
Mu Xing then released her hand, smiling happily as she touched Bai Yan's forehead. But the next second, glancing at her watch, she immediately panicked: "Oh no, it's too late, Miss Bai, I have to go!"
She waved hurriedly to Bai Yan, then turned and ran out of the alley.
"Slow down!" Bai Yan hurriedly said, and only turned around when Mu Xing's footsteps faded into the distance and could no longer be heard. After taking only a few steps, a smile couldn't help but spread across her lips.
"…fool."
Mu Xing ran wildly to the intersection and hailed a rickshaw to take her to Huai'an Road. Only when she was finally inside the car did she have a chance to catch her breath, but after a few breaths, she couldn't help but laugh again.
That was so stupid! Why did she suddenly run back? Only a clueless high school student would do that. Foolish and lacking in manners.
But... that impulse just now was so uncontrollable.
I long to go back, I long to hug Miss Bai and tell her my determination.
It was simply impossible to control.
After leaning back in his chair and laughing for a while, Mu Xing shook his head.
Well, so be it. At least she really told Miss Bai about her determination.
The next step is to fulfill the promise.
Even if... even if the truth is eventually revealed and Miss Bai never wants to see her again, this is the last thing she can do for Miss Bai.
It can be considered... compensation.
Mu Xing was lost in thought when Uncle Song, who was driving in the front seat, glanced at the rearview mirror several times with a complicated expression. Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "Third Miss, you just said you were going to see a friend. Who is this friend?"
"Ah." Mu Xing came to his senses. "Ah, what friend? Oh, he's my friend. I met him after I returned to China. Uncle Song, you don't know him."
Uncle Song wasn't fooled by her nonsense. He asked directly, "Is it the lady who dined with you at the Tasteful Restaurant last time?"
Unexpectedly, Uncle Song was so direct. A little embarrassed, Mu Xing touched his hair and tried to continue bluffing: "Oh, you've met her before? I forgot. It's her. She lives... near Huai'an Road."
Would they really make you take a rickshaw and run around breathless near Huai'an Road? Uncle Song thought to himself, still giving his young lady some face, and didn't call him out directly.
He didn't know what novel idea his young lady and that prostitute were plotting, but he knew his young lady's temperament. She had always been a restless person who liked new and exciting things, and had caused more trouble than the two young masters since she was a child.
At first, when Miss only didn't allow Fu Guang and him to accompany her when she went out, he didn't intend to interfere, nor could he. But now, seeing that the situation was gradually getting out of hand, he really couldn't sit idly by any longer.
Whether the young lady was tricked or was genuinely just curious, or... followed in Madam Fuxue's footsteps, if she caused trouble, neither he nor Fuguang would escape unscathed.
Clearing his throat, Uncle Song said, "Young lady, I know you don't like listening to our rambling, but I still have to say a few words. There are some people and some things that we must never touch. You are still young, and it's normal for you to like new and exciting things, but there are certain boundaries. Once you cross them, it will be too late."
Just like Lady Snowback back then…
After saying that, Uncle Song sighed silently. Mu Xing, sitting in the back seat, suddenly said in a relaxed tone, "Hmm? Uncle Song, are you telling me not to touch tobacco, alcohol, or opium? I haven't, I wouldn't dare. With my dad's personality, if I did, it would be a disaster."
Uncle Song: "...No." Pretending to be stupid won't solve anything, Miss!
Just as he was thinking of being more direct, Mu Xing said, "I know, you don't need to overthink it, and neither does Fu Guang. Don't keep worrying that I'll be deceived or anything. I know what I'm doing. I'm just doing what I truly want to do."
After saying that, she immediately added, "Uncle Song, you're not allowed to tell my dad. You know that tattling used to get you ostracized at our school, right?"
Uncle Song said irritably, "Yes, yes, I can't argue with you."
He sighed deeply and couldn't help but think, "Third Miss, do you really know what you're doing?"
Mu Xing arrived at the clinic a full hour late, but no one there made a sound. It wasn't until she told Dr. Zhao that she would work overtime to make up for the lost time that Dr. Zhao was quite surprised and said, "Oh, so you're late today."
After arguing with Dr. Zhao for a while about whether or not she should work overtime, Mu Xing walked out of the consultation room feeling exhausted, leaving Dr. Zhao's scolding of the interns behind her.
"...So careless! Do you think this is your own hospital? That someone will cover for you no matter what happens..."
Although he was mentally prepared, Mu Xing still felt somewhat uncomfortable as this deliberate differential treatment accumulated.
