Mu Huaisheng pouted and laughed wryly. The 'small favor' had caused the Mu family a load of trouble. Mu Sisi may not know yet, but Mu Huaisheng knew that the Mu family was planning to focus on markets within the country. If the beginning was already this rough, it would be hard to proceed onward.

"Why?" Mu Huaisheng asked composedly.

"A while ago, I was injured. Right here." Qi Chengzhi pointed at his abdomen. "Stabbed with a knife. It was very severe. I almost died, but I didn't. I escaped death and was admitted into a hospital. I don't know how Mu Sisi found out I was injured and admitted into the hospital —not many knew about this, and those who did would never tell her."

"When was that?" Mu Huaisheng was shocked. His expression turned serious.

"About a month ago." Qi Chengzhi's expression was calm. His attitude was nothing like someone who had just had a brush with death.

Mu Huaisheng's face abruptly tightened. "I even asked her whether she had been bugging you lately. She told me that she didn't so confidently. What did she do now?"

"Oh, not much. She simply took the chance while I was lying in bed and immobile to throw herself on me and said that she wants to have my child. While fending her off, I tore my wound and worsened my injury." Although Qi Chengzhi's wound did not hurt anymore, he was scarred emotionally. Every time this topic was brought up, it made him uncomfortable.

Seeing Mu Huaisheng's staggered expression, Qi Chengzhi continued in an indifferent tone, "There's no way I can tolerate her harassment anymore. I don't know how many times I have to tell her to get her to drop the idea and stop disrupting our lives. Since your family didn't give a damn, we had to take matters into our own hands. This was a decision made by our grandparents. They were infuriated when they saw me getting hurt again after finally starting to recover. There's no point in you coming to see me today. I have no say in this matter. Whether I end this or not is up to our grandparents."

Qi Chengzhi kept his left hand in his pocket while his right hand took his ringing phone out. He merely glanced at it then declined the call. "My family is prodding me. Now you know why I didn't invite you; the two elderly are still exasperated. Before this, we didn't move a finger because we thought she was merely making a scene. Us, The Eight Great Families, also have our pride to maintain. It's not worth it to cause a commotion over small matters. Otherwise, the Qi family would have been insanely busy these few years. When Mu Sisi wronged Gui Ronghui, it's not that the Gui family did not know, nor was it that they did not value Gui Ronghui; they simply felt that it wasn't worth launching a thousand ships just for her. Besides, they felt that it was a children's fight. It was something personal, so there was no need to make it a family affair. They did not feel the need to move a fleet for a small incident and stoop down to her level."

Mu Huaisheng's eyebrows jumped. He did think that the Gui family did not want to go through so much trouble solely for Gui Ronghui.

Qi Chengzhi nodded at Mu Huaisheng, then he left without saying any more.

Mu Huaisheng stood at the spot, not moving a muscle. He exhaled deeply, and only when he calmed down did he walk to the parking lot. However, as he reached the entrance of Dynasty, he stopped. Grandfather Qi and Grandmother Qi were heading his way. Additionally, Qi Zhongxun, Qi Zhongliang, and their wives were also beside them.

They were all dressed in costumes from the Minguo period. The three men, led by Grandfather Qi, were all wearing suits. Grandfather Qi even wore a top hat. On the other hand, Grandmother Qi, Xia Wenna and Guan Liya were all wearing lavish and elegant cheongsams.

As Mu Huaisheng greeted them, Grandfather Qi and Grandmother Qi merely acknowledged his presence coldly. Therefore, Mu Huaisheng left without saying more.

The second Grandmother Qi entered the hall, she went straight to look for Qi Chengzhi to ask him why Mu Huaisheng was here. She did not even stop to admire the intricate decorations.

Once Qi Chengzhi explained it to her, she scoffed unhappily and ranted, "That young man is so thick-skinned. Back then, when Mu Sisi was seducing you in front of the Song girl, he still dared to bring Mu Sisi to our home. Now that Mu Sisi had done something so shameless, he still got the guts to come see you?"

Qi Chengzhi kept quiet. Grandmother Qi was a straightforward woman, once she spat out the words in her heart, she would feel much better. Thus, she dragged Grandfather Qi and her two daughters-in-law to get their pictures taken. Posing according to the movie scenes, they took millions of photos.

…

…

Mu Sisi went shopping. She came home with her hands full. The moment she stepped in, she was met with the dark expressions of her parents and Mu Huaisheng.

