Mu Tingshen continued, "That park was never a place where people went to play, so there were no surveillance cameras installed. I have no idea why Zhizhi went there that day. By the time she woke up, she had already forgotten what happened."
Seeing Mu Tingshen blaming himself, Shen Xingling quickly comforted him. "It isn't your fault. You were just a child yourself. It’s perfectly normal for a boy to spend his time playing with his classmates. Besides, the fact that your sister is alive and well means she survived a great disaster and is destined for future blessings. Don't you think?"
Mu Tingshen laughed. "Do you take me for a three-year-old who needs to be coddled?"
"And what if you are? A wife is allowed to coddle her husband."
"Hmm. I’ve always felt there was something suspicious about what happened to Zhizhi. I’m going to keep investigating. I didn't have the ability back then, but now that I do, I will protect my family—and you."
Hearing the words "and you," Shen Xingling’s ears flushed red.
"I believe in you."
Her words carried a double meaning: she believed in his ability to protect her, and she believed he would uncover the truth about his sister.
"Wait, that doesn't add up. Didn't you say the park was deserted? Then why was Duan Yiyun there? And if it's such a quiet park, why would she be there at all? Did you ever ask the other children who were playing with Zhizhi?"
"We did all of that already. Duan Yiyun said she was in a bad mood that day and went to the park. The other children had already been taken home by their parents. In fact, it was a parent who went to my house to tell our servants, which is how we knew to look for Zhizhi there. The park was likely just too far for most people, and since the adults were all working, the elderly were usually busy visiting neighbors."
"Then why didn't the parents who came to pick up the other children bring Zhizhi back with them?"
"Why do you have so many questions today?" Mu Tingshen replied with a hint of impatience.
Every time he thought about this, it felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his heart, making it ache and leaving him breathless.
It was the first time Shen Xingling had ever seen Mu Tingshen treat her this way. She didn't dare ask any more.
*It’s true,* Shen Xingling thought. *Nobody wants to rip open their own wounds for others to see, especially not for a wife they’ve only been married to for two days and have no feelings for.*
Mu Tingshen realized his tone had been off. "Look, I’m sorry. Just now, I..."
Shen Xingling replied with a touch of petulance, "I know. I shouldn't have asked so much."
*Hmph,* she thought. *I tried to be concerned, and this is the thanks I get? What a jerk!*
Both fell silent, and an awkward tension filled the air.
Mu Tingshen was the first to speak. "Go to sleep. I’m going out for a bit."
Before Shen Xingling could respond, he strode out of the room.
***
In the living room, Madam Mu saw Mu Tingshen heading straight for the door. She quickly called out, "Tingshen, it’s so late. Where are you going?"
"Mom, there’s something at the company I need to handle."
Before the wedding, the Mu family had always known how busy Mu Tingshen was with work; he rarely returned to the old residence unless summoned by Elder Mu or Grandma Mu. Madam Mu didn't press him further.
After Duan Yiyun left the Mu residence, Madam Mu went to the couple's room. Shen Xingling was busy playing a game, trying to rank up.
"Knock, knock."
Shen Xingling didn't stop to open the door. She just shouted, "Come in, it's unlocked!"
Madam Mu pushed the door open and walked in, passing through the living area first. She noticed the pillow and blanket on the sofa, and her brow furrowed. She didn't need to be told that her son had gentlemanly chosen to sleep on the couch.
Shen Xingling, having just finished her game, felt like something was wrong. Her heart skipped a beat. Mu Tingshen’s pillow and blanket were still there. If anyone else walked in, they would know she and Mu Tingshen had been sleeping in separate beds!
She jumped off the bed and ran to the living room, only to see Madam Mu looking around.
"Mom," Shen Xingling greeted her sweetly.
Madam Mu didn't respond to the greeting, instead asking, "Have you and Tingshen been sleeping in separate beds?"
"Uh... yes, Mom," Shen Xingling answered honestly, her voice lacking conviction. Seeing Madam Mu’s displeasure, she rushed to explain, "Mom, it’s like this—I’m not quite used to sleeping with someone else yet, so Tingshen volunteered to take the sofa. I was actually the one who intended to sleep there."
Madam Mu lectured her, "This isn't about who gets the sofa. Since you are legally married, you should be sharing a bed. You need to get used to it. Are you planning on sleeping apart forever?"
Shen Xingling, who had always been pampered at the Shen household, felt a sting of injustice at being scolded like this. Mu Tingshen had been maintaining his gentlemanly image by not taking the bed; she had felt bad about it because he was only doing it to accommodate her discomfort with a stranger.
She wasn't the type to just take a scolding—she was used to bickering with Mother Shen—but she thought, *Fine, I’m "wrong," but I’m certainly not going to admit it.* She kept her thoughts to herself and let Madam Mu drone on.
"Hurry up and put these things away. It doesn't look right for a married couple to sleep apart. Tingshen just left—did you two have a fight?"
*She figured it out that fast?* Shen Xingling thought. *It’s not really a fight. It’s more like he’s throwing a one-sided tantrum because he doesn't want to talk to me or be alone with me.*
"We didn't fight, Mom! He just said he had plans to meet a friend, so he went out."
Shen Xingling gathered the pillow and blanket and headed for the walk-in closet.
*Looks like the two of them really did fight,* Madam Mu thought. *One says he has work at the company, the other says he’s meeting a friend.*
"Xingling, get some rest. I’m heading back now."
"Okay, Mom. Let me see you out."
"No, go back to sleep."
After Madam Mu left, Shen Xingling returned to her bed and opened her chat with Mu Tingshen.
Shen Xingling: [Mu Tingshen, where are you?]
No reply.
A few minutes later, she tried again.
Shen Xingling: [Mu Tingshen, Mom came to our room just now.]
Half an hour passed. Still no reply.
Shen Xingling was starting to lose her patience. *This jerk,* she thought. *I thought he was decent a few days ago, but now he won't even reply to a text.*
She changed his contact name from "Mu Tingshen" to "The Jerk."
Forget him. She went back to her game. "Rank up, rank up, star by star, I’m invincible in the arena!"
***
On the top floor of Shengshi Bar, Mu Tingshen’s three friends were already waiting.
Jiang Sheng was wearing a brownish-red shirt with a black tie. As Mu Tingshen arrived, a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. "Look, the groom has arrived!"
As soon as Mu Tingshen sat down, Liu Yixuan leaned in. "I heard from Sheng that you got married?"