Chapter 33: Jealousy (Part One)

Mo Yu carried Qing Xuan down the stairs and saw Yu Xiu, who was still waiting anxiously in the hall and had not yet left.

"Aunt Yu?"

Yu Xiu happened to see Mo Yu at the foot of the stairs. She hurried over, tenderly stroked Mo Yu's head, then circled around her as if checking to see whether she had been harmed. Only after confirming that Mo Yu was unharmed did she stop, speaking in a gentle, caring tone: "Xiao Yu, right? Do you know where your friend is?"

Mo Yu shook her head honestly.

The two of them spoke as they walked outside.

"What does your friend look like? Or did she leave you any way to contact her, or some kind of sign? If not, maybe you should come with me, child. At least my home should be safe for now."

Mo Yu stared at Yu Xiu’s somewhat clouded eyes, unable to hide the concern and affection they held. She nodded, then shook her head again.

"They said they would leave a conspicuous mark for me, Aunt, so you don't need to worry."

"What kind of mark? Let me help you look for it first."

Mo Yu hesitated, then said, "They’ll probably stay nearby and hang some conspicuous clothes outside."

Yu Xiu gave her a surprised look, the corner of her mouth twitching upward in a peculiar expression—a very, very odd look.

After a moment, Yu Xiu pointed behind Mo Yu and said, "See if they live over there?"

Mo Yu turned around and was stunned, standing rooted to the spot. When the three of them entered the province, they had been in such a rush that they hadn't noticed the scenery. It was beautiful—if only one could ignore the little red underwear fluttering in the wind.

No wonder Yu Xiu had made such a difficult gesture; she herself would hardly have managed it.

Mo Yu quietly turned back and smiled gently at Yu Xiu. "I think they're probably over there. I'll go now. Goodbye, Aunt Yu."

"Hey!" Yu Xiu called out after Mo Yu, whose figure was receding in the distance, "If you need anything, come find me! My home is at Building XX, Courtyard XX, XX Road, Room XXX!"

Mo Yu paused slightly, nodded with her back to Yu Xiu, then hurried away.

The wind lifted her long, dark hair, swirling it through the air in graceful arcs, leaving behind a trail of beauty.

Mo Yu didn't feel she needed to seek out Yu Xiu again. Though Yu Xiu gave her the feeling of family, she was still just a stranger.

Mo Yu stood at the door of a room on the second floor of the hotel. After repeatedly confirming, she gently knocked.

"Hello, who are you looking for... Oh, what a bold little girl!"

Mo Yu clearly felt the muscles around her eyes twitching in protest. Suppressing the spasms at the corners of her eyes, she managed a slight smile at the man before her.

"I'm sorry, sir, I knocked on the wrong door." She closed the door swiftly and decisively.

Qing Xuan first stared intently at the man at the door, then at the closed wooden door, and finally at Mo Yu herself. His eyes flickered with confusion, pleading, anger, grievance, and despair.

Mo Yu, frightened by the man she had just seen, felt uneasy under Qing Xuan's intense gaze and quietly turned her head away.

But she was sure she had sensed Li Jun and Ling Zi’s protective wards here! Why had that officer’s son, who had tried to strike up a conversation with her back at the military compound, appeared here? Wasn’t he supposed to have left with the plane?

Mo Yu’s mind was filled with countless questions, yet she simply frowned. Qing Xuan, seeing Mo Yu’s reaction, felt so uncomfortable he could barely breathe.

He gently freed himself from Mo Yu’s embrace, which she failed to notice as she was lost in thought. Qing Xuan dropped lightly to the floor, struggling to take deep breaths.

"Say something to me, Master!" His heart was heavy. He saw his master seemingly lost in memories of that man, paying no attention to him.

"Master doesn’t like men who cry. I must not cry." Qing Xuan held back his tears like beans, waiting for Mo Yu’s comforting explanation.

One second, two seconds... Time truly crawled by!

At last, Qing Xuan couldn’t help but let the tears fall, turning and running back toward the corridor. His footsteps struck the floor heavily, echoing with dull thuds.

"Master doesn’t like me anymore..."

Mo Yu was startled out of her reverie by the sound of heavy footsteps, only then realizing that Qing Xuan, who had always been nestled in her arms, was gone.

"You mischievous little imp." Mo Yu's lips curled into a warm, doting smile; if Qing Xuan were still in her arms, he would surely have cried out in excitement.

Mo Yu composed herself, then raised her hand to knock once more on the tightly closed door she had shut.

This time, the door opened even faster.

Mo Yu pushed against the man’s chest, catching him off guard and forcing him back two steps, clearing the doorway.

"Little girl, you’ve come too?"

Mo Yu ignored him, heading straight for the only bedroom. Ling Zi and Li Jun lay entwined on the bed, sleeping soundly.

Mo Yu stood quietly at the door for a moment, then gently closed it and returned to the living room.

The man was lounging on the soft, comfortable sofa, legs crossed, hands behind his head.

"Hello." Mo Yu extended her fair right hand.

The man opened his eyes, which had been feigning a sleepy squint, and stood up.

He and Qing Xuan were two entirely different types. Grown-up Qing Xuan had large, watery eyes, trusting you with all his heart, so pure you felt you could see right through him. His hair was soft and fluffy, giving off a warm feeling. The man before her, however, had slightly upturned phoenix eyes, slender and with a rakish glint. His hair, spiky and distinctive, reminded one of a hedgehog; the sides above his ears were shaved to reveal stubbly skin and a hint of scalp. As for his height, he was a little shorter than grown-up Qing Xuan.

The man gently wrapped Mo Yu’s small hand in his warm, large palm. His bronze skin made Mo Yu’s hand look even paler.

"Hello, my name is Cheng Qidong."

"Mo Yu."

Bang! The half-closed door was slammed open, crashing violently against the white wall.

Through the gap in the door, Mo Yu saw Qing Xuan staring at her in shock, his eyes brimming with tears.

Mo Yu struggled free from Cheng Qidong’s grip and ran toward the doorway, but only caught a glimpse of Qing Xuan’s lonely figure disappearing around the stairwell corner.

Mo Yu didn’t know what was wrong, but felt a heaviness in her chest.