It was a little past eight o'clock the next morning.
Mu Qingyi called:
"Shen Ye, you lazy pig, are you awake yet? The sun is already high in the sky!"
Feigning sleep, Shen Ye mumbled vaguely:
"I'll be awake in just a minute."
After dawdling for half an hour, Shen Ye finally came downstairs with his hands in his pockets.
Mu Qingyi rushed over and gave him a few light punches, saying coyly:
"Shen Ye, you did that on purpose, leaving me hanging here, didn't you?"
Shen Ye chuckled and acted as if he hadn't heard.
Seeing Mu Qingyi getting ready to hail a ride-share, Shen Ye jingled the Ferrari keys in his hand:
"Daodao's Ferrari is right in the parking lot. We'll take her car."
Shen Ye drove the Ferrari up to the hotel entrance.
Amidst the envious gazes of the onlookers, Mu Qingyi got into the car.
With a roar of its engine, the Ferrari sped away.
On the way, Shen Ye asked:
"Mu Qingyi, tell me about your family."
Mu Qingyi glanced at Shen Ye and smiled brightly:
"What's wrong? Are you scared?"
Shen Ye snorted: "The word 'scared' doesn't exist in my dictionary."
Mu Qingyi giggled, but her mood instantly plummeted. Lowering her head, she said:
"Our family used to have our own business with a net worth of seven or eight hundred million. Life was wonderful."
"Six years ago, the Zhong family teamed up with the Chen family to set a trap for my father, driving our family to bankruptcy overnight."
"Unable to bear the blow, my father jumped from a building and killed himself. My mother was left to raise my sister and me."
Thinking of those painful and unbearable memories, Mu Qingyi's eyes turned red and tears welled up at the corners.
Wiping away her tears, Mu Qingyi said:
"If you hadn't stepped in, I would never have been able to get revenge in this lifetime."
"I am so grateful to you for giving me the chance to see the day when bad people get their just desserts."
"Last night, I told my mother the news, and she was so excited she didn't sleep all night."
Shen Ye changed the subject, and with his playful banter, Mu Qingyi's mood quickly recovered.
Mu Qingyi's family lived in the very corner of an urban village.
When Shen Ye drove the Ferrari into the village, it immediately attracted countless stares.
The onlookers stared fixedly at the Ferrari, filled with envy and longing.
It was a luxury car they couldn't afford in several lifetimes.
Seeing Mu Qingyi step out of the Ferrari, the neighbors widened their eyes in sheer disbelief.
Mu Qingyi affectionately linked her arm through Shen Ye's, holding her head high.
At that moment, she seemed to radiate light.
Walking into a foul-smelling alley, Mu Qingyi said with a trace of embarrassment:
"Shen Ye, I'm so sorry. My family's circumstances are a bit poor, please don't mind."
Shen Ye smiled and said:
"You know I grew up in an orphanage. What haven't I seen?"
A wave of warmth washed over Mu Qingyi, and she squeezed Shen Ye's arm tighter.
Just as they reached the front door, a man's voice echoed from inside:
"Sister, I've already found the best divine doctor in the country for Weiyang."
"As long as you agree to my condition, Weiyang's illness can be cured immediately, and it won't cost you a single cent!"
Hearing that man's voice, Mu Qingyi's expression shifted slightly, and she hurriedly pushed open the door.
Two men were sitting in the cramped, clean room.
One was a plump middle-aged man, and the other was an elderly man in a Tang suit with a goatee.
The appearance of Mu Qingyi and Shen Ye interrupted their conversation.
"Qingyi, you're back. Uncle has come to see you all."
The plump middle-aged man smiled, though his smile carried a hint of malice.
Mu Qingyi didn't give him a pleasant look and snapped angrily:
"Get out of here! I don't want to see you, and I don't have an uncle like you!"
Peng Ying's face stiffened instantly, but he forced a smile and said:
"Qingyi, I've brought a divine doctor this time, and he can cure Weiyang's illness."
"I know you still resent your uncle because of what happened to your father back then, but please understand my difficulties."
"This divine doctor is renowned nationwide, and it took a lot of effort for me to invite him."
"You may hate your uncle, but surely you can't disregard Weiyang's life and death?"
"Let's get Weiyang treated first and talk about anything else later, alright?"
Mu Qingyi sneered and scoffed:
"A weasel wishing a happy New Year to a chicken—don't think I don't know you're full of bad intentions."
