Chapter 23: Chi Mu, my legs ache.

The video was released, and the truth was laid bare. Not a single guest at the event could suppress their gasps of shock. From that moment on, no one in the elite circles of Hai City dared to marry Chi Zhen'er.

Infuriated and humiliated, Chi Zhen'er lunged at Chi Mu like a madwoman. "This video is fake! Why are you trying to ruin me? Why are you destroying my reputation? You ugly freak! You must be jealous of me!"

Chi Mu caught the wrist Chi Zhen'er had swung at her and gave it a light twist, rendering her unable to move. The lights in the hall flickered back on.

Chi Mu leaned in close, stopping only a foot away, and stared into the hysteria in the other woman’s eyes. "Jealous? What do you have that is worth my jealousy?"

"You're jealous that I'm the real daughter of our parents, jealous that I’ve gained my brother-in-law’s favor, and jealous that I’m prettier than you! The point is, I’m back, I have everything, and you’re just green with envy!"

"Yes! You are jealous of Zhen'er! You’re twisted! You’re a pervert! You ugly freak!"

Chen Yao had appeared at Chi Mu's side at some point. He raised his hand and, with the fastest movement he could muster, ripped the mask off Chi Mu’s face, desperate to find a reason to justify his infidelity.

Ji Yuanjing’s heart skipped a beat, and he tried to intervene, but he was a second too late.

Chi Mu’s face was suddenly, unguardedly exposed to everyone present. He felt a surge of worry for her, but in the next second, as his eyes landed on her face, he froze.

Under the warm lights, her skin was as white as snow, and her brows were as delicately drawn as a painting. Her long, thick lashes fluttered like a butterfly’s wings, creating a bewitching curve at the corners of her eyes. Her nose was slightly upturned, her lips a soft, vibrant red. She was breathtakingly beautiful—a completely different person from the one he had seen at the Ji Mansion.

The guests broke into an uproar.

"Where does Chi Zhen'er get the confidence to say she’s prettier than Chi Mu?"

"Am I blind? Why did they call her an ugly freak? She’s as beautiful as a celestial being!"

"Why would someone protected by Young Master Ji ever need to be jealous of anyone else?"

"His fiancée is this beautiful, yet he still cheated with that plain-looking sister-in-law. Truly, a wife is never as good as a mistress, and a mistress is never as good as a secret lover."

Chi Zhen'er was no less shocked than Ji Yuanjing upon seeing Chi Mu's face. Chen Yao stood rooted to the spot, seemingly robbed of his senses by her beauty. After a long moment, he abandoned his accusatory tone and grabbed Chi Mu’s hand tightly. "Mumu, I was wrong. It was all Chi Zhen'er seducing me! I was possessed by the devil to let her climb into my bed!"

"I love you. I won't call off the engagement. Can’t we go back to how things were?"

Chi Mu laughed, left speechless. She shook off his hand. "You cheated with Chi Zhen'er, and now, I am the one calling off the engagement. From this day forward, I, Chi Mu, have absolutely nothing to do with you, Chen Yao!"

She then shifted her gaze to Chi Zhen'er. "You turned your own homecoming banquet into a cesspool of chaos. Chi Zhen'er, you’ve brought this on yourself. You have thoroughly humiliated the Chi family today."

Finally, she looked at Chi Lifeng and Yun Sufen, her lips curling into a faint, self-deprecating smile. "Three feet above our heads, the gods are watching. As you sow, so shall you reap. Mom, Dad, I have saved up enough disappointment in you. I will move out of the Chi house tonight and never return."

Chi Mu left the banquet hall, and Ji Yuanjing followed close behind. Seeing this, the other guests began to disperse. Chi Lifeng collapsed onto the floor, his heart finally sinking into despair.

***

19th Floor, Xihua Garden.

Only after Chi Mu left the Tianxi Hotel did Fu Ningli close his laptop and rub his temples. The clock struck eight-fifteen. Uncle Zhang, standing to the side, reminded him, "Sir, today is the 50th day. Miss Chi will not be coming."

Fu Ningli moved his legs and stood up from his wheelchair.

Nine years. He could finally walk upright. The long-forgotten sensation of standing on solid ground washed over his entire body. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the city’s nightscape, yet his mind kept replaying the image of Ji Yuanjing chasing after Chi Mu. After a moment of thought, he dialed Chi Mu’s number.

***

When Chi Mu received the call, she was in a cafe, being interrogated by Ji Yuanjing. He had booked out the entire cafe, and it was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Consequently, her ringtone sounded abrupt and jarring.

Ji Yuanjing leaned back in his chair, his expression cold and hard, and gave her a look that granted her permission to answer. Chi Mu turned away, avoiding his intense gaze.

As soon as she pressed "accept," Fu Ningli’s clear, seductive voice traveled through the current: "Chi Mu, my leg hurts."

"Is it very painful?"

"I can endure it."

"I have something to take care of right now. I can't leave."

"Then come over when you're finished. I can hold out a little longer."

"Alright, I'll be there as soon as I can."

After hanging up, Chi Mu tapped the table, feeling anxious. "A patient is waiting for me. If you have questions, ask them quickly; I need to go see him."

"Which patient? I'll drive you there."

"I have an obligation to protect my patient's privacy."

"It's too late. I'm worried about you going alone."

"Mr. Ji, we are just friends."

"You even lie to your friends."

"..."

Chi Mu was rendered speechless. Ji Yuanjing stared at the vivid, beautiful face of the woman before him, unsure whether to be happy or angry. "I won't hold it against you that you played the ugly freak to reject me, but now that you no longer have a fiancé, you can marry me."

Ji Yuanjing was very direct. Chi Mu felt she should be just as direct. "Mr. Ji, I don't like you."

"You don't like me?" Ji Yuanjing’s voice rose in pitch. "Then who do you like?"

"My personal affairs are none of your business."

"..."

Ji Yuanjing narrowed his eyes, his brow slightly furrowed. The steam from the coffee hung between them, blurring their vision. Seeing that Ji Yuanjing remained silent, Chi Mu grabbed her clutch and stood up. "I have matters to attend to; I'm leaving."

Ji Yuanjing stood up as well and took off his coat, draping it over her shoulders. "You just broke up with Chen Yao, so your heart must be hurting. I'll give you time to heal. Chi Mu, I am serious about wanting to marry you."

Ji Yuanjing was sincere. Chi Mu thought of how he had stood up for her at the banquet, choosing to believe in her unconditionally, and she felt a flicker of emotion. Proud as he was, she did not want to hurt his self-esteem too much.

Chi Mu took a soft breath. "Mr. Ji, I understand what you mean. Please give me some time."

"Alright." Ji Yuanjing’s brow relaxed. He thought to himself that there was plenty of time, and he could take things slowly.

***

The doorbell rang. Uncle Zhang opened the door. "Miss Chi, you're here."

"Is Ningli alright?"

"He's fine."

Chi Mu entered the house and saw Fu Ningli sitting on the sofa. His hair was slightly damp, and residual water droplets were tracking down his slender neck, disappearing into the collar of his black shirt. The collar was half-open, revealing cold, pale skin flushed with a hint of red. He looked ascetic yet bewitching.

The room was filled with the faint, fresh scent of a bath. Chi Mu sniffed, masking the flicker of emotion in her eyes. "Did you just take a shower?"

"Yes. I’ve only just learned to stand again, so I’m not quite used to it. I twisted my foot in the shower. I’m sorry to make you come over so late."

"Which foot did you twist?"

"My left."

Chi Mu stepped forward and crouched beside him. She took off his shoe, lifted his left ankle, and pressed it gently. "Does it hurt here?"