Chapter Ninety-Four: You Still Have Me

Chu Muyun answered evasively, “It’s nothing.”

Jiang Jize could tell at once: Chu Muyun was the kind of man who crossed the river and kicked down the bridge afterward, who ground the mill and then killed the donkey—well, in short, utterly ungrateful.

He had only just been asking for advice in such a sweet, innocent way, and now that he knew the reason, he turned right around and ignored people. I’ve truly been hurt too many times.

Since that was how it was, he would not blame himself for giving terrible advice.

“Brother Chu, listen to me. When your wife refuses to hear your explanation later, just hold her and let her vent. At worst, she’ll give you a beating, and that’ll be the end of it.”

After hanging up, Chu Muyun thought to himself: Only a fool would listen to you.

Bai Chenxi asked a waiter to bring the food up. The waiter was also startled when she saw Chu Muyun inside.

Still, as a highly qualified waiter, she kept her composure. After delivering the meal, she left at once.

Neither Bai Chenxi nor Chu Muyun spoke. Only the soup in the middle steamed softly.

Bai Chenxi stared at Chu Muyun. “Why aren’t you eating?”

I worked so hard on this meal. Did I set it here just so you could let it go cold?

Meeting her gaze, Chu Muyun had a strong feeling that if he said he wasn’t eating, the next second someone might actually eat him instead.

Very sensibly, he picked up his chopsticks. “I’m eating.”

Only then did Bai Chenxi withdraw her intimidating look.

“Take your time. I’m leaving.”

Now, every time Bai Chenxi saw Chu Muyun, she would think of Meng Ling. The feeling was truly irritating.

“Wait. Watch me finish before you go.”

Bai Chenxi turned back in disbelief. What? Do you need someone to watch you eat?

Chu Muyun set down his chopsticks and lowered his head. “Eating alone is boring.”

He was growing more and more skilled at looking pitiful in front of Bai Chenxi.

Sure enough, Bai Chenxi’s heart softened. She sat back down. “Then eat faster!”

As she watched him, she also felt that she was being a little unreasonable. After all, this had hardly anything to do with Chu Muyun.

But as soon as she thought of the two of them knowing each other, and of Chu Muyun keeping it from her, she felt uncomfortable. Even she didn’t quite know why she was angry.

So Bai Chenxi sat there, inexplicably awkward, while Chu Muyun ate at an unhurried, deliberate pace.

Watching him, she couldn’t help grumbling to herself. What’s so artistic about eating a meal? One day I’m taking you to a street-food stall, no arguments.

Seeing that Bai Chenxi was nearly too restless to stay seated, Chu Muyun finally spoke as if it were an offhand remark. “Meng Ling and I don’t have any real connection. We just know each other. She came to knock on the door only because she saw you leave from here earlier.”

After hearing him out, Bai Chenxi’s mood inexplicably improved.

“Oh.” She answered as if she didn’t care, but the smile at the corner of her mouth betrayed her.

Seeing her smile, Chu Muyun also let out a nearly imperceptible breath of relief.

Chu Muyun ate in silence, while Bai Chenxi lowered her head to scroll through her phone. If she saw something amusing, she would share it with him. Neither of them made a point of finding topics to discuss, yet the atmosphere between them was naturally harmonious.

Bai Chenxi waited for Chu Muyun to finish eating, but somehow he only ate more and more slowly.

In the end, she could not hold back and gently reminded him, “Brother Chu, you should drink that soup quickly, or it’ll get cold.”

Instead of hurrying, Chu Muyun set down his chopsticks and got to the real business of the day.

Was he here today just to eat? Of course not.

“Oh, right. You went to eat with Xia Yan earlier. Are you two very close?”

“How should I put it?” Chu Muyun looked at Bai Chenxi, who seemed a little hesitant, and his own heart sank with it.

What kind of relationship is so hard to explain?

Still, it made sense. Who could fail to be moved by a brave rescue at a critical moment?

Chu Muyun’s heart churned, while Bai Chenxi was still thinking over how to phrase it.

