Chapter 123: An Unbearable Itch in the Heart

Mu Yinyin: [Continue investigating the previous matters. I want evidence from the time she was married.]
Meng Tao: [Understood.]

Mu Yinyin set her phone down, her expression calm yet tinged with a cold edge. The photos she had just received were all of He Xia in intimate poses with a man, with the locations clearly identifiable. However, these events had all occurred after her father’s passing. While her father was still alive, she had lacked sufficient evidence. Soon, she would ensure He Xia’s reputation was utterly destroyed.

Time ticked on. By lunchtime, Jiang Ling had awakened. Fearing that Mu Yinyin might be resting, he sent her a message.

Jiang Ling: [Are you resting?]
Mu Yinyin: [Up so early? Why not get some more sleep?]
Jiang Ling: [I suppose I’m hungry now that it’s lunchtime. What would you like to eat?]
Mu Yinyin: [Anything is fine.]
Jiang Ling: [Then I’ll have someone send it over.]
Mu Yinyin: [Okay.]

Mu Yinyin put her phone down again, her eyes filled with complex emotions. She suspected that Jiang Ling had deliberately woken up at this hour to check on her, worried that she might not be eating well. After waiting a while longer, a knock sounded at her door.

Mu Yinyin went to open it; it was Jiang Ling. Seeing that he seemed to be in decent shape, she stepped aside and said softly, "You should have slept a bit longer."

"This is enough. I rarely get this much sleep anyway," Jiang Ling replied with a gentle smile, appearing unusually at ease.

Mu Yinyin shook her head helplessly, not knowing what else to say. In their current situation, there was little to be done. They both fell silent, partly because they didn't know what to talk about. At times, the atmosphere between them felt rather strange.

After another ten minutes or so, there was another knock at the door. Before Mu Yinyin could move, Jiang Ling stood up. "I'll get it."

Mu Yinyin remained silent, her gaze flickering with complexity. She knew that Jiang Ling was still in love with her and even wanted to be with her. But... sometimes, matters of the heart could not be forced, and she did not want to drag him down. After all, she was a woman who had already been through a divorce, while Jiang Ling was in the prime of his youth; she didn't want to ruin his future.

Soon, Jiang Ling arranged all the food on the table. He looked at Mu Yinyin and smiled. "Wash your hands and let's eat."

"Okay." Mu Yinyin collected her thoughts and went to the washroom. Upon returning, they sat down across from each other and ate together.

Midway through, Jiang Ling spoke up. "I need to go out to handle some business this afternoon and might not be back until tonight. Stay in the hotel and don't go anywhere."

Mu Yinyin nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll listen to you."

Jiang Ling glanced at her. Though he wasn't entirely convinced, he chose to trust her and continued, "Aside from Gao Zhusheng, no one else is likely to be as troublesome. I’m meeting with the person in charge of the Liu family today, and the Li family the day after. The Li family might be a bit more difficult, but compared to Gao Zhusheng, it should be much easier."

The Li family.

Mu Yinyin’s gaze faltered. Although the Li family might be easier to deal with than Gao Zhusheng, they were still difficult to handle—they were driven solely by profit, though at least they weren't lecherous like Gao Zhusheng.

"Yinyin?" Seeing her silence, Jiang Ling looked concerned.

Mu Yinyin quickly snapped back to reality and nodded. "Yes, I’m listening. Don't worry, I won't go out."

Jiang Ling nodded, saying nothing more.

Back home, it was the middle of the day, a time when everyone usually took a break. He Xia was currently in bed. However, she was not at her usual home, but at a villa under her own name—a place only she knew about, unknown even to Nan Shiqing, as this was where she went to indulge in her sordid affairs.

In the bedroom, besides her, there was a man in his late twenties. He was handsome and delicate, a classic "puppy dog" type that was particularly attractive to women. He was the man He Xia had previously lied about being her cousin. Tonight was their planned meeting, but He Xia had been unable to resist the urge to see him, so she had called him out early. As for the "puppy dog" Liang Mu, she had been keeping him, so whatever she said, he did; he was happy to just receive the money.

He Xia had already showered. Seeing Liang Mu sitting on the edge of the bed, smiling at her suggestively, she could not suppress the burning desire within her. She immediately walked over to him, sat on his lap, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Baby, your big sister has missed you to death. I really missed you so much." He Xia’s voice was delicate, carrying a certain allure in front of the man. Despite her age, she was well-maintained and looked like a woman in her early thirties, which still appealed to many men.

Liang Mu, aside from taking her money, was quite open-minded and felt that this woman was decent and pleasant to be with. He pulled He Xia into an embrace, looking up at her with doting eyes. "Baby, I missed you too."

Being called "baby" despite being an older woman didn't bother He Xia in the slightest. Instead, she kissed the man's lips directly, murmuring between kisses, "If you missed me, show me with your actions."

The man chuckled, scooped her up, and laid her on the bed as he continued to kiss her. Soon, the two were fully engaged.

An hour later, things finally quieted down.

He Xia lay on the bed, panting, and said with a flushed face, "You seemed even more capable today."

The man smiled faintly, pulling her into his arms. "Isn't that just me serving my big sister?"

He Xia couldn't help but laugh out loud. "You rascal, talking nonsense again."

"Does big sister not like it?" Liang Mu’s voice was soft, his gaze filled with tenderness.

"I like it, of course I like it." He Xia leaned into the man's embrace, truly unable to stop herself from being infatuated. This boy was excellent in every way, and she felt lucky to have found such a treasure. If she could turn back time, she would sigh, wishing she had met him sooner. It was all Mu Yinyin’s father’s fault for getting in her way; it was only when he was nearing his end that she finally dared to get involved with Liang Mu.

"Big sister."

Liang Mu’s sudden voice brought He Xia back to reality. She looked at him. "What is it?"

"When will you make me official?" Liang Mu asked as he stroked her bangs. "We've been together for quite a while now, and this secretive life isn't very good, is it?"

Liang Mu’s voice was almost a whisper, yet every word struck a chord in He Xia’s heart, making her itch with desire. She sighed and said, "I want to be out in the open with you too, but the timing just isn't right, baby."