Chapter 171: What Did I Forget?

October 28, 2023

Author: Zi Tao

Mu Chenze’s face flushed red, all the way to his ears. “Because I asked Doctor Zhang about it. He said he already told you—if your period is heavy, you should stop taking the herbal medicine and wait until it’s over before starting again.”

Hearing this, Chu Xuan wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

She was the one who’d let it slip to Mu Chenze about her period in the first place.

Seeing her stay silent, Mu Chenze continued, “Do you need to use the bathroom? I still have a bag of sanitary pads in my bedroom.”

Chu Xuan asked, embarrassed, “Why did you buy so many sanitary pads?”

Mu Chenze answered honestly, “Actually, I bought them together with the ones I gave you before. They’re hard to come by, so when I managed to get some, I bought extra. I was planning to give you more next month.”

“Then could you get me one? I’ll go to the bathroom.”

“Sure!”

Mu Chenze was very particular about hygiene—he made sure to wash his hands before fetching the pad.

A few minutes later, Chu Xuan, holding a sanitary pad, went into the bathroom at Mu Chenze’s house.

It was about five square meters, very clean and tidy.

Just like in her previous life, it was a squat toilet that could be flushed with water.

Back then, Feng Chunhua had once used the bathroom at the Mu house and coaxed Chu Xuan into paying to have the Chu family’s toilet rebuilt. Of course, the money Chu Xuan used came from Mu Chenze.

At the time, Mu Chenze hadn’t wanted to give her the money, but she threatened to make a scene with his mother if he refused. Mu Chenze, being filial, had no choice but to give in.

Thinking about all this, Chu Xuan felt guilty toward the Mu family.

After she finished in the bathroom, Mu Chenze brought over a small basin of warm water. “Wash your hands!”

After Chu Xuan washed her hands, Mu Chenze noticed sweat on her forehead and asked, “Do you want to change out of your cut-resistant clothes in my room?”

The clothes were tight and stuffy, like wearing thick woolen underwear, but not breathable at all.

It was only October—not really cold enough for such thick clothes. If her forehead was sweating that much, she must be sweating all over.

But Chu Xuan shook her head gently. “No need. It gets cold outside at night, and I didn’t bring any thick clothes. If I change out of these, I’ll catch a chill on the way home.”

Mu Chenze grinned. “I bought you some new clothes—they’re in my room. I just haven’t had a chance to give them to you yet.”

Chu Xuan put a hand to her forehead. This spendthrift! In just a few days, he’d bought her so many things.

Wasn’t he worried Aunt Qin would be upset? No matter how open-minded a mother-in-law is, she’d still mind her son buying so many clothes for his fiancée.

“Are you trying to get me in trouble? What will your family think of me?”

Mu Chenze couldn’t help but laugh. “Looks like you really care what my family thinks! Don’t worry, I already cleared it with my mom and sister-in-law. I told them you gave me seventy yuan to buy the clothes, and I even got each of them a coat too. Wool coats, you know—not easy to find. They were both thrilled.”

Chu Xuan was indeed feeling stifled in the cut-resistant clothes, sweating nonstop. If she could take them off for a while, that would be great. “Okay, I’ll go change in your room.”

“I’ll get the wool coat for you. It’s not cold inside, so you can put it on when you leave.”

“Alright.”

After Mu Chenze fetched the coat from his room, he waited outside the door.

Chu Xuan closed the door and changed inside the bedroom.

She was very familiar with this room.

In her previous life, after marrying Mu Chenze, this was where they lived.

The furnishings were almost unchanged.

If she married him in this life, she’d probably live here again.

She resolved to cherish this room from now on, never again to kick the walls, smash the windows, or slam the doors like she had before.

Thinking of this, she covered her face in embarrassment.

They’d only just started dating, and she was already thinking about married life. Was she that eager to marry him?

She had to stay rational—a good twenty pounds lighter before she could even think about marriage.

She wanted to leave Mu Chenze with a beautiful impression on their wedding night.

