095 I Could Not Bear to See You Wronged

She gave no reaction to the reporters’ questions. At most, she only frowned in mild puzzlement, her face filled with confusion.

Before she could say anything, someone’s hand suddenly came to rest lightly on her shoulder.

Then a tall, upright figure appeared at her side.

His presence was formidable. Even though he kept it deliberately restrained, a group of reporters still fell silent at once.

One of them brightened and cried out in surprise, “Young Master Si... why are you here?”

Young Master Si...

Si Qingchen?

The eldest son of the Si family... Si Qingchen?

At last, the reporters who had realized it belatedly all stepped back in unison, their cameras and recorders frozen awkwardly in their hands.

In the end, every one of them stood there, too embarrassed to make a sound.

Si Qingchen said nothing. His gaze slowly swept across all of them, and he spoke each word with force and finality.

“Miss Mu is still ill and will not answer any questions today.

If any reporters still have something to ask, please take it up with the Si family.

Or... you may come directly to me. Farewell.”

With that, he placed an arm around Mu Qingcheng’s shoulder and walked her down the steps.

Naturally, no one dared stop him.

At this point, even Si Nan and Si Bei had not lifted a finger. Everyone continued to retreat, politely and instinctively clearing a path.

Though the reporters were already in an uproar inside, they could only clamp their mouths shut tight, not daring to utter a single sound.

The man before them belonged to the Si family of South City, a family that held up half of Imperial City.

But the Si family was not merely... a Si family.

What the power behind it truly represented... no one dared say lightly.

And, of course, no one dared touch it.

Soon after, Si Qingchen smoothly escorted Mu Qingcheng into the nanny van that had been waiting at the parking area.

As the vehicle drove out, Mu Qingcheng unexpectedly caught sight, in a corner, of her third brother wearing an expression full of guilt and shame...

Mu Jingchi.

That fleeting brush-past made her eyes widen. Dumbfounded, she watched Mu Jingchi’s gaze follow the car as it moved away, until it finally... vanished completely.

...

Inside the car

Mu Qingcheng had not expected Si Qingchen to appear beside her so directly.

At first, she had only thought he would protect her quietly from behind, never expecting him to be so straightforward...

So straightforward that it startled her.

And in that surprise, she had forgotten to refuse.

Now, regaining her senses, Mu Qingcheng still could not help saying, “You shouldn’t have just walked out like that.”

“Drink some water first.”

Si Qingchen twisted open a bottle of mineral water and handed it to her.

After that bit of commotion, Mu Qingcheng did indeed feel somewhat drained.

She took the bottle and drank from it, while glancing across at the man with a trace of concern.

Yet he only smiled at her and asked, “Then when should I have come out?”

“You should have...”

Mu Qingcheng held the bottle in her hand, but she had only said half a sentence before Si Qingchen took her free hand, lifted it to his lips, and kissed it.

He knew what she was worrying about, but she did not know that, to him, all those external things were nothing compared with the slightest smile or frown from the person before him.

Warmth filled his eyes and brows. He tilted his head slightly as he looked at her, setting aside all his distance and noble reserve, and coaxed her patiently in a low voice.

“Qingcheng, even knowing you could handle it yourself, I still couldn’t bear it.”

“...”

After those words, Si Qingchen’s expression suddenly turned serious. He fixed his gaze tightly on Mu Qingcheng’s eyes and said, one word at a time,

“Mu Qingcheng, I cannot bear to see you wronged. Not even a little. Do you understand?”

Mu Qingcheng, “...”