THIP Chapter 15 V1

Inside a cozy couple’s café, a refined and elegant man sat by the window, his slender, fair fingers gliding across his phone screen as he scrolled through the latest news.

The headline reported that the former president of the Chu Group in H City had been imprisoned for poisoning his wife. Meanwhile, the newly appointed president, Chu Jiyu, had officially renamed the company to Su Group.

Mu Liuyin gazed at the news article’s accompanying photo—an image of the beautiful and striking Chu Jiyu. His eyes softened.

Perhaps it was because he had warned Chu Jiyu about the will in advance, but the storyline had drastically deviated from its original course. Not only had Chu Jiyu discovered the truth behind her mother’s death ahead of time, but she had also immediately produced evidence upon graduating, ensuring that Chu Jianren was sent to prison.

According to Xiao Jiu’s reports, the once-rebellious young girl had now taken full control of Su Group. Though there were dissenters, she had suppressed them all.

She had grown up.

As Mu Liuyin reminisced about his little girl, a woman with exquisitely applied makeup walked into the café and took a seat across from him.

“Sorry, I’m late,” the woman said.

Mu Liuyin put away his phone and replied, “It’s fine,” before calling the waiter over.

“One Black Forest cake,” he ordered before turning to the woman. “Miss Ji Xin, what would you like?”

“A mocha will do,” Ji Xin replied.

The waiter took note of their orders and left. Mu Liuyin studied Ji Xin, feeling a bit troubled. It had been nearly four years since he had left Chu Jiyu. His current body had already reached the age of thirty, and his family was growing anxious about his single status. They had set up several blind dates for him—this was already the third one.

“Miss Ji,” he began, getting straight to the point to avoid any misunderstandings, “I don’t have any plans to date anyone at the moment.”

Ji Xin raised an eyebrow. “If that’s the case, then why did you agree to a blind date?”

To be honest, she found him quite attractive, both in looks and demeanor. She hadn’t expected him to shut down any possibility of a relationship the moment he opened his mouth.

The waiter returned with their cake and coffee, placing them on the table.

Mu Liuyin sighed. “Miss Ji, you must have seen my profile. I’m already thirty, and my family is urging me to—cough—find a girlfriend soon.”

Ji Xin took a sip of her coffee and asked, “So, it’s your family pushing for this, but you’re not interested?”

Mu Liuyin nodded.

Ji Xin found it odd—thirty years old and still not looking for a girlfriend? Could he be… gay?

Still, since he had made his stance clear, she wasn’t the type to insist on pursuing something that wasn’t meant to be.

“Alright then, Mr. Ning,” she said. “Aren’t you worried your family will keep setting up blind dates for you?”

“That’s my problem to deal with,” Mu Liuyin replied.

Ji Xin nodded, ready to leave. But just as she was about to stand up, the café door swung open, and a breathtakingly beautiful yet icy woman walked in. Ji Xin recognized her immediately—it was Su Group’s newly appointed CEO and president.

What was she doing here?

Before Chu Jiyu even stepped inside, Xiao Jiu had already alerted Mu Liuyin. Though he appeared calm, the moment he saw her, guilt surged within him.

Under Ji Xin’s stunned gaze, Chu Jiyu walked up to their table. Her voice was as clear and refreshing as a mountain spring trickling over stone as she called out:

“Teacher.”

The single word softened Mu Liuyin’s heart, but he forced himself to put on a stern expression. “What are you doing here?”

Chu Jiyu pouted playfully. “I missed you.”

In an instant, her icy demeanor melted away.

What the hell?! This man doesn’t want a girlfriend? Bullshit! He already has one, and she’s way better than any blind date!

Ji Xin fumed internally.

She was supposed to be his date, but she had just been force-fed a public display of affection.

Feeling awkward, Mu Liuyin turned to Ji Xin and apologized. “Miss Ji, I’m sorry, but I have to go.”

He got up to settle the bill, but before he could leave, Chu Jiyu reached out and grabbed his hand.

The two of them walked out of the café together. Chu Jiyu opened the car door for him and instructed the driver to start driving.

Mu Liuyin looked at the now twenty-one-year-old young woman beside him and asked, “How did you know I was here?”

He already knew the answer. Back when Chu Jiyu was in her junior year of college, she had begun investigating his whereabouts, tracking down anyone who had followed him and gathering information. Those people had likely reported his location to her.

Still, even though he knew, he felt obligated to ask.

“I found you myself,” Chu Jiyu replied.

Mu Liuyin: “…”

Her beautiful eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she asked, “Why did you leave me behind?”

Mu Liuyin felt a pang of guilt. He sighed. “Chu Chu, you’ve grown up. And I… I was just your high school teacher. I couldn’t stay with you forever.”

Originally, Mu Liuyin had planned to teach Chu Jiyu for just a year before leaving, only stepping in to help her during a critical moment in the plot when she was supposed to be framed.

When he left, he hadn’t expected her to be so determined to find him. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

Chu Jiyu ignored his explanation and pressed on, “If I was just a student to you, then why were you so kind to me? Why were you only kind to me?”

Mu Liuyin was speechless.

At first, it had been because of his mission. But over time, he had genuinely come to care for her. Yet, that was something he couldn’t say out loud.

There were only six months left before the point in the plot where Chu Jiyu was supposed to be framed. Because of his interference, the storyline had already changed significantly. He wasn’t sure what would happen before then, but with Xiao Jiu watching over her, even if he wasn’t by her side, he could still find a way to protect her.