Chapter 49: I’ll Wait for Your Return
The quilt that Bo Yezhou had just tucked around Su Wan was now thrown aside, her clothes disheveled and twisted, and yet she kept writhing restlessly. Mu Yunshen cursed under his breath, went to the bathroom, and filled the tub with cold water.
As he approached her, she seemed to sense someone nearby and threw her arms around him, pressing her burning body tightly against his. The feverish contact nearly broke Mu Yunshen's self-control, tempting him to crush her beneath him. But he quickly steeled himself, scooped Su Wan up, and dropped her straight into the bathtub.
…
When Su Wan awoke, she felt alternately hot and cold. Forcing herself out of bed, she noticed her clothes were buttoned haphazardly, some even incorrectly, and memories of the previous night flooded back. Her face drained of color in an instant.
She remembered that, at last, when Gu Yan tried to drag her away, it was Bo Yezhou who appeared and took her away…
Clattering sounds came from outside—someone was there.
After composing herself, Su Wan opened the door. “Bo Yezhou—”
“What did you say?”
An icy voice cut her off. Su Wan’s expression changed as she realized it was Mu Yunshen standing there, face dark and cold.
She hesitated, then stepped forward. “You… were you the one who changed my clothes?”
He didn’t answer. When she tried to take his hand, he shook her off. “Are you disappointed?”
“I… I’m not.” She barely got the words out before Mu Yunshen turned to leave.
Almost without thinking, she threw her arms around him from behind.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t touch you,” he said, his voice low. “If you regret it and want to find Bo Yezhou, I won’t stop you.”
“No, my reaction just now—it’s just that he was the one who brought me back last night, so…”
Mu Yunshen said nothing, but at least he didn’t push her away.
Su Wan asked timidly, “Are you still angry?”
“Of course.” His tone was grave. “Do you know what you did last night?”
Honestly, Su Wan had no wish to recall. Hearing this, she let go and tried to leave. “I don’t remember. I just know I drank…”
She hadn’t finished before Mu Yunshen pulled her over, pinning her against the wall, his breath hot against her face.
Su Wan blushed fiercely, stammering, “I… I need to go to work…”
“What are you afraid of? Even if nothing went all the way, I saw everything last night, even your—”
Before he could finish, Su Wan clamped a hand over his mouth, her face crimson from ears to neck. “No… you mustn’t say it!”
Mu Yunshen looked at her, then tightened his grip on her hand and pressed a kiss into her palm.
She gasped and snatched her hand back. “You… you’re a pervert!”
“Hmm?”
His gaze turned dangerous. Sensing something was wrong, Su Wan hastily said, “I have to go to work, let me go…”
Mu Yunshen ignored her, lifting her up and carrying her into the inner room.
Su Wan started to struggle. “Don’t… I really have to go to work!”
He stared at her for a long time, then finally pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Go, then.”
Su Wan scrambled off the bed, changed clothes in a flash, skipped makeup, and rushed out the door as if Mu Yunshen might devour her if she lingered.
Watching her, Mu Yunshen’s lips curled slightly, but once the door closed, his smile vanished.
——
Su Wan certainly hadn’t forgotten who had plunged her into last night’s torment, but when she tried to find Gu Yan, the woman was nowhere to be found.
Luckily, Linda was unharmed, which meant Gu Yan had only drugged her.
Su Wan instructed Linda to find Gu Yan, no matter the cost.
Seeing Su Wan’s serious expression for the first time, Linda dared not protest and hurried off.
Su Wan sat in her chair for a long while, finally deciding to call Bo Yezhou.
He answered quickly.
“Hello.”
Su Wan stayed silent for a moment, unsure what to say. Even if Mu Yunshen didn’t mention it, she knew how out of control she’d been last night. Mu Yunshen might not mind, but Bo Yezhou…
As she was thinking, Bo Yezhou spoke. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Did I trouble you last night?”
“Not at all,” he replied without hesitation.
Su Wan fell silent, unsure how to continue.
“I have something to deal with here. We’ll talk next time.”
Bo Yezhou ended the call at just the right moment. Su Wan quickly agreed and felt herself relax as she hung up.
She spent the entire day searching for Gu Yan, but found no trace.
