"…………"
"Why are Zhan Cheng and the others here too?"
While reversing the car into the parking space, Chu Mu grinned slightly and said, "Why are you asking so many questions today?"
“The three of them happened to be picking me up at the airport. They came straight over after hearing that you had an accident.”
The car stopped precisely in the garage of the Lakeside Villa. Chu Mu stepped forward, removed Shu Yi'an's seatbelt, and helped her out of the car. Once inside, the familiar furnishings and decor gave Shu Yi'an a sense of security.
Chu Mu glanced at the suitcase placed by the door, then led Miss Shu upstairs with an unreadable expression. "Take a shower and then go to sleep. Don't think about anything."
The bathroom was filled with a misty haze from the hot water. Through the steam, Miss Shu stared at Chu Mu, who was standing beside the bathtub, her big eyes wide with apprehension. "Get out."
Chu Mu raised an eyebrow and asked, "Can you manage alone?"
"Get out... It's not appropriate for two people to be together."
Chu Mu innocently took the clean pajamas from the side and handed them to her, then silently walked out of the bathroom. She didn't know why, even though they had been completely honest with each other so many times and had done the most intimate things, Shu Yi'an was still not used to revealing herself to Chu Mu.
One was carefully soaking in the hot water in the bathroom, while the other was smoking absentmindedly on the second-floor balcony. She had been home for two days, but hadn't even touched her luggage; it was just left at the door. Clearly, Shu Yi'an didn't want to live here. Perhaps, if this whole thing hadn't happened, she really would have moved out. Now, Chu Mu's mind was in complete turmoil. He had to deal with Chu Weiyuan's situation in the US, he had to keep Shu Yi'an's accident a secret from his family after his transfer back to work—they had agreed that Sui Qing couldn't know when he returned at the beginning of the month, his department needed him to prepare a transfer report and statement, and then there were the unspoken conflicts and estrangement with Shu Yi'an…
A buzzing vibration came through, and Jiang Beichen's call of concern arrived just in time. "How is Shu's condition? If she's in the hospital, I'll have Chu Han go and keep an eye on her. You should come back and change your clothes first."
"No need, it's nothing serious. I've brought her back. It's just some minor scratches."
Hearing the footsteps, Jiang Beichen seemed to have moved to a different place, his voice becoming softer and more serious. "You need to be more careful. What happened with Chu Han last time left a shadow on her. Sometimes she still has nightmares at night. Don't cause any problems for Shu-mei."
Chu Han's encounter late at night was handled by Chu Mu, so how could he not know the impact such a thing would have on a girl?
Chu Mu gripped the phone and hummed in agreement. "Zhan Cheng went back?"
"She went back to wait for the beating, so it shouldn't be a big deal. By the way, I told Jiang Yitong about it. If you have time these next few days, take Yi'an to see her. She's been staying up in the mountains lately."
"Okay, I understand."
As soon as Shu Yi'an came out, she was choked by the strong smell of smoke in the room and coughed a few times. Chu Mu turned around, glanced at the person wearing a thick bathrobe, pinched his eye, and hung up the phone.
It was six o'clock in the evening, and the sky was beginning to darken slightly.
Chu Mu lifted a corner of the blanket to signal her to sleep. Shu Yi'an had taken a sedative and soaked in hot water. Her tense nerves relaxed and she was so sleepy that she simply obediently crawled in, closed her eyes, and tried to hypnotize herself.
Chu Mu picked up a towel from the side and casually sat on the bedside table, idly drying Shu Yi'an's half-dry hair, trying to coax her to sleep.
The atmosphere suddenly became quiet and still.
The author has something to say: Sigh, I don't quite understand how a perfectly good story became the target of so many girls' criticism. My writing ability is also limited, and it's impossible for everyone to like what they read.
But I think the novel is ultimately about romance, not background. Those girls who are so fixated on the male protagonist's expensive watch, suit, and job... you really don't need to be so hung up on it, much less elevate it to the level of a government official... the universe is truly frightened...
