Chapter 24: Who Is the Coward?

Mu Yunshen had lived thirty-one years, and this was the first time anyone had treated him like this. The only way to describe him was utterly at a loss.

With a thud, a noise came from the doorway—a sound of something being dropped to the floor. Su Wan immediately straightened up, and as she turned, she saw Pi Zi standing there, his face flushed bright red as he looked at them. “Sorry, I just… just wanted to bring in some water. Please, carry on, don’t mind me.”

With that, Pi Zi promptly walked out, not forgetting to close the door behind them.

Su Wan’s cheeks were tinged with pink. Once Pi Zi had left, she turned back to Mu Yunshen. He had already regained his composure. After a moment’s serious thought, he said, “There. Now we’re even.”

Su Wan was startled for a moment, then realized what he meant.

The last time, he had kissed her.

Her eyes suddenly darkened. “Mu Yunshen, I mean it.”

“Mean it?” Mu Yunshen considered for a moment. “Unless you want me to be your lover? Isn’t that going a bit too far?”

“I won’t marry Wen Shaoran.” Su Wan drew a deep breath. “After what happened last time, my father put me under house arrest. To get out, I temporarily agreed to the engagement, but as for us, that marriage will never happen.”

Mu Yunshen gazed at her, his steady eyes seeming as if they could see right through her.

Then, he smiled. “Even if you refuse to marry Wen Shaoran, I couldn’t possibly marry you either. If your father found out you were still seeing me, wouldn’t he break your legs?”

“That’s my concern,” Su Wan replied, enunciating each word as she looked at him. “The only question is whether you’re willing or not.”

Mu Yunshen’s smile abruptly vanished.

He looked at the woman before him. “I told you, before, I was just having a bit of fun. I didn’t know you were the mayor’s daughter.”

“So what? How does that change anything?”

“Of course it changes things. I’m just a street punk. If the mayor’s daughter marries a thug, wouldn’t that be a joke if it got out?”

As soon as Mu Yunshen finished, Su Wan suddenly laughed.

She looked at him. “So, in the end, you’re nothing but a coward.”

With those words, she turned and walked away.

She had barely taken two steps when her hand was suddenly seized. In a swift movement, he pulled her back and before Su Wan had time to react, she was already in his arms.

His hand cupped her chin. “Who did you just call a coward?”

And with that, he kissed her.

—

Li Man was about to enter when Pi Zi blocked her at the door.

“What are you doing?” Li Man’s brows knitted in displeasure.

“Shen-ge and Su-jie are inside.”

Pi Zi’s words made Li Man’s expression shift imperceptibly. She gritted her teeth. “And?”

“Don’t go in and interrupt them!”

“I—”

“That’s enough, Li Man. I know what you’re thinking. Last time, Gu—Shen-ge finally found someone he actually likes. You should be happy for him.”

Happy?

Li Man hurled what she was holding at him. “Happy, my ass!”

With that, she turned and stormed off.

Pi Zi didn’t chase after her. He muttered a couple of words under his breath, bent down, and picked up the things she had dropped.

As he chased an apple that had rolled down the corridor, a pair of black leather shoes came to a stop in front of him.

“Excuse me, is Mu Yunshen in this room?”