Li Xinyue's footsteps echoed down the quiet hospital hallway as she exited the building. Outside, the sun was dipping low, casting a warm, golden glow across the city streets.
She took a deep breath, letting the crisp air fill her lungs as if to cleanse the remnants of the sterile hospital environment.
With a slight frown, she scanned the road for a taxi. But as her hand instinctively went to her pocket, realization struck her—she had no money.
A soft, sardonic chuckle escaped her lips. After all that had happened, this new life truly had its ironies.
Just then, her senses prickled, alerting her to a lingering gaze. Her instincts kicked in from her past life as a assassin, honed to recognize when someone was watching.
Turning her head sharply, her eyes locked onto a sleek black car parked on the opposite side of the road.
The car was luxurious—almost ostentatiously so. A rare model, customized to the nines, and with an unmistakably exclusive number plate: "M88888." Its striking presence hinted at its owner's status—someone not only powerful but dangerously influential.
In the driver's seat, Mu Zhenyu reclined, his sharp eyes focused on her with an intense scrutiny. His assistant, Huang Kei seated beside him, shifted uneasily before clearing his throat. "Sir, that's Miss Li Xinyue..., your fiancée."
The man's tone carried an unspoken disapproval but was said carefully, his voice barely above a whisper.
He knew his boss had little interest in the woman he'd been arranged to marry, yet here he was, openly watching ,he added, "Rumor has it she's a frivolous, unrefined girl with little to her name but greed."
A flicker of amusement crossed Mu Zhenyu's face. He'd heard countless tales about his so-called fiancée, none of which had particularly impressed him.
But the woman standing before him now, with a calm yet piercing gaze, seemed completely different.
Mu Zhenyu's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued by the lonely figure standing there. "Drive over," he commanded in a low tone, his gaze never leaving her
Huang Kei blinked, momentarily taken aback. Mu Zhenyu was known to be indifferent, especially toward women, and yet… here he was, breaking his own pattern. Clearing his throat,
Huang Kei nodded, steering the car toward her. He couldn't shake his surprise, glancing back at Mu Zhenyu, still trying to understand this shift in behavior.
Li Xinyue, on the other hand, felt a strange, prickling sensation—like someone was watching her.
Her instincts, honed from her past life as an assassin, kicked in, and she glanced sharply toward a sleek black car that had slowed down beside her.
A man in a crisp suit stepped out and approached her. "Miss Li, Mr. Mu would like to have a word with you."
Li Xinyue's gaze flickered with a mixture of surprise and intrigue. She hadn't expected to meet Mu Zhenyu, her so-called fiancé, on her first day back.
And if she wasn't mistaken, this was his infamous car. She knew she couldn't afford a ride, but this encounter seemed like a practical solution.
She'd repay him later — she was never one to be indebted.
"Very well," she said coolly, nodding as she walked towards the car. She was cautious but confident, calculating her next move even as she slipped inside.
If this Mu Zhenyu tried anything stupid, she was more than ready to return the favor. After all, her skills as an assassin weren't merely for show.
As she climbed into the car, her guard went up. She took a quick, assessing look at the man beside her. He was… striking, in a way that nearly stole her breath.
His jawline was sharp, his eyes cold and intense, and his skin pale with a hint of something sickly. Yet, there was a strange allure to him, a silent power that demanded respect.
His long legs were casually crossed, and he radiated an icy charm that was impossible to ignore.His crimson lips curved into a barely-there smirk.
Li Xinyue found herself studying him for a moment longer than she'd intended. 'Dangerously beautiful,' she thought. Such beauty could very well be someone's downfall if they weren't careful.
"Like what you see?" he asked smoothly, arching an eyebrow at her silent inspection.
Unfazed, Li Xinyue met his gaze head-on. "I'd be lying if I said you weren't handsome," she replied without hesitation, her tone casual but sincere.
Mu Zhenyu's eyes flickered with surprise.
His lips quirked, clearly intrigued.
There was something different about this woman.
He had expected a meek, submissive woman, not this confident beauty who spoke her mind.
Rumor truly hadn't done her justice. His interest was piqued, and that was a rare occurrence.
Huang Kei, sitting tensely in the front seat, watched their exchange with wide eyes. He had never seen Mu Zhenyu tolerate any woman's gaze, let alone show amusement. There was something different about this woman.
As they drove, she gave him her address, "First High Residences, Jinling District."
She felt a pang of irony, knowing her new family had set her up in a luxury apartment, likely as a means of keeping her at a distance.
Mu Zhenyu raised an eyebrow at the mention of the prestigious area, but he said nothing, instructing Zhao Wei to enter it into the GPS.
She noticed the faint smell of medicine lingering in the car, its earthy scent familiar to her. She stole a glance at Mu Zhenyu, recognizing it came from him. It was no secret he was ill, but now, up close, she could see the signs more clearly.
Her experience as a skilled doctor made her instinctively curious.
Without thinking, she spoke, "Those medications you're on… the combination will only suppress the symptoms, not treat the root cause. In fact, it might worsen things over time."
A sudden chill filled the car. Huang Kei tensed, feeling the silence grow thick.
It was common knowledge never to mention Mu Zhenyu's illness, especially to his face. He feared that his boss would snap or dismiss her instantly.
But instead of anger, Mu Zhenyu's response surprised him. "Is that so?" he murmured, his gaze locking onto hers.
There was an intensity in his eyes, as if she had presented him with an unexpected challenge Huang Kei couldn't believe it.
His boss was… listening to her? Engaging her in a real conversation? That alone was unheard of.
The drive continued in silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. In fact, Li Xinyue found herself occasionally glancing over at Mu Zhenyu.
There was something captivating about him, and she couldn't help but admire his striking features.
Her friends in her past life had once joked that her love for beautiful things would be her undoing. Maybe they had been right.
Mu Zhenyu noticed her gaze and smirked slightly. "It's rude to stare," he remarked, not breaking eye contact.
She shrugged, unbothered. "There's nothing wrong with appreciating beauty."
The air in the car seemed to drop a few degrees at her words, Huang Kei and the driver both feeling chills down their spines.
No one ever dared to call Mu Zhenyu "beautiful" to his face, and the idea that she had done so without a second thought was unnerving.
Huang's Kei mind raced, wondering how long this boldness would last.
Finally, they pulled up to the First High Residences, the grand entrance lit up against the night sky. As she prepared to leave, Mu Zhenyu handed her a sleek black business card, embossed with his personal number.
"In case you feel the need to share more of your… medical expertise," he said, his tone laced with a hint of irony.
Li Xinyue accepted the card, her fingers brushing against his in a fleeting moment. "Consider the advice as repayment for the ride," she said calmly, glancing at him with an unreadable look.
"The current combination of Ginkgo biloba and Cordyceps will only speed up your symptoms rather than alleviate them. Think it over."
For the first time, Mu Zhenyu's calm expression faltered. He looked at her with genuine curiosity, as if she was a puzzle he'd yet to solve. Huang's Kei eyes widened, certain now that this woman was unlike anyone he'd ever encountered.
As she exited the car and walked into the residential area, Mu Zhenyu watched her, an amused smile tugging at his lips. For the first time in years, he felt… intrigued. "We'll meet again," he murmured under his breath.
Inside the car, Huang Kei and the driver exchanged anxious looks. They knew one thing for certain — Miss Li Xinyue was nothing like the woman they had expected.