Chu Mu Han was silent.
After a moment, she sighed and said, "Chu Yu Xuan, don't be reckless in the future. Don't walk down a dark path."
The siblings stood facing each other, with the sunlight slanting down, perfectly splitting them in half. The policewoman stood in the sunlight, her badge gleaming brightly. Chu Yu Xuan stood in the shade, his gaze deep and dim.
"I'm leaving," Chu Yu Xuan said, turning his back on his sister and waving his hand. "Don't work too hard on your missions. Your safety is more important."
Chu Mu Han watched his retreating figure, momentarily lost in thought, as if she were seeing the quiet, polite boy who used to call her "Mu Han Jie" with a smile every time they met. Time had indeed flown by so quickly.
As the GTR sped away, Chu Mu Han hesitated for a moment before dialing Chu Zhi Qing.
"Mu Han," Chu Zhi Qing sounded pleasantly surprised.
Chu Mu Han replied coolly, "Is your leg hurting again?"
"It's an old problem. It's fine, haha… Are you busy right now? Do you have enough money? If not, I can..." Chu Mu Han interrupted, "Did the medicine I bought for you last year help?"
"It helped, it helped. There's still a lot left. Daughter, you…"
"Okay… I'll hang up now."
On his way to the company, Chu Yu Xuan called Old Five. "Help me with something. Go to the City Third Hospital and check on Xia Zhu's mother. Make sure to cover the medical expenses."
Just after hanging up, Zhao Ya Nan called, which was rare.
Chu Yu Xuan raised an eyebrow, thinking it must be about some issue at the company. He answered with a wry smile. "Miss me?"
On the other end, there was a fit of coughing before Zhao Ya Nan's hoarse voice came through. "Where are you?"
Chu Yu Xuan frowned. "Are you coming down with something?"
"Yes, cough cough… Can you… help me with something?"
"Are you at home or the office?"
"It's Friday. Could you… cough cough… go to the 'I'm a Bystander' program for me?"
"Any other symptoms? Headache? Runny nose? Dizziness? Nausea?"
Zhao Ya Nan: …
It felt like talking to a brick wall.
Half an hour later.
At Zhao Ya Nan's home, her close friend Zhou Xiao Ruo and "semi-friend" Liu Kai stood by the bedside, looking at the sleeping Zhao Ya Nan. Zhou Xiao Ruo grumbled, "D*mn it, I should have listened to you last night. Why did you insist on going out in this freezing weather?"
"Oh? It's my fault now?" Liu Kai, who had just washed his hair and was drying it with a towel, retorted. "Who insisted on trying out my new convertible last night? Hmph…"
Zhao Ya Nan, half-conscious, murmured, "You two can just go away… cough cough… Let me have some peace."
As she finished speaking, the doorbell rang. Zhou Xiao Ruo pushed Liu Kai, saying, "Go, the breakfast I ordered is here… Nan Nan, I got you some porridge. Drink it later."
Liu Kai glared at her, wiped his wet hair, and shuffled to open the door.
"Click…"
The door opened, and because Liu Kai was still drying his hair, his view was low. He saw only a pair of hands carrying a large bag of items and thought, "What kind of breakfast did I order? Why so much?"
When he reached to take the items and his gaze lifted, he was met with a pair of cold, piercing peach blossom eyes.
As soon as he recognized the person, Liu Kai's "thank you" was cut short, and he froze on the spot. They locked eyes for three to four seconds. The second-generation wealthy's eyes seemed murderous, and Liu Kai was filled with uncontrollable fear. Unconsciously, he stepped back and slammed the door shut.
"Crazy! Don't you know how to close the door gently?" Zhou Xiao Ruo's head poked out from the bedroom, complaining, but when she saw Liu Kai's panicked expression and the lack of breakfast, she asked suspiciously, "What's wrong? Did you see a ghost?"
