After comforting Qin Qiqi’s wounded little heart, Mu Ci went to sleep and didn’t wake until dawn.
The next morning, Qin Yan knocked on the door: “Are you up? Time for breakfast.”
Little Mu opened her dazed eyes, taking a moment to come back to herself.
Oh, it was her plastic husband calling her for breakfast.
“I’ll be there after washing up.”
After all, she was carrying the Qin family’s child in her belly—he was probably worried she’d skip meals and affect the baby’s development.
After washing up and going downstairs, she found Qin Yan sitting on one side of the dining table, waiting for her without having touched his chopsticks.
“I noticed you liked custard buns the other day, so I made extra. Have more.”
He stood up and pulled out a chair for Mu Ci.
“You made these again?”
Qin Yan gave a low “Mm”: “I enjoy cooking.”
A domineering CEO who enjoys cooking.
A rare species.
Mu Ci picked up a custard bun and started eating. Qin Yan pushed a glass of milk toward her: “I’ll take you somewhere later.”
“Where to?”
“To choose a diamond ring.”
Mu Ci nearly choked on her custard bun: “Do we really have to buy one?”
“Not buy one?” Qin Yan raised an eyebrow in response. “We’re not having a wedding, but we can’t skip the ring too, can we?”
“…”
That did seem unreasonable.
Mu Ci took a sip of milk and agreed.
In the VIP room of a top luxury brand.
The designer spread out various design sketches in a row and introduced: “Mrs. Qin, these are the latest custom designs. Each pair is unique. Do any catch your eye? Or if you like a particular style but want some adjustments, just let me know.”
Mu Ci wasn’t quite used to being addressed as “Mrs. Qin.” She stole a glance at Qin Yan, who seemed perfectly comfortable with it.
Noticing her wandering eyes, Qin Yan chuckled: “Is your husband that handsome?”
Mu Ci: “…”
How thick-skinned—and with other people around too.
The designer smiled: “The affection between you two is truly enviable.”
Yeah, enviable—plastic couple, who would’ve thought.
Mu Ci didn’t linger on the topic. She picked up one of the design sketches and asked him: “What do you think of this one?”
“Whatever you like.”
“How about this one?”
“I like whatever you like.”
Mu Ci had no expertise in jewelry; she found anything shiny beautiful and couldn’t decide.
Yet Qin Yan offered no opinion, simply watching her focused profile as she studied the catalog, his gaze occasionally drifting to her slender, pale fingers.
The curve at the corner of his thin lips never faded.
Mu Ci finally settled on a design.
The designer brought out a soft measuring tape: “Mrs. Qin, let me measure your finger size.”
Just as Mu Ci was about to extend her hand, Qin Yan straightened up: “I’ll measure it.”
Qin Yan took the tape. Seeing Mu Ci watching him, he casually curled his lips: “Mrs. Qin, you choose the design, but as your husband, it’s only right that I measure your finger size.”
“…”
“After all, I’ll be the one putting the ring on you.”
Mu Ci paused, then extended her hand toward him.
The man lowered his gaze, his slightly warm fingers gently cradling her palm as his other hand leisurely wrapped the tape around her finger.
From the fingertip, slowly moving to the pad of her finger.
A tiny, almost imperceptible gesture, yet he made it feel incredibly sensual.
Mu Ci’s heartbeat inexplicably quickened, her fingers growing warm.
Once measured, she quickly withdrew her hand, pretending nonchalance as she picked up a glass of water to drink.
“Mrs. Qin, have you forgotten something?”
Seeing her finish the water without any further action, Qin Yan reminded her.
Mu Ci was puzzled: “Huh?”
Qin Yan raised his hand with distinct knuckles, extending it before her, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Only you can put the ring on me.”
So, measuring his finger size could only be done by her as well.
Mu Ci snapped back to reality, feeling the heat on her face hadn’t yet faded, only to be met with another wave.
She silently picked up the soft measuring tape from the table and wrapped it around his finger.
At just one glance at his hands, the intimate scenes from that night flashed through her mind.
Those pale, slender hands, trailing down from her waist, igniting flames everywhere they touched.
Mu Ci’s throat grew even drier, and her face flushed hotter.
“Can we leave after this is done?” Mu Ci finished measuring quickly and stood up. “We still have a hospital check-up scheduled. Let’s hurry.”
