Chapter 66: Lifesaving Grace Part 2

Hearing that, Yan Muyu protested, “Hey, you’re the one who said you wanted to hear it!”

She turned to Li Xi, who was staring intently at the primitively roasted chicken. “How do you manage to scare yourself while telling the story?”

“You wouldn’t understand immersion,” Yan Muyu shot back.

Qiu Chao settled naturally beside Yan Muyu and glanced at the new fish lantern she had just made.

It even had a name inscribed on it: [Yan Tianxing].

【Why is Qiu Chao so…】

【Yan Muyu is so good to her niece. I can feel that warmth just watching her make the lantern.】

【I have a feeling Qiu Chao wants one too.】

Yan Muyu sat back down. She faced Li Xi across the fire, taking turns flipping the roasting chicken.

The aroma of dinner wafted from the kitchen. The production team had arranged tonight’s meal around this small bonfire gathering.

A bunch of people who added up to several hundred years old were about to play Drum Pass Flower. Yan Muyu thought about it and found the image too absurd.

It was downright childish.

“Can you make one for me?” Qiu Chao asked.

Yan Muyu glanced at the small fish lantern Qiu Chao held—the one she had made herself. “Didn’t you make one already?”

“That’s for my sister,” Qiu Chao replied.

Yan Muyu subtly studied Qiu Chao’s expression. There was no trace of that morning’s exhaustion; she must have slept well. Yan Muyu felt a bit relieved.

Qiu Chao rarely fell ill. In those four years, the few times she did were etched in memory.

But each instance had been gravely serious—enough to terrify Yan Muyu into calling Yan Kai and chewing him out as a useless boyfriend.

Yan Kai let her vent, then responded with a simple “Thanks for the trouble” once she was done.

Yan Muyu had nothing more to say and just kept looking after Qiu Chao.

Back then, they had a nanny, so Yan Muyu didn’t have to worry about much else. She just needed to stay by Qiu Chao’s side.

Qiu Chao’s illnesses stemmed from her nonstop work schedule; she was basically worn out from exhaustion.

Yan Muyu had even set up a company for her, but Qiu Chao seemed destined for a life of toil. She drove her team relentlessly, showing none of the rumored ease of marrying into wealth.

If it involved a photoshoot ad, Yan Muyu had to tag along.

Just in case Qiu Chao skipped meals because she felt unwell.

Now, after just two glances, Yan Muyu had it all figured out.

Yet inwardly, she felt a twinge of annoyance at her own sharp memory.

Remembering events from so many years ago—and Shen Tianqing had nailed it: her memory was wasted on pointless things.

Lin Chi would just say they were two of a kind, both hopelessly unserious when it came to romance.

Shen Tianqing would blushingly admit it, while Yan Muyu reflexively denied it.

Yan Muyu eyed the fish lantern in Qiu Chao’s hands. “Where would you put it if I made you one?”

Qiu Chao smiled. “At home, of course. I haven’t settled anywhere since returning to the country. Aren’t I staying next door to your suite?”

That reminded her, and she asked Yan Muyu, “Why don’t you go home?”

It was their private matter; no one else interjected.

Pei Wan and Xi Xi brought out dinner. Liu Song and Ding Yingxue stood to help.

“I rarely go back,” Yan Muyu said. “I’d only go if Tianxing is there.”

The kid had been at a boarding school before, but this year she flat-out refused to go. That’s why Yan Muyu had only visited a few times.

The Yan Family home felt so empty. Yan Kai was swamped with work and seldom returned.

After the divorce, he hadn’t taken any new partners. He seemed to have no personal life at all. When Yan Muyu occasionally dined with him, her big brother looked like he was one foot in the grave.

She wondered if it was her bad mouthing that jinxed it, because Yan Kai really did meet with an accident.

Lin Chi always said Yan Muyu was harsh toward Qiu Chao.