If you think Chu Mu's job is unreliable or that I've exaggerated it, just automatically put him in the role of a cool, handsome, arrogant, and awesome CEO. You can think of him as an international home appliance sales director or the CEO of a shampoo company, anything goes. Please don't dig up any more details.
As a genuine, fiery girl from Northeast China, I've tried my best to be humble and polite to every girl who reads this story carefully. I've also replied to your comments with my heart, and I accept and thank you for your suggestions. If you really dislike this story, please don't argue with me. Just close it if you don't like it—please don't resort to personal attacks! I'm really sensitive; I've cried myself to sleep in the bathroom so many times!
It was difficult to publish this article about marriage; I encountered many obstacles, and only after experiencing them did I realize how much I cherish it.
But I have to be responsible to the people who like her, so even if you hate me, I have to finish writing it.
Okay, so this is what the fragile-hearted universe says.
Chapter 27
Shu Yi'an felt very tired, and even when she was asleep, her brows were still tightly furrowed.
The scene from a few days ago keeps replaying in my dreams: the rainy night in Berlin; that long, elegant waltz; the sparkling crystal shoes on my feet; and... the oppressive fear of having my hands forcibly tied by a strange man...
Finally, Shu Yi'an felt a strong sense of weightlessness, as if she had been pushed off the bed. She screamed and suddenly opened her eyes, sitting up in bed.
She looked incredibly... disheveled. Her pale lips parted slightly, gasping for air, and her forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat. Even her eyes, which were once more captivating than autumn water, had lost their usual clarity.
Chu Mu sat quietly in the dark, listening to Shu Yi'an's increasingly rapid breathing, his eyes filled with a deep stillness. He quickly reached out and snapped on all the lights in the room.
The sudden light made Shu Yi'an a little uncomfortable. She raised her hand to half-cover her eyes with the wide sleeve of her bathrobe, and when she looked up again, she saw Chu Mu standing in front of her, dressed cleanly and plainly.
Subconsciously licking her dry lips, Shu Yi'an glanced awkwardly at the wall clock. "It's so late...aren't you asleep yet?"
With an undisguised mockery in his eyes, Chu Mu walked to the bedside and gestured for Miss Shu to look at the pillow she had kicked off and the blanket tightly wrapped around her.
Shu Yi'an bent down somewhat ashamed, picked up the pillow from the floor, and silently placed it next to herself. Then, she slowly unwrapped half of the blanket that was wrapped around her. "Alright..."
Seeing Miss Shu's appearance, Chu Mu sighed softly and gently lifted her from behind. Through the quiet night, Chu Mu's voice was as deep and resonant as a cello. "Had a nightmare?"
Shu Yi'an avoided eye contact. "No, maybe I'm just too hot."
Chu Mu raised his hand and touched her soft earlobe, then suddenly asked another question. "Are you scared?"
Shu Yi'an's head rested right on the collar of his dark blue sweater, leaning against him with her eyes downcast, seemingly reluctant to answer the question. She had already let him see her in such a disheveled state; how could she let him see her weakness again?
Seeing Shu Yi'an's downcast and silent expression, Chu Mu smiled indifferently. "All of a person's fears stem from mental illusions created in the brain. Yi'an, what are you really afraid of?"
This one sentence caused Shu Yi'an's previously calm eyes to tremble instantly.
Chu Mu sensed Shu Yi'an's reaction, and his heart sank. As he had expected, his wife was intelligent enough, but also... disappointing enough...
Chu Mu loosened his grip on Shu Yi'an's arm and walked straight to the window. His tall, slender figure, with his back to her, suddenly became indifferent.
"I seem to have really done a lot of things that have disheartened you, otherwise why would you still not choose to believe me?"
Upon hearing this, Shu Yi'an looked up in surprise, then hurriedly threw back the covers and went behind Chu Mu to explain, "No... I just didn't want you to see me so... so vulnerable..."