"Come here," Mu Huili commanded in a stiff voice.

"Dad, Mom, what's the matter?" Mu Sisi put her things down and entered the living room.

"Didn't you say that you didn't go see Qi Chengzhi lately?" Mu Huili questioned coldly. "Then about a month ago, who did you see?"

Mu Sisi's expression changed. "When my brother asked that, he was asking whether I have seen him lately, so it's true that I haven't seen him lately. A month ago is a long time ago."

"Mu Sisi, how dare you still quibble!" Even Fang Anci, who had pampered Mu Sisi her whole life, was at her limit. "What did I teach you since you were young? To seduce a man into wanting you? You stripped naked in front of him and he didn't even look at you, yet now you took the chance when he was injured and could not get out of bed to… to rape him? This is not love! This is just shameless! Even if he was single, he wouldn't want you if you force yourself on him like that! To teach you a lesson, they took it out on our family company. You should have had more self-awareness much earlier on! You should have backed off! The man you want has a wife. Moreover, his wife is pregnant, yet you still forced yourself on him. What are you thinking? If a man with a wife can be lured away so easily by a mistress, would you dare to live the rest of your life with him even if you've successfully won his heart? Today, you steal another woman's husband from her; tomorrow, some other woman will come steal your husband from you! Qi Chengzhi has made it crystal clear from the beginning—he does not want you. Even if he had to tear his wound and worsen his injury, he still didn't want you! You were kicked out of a ward! Aren't you humiliated? How can you not feel ashamed of yourself?"

"Mom, I'm your daughter! How could you condemn me like that? In the eyes of others, I may be shameless, but this is all to get the one that I love. What's wrong with that? For love, I am brave. I will pursue him and try everything I can. I am not afraid of being called shameless. It's true that he is married. In others' views, I am but a mistress. Even so, so what if I'm a mistress? Does a mistress not have human rights? A mistress can't like a man? I am simply unlucky. I fell for a man with a family, but my love for him is pure. I'm not trying to covet anything of his. If it weren't for my brother suggesting to set up an arranged marriage for me, I wouldn't have been so hasty either. I wouldn't have chosen this kind of solution. I just wanted to get pregnant with his child before I get married. I want to carry the child of the man that I love. I want to raise his child. I have no hope of getting him in this life, so I want to at least get his child. Is it wrong to defend my love?" Mu Sisi cried while pointing at her chest.

"You…" Fang Anci was so infuriated, her hands were trembling. "What kind of nonsense are you spitting! Love is between two people. When you're the only one that likes him, that's called unrequited love! So, what love are you talking about? Deliberately trying to sabotage someone's marriage is not love! That's just selfish! It would have been a little better if he likes you, but he doesn't! You say you love him, but you won't even let him have a happy life. What is this love you keep screaming about? What can you give him? Constant harassment?"

"Why can't I give him a happy life? If he marries me, I can make him the happiest man in the world," Mu Sisi shrilled confidently.

"No wonder your brother cannot control you! Who taught you all this nonsense? He can only be happy if he loves you. If he doesn't, how can he be happy?" Mu Sisi opened her mouth to refute Fang Anci's claim but before she could utter a word, Fang Anci continued, "Don't tell me he will fall for you eventually. Even when he was lying in bed and immobile, he still wouldn't surrender. What makes you think he would ever love you? I won't argue your logic on love with you. I have no idea what we've taught you when you were young, turning you into someone we can't talk sense with. Your mind is full of fallacy! Let me ask you this: if your love will harm the family business and maybe even destroy it, if your love will strip away your position as a lady from a notable family and snatch away your lavish lifestyle, will you still chase after this love so determinedly?"

Mu Sisi was stunned. She was still sobbing. Sniffling, she asked, "What do you mean?"

"Why do you think we came here to expand our markets? We even had your brother come here personally. And even though we knew you'd be of no help, we still sent you here," Mu Huili said distantly.

"Did something happen to the company?" Mu Sisi asked fearfully.

"Even you know that our company doesn't make luxury products. Instead, we focus on generic products. However, there are too many generic brands these days, and MU.'s market shares are constantly shrinking. When we went to Europe, we were actually discussing closing down a few stores to redirect our financial focus within the country. So far, we haven't opened any specialty stores within the country and our market share is still quite small. Even so, our products are quite popular here, so we decided to shift our business focus here. I was even considering moving our headquarters here. The cost of it being in America is too high. It would be cheaper to run it here. Nonetheless, ever since you set foot here, all you did was cause trouble for the family. You've wronged everyone! Now, how is the company supposed to develop here? Ah, you sure have a keen eye for people to offend too. Instead of ordinary people, you went ahead and wronged those with high positions," Mu Huili mocked wrathfully.

