Chapter 70: Firefly Confession Part 1

Yan Muyu saw Yan Kai the next day.

He looked unusually frail—a rare sight. At least in Yan Muyu’s memory, her big brother had never appeared this way before.

But he was far better off than he’d been in the ICU.

People from the Yan Family never seemed to age by their looks.

Yan Kai wasn’t exactly young anymore, but having just woken up, his usual sharpness had faded away. It revealed a gentleness she hadn’t seen in ages. He smiled at Yan Muyu. “How have you been holding up lately?”

Moments earlier, Yan Tianxing had been sitting nearby, peeling an apple. She paid no mind to the fact that her father couldn’t eat it anyway. Peels littered the floor, and the apple looked like it had been brutally chopped at.

Yan Muyu wiped down the table while shaking her head. “You need to rest up and get out of here soon. I can’t take much more of this.”

Yan Kai said, “I heard you and Qiu Chao are on that variety show?”

He brought up Qiu Chao with perfect calm, as if there were no surprise at all. Yan Muyu nodded.

Yan Kai went on, “Has she come clean with you?”

This car accident was anything but simple. At least Yan Kai’s investigation had turned up something different.

One of his eyes had sustained a serious injury, still wrapped in layers of gauze. Yan Tianxing had teased him that he looked like a pineapple all packaged up for the market.

Yan Muyu asked, “What’s the deal? Do you know what Qiu Chao’s after?”

Yan Kai shook his head. “I didn’t before.”

Yan Muyu said, “I’m your sister, and even I didn’t know you two were in a fake relationship. I got all excited for nothing.”

Yan Kai smiled. “You really had no idea?”

He sat propped up in the hospital bed. On the table beside him sat the quarterly work summaries his secretary had brought—handy reviews to help him catch up.

The man had only just woken and was already diving back into work. It was the sort of thing Yan Muyu could never imagine herself doing.

Yan Muyu was struck speechless. “How was I supposed to think of something like that? You brought her home to live with you.”

Yan Kai replied, “I didn’t know at first, either. She told me when we met up recently.”

Yan Muyu pressed, “And you didn’t tell me?”

Yan Kai looked over at Yan Muyu. They didn’t resemble each other much. She took after their father, while he looked more like Lin Yumian.

But family was family. Standing together, they shared certain similarities, even if their temperaments were worlds apart.

Yan Kai said, “She told me she’d explain it to you herself.”

As he flipped through the summary, he added, “She said she’s liked you for over ten years.”

His voice remained steady. “When did you manage to charm her? I had no clue.”

Yan Muyu’s thoughts drifted back to the first love Qiu Chao had mentioned.

“Bro,” she started, but then faltered, unsure how to go on.

Yan Kai prompted her, “What’s up? If it’s company stuff, I’ll shuffle things around. Whale still needs you at the helm for a bit longer.”

He had only just woken, after all, and remained a top-priority patient.

Word of Yan Kai’s awakening had spread fast. That very day, plenty of people wanted in to pay their respects.

Yan Muyu murmured in agreement. After a beat, she asked Yan Kai, “Do you know anything about Qiu Chao’s first love?”

Yan Kai shook his head. “Nope.”

Yan Muyu ventured, “Back when you two set up that agreement, you didn’t…”

Yan Kai cut in, “There were never any feelings between us. What does it matter?”

Yan Muyu asked, “Do you still like Zhen Shu?”

In an instant, the room grew deathly quiet. The air thickened.

Yan Kai said, “Is this really the time for that question?”

Yan Muyu let out an “oh.” “I just mean Sister Zhen Shu’s on her way to see you right now.”

The pages in Yan Kai’s hand crumpled under his grip. He turned to Yan Muyu. “Didn’t I say no visitors?”

Yan Muyu shot back, “But is Sister Zhen Shu just anybody?”

She didn’t hold back. “While you were out cold, I talked to her. I explained there’s nothing romantic between you and Qiu Chao—no feelings whatsoever.”

