By the time Chu Xiaoyuan went upstairs to check on the patient, Chu Yanxiu was already lying in bed.
Chu Xiaoyuan went through the motions of visiting, then continued to flirt with Mu Jiujiu right in front of the “vegetable” Chu Yanxiu.
“Little sister-in-law, you’re so beautiful, married to my brother at the prime of your youth. If my brother were healthy, it wouldn’t be a bad match, but now…”
He sighed with feigned sympathy: “Ah, your little brother-in-law feels so sorry for you.”
Mu Jiujiu sat by the bed, eyes slightly lowered, gazing at Chu Yanxiu with a puzzled expression: “Why feel sorry for Jiujiu? As a younger brother, shouldn’t you be feeling sorry for your injured and unconscious older brother?”
Chu Xiaoyuan was left speechless, his throat tightening as he leaned forward awkwardly.
After a long pause, his voice came out dry and strained: “I… of course I feel sorry for my brother too. It’s just that the doctor said he’s unlikely to recover to a normal state. But you’re different, little sister-in-law. You shouldn’t be a sacrifice for an arranged marriage.”
Hearing this, Mu Jiujiu finally looked up at Chu Xiaoyuan: “This marriage was arranged by your mother.”
The veins on Chu Xiaoyuan’s forehead twitched. His brain: “…”
After a moment, Chu Xiaoyuan glanced at the sleeping, unconscious Chu Yanxiu.
He abruptly changed the subject: “Little sister-in-law, I brought you a wedding gift. Come to my room to get it—my room is on the second floor too.”
Lust is a blade that cuts through bone.
Encountering such a stunning beauty, Chu Xiaoyuan wished he could pin her down right now.
Even just a touch, a kiss—the taste would surely be intoxicating and soul-stealing.
Mu Jiujiu looked grateful: “Thank you, second brother. Does my husband have one too?”
Chu Xiaoyuan racked his brain thinking about whether he had anything in his suitcase suitable for a man, while saying: “Of course, how could I forget my brother.”
Mu Jiujiu: “Then could you trouble second brother to bring Jiujiu’s gift along with my husband’s when you fetch his?”
This conversation was going nowhere.
Chu Xiaoyuan’s mouth twitched. Seeing that it was almost dinner time, and since he had just returned and was still somewhat wary of Chu Yanxiu’s presence, he gave up his advances and went back to his room.
After Chu Xiaoyuan left, Mu Jiujiu immediately closed the door.
She leaned over the edge of the bed, looking at Chu Yanxiu, and muttered softly: “Husband, your younger brother is nothing like you.”
Chu Yanxiu pressed his teeth together lightly, ignoring her.
Mu Jiujiu thought Chu Yanxiu was asleep.
Her voice grew even softer: “He’s annoying to look at.”
Chu Yanxiu sneered inwardly: At least you’re not completely blind—with that whole analysis before going downstairs, I almost thought you were a total fool!
Mu Jiujiu propped her head on her arm and crawled forward a bit, gazing at Chu Yanxiu’s sleeping face with a silly, infatuated look: “But my husband is different. Looking at my husband fills my heart with joy.”
Chu Yanxiu: “…”
I suspect you were secretly crushing on me before you married me.
Chu Yanxiu didn’t respond to Mu Jiujiu.
Chu Xiaoyuan was back now. This guy wasn’t like the well-behaved servants in the villa—with his moral standards that were practically a pit of depravity, knocking before entering a room was out of the question.
Especially since…
The little fool was far prettier than the flock of women Chu Xiaoyuan kept outside. That bastard was definitely eyeing her.
Chu Yanxiu couldn’t help but feel irritated. No matter what, the little fool was his wife now. He couldn’t just let that bastard bully her—wouldn’t that be a slap to his own face!
After Guo Xi came upstairs to call them for dinner, Chu Yanxiu grabbed Mu Jiujiu’s hand just as she was about to get up.
He warned her seriously: “Don’t go to Chu Xiaoyuan’s bedroom. Don’t be alone with Chu Xiaoyuan. He’s not a good person.”
Mu Jiujiu’s eyes lit up, and she said happily: “Mm, Jiujiu will remember. Thank you, husband.”
The moment Mu Jiujiu finished speaking, the sound of the doorknob turning echoed through the room.
Chu Yanxiu quickly closed his eyes.