Mu Sisi sighed in relief. "You scared me. I thought we were going bankrupt or something."

"Do you think our family is doing well now? In the Chinese social circle in America, we don't even make the list now. Why do you think we all came back here?" Mu Huili was enraged by Mu Sisi's words.

"Since we both came back here, we won't let you be so stubborn any longer. Besides, you're not young anymore. It's time we find you a suitable man to marry," Fang Anci announced coldly. "Not only will this help our family grow our roots here, but it can also stop you from causing trouble everywhere."

"I'm not getting married!" Mu Sisi screeched the moment she heard those words.

"What can you do if you don't get married? Are you going to hold onto this unrequited love of yours forever? Listen up, Qi Chengzhi will never be with you, so stop dreaming. Wake up! Live the rest of your life properly. Stop clinging onto this unrealistic fantasy," Mu Huili insulted exasperatedly.

Both him and Fang Anci had returned to deal with things personally. They had already decided to sell the properties in America under their names. Naturally, they could not send Mu Sisi back.

"I'm only 24. I'm still young. So what if I wait for him for another six years? Why don't you rush Mu Huaisheng into getting married?" Mu Sisi disputed with her chin held high.

"You don't need to worry about your brother's matters," Mu Huili replied coldly.

"I have contacted your uncle. He said the Li family is not bad. They could be of help to us. We can introduce you to Li Zhuohui," Fang Anci stated.

"No! Li Zhuohui was a married man. I'm such an optimum wife, so why would I settle for a man who's looking to remarry?" Mu Sisi complained discontentedly. Li Zhuohui was not even half the man Qi Chengzhi was. She had a taste of men like Qi Chengzhi, so it was impossible for her to accept anyone much less.

"If Qi Chengzhi divorces, wouldn't he be a man looking to remarry too?" Fang Anci argued instantly. "Besides, while you think Li Zhuohui isn't good enough for you, how do you know that he doesn't think you're not good enough for him? The news of you stripping naked and seducing Qi Chengzhi has spread like wildfire. You're much worse than someone who had a divorce! Do you really think that Li Zhuohui would definitely accept you?"

Mu Sisi's face flushed red with rage. She could not wrap her head around which part of her was bad.

"If you don't like Li Zhuohui, go meet Gao Jingqiu. The Gao family is about the same level as the Li family." Fang Anci did not consider anyone other than the eldest sons or the only child who would become the head of their families in the future. Thus, she did not bring up Li Zhuoan at all.

"No!" Mu Sisi shrieked. She shook her head around insanely.

"You have no right to say 'no' in this matter. We will arrange for you and Gao Jingqiu to meet up as soon as possible," Mu Huili declared firmly. He would not tolerate her refusal. "If you don't meet him, I will arrange your marriage immediately. I don't mind that. I've inquired with the Gao family too—Gao Jingqiu's marriage is entirely dependant on his family's decision. He doesn't mind that either. He has long prepared himself for an arranged marriage. What they care about isn't the bride-to-be, but the family she's from. Thus, he has no problem with whoever he's set up with."

"Why are you two speaking as if no one wants me! I'm not getting married! I don't want to!" Mu Sisi howled. Turning away, she ran out of the house.

"This… This child…" Fang Anci took two steps forward and stopped when she knew she could not catch up to her. She was furious and felt helpless. "Why is she like this?!"

…

…

Mu Sisi went to a bar alone. Sitting in a corner, she ordered a whole bottle of whiskey. She did not even add ice. She poured it into a glass and drank it just like that. Slowly, her mind grew fuzzy and blank and her reaction became delayed. When she was most indulged in her drinking, she took out her phone.

Qi Chengzhi had just come out from a bath. He rubbed his towel on his hair a few times but his hair was still wet. In fact, drops of water were falling from the tips of his hair. Nonetheless, he did not care. He hung the towel around his neck and sat on the sofa with his laptop and started working.

Song Yu could not bear the sight of it. She went to the bathroom and got the hairdryer. Then, she kneeled on the sofa and dried his hair for him.

