The little maids were startled. The man standing before them did not reveal his identity, and they had no idea who he was. But his overwhelming aura alone was enough to send chills down their spines. They knew this man must hold a high status, someone they could not afford to offend. Hastily, they reverently said, "Young master, you might have wandered into the wrong room. This room is Young Master Duan’s..."
"Get out of my sight!" Mu Houchu’s eyes were frigidly cold, and he remained impassively staring at Ji Xinhe. His voice was not loud, yet it commanded absolute authority.
At his words, the maids bowed their heads in fright and answered, "Yes!" before hastily withdrawing.
Ji Xinhe’s expression also turned cold, and she left with the departing maids.
However, before she could get far, Mu Houchu seized her wrist and pulled her back. "Where are you going?" he asked.
Expressionless, Ji Xinhe coldly responded, "Since Minister Mu wishes to use this room, I dare not lay claim over it."
Mu Houchu’s countenance darkened further. "After a month’s absence, you learned to argue over status?"
Ji Xinhe tried to shake off his grip, but Mu Houchu’s handcuff was unyielding and only tightened its hold. Growing frustrated, she said, "I have things to do. I don’t have time to engage in casual conversation with the Minister."
"Busy? With matters concerning that boy?" Mu Houchu gripped her chin, his cold, intense gaze chilling to the bone. His oppressive aura filled the room. "Ji Xinhe, do you find it amusing to provoke my bottom line?"
Ji Xinhe glared back at him. "What I do, and with whom I involve myself, is none of your concern! You’re meddling far too much. We’re no longer involved and should treat today’s encounter as if we’ve never met. Aren’t your random words towards me right now boring?"
Her words pierced his heart as if a sharp blade. Not involved? When did they become disconnected strangers? A mere month apart seemed to have created an insurpassable chasm between them. A month of yearning had brought him to her side, only to be met with her unyielding declaration of estrangement.
Mu Houchu stared at her, his frosty aura radiating outward and filling the cramped room. The oppressive atmosphere frightened Ji Xinhe, who had never seen him like this.
It was at this point that Duan Lan’s voice was heard at the entrance.
"Where is the girl who was just here?"
Ji Xinhe’s face changed slightly, seeming somewhat flustered. She didn’t want any bystanders to know about her past with Mu Houchu. After trying so hard to forget about him, she did not want any reminders of the past, especially the farcical marriage proposal.
The little maid trembling at the door caught the eye of the black-clad guards outside before nervously replying, "That girl...she left."
"She left?" Duan Lan sounded urgently. "Where did she go?"
"She, she...this servant doesn’t know. It seemed like she had urgent business and left first. This private room is being used by other guests. Young Master Duan, it’s not convenient..."
Duan Lan looked puzzled at the tightly shut door. He was full of doubt. She clearly came upstairs to change clothes; why did she suddenly leave? Supposedly, she had urgent business. But she was new to the capital city and hardly knew anyone. What could be that urgent? Could it be a problem with the laborers she had just hired yesterday?
As Duan Lan vacillated, his concern for Xi Xinhe got the best of him. If there really was a problem, he wouldn’t feel comfortable with her facing it alone. Although he was aware of her abilities, he was still worried. After a moment’s hesitation, he hurried off, evidently to find her.
In the room, only when Ji Xinhe heard Duan Lan’s receding footsteps did she finally let out a sighed of relief.
Her subtle expression didn’t escape Mu Houchu’s eye, which only aggravated his irritation. Mu Houchu’s icy expression darkened, and he coldly chuckled. "You’re afraid of him seeing us? Just one month, and you’ve changed so fast. Ji Xinhe, what kind of heartless woman are you?"
The emotions churning within Mu Houchu were not only boiling rage but also a feeling unknown to him - jealousy.
Jealousy was new to him. He had always been at the top, and if he ever found himself lacking in anything, he could easily surpass it. Thus, there was nothing that could make him jealous.
But today, after traveling nonstop for more than ten days without much rest, he finally arrived in the capital city. Infused with every corner of the city was his covert network of informants, all activated just to find her whereabouts. He couldn’t wait any longer. He just had to see her. He walked in, full of anticipation, trepidation, and guilt, to see her - the girl he had not seen for a month.
He had imagined their reunion countless times. She would certainly be angry and upset. He knew of her anger and of her discomfort. He just wanted to apologize, to hold her, and to ease the longing of the past month. Even if she refused to forgive him, he could wait. He had a lifetime to convince her.
However, he had never imagined that on the day of their reunion, another man would be in her vision. A man she could laugh with unreservedly. That man’s infatuation could not have been any clearer to Mu Houchu, who loved her so deeply. Those eyes carried a heavy and specific emotional load.
Those eyes were enough to enrage him, to fill him with jealousy, and to sadden him.
Ji Xinhe noticed a hint of hurt flash across his grim eyes. Gritting her teeth, she turned her head to avoid his gaze and replied angrily, "Mu Houchu, I, Ji Xinhe, am someone who doesn’t like relentless persistence. Since I’ve let go, I let go completely. Past incidents are as if they never happened. Rest assured, I won’t mention a word about it to anyone. From now on, we owe each other nothing and will not disturb each other. Isn’t that enough?"
Mu Houchu’s eyes turned cold. "Not disturbing each other? Do you think you have the final say in our relationship!? Do you think the past can disappear if you say it does? Our entanglement in the past has ordained that we are destined to be entwined, life after life, to the end!"
Ji Xinhe scoffed coldly. "So you find it funny to say such things now? Who do you think you are? Do I, Ji Xinhe, have to have you in my life?"
"Yes," Mu Houchu said, his voice bone-chillingly cold. He spoke word by word, "You cannot live without me."
"You!" Ji Xinhe, angry, tried to wriggle out of his hold.
However, Mu Houchu sternly ordered, "Servants! Take the madam back home."
Ji Xinhe widened her eyes. "Mu Houchu, what are you talking about?! Go home? When did I become your wife? We haven’t even had the official ceremony yet. I have absolutely nothing to do with you!"
The door had already been opened. Ling Fei and a few subordinate guards entered with due respect. "Madam, please."
Feeling both embarrassed and enraged, Ji Xinhe shouted, "I’d like to see who dares!"
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