Chapter 8: The Unreasonably Troubled Male Lead

“You—where did you learn that from?” Mu Wanwan withdrew her hand, placed them on her hips, lifted her chin slightly, and glared at Fang Yinnian. “Anyway, you’re just the big villain from those comic books, always doing annoying things.”

Alright, he knew exactly where he had learned it from.

Fang Yinnian stifled a laugh but couldn’t help coughing instead.

“Ahem.” He pushed aside the grass and stepped forward. “Is this how you want to join me in going to the countryside?”

“Not afraid?” Fang Yinnian turned around, looking at Mu Wanwan seriously.

It was near dusk; the sun was slanting westward.

The Fifth Research Institute was located to the west, and the setting sun was just behind Fang Yinnian.

The tall man stood with his back to the light.

His sharply defined, eerily exquisite face was half-shrouded in shadow, revealing a kind of half-hidden sharpness.

Fang Yinnian was taller than Mu Wanwan, so she had to tilt her head up to meet his gaze.

His eyes, black as ink and seemingly able to see through one’s soul, shone brightly even from the shadows.

Anyone with a guilty conscience would surely have to look away.

But Mu Wanwan did not.

She didn’t even show the slightest hint of timidity or shyness—she met his gaze head-on, her eyes clear and untainted. “Not afraid. I want to go to the countryside with you.”

Fang Yinnian’s pupils constricted for a moment.

He gave Mu Wanwan a long, deep look, then pulled aside the weeds blocking the path. “Come out.”

Mu Wanwan: “...???”

“What do you mean?” She jumped out of the grass patch. “Does that mean I can go with you to the countryside?”

Fang Yinnian turned and walked toward the institute without answering immediately.

“Fang Yinnian!” Mu Wanwan ran after him, fuming.

“Let’s see how you behave,” Fang Yinnian said with a faint, almost imperceptible curl at the corner of his mouth, facing the sunset.

Once Mu Wanwan caught up, he immediately withdrew the smile.

She grabbed his hand, tilted her head, and stared at him. “What behavior? How should I behave?”

Fang Yinnian’s gaze drifted to the small hand holding his. “For example... no playing with wild grass.”

Mu Wanwan: “...” You’re just being unreasonable.

*

Because of Fang Yinnian’s unreasonable demands, Mu Wanwan hadn’t said a word to him after they packed up at the institute.

Even as they carried two large boxes of clothes and books home, Mu Wanwan pouted, clearly upset.

Anyone with eyes could tell she was angry.

Looking at Mu Wanwan struggling with a heavy box of books as she stumbled into the house, Ru Xiuhua sighed and stopped Fang Yinnian. “Did you make Wanwan angry again?”

“Didn’t I tell you to be gentle with Wanwan? She’s finally got some spirit back, and you—you really are...”

*

“Grandma, I didn’t,” Fang Yinnian replied, unable to explain at the moment. He hadn’t expected her to have such a fierce temper.

She wasn’t like this before.

Thinking back, Fang Yinnian paused.

He looked toward the courtyard where Mu Wanwan had disappeared. Amid the shifting light and shadow, he asked Ru Xiuhua, “Grandma, don’t you think Mu Wanwan has changed?”

“How could she be the same?” Ru Xiuhua sighed. “She’s young, just reached adulthood, and the family was hit by such a huge event. Then, within a couple of years, you...”

“If she hadn’t changed, she wouldn’t have survived.”

Is it really true?

Has she changed so much because of external circumstances?

It’s as if she’s become a different person.

Fang Yinnian furrowed his brows, carrying the heavy boxes of luggage and books into the house, but he couldn’t find Mu Wanwan. He had no choice but to carry the boxes upstairs.

The small villa they now lived in was allocated by the state to the elder Fang Xun.

Fang Yinnian’s parents and older brother were serving in the military and rarely lived here.

Actually, Fang Yinnian hadn’t lived here before either; he used to reside at the research institute.

Usually, only the two elders of the Fang family and Mu Wanwan lived here.

The villa was quite spacious, with small gardens in front and back. The first floor had a living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, the elder couple’s bedroom, a study, and a storage room.

The second floor had fewer common areas but more bedrooms.

Besides a shared living room and bathroom, the second floor had two bedrooms with bathrooms and two guest rooms.

Mu Wanwan and Fang Yinnian’s room was the second room on the right after going up the stairs.

Fang Yinnian intended to put the boxes back in the room since they contained not only books but also his change of clothes from the institute.

But...

He glanced at the second room; the door was open, so Mu Wanwan should be inside.

Suddenly, it dawned on Fang Yinnian: if he moved back to live here, he’d have to share a room with Mu Wanwan...

He groaned, sat down on the sofa near the stairwell, and muttered, “Maybe tonight it’s better to...”

But last night, he had stayed at a friend’s house.

His head hurt.

Fang Yinnian needed a moment to recover.

So, he opened the box and started looking through the books.

As soon as he picked one up, an already opened envelope slipped out.

He bent down to pick it up and, seeing a note on the envelope, instinctively opened it and took out the letter inside—

“Yinnian, I hope this letter finds you well.

By the time you read this, I will likely be in trouble...”

*

“…Wanwan has a lively personality, simple-minded; I hope you can take good care of her...”

This letter had been left in Fang Yinnian’s drawer after Mu Yuanzhou was captured.

At the time, Mu Yuanzhou must have sensed his impending misfortune and wanted Fang Yinnian to look after Mu Wanwan.

Just lively?

When his mentor suddenly met disaster and then committed suicide with his wife, Fang Yinnian hadn’t paid much attention.

Now, rereading the letter... Fang Yinnian rubbed his brows helplessly.

She was overly lively.

As for simple-minded... well, she was pretty innocent—she even got angry and threatened people.

But maybe Grandma was right; with such a huge change in family circumstances, her personality might have shifted too...

“What are you looking at?” Mu Wanwan came out of her room, still upset that Fang Yinnian hadn’t returned.

Fang Yinnian put away the letter without hiding anything. “A letter.”

“What letter?” A sudden image flashed in Mu Wanwan’s mind. “Speaking of letters... I think I have one to give you.”

*Knock knock knock!*

“Open the door! Hurry up!”

Suddenly, loud knocking came from the courtyard below.

Mu Wanwan and Fang Yinnian exchanged a glance. Fang Yinnian immediately stood up and ran downstairs.

Mu Wanwan raised an eyebrow and followed.

“They’re here, they’re here.” The Fang family had no housekeeper now, and Ru Xiuhua was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen. Hearing the knock, she hurried out.

“Open the door! Who are Fang Yinnian and Mu Wanwan? Tell them to come out!” Several people stood outside the courtyard gate, shouting aggressively.

By now, night had fallen, and the street lamps had just turned on.

Ru Xiuhua didn’t recognize them and stood in the courtyard, asking, “What do you want with them?”

“Why so many questions? Open the door—”

“Watch your tone! Who gave you the courage to shout like that at the Fang family?” Fang Xun arrived a step behind. He had been on the phone in the study.

Seeing these unruly youngsters who looked barely grown, daring to speak that way to his family, he slammed his cane heavily on the floor.

His imposing presence immediately terrified the young men outside, who dared neither move nor shout.

Fang Yinnian was the third to come out, followed by Mu Wanwan.

Fang Yinnian pressed his lips tightly and stood before Ru Xiuhua. “I am Fang Yinnian. What do you want with me?”