068 The Same Miserable Mood

After Mu Qingcheng left, Si Qingchen went to change his clothes. Yet his mood was utterly foul, his face so dark it was almost frightening. The butler and the servants moved with the utmost caution, scarcely daring to make a sound. After all, Miss Mu was their young master's "first love"...

Not long after, while Si Qingchen was working in his study, he received a call from Si Nan.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Boss, that guy... seems to have sent out a distress signal. What should we do? Do we need to relocate?"

The man behind the desk immediately furrowed his brows, his mind racing with all kinds of conjectures. He instinctively felt that perhaps this time would be the moment when everything could be confirmed.

After a moment without a reply, Si Nan grew anxious and pressed again, "Boss, this is headquarters after all. If something happens—"

"No need to worry. Wait for me. I’ll come right now."

With that, Si Qingchen hung up and strode out of the room. Shortly after, a black mini helicopter lifted rapidly from the Si family’s landing pad...

Meanwhile,

Mu Qingcheng returned to the Mu residence around six in the evening. The sunset had nearly disappeared, leaving only a faint trace of warmth, and the air was growing chill as night began to fall.

As she got out of the car, she shivered, lost in thought. Si Bei stood by the door, concern in his eyes as he looked at the girl’s frail figure. He hesitated, then finally spoke up, "Miss Mu..."

"Si Bei," Mu Qingcheng interrupted before he could finish.

Her voice was as cool and distant as the first time they’d met, holding others at arm’s length, allowing no one to come close.

Si Bei’s heart sank; he couldn’t help but worry for his young master.

Mu Qingcheng continued, "Thank you for bringing me back. Goodbye."

"...Good night, Miss Mu," Si Bei replied respectfully, bowing as he watched her walk through the gate.

He had a stomach full of words left unsaid, and after some thought, decided it was time to have a serious talk with his foolish younger brother. In the Si family, stiff and old-fashioned as it was, when it came to love, no one could quite compare to the oddity that was Si Nan.

****

At the Mu residence,

When Mu Qingcheng entered, she found Qin Beichu was still there, sitting in the living room drinking tea with Old Master Mu. The two of them chatted and laughed, appearing very familiar with one another.

But Mu Qingcheng had no mind to care about any of this. She paused at the entrance to the living room, looked at her grandfather, and said softly, "Grandfather, I’m a bit tired. May I go upstairs and rest without having dinner?"

She was indeed wrapped in exhaustion, her fatigue plain even behind the black-rimmed glasses she wore. She looked as wilted as a frost-bitten eggplant, utterly depleted of energy.

The old man’s heart ached at the sight of his granddaughter. He quickly softened his voice and said, "Of course, go and rest. If you’re hungry later, come down—I’ll have Lao Ji make you something."

"Thank you, Grandpa," Mu Qingcheng nodded and went upstairs without another word.

Throughout this, Qin Beichu’s eyes never left her. Unfortunately, she didn’t even spare him a glance, leaving him heartsick and dejected.

No sooner had Mu Qingcheng left than Qin Beichu couldn’t help himself. He turned to Old Master Mu and asked, "Grandfather Mu, may I go see Qingcheng?"

"Go on," the old man replied.

With permission, Qin Beichu stood up at once and hurried eagerly toward the stairs, eager to follow her.