Unexpected Turns and Lingering Tensions

Everyone perceives emotions differently.

Mu Yaochen, for instance, gravitated towards a passive form of affection.

“Forgive me, I just…” Mu Yaochen distanced herself from Luo Yao, her gaze simultaneously falling upon the hand that had briefly brushed against him.

That peculiar, slick sensation was not something everyone had the privilege to experience.

“Dinner… dinner should be arriving soon. I’ll go fetch it.” Earlier that afternoon, Mu Yaochen had already arranged for a section of her home kitchen to be set up within the hospital’s own facilities.

Strictly speaking, the hospital operated as a private institution.

This afforded Mu Yaochen complete control over its layout and operations.

Her decision to integrate her private kitchen into the hospital was primarily to ensure Luo Yao’s meals were convenient and fresh, as delivering food from home would significantly compromise its taste and texture.

“Mm.” Luo Yao nodded curtly, watching as Mu Yaochen rose and exited the ward.

Dinner proceeded without incident; Mu Yaochen experienced no further episodes.

As for the evening…

Good boys, after all, were meant to sleep early. In some people’s eyes, Luo Yao might forever remain that ‘good boy.’

“Luo Yao, would you mind going to bed early?” Mu Yaochen settled beside him. Having consumed a little food, her complexion had markedly improved.

“Alright.” Confined to the hospital, Luo Yao found himself at a loss for what to do. He had grown weary of the videos on his phone, and the current mobile games offered little in the way of entertainment.

“In that case, I…” Mu Yaochen’s voice held a hint of nervousness. The VIP private suite was quite spacious, and within the ample remaining area, there was certainly enough room for a folding bed.

She…

If Luo Yao agreed, it would mark the first time the two of them had ever shared a room.

“What is it?” Luo Yao lifted his head, inquiring of Mu Yaochen.

“Would you like me to stay with you tonight?” Mu Yaochen blinked, as if to reassure Luo Yao that her intentions were entirely benign. Having left such a negative impression on him, she yearned to make amends, to offer him a profound sense of security.

“Well…” Luo Yao hesitated, his inner thoughts a clear refusal.

“You don’t wish for it? That’s perfectly alright; I can leave.” Observing Luo Yao’s evident reluctance, Mu Yaochen understood his feelings. She no longer desired to compel him into anything against his will.

However, Mu Yaochen still held firm to her own boundaries.

As for how the night would unfold, Mu Yaochen had no intention of leaving the hospital. Should any mishap befall Luo Yao, she absolutely had to be present.

Moreover, only with Luo Yao near her could she truly find peace of mind.

“I’ll be in the room next door tonight; you can come find me if anything arises.” Mu Yaochen’s face was alight with gentle concern, yet every overture of goodwill she made was consistently met with Luo Yao’s icy, impassive expression.

It was as though all her endeavors were utterly wasted.

Still, it didn’t matter.

Nothing mattered anymore.

Luo Yao watched Mu Yaochen leave, a sense of bewilderment washing over him as he realized the situation had far surpassed his initial expectations.

He had never anticipated such a profound transformation in Mu Yaochen.

As Luo Yao watched Mu Yaochen depart, she casually switched off the lights in the room.

‘Wait, wait, is she really going to sleep now? It’s only nine o’clock; isn’t that a bit too early?’

‘Despite her significant changes, she still maintains her boundaries.’

‘That boundary, I suppose, must be that I cannot utterly betray her.’

‘After all, women tend to be fiercely possessive and highly sensitive to how others perceive them.’

‘Yet, Luo Yao desperately wished to escape Mu Yaochen’s presence. Nothing good ever seemed to come from being near her, after all.’

‘Furthermore, Luo Yao suspected Mu Yaochen might not truly understand what ‘liking’ even meant. She seemed to be merely awaiting his declaration of affection, but upon reflection, how could such a thing be possible?’

‘Did she genuinely believe he could simply forget everything she had done to him?’

‘It appeared that after being single for so long, some people couldn’t even articulate what ‘liking’ truly felt like.’

Luo Yao extended his arm into the darkness, his slender, pale limb still remarkably visible.

****

Luo Yao’s new routine allowed him to sleep until he woke naturally, usually around eight o’clock. Each morning, upon awakening, he would invariably find Mu Yaochen’s dark eyes fixed upon him.

“Morning, Mas—” Though he had just stirred from sleep, the sight of Mu Yaochen instantly jolted Luo Yao into a state of alertness.

“I’ve told you before, just call me Yaochen.” Mu Yaochen today appeared to be in excellent spirits, the dark circles beneath her eyes significantly faded.

“Be a good boy today, alright? Breakfast will be brought in shortly.” Mu Yaochen’s gaze was exceptionally tender; she cherished these moments of solitude with Luo Yao.

“Mm.” Internally, he resisted the idea of altering how he addressed her.

‘The master-servant dynamic had not yet concluded; these were all part of Mu Yaochen’s ‘dark history.’ Only by preserving these elements could he continue to provoke her.’

“Alright, Frost will be arriving soon. You can tell her anything you wish for or want to eat.” Mu Yaochen had been exceptionally busy lately, juggling both company and family affairs. Yet, owing to Luo Yao, she found herself compelled to carve out time to be with him.

Company documents still required her attention, and the lingering factions within the family needed to be thoroughly purged.

Frost alone couldn’t possibly handle such a multitude of tasks.

Perhaps, Mu Yaochen placed too much trust in Frost.

At present, Frost’s primary focus was entirely on the renovation of that small shop; last night, the decorating company had even pulled an all-nighter.

‘As long as she could witness his smile, everything would be worth it.’

At that very moment, Frost was en route to the hospital.

For Frost, five hours of sleep a day was usually more than sufficient.

However, due to the renovations yesterday, her rest had been severely curtailed. She had barely settled into bed before Mu Yaochen summoned her. Yet, upon hearing that it concerned Luo Yao, her previously weary body surged with renewed vigor, and dopamine began to course rapidly through her brain.

‘Joy.’

The mere thought of Luo Yao filled Frost with an inexplicable happiness.

“The usual, watch over him carefully. Do your best to fulfill any of his wishes, and if he expresses a desire to go out, inform me beforehand.” Upon arriving at the hospital, Mu Yaochen addressed Frost with an exceptionally stern demeanor.

For some unknown reason, seeing Frost’s face suddenly brought to mind Luo Yao’s attempt to reply to her message the previous night.

‘Why am I feeling angry at Frost? Why?’

The sight of Frost made Mu Yaochen feel entirely ill at ease.

“Understood, Miss.” Frost nodded, and though a flicker of nervousness stirred within her, she meticulously kept it hidden.

She still feared that the events of yesterday would come to light, but it appeared Mu Yaochen had paid no mind to what had transpired that afternoon.

“If there’s nothing else, go on in. Remember, maintain your distance.” Despite feeling a profound sense of awkwardness, Mu Yaochen couldn’t pinpoint its source. With a distinct air of displeasure, she uttered the words to Frost before turning and departing.

Her workload for the day was extensive. Although Frost had managed to largely handle the company affairs yesterday, the lingering remnants within the family presented a formidable challenge to eradicate.

These degenerates, in Mu Yaochen’s estimation, were masters at wielding their supposed familial ties as a shield.