Yan Kai bowed his head. Men of his age and stature rarely got the luxury of choosing who they loved.

Even Yan Muyu, as free as she was, often felt powerless in that regard.

Yan Muyu teased, “Bro, are you nervous?”

It was downright wicked—like payback for him knowing the truth all along and keeping it from her.

Yan Muyu added, “I’ll head out then. You two have a nice chat. She’s still single, but word is she’s back on the blind-date circuit.”

The glee in Yan Muyu’s voice rang clear, drawing a deep breath from Yan Kai. “Who said you could play matchmaker?”

Yan Muyu retorted, “Then why didn’t you loop me in on your fake romance? Couldn’t you let me in on the act? Man, thinking back now, I feel like such a moron.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly still smarting from it. “If I’d known sooner…”

Yan Kai said, “You would’ve dumped Qiu Chao right away, huh?”

He’d clawed back a bit of ground. “I know what you’re like—far too flighty.”

Yan Muyu had no comeback. She had to admit it was entirely possible.

Her take on relationships clashed completely with her brother’s. If she’d been the heir instead, political marriages might have suited her better.

Yan Kai, though—that was a different story.

His heart was planted in rocky soil, and middle age had only deepened his stubborn fixations.

Yan Muyu said, “You’re hardly one to talk.”

Yan Kai replied, “When are you heading back to film? Sounds like the show’s raking it in.”

Yan Muyu said, “Yeah, you miss the headlines? ‘Yan Family Heiress Throws Herself at Variety Show’? Everyone’s saying you’re on your last legs and the family’s toast.”

Online comments alone had her fuming—not to mention those scheming half-siblings starting to circle. “Good thing you woke up, Bro. I couldn’t hold the line forever.”

Her blunt admission of weakness was par for the course. Yan Kai sighed in mild exasperation. “So, what’s your plan? You gonna go for it with Qiu Chao?”

He leafed through another report—an analysis of Yan Muyu and Qiu Chao’s show. The author was plain as day.

It made Yan Muyu’s mouth twitch. Lou Haiyan really was the inside woman.

Yan Muyu said, “I don’t know.”

She’d been on the verge of leaving but sank back into her seat.

Deep down, she knew her brother—with his total lack of dating savvy—couldn’t offer real guidance. She just needed to vent.

Yan Muyu said, “She talks like we’ve known each other forever.”

Yan Kai nodded. “That’s exactly what she told me.”

In the lead-up to his accident, he’d met with Qiu Chao. She’d brought up wanting to re-sign with Whale.

Such business didn’t strictly call for a sit-down, but their history made it worth the time.

Yan Kai added, “She really likes you. Has since way back, and it hasn’t changed.”

Yan Muyu went numb.

She could feel it, of course.

Liking someone was tough to conceal. But Qiu Chao’s feelings stood apart from Xuan Zhelu’s or anyone else’s. They were too weighty.

Too desperate, all or nothing. It left Yan Muyu with the sense that she’d shatter to pieces—that she’d invite some cosmic curse if she ever let Qiu Chao down.

A gut feeling.

Yan Muyu confessed, “That’s why I’m scared.”

Yan Kai raised an eyebrow. “You? Scared?”

He let out a chuckle. “You’re a grown woman. Why not just lay it out plain?”

Yan Muyu scoffed. “Have you laid it out plain with Sister Zhen Shu?”

Silence hung between them until a knock sounded at the door. Yan Muyu rose to answer it. She exchanged a quick greeting with the woman standing outside, then slipped away.

Lou Haiyan waited in the hall. Yan Muyu gave her a glance. “When are you going back to headquarters?”

Lou Haiyan replied, “Not yet.”

She was dressed in her usual flawless business suit, her smile perfectly measured. But Yan Muyu’s mind flashed to that summary on Yan Kai’s table.

Xing Wen’s photos, most likely. Lou Haiyan’s report.

