Mu Xinrong stood aside, holding a cup of cold cocoa, staring blankly at the scene. His feelings were extremely complicated.
There was a surprise - so this is how Ye Qingliu treated his sister! That look, that movement, that tone, it was incredibly gentle!
There was warmth—watching this heartwarming interaction between brother and sister, I felt as if I too had felt a touch of that warmth. But more than that, there was an indescribable bitterness and… envy.
Chao Youye was still unconscious, lying on the cold hospital bed, tortured by the backlash of the rules. Yet here, there was such pure, unreserved warmth of family love.
This contrast made Mu Xinrong's heart ache as if something was blocking it. He subconsciously looked in the direction of the guest room.
Hua Jinyue finally raised her head from her brother's arms, her cheeks still flushed with a satisfied smile. Only then did she notice Mu Xinrong's somewhat dazed expression and his subconscious glance towards the guest room.
She blinked her big eyes, as if she finally remembered something, and asked curiously: "Brother, why is Brother Mu at our house so late? And..."
She lowered her voice, moved closer to Ye Qingliu, and pointed in the direction of the guest room. "Why is there a nurse over there? Is anyone sick?"
The gentleness on Ye Qingliu's face instantly faded a little, and he returned to his usual calmness, but the look in his eyes when he looked at his sister was still gentle.
He took the cake bag from Hua Jinyue's hand and placed it on the center island naturally. Then he raised his hand and gently rubbed his sister's head: "Well, a friend is not feeling well and needs to rest here for a while."
His explanation was concise and his tone was calm, without revealing any unnecessary information. It was obvious that he didn't want to worry his sister.
Hua Jinyue nodded, not quite understanding. She was not very familiar with her brother's circle of friends, but since her brother said they were friends, she believed it.
Her big eyes glanced at the guest room curiously again, and then her attention was attracted by the cake that Ye Qingliu placed on the center island.
She immediately moved forward like a happy little bird, opened the paper bag, and took out the exquisite little cake decorated with bright red strawberries and snow-white cream as if presenting a treasure.
"Brother! Come and try it! It's really delicious! I can't bear to take a second bite!"
Hua Jinyue scooped a small spoonful with a small fork, which still had a whole strawberry on it, and handed it to Ye Qingliu's mouth without saying anything, her eyes shining with anticipation.
Ye Qingliu looked at the cake and fork that were almost touching his lips, and a hint of helplessness flashed again in his gray-blue eyes behind the lenses, but more of it was indulgence.
He lowered his head slightly, took his sister's hand, opened his mouth very naturally and obediently, and ate the spoonful of sweet cake. His movements were smooth, without any disgust or reluctance.
"Hmm, delicious." He chewed and gave a brief comment that made Hua Jinyue smile.
He even picked up a tissue and wiped off a little cream that accidentally got on the corner of his sister's mouth in a very natural way.
Mu Xinrong watched Ye Qingliu calmly swallow the obviously overly sweet cake, looked at Hua Jinyue's satisfied and complacent smile, and then looked at Ye Qingliu's profile, which was helpless but full of indulgence... The sour warmth in his heart became stronger.
He lowered his head silently and took a sip of the cold cocoa to hide his surging emotions.
"Okay, okay, brother, you go ahead and do your work! I won't bother you anymore!" Hua Jinyue was satisfied with the affirmation from his brother, as if he had accomplished some important task.
She carefully covered the remaining cake, then skipped towards her room. When she reached the stairs, she turned back and waved to Mu Xinrong. She gave him a sweet and bright smile: "Good night, Mu! Have a good rest!"
"Good night...good night." Mu Xinrong responded a little awkwardly.
Hua Jinyue's figure disappeared around the corner of the stairs, and the restaurant returned to silence.
The gentleness on Ye Qingliu's face quickly receded like the tide, and he returned to his usual calmness.
He picked up the thermos on the island and walked towards the guest room, obviously going to check on Chao Youye.
Mu Xinrong looked at his back, took a deep breath, put down the cold cocoa cup, and followed him.
The heaviness in his heart seemed to be dispelled a lot by the heartwarming scene just now, but what followed was a deeper worry about Chao Youye and an indescribable... homesickness.
He was about to face him, the Chao Youye who had just experienced the collapse of the rules and said in tears, "I will feel pain." What should he say? What should he do?
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