However, she couldn't say anything. If she complained to anyone about how uncomfortable it was that she wasn't punished for being late, she would probably be seen as ungrateful.
After aimlessly wandering around the clinic, Mu Xing simply hid in his father's office.
"Sigh..." Sitting on the sofa, she looked around the office, which was almost filled with banners and gifts from patients' families, and finally had to admit that her second brother's choice was right.
They should pursue further education, hone their skills, and forge their own path, instead of cowering under the protection of their parents and being so "cared for."
...Tsk, thinking about it this way, it seems like I really don't appreciate what I have.
With a self-deprecating laugh, Mu Xing simply took out her notebook from her bag and began to study it seriously.
The notes contained her hard-won surgical experience and case studies. Since she couldn't learn new things, she decided to review the old ones.
She didn't leave the office until Mu Xing's self-imposed overtime hours. Ignoring Dr. Zhao's expression that said, "Why haven't you left yet?", Mu Xing greeted everyone and walked out of the clinic with an upright posture.
Night had fallen, and as soon as I stepped out the door, my once straight back immediately slumped.
"Oh my god, it's so sore..." Mu Xing rubbed his shoulders and back without caring about his image. Just as he was about to walk to the street corner to hail a rickshaw, a figure suddenly jumped out from a dark corner and said in a low voice, "Young Master Mu."
Startled by the sudden voice, Mu Xing straightened up instantly and asked loudly, "Who is it?"
A figure slowly appeared in a corner where the streetlights couldn't reach. Mu Xing looked closely and realized it was Bai Yan's personal maid.
Mu Xing's previously irritable and tired mind suddenly perked up, and he hurried over, but did not see Miss Bai.
Seeing her meaning, the maid slowly said, "Our young lady didn't come. There's a big banquet in the hall today, and she couldn't get away."
Nodding somewhat disappointed, Mu Xing asked, "Then what is it, Madam?"
The maid stretched out her hand, and Mu Xing then noticed that she was carrying a food box. She had brought the food box with her that morning, intending to take it back later when she had time.
The maid said, "These are pastries that Miss made herself this afternoon and asked me to deliver them to the young master. I delivered them before five o'clock, but the clinic doorman said the young master had already left and refused to give him the address of his residence. Miss also said that the young master would definitely not leave early, so I thought perhaps the doorman was deliberately delaying for his own selfish reasons, so I waited here. I didn't expect to actually wait for him, so Miss's good intentions have not been in vain."
Upon hearing this, Mu Xing was at a loss for words and could only thank her repeatedly. She had originally thought that this maid was like her mother's eyes and ears, and that she and Miss Bai might not be that close, but she never expected her to be so responsible.
The maid handed over the food box and said, "But after a few hours, the snacks might get cold. It's getting late, so please be careful not to eat them and you might not be able to digest them."
"It's all Miss Bai's kindness, I dare not let her down." Mu Xing took the food box, then quickly took out his wallet and gave the maid a few bills as a tip, "Thank you for your trouble."
After exchanging a few more casual words, the maid left on her own. Mu Xing hailed a rickshaw and got in before carefully opening the food box.
By the dim light, she could see that the food box contained a plate of four pastries, all of which were made in the same style as the bowls and plates her aunt had used at the last "Feast of Fresh Delicacies." Peaches, kites, frogs... Although they weren't exactly the same, they were the perfect pastries in Mu Xing's eyes.
Smiling, Mu Xing examined each pastry one by one. Just as she was about to close the box, she suddenly noticed a piece of paper under the plate.
Upon taking it out and opening it, I saw a line of elegant small regular script that read: "The morning porridge has already been eaten, so let's have some snacks together tonight."
Despite it being just a straightforward casual remark, Mu Xing read it over and over again, as if she could see through the paper how Miss Bai picked up her pen and wrote those words on that ink-stained tablecloth.
Having finally looked at it enough, Mu Xing carefully folded the paper along its original creases and then gently put it into the pocket on his chest.
When they returned to Mu Garden, it was already late. Everyone had already eaten, so Madam Mu instructed the kitchen to prepare a separate dinner for Mu Xing. Seeing that Mu Xing was carrying a food box, Madam Mu asked curiously, "What's this?"
Mu Xing opened it for Madam Mu to see, saying with a hint of pride, "My friend made this especially for me. Doesn't it look beautiful? It must taste great too..."
Madam Mu glanced at it and said, "It's quite good, but how come I didn't know you had a friend who could cook? Could it be Yi Ning? That's impossible."
