Chapter 84: Ch 84: Tender Moments and Sunset Revelations
Chapter 84: Ch 84: Tender Moments and Sunset Revelations
As the sun slowly settled on the horizon, painting the sky in soft hues of orange, pink, and deepening indigo, the first stars began to twinkle faintly overhead. The front door of the villa opened with a gentle creak, and PD Xu Cui stepped inside carrying both Shen Guoxing and little Mo Yan securely in his arms.
The two children rested peacefully against him, their small faces relaxed with contented smiles, as if the day’s adventures had lulled them into the sweetest dreams.
"We’re home!" PD Xu Cui announced loudly, his voice echoing warmly through the hallways of the villa. Almost immediately, the sound of multiple footsteps hurried toward him. Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue appeared in the doorway, both women breathing audible sighs of relief at the sight of their children looking safe and happy.
Su Wanyan smiled softly and stepped forward, carefully taking Shen Guoxing and Mo Yan into her arms. The two little ones squirmed briefly in their sleep, but soon settled even more comfortably against her, as if instinctively recognizing her embrace.
Su Wanyan smiled down at them with pure tenderness, then lifted her gaze to PD Xu Cui. "Thank you for taking care of them, PD," she said, her eyes twinkling with genuine gratitude.
PD Xu Cui smiled and waved her off casually. "It’s nothing, it’s nothing," he replied. Then he stepped closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "I want to talk to you alone," he said, patting Su Wanyan’s shoulder meaningfully. "As soon as you settle them, okay?" With one final pat, he moved past her and headed deeper into the villa.
Mo Xingxue raised an eyebrow at the exchange and turned to Su Wanyan with a small, mischievous smile. "Did you do something wrong?" she asked teasingly.
Su Wanyan turned to her and shrugged with a helpless little smile. "I don’t know," she admitted honestly. Mo Xingxue shook her head in amusement, and the two women carried their children back to their room together.
Once inside the cozy bedroom, Mo Xingxue gently took little Mo Yan and settled her into the crib with careful, loving movements. Meanwhile, Su Wanyan laid Shen Guoxing down on her bed and tucked the blanket around her small frame.
Seeing both children resting peacefully, Su Wanyan leaned down and placed a soft, tender kiss on Shen Guoxing’s forehead. The little girl smiled contentedly in her sleep. Su Wanyan then moved to Mo Yan’s crib, bending down to plant an equally gentle kiss on the baby’s forehead. Mo Yan responded with a soft, gummy smile that melted Su Wanyan’s heart.
Su Wanyan straightened up, only to meet Mo Xingxue’s burning, intense gaze. Su Wanyan smiled at her playfully. "What, you want one too?" she asked, chuckling to herself. "Yes," Mo Xingxue replied directly, without hesitation.
Su Wanyan’s laugh turned into a surprised choke, her eyes widening in disbelief. She had only asked that to tease Mo Xingxue—she certainly hadn’t expected such a straightforward answer.
Su Wanyan continued coughing lightly, covering her whole face not only to muffle the sound so she wouldn’t wake the children, but also to hide her burning cheeks. "E-excuse me?" she managed, still slightly coughing. Mo Xingxue smiled and walked closer, reaching out to gently lower Su Wanyan’s hands from her face.
Immediately, Su Wanyan’s flushed expression greeted her. Seeing Mo Xingxue so close, Su Wanyan looked away, not understanding why her heart and stomach felt that strange fluttery sensation again. What.. what seriously is wrong with me? she asked inwardly, avoiding Mo Xingxue’s warm gaze.
Seeing Su Wanyan avoiding her eyes, Mo Xingxue chuckled softly. "So who really is the alpha here?" she asked, playfully prodding at Su Wanyan’s pride. In response, Su Wanyan only blushed harder. "M-me...." she said, her voice as small as a mosquito’s buzz.
Mo Xingxue laughed warmly and released Su Wanyan’s wrists, then stretched out her arms to hug her neck tightly. Mo Xingxue inhaled Su Wanyan’s familiar chamomile pheromones, her heart settling with deep contentment. Meanwhile, Su Wanyan blushed furiously. Eh? Eh?! Wh-what do I do?! She spiraled inwardly.
Su Wanyan wanted to slap herself. She hadn’t been like this on the first day at all. She could normally interact with Mo Xingxue without issue—so why was she acting like a high school girl with a crush now?! Su Wanyan widened her eyes at the thought. No, no, that’s a wrong comparison, she corrected herself. There’s no way I’ll fall for my best friend. Then a soft chuckle escaped her throat.
Logically thinking like that helped Su Wanyan’s heart settle, and the blush on her face gradually faded. She hugged Mo Xingxue back, the elegant snow lotus pheromones of her friend greeting her like a comforting embrace.
Su Wanyan then placed a gentle kiss on Mo Xingxue’s temple and swayed them both lightly from side to side. Mo Xingxue felt a smile bloom across her face, her heart thumping wildly in her chest.
Mo Xingxue eventually pulled back. "Go on," she said softly. "PD Xu Cui called you, right?" Su Wanyan nodded and smiled at her childhood best friend. "Yeah, I’ll be back," she promised. Mo Xingxue nodded and chuckled. "You’re just going to the living room, not to war," she said with a fond shake of her head.