"Don't bother." Qi Chengzhi wrapped an arm around her waist. Her protruding stomach was touching his face.

Song Yu staggered a little. Her actions were quite cumbersome now. Qi Chengzhi turned his head toward her and kissed her belly. Then, he looked up and smiled at her. Seeing his charming face, Song Yu's mind went blank for a split second.

Her fingertips wiped the water off his face tenderly. Softly, she said, "You do your work. I'll dry your hair for you. It's not good to leave it wet."

Qi Chengzhi smiled then turned back to do his work, letting Song Yu dry his hair.

As the hairdryer howled, Qi Chengzhi's phone—which was placed beside his laptop—vibrated. Qi Chengzhi picked it up and saw that it was an unknown number. He answered the phone. Song Yu turned off the hairdryer so it would not disturb his conversation.

Qi Chengzhi still had one arm around Song Yu's waist. He leaned on her stomach gently, making himself comfortable.

"Brother Chengzhi, it's me," Mu Sisi's drunken murmurs sounded in the phone. "Brother Chengzhi, my parents want to marry me off to Gao Jingqiu. What should I do? I don't want to get married to anyone besides you. I would rather watch you like this my whole life and love you like this. For you, I would rather not get married my entire life. Brother Chengzhi, would you come pick me up? I want to see you, Brother Chengzhi—"

Qi Chengzhi hung up annoyedly.

"Who was it?" Song Yu inquired, seeing Qi Chengzhi's dark expression.

"Mu Sisi. I don't know when she had changed her number. My phone did not block it." Qi Chengzhi moved the number to his blacklist. Only then did he put down his phone.

Song Yu was a little concerned. This Mu Sisi was still at it. Why did she call him?

Qi Chengzhi explained, "She's crying about her parents forcing her to get married."

"She must have told you how much she loves you again and how she can't live without you, right?" Song Yu asked speechlessly, squinting her eyes. She was extremely irritated at Mu Sisi.

"Hurry up and dry my hair. I'll catch a cold," Qi Chengzhi prodded laughingly.

…

…

Mu Sisi did not hear a reply. "Hello?" Only then did she realize that Qi Chengzhi had long hung up. She called him again, but the call would not go through.

"Why? Why couldn't he even say a word to me! Brother Chengzhi, it's just once! Why can't you just give it to me just this once?" Mu Sisi was immensely despondent. She had a chestful of love but her love was rejected.

Subconsciously, she downed more and more liquor.

"Hey girl, are you here alone?" As she got drunker, a man's voice sounded above her head. His voice was quite melodic.

In a daze, she only saw his clean white shirt. The man sat down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders.

"What are you doing? Let go of me. I'm not interested." Mu Sisi wanted to move his hand away but she had no strength to do so. She tried many times but failed miserably.

"Don't be like this. It's lonely to drink by yourself," the man said as he poured another glass for her. Suddenly, he took the bottle and chugged it down her throat.

"What are you— Mm—" Mu Sisi shook her head, trying to get away but the man kept going. Her tongue had long been numb from all the drinking. As she chugged down the entire bottle, she could not taste much.

Not long after, she was all dizzy. Her head was still a little clear but her strength was completely drained.

"Where are you bringing me?" Mu Sisi asked weakly. She was pulled up by the man and was held in his arms.

"To a place where you can rest," the man answered.

Mu Sisi suddenly thought that the man's voice was alluring, just like Qi Chengzhi's. She trembled a little and felt even weaker. "Brother Chengzhi?"

The man did not say anything. Unexpectedly, Mu Sisi held tightly onto him. "Brother Chengzhi, is it you? Did you come to find me, Brother Chengzhi? I knew it, I do have a place in your heart. I knew it."

Her vision grew fuzzier and fuzzier, to a point where she could not tell where she had walked to. All she knew was that the man in front of her eyes seemed to be Qi Chengzhi.

Mu Sisi was touched. Not knowing when, she was suddenly lying on a bed. The man climbed on top of her, yet Mu Sisi gladly invited him in. All she could see was Qi Chengzhi's face. She was overjoyed. She moaned constantly, "Brother Chengzhi. Brother Chengzhi! You finally want me. Brother Chengzhi… I love you… I love you…"

Mu Sisi felt his hands and his lips working their way around her body. When the man penetrated her, Mu Sisi endured the pain and responded to his actions passionately. Her heart was filled with happiness.