Chapter 116: Candor and Trust

Bai Chenxi frowned as she looked at her, "Mumu, tell me. What is really going on?"

She had felt for a long time that Chu Muyun’s behavior was strange, but she had assumed he was just trying to spare her from worry. Seeing Mi Mu’s expression, she was certain something had happened to Chu Muyun because of her, and how could she not be anxious?

Mi Mu feigned hesitation. "Chenxi, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but Brother Chu doesn’t want you to know."

Bai Chenxi tugged at Mi Mu’s hand. "Mumu, please, just tell me, will you?"

"This… alright then!"

"Brother Chu heard the news about your injury while he was filming. He left halfway through. People online started saying he was acting like a diva, and somehow, the rumor blew up and became extremely vicious."

Bai Chenxi asked anxiously, "Didn't he explain that he left to come see me?"

"No." Mi Mu shook her head, continuing to stir the pot. "I’m confused too! Even with Brother Chu being insulted like this, why doesn't he say anything? He’s not the type to fear losing fans."

Mi Mu watched Bai Chenxi’s expression and added, "Also, for some reason, people online are suddenly saying that you two are together, but Brother Chu is afraid of losing fans and won’t admit it. They’re all calling him spineless, and your respective fanbases have started brawling over this."

Mi Mu felt triumphant inside: *Your boyfriend would rather be insulted than admit you’re his. You probably aren't that important to him, are you?*

Seeing Bai Chenxi’s downcast face, Mi Mu continued, "Chenxi, don't overthink it. Brother Chu is so good to you; how could he hide it just because he’s afraid of losing fans? There must be another reason. You have to trust him!"

In her heart, Mi Mu was thinking: *Go and make a scene. Force him to go public. The more you fight, the happier I’ll be.*

Chu Muyun checked the time; it was almost time to remind Bai Chenxi to take her medicine. When he pushed the door open, he saw Bai Chenxi sitting there with her head down, looking listless.

Chu Muyun’s sharp gaze swept over Mi Mu. "What did you say to her?"

Mi Mu instinctively denied it. "I—I didn't say anything."

Chu Muyun’s look turned even colder. Mi Mu dared not play any more tricks. "I didn't mean to tell her, I..."

"Mumu!" Bai Chenxi interrupted her. "It’s okay, you go back first. I’ll talk to him."

Mi Mu forced herself to keep up the facade. "Alright then, Chenxi, I’ll head off. I’ll come see you another day."

The moment before the door closed, Mi Mu saw the man who had just been like a grim reaper toward her now looking at Bai Chenxi with eyes full of doting affection. Mi Mu closed the door, her eyes burning with resentment.

Chu Muyun looked at Bai Chenxi and snapped his fingers by her ear. "What are you thinking about? It’s time for your medicine."

Bai Chenxi watched as Chu Muyun prepared the medicine just as he always did, as if the previous scene had never happened. She couldn't help but ask, "Don't you want to know what Mumu told me?"

Chu Muyun placed the medicine in her hand. "Be good, take your medicine first."

Only after seeing her finish it did he speak. "When you want to tell me, you’ll tell me."

Bai Chenxi turned the water glass unconsciously. "Mumu just told me that you left halfway through the recording just to come see me."

The corners of Chu Muyun’s mouth stiffened for a moment. "So, you know."

"Why would you rather let them insult you than tell them you were coming to see me?"

Chu Muyun took the glass from her and set it on the table. "That was my choice. There was no need to drag you into it." If they knew he had left halfway to see her, someone would inevitably target her. "Besides, it’s not as simple as it looks on the surface. Explaining wouldn't have helped."

Bai Chenxi furrowed her brows. "Are you saying someone is intentionally smearing you? Which shameless bastard is it?"

Seeing her look so concerned, Chu Muyun felt a warmth in his heart. "Alright, stop being angry, it makes you look ugly. And no more foul language."

Bai Chenxi pouted, as if protesting: *I’m getting angry on your behalf, and you’re here setting rules.*

Watching her still fuming, Chu Muyun coaxed her softly, "Alright, it’s my fault. I’m the ungrateful one. You’re just caring about me, and who knows which bastard is smearing me."

Bai Chenxi burst into a laugh, then said awkwardly, "Who’s caring about you? I’m just standing up for justice."

"Fine, fine, as long as our heroine Bai is happy." Chu Muyun asked, "So, are you not angry or curious about why I kept it from you?"

Bai Chenxi waved her hand dismissively. "You wouldn't hurt me; you must have had a good reason." Though Chu Muyun kept a tight watch, she knew she had ways to find out if she really wanted to. She simply didn't look because she knew he was trying to protect her.

Zhang Kai suddenly poked his head through the door, covering his eyes. "I’m not trying to interrupt you two, I really have something to discuss with Muyun."

Chu Muyun signaled to Bai Chenxi and walked over. He opened the door without mercy, causing Zhang Kai to stumble, yet he stubbornly kept his hands over his eyes. Chu Muyun helplessly dragged the clowning Zhang Kai away. "That’s enough out of you. Let’s go."

After he dragged Zhang Kai out, Zhang Kai didn't forget to wave goodbye to Bai Chenxi. She had always wondered how Chu Muyun ended up with such a "lively" manager, and she was even more shocked after learning that this manager was a long-time friend of her own agent, Sister Wang.

Chu Muyun looked impatiently at the grinning Zhang Kai. "What is it?"

Zhang Kai patted his shoulder. "Brother, it’s time to get back to work."

Seeing Chu Muyun return, Bai Chenxi asked, "Did Brother Kai leave?"

"Yeah, he’s gone." She didn't know what Zhang Kai had said, but she could clearly sense Chu Muyun was in a bad mood. She didn't ask, just kept talking, telling him jokes she had heard from various places.

A long while later, Chu Muyun said calmly, "I have to go back to work."

Bai Chenxi asked with a smile, "When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow. If there’s anything you want to do, I can accompany you tomorrow. Once your manager arrives, you won't be able to do anything."

Bai Chenxi said excitedly, "I want to..."

"No." Chu Muyun refused firmly.

Bai Chenxi tugged at his clothes, acting spoiled. "Trust me, it’ll be fine."

***

[Short Extra]

Seeing Wang Ling and Zhang Kai arguing and walking out again, Bai Chenxi tugged on Chu Muyun’s sleeve, gossiping secretly. "Brother Chu, what do you think their relationship is? I’ve never seen Sister Wang blush before."

"Did she blush?" *How did I not notice?*

Bai Chenxi looked at him: *If I waited for you to notice, we’d all be clueless, wouldn't we?*

"Sister Wang said they were college classmates. They must have been so young and innocent back then. Do you think anything happened between them?"

Chu Muyun didn't seem pleased. "And what about your college days?"

"Hey! We’re talking about Brother Chu and Sister Wang, why are you bringing me into this?"

Chu Muyun said reluctantly, "If there were really something between them, they’d be avoiding each other like the plague by now."

"You can't say that. What if one of them had a crush on the other, or it was mutual? A crush under the guise of friendship." Just thinking about it felt wonderful; Bai Chenxi was almost lost in her imagination.

"Well, we’re friends. So, is it me having a crush on you, or you on me?"

Bai Chenxi: ...*Can we even have a pleasant conversation anymore?*

Later, Bai Chenxi learned a lesson in blood: never gossip with Chu Muyun.