124. Each to Their Own Camp (Sixth Update)
At the command of Elder Mu, all the Mu family members filed out in an orderly fashion.
Mu Qingcheng quietly followed at the very end, but just as she reached the doorway, she stopped in her tracks.
Her heart was heavy with conflicting thoughts—one part urging her to leave immediately, while another couldn’t resist the urge to glance back at the man who still lingered in place.
In the end, the latter won out.
Slowly turning her head, Mu Qingcheng caught sight of the man gazing at her with profound affection.
His deep eyes brimmed with tender emotion, and upon seeing her look back, the smile on his face widened, as if his wish had just been fulfilled.
The man carried an imposing aura as he approached steadily with his entourage.
Tall and upright, his presence was always overwhelmingly commanding, radiating a powerful momentum.
Yet, the moment he arrived beside her, all that imposing force softened into a gentle, lingering tenderness.
“Qingcheng, can’t bear to part with me?”
“...No, I—”
Si Qingchen’s smile deepened. He bent down to meet her gaze, raised his hand, and gently stroked the top of her head.
“There’s no one else now. What should you call me, hmm?”
“...Brother Chen...”
The little one’s face flushed entirely, but the familiarity of that address grew ever more natural.
However, when those words reached the man’s ears, they sparked an indescribable surge within him—an intoxicating heat that twisted his throat but found no release.
Mu Qingcheng instantly caught the meaning behind his eyes, furrowed her brow, and whispered a warning.
“Si Qingchen, you rogue.”
He did not deny it, only offering a faint smile before continuing.
“Be good. I have some matters to attend to, so I won’t stay with you. I’ll come find you later.”
“I... I don’t need you to—”
But the man didn’t wait for her to finish and strode out briskly.
As his entourage passed by her, each respectfully greeted her before following him out.
They treated her as if she were one of their own.
Outside the door,
Elder Mu had long since gotten into his car.
Seeing Mu Qingcheng and Si Qingchen speaking so intimately at the entrance, a heaviness settled in his heart.
It seemed there were matters that could no longer be postponed.
At the same time, on the other side,
Mu Qing approached his vehicle only to find it empty.
He glanced sideways at his driver, frowning slightly.
“Where is she?”
“Uh... that young lady left right after you went in...”
Mu Qing was speechless.
...
Eventually, Si Qingchen stood at the foot of the steps, watching the Mu family convoy depart.
His gaze remained fixed tightly on the car Mu Qingcheng had boarded.
The depth of emotion contained there spoke volumes without a word.
As soon as the convoy vanished from sight, Si Qingchen turned and reentered the hotel.
Inside the lobby, still quiet and serene, a handful of staff quietly tidied up various amenities.
Upon seeing Si Qingchen return, their expressions revealed a trace of apprehension despite having seen him many times before.
The man halted, slightly turning his head to ask,
“Where is Si Bei?”
“Probably... still in the conference hall?”
“Hmm, let’s go see.”
Together, Si Nan and Si Qingchen headed toward the side conference hall.
...
But just as they pushed open the door,
They were met with an unbelievable sight.
Not far away,
Two entangled figures had disrupted the formerly neat arrangement of the sofas.
An expensive white shawl lay trampled beneath their feet, tangled with a discarded high heel whose moment of removal was unknown.
On one sofa’s backrest, a black suit jacket was crumpled and carelessly tossed, as if silently protesting its owner’s impatience.
“Brother Bei, Brother Bei...”
The woman’s slightly trembling voice, tinged with an incongruous shyness, whispered softly.
In response came increasingly heavy breaths...
...
“I never would have guessed!”
“...”
Si Nan muttered under his breath.
Si Qingchen narrowed his eyes, quickly turned, and retreated.
He then instructed,
“You stay here and guard the door. Don’t let anyone disturb them. When they’re done, have Si Bei go back.”
“Got it, boss.”
A mischievous smile curled at the corner of Si Nan’s mouth as he planted himself firmly at the doorway.
...
Alone, Si Qingchen stepped outside, but as he emerged,
He saw a figure standing at the foot of the steps—
Someone he had only just become acquainted with.