Then, she suddenly remembered someone else.
She called Pi Zi.
“Sister-in-law?”
“Where’s Mu Yunshen?”
“Brother Shen? I haven’t seen him all day.”
A sense of foreboding seized Su Wan. She stood up and rushed out, dialing Mu Yunshen as she drove.
But no one answered.
Her anxiety grew. She called on Pi Zi and the others to search, but there was still no reply.
While waiting at a red light, her phone rang—it was Gu Yan.
“Help! Su Wan, I beg you, save me!”
Her voice was shrill, and Su Wan’s heart skipped a beat. “Where are you? Gu Yan, where are you?”
“I’m at… No. 18 Jinli Street…”
The call cut off. Su Wan’s hands trembled as she swung her car around without hesitation.
She kept dialing Mu Yunshen, but when no one answered, she ripped her earpiece out and threw it onto the seat in frustration.
Arriving at Jinli Street, Su Wan got out of the car in such haste that she nearly tripped over a pothole.
She steadied herself against a wall and pressed on.
The closer she drew, the faster her heart pounded. Her fists clenched, dreading what she might find behind that door.
She closed her eyes for a moment, then knocked.
The door opened quickly.
Both she and the man before her were momentarily stunned, and then, without a word, Mu Yunshen grabbed her hand and tried to leave.
But Su Wan shook him off and dashed inside. At the sight before her, her knees buckled—she nearly collapsed.
Gu Yan lay on the floor, a knife plunged straight through her heart, her eyes wide open, staring as if at Su Wan herself.
“Come with me.” Mu Yunshen tried to pull her away, but Su Wan retreated a step, lips trembling. “Did you… did you kill her?”
Mu Yunshen’s brows knit together, but he said nothing.
Su Wan’s fists clenched tighter; she wanted to speak, but her throat felt blocked, not a sound escaped.
“It wasn’t me,” Mu Yunshen said quietly. “Now’s not the time for this—come with me.”
He seized her hand and dragged her toward the door, but they were soon blocked.
Taking in the scene, Bo Yezhou’s face changed slightly. His eyes traveled down to their joined hands.
“Officer, the victim is dead!” his assistant confirmed after checking Gu Yan's pulse.
Bo Yezhou glanced at the two of them. “Take them in.”
“She has nothing to do with this,” Mu Yunshen said immediately.
Bo Yezhou, who had started to turn away, looked back. “Are you trying to say you killed her?”
“She was already dead when I arrived.”
Mu Yunshen was calm. “I’ll cooperate with your investigation, but Su Wan—she’s timid, and her status makes it inconvenient for her to go to the station. Just arrest me.”
He raised his hands.
Others glanced at Bo Yezhou.
He nodded. “Take him first.”
Then to Su Wan, “You come with me.”
Su Wan was still in shock. At his words, she looked over at Mu Yunshen.
He didn’t look back. After handcuffs were snapped on, he left with the officers.
Bo Yezhou, seeing how shaken she was, took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. “Let’s go.”
——
At the station, Bo Yezhou had someone bring her a hot coffee.
Su Wan sipped it, hands wrapped around the cup.
“I heard you spent all day looking for the victim?” Bo Yezhou asked gently, not as a suspect, but the questioning was formal.
She glanced up at him, then nodded.
“Why?”
“I… I wanted to ask her something.”
“What was it?”
“Last night… she drugged my drink. I wanted to confront her.”
“What’s your relationship with her?”
“She was… Mu Yunshen’s ex-girlfriend.”
Bo Yezhou asked a few more gentle questions; Su Wan answered absentmindedly.
When he said someone would take her home, she finally seemed to awaken. “What about… Mu Yunshen? Is he alright?”
“His past is too checkered. While he’s not guilty of anything major, this time he was the first on the scene. You can prove Gu Yan called you there, but he can’t.”
Su Wan fell silent, lips pressed tight, twisting her clothes in her hands.
Bo Yezhou said, “Go home and rest now.”
But rest was impossible. In the middle of the night, just as she managed to fall asleep, noises from the stairwell woke her. Thinking it was Mu Yunshen, she rushed to the door—only to find it was a neighbor returning late.
