Chapter Twenty-Eight: What Does Not Belong to You!

When Luoshui awoke, she found herself lying on a sofa, a blanket draped over her, carrying a pleasant scent.

"Where am I?"

Luoshui instinctively grew alert, glancing around. This place was clearly not her own, with its blue, refreshing wallpaper; instead, it was decorated in a simple, ancient style, which she found rather appealing.

Suddenly, a noise came from the kitchen.

Qin Mu emerged, holding a bowl of medicine for the fever.

"I remember you!" Luoshui exclaimed with delight. In the last moments of her lucid consciousness, it was this man who had thrown Director Chen out and protected her.

If he hadn’t intervened, she might never have returned from the abyss.

"He was just too loud. I don’t like such chaos," Qin Mu shook his head.

"You’ve got a fever. Now that you’re awake, drink the medicine first," Qin Mu handed her the bowl.

Yet, faced with the medicine, Luoshui inexplicably showed a hint of reluctance.

Qin Mu didn’t say much. He picked up the spoon and took a sip himself.

"Is that enough?"

"I’ve heard that many men like to drink a little after giving women medicine, to make things more exciting..." Luoshui muttered under her breath, watching his expression.

"Drink it or don’t. Your choice," Qin Mu said helplessly, turning to pour the medicine away.

Realizing he was serious, Luoshui quickly reached out to stop him.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Please feed me, I really have no strength left," she pleaded.

She hadn’t expected that, a leading actress, she would be lying helplessly on a sofa, begging another man to feed her medicine.

Qin Mu shot her a look, thinking she had brought this upon herself.

"Ahh—"

Luoshui rather enjoyed this little princess-like moment.

But just after the first sip, she suddenly remembered—Qin Mu had just used this spoon!

Seeing that he didn’t seem to care, she was too embarrassed to mention it and continued, cheeks flushed.

When the medicine was finished, Luoshui immediately felt much better, the fevered pain transforming into warmth.

"What is this medicine? It’s amazing," she murmured.

Qin Mu glanced at her. "A private remedy."

"But judging by your condition, you’ll probably need to come to me often."

"How do you know I get sick frequently?" Luoshui was astonished.

Judging by the arrangement of the room, he must live next door. Yet, she remembered clearly that no one else normally lived on her floor.

When had this mysterious neighbor moved in?

More importantly, he didn’t seem to know who she was.

"Frequent late nights result in weak digestion, poor blood flow, and some menstrual irregularities."

"Divine doctor, please save me!" Luoshui half joked, half serious.

For work, these ailments had tormented her for years.

"Are you sure you want to be treated? I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it," Qin Mu raised an eyebrow.

"What’s there to fear? Go ahead," Luoshui lifted her chin, determined not to suffer any longer.

"Alright."

Qin Mu reached through her ornate costume, seeking the vertebra at the base of her jade-like back.

"Ah!"

A gentle touch sent a shiver through Luoshui, goosebumps rising all over her body.

She bit her lip, cursing herself for letting her guard down.

What sort of treatment was this?

Men, it seemed, were all the same!

He rescued her only for his own pleasure!

But soon, she was lost in Qin Mu’s technique, all her fatigue and pain melted away, and she closed her eyes, relaxing completely.

Even the female massage therapists she’d seen as a child couldn’t compare to Qin Mu’s skillful hands.

"All done," Qin Mu said after about twenty minutes.

"Huh? So soon?" Luoshui felt she’d only just begun to enjoy it.

When she sat up, Qin Mu had even helped fasten her costume.

"Alright, I’ll come to you again next time," Luoshui smiled, for the first time feeling she’d met a warm-hearted, considerate man in this materialistic society.

Qin Mu rubbed his temples.

His good intentions seemed to have gotten him tangled up.

...

In the days that followed,

Luoshui learned that Qin Mu lived right next door, so she dropped by every few days.

It wasn’t for any special reason—she was on sick leave and bored, so she sought him out for conversation.

Until today, after seeing Luoshui off,

Qin Mu had Wumu drive him to the entrance of a top-tier hotel.

This hotel was far more prestigious than the one the Zhao family had used for their engagement, the most distinguished in River City.

Today, the renowned River Alliance had booked the entire hotel for a grand banquet.

To celebrate the city’s richest man joining their ranks.

Qin Mu stepped out of the car. The banquet was fully open; anyone who felt worthy could enter freely.

Thus, Qin Mu faced no obstacles and went straight in.

The hall was packed, nearly every seat taken.

Qin Mu found a spot with fewer people and sat down calmly.

At this table, there was only a couple.

They looked at Qin Mu in surprise.

"Hey, you look unfamiliar. Which family are you from?" Li Sheng asked directly.

Qin Mu seemed too young, hardly someone with the credentials to attend such an event.

"Qin family, Qin Mu," he replied.

Qin family?

Li Sheng scratched his head, guessing it was a newly risen family in River City.

Under the leadership of the River Alliance, the city had developed rapidly, with a dozen new families emerging each year.

"Never mind, the treasure auction is about to begin," the girl, Shen Xin, tugged Li Sheng’s arm, her eyes bright with anticipation.

Li Sheng nodded, noticing Qin Mu also looking toward the center of the hall.

He said, "Qin, you don’t know what’s up for auction tonight, do you?"

His own family was neither prominent nor insignificant in the city, so Li Sheng was always keen to make new connections.

"Tell me," Qin Mu said, intrigued.