Downright chilling.

Lou Haiyan hadn’t crossed paths with Yan Muyu in some time. The version from the live broadcasts didn’t quite match the flesh-and-blood woman.

Every metric pointed to the artist-manager variety show being a smash hit—this year’s surprise breakout.

All the guests’ popularity had skyrocketed, dragging their agents’ search terms up with them.

Out of the three pairs, Yan Muyu and Qiu Chao topped the buzz charts every time. Xuan Zhelu’s stint as a flying guest had only amplified it.

Even with Liu Song stealing the spotlight lately, Yan Muyu in the background had delivered plenty of memorable moments. The data visualizations at Whale’s headquarters would have the staff buzzing.

Yan Muyu was more famous than ever.

The number-one question on viewers’ minds? Why had Yan Muyu quit as chief photographer?

Lou Haiyan hadn’t spent much time at Yan Muyu’s side, but she’d always detected a cool contradiction in her.

She had a radiant smile and genuine warmth for people, yet she maintained a careful distance.

Even her easygoing hugs and familiarity never made you feel truly close.

Yan Muyu set boundaries.

That fiery enthusiasm was all surface—flames that burned hot from afar but left you cold up close.

But now, she seemed a little different.

Even if Yan Muyu didn’t look thrilled.

Catching Lou Haiyan’s gaze, Yan Muyu asked, “Something else?”

Lou Haiyan said, “When are you heading back to film?”

Yan Muyu replied, “Gonna crash at home first. Feels like I’m about to keel over from exhaustion.”

She put on zero airs, yawning hugely. “Need to check Tianxing’s homework. Hey, where’s Mom?”

The night before, Yan Muyu had crashed at the hospital. She’d brought Lin Yumian and Yan Tianxing along. But once Yan Kai finished his meeting with the secretaries, Lin Yumian had vanished.

Off on the phone with some paramour, no doubt—billing and cooing. Yan Muyu had shot her dirty looks more than once.

Yan Kai held no illusions about their mother. He’d exchanged a few perfunctory words with Lin Yumian before having her escorted home.

Lin Yumian had probably felt the awkwardness and promised to return the next day.

Lunchtime had come and gone by now.

Lou Haiyan said, “Mrs. Yan had someone deliver chicken soup. She said she was going to get Thermage and wouldn’t come over right away.”

Yan Muyu: ……

She was at a loss for words. After a moment, she reminded Lou Haiyan, “Check my mom’s recent money transactions. See if she’s been spending on any strange men, run a background check, and send me a copy. Don’t give it to my brother.”

As she spoke, she kept yawning, looking utterly exhausted.

Lou Haiyan hummed in acknowledgment. “Shall I drive you back to rest, then?”

Yan Muyu: “No need. I’ll just sleep here. I’m leaving tomorrow anyway.”

She paused to think. “Help me buy one of these.”

She handed her phone to Lou Haiyan. On the screen was a new bracelet from a luxury brand.

In an instant, it reminded Lou Haiyan of Qiu Chao, whom she had met a few times before—

The red rope bracelet wrapped around the other woman’s wrist.

Lou Haiyan was about to say okay when Yan Muyu shook her head.

“Forget it.”

There was something inscrutable in her gaze, as if the past few days of variety show life had shaken her deeply, leaving her looking more distracted than ever.

Yan Muyu: “I’ll head out tomorrow, then. Help me make the arrangements.”

Lou Haiyan noticed Yan Muyu’s pale lips and asked, “Young Boss Yan, why not rest a few more days?”

Yan Muyu: “It’s wrapping up soon. Wouldn’t it look bad if I didn’t show?”

Familiar amusement sparked in her eyes right away. The shift from melancholy to radiant cheer was so seamless, perfectly capturing the hollow spaces that still lingered within Yan Muyu.

Yet she no longer seemed as carefree as before. She was clearly caught between a rock and a hard place, her struggles tinged with a quiet desperation.