Chapter 19

Chapter 19 Let Me Go

Immediately, Mu Xia prepared to lash out. However, her movements came to a screeching halt when she caught sight of the man's face.

"Young Master Ye? Y-you…" She stared at him and blinked in utter disbelief.

Ye Sijue interjected before Mu Xia could finish speaking. "Why did you pretend not to recognize me?"

Mu Xia looked at Ye Sijue with a gaze full of puzzlement. On the other hand, Ye Sijue's stare resembled the look of a ferocious and enraged lion.

「Is he angry because I didn't greet him when I walked past him earlier? Doesn't that mean he recognized me? Then why did he act like we were strangers in the airport? He even ignored me when we were on the plane!」

"You were the one who ignored me first! Besides, how would I dare disturb such a busy man like you?" Mu Xia replied in bafflement.

「What on earth is he thinking? He clearly recognized me. Yet, he pretended like he didn't. He should have continued the act. Why is he cornering and berating me for doing the same thing?」

Mu Xia tried to push Ye Sijue away to put some distance between them. "No matter what… you should let me go first. People will misunderstand if they see us like this."

Mu Xia's words seemed to go in one ear and out the other. Ye Sijue's gaze remained fixated intently on hers.

He found that her bright eyes were like pools of clear water. At the same time, her gaze was as deep as the bottomless ocean.

There wasn't a trace of fear nor flattery present in her brilliant gaze. The only thing Ye Sijue saw was suspicion. She treated him like he was an ordinary person.

「An ordinary person... How long has it been since someone treated me this way?」

"Are you angry because I couldn't recognize you at the airport?"

"I did not get angry," Mu Xia said and jutted out her bottom lip. 「Why would I get mad? 」

Ye Sijue fell silent after he heard her answer.

He could not express the complicated feelings within his heart.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Ye Sijue released her from his grasps and stepped back all of a sudden. "Why did you come to Nanshi? Are you following me because I haven't given you an answer?"

"Following you? I'm not as free as you think; certainly don't have the time to be following you. Besides, what answer do I need from you?" Mu Xia replied with a confused look.

All of a sudden, she recalled the last words Ye Sijue had said during the birthday dinner.

Her eyes widened as round as saucers as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Are you still thinking about the joke I made the other day?"

"As I said, the truth is hidden within your joke. You don't have to worry; I'm still thinking about it."

"Haha!" Mu Xia burst out in laughter as she tilted her head. "I wish I could peek inside that head of yours to find out if your brain is made out of cotton!"

"That is something I should say to you instead," Ye Sijue replied impassively.

"What on earth are you talking about…" Right at that moment, Mu Xia's phone began to ring.

The moment she answered the call, Situ Hai's voice echoed through the phone. ["Xia, where did you go? Why did you keep your sister waiting for so long?"]

「Waiting? I haven't even seen Qingshan's shadow.」

Immediately, Mu Xia acted as if she had been wronged. ["This was the first time I took the private jet plane… I must admit that I was totally clueless. Dad, I'm sorry. Where are you? I'll try to look for you,"] Mu Xia murmured softly.

["Look for the airport staff. We are at the information desk."]

["Alright, I'll head over right now!"] The moment Mu Xia ended the call, her image of a prim and proper woman vanished into thin air.

"My Dad is looking for me. I'll take my leave first. Also, let me repeat myself. I was joking the other day! You can forget about it!" Mu Xia called out as she waved her phone in Ye Sijue's direction.

With that, Mu Xia turned on her heel to leave.

She only managed to take two steps before Ye Sijue's suspicious tone echoed behind her. "What is your relationship with your family?"

His question left her confused. "We are just family." Mu Xia whirled around to face him again.

"Yet, I think that they don't see you like family," Ye Sijue replied in a monotonous voice.

"Why do you say that?"

"My secretary told me that you were the only one who did not sit in the first–class cabin when we boarded the plane."

"Oh, that's what you are referring to; I have a complicated relationship with my family. Ten years ago, I went missing. Now that we are reunited, these trivial issues don't matter to me anymore." Mu Xia grinned as she said this.

Ye Sijue opened his mouth as if to say something. A look of hesitancy painted his face. In the end, he handed her a gold business card. "Call me if you need anything. You can also bring this card to the Ye Group if you want to meet me."

"It's alright…" Mu Xia raised her hands to decline him. Yet, Ye Sijue merely shoved the card into her palm before he left the lounge.