Su Wan slumped to the floor.
She only realized she was crying when she felt her face grow cold.
Why she cried, she didn’t know.
Unable to stay home, she grabbed her car keys and went out.
She drove straight to a bar.
It was past four in the morning; the place was nearly empty.
She wanted to find Pi Zi, but before she got far, someone stopped her.
“What are you doing here?” Li Man, clearly drunk, swayed on her feet, a bottle in hand. “You still have the mood to come here?”
Su Wan pressed her lips together, silent.
Li Man sneered, “You’re really heartless! Now Brother Shen's in this mess—you say you’re the mayor’s daughter, right? Save him, then! How can you just stand here and do nothing? Say something!”
She shook Su Wan’s shoulders hard. “If it weren’t for you, would Brother Shen be in this mess? It’s murder! Murder! If he’s convicted, his life is over!”
Li Man’s strength was considerable, but Su Wan didn’t resist, letting her shake her.
Fortunately, Pi Zi arrived in time and pulled them apart. “What are you doing? Li Man, have you lost your mind?”
“Lost my mind? Yes! And look at her, still so indifferent! How can she be so cold-blooded!”
Pi Zi shot Su Wan a look and murmured, “Don’t mind her, sister-in-law, she’s not herself.”
Su Wan remained still and silent.
Pi Zi rubbed his hair, ordered someone to take Li Man away, then turned to Su Wan. “Is there something you need?”
“I don’t know. I just… wanted to come.”
Pi Zi understood Su Wan must be feeling terrible and nodded. “Why not rest in Brother Shen’s room? I’ve already checked—he didn’t kill anyone. Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”
Her head still ached. In Mu Yunshen’s room, lying on his bed, her thoughts finally calmed.
She clutched her phone, turned the ringer to maximum, terrified of missing any news.
Morning came quickly.
After staring at her blank phone for a long time, she got up and drove to the police station.
“I want to see Mu Yunshen.”
The officer looked troubled. “Miss Su, you can’t visit suspects right now.”
“I want to see Mu Yunshen.”
She seemed only able to repeat that, and her status made him hesitant to refuse.
When Bo Yezhou walked in, the officer sighed in relief and hurried over. “Officer Bo, Miss Su insists on seeing the suspect…”
Bo Yezhou looked at her. “No need.”
His words made Su Wan sway. “What… do you mean?”
“The fingerprint analysis on the knife is back. It wasn’t him. And we found other suspects on the nearby surveillance. He’s free to go.”
Su Wan’s face lit with joy. “So where is he now?”
“I’ll take you.”
Bo Yezhou walked ahead, hands trembling slightly at his sides.
Su Wan didn’t notice. Her mind was filled only with thoughts of someone else.
When she saw Mu Yunshen emerge, she ignored the eyes around her, running straight into his arms.
Her tears soaked his shoulder.
He was momentarily stunned, then gently patted her back. “Don’t cry, I’m fine now.”
She wiped her tears. “I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have doubted you.”
He looked at her, brushed the tears from her face. “It’s alright.”
Bo Yezhou watched from a distance.
He watched the woman whose eyes once saw only him now run, without hesitation, to another.
He turned and walked away.
——
Back home, Su Wan insisted on making tofu soup, saying anyone released from jail must eat tofu to symbolize a clean slate.
Mu Yunshen looked at her. “In that case, I’ll be eating a lot of tofu this year.”
She frowned at him.
He quickly changed the subject. “Alright, I’ll eat.”
“Mu Yunshen,” she said softly, head bowed, “if I were to ask you to give up your current life, would it be too much?”
He stiffened, then replied, “Sorry, I can’t.”
There was no hesitation in his answer.
Su Wan had expected as much. She smiled, nodded. “I thought so. Never mind, eat.”
That night, they lay in bed. Su Wan, exhausted from the previous night, soon fell asleep.
In the darkness, Mu Yunshen stayed awake, stroking her hair with a furrowed brow.
His phone suddenly lit up. He grabbed it.
A message: Sharp Mouth, the night after tomorrow, eight o’clock.
He deleted it and switched off his phone.
He gazed at the sleeping woman in his arms and gently kissed her forehead.
No dreams that night.
