There was a scent of black licorice about her, unforgettable after just one breath.
Mu Qianjue closed his eyes and breathed it in. Just as he was about to kiss her again, Yu Ni’s phone rang.
“It’s a call from home. I need to take it.”
She took out her phone and swiped to answer.
Yu Shengnian’s anxious voice came through the receiver, “Why aren’t you out yet?”
Yu Ni glanced at Mu Qianjue and said softly, “Right away.”
“Hurry up.”
The call was cut off.
Yu Ni stepped out of Mu Qianjue’s embrace. “My family is urging me to come home. I should go.”
“So obedient to your family.”
Mu Qianjue prided himself on being able to read people’s hearts.
Yet this woman before him was unreadable.
Yu Ni smiled and said nothing. Rising on her tiptoes, she kissed Mu Qianjue of her own accord.
Then she turned away with a smile, her white dress dancing in the wind.
She looked just like a flower fairy untouched by the dust of the mortal world, breathtakingly beautiful.
No sooner had Yu Ni left than Mu Nan pushed the door open. “Crown Prince, since you know Second Miss Yu is approaching you with ulterior motives, why did you agree to cooperate with the Yu family?”
“Open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. If I don’t keep her close, how could I ever dig up what she’s really about?” Mu Qianjue lit a cigarette, his face blurred by the smoke as he gazed toward that door.
This woman had two sides to her.
She was hiding a body full of secrets.
Yet he had to admit that her design was the most outstanding among all the bidders.
Since she could bring him benefits, what was the harm in taking a risk?
Of course, if she harbored any other intentions, he wouldn’t let her off easily either.
Outside the door, the moment Yu Ni emerged, the father and son of the Yu family hurried over.
Yu Shengnian’s face was dark. “What did you and the Crown Prince talk about?”
Yu Jingxi’s mind was entirely on the bidding. “Well? Did the Crown Prince agree to give the contract to the Yu family?”
“I’ve already fought for it. It should be fine.”
That last question he’d asked had already made the answer clear.
Yu Ni was also confident that her design was the best.
This collaboration would absolutely belong to the Yu family and no one else.
“Wonderful! I knew Ni Ni’s design was the best. There’s no doubt about it.” Yu Jingxi was thrilled.
He was just about to take Yu Ni’s hand, but remembering that Yu Shengnian was there, he restrained himself.
On the way back to the Yu family villa, the hospital called to say that Yu Rou’s injuries had stabilized.
“Take Second Miss home to rest first.”
Yu Jingxi instructed his assistant.
After that, he and Yu Shengnian got out of the car together.
Yu Ni watched through the rearview mirror as the father and son argued fiercely.
It seemed that with Yu Rou injured this time, the rift between father and son could no longer maintain even a surface-level peace.
Back at the Yu family home, Yu Ni went upstairs, changed out of her evening gown, and sat by the window, continuing to carve Mu Qianjue’s face.
From their two encounters, she had clearly noticed that this man’s self-control was astonishing.
His vigilance was strong.
And he was dangerous.
Approaching him had only two possible outcomes.
Either she would fail and die without a burial place.
But if she succeeded, he would absolutely be a fine sword for her to wield against the Yu family.
Yu Jingxi and Yu Shengnian returned in the early hours of the morning.
They brought good news.
The Yu family had successfully won the bid.
“Congratulations, Father. Congratulations, Brother. Your wish has finally come true.” Yu Ni hadn’t gone to sleep yet, and the moment the father and son returned, they called her to the study.
“The Crown Prince wants us to deliver the complete design drafts to Zai Shui Yi Fang within three days,” Yu Jingxi said, his eyes on Yu Ni’s hands. “And Ni Ni will need to deliver them in person.”
Yu Shengnian had nowhere to vent the fury he’d been holding in all night, and finally he exploded. “Ni Ni is only responsible for the design. Why does she need to go?”
“It’s the Crown Prince’s wish. There’s nothing I can do.”
Yu Jingxi was equally reluctant.
Yu Ni was too dazzling—wherever she went, she drew all the attention. Though he didn’t know why the Crown Prince wanted Ni Ni to come over, he felt deeply uneasy, worried that the Crown Prince might have other intentions toward her.
Yu Ni had anticipated this and showed no surprise.
Her face full of apprehension, she said, “Big Brother, you should send someone else. I’m not good at socializing—I’m afraid I’d cause you trouble.”
“I’ve already communicated with the Crown Prince. He’s firm—he’ll only work directly with the designer.”
“What exactly is Mu Qianjue trying to do?”
Letting Yu Ni attend the bidding conference tonight had already been his limit.
Now Mu Qianjue wanted Yu Ni involved in the project as well—it was as good as digging at his foundations.
“No matter what he’s after, if we want Luanxing Bay, we have no choice but to follow his arrangements.”
The Mu Family of the capital.
A prestigious, noble clan.
With power that towered over all.
Partnering with a great family like the Mu Family meant opening up the entire domestic market—resources and profits would never be a worry in the future.
Having finally secured this cooperation with the Mu Family, Yu Jingxi was willing to make any concession.
Yu Shengnian pushed up his glasses and looked at Yu Ni. “You were alone with the Crown Prince for over half an hour. Did he mention this matter?”
“No. I only elaborated on my design concepts. He seemed quite satisfied.”
“Is that so?”
A flicker of suspicion crossed Yu Shengnian’s eyes.
Yu Ni was utterly deferential. “Ni Ni would never dare deceive Father.”
Coerced by power.
Tempted by profit.
Yu Shengnian could only compromise. “Do as Mu Qianjue says. If there’s nothing else, Jingxi, you may go.”
Yu Jingxi gave Yu Ni one long, deep look. Though unwilling, he turned and left the study.
The moment the door closed, Yu Shengnian’s expression changed completely. “Come here and sit.”
Yu Ni obediently came over and sat down beside him.
Yu Shengnian immediately took a tube of ointment from his pocket, unscrewed the cap, scooped out some, and applied it to her neck.
Yu Ni’s body stiffened, and she instinctively tried to pull away. “Father…”
“The older you get, the more you resemble your mother—especially those eyes. They look like they were cast from the same mold.”
Yu Shengnian gave her no chance to escape. Gripping her chin, his lenses glinting with a sinister light, he said, “Mu Qianjue is no good man. When you deliver the drafts in three days, find a way to keep your distance from him.”
Yu Ni’s face remained calm, but inside, her heart was in chaos.
Her mother’s death anniversary was just days away.
Around this time every year, Yu Shengnian’s moods turned unpredictable.
Keeping her behind alone tonight—she feared he had ulterior motives.
“Rest assured, Father. I know my boundaries.”
With that, she turned her face away, stood up from the sofa, and said, “I’ll go back and work on the design blueprints. You should rest early, Father.”
Outside the door, Yu Jingxi watched every movement inside through the cracked door, taking it all in.
The moment Yu Ni came out, he followed right behind her.
As soon as they entered the attic, he couldn’t wait to grab Yu Ni’s hand. “He touched you just now, didn’t he?”
“So what if he did?”
Yu Ni met his jealous eyes and smiled faintly. “Don’t tell me you’d chop off his hand for me?”
“I’m already working on seizing control of Yu Corporation. Give me a little more time—once I truly become the master of Yu Corporation, I promise I’ll never let him near you again.”
Yu Jingxi was on the verge of going mad.
Seeing Yu Shengnian touch Yu Ni’s neck, he had nearly lost control and charged into the room.
But remembering that it was still Yu Shengnian who ruled this household, he ultimately held back.
Yu Ni pushed him away, her face expressionless. “Big Brother has been saying that for five years now.”