Chapter 113: You Need to Have Faith in Me

Mu Nanqiu took Su Yao’s hand and led her to the floor-to-ceiling window on one side.

After pushing open the glass door, outside was a balcony connected to the courtyard.

The warm-toned decor was adorned with some decorative flowers and plants.

Even in the current weather, the greenery remained vibrant.

Although the balcony was enclosed by glass walls preventing cold wind from blowing in, it was still noticeably colder than inside.

Only after a short while outside, Su Yao felt a slight chill on her body.

She hugged her clothes tighter, her slightly reddened eyes already fixed on Mu Nanqiu’s back as she closed the glass door.

After ensuring the door was firmly shut and confirming that Madam Mu hadn’t come over, Mu Nanqiu finally walked over to Su Yao’s side.

Looking at the delicate, pretty face with reddened eyes, she asked softly, “Yao Yao, are you okay?”

There was a hint of worry on her face when she said this.

After all, Su Yao clearly didn’t look well right now.

Su Yao didn’t speak, only shook her head to indicate she was fine.

But how could Mu Nanqiu believe that? She had just seen a tear fall from her eye, and her eyes were still red.

Could what she had seen just now have been fake?

There was no way she was okay…

Looking at Su Yao’s slightly pursed lips, Mu Nanqiu didn’t press further.

Forcing her to answer now wouldn’t lead to any good outcome.

Mu Nanqiu thought helplessly about the other side of this issue—her mother.

She had previously tried her best to avoid such a situation by hiding her relationship with Su Yao, but it had still come to this.

Now, Mu Nanqiu had to find a way to resolve it.

It was tricky—after all, they were the same gender.

Her gaze shifted outside the glass wall.

The ground in the Hospital Director’s Yard was already covered in a thick layer of pure white snow.

Because few people played here, it remained pristine and untouched.

Their city was located relatively south, so snowfall only lasted a few days in winter, and sometimes it didn’t snow at all.

Thus, the snow-covered landscape felt novel.

“This year, the snow came early.”

Su Yao wiped her nose and avoided Mu Nanqiu’s gaze, trying to change the subject.

But clearly, Mu Nanqiu wasn’t about to pretend nothing had happened.

She reached out and grabbed Su Yao’s small hand, which was tucked inside her sleeve.

Her action startled Su Yao for a moment but soon calmed her down.

She lowered her head, looking at the ground.

“Auntie is doing well. She didn’t say anything harsh, and nothing happened. I just… I’m a bit uncomfortable with unfamiliar places.”

“All right.”

“I really am fine…”

“Enough. Don’t say those things. I don’t like to hear them.”

The sky was somewhat gray and hazy, but compared to that morning, it was much brighter, and no more snowflakes fell.

Su Yao scratched her cheek, not quite understanding Mu Nanqiu’s meaning.

When Madam Mu had brought her here, she thought she would be difficult or even use money to make her give up being with Mu Nanqiu.

But none of that happened.

She was simply invited here and then left waiting.

Su Yao had taken a short nap on the sofa and woke up to see Mu Nanqiu return.

“Nanqiu, is it because of me…”

Before Su Yao could finish, her mouth was covered.

She stared blankly at Mu Nanqiu in front of her.

The lingering warmth made her dazed.

She avoided Mu Nanqiu’s intense gaze but felt her shoulders pressed down.

A voice whispered close to her ear, “Don’t say such gloomy things in front of me.

If you do, I’ll get angry.

And if I’m angry, I’m going to take it out on you—hard.”

Though the words sounded teasing, the tone was somewhat cold, even frightening to Su Yao.

She bit her lower lip lightly and nodded, signaling she wouldn’t say those things anymore.

Su Yao knew Mu Nanqiu meant what she said.

Suddenly, a pair of hands blocked her waist and pulled her into an embrace.

Su Yao felt Mu Nanqiu’s hug was extremely tight—almost painful—and hurriedly pleaded, “I, I get it, I won’t say those things anymore.”

Only then did Mu Nanqiu ease her grip slightly, though she still didn’t let go of Su Yao’s hands.

Su Yao rested her forehead against Mu Nanqiu’s shoulder, speaking softly, “Nanqiu, can you take me home? Please?”

“After dinner, I’ll take you home.”

Su Yao was still a bit afraid of Madam Mu, but since Mu Nanqiu had said so, she could only agree.

Just as Mu Nanqiu was about to make another move, the glass door was pushed open.

Facing the room was a frosted glass panel.

Previously, Madam Mu had kept some distance when she saw the two, likely intending only to talk.

But upon seeing them cling to each other again, she hurried over, opened the door, and looked at her own daughter who was holding another girl with a doting expression.

Her head almost spun.

Seeing Madam Mu, Su Yao wanted to break free from Mu Nanqiu’s embrace.

After all, she had to maintain some propriety in front of the family’s matriarch.

But no matter how she struggled, Mu Nanqiu wouldn’t let go, and Su Yao had no choice but to lean against her, turning her head away to avoid Madam Mu’s gaze.

Since she had already been discovered, Mu Nanqiu didn’t care anymore.