Chu Xiaoyuan opened the door: “Little sister-in-law, let’s go downstairs for dinner together.”
Chu Xiaoyuan watched Mu Jiujiu walk toward him against the glow of the evening sunset—her face so beautiful it seemed to radiate light, her figure graceful and alluring.
He couldn’t help getting carried away again: “Ah, little sister-in-law, I forgot to give you the gift. After dinner, come to my room to pick it up.”
Mu Jiujiu said generously: “Better to wait until my husband wakes up, second brother. Then you can give it to us—it’ll be a nice surprise for my husband too.”
Chu Xiaoyuan: “…”
A UFO flew overhead. He finally realized this fool was treating him like an outsider!
During dinner, Mu Jiujiu grew increasingly annoyed by Chu Xiaoyuan’s unabashed staring.
Ahhh!
With him staring at her like that, she didn’t even know how she was supposed to bring dinner to her husband afterward!
So annoying!
In the end, Mu Jiujiu could only bring Chu Yanxiu an apple and a carton of milk.
Not long after Mu Jiujiu went upstairs, Qiao Yu knocked and came in. She heard Mu Jiujiu turn the lock when she opened the door.
After entering, her peach-blossom eyes glanced suspiciously toward the big bed, carefully studying Chu Yanxiu’s face.
She handed Mu Jiujiu a plate of cut fruit and asked in a gentle tone: “Jiujiu, why did you lock the door just now? I thought you were taking a shower.”
Mu Jiujiu: “Second brother is back. He came in this afternoon without even knocking—it was so scary!”
Her husband waking up had almost been exposed!
Upon hearing this, Qiao Yu thought Mu Jiujiu was referring to the difference between men and women, so she withdrew the doubt in her eyes and smiled: “Oh dear, Xiaoyuan has always been careless and hasn’t yet gotten used to his brother taking a wife. I’ll have a good talk with him later.”
Mu Jiujiu nodded: “Mm, please tell Second Brother not to come in if it’s not necessary. However, Jiujiu will make sure to lock the door properly.”
Qiao Yu: “…”
Why did it feel like Mu Jiujiu didn’t take a liking to her son?
Qiao Yu looked around the room and, for some reason, inexplicably felt a sense of oppression.
She took Mu Jiujiu’s hand with a kind and amiable expression: “Jiujiu, has Yan Xiu shown any improvement today?”
Mu Jiujiu pressed her lips together, putting on a disappointed expression before suddenly raising a reassuring smile at Qiao Yu: “Mother, Jiujiu believes that my husband will definitely get better.”
She hadn’t deceived Qiao Yu, yet she had answered her question.
Seeing that Qiao Yu had no more questions, Mu Jiujiu breathed a sigh of relief.
Her mother-in-law was such a kind person; she really couldn’t bear to lie to her.
Just as Qiao Yu stepped out of the bedroom and turned back to give Mu Jiujiu a loving motherly smile, Mu Jiujiu had already eagerly shut the door and twisted the lock twice with a click-clack.
Qiao Yu: “…”
That brat Chu Xiaoyuan, what on earth did he do to scare the girl like that!
Mu Jiujiu eagerly brought the cut fruit to Chu Yanxiu and said happily, “From now on, my husband doesn’t have to pretend to be asleep anymore, because Jiujiu can lock the door!”
Chu Yanxiu propped himself up on the bed and sat up, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes.
“Husband, hurry and eat something.”
“Jiujiu was useless and only managed to get these, but don’t worry, husband, Jiujiu will definitely think of a good plan tomorrow.”
Chu Yanxiu had barely slept this afternoon because Mu Jiujiu kept disturbing him.
He had also quietly disposed of the morning’s nutrient IV.
Two hours ago, his stomach had started churning with acid from hunger.
Now he didn’t stand on ceremony. Thanks to the locked door, he got straight out of bed, picked up the fruit, and sat on the sofa to eat. Even though he was starving, his manner of eating was refined and dignified.
Mu Jiujiu couldn’t help but watch Chu Yanxiu’s handsome appearance while he ate for a while before reluctantly saying, “Husband, Jiujiu is going to take a shower.”
With that, Mu Jiujiu headed to the bathroom.
Chu Yanxiu, eating his fruit, cast a casual glance.
When he turned back and popped a piece of cantaloupe into his mouth, he suddenly narrowed his eyes…
Wait, that little thing just went in without taking a change of clothes?!