Something Very Interesting
Ran Siya sat nervously at Old Master Mu’s side, not daring to lift her head. Her hands twisted together in her lap, her entire posture radiating unease. The guilt she wore was written plainly across her demeanor, leaving little doubt as to what had transpired. Yet even now, she refused to utter a single word, as if by her silence she could pretend nothing had happened at all.
This stubborn refusal to admit fault, despite clearly knowing she’d done wrong, made it all too clear to Mu Qingcheng what kind of person she was dealing with. He could instantly tell this was a well-rehearsed tactic, one that had likely served her well on many occasions. Even Butler Chen, standing quietly to the side, shook his head almost imperceptibly, his face resigned and helpless.
On the other side, Si Qingchen lowered his gaze, his eyes briefly flicking past Butler Chen. Then he leaned closer to Mu Qingcheng, his eyes falling to her injured palm as he spoke in a deep, quiet voice, “Does it still hurt?”
His voice was rich and steady, devoid of any sharp emotion, yet the concern in his words was unmistakable—open and sincere. To Mu Qingcheng, it felt as if the warmth of his breath poured directly into her ear as he spoke. In no time, she felt the tips of her ears grow hot, and she shifted uncomfortably, moving away a little before replying in a soft voice, “It’s nothing, really, it doesn’t—ow—”
Before she could finish, Si Qingchen suddenly reached out and pressed a finger swiftly against the wound on her palm.
She drew in a sharp breath in pain, then shot him a fierce glare. “You—”
“And you say it doesn’t hurt.”
“If you didn’t touch it, it really wouldn’t hurt that much!”
“Palms are delicate. How could you not touch them in daily life?”
“I can—”
“You’re injured. Don’t be stubborn. Be good.”
“…”
The two of them went back and forth—one prickly and defensive, the other calm and composed. It couldn’t exactly be called flirting, but sparks flew between them nonetheless, a silent understanding threading their exchange.
Yet Mu Qingcheng’s pained cry tugged at Old Master Mu’s heart. Whatever hesitation he’d harbored a moment ago vanished in an instant. He cleared his throat and said, “Qingcheng, Si Shao is right. Your hand is hurt, after all. You must be careful.”
“…I understand, Grandfather.” Mu Qingcheng immediately sensed something and obediently nodded, sitting up straight and no longer paying any attention to the man beside her.
Old Master Mu continued, “Siya, tell me—what exactly happened today?”
Seeing Si Qingchen’s stance so clear, the old master realized that without a proper explanation, the young man would not leave. The thought was almost amusing: the eldest son of the Si family had come to the Mu household to seek justice for the Mu family’s eldest daughter, even bringing a doctor along to treat her.
If word of this got out… who would ever believe it?
Under persistent questioning, Ran Siya, flustered and confused, finally lifted her head. She glanced first at Mu Qingcheng, then at her own “grandfather.” The very next second, she burst into tears, sobbing piteously, her tears streaking down her face in a scene of delicate misery.
Old Master Mu’s brow furrowed at once, and he halted his questioning.
But in that moment, Mu Qingcheng, seated behind, clearly saw Si Qingchen exchange a look with his subordinate.
What is he up to now? she wondered, completely at a loss.
Before she could figure it out, Si Qingchen spoke again. “It seems Miss Ran is too nervous. But it doesn’t matter. Before I came, I already had someone look into what happened today, including having staff check the pony.”
He paused, glanced at Mu Qingcheng with a faint smile, and his voice dropped several degrees, suddenly turning cold. “And on that pony, I found something… very interesting.”
Ran Siya froze.