Su Wanyan chuckled along with her. "You never know," she replied with a light shrug. Mo Xingxue laughed and playfully pushed her toward the door. "Don’t make the PD wait. Go," she said coquettishly, a small pout forming on her lips. Su Wanyan felt the heat return to her cheeks and nodded. "I’ll go, I’ll go," she said helplessly, allowing herself to be ushered out.
Su Wanyan opened the door and waved at Mo Xingxue. Mo Xingxue waved back, and Su Wanyan finally stepped out of the room. Mo Xingxue stared at the closed door for a long moment, then slowly raised her hand to touch the temple where Su Wanyan had kissed her.
She slumped gently against Mo Yan’s crib, her face turning a deep crimson. "Geez, that heartthrob....." Mo Xingxue murmured, looking every bit like a high school girl hopelessly in love.
+-+-+-+-+-+
Outside their room, Su Wanyan walked back toward the living room, but PD Xu Cui was nowhere in sight. She looked around the spacious area, scanning the sofas and corners, yet still found no sign of him. "Excuse me," Su Wanyan called out kindly to one of the staff members who was tidying up nearby.
The staff member paused and turned with a polite smile. "Yes, Teacher Su?" she asked, stopping her work. Su Wanyan returned the smile warmly. "Did you happen to see PD Xu Cui?" she inquired, her expression gentle and harmless.
The staff member adopted a thoughtful expression, then pointed toward the backyard. "I think he went there, Teacher Su," she replied helpfully. Su Wanyan nodded gratefully. "Thank you," she said with a small, sincere smile and a light bow. The staff member waved her off kindly. "This is nothing, Teacher Su," she responded. After exchanging a few more pleasant words, they waved goodbye.
Su Wanyan made her way to the backyard. As she stepped outside, the cool evening air brushed against her skin, carrying the soft rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of evening insects.
She spotted PD Xu Cui sitting on one of the outdoor seats, quietly watching the setting sun paint the sky in its final vibrant strokes. Su Wanyan approached slowly and sat down beside him. The wooden chair creaked softly under her weight.
"You’re here," PD Xu Cui said calmly, not turning his head. The usual mischievous sparkle in his eyes had faded, replaced by a more serious, almost intimidating demeanor that made the moment feel heavier.
The two settled into a brief silence. Su Wanyan couldn’t help but think, why does this feel like a marriage interview where you’re talking to your bride’s father? The thought made her smile inwardly. Who would even be my bride?
Almost immediately, Mo Xingxue’s face flashed in her mind, and Su Wanyan’s thoughts paused. A soft, genuine smile broke across her face. If it were her.. that would be nice, she thought, then sighed inwardly. Too bad we’re just best friends.
Su Wanyan snapped out of her reverie when PD Xu Cui finally spoke. "Do you know why I called you here?" he asked, still gazing at the horizon. Su Wanyan shook her head. "No, PD," she replied softly.
PD Xu Cui hummed thoughtfully and turned to face her. "Do you know what happened to Shen Guoxing?" he asked directly, his voice carrying the weight of concern for the child he had come to see as his own granddaughter.
Su Wanyan adopted a confused expression. "What happened to her, PD?" she asked, genuine worry creeping into her tone. At that, PD Xu Cui sighed. "I knew it—you didn’t know," he lamented. Su Wanyan frowned deeper. "What don’t I know?" she pressed gently. PD Xu Cui sighed again. "It looks like Shen Guoxing experienced some difficulties with the hospital staff," he said, tapping his finger on the armrest.
Su Wanyan’s frown deepened. "Huh? But whenever I visit her, the nurses and doctors always treat her kindly," she said honestly, recalling the smiles and attentive care she had witnessed. "Like what, exactly?" PD Xu Cui asked.
Su Wanyan thought for a moment. "When I visited, the nurses would fuss over her, doting on her endlessly," she explained. Then a suspicious memory surfaced. "But I remember that Shen Guoxing would treat them coldly," she added. PD Xu Cui suddenly felt the pieces connect, and he hummed thoughtfully. "I see," he murmured.
Su Wanyan looked at him in confusion. "What’s wrong, PD?" she asked, sensing something deeper. PD Xu Cui looked directly into her eyes. "I feel like Shen Guoxing is being abused in the hospital," he said, dropping the bombshell with quiet gravity.
Su Wanyan’s eyes widened in shock. "There’s no way," she blurted out. After all, those people were trusted colleagues in her department. They knew how much she loved Shen Guoxing as her own child—there was simply no way they would do something like that. PD Xu Cui frowned. "How can you be so sure?" he pressed.
Su Wanyan fell silent, her mind suddenly recalling troubling scenes: how Shen Guoxing would sometimes scream in pain during blood draws, how she would flinch at certain nurses’ touches, and how her eyes would water at the sight of some staff approaching with smiles.
Su Wanyan felt the gears turning in her head. She clenched her hands tightly. "Those.. imbeciles," she muttered, suppressing the rising anger in her chest.
She turned to PD Xu Cui and bowed her head. "Thank you for bringing this matter up to me, PD," she said sincerely. PD Xu Cui simply waved her off with a small smile. "Tell me when you need help," he offered, a dark glint flashing briefly in his eyes.
Su Wanyan nodded and retrieved her phone from her pocket, determined not to let this matter slide any longer.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
UPDATE, I DIDN’T DIE Y’ALL!
Also, isn’t it intriguing that Su Wanyan kept saying Mo Xingxue’s just a friend :D?