"Uh... anyway, she's a friend. I met her after I returned to China. You haven't met her yet." Mu Xing changed the subject: "Hey Aunt Liu, does this need to be heated before eating?"
Madam Mu chimed in, "Look at you, your friend has such a skill, and you're always out having fun, not even bothering to learn from them. You're a grown woman about to get married..."
Unexpectedly, the topic shifted so completely. Mu Xing sighed, "Okay, okay..."
“Oh, right,” Madam Mu suddenly remembered something, “I forgot to tell you, I’ve arranged for the tailors from Caiyun Pavilion to come tomorrow to take your measurements and make your wedding dress. Although Mr. Green Water said that the recent wedding dates are not suitable, we still need to make the necessary preparations.”
Mu Yun happened to walk into the dining room. Upon hearing this, he exchanged a glance with Mu Xing, then frowned and said, "Auntie, I think the inappropriate wedding date is a minor issue; the real problem is that the people involved might not be suitable..."
"What are you saying, child? I just asked you to call Youcheng, did you call him?" Madam Mu asked.
Sitting down next to Mu Xing, Mu Yun sighed, "I called, and he said he'd come over tomorrow."
Mu Xing whispered, "It would have been better if we hadn't come..."
Madam Mu frowned: "What are you saying, whispering amongst yourselves? Ah Xuan, you don't need to go to the clinic tomorrow; the wedding dress is the most important thing. Caiyun Pavilion has made many clothes for our family before, and their taste is quite good..."
Swatting away her second brother's hand reaching for the pastries, Mu Xing casually agreed, "I know, I know, anyway, it's all the same no matter what it's made of... Wait, Mother, you just mentioned Caiyun Pavilion? Which chef did you hire?"
Madam Mu said, "Of course it's that female tailor. She's very skilled and has a good eye. Back then, Sister Ning's wedding dress was made by this female tailor. You said you were very envious at the time, have you forgotten?"
Mu Xing's mind wasn't on the wedding dress at all. The moment she heard which female tailor had been hired, Fu Guang's voice echoed in her mind: "Miss Pa married the female tailor… married the female tailor… married…"
Mu Xing slapped away her second brother's hand, which was clearly trying to take advantage of her, and felt her voice tremble slightly: "I know, I know. I also really want to see her... to see the clothes she makes."
What kind of woman would choose to marry a same-sex man and hold such a grand wedding banquet?
After giving her instructions, Madam Mu went back to the living room. Taking advantage of the fact that no one else was in the dining room, Mu Yun immediately whispered to Mu Xing, "Ah Xuan, didn't you say you wanted to call off the engagement? The wedding dress is already being made, what exactly did you and Song Youcheng discuss?"
Mu Xing frowned: "I don't know either. He said it would be ready by the end of last month, but we haven't been in touch since. I'll ask him again tomorrow. You read your book... and don't eat my snacks!"
With a feeling that was hard to describe as either curiosity or strangeness, Mu Xing sat restlessly in the living room early the next morning, sometimes drinking tea, sometimes flipping through books, and getting up and pacing around after only two minutes.
Li Yining, who had been calmly drinking tea after being invited over, suddenly sounded a little strange upon seeing her so excited: "Ah Xuan, do you really need to be so excited?"
Mu Xing's heart was in turmoil, and she didn't notice Li Yining's emotions. She casually said, "The wedding dress, of course I'm looking forward to it."
Li Yining snorted: "The engagement will be called off sooner or later, and we won't need it anymore, so why bother?"
Mu Xing was about to respond when he suddenly felt that Li Yining's words were a bit strange.
Even if she and Song Youcheng break off their engagement this time, she'll still need it from someone else in the future...maybe? Why did Li Yining say she wouldn't need it anymore?
As her thoughts were turning, just as she was about to ask Li Yining, someone suddenly walked into the living room—it was Song Youcheng.
However, unlike his usual high spirits, Song Youcheng had two dark circles under his eyes. Although he tried to cover them up, he couldn't hide his dejected appearance.
Although Mu Xing had made several excuses to go on dates with Song Youcheng, she hadn't actually seen him for almost a month. Unexpectedly, in just one month, he had lost a lot of weight and looked quite haggard.
Startled by his appearance, Mu Xing quickly welcomed him in and served him hot tea. Then she asked in a low voice, "What's wrong with you?"
Li Yining shrugged from the side, "Managing three parties, keeping secrets, lying, and coaxing your lover, you must be running out of energy."
"Yining!" Mu Xing frowned and glanced at Li Yining, then snorted coldly. Li Yining picked up her tea and drank it.