Grandma didn't live with Jiang Shuo. Grandma liked the alleys here, always saying it was lively and convenient to live there.
Since childhood, she had followed Grandma in doing chores, which gave her time to learn medicine from her master.
She was actually very fortunate to live here. If she had stayed with the Jiang family all along, she would have had little opportunity to study medicine.
If absolutely forced to go home and stay, she would bring her medical books back to the attic to read.
When Grandma went on long trips, she would go hungry for a meal and then full for the next.
Jiang Nuan saw a familiar intersection. In her memory, the lonely and warm-seeking face of the young boy appeared in her mind.
"Uncle, stop for a moment," Jiang Nuan suddenly said.
Mu Jiuchen stopped the car and followed her gaze. Seeing her staring at the place where she had met him years ago, he felt an irrepressible surge of emotion.
"Nuannuan, what's wrong?" he asked, his tone slightly probing, while his eyes fixed intently on her exceptionally beautiful face, not missing a single expression.
Jiang Nuan smiled and said, "When I was little, I met a little brother here. I wonder if he found a home later?"
Jiang Nuan's voice was distant, her thoughts seeming to drift back to that cold winter night.
On the boy's face, full of scars, only his eyes were particularly deep. The complex emotions of pain and helplessness—she only understood their meaning years later.
Because of loss, he had lived in pain from such a young age.
Mu Jiuchen's lips trembled slightly. He smiled. She remembered him. His voice was clear and gentle like the wind. "Nuannuan, was he very important to you?"
Jiang Nuan turned to look at him and smiled, then nodded. "I suppose so. He was a very special boy I met in my childhood, and the memory is profound."
Mu Jiuchen was secretly happy. Was he special to her?
"Uncle, let's go, we'll be late."
Mu Jiuchen felt increasingly upset. Why "Uncle" again?
A prodigal son might return, but this young girl was determined to follow one path to the end.
If he argued with her, he would lose.
"I'll take you to the food street tonight for some delicious food."
Mentioning the food street made Jiang Nuan think of her wellness center.
"Uncle, come to my shop another day, I'll make it for you." Jiang Nuan had a sudden inspiration. Wasn't Mu Jiuchen a ready-made walking advertisement?
If she frequented her own wellness center, why would she fear others not coming?
In an instant, Jiang Nuan's scales tipped. She no longer felt Mu Jiuchen was a jinx. Compared to the money lost, the immense profit he brought her was what truly thrilled her.
"Your shop?" Mu Jiuchen became interested. This little girl must have worked very hard over the years.
He had looked up the man she kicked down in the video. He was a wanted criminal, and Nuannuan's identity wasn't special, so she was a bounty hunter.
This wasn't something he made up; such professions truly existed in reality.
Industry headhunter, codename One.
Xiao Fan had also found out that she needed money recently, likely having invested all her savings in her wellness center.
Being a hunter was very dangerous. He was somewhat relieved that she had switched to a wellness center.
"That's right, Uncle. After I finish this busy period, I'll choose an auspicious day to open. Uncle, will you come then?" Jiang Nuan looked at him expectantly, her eyes shining with excitement.
Mu Jiuchen: "No."
Jiang Nuan: "..." Humph! Stingy!
Jiang Nuan thought it was reasonable. They weren't close; he should refuse. She had been a bit too presumptuous just now.
They didn't speak another word on the way to the He family's residence.
Jiang Nuan wasn't angry; it was understandable human behavior.
She looked down at her phone. The stranger's number had sent many more messages.
[Miss Jiang, I have arrived in Jinshi. Shall we meet?]
[Miss Jiang, you will be interested in my project. You are also a very talented medical scholar, and your experimental theories are highly recognized by us.]
[Miss Jiang, I will be waiting for you at Fengtai Restaurant this afternoon at five o'clock.]
Jiang Nuan, seeing the other party's persistent attitude, realized they must have tracked her every move.
As Jiang Nuan was contemplating, the other party sent a message that shocked her.
[Miss Jiang, the patient from your last experiment has recovered and been discharged. Her family is looking for you and wants to repay your life-saving kindness.]
[Miss Jiang, I will be waiting for you!]
Jiang Nuan turned off her phone. Who exactly was this person?!
Jiang Nuan thought about it and finally agreed to meet.
She replied: [Okay!]
The other party was very excited and replied almost instantly, [Thank you, Miss Jiang, see you soon!]
Jiang Nuan looked up and saw that Mu Jiuchen had stopped the car.
He was also tilting his head, watching her chat.
Jiang Nuan put away her phone and looked at him, "What's wrong?"
Mu Jiuchen's eyes flickered. "We're here."
"Oh! Thank you!" Jiang Nuan said politely, then picked up her medical kit and got out of the car.
Mu Jiuchen did not follow her but took out his phone and dialed Xiao Fan.
"President, the scene has been handled. I'll send the compensation amount to Miss Jiang shortly." Da Feng Novel Network.
Mu Jiuchen smiled slyly, his magnetic voice laced with a faint amusement. "Good! Go investigate who came to Fengtai Restaurant tonight. Go to the entrance at five o'clock and guard it to see whom Nuannuan meets."
Xiao Fan: "...Ninth Master, you're doing things that aren't human while also trying to protect Miss Jiang. Aren't you forcing Miss Jiang to hate you?"
After speaking, Xiao Fan seemed to realize something and quickly hung up the phone with extreme self-preservation.
"Slap, slap..." He slapped himself a few times. "You meddlesome idiot, you nosy fool."
On the other end, Mu Jiuchen, hearing the dial tone: "..."
What did he just hear?
This brat actually made some sense. Just as he was about to praise him, he hung up.
Xiao Fan: "..." He finally won an undeserved victory, but unfortunately, he didn't get to hear it.
He watched Jiang Nuan go in and followed her.
Lin Su had come early to watch the spectacle. She wanted to see how Jiang Nuan would save the old lady.
As soon as she arrived, she saw Mu Jiuchen get out of the car.
The man's upright back was very attractive, tall and elegant. Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, he exuded an innate noble and extraordinary aura.
Whether it was his back or his face, he was utterly captivating.
She walked over with a smile, "Brother Chen."
Mu Jiuchen's face turned cold. This woman was truly annoying!
"Brother Chen," Lin Su chased after him with a smile.
Mu Jiuchen quickened his pace, but Lin Su still caught up to him.
"Brother Chen, didn't you hear me calling you?"
Mu Jiuchen glanced at her. "No?"
The two cold words made Lin Su's smile stiffen slightly.
"It's nothing, I was just too happy to see Brother Chen."
Lin Su knew his usual coldness and wasn't afraid of him.
"Stay away from me if it's nothing," Mu Jiuchen's icy aura instantly enveloped Lin Su.
Lin Su bit her lip, unwilling but obedient, not wanting to make Mu Jiuchen dislike her.
Mu Jiuchen disliked women being too close to him, yet he was very close to Jiang Nuan. Did he really hate women?