She even pressed Su Yao’s head against her chest right in front of her mother and asked, “Mom, is there something you want?”

“You, you, you!”

Madam Mu was so angry she felt dizzy. “Can’t you at least pretend in front of me? Just say you’re close friends or something!”

“Are girls these days really this direct?”

Fuming, Madam Mu glared at her daughter for quite some time.

Mu Nanqiu slightly raised her chin, the two of them seemingly locked in a silent battle of wills.

As a bystander, Su Yao just pretended she saw nothing.

Half a minute passed, a full half-minute, until Madam Mu finally sighed and said, “Eat at home before you leave.”

“All right.”

After receiving the reply, Madam Mu glanced at Su Yao in Mu Nanqiu’s arms but didn’t show any reaction and turned to walk inside.

Only then did Mu Nanqiu release her hold, but before Su Yao could relax, her face was cupped by a pair of hands.

“You need to have faith in me.”

Su Yao silently looked at Mu Nanqiu’s delicate face, feeling her slender fingers gently caressing and kneading her cheeks.

She softly replied.

Su Yao held her bowl and chopsticks.

Although her gaze was fixed on the table, her attention was entirely on the other three women at the table.

Four women sat together, each with their own thoughts.

Mu Nanqiu and Madam Mu sat opposite each other, as hostile as water and fire.

Under their watchful eyes, Su Yao didn’t dare reach for any dishes that were farther away.

Bei Zhi was similar.

After going downstairs and seeing Su Yao sitting there, she was both shocked and impressed.

No wonder big sister could do things ordinary people couldn’t.

“…”

“Don’t talk while eating.”

Bei Zhi was about to say something but was scolded by Madam Mu, so she obediently ate her meal.

The entire meal had a low-pressure atmosphere that was uncomfortable, especially for an outsider like Su Yao.

But since she had promised Mu Nanqiu, she endured it quietly.

After finishing her meal, Bei Zhi went to the kitchen to grab a cucumber and some fruit and hurried upstairs.

But halfway up, Mu Nanqiu stopped her.

“Give me the keys.”

“Huh?”

“What ‘huh’? The car keys.”

“…”

Mu Nanqiu’s request was reasonable, but Bei Zhi seemed hesitant, as if there was something on her mind.

Still, under Mu Nanqiu’s direct gaze, she didn’t dare refuse.

After all, the car belonged to Mu Nanqiu.

The plan had been for Bei Zhi to borrow it only while Mu Nanqiu was away.

If Bei Zhi wanted it, she would have to ask Master Mu herself.

And Master Mu would just tell her to talk to Madam Mu instead—something Bei Zhi dared not do.

After handing over the keys, Bei Zhi showed little reaction, only a bit of regret—she had just started playing and now it was over.

As for Luo Yu?

Ha, just trick her into sleeping in her own bed.

There was no rest after dinner.

Mu Nanqiu immediately took Su Yao to the car and drove her back to the city.

The two remained silent the entire way until they reached the Su Family Compound gate.

When the car stopped, Mu Nanqiu looked at Su Yao in the passenger seat.

Back home, Su Yao visibly relaxed, no longer tense like she had been at Mu Nanqiu’s house.

Once people leave familiar surroundings, they tend to become anxious.

Su Yao’s was just more obvious.

Her daily range was extremely limited, and she mostly traveled only a few usual routes.

So being so far from home at Mu Nanqiu’s place felt like being in a foreign land—no relatives, no acquaintances, nowhere to go.

If her phone died, she might really end up sleeping on the street.

“There’s something I want to tell you…”

Before getting out of the car, Su Yao finally summoned courage.

She had begun to have questions about her past and decided to seek answers.

Although there might be none—many things long buried—she still chose to embark on the journey back to her hometown.

“I’ll be going back home in a few days.”

“Mhm.”

“I’ll return after the New Year.”

“Mhm.”

“I’ll tell you more when I come back.”

Mu Nanqiu’s mouth twitched slightly.

So that thing you wanted to say wasn’t this after all?

Seeing Su Yao’s serious expression, she nodded and said, “There’s still plenty of time.”

After dropping off Su Yao, Mu Nanqiu didn’t stay in the city but went straight home.

The round trip took over three hours, and she felt somewhat tired.

At home, her mother was waiting for her, but Mu Nanqiu didn’t want to talk.

She just wanted to rest quietly.

So she said to Madam Mu, “I’m going to my room to sleep a bit. I’m tired today.”

Madam Mu raised her eyebrows but, seeing the exhaustion in Mu Nanqiu’s expression, didn’t stop her.

Back in her room, she leaned against the door and looked around at the cluttered, messy bedroom.

She smiled, quietly glad Su Yao hadn’t seen it—otherwise, her image as a graceful big sister would be ruined.

Rubbing the slight ache in her temples, she suddenly frowned.

“Hua Mingye wouldn’t do something like this. It must have been Gu Qin who told Mom. But it was bound to happen sooner or later—just a bit early…”

***

(My schedule is all messed up—day and night flipped. It’s so hard to fix!)