Chapter 24: Threat

Mu Anyan gazed at her silently for a moment. His voice was deep, yet carried a hint of gentleness. "I have said it before: I will make it up to you. So, if you are willing, you can continue to treat me as your..."

Jiang Mugui’s eyelashes fluttered as she cut him off sharply: "I don't want to."

Mu Anyan was not surprised; she was clearly filled with rejection toward him, so naturally, she would be unwilling.

Yet, perhaps it was his imagination, but when the girl lifted her gaze, the look in her eyes didn't seem to hold that same animosity. Instead, it was rather profound, as if her mind were wandering through a thousand thoughts. It reminded him of her expression that evening, and the scene of them having breakfast together.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Mu Anyan withdrew his gaze calmly and went to retrieve the takeout he had ordered for her.

There was quite a lot of food—millet porridge, rice, and a pile of dishes that were delicate and light. After laying everything out, Mu Anyan handed her the chopsticks.

Jiang Mugui said, "I'm not hungry."

Mu Anyan didn't yield: "You need to eat even if you aren't hungry."

Jiang Mugui turned her head away, refusing to look at him. Mu Anyan took two steps forward, his frame looming over her. He stared at her in silence for a while; he showed no emotion, yet his presence was so overwhelming it felt oppressive.

Jiang Mugui was still angry, and the pain in her foot left her with no appetite and no desire to eat at all. He watched her for a long time, but she remained unmoved. Just as she thought he would lose his temper, he sighed, his voice low and tinged with helplessness: "I have work to do later. If the food gets cold, I won’t be able to keep reheating it for you, so you had better eat now, otherwise you'll have to handle it yourself."

Jiang Mugui lifted her eyelids to stare at him for a moment, then murmured, "Give it to me, then."

Mu Anyan handed her the millet porridge and a spoon.

After drinking a few mouthfuls, Jiang Mugui tugged at his sleeve. Mu Anyan looked back at her. The girl seemed to hesitate for a moment before asking, "Are you going to work?"

"Yes," Mu Anyan replied.

Jiang Mugui let out an "oh" and set the porridge down. Mu Anyan asked, "Are you full?"

Jiang Mugui replied, "I don't have much of an appetite."

Mu Anyan didn't say anything more. He turned and went upstairs. Jiang Mugui watched his retreating figure for a while, the corner of her mouth twitching. She then gathered her skirt, leaned against the side of the sofa, and stared blankly at the ornate chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

After a while, the sound of the man's footsteps reappeared beside her.

The girl sat up straight. He had come back down with his laptop and files, sitting beside her. He placed the documents next to her takeout, opened his laptop, and began to work.

"Are you working here?" Jiang Mugui asked, a bit surprised.

Mu Anyan hummed in response: "The house is quite large; I was afraid you might be scared alone."

Jiang Mugui lifted her chin slightly: "Why would I be scared? Who do you think you are looking down on?"

He said, "Then I'll go back upstairs."

"Don't," Jiang Mugui blurted out. Seeing the fleeting smile in his eyes, she felt a pang of shame, thinking she was being spineless by giving in so easily. Yet, the presence of the man sitting beside her gave her an inexplicable sense of security, so she turned her head away and said nothing more.

She had lived in boarding schools for most of her life, and when she occasionally went home on weekends, the house was empty. The hired help were formal and robotic, never bothering to chat with her. Having someone familiar sit with her after dinner was something she had almost never experienced, making the moment feel both strange and warm.

She stayed by his side, watching him work. At first, she stared at his laptop screen, but the data made her head spin, so she simply picked up the unfinished millet porridge and took a few more sips. Finding it bland and tasteless, she eventually shifted her gaze to his profile.

His features were sharp, his jawline defined, and his expression was focused and composed. Jiang Mugui became lost in her observation, her mind drifting back to past events, her thoughts swirling in endless cycles.

Mu Anyan naturally sensed her gaze. Still looking at the screen, he asked, "Why did you skip class?"

Jiang Mugui suddenly felt he was ruining the mood.

She tore her gaze away from him and remained silent.

Seeing that she wouldn't answer, he finished confirming and saving his file, closed the laptop, and turned his attention to her.

His slightly intense gaze made her feel pressured and unnatural. She no longer had the courage to meet his eyes, nor did she dare to look at him as boldly as before; she even instinctively scooted backward. "What does it matter if I skipped a few college classes?"

Mu Anyan curled his lips in a sneer: "Do you really think it was just a few?"

Jiang Mugui reverted to the cold, dismissive attitude she had shown on the street: "I had someone else answer for me. I guess they failed to do it successfully, or the teacher caught them."

He said with impatience, "So, why did you skip class?"

Jiang Mugui lifted her eyelids, her tone sharp: "What’s the big deal? I’ll just get a few medical notes before the final exams to clear my record and take the tests properly. Isn't that enough?"

Mu Anyan opened his mouth to speak, but her temper flared again: "And I said it earlier today, why are you meddling in my affairs? I am not your daughter, and I don't share your last name. Is there any need for such a grand display of concern?"

"Do you even realize whose card you are swiping right now?" The man could not be bothered to go in circles with her on this topic and switched subjects directly.

Jiang Mugui froze, remembering the card Jiang Wei had given her before she started university, accompanied by the words: "My daughter is all grown up now; feel free to spend as much as you like at college."

The man’s eyes were cool, yet carried a powerful sense of threat: "You are right; I do not have the right to discipline you. However, I certainly have the right to decide how my own money is spent. If you continue to skip class to go out and play, I will freeze your card immediately. I don't earn my money easily, and I don't want it wasted every day on that foul-tasting foreign liquor."

Jiang Mugui’s face turned slightly pale. Her fingers gripped her skirt tightly, and she stared at him, unable to utter a single word.

Before she could respond, he met her gaze squarely, his eyes deepening, though a faint, indefinable smile played at the corners of his thin lips: "Of course, you could spend your mother's money instead. But she just traveled abroad a couple of days ago; if you don't think she'll find you a nuisance, you are welcome to ask her for money every day."