Qin Yan stared at her suddenly reddened earlobe, his smile deepening. “Mm, let’s go.”
In the parking lot, Qin Yan went to get the car while Mu Ci waited by the elevator, the heat on her face still lingering.
Why was she so easily flustered?
It was just a glance at his hand—was her heart really supposed to race like this?
Hah, calm down.
Mu Ci lowered her head and took a deep breath, but suddenly, an exaggerated voice rang out:
“Oh, isn’t this Miss Mu?”
Mu Ci didn’t bother looking up, not even wanting to offer a polite greeting.
But the woman, oblivious to her own unwelcome presence, insisted on approaching to stir up trouble. “Miss Mu, where have you been eating, drinking, and having fun lately?”
Shi Na emphasized the words “eating, drinking, and having fun” with a particularly sarcastic tone.
Mu Ci lazily lifted her gaze and replied with four words: “None of your business.”
Shi Na was left speechless.
The circle of wealthy second-generation heirs in the capital was small, with well-connected social platforms, so everyone basically knew each other.
Who didn’t know Mu Ci? Miss Mu came from an excellent family background and had a face that made women jealous and men infatuated—a face like a seductive enchantress.
Every day, she was just eating, drinking, and having fun, posting photos of her travels, gourmet food, and beautiful scenery.
Perhaps her happiness was too enviable, so she had amassed a sizable following of fans.
But precisely because she seemed too happy, she had also earned the deep-seated jealousy of a group of less fortunate young ladies from the same circle.
Shi Na wore a forced smile, pretending to be considerate.
“Mu Ci, let me tell you, lately, many people in our circle have been saying you’re useless, only living off your family’s wealth, and doing so without a shred of guilt. It makes me angry just hearing it.”
Shi Na was also jealous of Mu Ci, but she believed she wasn’t living off her family—at least she was working in design—so she always targeted Mu Ci’s perceived lack of ability.
Mu Ci felt nothing, replying coldly, “People can say whatever they want. None of my business.”
Mu Ci’s eight-word mantra: None of my business, none of your business.
Shi Na’s face instantly turned cold. “I was just trying to give you a friendly reminder, and this is how you respond?”
“What kind of person hears what kind of words. Someone unpleasant naturally won’t hear anything pleasant.”
Mu Ci blinked her beautiful eyes, a faint, utterly insincere smile curling at the corners of her red lips, returning the sarcasm.
“Oh, you were angry on my behalf? Well, don’t be. Getting angry too often can cause spots. No wonder your complexion looks so bad—even makeup can’t cover it up.”
“You—”
Shi Na’s face turned livid with anger. Hearing a car approaching, she stopped herself, shot Mu Ci a fierce glare, and walked away.
Qin Yan got out of the car and opened the passenger door, glancing over. “Your friend?”
“No,” Mu Ci got in. Qin Yan leaned over to help her fasten her seatbelt, and she stiffened slightly. Only after he pulled back did she say, “Just an annoying fly.”
Qin Yan chuckled softly. “If you need help, just say the word.”
“Mm.”
As the car started moving, Mu Ci immediately took out her phone to vent to Qin Qiqi.
Little Ci’er: 【Do you think Shi Na has some kind of problem? She always loves to flaunt her superiority in front of me.】
Qiqi is a Big Cutie: [Is that bitch here again?]
Little Ci’er: [Ran into her while out shopping.]
Qiqi is a Big Cutie: [First thing in the morning, what bad luck! But sweetie, with your skills, isn’t crushing those bitches a piece of cake? Show them what you’ve got!]
Little Ci’er: [I don’t paint to become famous.]
After sending that message, Qin Yan glanced over. “Who are you chatting with so happily?”
“My best friend,” Mu Ci put away her phone, blinking as she added, “You know her well—Qin Qiqi.”
Qin Yan frowned. “That little girl must’ve said a lot of bad things about me in front of you, right?”
“Do you have that many bad things for her to talk about?” Mu Ci retorted.
Just then, they hit a red light. Qin Yan stopped the car, turned to look at her, his low magnetic voice tinged with seriousness.
“I don’t care about her opinions. I only care about what you think. If there’s something good about me, you can tell me. If there’s something bad, you should tell me even more.”
“…”
“Because I’ll change into the version you like.”