Yan Muyu had racked her brain for reasons: Yan Kai meeting Qiu Chao before his mishap, the things Qiu Chao had done to her, Xu Xue’s death.

But Yan Muyu couldn’t pin it all on Qiu Chao. Deep down, she knew exactly what kind of person Qiu Chao was.

It was Yan Muyu’s own stubbornness, her refusal to acknowledge her special feelings for Qiu Chao.

Those tangled emotions were too messy, too much trouble for Yan Muyu to deal with.

She had gone from max affection straight to family, skipping past the realm of romance entirely—becoming an intimate beyond lovers.

Suddenly becoming a bedside companion terrified her.

Because the meaning was utterly different.

Family could last until old age; lovers were like morning dew, replaceable.

She would rather Qiu Chao never change, forever standing in that spot.

Let all her fleeting heart flutters fit neatly into the frame of family, allowing them to remain lifelong kin who met without issue.

“I’m your fan, so make one for me,” Qiu Chao said.

Her tone held no pleading, just the brazen demand of someone begging shamelessly.

【Hahaha, so direct.】

【Yan Muyu just said she had no fans.】

【Their interactions feel more natural now.】

【More like they’re dating, honestly.】

“No way. Making one takes forever,” Yan Muyu refused.

“We’re not going out tomorrow anyway. Make one for me?” Qiu Chao pressed.

Her straightforward pleading made Li Xi, across from them, realize how different Qiu Chao was from their first impression.

Back then, Li Xi had wanted to watch the drama. Now, she was just curious why.

She knew Yan Muyu purely through a party gathering.

Yan Muyu had been with Xuan Zhelu at the time, and Li Xi had composed for Xuan Zhelu’s new song. They shared a meal.

Anyone could see Xuan Zhelu adored Yan Muyu. Yan Muyu’s affection wasn’t as fervent, but it was steady enough.

You couldn’t say she didn’t like her, but it didn’t scream true love.

Now, things were different.

There was an inexplicable entanglement between Yan Muyu and Qiu Chao, hard for even onlookers to untangle.

Even if the word fit Qiu Chao better.

“How old are you? Acting like this,” Yan Muyu said.

“Look, Liu Song made one for Li Xi too,” Qiu Chao pointed out.

Liu Song clarified, “I’m making two—one for Li Xi and one for Xi Xi.”

【Lol, master of balance, my treasure.】

【Li Xi’s face says ‘spare me.’】

“What’s wrong with making one?” Li Xi asked.

She looked at Yan Muyu.

“Yeah, you’ve painted so many pictures for me before and taken tons of photos. What’s one more?” Qiu Chao added.

【So Yan Muyu has a bunch of Qiu Chao’s private photos?】

【Yan Muyu has a heart of stone!】

Qiu Chao had been sitting off to the side, but now she edged closer to Yan Muyu again.

“Fine, what will you trade me for it?” Yan Muyu challenged.

“Isn’t it for a fan?” Qiu Chao countered.

“Are you really my fan?”

Yan Muyu set down her fish lantern, squeezed some hand sanitizer from the table, and rubbed her hands clean. Dinner had arrived, and Li Xi was carving up the roasted chicken.

It had turned out surprisingly well—the aroma was so vivid, viewers could almost smell it through the screen.

“I am,” Qiu Chao affirmed, her voice earnest. “After all, our Little Yan is the top photographer. When will you shoot another set for me?”

Yan Muyu laid down the law. “Then no dares for you in Truth or Dare later.”

She seemed to sense trouble brewing, wary of Qiu Chao going overboard.

Yan Muyu had realized Qiu Chao got carried away easily.

A camera professional like her treated lenses like air. If Mai Chen were here, she might hold back a bit.

But Yan Muyu had no way to rein her in.

Qiu Chao was already acting with impunity.

No one knew what she was scheming with Qiu Siyuan, so it was better to give a preemptive warning.

“Good,” Qiu Chao said.

“Then I’ll make it for you tomorrow,” Yan Muyu offered.

