I Could Never Fall In Love With A Villain - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: He Has Ill Intentions

After sending Mu Xuan back to the ward, Mu Yin ordered takeout for him and planned to make a run for it immediately.

However, Mu Xuan’s gaze was glued to her. Her plan to leave silently vanished into thin air.

Mu Xuan leaned back against the hospital bed, arms crossed, and spat out a question: “Alright, talk. Explain today’s events.”

“What events?”

He gave a cold laugh. “Don’t play dumb with me. It’s my leg that’s injured, not my brain.”

What a pity, Mu Yin sighed inwardly. She knew she wouldn’t be escaping today without giving him something.

Mu Xuan provided the keyword reminders: “Skipping work, the house, the kidnapping… and…” His gaze suddenly became sharp and icy. “Song Xingyao.”

“Explain every single bit of it.”

“Well, it’s a long story…”

“Oh,” he replied indifferently. “I have plenty of time. You can take your time and start from the very beginning.”

Mu Yin sat down on the chair behind her, putting on an expression of hesitation and struggle. Finally, she slowly opened her mouth with an air of helplessness.

“I didn’t want to skip work; I wanted to ask for leave. I didn’t lie to you. I was working diligently when I suddenly received a message from a friend. I learned that my friend’s younger brother had gone missing and might be in danger.”

Mu Xuan narrowed his eyes. “Which friend?”

“A friend who isn’t in the country,” Mu Yin answered without a hint of guilt. She let out a long sigh. “The brother is still in university. You know how young people are… somehow he got mixed up with some sketchy social elements. That’s how the kidnapping happened today.”

“Mu Yin, you’re lying.”

She was definitely lying, but you can’t just point that out without evidence! She wasn’t going to let him rattle her.

Mu Yin looked perfectly composed. “If you don’t believe me, Brother, you can go ask the police.”

The police wouldn’t just reveal someone’s privacy on a whim anyway. Her openness caused the suspicion in Mu Xuan’s eyes to dissipate slightly, though his scrutiny didn’t weaken a bit.

“You’d better think carefully before you answer. If I find out something else on my own, I won’t let you off so easily.”

He’s just my brother, she thought. How does he manage to be more overbearing than Mu Jiarong?

However, this was within her expectations. Since Mu Xuan found the exact apartment, he obviously knew it was in her name. She wouldn’t lie about that.

“Fine, there’s one thing I didn’t mention… that house is mine.”

As expected, Mu Xuan’s brow smoothed out. “Mhm. Why did you buy a house?”

It seemed her “honest confession” satisfied him. Mu Yin sensed she had a handle on him now, so she said: “The money was just sitting idle in the bank anyway. It’s better to buy property. Besides, I didn’t have any houses under my name yet.”

“In that crummy neighborhood?”

“The complex is old, but the location is great! It’s near Jiabei University; it’s very valuable.”

“Is it?” Mu Xuan was noncommittal, shifting his sharp focus again. “Then why was your friend’s brother kidnapped in your house?”

Mu Yin seemed stuck, looking hesitant. Mu Xuan knew there was more to it. “Speak.”

She bit her lip as if making a final decision, only speaking after a long pause. “Brother, don’t scold me.”

Seeing her like this, Mu Xuan’s eyelid twitched. He had a bad feeling.

Mu Yin began to recount her story in a sorrowful tone. “Actually, that university student isn’t just my friend’s brother…”

Mu Xuan’s eyelid twitched harder. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for a college boy.”

“…Of course not.” Mu Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, only for her to continue: “He is the younger brother of the person I actually like.”

Mu Xuan: “?”

“Yes, I have someone I love, and it isn’t Song Jinxun.” Mu Yin sat straight, hands folded. She gazed out the window, speaking slowly. “He is outstanding. I’ve liked him for a long time, but he went abroad… Later, I found out his brother wanted to start his own project. I thought it was a chance to make a good impression, so I bought the house to provide him with a workspace.”

Mu Xuan opened his mouth, but for once, he was speechless. His brain felt like it had been stuffed with wet wool.

Mu Yin continued. “I know… chasing a man like this brings shame to the Mu family…” she sighed, her voice laced with sadness. “But when it comes to the heart, one is often powerless.”

“…” So mushy. So disgusting.

The turn of events had exceeded his imagination. Mu Xuan forced his mental gears to turn again. “Then, what about Song Xingyao?”

Mu Yin put on an even more melancholy look, saying guiltily: “It seems Song Xingyao discovered this.”

“Think about it, I’m Song Jinxun’s fiancée. Isn’t this technically putting a ‘green hat’ on Jinxun? When Song Xingyao found out, he was thrilled—he thought I was doing a fantastic job. Ah, the rivalry between rich brothers is always like this.”

