Song Qinian shook her head, tears streaming down her face.
She couldn't imagine how Yu Xin had endured those days after her sister's death, Guan Yang's imprisonment, and raising Qiaoqiao.
When she first met Mu Yuxin, she seemed lively, optimistic, and as if no difficulty could ever defeat her.
She never expected her to be carrying so much.
"Yuxin, you were the one who suffered the most back then. You must have been in so much pain making such a difficult choice. No matter what happens in the past or future, I will always be your friend."
Mu Yuxin finally managed a tearful smile. She hugged Song Qinian tightly again, expressing her heartfelt gratitude, "Nian Nian, thank you. Meeting you is the luckiest thing in my unfortunate life."
As soon as half an hour passed, the bodyguards outside the door rushed in.
Song Qinian knew it must have been Guan Yang's instruction. She looked at Mu Yuxin with concern, "Yuxin..."
Mu Yuxin smiled faintly at her, gently comforting her, "Don't worry about me. Guan Yang hates me and is taking revenge because he's still angry. Maybe he'll let me go when he calms down, or after he gets engaged to Sheng Jiaojiao."
Even so, no one knew for sure what Guan Yang was truly thinking.
There were too many deep emotions between Guan Yang and Mu Yuxin. Song Qinian, not being directly involved, couldn't say much more.
"Yuxin, no matter what happens, you must think positively. I'll take good care of Qiaoqiao, and you must take care of yourself too."
Mu Yuxin nodded with a smile. After Song Qinian left, her strength seemed to vanish instantly, and she slumped onto the sofa.
In the evening.
Guan Yang, who hadn't been seen for a week, returned.
He wore a well-tailored suit, his hair neatly styled, as if he had just finished a date.
As he approached, Mu Yuxin smelled a faint scent of alcohol on him, different from the strong liquor he usually drank, more like a sweet wine.
Seeing Mu Yuxin staring at him, Guan Yang took off his suit jacket and threw it onto the sofa, then reached to loosen his tie.
He spoke nonchalantly, "Song Qinian came to see you today?"
Guan Yang's face had become even more refined and handsome compared to eight years ago. They say time is a double-edged sword; boys in their late teens who are in their late twenties usually either get fat or ugly.
But Guan Yang grew more handsome and stylish.
He had shed his former roguishness and immaturity, transforming into the mature and charming man he was now.
Mu Yuxin didn't answer Guan Yang's question. Instead, she asked calmly, "Are you getting engaged?"
Guan Yang looked at Mu Yuxin coolly, seeming unsurprised by her question.
He assumed Song Qinian must have told her about his engagement when she visited.
On his way back, he had considered all her possible reactions, but he never expected her to be so indifferent.
"What? Are you planning to attend?"
Mu Yuxin clenched her fists tightly. He didn't deny it, so what Nian Nian had said was true.
In fact, she had always known that the moment she decided on her sister eight years ago, there was no longer any possibility between her and Guan Yang. Yet, she still held onto a sliver of hope that she could make amends to Guan Yang, that he might forgive her.
Even though she knew it was impossible, she still prayed cautiously every day, wishing to be with Guan Yang.
But in the end, it was all a pipe dream.
She averted her gaze, no longer looking at Guan Yang, and said faintly, "Then when will you let me go?"
As soon as Guan Yang heard Mu Yuxin's words about leaving, a surge of anger rushed to his head. He darkly grabbed her chin, forcing her to face him, "Go? Where do you think you're going?"
Mu Yuxin's heart ached unbearably, "You're getting married, so why are you still keeping me?"
"What does my getting married have to do with you? Don't tell me you're... jealous?"
Mu Yuxin's heart pounded. If she told Guan Yang she still liked him now, he would surely think she was a shameless lunatic.
"I'm not."
Guan Yang let out a cold chuckle. His handsome face drew closer, his hot breath spraying onto Mu Yuxin's face, "You'd better not be. Jealous? You're not even worthy of that!"
Mu Yuxin shoved Guan Yang away abruptly, "I won't be a mistress."
"Mistress? Heh... At best, you're just a tool for my revenge. You're not even as good as a mistress."
Mu Yuxin's face turned ashen.
Guan Yang's dark eyes fixed on her. As he reached to unbutton her sleepwear, he said coldly, "Don't tell me you think a mere month can compensate for my eight years of imprisonment, do you?"
Seeing Mu Yuxin close her eyes in despair, Guan Yang's heart ached fiercely. He disliked that his heart still had such strong emotional fluctuations because of Mu Yuxin. He roughly pushed her onto the sofa.
"Mu Yuxin, remember this clearly. Everything you're suffering now is what you owe me. I will never forgive you. Don't even dream of leaving this place."
He had lost eight years of his freedom because of her, and now she wanted to leave.
How could that be possible!
She would never be able to leave him in this lifetime!
In the days that followed, the relationship between Guan Yang and Mu Yuxin deteriorated further.
Whenever Guan Yang returned, he would only drag Mu Yuxin to bed for their intimacy and say nothing else.
And each time they went to bed, Mu Yuxin would repeat to him over and over that she wouldn't be a mistress.
Usually, during these times, she would be tormented severely by Guan Yang, and her injuries would take several days to heal.
Guan Yang's temper grew worse with each passing day, especially when he noticed that Mu Yuxin would wear a faint smile on her lips whenever she provoked him and he treated her even more harshly, as if she enjoyed his revenge.
Heh...
Did she really think that by doing this, he would let her go?
Consequently, for the next month, Guan Yang did not visit the villa where Mu Yuxin stayed.
On the day Guan Yang and Sheng Jiaojiao were to be engaged, Song Qinian paced anxiously in the living room.
Shen Chi Yan couldn't bear to watch anymore. He reached out and pulled Song Qinian into his embrace, "Alright, alright, you'll spin yourself dizzy if you keep pacing like that."
Shen Chi Yan didn't want Song Qinian to focus too much on Mu Yuxin. The main reason was that after Song Qinian visited Mu Yuxin last time, she had cried in his arms for most of the night.
He didn't want Song Qinian to shed tears over Mu Yuxin again.
"Guan Yang is getting engaged. What about Yuxin? Does he really intend to keep Yuxin under house arrest for the rest of her life?"
Shen Chi Yan tried to console her helplessly, "Darling, Mu Yuxin wronged Guan Yang first in their relationship. Whatever Guan Yang does now, Mu Yuxin has to accept it. After all, those were Guan Yang's eight lost years."
Song Qinian frowned deeply, her heart filled with conflict, "I know, but Yuxin is suffering too much. I really don't want her to be hurt anymore. Shen Chi Yan, can we help Yuxin?"
It was rare for Song Qinian to ask Shen Chi Yan for anything. Since she had finally spoken up, Shen Chi Yan couldn't bear to refuse.