Chapter 162: A Confession in Disguise

October 23, 2023

Author: Zi Tao

Mu Chenze didn’t even hesitate. “No! Absolutely not! I’ll be the bait.”

He couldn’t just stand by and watch Chu Xuan walk into danger.

Uncle Long didn’t think much of Mu Chenze’s idea. “Liang Shi probably isn’t interested in you. You as bait won’t work. Actually, I already turned down Xiao Xuan’s plan. But she said if I refused, she’d just go to town on her own…”

He repeated what Chu Xuan had said to Mu Chenze.

After hearing it, Mu Chenze realized that refusing would only put Chu Xuan in even greater danger.

“I know Chu Xuan. If she sets her mind on something, she’ll do it no matter what. We might as well agree to her plan and work together to come up with a strategy. We have to ensure her safety, and we need solid evidence—both witnesses and physical proof.”

Catching Liang Shi would mean eliminating their biggest threat.

“Can your classmates help? We absolutely can’t notify the county security team. I suspect some of them are close to Liang Shi.”

“Alright. We won’t inform the county team. I’ll go straight to my friends in the city.”

“I’ll handle the investigation and surveillance. Protecting Xiao Xuan is your job. Once you’ve made arrangements, let her know. When the time comes, we’ll act according to plan.”

“Okay.”

The two chatted a bit longer before Mu Chenze took his leave.

Uncle Long offered to have someone give him a ride on a bike, but Mu Chenze politely declined.

He’d eaten too much and needed to walk it off.

Watching Mu Chenze leave, Uncle Long instructed Xiao Huan to tell a few of their more capable men to stay put for now.

He’d said the job of protecting Xiao Xuan was Mu Chenze’s, but in reality, he’d arrange for backup too.

They couldn’t afford any mistakes.

Otherwise, he’d never be able to face Tian Xiaoyun.

Over an hour later, Mu Chenze returned to the village.

Instead of going home, he headed straight for Chu Xuan’s house.

As it happened, Chu Xuan was sitting at the gate, gazing up at the sky.

She didn’t want to admit it, but she was missing someone.

Normally, around this time, Mu Chenze would come by with his cart to pick up grilled fish fillets.

Tonight, and from now on, he wouldn’t be coming anymore.

Even though she knew she wouldn’t see him, she still hoped he might stroll past her door.

Even if she couldn’t marry him, it didn’t stop her from liking him, from missing him.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, Mu Chenze walked up.

The moment he saw her, all his exhaustion vanished, replaced by renewed energy.

“Chu Xuan, what are you doing at the door? Don’t tell me you’re waiting for me?”

Hearing his familiar voice and seeing the person she’d been thinking about, Chu Xuan couldn’t hide her joy. “What brings you here? Is something urgent? Don’t tell me you’re just passing by on a walk—you don’t look like it.”

A charming smile appeared on Mu Chenze’s lips. “You’re right, I have something important to discuss. Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

Chu Xuan quickly stood up and gestured for him to enter. “Please, come in.”

She led him to the kitchen and quickly brewed a pot of tea.

Chu Feng came out to greet Mu Chenze, then tactfully went back inside—he didn’t want to be a third wheel.

Mu Chenze lowered his voice. “I just came from Uncle Long’s. He said he agrees to your plan, but he needs time to set things up. Be patient for a couple of days. When it’s time to act, I’ll come let you know.”

Chu Xuan stared into Mu Chenze’s eyes. “Uncle Long promised me he wouldn’t let you get involved. He’s gone back on his word…”

“He didn’t break his promise. I volunteered to provide him with information. Today, I suggested being the bait myself. To stop me, he brought up your plan.”

“Alright, I’ll let it slide.” At this, Chu Xuan suddenly looked at Mu Chenze very seriously. “Listen to me—I’d rather die a hundred times myself than see you get hurt, even a little.”

Mu Chenze replied earnestly, “Can I take that as a roundabout confession? If so, I accept.”

Chu Xuan’s face flushed bright red. “Don’t flatter yourself! I wasn’t confessing!”

“Alright, you weren’t confessing. After we catch Liang Shi, I’ll confess to you, and you have to accept! I know the reason you refused to marry before was because you didn’t want to drag your husband’s family into trouble.”

Mu Chenze had been waiting for this day. As long as they caught Liang Shi, Chu Xuan would have nothing left to worry about.

Chu Xuan hadn’t expected Mu Chenze to know everything.

No wonder he’d always treated her well, no matter how many times she turned him down.

“Why are you so foolish?”

He’d been dragged down by her in their past life, yet in this one, he still willingly came to help her.

How had she, Chu Xuan, gotten so lucky?

Mu Chenze gazed at her with deep affection. “I don’t think I’m foolish. But if you insist, then I admit—I’m the smartest fool there is.”

Chu Xuan pinched her own arm hard, sobering up a bit. “Until we catch Liang Shi, you’re not allowed to say sweet things like that.”

Mu Chenze couldn’t help but laugh. “Xiao Xuan, you just mentioned ‘sweet things’—that means you like me too. You clearly like a pretty boy like me, but you’re too stubborn to admit it.”

Chu Xuan was both embarrassed and annoyed. She raised her hand to hit him on the back, but he didn’t dodge. She couldn’t bring herself to really hit him, so she softened her blow, which ended up just tickling him.

She insisted stubbornly, “I don’t like anyone. I want to grow old alone—is that so wrong?”

“No way! Until we catch Liang Shi, you call the shots. After that, it’s my turn! Don’t forget, you stole my first kiss. I haven’t even settled that score with you yet!”

“Don’t tell me you liked me even back then? That would be a real oddity—a swan falling for a toad.”

“I did not! You were so chubby back then, I didn’t like you at all.”

“Then when did you start liking me?”

“I’ll tell you after we catch Liang Shi. And you have to tell me when you started liking me, too.”

Chu Xuan kept up her stubborn front. “Did I ever say I liked you?”

Instead of getting angry, Mu Chenze just smiled. “I’m not in a hurry.”

He looked at Chu Xuan.

Chu Xuan felt uneasy under his gaze. “What are you looking at?”

“I’m checking if you’ve lost weight again. You must be under 150 jin today.”

“You guessed right. I just weighed myself on the big scale at the food factory this afternoon—149 jin.”

“Other people at 149 jin look like pigs, but you don’t look fat at all.”

“That’s because I cleverly hide it with my clothes. Actually, I’m still fat. For my height, I’d have to be around 130 jin to be considered slim.”

“You’re about 170 centimeters tall, right?”

“Yep, with shoes on, I’m about 172.”

“Do you know how tall I am?”

“Of course, you’re 1.86 meters.”

After she said it, Chu Xuan realized something was off. Why was she paying so much attention to Mu Chenze’s height?

Mu Chenze was in a great mood. She claimed not to like him, but she even knew his height.

“Xiao Xuan, when you knitted that sweater for me, you never asked my mom for my measurements, did you? You must pay a lot of attention to me. I’m so happy!”

Chu Xuan stuck to her guns. “It’s not that I pay attention to you, I just have a good eye. One look and I can tell your height, your shoulder width, and so on. I could do the same for any other man.”

“You dare!”

“Dare what?”

“Try it with another man and see!”

“You’re twisting my words. I don’t want any man, so how could I try it with someone else?”

Suddenly, Mu Chenze stood up, leaned close to Chu Xuan’s ear, and whispered, “Me—you have to want.”

It was domineering, but full of warmth."