I slept on the sofa last night.
At that time, at the Si residence.
After missing Elder Mu at the hospital and rushing over to the Si estate upon hearing the news, Si Qingchen was currently holding a meeting with his subordinates in the study.
Following the fire last night, the members of the Sun and Ran families who had been temporarily detained in the detention center had all perished!
In fact, the entire detention center had been reduced to ashes, with not a single soul surviving.
This suicidal attack made Si Qingchen's expression pitch-black to the extreme, his brows tainted with a long-absent chill.
Yet upon learning that the Mu family had arrived, he still laid down the documents in his hand, reined in his emotions, and stood up.
Before leaving the room, he looked at Si Bei and instructed,
"Just like before, suppress the news. Not a single word must leak out."
"Understood, sir. I am already handling it."
Hearing this, Si Qingchen's expression eased slightly before he turned and walked out of the room.
Just then, the housekeeper was leading Elder Mu upstairs.
Si Qingchen stepped toward the stairwell and said respectfully,
"Grandpa Mu, you're here."
"Yes, Young Master Si, sorry to trouble you. I heard that the hospital's central system malfunctioned, so I came specifically to take our Qingcheng home."
"Please come with me."
Remaining noncommittal, Si Qingchen personally led the way forward.
It was not until they stepped into that bedroom that Elder Mu suddenly realized this room... seemed to belong to Si Qingchen.
"I slept on the sofa last night."
As if sensing his thoughts, Si Qingchen took the initiative to explain.
Meanwhile, on the large bed, Mu Qingcheng, who had been awake for quite some time, heard the man's words immediately.
*Old scoundrel, you clearly slept right beside me last night!*
She vividly remembered that last night, after having the Si family doctor examine her and feed her a pain-relieving sedative, Si Qingchen had simply lifted the corner of the quilt and slipped in.
Mu Qingcheng had already been overwhelmed by sleepiness, and coupled with the warmth radiating from his body, she had immediately drifted into a hazy slumber.
Yet she clearly remembered that the moment she closed her eyes, a hand had silently reached over and remained firmly around her waist ever since.
However, facing Si Qingchen's explanation, Elder Mu offered no response at all.
He walked over to the bedside, and at the same time, sensing his approach, Mu Qingcheng slowly opened her eyes.
"Qingcheng, how are you feeling?"
"I'm alright."
The toxins in her body had only been temporarily suppressed.
Even so, Mu Qingcheng felt considerably better.
She propped herself up on her arms, wanting to sit up, when a pair of strong hands supported her shoulders, and a low voice sounded,
"Take it slow. I'll help you."
Having walked over at some point, Si Qingchen helped Mu Qingcheng sit up without a second word.
Elder Mu's expression sank to the very bottom, though out of regard for the two families' standing, he refrained from tearing away the facade.
Seizing the opportunity, Elder Mu spoke up again,
"Thank you for the trouble, Young Master Si. Since Qingcheng is feeling better, we won't intrude any longer."
With that, he stepped forward, making a motion to support Qingcheng's arm.
"Let's go, Qingcheng. Come home with Grandpa."
"Grandpa, I can..."
Before the grandfather and granddaughter could finish speaking, the tall figure beside them suddenly lowered his stance.
Next...
"Brother Chen... Si Qingchen, what are you doing?"
Mu Qingcheng instinctively wrapped her arms around Si Qingchen's neck, nearly blurting out "Brother Si."
This reaction put Si Qingchen in an exceptionally good mood, even causing a subtle change in his expression.
Familiarly holding Mu Qingcheng in his arms as he turned around, he looked at the livid Elder Mu and said with effortless calm,
"Grandpa Mu is right. It was my oversight. I'll carry Qingcheng downstairs for you right now."
Without waiting for a response, he strode directly out of the door.