Chapter 2: Reaping What One Sows

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Jin’er approached, holding a bowl. “Sister, it was just a dream—I misunderstood you. You’re weak right now. Here, drink some pigeon soup to nourish yourself. I’ll feed you.”

Mu looked at the steaming bowl before her, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her eyes. “Alright, thank you, little sister.”

Jin’er leaned forward slightly, holding the bowl with her left hand and a spoon with her right. As she brought it close to Mu’s lips, her left wrist subtly twisted, then suddenly she let go.

In the instant she thought she had succeeded, the bowl flipped over at a strange angle!

Every drop of the hot soup spilled onto her.

A piercing scream echoed through the hospital room, growing louder and more agonized.

Medical staff rushed in upon hearing the commotion and immediately took Jin’er away to tend to her burns.

Yun Sufen hurried after them.

Mu stared coldly at the mess on the floor, a sneer curling her lips. “You brought this on yourself.”

…

After hearing about Jin’er’s burns, Chen Yao rushed over.

Once Jin’er was treated and moved to the observation room, he made his way to see Mu.

Mu regarded the man who had only visited once since her accident with a thoughtful expression.

Chen Yao—her fiancé.

A wealthy heir, decent-looking but mediocre in capability, and, above all, lazily indifferent.

So lazy that he preferred to boss her around rather than act himself.

She had been with him because their families—Chen and Mu—were business partners, and her adoptive parents insisted on their marriage.

Before, she obeyed everyone—her adoptive parents and Chen Yao alike.

Whatever he asked, she did.

But now?

He could forget it.

Mu vividly remembered that on the very night she was discharged from intensive care, Chen Yao and Jin’er shamelessly kissed and touched each other in her hospital room without any hesitation.

Chen Yao was a playboy who had made Mu do all his college assignments, including his graduation project.

“Mu, my defense is next month. You’ve finished my thesis and presentation, right?”

Mu’s face remained composed. “There’s a bit left to revise. I’ll email it to you in a couple of days.”

“Okay, I’ll wait.”

Chen Yao took her hand, feigning tenderness. “Mu, don’t worry. I’ll be by your side to help you recover. We’ll marry in two years, alright?”

Ha! Like I’d marry you!

You used to be pretty and obedient—willing to wait until marriage even if you didn’t touch me. But now you’re a hideous monster. Just looking at you makes me sick.

Once I get the thesis, I’m done with you!

Chen Yao schemed silently.

Mu didn’t believe his lies but pretended to. “Fine.”

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She knew he wanted to drain every last bit of her usefulness.

Well, she would make sure his thesis defense stunned everyone.

…

Jin’er waited for Chen Yao in the observation room.

When he returned, she immediately pressed close and kissed him. “Brother-in-law, how did the chat with my sister go?”

Chen Yao embraced her. “She listens to everything I say. Jin’er, once I graduate, I’ll take over the family business. With the Chen-Mu alliance, the woman I marry will be you, not that ugly beast.”

“Won’t sister be heartbroken?”

“Who cares about her?”

“Sis, it doesn’t matter. As long as I’m with you, I don’t care if I have no status.”

“Foolish girl, I won’t let you suffer.”

“Yao…”

Jin’er nestled in Chen Yao’s arms, a smile curling her lips, her eyes flashing with triumphant cruelty.

That wretched woman dared to burn her!

She would take everything she had—one by one.

Including the man.

…

A month later.

Mu was discharged.

The Mu family was busy preparing Jin’er’s recognition ceremony, forgetting about Mu entirely.

Wearing a mask, Mu went to the hospital lobby on the first floor to complete her discharge procedures.

At the entrance—

Chen Yao, furious, came to confront her, and in his haste, collided with a man. Seeing he was disabled, he kicked the man’s wheelchair.

But the kick backfired, crippling Chen Yao himself!

“Ow!”

He clutched his foot, hopping in pain.

The man in the wheelchair glanced at the phone Chen Yao had dropped, frowned slightly, and said, “Pick up my phone.”

Chen Yao raged, cursing, “You crippled bastard! Blocking my way and still demanding I pick up your phone? Don’t you know who I am?”

“Who are you?”

Chen Yao was momentarily speechless, then shouted, “I’m your father!”

The man raised an eyebrow coolly, showing no emotion.

Just then, Mu, having finished her discharge paperwork, walked over and called, “Chen Yao.”

Seeing Mu, Chen Yao immediately shifted focus. “You’re just in time! My graduation project PPT—it turned into… it turned into…”

Those three words he couldn’t bring himself to say.

Mu looked puzzled. “Turned into what?”

“Don’t pretend!”

“What am I pretending?”

Mu feigned innocence. “Didn’t you check the project I sent you? You said it was fine.”

Chen Yao took a deep breath. “It was fine then, but when I opened it on stage… it played… a porn video! Do you know how humiliating that was?!”

The words “porn video” caused many medical staff and patients to stop and stare.

Mu gasped, loudly enough for all to hear, “You actually watched porn during such an important defense?”

“I didn’t! Maybe my computer was infected! It had videos from every country! I couldn’t close them!”

“From every country… that virus must be serious. No wonder you couldn’t shut it down.”

“I told you, I didn’t watch any!”

Chen Yao was so angry he felt like vomiting blood.

Mu kindly comforted him, “Alright, alright, you didn’t watch it. The porn on your computer wasn’t watched by you.”

Chen Yao: “…”

He wanted to die.

More and more people gathered around, their looks impossible to describe—shocked, amused, mocking, teasing, a complex mix.

Just like at the defense when the entire economics and management department had stared at him with disbelief, excitement, ridicule, and scorn.

This was the greatest humiliation of his life!

Chen Yao’s situation worsened, and unable to withstand the pressure, he glared resentfully at Mu before fleeing.

Mu picked up the fallen phone and handed it to the man in the wheelchair. “Sorry, he’s a bit unhinged.”

Seeing the man clearly, Mu froze. “Have we met somewhere before?”

Half his body bathed in warm yellow light, his pale skin shimmered with a faint golden glow.

His profile lifted slightly—the long eyelashes like fans, the high nose bridge, the thin crimson lips—all perfectly sculpted as if carved by the hand of a master creator.

That glance and that brow felt inexplicably familiar.

Fu Ningli looked at the woman wrapped tightly, ignoring her attempt to speak. He said to his assistant behind him, “Song Yuan, let’s go.”

Song Yuan pushed Fu Ningli forward and bent slightly to ask, “Master Ning, what should we do about that man?”

“Find him. Let him know who his father is.”

…

Mu watched the man’s retreating figure, racking her memory until his face aligned with that handsome, aloof youth she once knew.