When Su Wan woke, Mu Yunshen was still asleep beside her.
She tried to get up, but he held her down.
Before she could react, he rolled over and pinned her beneath him.
He looked at her. “I have business to attend to today. I’ll be out.”
She blinked. “Oh? And then?”
“When I get back, will you give yourself to me?”
Still groggy, she was confused. “Give you what?”
He didn’t answer, but kissed her—long, tender, and breathless. When his hand began to slip under her clothes, she caught it just in time.
He smiled. “Now you know what I mean?”
She blushed and bit her lip.
Seeing her like this, he tried to pull his hand free, but she panicked. “Wait!”
“Hmm?”
“Is it… dangerous?” she asked, brows furrowed.
He considered. “Somewhat.”
She took a deep breath, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek. “I’ll wait for you.”
He smiled softly at her.
After dropping her at work, he drove towards Sharp Mouth, making a call as he went. “Sharp Mouth, the night after tomorrow, eight o’clock.”
“You’re going yourself?”
“Yes.”
“…Be careful.”
“Alright.”
“And I hear you’ve been close to Su Yichuan’s daughter lately?”
He hesitated. “I know what I’m doing.”
“See that you do.”
After hanging up, Mu Yunshen was lost in thought until the blare of horns behind him jolted him back. He stepped on the gas.
——
In the days that followed, Su Wan didn’t see Mu Yunshen. She called him; he didn’t pick up, but later texted that it wasn’t convenient to answer.
She didn’t call again, just sent messages occasionally. Sometimes he replied, sometimes he didn’t.
Meanwhile, President Lin’s project had come through, and Su Wan was busy.
“President Su, Sharp Mouth wants us to visit. Who should we send?”
Su Wan checked her schedule. “I’ll go myself.”
“What? That place is dangerous, better send a male colleague.”
“Have Xiao Gu get ready and come with me. This is President Lin’s first project; we can’t mess it up.”
Linda had no choice but to agree.
Su Wan packed a few things and her laptop, and met up with Xiao Gu.
It was nearly a ten-hour drive from North City to Sharp Mouth. They took turns driving, though Xiao Gu did most of it, letting Su Wan sleep in the back.
She was dreaming when Xiao Gu suddenly braked.
Su Wan woke with a start. “What’s wrong?”
“President Su, the road ahead is blocked.”
She rubbed her eyes—indeed, a banner blocked the way, forbidding passage.
“Is something going on?”
“I don’t know. I’ve traveled this road often—it’s the shortest. If we detour, it’ll add three hours.”
“I’ll go check.”
She got out and found nothing unusual; the banner bore no explanation.
Su Wan pulled it aside. “It’s fine. Let’s keep going.”
By then, night had fallen.
The mountain road was rough. Su Wan, unable to sleep, sat in the passenger seat, watching the darkness.
“Are you sure we’re not lost? It’s desolate here.”
“We’ll be out of this stretch soon. There’s a small warehouse up ahead. Last time I—”
Before Xiao Gu could finish, a gunshot rang out nearby.
He braked sharply and looked at Su Wan. “Did you hear that?”
She nodded. “It sounded like… a gunshot?”
She glanced at the dense woods. “Maybe someone’s hunting?”
“I don’t know… Should we keep going?” Xiao Gu was nervous.
Su Wan was uneasy herself. “Let’s turn back.”
Xiao Gu started to reverse. Before they could back out, several men burst from the woods, blocking their way.
Xiao Gu whispered, “President Su, they… they have guns!”
Su Wan frowned at the armed men.
These weren’t hunters; she realized they were in trouble.
Trying to stay calm, she opened her door.
Xiao Gu tried to stop her. “If you get out and they shoot—”
“If you stay inside, they’ll shoot anyway.” She was far calmer than he.
She got out, raising her hands.
“Who are you?” one of them demanded.
“We’re just passing through. Sorry to disturb you.”
The man looked her up and down. “And the man?”
“He’s my driver.”
“Driver? Who are you?”
“Our President Su is—”
“Why are you here?” a new voice cut Xiao Gu off.
In a few strides, Mu Yunshen appeared, pulling Su Wan into his arms. “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me at home? Why won’t you listen?”
