Chapter Fifty: Mu Jinghuai Has Returned

"That woman is called Zhong Nian. She transferred to Jinghua Hospital a year ago and has never had any visitors. I checked the account that pays her medical bills—nothing useful. Whoever sends the money is very cautious; the funds are routed through several accounts, making the source nearly impossible to trace."

Lin Yu braced both hands on his desk, a shroud of confusion settling between his brows, the air in the room seeming to congeal with tension.

Fu Chen flipped through the documents on the desk with slender fingers, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his high-bridged nose. He frowned slightly, lost in thought for a moment.

"I suspect that woman is Shen Huaiqing's real mother."

"Just because of the name that woman mentioned yesterday and Shen Huaiqing's reaction?"

"Yes, and besides, Mu Jinghuai has used the same name before. Isn't that enough to indicate something?"

Fu Chen leaned back lazily, his shoulders relaxing slightly, but a dangerous glint lingered in his dark eyes.

Lin Yu paced around the desk, finally stopping in front of Fu Chen. His long, fox-like eyes fixed intently on Fu Chen, a sly smile flashing at the corner of his lips.

"Fu Chen, if Shen Huaiqing really is an impostor, what are you planning to do?"

—————

Shen Huaiqing stood at the entrance of Dongxun University, holding her umbrella against the rain. Autumn showers always carried a bone-deep chill. Apart from the sound of the rain, everything around seemed utterly silent. Raindrops drifted down in sheets, the damp air laced with the clean scent of grass and trees, faintly wafting on the breeze.

Mu Jinghuai answered Shen Huaiqing's call and nearly ran all the way to the gate. Even with an umbrella, rain still speckled his clothes, and his soft brown hair was damp.

Shen Huaiqing swallowed the tenderness in her eyes and rose on tiptoe to shield Mu Jinghuai with her umbrella. "You didn’t have to hurry. You’ve only just recovered; you can’t afford to catch another cold."

Mu Jinghuai pressed her shoulder down, wiped his hair with a sleeve, and grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.

"It’s nothing—I’m young. A few scrapes are no big deal."

There were still traces of dark scabs on Mu Jinghuai’s face; his right eye was slightly swollen. His once fair, delicate skin was now rougher, the complexion markedly darker.

Unable to help herself, Shen Huaiqing reached out to touch the scab on Mu Jinghuai’s face, her brows furrowing.

"I actually just wanted to see how you were healing. Why don’t I take you to the hospital for a check-up?"

"Did the university punish you?"

"Are your classmates talking about you?"

Mu Jinghuai gently took Shen Huaiqing’s cold hand, his clear eyes softening as he gazed at her.

"I’m not that little boy I used to be. Can’t you let me take care of you for a change?"

Shen Huaiqing paused, suddenly aware of the many eyes watching them. Campus romance was common, but a pair as striking as them was rare.

Especially since Shen Huaiqing was no ordinary girl.

It seemed several people had already recognized her, heads bent together in whispers, their disdainful glances darting over.

"You little brat! Is that how you talk to your sister?" Shen Huaiqing, thinking quickly, patted Mu Jinghuai’s head and scolded him with a frown.

Mu Jinghuai was caught completely off guard, staring blankly at Shen Huaiqing, unable to utter a word.

This reaction only confirmed their sibling act to the onlookers. Seizing the moment, Shen Huaiqing twisted Mu Jinghuai’s ear and marched him toward the café beside the university.

Luckily, the café had private booths. Shen Huaiqing pulled Mu Jinghuai inside.

"Why did you say I was your brother?" Mu Jinghuai rubbed his reddened ear, protesting.

"What do you think? So many people in your school have already recognized me—I had no choice but to do that."

"You'll just have to put up with it for now."

Shen Huaiqing shrugged, smiling sweetly at Mu Jinghuai without a trace of apology.

"Does Fu Chen know who you really are?" Mu Jinghuai suddenly tensed, watching her intently.

"He probably does. With his power and resources, it was only a matter of time before he investigated me."

After his recent ordeal at the police station, Mu Jinghuai could truly appreciate Fu Chen’s influence in Nancheng. If he wanted to destroy someone, it was as easy as crushing an ant.

"Come away with me," Mu Jinghuai said firmly, as if he'd been holding those words back for a long time.

Shen Huaiqing leaned in, studying his face, then burst into laughter, tears welling at the corners of her eyes.

"You’re as innocent as ever, just like when you were a kid," she said, ruffling his damp hair like an older sister.

Mu Jinghuai bristled at being treated like a child, shaking his head impatiently, his gaze turning cold.

"I’m serious. I’ve been working these past years and saved quite a bit—enough to take you to another city and start over."

Seeing that he meant it, Shen Huaiqing’s smile faded, her eyes growing solemn. "Mu Jinghuai, you can throw everything away for me, but I can’t throw everything away to go with you."

Mu Jinghuai gripped her hand, his voice trembling. "Is there someone in Nancheng you can’t let go of?"

Shen Huaiqing stared at their intertwined hands, and an image of Fu Chen gripping her hand flashed through her mind. Alarmed, she quickly pulled her hand away.

"My mother is still here," she replied, avoiding Mu Jinghuai’s intense gaze as she looked out the window.

The drizzle continued, a few pedestrians making their way through the misty rain, water pooling in the ruts of the asphalt, cars splashing through the puddles with a spray.

"Does your mother know what you’re doing? I still don’t understand how you changed from Song Hui to Shen Huaiqing," Mu Jinghuai finally voiced the question that had weighed on him.

At the mention of those two words, Shen Huaiqing’s brows twitched. She replied softly, "You don’t need to know. Don’t ever bring up that name again. I came today for another reason—to compensate you. After all, you ended up like this because of me."

She pulled a card from her bag and pushed it toward Mu Jinghuai.

His hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched into a fist, the light in his eyes dimming. "What is this supposed to mean?" he asked quietly.

Shen Huaiqing knew this would displease him, but she had no other choice.

"Don’t be childish. There’s a hundred thousand on this card—no password. Money makes the world go round; it’s not that I look down on you, or mean to insult you. Just keep it for emergencies. I also know your mother’s health has been poor these last two years—you’ve been working so hard for her sake."

"You investigated me?" Mu Jinghuai’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"I told you, money can make anything happen. So from now on, let’s not see each other anymore. I can’t afford for my plans to go astray because of you."

Holding back tears, Shen Huaiqing sniffled, then turned and briskly left the booth.