"There's no such thing as a free lunch. Don't even think about using saving Weiyang as an excuse to trick people."
Without waiting for Peng Ying to reply, Mu Qingyi pulled Shen Ye forward and introduced him to her mother:
"Mom, this is Shen Ye, my husband."
Shen Ye greeted politely: "Hello, Auntie. I'm Shen Ye."
Mu Qingyi's mother, Peng Ying, looked utterly shocked and bewildered.
It was all too sudden; Mu Qingyi hadn't mentioned anything to her.
Mu Qingyi hugged her mother's arm and coaxed:
"Mom, I'm sorry. I didn't tell you beforehand. I gave you a fright, didn't I? I promise I won't do it again."
Time and hardship had covered Peng Ying's forty-something head with white hair and her face with wrinkles, giving her a weathered look far beyond her years.
Despite her shock and bewilderment, she still smiled and said to Shen Ye:
"Xiao Shen, our home is small, I hope you don't mind."
"Qingyi, take Xiao Shen to the room. I want to chat with your uncle."
With an angry expression, Mu Qingyi said:
"Mom, Peng Ying is a bad person. Don't believe a single word he says. Our family doesn't need his help."
Peng Ying nodded gently without saying anything more.
Mu Qingyi pulled Shen Ye toward the bedroom. As she passed Peng Ying, she glared at him and said furiously:
"Peng Ying, as long as I'm here, don't even think about causing trouble in my home. I will never allow it."
Peng Ying let out a heavy snort, his expression turning pitch black.
Mu Qingyi apologized to Shen Ye:
"Shen Ye, I'm sorry. I've made a fool of myself in front of you."
Shen Ye patted her shoulder and comforted her:
"Every family has its hard-to-read scriptures. I understand."
"Is your sister sick?"
Mu Qingyi's eyes turned red, and with tear-filled eyes, she said:
"A month ago, my sister suddenly collapsed at school and came down with a strange illness. We've sought medical help everywhere, but no one can cure it."
"The doctors say there's no hope, but I don't want to give up on her."
"I went to the Zhong family to ask for the address of Medicine King Valley, but they refused to tell me. They just want to watch my sister die."
At that moment, everything suddenly clicked for Shen Ye.
For such a frail girl to bear so much, it must have been so hard on her. She was truly strong.
Shen Ye said softly:
"Didn't you say I'm your husband? Your sister is my sister. Why didn't you tell me yesterday?"
Lowering her head with red eyes, Mu Qingyi said:
"It was all too sudden, and I was afraid of disturbing you. I was even more afraid you would think I was scheming."
"I really had no other choice, and I didn't mean to impose on you like this. I... sobbing..."
Shen Ye wiped away her tears and said gently:
"Silly girl, do you really think I'm that kind of person?"
"Don't worry, I am the Living King of Hell. With me here, no matter what the illness is, your sister will be fine."
Mu Qingyi led Shen Ye into a narrow room.
Lying on a wooden plank bed against the wall was a terribly emaciated girl.
She had wasted away to skin and bones, her breathing extremely weak, lingering on the brink of death with no light left in her eyes.
"Sister, is that you?"
Hearing the noise, Mu Qingyi heard Mu Weiyang's weak voice. She couldn't even manage to turn her head.
Mu Qingyi hurried to the bedside, tightly grasping her sister's hand, and choked out:
"Sister is back, Xiaomei."
Mu Weiyang said weakly:
"Sister, that bad man uncle was just here. He said he could cure my illness."
"But he also said there was a condition—that you had to arrange a marriage alliance for him, and only then would he save me."
"I refused that bad man. I'd rather die than sacrifice your happiness, Sister."
A lump formed in Mu Qingyi's throat, and tears streamed down her face. She gripped Mu Weiyang's hand, unable to speak.
If she hadn't met Shen Ye, she really would have agreed just to save her sister.
But now...
A fire of anger burned in Shen Ye's eyes. That Peng Ying was simply despicable!
Taking advantage of someone's vulnerability—such a person had no right to be an uncle!
With tear-filled eyes, Mu Qingyi said:
"Don't worry, Xiaomei, you'll be fine. Sister will definitely cure you."
"This is your brother-in-law. He is a divine doctor and will definitely cure your illness."
Mu Weiyang looked at Shen Ye with hazy eyes.
Her illness had progressed to the point where she could no longer see his face clearly, but she softly called out:
"Brother-in-law!"