Chapter 16: You’re That Desperate to Marry?

The man to Qu Muqing’s left leaned lazily against the wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

His expression was casual, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

This was none other than the Jiang family’s second young master—Jiang Mujin.

On her right, a man spoke in a gentle tone. “Yichen, you’ve been going back and forth with that little girl for years, and not once have you come out on top. Now look—she’s gone and become Ciyu’s wife, just like that. Haha.”

If one looked closely, they’d see that the man’s short, tousled hair partly veiled his brows. His eyes held a quiet depth, and his whole demeanor exuded a gentle calm.

This was the current heir of the Ji family—Ji Shumu.

Gu Yichen muttered under his breath, “How did I end up hanging myself on this tree…”

Smack—

A sharp slap landed on the back of his head. He turned around angrily to see who it was.

Qu Muqing lowered her right hand and said leisurely, “Watch your mouth—that’s my younger sister.”

“Hmph. It’s because she’s your sister that I held back.”

Jiang Mujin teased, “You? Hold back? Yichen, let’s not kid ourselves. That girl—when she gets serious, she doesn’t even spare herself.”

“Heh.” Ji Shumu let out a quiet chuckle.

“She’s just a little liar—”

“Gu Yichen, who are you calling that?”

A voice came from the private room entrance—Qu Wanwan’s.

Everyone turned their heads at once.

“Well, well, let me see—whose little princess is this?” Jiang Mujin drawled lazily.

Qu Wanwan entered the room hand-in-hand with Fu Ciyu. Seeing the people inside, she offered an awkward smile. “Mujin-ge, Shumu-ge.”

Ji Shumu and Jiang Mujin nodded and gestured to the empty seats beside them.

Gu Yichen was visibly displeased. “Why do you call them ‘ge’ but not me?”

Qu Wanwan shot back, “You were only born an hour earlier than me—why should I call you Gege? We’re basically sisters, don’t be like that.”

Gu Yichen pointed at her, fuming. “Who the hell is your sister? Pah! I’m not—”

“Oh? Then do you want me to call you Jiejie instead?” Qu Wanwan’s face turned serious as she spoke, as if she genuinely meant it.

Fu Ciyu’s lips lifted slightly. “Alright, that’s enough—don’t stir things up.”

Qu Wanwan looped her arm through his and sat down, giving Gu Yichen a loud hmph before turning her head away in a show of disdain.

Watching the scene unfold, Ji Shumu nudged Qu Muqing beside him. “Has it been like this lately?”

“Yeah. You have to stroke her the right way,” Qu Muqing replied helplessly.

“Interesting,” Ji Shumu said in a low voice.

Jiang Mujin lounged on the sofa, his gaze languid and unhurried. “Little Wan’er, sitting here today means you’ve officially stepped into Ciyu’s world. Congratulations.”

Qu Wanwan’s eyes sparkled like water—pure and lively. Her smile bloomed brightly, like pear blossoms bursting open on a branch.

“Thank you, Mujin-ge. I also hope Sister Ziyan will break into your world someday.”

Jiang Mujin’s expression shifted slightly, but he quickly brushed it off. “Heh, the little brat finally learned how to fight back.”

“I wonder how Sister Ziyan is doing in Haicheng…” Qu Wanwan said casually.

That single line made Jiang Mujin sit up straight. “You know where she is?”

The corners of Qu Wanwan’s lips lifted in a faint smile. “Of course I do.”

She had only learned the truth near the end of her previous life—Huo Ziyan had been in Haicheng the entire time. So close, yet Jiang Mujin hadn’t known. Clearly, someone had deliberately hidden her whereabouts so well that he couldn’t trace her.

“Tell me—where is she?”

For the first time, Qu Wanwan saw Jiang Mujin lose composure in front of her. To say he didn’t love Huo Ziyan? Impossible.

Qu Wanwan frowned slightly and said, “All I know is that she’s in Haicheng. As for her exact location, I don’t know. Someone’s clearly gone to great lengths to conceal her information.”

Jiang Mujin’s gaze turned icy. “How do you know that?”

“Mujin-ge, I told you—don’t ask me more. If you keep asking, I won’t say another word.”

