Chapter Thirty-Two: Undercurrents Stir

Huo Beihan reviewed the surveillance footage from around Su Mian’s residence and submitted the evidence to the police once more. By the time his secretary left the police station, it was already well past midnight.

"Boss, would you like to visit Miss Su now?"

Upon hearing his secretary, he paused for a moment. "No, let’s head back."

Qin Yunzheng had stayed at the hospital to look after Su Mian until late into the night. Exhausted, he eventually hailed a cab and left. He didn't return to his own villa but instead went to the family estate. However, before leaving, he had made sure to leave a note for Su Mian.

Early the next morning, when Su Mian woke up, she saw two sticky notes left by Qin Yunzheng on the headboard. The content simply said that if she were hungry, she should call him so he could have food delivered. There was not a single word about what had happened previously. Su Mian glanced at them, peeled the notes off, and tossed them into the trash bin.

She had only just closed her eyes again when she heard a knock at the door. Assuming it was Qin Yunzheng, she spoke with a hint of hostility. "I already said we are even. There is no need for you to—"

"No need for what, exactly?" After the person knocked and entered, Su Mian realized it was actually Lin Mu and Huo Beihan. Lin Mu still retained his carefree, lively personality, while Huo Beihan, who was still standing in the doorway, looked visibly grim.

"Mr. Lin, Big Brother, why are you here?"

As she started to sit up, Lin Mu reached out to stop her. "No, no, stay lying down. You are the company’s key protected individual now."

Su Mian was amused by Lin Mu’s cheerful tone. "I’m already fine. But how did you know I was in the hospital..."

"It’s all thanks to Huo Beihan. With the meticulous care he has for you, is there anything he doesn’t know?" Lin Mu said, his gaze shifting toward Huo Beihan, who was busy peeling an apple. He watched as the man, who usually held such a cold demeanor, sat there with a stern face, diligently peeling fruit for her.

"Beihan hasn't slept a wink, worried sick. He woke me up at five this morning insisting on coming to see you, and he even bought you Ma’s pan-fried buns. Here, take them!" Lin Mu handed over the takeout box, casting a long, knowing sigh at the silent, stoic Huo Beihan.

Su Mian was stunned. "Ma’s? Doesn’t that require driving to the south side of the city and waiting in line for hours?"

"Exactly! It’s so good to have an older brother; I almost want one myself," Lin Mu chuckled. He pulled out his phone, pretending to be surprised. "Oh, I’ve got a call. You two talk." With that, he scurried out in a few quick steps, showing a clear awareness of his role as a third wheel.

Huo Beihan had finished peeling the apple and handed it to Su Mian.

"Thank you, Big Brother."

Su Mian took the apple awkwardly and began to eat it in small bites. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the bloodshot tint in his pupils. It seemed that, just as Lin Mu had said, he hadn't slept all night. The closed-off gates of Su Mian’s heart seemed to be pried open by a wire, a beam of light suddenly shining through and falling upon her hidden scars.

"Big Brother..."

Before she could offer further thanks, Huo Beihan interrupted her. "I have an apartment that sits vacant year-round. Your current place isn't very safe, so find some time to move there."

His tone was unreadable, but Su Mian could sense that he was in a foul mood. She didn't want to owe the Huo family anything, let alone owe Huo Beihan, so she tightened her grip on the apple. "There’s no need to trouble you, Big Brother. I’ve been meaning to move anyway, and I’ll look for a place soon."

"The apartment is just sitting empty. The residential complex has strict security; owners have to scan their faces to enter. You won’t be harassed there—by your mother, for instance." He paused for a moment, his dark eyes locking onto hers as if making a solemn vow. "Things like what happened last night will not happen again!"

Su Mian didn't know why, but he felt like a restrained beast in that moment. Mentioning last night caused his pupils to constrict, as if thousands of wild animals were breaking free from their cages. Shaken by his gaze, Su Mian dared not say another word of refusal. She just couldn't understand why he was reacting so intensely, as if he were the one who had suffered through it all.

"Thank you, Big Brother..."

At this point, besides saying "thank you," Su Mian didn't know what else to say. This favor, which she found increasingly difficult to bear, was gradually changing in nature.

Compared to when he first arrived, Huo Beihan’s expression had softened significantly. A glint of light flashed in his eyes as he looked at Su Mian, his thin lips parting slightly. "I have never been one to accept verbal gratitude."

"Huh?"

Su Mian was confused and hadn't even had the chance to ask what he meant when a gust of air rushed into the room. Lin Xiu pushed the door open, the scent of high-end perfume mixed with the smell of disinfectant filling the air. Su Mian couldn't help but cough twice.

Seeing Huo Beihan sitting by the hospital bed, Lin Xiu froze for a moment before smiling and greeting him.

"Beihan, you’re here to see Mianmian too? Isn't work keeping you busy?"

Huo Beihan nodded slightly in response but had no intention of speaking. The atmosphere in the room grew exceptionally awkward. Su Mian looked at Lin Xiu’s suspicious gaze and felt a bit guilty; after all, to the outside world, her relationship with Huo Beihan hadn't reached this level of intimacy.

"Thank you for coming to see me, Big Brother. You must be very busy with work, right? Why don’t you head back first?" Su Mian discreetly tugged on Huo Beihan’s sleeve, looking at him imploringly.

Watching her blink her innocent eyes, Huo Beihan felt a tightness in his chest. In the end, he could only shake his head helplessly and, lying about having business at the company, took his leave.

When he reached the door, Lin Mu had just finished his phone call. "What, got kicked out?"

Huo Beihan shot him a sidelong glance at the inquisitive look on his face and kept walking. Lin Mu quickly followed. "What happened? You seem to be in quite a good mood. Has there been some progress?"

"Nothing. Stop talking nonsense."

Lin Mu scoffed as they walked out of the hospital one after the other. Once Huo Beihan was gone, Lin Xiu’s expression became less tense. She sat down by Su Mian’s bed with a calm air, and before she could even begin her questioning, Su Mian spoke first: "What are you trying to do now?"

"I am an independent individual, not an appendage of yours. I am not going to obediently follow whatever you arrange for me. You think you’re doing what’s best for me, but have you ever considered that you are pushing me into a fire pit?"

Lin Xiu knew she was still angry about what happened last night and guiltily looked away. However, remembering the purpose of her visit, she hardened her resolve.

"I’ve learned my lesson regarding yesterday, and I promise to let you know next time. The thing is, Chen Fang has already been taught a lesson. You should tell your 'Big Brother' to let him go, and we can just call it even and stop pursuing it."

Lin Xiu continued to rattle on, but as soon as she finished, Su Mian was incensed.

"Why should the perpetrator go unpunished?" She suddenly felt that the person she called 'mother' was incredibly cold-blooded. A few seconds later, she realized something. "Wait, what does this have to do with Big Brother?"

"Chen Fang was bailed out by the Chen family yesterday. Who knows what’s gotten into Huo Beihan? He ran to the police station in the middle of the night and submitted a pile of videos and documents, which resulted in Chen Fang being detained for 15 days."