She blinked, then quickly caught on and snorted, “How was I to know you weren’t out seeing some vixen? What are you doing here?”
“I’m here on business. Now go, get out of here!”
He turned to the men. “Sorry, Brother Lin, she’s my woman, came looking for me.”
“Mu Yunshen, what’s your game?” Brother Lin leveled his gun at him. “Do you know where you are? You can’t just let people in.”
“Yes, yes, my fault. Go, now!” Mu Yunshen bundled Su Wan into the car. Xiao Gu, relieved, was about to follow when Brother Lin suddenly said, “Wait!”
He eyed Mu Yunshen. “Your woman’s surname is Su?”
Mu Yunshen stiffened, about to speak when Brother Lin turned to Xiao Gu. “Who is her father?”
Xiao Gu blurted, “Su Yichuan, Deputy Mayor Su.”
At that, Brother Lin’s face changed. Mu Yunshen stepped forward and kicked the gun aside.
The gun fired into the air—a thunderous bang.
“Don’t just stand there—run!” Mu Yunshen shouted at Xiao Gu, then grabbed Su Wan’s hand and ran.
Gunshots rang out behind them.
At times, Su Wan could feel bullets whizzing past her ears and over her head.
Normally, she would have collapsed in terror, but now, all she could think was to follow Mu Yunshen, keep running.
He found a motorcycle; Su Wan didn’t know how she climbed on. After a long ride, she finally thought to ask, “Xiao Gu… is he alright?”
“They were after us. He’ll be fine.”
His voice was tense. Su Wan’s mind cleared, and then she noticed something wrong.
She looked back—Mu Yunshen’s back was soaked in blood.
He’d been shot.
“Mu Yunshen…”
Her voice trembled with tears. He knew what she wanted to say. “I’m fine.”
“Stop—no, we need a hospital!”
“There isn’t one nearby.”
“Then what do we do?” Her tears streamed down. Mu Yunshen sped up, and once he was sure they’d shaken their pursuers, he stopped the bike and looked at her. “Get off.”
“Where are you going?”
“They’ll catch up soon. I have to lead them away.”
“No, I won’t let you go alone—we’ll go together!”
“I’m fine. Get out.”
“I won’t!” She clung to him. “It’s my fault—I shouldn’t have come!”
He glanced around quickly. “Get off.”
“But—”
“Don’t worry, I won’t leave. I’ll stay with you.”
At that, she let go and climbed down.
He got off too, revved the throttle, and released the bike. It shot forward, smashing through the guardrail and tumbling down the mountain.
“Come on,” he said, taking her hand.
Once, his palm had always been warm and dry. Now, Su Wan could feel the cold sweat and chilling temperature.
At a cave, he stopped, checked inside, then pulled her in.
He handed her a gun. “If anyone comes, shoot. Don’t worry.”
“And you?”
He smiled, ruffled her hair, and collapsed.
“Mu Yunshen!”
She screamed his name. Only after he fell did she realize his clothes were soaked in blood, his face deathly pale.
Tears streamed down her face as she shook him. “Don’t scare me, Mu Yunshen, don’t scare me!”
He didn’t respond. She reached out with trembling fingers—he was still breathing. She breathed a small sigh of relief.
She forced herself to calm down, set the gun aside, took out his phone, and dialed a number, digit by digit.
To steady herself, she bit her arm hard enough to hurt, and when the other end picked up, her tears flowed anew.
She couldn’t speak.
The person on the other end called her name several times. Hearing her sobs, he asked uncertainly, “Su Wan?”
“Help me… help us!” Su Wan pleaded.
“Where are you? What happened?”
She shakily explained, “Hurry, he’s been shot, near the heart, please, hurry…”
“We’re on our way. Don’t panic, keep in touch.”
After hanging up, she looked at the man sprawled on the ground, pulled him into her arms, and held him tightly. “Don’t you dare die. Please… don’t leave me. I don’t want to lose you, I don’t want to lose you…”
Her tears kept falling, and the man in her arms seemed to stir.
She quickly pulled back—he was waking.
“You… you’re awake?” She wiped her face hastily. “Does it hurt? I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…”
Before she could finish, he lowered his head and kissed her.