Mu Xia glanced at the gold card in her hand. Emblazoned on the card were the words Ye Group.

「Is he trying to... show off?」

Mu Xia owned a company located overseas. Although it wasn't as renowned as Ye Group, her company was quite famous too.

Just as she made a move to discard the card, she changed her mind and kept it instead,

「Young Master Ye is correct, what if I need his help? This card will be useful. After all, Kyoto is a place I'm unfamiliar with.」

Mu Xia placed the card in her pocket as she changed her mind and walked out of the lounge.

When she finally arrived at the information desk, Situ Hai looked like he was on the verge of exploding in anger. It was clear that he was impatient after waiting for her.

"There will be dire consequences if you delay your sister's ceremony!" Situ Hai scowled.

In contrast, Mu Xinyue spoke in a very demure and gentle tone. "It's still early. She won't delay the ceremony. I was just scared that Xia'er would have gotten lost in this foreign place. Xia'er, look at your sister, she was so worried that she burst into tears when she couldn't find you at the exit."

Mu Xia turned to look at Situ Qingshan. True to Mu Xinyue's words, Situ Qingshan's eyes were red and swollen. There were even glistening tears around the corners of her eyes. "Jie Xia, it's alright… I'm just glad that you are safe." Situ Qingshan sniffled as she said this.

When Mu Xia shifted her gaze downwards, Mu Xia caught sight of several red gashes across Situ Qingshan's thigh underneath her skirt.

In order to make Situ Hai scold Mu Xia, Situ Qingshan had resorted to such extreme tricks and schemes.

When Situ Qingshan noticed Mu Xia's gaze, she quickly used her hand to cover her thigh.

Immediately, Mu Xia looked away under the pretense that she hadn't noticed anything. She did not provide an excuse to Situ Hai. Instead, she apologized profusely. "Dad, I'm so sorry that I made everyone worry. I'll make sure to sit next to everyone so that this incident won't happen again." Mu Xia's face was pale as she murmured apologetically.

Upon hearing Mu Xia's statement, Situ Hai finally remembered that they had booked first–class seats on the plane. On the other hand, Mu Xia sat in the economy class.

Situ Hai coughed awkwardly, it seemed like he couldn't find it in himself to remain mad at her anymore. "It's fine. Let's go. We'll be late if we don't set off now."

"Alright." Mu Xia nodded her head obediently. She even reached out to help Mu Xinyue with her luggage.

In the blink of an eye, Situ Hai's anger dissipated.

Yet, this experience seemed to show that his eldest daughter was someone compliant and weak–willed.

「Perhaps I should shift all of my attention to Qingshan instead.」

In a flash, Situ Qingshan garnered his love and attention again. Situ Hai went out of his way to book the hotel located closest to the ceremony. He even reserved a suite just for Situ Qingshan.

In the room, Situ Qingshan was utterly delighted. "Mom, isn't my plan brilliant?" She beamed and asked Mu Xinyue.

"I told you not to make any move behind my back!" Mu Xinyue did not seem to share Situ Qingshan's joy. Instead, a deep frown graced her forehead.

Seeing Mu Xinyue's anger, Situ Qingshan tugged on her arm in a coy manner. "Mom, don't be angry anymore… Wasn't the final result satisfactory?"

Mu Xinyue suddenly remembered that Situ Hai had arranged for Mu Xia to stay at the cheapest room in the hotel. Immediately, her mood brightened. "You rascal. The next time you try to do anything, you should let me know first," Mu Xinyue chastised Situ Qingshan and flicked her nose mischievously.

"Relax, Xia isn't as strong as you claim to be. I bet she's throwing an enormous tantrum right now!"

On the other hand, Mu Xinyue was deep in thought.

「Anyone who fell into Qingshan's schemes would have lashed out or defended themselves. Yet, Xia did not. She merely admitted her mistake and tried to improve her flaws.

This means that Xia is someone who can endure hardships and stay calm despite being blamed. She would be extremely dangerous if she decides to lash out.」

"Darling, listen to me. I've thought about it. You should just receive your trophy obediently. Don't try to say anything else. We should try out best to understand her. There will be plenty of chances to deal with her in the future," Mu Xinyue said solemnly.

"Alright, Mom." Situ Qingshan nodded her head in agreement. Despite her actions, she didn't seem to share the same thoughts as Mu Xinyue.