"Will it be better tomorrow?" Jin Yan asked, her heart aching with worry for the child who had fallen ill so soon after arriving.
Lu Jincheng looked at his mother with concern. The recent events had struck her repeatedly, leaving her haggard and frail.
"Mom, you should go back and rest. I'll stay here and watch over her."
Mu Jiuchen looked at the mother and son. "You both go back. I'll watch Yunyun."
He would take good care of his daughter and wouldn't let Nuan Nuan worry.
Jin Yan's head throbbed. She had cried too much today and was beginning to feel weak, her steps unsteady.
"Xiao Jiu, don't push yourself too hard. After Yunyun finishes her IV, you should get some sleep too. Don't wear yourself out," Jin Yan also felt sorry for Mu Jiuchen.
The expression on his face didn't lie; he deeply loved Nuan Nuan, and he was in immense pain.
Everyone said Mu Jiuchen was cold-blooded and indifferent, imposing and picky, making countless eager women retreat.
She had heard many rumors, but seeing him now, he was a man of flesh and blood, deeply devoted.
"Okay," Mu Jiuchen replied faintly.
After Jin Yan left, Mu Jiuchen and Lu Jincheng sat on either side, watching over Yunyun.
Silence hung between them, creating an awkward atmosphere.
Lu Jincheng lost interest in his phone after a short while.
He glanced at Mu Jiuchen. In his memory, Mu Jiuchen had always been proud and noble. Tonight, however, he was despondent, disheveled, and filled with pain, making his dark eyes seem even deeper and more terrifying. He looked pitiful and heartbreaking.
Thinking of his sister, Lu Jincheng's expression turned grim.
"Nuan Nuan is very beautiful!"
His sudden words, the name "Nuan Nuan," made Mu Jiuchen spare him a glance.
Lu Jincheng smiled. "Nuan Nuan will be fine. Don't you feel it?" He wanted to help him feel better, but the topic felt awkward.
Mu Jiuchen felt the same way. His Nuan Nuan would be fine. As long as she returned to him, he would give her everything, showering her with absolute affection.
Lu Jincheng watched Mu Jiuchen fall silent again. He seemed to have zoned out instantly, his vacant gaze fixed on a distant point. Lu Jincheng's heart ached sharply.
Under the cold white light, his black shirt draped perfectly. His chiseled abs were subtly revealed, and the slightly unbuttoned collar exposed his alluring skin, along with faint scars.
Lu Jincheng exhaled and said, "Mu Jiuchen, you should go and rest. Your shoulder and leg are injured. You need to come with me to the hospital tomorrow. Your leg is fractured; it needs a cast."
Mu Jiuchen appeared not to hear him, his gaze still empty as he stared into the distance.
Lu Jincheng looked at the abrasions on his body and couldn't help himself. Who else could he pity if not his future brother-in-law?
He walked over and blocked Mu Jiuchen's line of sight. Mu Jiuchen slowly shifted his gaze to him, his dry voice asking faintly, "What is it?"
Lu Jincheng knew he hadn't heard him earlier.
"Go and bathe. After your bath, I'll help you treat your wounds."
Mu Jiuchen indifferently refused. "No need."
This pain was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.
This kind of pain was what made him feel alive.
"Mu Jiuchen!"
Lu Jincheng was angered.
"If Nuan Nuan knew you were treating yourself like this, she would be upset. You still have three children to take care of. What right do you have to fall sick? What right do you have to be admitted to the hospital?"
Mu Jiuchen's eyelids flickered slightly, but he remained silent. His long eyelashes fluttered, and a scene by the sea flashed through his mind: she had willingly given him the last dose of life-saving medicine instead of taking it herself. She was in more pain than he was, yet she had given him the antidote.
Number One said this was Jiang Nuan!
Fierce when she needed to be, but always pure and kind!
His breath hitched. He stood up and went to his room to bathe.
He needed to recover quickly; he had many things to do.
Lu Jincheng watched him move and knew Nuan Nuan was effective.
While Mu Jiuchen bathed, he discovered that his numerous wounds had scabbed over within a single day.
This indicated the medicine Nuan Nuan gave him was excellent. Even his foot, which caused him intense pain when he stepped on it, was no longer as painful as it had been during the day.
He looked at his reflection in the mirror: cold, ruthless, cruel – labels that had always been attached to him, but which he had never cared about.
Today, seeing his own icy expression, he finally understood the logic behind the rumors. He was truly not gentle at all.
Yet, this not-so-gentle man was loved by a gentle woman who had given him all her chances to live in order for him to survive.
He, Mu Jiuchen, was truly lucky!
Mu Jiuchen splashed cold water on his face and changed into clean clothes before going out.
He returned to his daughter's room. Lu Jincheng was preparing an IV drip. Seeing Mu Jiuchen enter, he said, "You should sit down and get an IV drip too. You need to be well to take care of the three children. No matter how good we uncles are, we can't replace your parents."
Mu Jiuchen knew he was right and obediently allowed Lu Jincheng to administer the IV drip.
Seeing him comply, Lu Jincheng breathed a sigh of relief.
Far away in Jin City, Meng Yuan and Yun Xia contacted Jiang Xingyu the next day. Jiang Xingyu told them the truth, and they learned that Jiang Nuan was still alive, which relieved them both.
However, Meng Yuan was still worried about Jiang Yukuo and his siblings. He Mingrun was concerned about Mu Jiuchen. The two of them took a plane to Modu the next morning.
Knowing that Mu Jiuchen was at the Lu family's residence, they also rushed there.
As soon as Meng Yuan saw Mu Jiuchen, she rushed forward and punched him a few times.
But she also knew how heartbroken Mu Jiuchen was, so she only hit him without speaking.
Mu Jiuchen didn't resist, letting her vent. He knew Meng Yuan was blaming him for not protecting Jiang Nuan well enough.
He had indeed failed to protect Nuan Nuan, which had put her life in danger.
He Mingrun stepped forward and hugged Meng Yuan. "Yuan Yuan, calm down."
"How can I calm down? Do you know how Jiang Nuan has survived until now?" Meng Yuan couldn't calm down; she was heartbroken.
When Jiang Nuan went on missions before, she and Yun Xia were always worried. If Jiang Nuan didn't call them proactively, they wouldn't dare to disturb her, fearing she might encounter trouble.
They could only diligently take care of her children.
But it was unavoidable; for the sake of living, for the milk money for the children, she had to take on dangerous jobs that paid tens of thousands of yuan each time.
"She lived such a hard life. I always thought that once she met a good man, she would become happy. Why is it now that even staying alive is so difficult for her?" Meng Yuan broke down in uncontrollable tears.
"She just wanted to try her best to live, just wanted her three children to live well. That's all she wanted, wah wah wah..."
The Lu family members listened, feeling immense sadness, and lowered their heads to wipe away tears.
Mu Jiuchen felt even more pain. He stared intently out the window, unable to say a word.
"Er Zhuai, don't cry." Jiang Shaoqing ran down and hugged Meng Yuan.
"Little Koi." Meng Yuan hugged him tightly as well.
Jiang Shaoqing, with red eyes, comforted her, "Er Zhuai, Mom will come back. She will survive."
Meng Yuan froze, her crying suddenly stopping. She quickly wiped away her tears and looked at the angelically cute face of Little Koi, asking excitedly, "Baby, you always have a premonition of things. This time will be the same, right?"