Chapter 109: North Branch

Dinner at the Mu residence was heavy with tension, and that pressure came directly from the uneasy atmosphere between Mu Nanqiu and Mrs. Mu.

Because of their daughter’s situation, Mrs. Mu had no mood to cook, so Aunt Liu had to laboriously prepare a large spread.

The whole family sat quietly around the table, eating in silence.

As the main figures, both Mu Nanqiu and Mrs. Mu remained silent, so no one else spoke either.

Mu Patriarch ate heartily.

Since he was home for a rare visit, he wanted to enjoy the family meal properly.

He hurried through his food, eager to leave for an evening meeting.

Without his tall presence to hold the room, the pressure shifted to Beizhi and Mu Younger Brother, who both kept their heads down and ate quietly, picking at the few dishes before them.

Beizhi was luckier.

In front of her was a balanced selection of two meat and vegetable dishes plus a soup.

Mu Younger Brother, however, had a rougher deal—three dry, unappetizing dishes with little oil, and his cup of water was already empty.

Sitting beside him was Mrs. Mu, so he dared not make any sudden moves.

“I’m done,” Mu Nanqiu said after finishing the rice in her bowl.

She stood up, ready to clear the dishes.

Seeing her rise, Beizhi was about to stand as well but heard Mrs. Mu say,

“Eating so fast? Have another bowl. We rarely make this much food. Aunt Liu knows you like these dishes and specially prepared them.”

“I’m full.”

“Eat some more. You’ve been eating takeout every day; you’ve gotten so thin. Look at Zhi’er, then look at yourself.”

Mrs. Mu’s gaze landed on her second daughter, Beizhi, who flinched slightly.

Silently, she picked up a leaf of vegetables.

Aunt Liu’s cooking still suited her taste.

She could eat it.

Under the gentle hint, Beizhi obediently served herself another modest bowl and sat back down.

“Trying to lose weight recently,” Mu Nanqiu replied as she turned to leave.

Mrs. Mu sighed softly, looking at her eldest daughter who was becoming increasingly disobedient. “Your grandfather isn’t well. He thinks he’s been in the city too long and wants to return to the old home. So we sent her back. You should go back and visit tomorrow.”

Mu Nanqiu paused a few steps away, hesitated, then responded with a quiet, “Okay,” agreeing to the request.

Mrs. Mu watched her eldest daughter carry her dishes upstairs until her figure disappeared.

Then she turned to her youngest son and softly asked, “Is it tasty?”

Mu Younger Brother choked slightly but quickly nodded.

Mrs. Mu’s eyes carried a hint of melancholy, as if she felt her culinary skills deserved more appreciation.

Unfortunately, only her second daughter understood her.

“If it’s good, eat more. Go get another bowl.”

Beizhi silently continued eating, ignoring the stunned look on her brother’s face.

Who eats just 90% full at dinner? But under Mother’s authority, eating was still eating.

Early the next morning, Mu Nanqiu packed her things and was sent to the train station.

She took the high-speed train without eating breakfast at home.

Feeling a bit tired, she decided not to drive herself.

Staring quietly out the window at the ever-changing scenery, Mu Nanqiu pondered what she should do next.

Luo Yu woke to the sound of her phone ringing.

In her pajamas, she reached for the charging phone on the bedside table.

The bright screen light was dazzling, so she squinted for over ten seconds before her eyes adjusted.

It was six o’clock.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and dozed lightly for a while before getting out of bed.

Hastily changing clothes, she fixed her messy hair from last night’s wash.

Her shoulder-length hair wasn’t long and was easy to manage.

Tiptoeing to the bathroom, she brushed her teeth and washed her face as quietly as possible.

After finishing, she grabbed her bag, packed a few things, and set off.

Once outside, she no longer moved quietly, swiftly descending the stairs like the wind.

On the street, some middle and high school students were heading to school, looking sluggish.

Luo Yu smiled faintly.

She had been there before.

Finding a spot, she pulled out her makeup kit and touched up her face.

Seeing her enhanced reflection in the small mirror, Luo Yu couldn’t help but sigh.

“Su Yao is truly naturally beautiful. She doesn’t even need makeup. Her skin is flawless—I’m so jealous.”

But that was just a sigh.

She quickly called a DiDi and headed to the meeting point.

Soon, a car arrived, slowing as it approached.

When it finally stopped before her, she realized it was the car of the person she was waiting for.

Looking at the understated luxury, she swallowed hard.

“Luo Yu, get in. It’s cold outside.”

“Okay.”