Luckily, she’d been exercising while losing weight, so her skin hadn’t become loose or wrinkled.

When Chu Xuan came out of the bedroom, Mu Chenze smiled and asked, “Do you want to donate your cut-resistant clothes to the city’s security team?”

“I don’t think the separate pieces work as well as the one-piece ones. After two or three uses, they need repairs. If I donate them, wouldn’t I be putting the next person at risk?”

“My classmate said you sewed them with hemp rope—they’re sturdy! As long as you’re careful, they’ll last a few more uses.”

“Alright, I’ll donate them. But I want to take them home and wash them first.”

“Leave them here, I’ll wash them.”

“No way. They stink of sweat—I don’t want to gas you out.”

“I’m not afraid of the smell.”

“Well, I am. I’ll have to take them with me, or I’ll leave right now.”

“Okay, fine! You take them. But let’s agree—whatever happened today, let me be the one to tell my family. I don’t want them to know too much and start overthinking.”

Chu Xuan respected his wishes. “Alright.”

Outside in the yard, Mu Chenfu finished his chores and went to pick up Chu Feng.

When Chu Feng arrived at the Mu house and saw both his sister and Brother Chenze looking shy, he could guess without asking—they must have just started dating.

At eight that evening, a table full of delicious dishes was served.

Steamed bass, tomato-braised ribbonfish, braised prawns, steamed mantis shrimp, crab, chicken and potatoes, braised pork, tomato and egg stir-fry, stir-fried cauliflower, scallop soup…

Mu Qinlao, Aunt Qin, Fu Qing, and Mu Chenfu each had a small glass of white liquor.

Mu Chenze was injured and couldn’t drink, and Chu Xuan was on her period, so they both used water instead.

Chu Feng was still young and drank orange juice.

The Mu family still didn’t know about Mu Chenze’s injury. When he said his ribs hurt, they thought he was joking with Chu Xuan. Seeing him refuse alcohol, they assumed he just wanted to make a good impression on her, so they didn’t push it.

After a cheerful dinner, Mu Chenze walked Chu Xuan and her brother home. Naturally, Chu Xuan was wearing the wool coat and carrying her cut-resistant clothes.

Aunt Qin and Fu Qing exchanged a smile when they saw this, but said nothing.

After Mu Chenze returned, he told his family about helping Min Yi catch a criminal and injuring his ribs.

However, he didn’t say it was to save Chu Xuan—he said that if it hadn’t been for her, he would have been seriously hurt.

As it was, he just needed to rest at home for three days.

As for why Chu Xuan was there, he said she was helping Min Yi catch the criminal too.

And the criminal they caught was the same one who had previously incited Guo Hailian and threatened Zhang Qiu to harm Chu Xuan.

Now that the culprit was caught, no one would target Chu Xuan anymore, and she wouldn’t have to worry about dragging others down. That’s why she was willing to start dating.

The Mu family thought even more highly of Chu Xuan after hearing this.

Meanwhile, Chu Xuan and her brother were chatting at home.

Chu Xuan told him everything about the interrogation of Liang Shi and Feng Chunhua.

As for the process of catching Liang Shi, Chu Xuan glossed over it in one sentence—she didn’t want her little brother to worry.

The next morning, Chu Xuan got up, washed, and got ready to go out for a walk.

As soon as she opened the gate, she saw a familiar figure.

Mu Chenze was wearing a blue tracksuit, looking very happy.

“Xiao Xuan, morning! I came to walk with you.”

Chu Xuan was happy inside, but kept a stern face and pointed at his ribs. “You’re not healed yet. Go home and rest in bed!”

Mu Chenze still smiled. “Don’t be so fierce. I’ll go home, but only if you walk me back. Otherwise, I’ll just stick to your side.”

Chu Xuan could never win against him on this. “Fine, I’ll walk you home. I need to exercise anyway—walking anywhere is still walking. Let’s go!”

But Mu Chenze didn’t move. “Wait! I think you forgot something!”

Chu Xuan couldn’t think of what it was. “What? Want to give me a hint?”"