THIP Chapter 14

The moment she saw the will, Chu Jiyu felt an indescribable mix of emotions.

She hadn’t expected her grandfather to leave such a document, but considering her father, it somehow made sense.

Mu Liuyin remained silent as he watched Chu Jiyu quietly stare at the will. Even if she wasn’t thinking about reclaiming the company now, once she learned the truth about her mother’s death, she would undoubtedly want to take back the Chu Corporation.

In the original storyline, after discovering that her mother had been killed by her father, Chu Jiyu did consider fighting for the company, but she was powerless. In her previous life, she had never even found this will. Chu Jianren’s control over the Chu Corporation was deeply entrenched, and at that time, not only had Chu Jiyu dropped out of school, but her reputation as an unrestrained troublemaker was also firmly established.

But now, this will was in her hands.

It was just one document, but it was the key to reclaiming the company.

Mu Liuyin didn’t doubt Chu Jiyu’s ability to take control of the Chu Corporation.

Chu Jiyu placed the will back in the box where it had been stored. She smiled and said, “Teacher, I’m going to get into a top university.”

There were still six months until the entrance exams, and by then, it would be time for her real counterattack to begin.

Her smile was bright, filled with confidence and defiance.

Mu Liuyin reached out and ruffled the soft black hair of the young girl.

…

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

When Mu Liuyin saw Chu Jiyu’s acceptance letter from H University, she nearly exploded. But remembering that the child was grown now, with her own decisions to make, she held back her anger and asked with forced calm, “Why H University?! I remember your exam scores—B University would have accepted you without a doubt!”

She was livid! No wonder this little brat had refused to tell her which school she had applied to before the results came in. She had thought it would be B University—the best in the country!

After spending nearly a year together, Chu Jiyu immediately recognized that Mu Liuyin was about to lose her temper. She quickly pulled out the prepared explanation to calm her down. “The Chu Corporation’s headquarters is in H City. If I go to H University, I’ll be able to monitor the company more easily. Besides, H University’s business school is just as good as B University’s.”

Of course, the real reason was that she didn’t want to be separated from Mu Liuyin.

Hearing her serious reasoning, Mu Liuyin thought about it and admitted it made sense. She glanced at the pitiful-looking girl and reluctantly nodded, choosing to forgive her.

But now that Chu Jiyu was about to start university, it seemed inappropriate for her to keep living in her home.

Besides, Chu Jiyu was now an adult, and Mu Liuyin’s current body was male. Even though the mission wasn’t fully complete yet, aside from preventing Chu Ruoyi’s scheme, she believed that Chu Jiyu was fully capable of reclaiming the company on her own.

She was a little worried about whether Chu Jiyu could take care of herself, but sooner or later, she had to learn to live independently.

With that thought, Mu Liuyin said, “Chu Chu, you’ve graduated from high school now. I don’t need to tutor you anymore, so…” I should move out.

“You’re not allowed to mention moving out!” Chu Jiyu cut her off before she could finish, her eyes widening in protest.

Mu Liuyin hadn’t expected such a strong reaction. She had anticipated some level of attachment, but not this deep.

She swallowed back the words she had been about to say and instead said, “Chu Chu, you’re an adult now, and you’ve been accepted into university. From now on, you need to walk your own path. You can’t always rely on your teacher. Do you understand?”

Chu Jiyu’s eyes turned slightly red. She asked, “Do you not want to take care of me anymore?”

Mu Liuyin froze for a moment, then softened her tone. “Chu Chu, I’m just your high school teacher. And,” she paused, then added, “I’m also an adult man. It’s not appropriate for us to keep living together.”

Before, she could use tutoring as an excuse to take care of the girl, but if this continued, Chu Jiyu would only become more dependent. One day, her mission would be over, and there would come a time when Chu Jiyu would meet someone more important than her.

Hearing her reasoning, tears welled up in Chu Jiyu’s reddened eyes, shimmering like a layer of mist. She said, “What’s inappropriate? You just don’t want to take care of me anymore.”

Mu Liuyin was at a loss. She reached out to wipe away Chu Jiyu’s tears, but the girl dodged.

The tears kept flowing. Chu Jiyu threw her arms around Mu Liuyin and pitifully said, “Teacher, if you leave, I’ll be all alone again.”

Mu Liuyin stroked her head, her voice gentle. “That won’t happen. Once you start university, you’ll make lots of friends, and one day, you’ll find a lifelong partner.”

“I only want you to stay,” Chu Jiyu replied.