The window rolled down, and a female voice spoke.

Luo Yu walked up, opened the door, and sat in the front passenger seat.

She glanced at the driver, Beizhi, who looked excited.

As the car started moving, Luo Yu felt the push back in her seat and nervously looked at Beizhi.

Beizhi smiled awkwardly. “Just got my license. Not very skilled yet. It’s normal.”

Experiencing Beizhi’s lively driving style matched to her personality, Luo Yu took a sharp breath and gripped the seatbelt tightly.

Fortunately, Beizhi wasn’t one to speed; she was simply unfamiliar with driving.

“Beizhi, Beizhi, where are we going?”

“To my place. Nobody’s home right now, so we can do whatever we want.”

“Ah, really?”

“Why not buy some stuff, and you can sleep at my place. They probably won’t be back today.”

Luo Yu’s cheeks flushed.

She thought about it but didn’t dare.

Beizhi’s place was one thing, but her own family might not agree.

Even for girls, staying overnight at someone’s house so far away felt odd.

Her parents likely wouldn’t approve.

“…”

“What?”

“My parents probably won’t agree.”

“That’s not a big deal.”

In Beizhi’s eyes, parental disapproval was nothing.

Luo Yu glanced at Beizhi’s happy face, wondering if refusing now would be too blunt.

They had only known each other a short time; staying overnight at her place seemed too fast.

After some thought, Luo Yu decided to try it.

After all, she wasn’t a child anymore and should have her own ideas.

Besides, she was curious about such things, and Beizhi seemed very appealing. It didn’t seem like a loss.

Beizhi’s eyes flicked toward Luo Yu.

She sensed Luo Yu’s slight lack of self-awareness but didn’t expose it.

Humming a little tune, she drove on.

Tonight was destined to be a sleepless one.

At Beizhi’s house, Luo Yu’s eyes widened.

It was her first time seeing such a standalone villa with a yard, and she felt both excited and shy.

She obediently followed Beizhi’s lead inside.

She expected to see maids along the way, but not a single one appeared.

Luo Yu wondered how a young lady like Beizhi could not have two or three personal maids.

Curious, she asked Beizhi about it.

Beizhi brought over some slippers, placed them by Luo Yu’s feet, then crouched to untie her shoelaces.

Luo Yu’s face warmed. She loosened the zipper of her jacket.

“Maids?”

Beizhi was momentarily stunned by the question.

She blinked, then smiled at Luo Yu.

“There can be~”

Before Luo Yu could react, her wrist was grabbed and pulled.

Amid Beizhi’s mischievous laughter, Luo Yu was dragged into Beizhi’s room.

Shortly after, a shoulder-length haired girl in a Female Attendant Uniform, shy and blushing, was brought into the living room.

“See? Didn’t I say so?”

“You’re so annoying.”

Luo Yu shyly rolled her eyes at Beizhi, who didn’t mind at all and hugged Luo Yu happily.

The young maid wore not a provocative costume but a dignified, elegant long dress—formal, perfectly fitted, almost like it was tailor-made.

Wrapped in white silk stockings, Luo Yu felt awkward.

She rarely wore silk, seldom wore dresses either.

She wasn’t the type to be coy with her legs, but she couldn’t resist Beizhi’s touch.

Soon, Luo Yu’s face flushed as she scolded Beizhi playfully.

Beizhi was pleased seeing Luo Yu lying on the sofa, clutching the skirt’s hem, blushing.

“Our neighbors have some full-time maids, but we don’t. My mom thinks it’s better to hire aunties for cooking, cleaning, and everything else. They’re much more useful than young, pretty girls.”

“…”

Luo Yu found the explanation reasonable but wondered about the maid outfit she was wearing.

“That? I specially prepared it for you.”

“You’re really straightforward.”

Beizhi’s frankness left Luo Yu speechless.

While she was dazed, Beizhi’s hand moved to her waist, making Luo Yu giggle uncontrollably.

Suddenly, a noise came from the front door.

Beizhi immediately became alert.

Luo Yu, half-dazed and with drool at the corner of her mouth, felt weak all over and had no strength to sit up.

Beizhi scooped her up and dashed upstairs, carrying her to her room.

She dropped Luo Yu onto the bed and finally gasped for breath.

After a while, wiping sweat from her forehead, she thought,

Since following my sister around, I’ve gotten a bit spoiled—already out of breath from this?

Looking at Luo Yu’s stunned face on the bed, Beizhi made a shushing gesture and said, “Someone’s back. I’ll check who it is. You just stay here in my room, okay?”