Liu Kai dashed into the bedroom, trembling. "It's over, it's over… I really saw a ghost! Chu Chu Chu… Chu Yu Xuan was at the door! He must have misunderstood me! Nan Nan, help! His look, I feel like I'm doomed!"
Zhou Xiao Ruo immediately panicked. She had just received twenty thousand from that scoundrel and had been talking nonsense in front of him. If he found out about her connection with Zhao Ya Nan, considering his tendency to attack reporters in the street, she might get slapped!
"I'll hide for now! Liu Kai, good luck!"
Seeing her two friends in such a frenzy, Zhao Ya Nan felt a throbbing headache, propped herself up against the headboard, and said, "What's there to be afraid of? My relationship with him… cough cough… is fake. Liu Kai, go open the door. Even if it were true, he wouldn't misunderstand you. Cough cough… Besides, he knows about my illness."
Liu Kai patted his chest, muttered "Amitabha" a few times, and cautiously went to open the door. Zhou Xiao Ruo quickly hid in the guest bedroom. When the door was opened again, Liu Kai stepped back nervously, forcing a smile, and said, "Mr. Chu, I'm Zhao Ya Nan's old friend, Liu Kai!"
Chu Yu Xuan's eyes remained icy. He knew Zhao Ya Nan couldn't interact with men because of her psychological issues. What annoyed him was why there was a man in her home.
Hearing that Liu Kai was an old friend, his expression softened slightly. He nodded and stepped inside.
"Nan Nan," Chu Yu Xuan placed a bunch of medicine on the bedside table and asked Zhao Ya Nan, who was leaning against the bed, "What are your symptoms? I bought a lot of medicine, and it should cover everything."
Zhao Ya Nan was speechless. "I've already taken medicine. Cough cough… Didn't I say not to come? Aren't you busy today?"
Chu Yu Xuan shook his head, smiling at the corner of his eyes. "No matter what happens, you're more important."
Zhao Ya Nan rolled her eyes, paused, and said, "I contacted Director Song. I was going to send someone else from the company, but the program team said it's better if you come."
Chu Yu Xuan raised an eyebrow. "I'm very available lately, with strong signal and everything. Everyone wants to hop on the bandwagon."
As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of laughter came from the guest bedroom.
In the living room, Liu Kai was relishing the situation. Zhao Ya Nan, feeling speechless about her friend's low and endless sense of humor, looked at Chu Yu Xuan, who was smiling faintly, seemingly not surprised—he had noticed the cartoon-patterned clothes on the hanger when he entered. Zhao Ya Nan had never liked that style.
A moment later, Zhou Xiao Ruo, with her head down, walked to Zhao Ya Nan's bedroom door, and without saying a word, performed a deep bow, saying, "Mr. Chu, I was wrong. I deceived you last time! About the twenty thousand, can I… pay in installments?"
Chu Yu Xuan pretended to be ignorant. "Oh? Aren't you the psychologist?"
Zhou Xiao Ruo blinked and glanced at Zhao Ya Nan for help.
Zhao Ya Nan smiled slightly. "She's my friend, Zhou Xiao Ruo."
"Nice to meet you," Chu Yu Xuan nodded and grinned. "What a coincidence! Haha… Your treatment was good. How about giving me a refund? And I'll introduce a few friends to you. They have some psychological issues too. You can check them out."
Zhou Xiao Ruo was stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Really?"
"A gentleman's word is his bond… At least I can introduce three people to you, and the treatment fee should be the same, not a cent less." Zhou Xiao Ruo's eyes widened in surprise, and she clasped her hands together. "Brother-in-law! Please accept a bow from your sister-in-law!"
Zhao Ya Nan: …
After some light-heartedness, Chu Yu Xuan turned to Zhao Ya Nan and got back to the point. "So I'll contact Director Song this afternoon?"
Zhao Ya Nan's eyes brightened. "Does that mean you agree?"
Chu Yu Xuan extended his hand. "Let's reach a consensus and shake hands."