A lifelong partner? I only want you.

That was what she truly thought, but she dared not say it aloud. She knew that Mu Liuyin didn’t see her that way. If she confessed, Mu Liuyin might leave immediately.

She could only use her reliance on Mu Liuyin’s affection to keep her close. As long as they spent more time together, she was certain she could make this person fall for her.

Hearing her plea, Mu Liuyin sighed helplessly, feeling both frustrated and touched. Finally, she said, “Just for this summer.”

Chu Jiyu didn’t respond. She simply held onto her and cried.

“No more than that,” Mu Liuyin said firmly, not giving any room for negotiation.

Only then did Chu Jiyu reluctantly nod, but in her heart, she had already come up with a plan—once school started, she would apply for off-campus housing. When the time came, Mu Liuyin would surely soften and be unable to leave her alone.

“Now go wash your face,” Mu Liuyin tapped her forehead.

Chu Jiyu obediently went to the bathroom.

Mu Liuyin told Xiao Jiu, “On the day H University starts, keep an eye on whether Chu Chu applies for off-campus living.”

Xiao Jiu asked in confusion. “Why, Master?”

Mu Liuyin replied, “Don’t you think Chu Chu is too dependent on me? She’ll probably try to find a way to make me stay again once school starts.”

Xiao Jiu still didn’t understand. “Why can’t you just stay, Master?”

Mu Liuyin: “……”

She had forgotten—Xiao Jiu had neither intelligence nor emotional awareness.

After a moment of silence, Mu Liuyin said, “You don’t need to understand. Just do as I say.”

Xiao Jiu: “QAQ… I feel like you’re looking down on me, Master.”

Mu Liuyin, expressionless: “If you realize that, then don’t say it out loud. Also, no crying!”

Xiao Jiu: “……QAQ”

To Chu Jiyu, three months of summer vacation felt far too short. On the day of H University’s opening, it was Mu Liuyin who took her there.

She didn’t dare mention her plan to apply for off-campus living. After completing her registration, she told Mu Liuyin to go home and rest while she explored the campus a little.

Mu Liuyin looked at her with a half-smile, already guessing what the girl was up to, but she still left.

Back at their shared home, Mu Liuyin began packing her belongings. She had barely started when Xiao Jiu’s report came in.

“Wow!!!” Xiao Jiu was excited. “Master, you were spot on! The mission target is indeed applying for off-campus living!”

Mu Liuyin nodded, unsurprised. The process wasn’t quick, so Chu Jiyu wouldn’t be back for a while.

After finishing her packing, she hesitated for a moment before leaving behind a note.

She placed it on the coffee table and weighed it down. Then, locking the door behind her, she looked down at the key in her palm.

Back when she first moved in, Chu Jiyu had handed her this key.

And now, she was leaving.

She clenched the key in her hand before slipping it into her pocket.

She had resigned from the school a while ago—after all, she had only taken the job to get close to Chu Jiyu.

With a quiet sigh, Mu Liuyin boarded a bus and left the city.

As she gazed out the window, she could only hope that when Chu Jiyu returned and saw her absence, she wouldn’t be too heartbroken.

Filled with excitement, Chu Jiyu finished applying for off-campus living. She hurried home, eager to tell Mu Liuyin the good news—that he could stay.

But when she opened the door, the only thing waiting for her was a lone piece of paper on the coffee table.

There were only a few short lines written on it:

Chu Chu,
The teacher has left.
Please take care of yourself.

Her eyes instantly reddened. Tears nearly fell.

She suddenly remembered—Mu Liuyin was still a teacher at No. 4 High School!

Without a second thought, she ran there, desperately hoping to find him.

She barged straight into his old office, only to find it empty.

“Where’s Ning Xi?! Why isn’t he here?!” Chu Jiyu’s voice was hoarse, her eyes bloodshot as she demanded answers.

The other teachers all knew of Chu Jiyu—the legendary student who had risen from the bottom of the rankings to the top within a year. Seeing her like this, one of them finally spoke up.

“Ning Xi resigned before summer break.”

The words struck her like a bolt of lightning.

She ran outside, unable to hold back the tears anymore.

So… he had planned to leave all along.

Chu Jiyu closed her eyes, memories flooding her mind.

The way he threw chalk at her, the way he scolded her for smoking… the way he stayed by her side all night when she was feverish after a fight…

One moment after another, all unforgettable.

She covered her face with her hands, her tears slipping through her fingers.

You were the one who barged into my life first…

So why?

Why did you have to leave me after being so good to me?