Since first becoming entangled in worldly affairs, Wanqing had been at the mercy of Mu Tianying's relentless, three-day pursuit, leaving her complexion ghostly pale. Unable to visit Xu Kewei, her mood only grew worse. She seemed listless and lost during breakfast.
She stabbed unconsciously at the lettuce on her half-eaten sandwich, her mind clearly elsewhere.
Mu Tianying squinted at her and ordered coldly, "Drink your milk!"
"Oh!" Startled, Wanqing picked up her milk and drained it.
Mu Tianying continued, "Finish your meal too. I don't like wastefulness."
Wanqing glanced at the half-finished breakfast on her plate and silently began to eat.
Mu Tianying had finished his meal, but he remained seated, watching her with half-closed eyes, radiating an intense sense of danger. Only after she finished her meal did he stand up nonchalantly, instructing the housekeeper on his departure, "Get her some nourishment! She's as pale as a ghost; it's unsightly to look at!" He then left the dining room.
Wanqing trembled and remained frozen in her seat.
"Come here!" Mu Tianying called from the entrance, "Come and put on my shoes."
Wanqing turned her head in shock, unable to believe what she had just heard. He was asking her to do what? Put on his shoes? Wasn't it enough that she had to be his warm bedfellow, was she now supposed to be his maid too?
Mu Tianying was seated by the entrance and couldn't see her astonished expression from the dining room. Maintaining his calm demeanor, but with a stern voice, he repeated, "Come here!"
Wanqing stood up abruptly and walked over to him. She stopped in front of him, standing still.
He lifted his head to look at her and instructed, "Put on my shoes."
Her lips moved slightly, but she didn't dare to utter a word. Quietly, she squatted down, opened the shoe cabinet, and saw several pairs of leather shoes inside. Cautiously, she asked, "Which pair would you like to wear?"
Mu Tianying responded with his own question, "Which pair do you think I should wear?"
Wanqing hesitated for a moment, looked at his navy-blue pants, and picked out a pair of black shoes. "Would these do?"
Mu Tianying didn't respond, so she assumed his silence was confirmation.
Because one of her hands was injured, she could only use the other one. She struggled to lift his foot and was barely able to do so. Startled, she looked up at him, her eyes brimming with a pitiful light.
Seeing her struggle, Mu Tianying lifted his foot of his own accord. Taking this as a cue, she hurriedly took off his slippers and put on the leather shoes. When it was time to put on the other shoe, Mu Tianying put his foot in it himself, leaving her, who had prepared to serve him, stunned.
He lowered his head, lifted her chin, and pressed his thin lips onto hers for a deep kiss. "You've been a good girl today. Here's your reward - as soon as your hand gets better, you can go back to school!"
"Really?!" Wanqing looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with surprise and joy.
He smirked, "Of course it's true."
After he left, Wanqing sat in the living room, staring blankly at her injured hand. She hoped it would heal quickly.
It was all Ding Caiyan's fault! If it wasn't for her, she could return to school immediately! And by then, she could visit her mother when school was out...
Just as she was thinking this, the housekeeper came out of the kitchen holding a wallet and keys, apparently about to go out.
An idea struck Wanqing, and she asked, "Are you going out?"
"I'm going to buy groceries." The housekeeper responded, "What would you like for lunch, Miss?"
"I'm not sure. How about I go with you, and we can pick something together!"