“Make it for me tomorrow,” Qiu Chao echoed.

The exchange was utterly pointless, but Qiu Chao was clearly delighted, her mood buoyant.

Across the table, Li Xi could hardly bear to watch. It felt like stumbling into a scene from a middle school romance.

But neither Yan Muyu nor Qiu Chao seemed the type for pure, innocent love.

One was a veteran of the dating scene with years of conquests under her belt, the other had a trail of admirers longer than most could dream. They both came off as wild and carefree, not the sort to trade sappy vows of “your heart for mine.”

The déjà vu was hitting hard.

The dinner dragged on through its routine paces. Xi Xi, the pampered young lady, had never played Drum Pass Flower before, so the flower kept landing on her.

This round was a modified version, complete with the classic Truth or Dare twist—one person asked, another answered or performed a dare.

Li Xi seized the chance for payback, forcing Xi Xi to choke down a chicken butt in humiliated silence.

Liu Song bit her lip, looking terribly anxious that Xi Xi might explode. She had offered to eat it in her place, but Xi Xi stubbornly insisted on toughing it out and downed it anyway.

【Ding Yingxue, stop holding back that laugh.】

【Yan Muyu, why are you still biting your chopsticks!】

【Qiu Chao, why are you staring at Yan Muyu biting her chopsticks!!】

【Li Xi’s getting revenge for being blocked, huh.】

【This is gold!】

The mood at the table grew tense in an instant.

Yan Muyu poured herself some sparkling water while tossing the flower aside—and it landed right in front of Qiu Chao.

The previous holder had been Li Xi.

She had just taken a swig of village brew, and now her lips were burning like fire.

“Truth?” Li Xi asked.

“Why does she get to pick?!” Xi Xi demanded, her displeasure plain on her face as she shot Li Xi a furious glare.

“Because the chicken butt’s gone,” Li Xi replied.

【So deliberate!】

【Savage!!!】

The rainy mountain village felt chilly, with high humidity and low temperatures that evoked autumn.

Pei Wan had slipped on her jacket too. She stared blankly at the small cluster of fire flickering in the hollow center of the round table.

The roast chicken was already on the table, surrounded by sweet potatoes baking away. Their aromas burst forth, mingling with the crackle of the firewood and the patter of rain—a soothing white noise that calmed the soul.

Li Xi rapped the tabletop and let out a hum. “So, let’s hear about your first love?”

Yan Muyu’s hand paused mid-reach for her chopsticks.

【First love?】

【Qiu Chao’s first love isn’t that male lead, right?】

【Probably a question prepped by the production team.】

【Pei Wan spacing out—so pretty.】

【I love this vibe. Everyone feels like old friends.】

【All-girls reality show FTW!】

“What exactly do you want to know?” Qiu Chao asked.

“Whatever you feel like sharing,” Li Xi said casually. “Your fans must be dying to hear it too.”

【Li Xi, you saint!】

【I really want to know.】

Yan Muyu suddenly recalled the expression on Qiu Chao’s face when she’d mentioned her first love earlier. She glanced up—and caught Qiu Chao looking right at her.

That shy demeanor again. It rubbed Yan Muyu the wrong way.

Qiu Chao smiled. “My first love had a beautiful pair of hands.”

Everyone instinctively turned to look at Yan Muyu.

“She saved my life,” Qiu Chao added.

Yan Muyu let out a drawn-out “Whoa.” “So why didn’t you marry her?”

【Why do I feel like that’s Yan Muyu?? Am I losing it?】

【You’re not alone.】

Qiu Chao propped her chin on her hand, gazing at Yan Muyu. “I offered. She turned me down.”

Yan Muyu sensed the teasing glint in Qiu Chao’s blinking eyes, as if she were fishing for some special reaction.

She lowered her gaze to the sparkling water in her porcelain cup, bubbles rising and popping like the emotions she was struggling to keep in check.

Feigning calm, Yan Muyu said, “Then that’s her loss.”