Chapter 68: The Rippled Surface Once Again Returns to Calm

Night, eleven o’clock.
In the car parked behind Liushi Pharmaceuticals.
“Yun Xuan, let me tell you, I’ve never admired anyone before, but I truly admire you.” Liu Mengxuan sipped from her can of beer, her cheeks flushed.
“I admire myself, too,” Yun Xuan replied with a smile, clinking his can against hers.
…
Half an hour earlier.
Faced with a choice, Liu Mengxuan admitted defeat. She’d always claimed to love Liu Mengyan, yet had never considered what might happen to her.
Yun Xuan returned the documents to their original place, substituting the drugs inside with glucose, unnoticed and undetected.
“Will you use these documents to threaten the Liu family?” Liu Mengxuan asked softly.
“No, not unless you tell them yourself,” Yun Xuan shook his head.
“Why are you helping me?” Liu Mengxuan looked down. She knew full well that if Yun Xuan wanted to deal with her, a single call to the Liu family would suffice.
“Because I want to help you. Even if it means you might harm me, I still want to help you. If you ask me why, all I can say is that I yearn for an unchanging, ordinary life. I don’t want to disrupt the way things are now,” Yun Xuan gazed out the window.
“Thank you,” Liu Mengxuan murmured, bowing deeply.
…
“What are you planning to do next?” Liu Mengxuan tossed her empty beer can aside and asked.
“I managed to save all four of you, chased away a few thugs, and came out unscathed. Your master’s daughter hasn’t been found, so you’ll have to stay at Sainte Royal High School for now. Liushi Pharmaceuticals is a conscientious company; tomorrow will be another ordinary day at work,” Yun Xuan took a swig of beer and spoke slowly.
“You really are a hopeless good guy. Take me home, will you? I bought an apartment nearby,” Liu Mengxuan looked out the window, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.
“I never deny it. I am, indeed, a good person,” Yun Xuan started the car, recalling the training where he’d learned to drive.
Liu Mengxuan directed him, and Yun Xuan delivered her to the doorstep.
“Won’t you come in for a while?” Liu Mengxuan gazed at him with drunken, dreamy eyes.
“No, I’m afraid I’d forget to leave,” Yun Xuan waved her off.
“I’m not some enchantress,” Liu Mengxuan rolled her eyes at him.
“No, you’re not—but you’re not far off,” Yun Xuan smiled and turned to leave.
He hadn’t gone far when he sensed someone behind him.
“Don’t tell my sister about this,” Liu Mengxuan hugged him tightly from behind, her voice low.
“Don’t worry. I promised I’d save you. Get some rest,” Yun Xuan didn’t turn around; he knew well what Liu Mengxuan was feeling.
Fear and pain tangled together, with regret looming over it all.
…
Leaving Liu Mengxuan’s apartment, Yun Xuan drove back to Xuanxue Restaurant.
“Xuan, are you alright?” Yun Xun’er had just received Yun Xuan’s call confirming everyone’s safety; she finally relaxed and didn’t call the police.
“Liu Mengxuan is doing better, I took her home. Let the others sleep here at the restaurant,” Yun Xuan glanced at the three girls in the back seat.
All three were still asleep; according to Liu Mengxuan, she had knocked them out herself.
“Alright, Alice will watch the restaurant tonight,” Yun Xun’er nodded.
Yun Xuan carried Wen Xuan’er and Nangong Xiaomeng into Xuanxue Restaurant.
“Yun Xuan,” Liu Mengyan rose from the corner as he entered.
“I’ve sent Liu Mengxuan to her apartment. The three girls are safe. This was nothing but a run-in with some random thugs. As for the smoke grenade, I’ll keep investigating,” Yun Xuan said softly.
“Thank you,” Liu Mengyan sighed in relief.
Yun Xuan opened the door to the lounge. Alice was tending to Wen Xiaoya, who was drunk. Glancing at Wen Xiaoya, who slept in only her underwear, Yun Xuan quickly looked away.
“Thank you for looking after them,” Yun Xuan said quietly to Alice.
“It’s no trouble,” Alice smiled.
…
Qin Zhihua and Dongfang Aoxue had left earlier, as had Sakashita Gin and Hayama Yuanting. Qin Yue and Liu Mengyan departed together. Lin Qingyu had gone ahead, at Yun Xun’er’s suggestion.
Xuanxue Restaurant closed its doors, and Yun Xun’er drove Yun Xuan and the sleeping Yun Xue back home.
Yun Xuan carried Yun Xue into her room, then went downstairs.
“Xuan, come here,” Yun Xun’er called from the sofa.
“You’re still up, Xun’er?” Yun Xuan sat beside her.
“How could I possibly sleep? Xuan, I don’t know what happened, but you haven’t relaxed all day. You must be exhausted,” Yun Xun’er reached out and gently stroked his hair.
“I’m not tired,” Yun Xuan turned his head.
“Don’t carry everything on your own. If you’re tired, just lie down,” Yun Xun’er whispered, coaxing him to rest his head in her lap.
“Xun’er…” Yun Xuan opened his mouth.
“What is it?” Xun’er’s voice was gentle, her hand stroking his hair.
“Warning: Matters regarding save and load cannot be disclosed to others. Otherwise, 1000 exchange points will be consumed to restart this save,” the cat-eared girl Miaomiao reminded him.
“It’s nothing, Xun’er,” Yun Xuan replied with a smile, tears sliding from the corners of his eyes onto her lap.
The pain inside, the fear of death—smiles and tears mingled together.
…
In the quiet darkness, Yun Xun’er sensed Yun Xuan’s distress. She said nothing, only stroked his hair with aching tenderness.
Yun Xuan’s smile was genuine, and so were his tears.
Slowly, exhaustion overtook him, and he fell asleep with his head on Xun’er’s lap.
Xun’er sighed softly and leaned back on the sofa.
…
The next morning.
Xun’er woke to the scent of food wafting through the air.
“Xun’er, go wash up and get ready for breakfast,” Yun Xuan called from the kitchen.
“Alright…” Xun’er paused, glanced at the damp marks on her lap, then headed to her room.
In the kitchen, Yun Xuan hummed a tune. After crying in Xun’er’s arms, he felt much better. Since he couldn’t tell anyone, he would bear it silently.
With this thought, a weight seemed to lift inside him.
Breakfast was set for three. Yun Xue sat quietly nearby, unperturbed—likely because she’d woken up last night to find herself in her own room.
“Xuan, Xue, I’m off,” Xun’er said, dressed in her professional attire as the face of Xuanxue Restaurant.
“Take care, Xun’er,” Yun Xue said softly.
“Take care, Xun’er,” Yun Xuan echoed with a smile.
“I’ll bring you something delicious tonight,” Xun’er promised, and the worry disappeared from her face as she looked at them.
…
After breakfast, Yun Xue returned to work on her light novel, while Yun Xuan remained ill at ease.
Yun Xue’s mother was a shrine maiden, and Liu Mengxuan had mentioned bringing Yun Xue home to become the next shrine maiden.
What a joke! Yun Xuan would never allow such a thing.
He went out, hailed a taxi, and arrived at Liu Mengxuan’s apartment.
The identity of the person who threw the smoke grenade was crucial.
“You’re here so early—were you desperate to see me?” Liu Mengxuan greeted him with a radiant smile, lightly made up, more enchanting than ever.
“Don’t act like this in front of me. Though I don’t dislike you, I can’t stand such pretentiousness,” Yun Xuan walked in without waiting for an invitation.
(P.S. Please vote for recommendations.)