“Overall, it’s a little complicated. At first he hid from me like I was the plague. I didn’t expect him to rush over like that. I was pretty surprised too.”

Then Bai Chenxi said firmly, “But after that incident, I’ve already unilaterally decided he’s my friend.”

Chu Muyun pressed, “Just a friend?”

“What else would he be?” Bai Chenxi was somewhat baffled. If not a friend, then what?

As soon as she said that, she seemed to understand. “You don’t think Xia Yan and I—”

“What?” Chu Muyun fixed his gaze on Bai Chenxi. He really needed an answer right now.

Looking at his expression, Bai Chenxi knew he had misunderstood too. She truly had not expected Chu Muyun to be this gossipy. “Xia Yan and I? Impossible. Don’t believe those nonsense reports. We’re cleaner than a blank sheet of paper. I’m practically his mother fan at this point—how could anything be going on between us?”

A mother fan?

He seemed to remember her mentioning that before. Since he now knew she had no feelings for Xia Yan, Chu Muyun was finally at ease.

He even agreed, “Mm, he is pretty young. Don’t go eating someone else’s tender little sprout.”

Bai Chenxi did not like hearing that. “What do you mean, eating a tender little sprout? I’m only three years older than him. Haven’t you ever heard that a woman three years older holds a brick of gold?”

Chu Muyun’s expression changed. “So you really have thought about it, then. You’ve even considered the age gap.”

“What are you talking about? I know you’re five years older than me—does that mean I’ve considered you too?”

Chu Muyun suddenly fell silent.

Actually, that could be considered.

Bai Chenxi still looked smugly provocative. “Can’t answer, can you?”

To her surprise, Chu Muyun actually nodded.

Bai Chenxi stared at him. What’s wrong with this guy now? His face changes faster than a page turning. Still, as long as it’s getting better, that’s fine.

After a long, drawn-out delay, Chu Muyun finally finished his meal. He had no further reason to keep Bai Chenxi there.

Just as Bai Chenxi was about to leave, Chu Muyun suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms. Bai Chenxi tensed, fists clenched. “Brother Chu, what are you doing?”

Sensing her stiffness, Chu Muyun relaxed his tone. “Comforting you. I was afraid that incident frightened you out of your wits.”

Hearing that, Bai Chenxi relaxed too. “How could it? You’re underestimating me.”

“That’s good, then.”

Chu Muyun reached out again and gently touched her hair. “Remember this: no matter what happens, you still have me.”

It was rare for him to say something so tender. Yet Bai Chenxi only cared about her hair.

“Could you stop touching my head? You’ve ruined my hairstyle.”

“Really?” Chu Muyun asked, and deliberately messed her hair up again.

Bai Chenxi clutched at her hair and glared at him. He merely said, as if nothing were wrong, “All right, stop fooling around.”

Bai Chenxi thought, How does it make me sound like the unreasonable one?

“How much longer until you wrap up?”

Bai Chenxi replied, “About another month and a half. Why?”

“Oh, nothing. Just reminding you not to forget that you promised to cook for me.”

“Oh, that. I remember. No problem.”

Bai Chenxi agreed very readily. There weren’t many days left anyway.

“Hold on. We agreed you’d take me out to gorge myself before, and now there’s nothing at all. I’ve only gotten one meal out of you.”

“Who was the one who went and ate hotpot first?”

“I was.” Bai Chenxi answered guiltily, not forgetting to grumble, “If you were going to treat me to dinner, why didn’t you say so sooner? Then I would’ve kept my stomach empty from the start.”

Chu Muyun was nearly laughing in exasperation. “So now you’re blaming me for telling you too late. Do I even need to make a reservation with you from now on?”

Bai Chenxi’s eyes lit up. “That works too. Whenever you want to eat, I’ll make time, no matter how dangerous the road.”

She was still pleased with herself, completely unaware that she had already walked straight into an old fox’s trap.

Bai Chenxi, when you get home, there’s still a very special gift waiting for you.