Mu Xuan: “…”

“So, that’s the whole story. I skipped work because the brother of my crush was in trouble. Song Xingyao helped me because he thinks we’re on the same team since I’m betraying his brother.”

Mu Xuan suddenly remembered something. “At Song Jinxun’s birthday banquet, someone saw you enter a hotel room with a strange man. Was it… that man?”

Mu Yin was stunned for a second, then remembered. Back then, she had just transmigrated, and Song Xingyao had intentionally led her into the hotel. Yikes. She didn’t expect Mu Xuan to fill in the blanks so well.

She nodded immediately. “Yes, it was him.”

The story was now complete. Ridiculous… yet strangely logical. Having successfully “invented a friend,” Mu Yin felt she had a talent for screenwriting.

She didn’t feel guilty at all.

Mu Xuan was silent for a long time. “The person you like… who is he?”

“I can’t tell you that,” she said righteously. “What if you try to break us up?”

Break them up? “You two… are already together?!”

Is it better to be together or not? Mu Yin struggled for a split second before deciding: “Not yet. I haven’t caught him yet.”

Mu Xuan let out a breath. After two seconds of silence, he emphasized: “Mu Yin, you have a fiancé. The marriage alliance between our families won’t change unless the sky falls.”

Mu Yin played the role to the end, blurting out: “I don’t care! I don’t like Song Jinxun! I want to pursue true love!”

“You’re insane.”

Mu Xuan couldn’t tell if he just couldn’t stand her like this or something else. Either way, he didn’t want to see her and told her to get out.

Mu Yin was already waiting for that. She slid off the chair and hurried toward the door.

“Wait.” Mu Xuan’s voice caught her from behind. “Stay away from Song Xingyao. He has ill intentions.”

“Oh, okay,” she replied obediently, closing the door behind her.

The ward fell silent. Mu Xuan closed his eyes wearily. In the darkness, the images from earlier in the day flashed in his mind. In a blur of memories, Mu Yin stood there, reaching her hand out to him. His heart began to race; he could still hear the pounding in his ears from that moment.

…

As soon as Mu Yin walked out of the hospital, she saw a familiar figure. Song Xingyao was standing quietly under a tree. Hearing someone leave, he looked up.

He strode over with long legs, laughing helplessly. “I realized I’m always waiting for you. I’m practically becoming a ‘Waiting-for-Yin’ stone.”

“Why are you still here?” Mu Yin hadn’t expected him to stay.

“Naturally, I have something more important to ask.”

Mu Yin finally remembered. Song Xingyao had said he came to her office for something important. The crisis with Peng Ku had just temporarily pushed it aside. It seemed he could prioritize well, and he had been a massive help today. Her hostility toward him lessened.

Song Xingyao’s gaze was probing. “When you went to my house… did you say something to my mother?”

Mrs. Song? Mu Yin understood his intent immediately. She countered with a question: “How do you think your mother is doing?”

Seeing the anticipation in her eyes, Song Xingyao’s confusion grew, but he answered: “Her state has improved. That’s why I want to know if you did something.”

Upon hearing this, Mu Yin’s excitement was visible. Her eyes lit up like stars. The exhaustion of the day vanished instantly.

“Do you have time now?”

“Huh?”

“I’ll buy you a drink.”

There were no drink shops nearby, and Mu Yin didn’t have the patience to walk far. She pulled Song Xingyao into the nearest McDonald’s. After sitting down, she placed her phone in the center of the table. On the screen was a PPT.

It was time for her presentation.

Song Xingyao was puzzled at first, but slowly, he began to listen. He looked at the girl across from him; her eyes were sparkling with a bright, burning light. It was strangely convincing. At the very least, he had never seen a Mu Yin like this. This kind of sincerity and passion could reach anyone.

Mu Yin finished in one breath and then gazed at him seriously. “I’m serious. And this project has professors from Jiabei University as consultants. Even if you don’t believe me, you can believe the professors.”

Song Xingyao raised an eyebrow. “Pei Che is your consultant too?”

Seeing her nod, he said with surprise, “How did you convince him?”

“Because my project is scientific and persuasive enough,” Mu Yin said solemnly. “Song Xingyao, if you believe in us, we will give our all to heal Mrs. Song.”

Admittedly, this sentence moved Song Xingyao more than anything else. Every choice he had made was questioned by others; he had hesitated and wavered. But he knew he wouldn’t regret this. If he didn’t choose his mother, that would be his regret.

He wasn’t sure what he would do if his mother were truly sent abroad. Deep down, he had a dark expectation: If you won’t let me live in peace, I won’t let any of you off either.

Mu Yin’s words were like a hope that caught hold of him. Even if it came to nothing, he wanted to try.

Song Xingyao made his decision quickly. “I’m in. But I want to see the best results in the shortest time.”

Mu Yin’s lips slowly curled into a smile, and she reached out her hand.

“This is our real ‘deal’.”