“…Alright, I won’t ask.”

“You little liar, do you even know how to tell the truth?” Gu Yichen sneered, curling his lip.

Qu Wanwan rolled her eyes at him. “Oh please, Your Majesty the Player—I’m way more reliable than you.”

“You—!”

Ji Shumu rubbed his forehead. “You can’t win an argument, and you can’t win a fight. So why do you keep provoking her?”

“He has a masochistic streak,” Qu Muqing said coolly.

Fu Ciyu looked at her, pouting in frustration. Somehow, even her anger made her look irresistibly cute.

“What do you want to eat?” His voice was soft and gentle.

“Sweet and sour ribs, mouthwatering chicken, and… that sour plum soup.”

“Alright.” He nodded toward the waiter standing outside.

The waiter took down the order and went off to prepare it.

“Ciyu, when’s the wedding?” Ji Shumu asked in a mild tone.

Before Fu Ciyu could answer, Qu Wanwan chimed in, “The sooner the better. Next month works too.”

Qu Muqing gave her a helpless look. “You’re that desperate to get married?”

“Ge, that’s where you’re wrong. It’s not that I’m desperate to get married,” Qu Wanwan said matter-of-factly. “Think about it—he looks like this, and there are so many women out there eyeing him like wolves. If I don’t act fast, how could I hold onto him?”

Jiang Mujin’s lips curved into a faint smirk, his tone teasing. “What’s this? You, Qu Wanwan, actually afraid of losing someone?”

“Of course I am! Absolutely.”

“Heh—” Fu Ciyu let out a soft chuckle.

“Well, would you look at that—Ciyu actually laughed. That’s rare,” Jiang Mujin remarked with some surprise.

He was so used to seeing Fu Ciyu cold and expressionless that this sudden laughter caught him off guard.

There were things tonight they couldn’t ask about—out of respect for him as brothers. The girl wasn’t bad by nature; she had just been misled, especially by someone like that Shen Man who stayed around her.

“It’s been a long time since I saw him smile,” Ji Shumu echoed with a sigh.

Just then, the dishes they had ordered were brought to the table.

Qu Wanwan’s eyes lit up. “Can I start eating now?”

“What, you think we’d actually stop you from eating?” Qu Muqing raised a brow.

She picked up the chopsticks on the table, then glanced around at the others. “You’re all not eating… I feel a little embarrassed to start on my own.”

“Hey, Qu Wanwan, you feel embarrassed? That’s a first,” Gu Yichen said in disbelief.

That meal lasted quite a while—and for Qu Wanwan, it was the happiest one she had ever had.

By the time the gathering ended, it was already ten at night. Qu Muqing glanced at Fu Ciyu and pointed toward a certain someone who was dozing off in his arms.

Fu Ciyu lowered his head. This woman had eaten her fill and then immediately fallen asleep—utterly carefree.

“Back to Yuyuan,” he said.

Qu Muqing nodded, then added before leaving, “The Qu family’s precious daughter was taken without the old man’s knowledge—he’s not too pleased about it.”

He left it at that, not pressing further.

Fu Ciyu gave a light chuckle. “I’ll go to the Qu Residence tomorrow and apologize to the old man personally.”

“Alright.”

Since Jiang Mujin and Gu Yichen had both been drinking, only Ji Shumu—who hadn’t touched a drop—was able to drive them home.

“Shumu, be careful on the road.”

“Ciyu, now this… this is the real Fu Ciyu—loyal and true.”

Fu Ciyu’s gaze dimmed. He opened his mouth as if to respond, but by then Ji Shumu’s car had already driven off into the distance.

The woman in his arms stirred restlessly in her sleep, shifting positions again and again. Fu Ciyu let out a helpless sigh. “Truly a heartless little brat.”

Qingye pulled the car around, and Fu Ciyu carried Qu Wanwan into the back seat.

“Back to Yuyuan.”

“Yes, Master.”

But Qu Wanwan’s little hands refused to behave—

One moment they were brushing against his Adam’s apple, the next, grazing over his chest, sending dark ripples swirling through Fu Ciyu’s eyes.