Chapter 485: Tonight, can I stay at your place?

Lin Yuan jerked his head back, only to see a black Land Rover Range Rover suddenly surge out from the side and slam sideways in front of him.

Seeing that familiar Land Rover SUV, Lin Yuan finally relaxed.

It was no one else—it was Mu Lingxue's car.

Just now, Lin Yuan had almost thought someone was coming to assassinate him.

The Land Rover's brakes screeched especially sharply in the rainy night.

Lin Yuan frowned and looked up.

The driver's door of the Land Rover opened, and stepping out into the rain… was Mu Lingxue.

She hadn't taken an umbrella, letting the heavy rain pound her body.

Her long hair clung wet in strands to her cheeks.

Yet she remained strikingly cold and beautiful.

"Get in the car." Mu Lingxue spoke, her voice fragmented by the rain, yet still carrying her usual authority.

Lin Yuan didn't move, just glanced at her lightly: "Aren't you supposed to send Deputy Director Gu home?"

Mu Lingxue pressed her lips, her gaze flickering for a moment: "He… I already shoved him into a taxi. I said it wasn't convenient for me to give him a ride."

She stepped forward another pace, rain sliding over her pale face.

"Get in the car! It's pouring right now!"

Lin Yuan shook his head: "No need, I'm already soaked; getting in wouldn't change anything."

Saying that, he prepared to go around the car and keep riding.

But the next second…

"Lin Yuan!"

Mu Lingxue suddenly flung the door open, stepped into a puddle with one foot, then… walked straight to his side.

What happened next left Lin Yuan completely stunned.

Mu Lingxue… actually plopped directly onto his dripping-wet Meituan bike!

Rain kept dripping from her hair tips, she was almost drenched through, yet she didn't dodge at all.

"You're not getting in the car, right?" Mu Lingxue gritted her teeth, her voice trembling in the rain, "Fine, I'll join you in the downpour."

Lin Yuan was utterly speechless: "No, you… what are you doing?"

"You insist on sending me home?"

Mu Lingxue lifted her head firmly, her beautiful eyes glistening with moisture, a haze forming, "I can't bear to."

Those two light words were like thunderclaps in a storm.

Lin Yuan's Adam's apple twitched slightly.

Mu Lingxue bit her lip, her eye sockets soaked by rain so tears and water were indistinguishable: "I can't bear to see you out in the rain."

Those words weighed heavier than the rain just now.

Lin Yuan's heart lurched, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

He had always thought Mu Lingxue felt resistance, suspicion, hostility toward him—even that she wanted to catch or watch him.

But right now…

She sat on his rickety bike, her whole body trembling from the rain…

At this moment, Mu Lingxue was stubborn as a child.

Lin Yuan, for the first time… felt a little flustered.

"Mu Lingxue, you…"

"Lin Yuan!" Mu Lingxue suddenly interrupted, her voice quivering, "I like you!"

Boom!

Those words hit Lin Yuan's head harder than thunder, leaving it buzzing.

Mu Lingxue drew a deep breath, rain sliding down her lashes… like droplets of shattered diamonds rolling down.

The next second.

She suddenly rose onto her tiptoes.

In one motion she grabbed Lin Yuan's collar.

The downpour blocked the city's lights…

Leaving only their breaths extremely close together.

Then…

She lunged in for a kiss.

Not a test.

Not a tentative taste.

But a fierce, brutal kiss pressed hard against Lin Yuan!

Lin Yuan's whole body froze.

Rain slid down the tips of their hair…

Yet her lips were warm, soft, carrying the coolness of rain.

The moment her tongue slipped in…

Lin Yuan was shoved back with no room to retreat even a step.

She was almost wildly proactive.

Mu Lingxue was like pent-up emotion finally bursting forth at this moment.

"Mmm…" Mu Lingxue's breathless moan was scattered by the rain.

She clung to him as if he were her only lifeline.

In the rain, it seemed as if the whole world had dwindled to just the two of them.

After a long while, she finally released Lin Yuan, panting.

Her forehead rested against his chest, her hand still gripping his clothes.

"Lin Yuan... I really like you..."

Her voice hoarse as if she had cried, "If you keep pushing me away like this... I really will... I'll be heartbroken..."

Lin Yuan's heart pounded violently, like the first time he lost control.

Lin Yuan was completely dazed.

He was kissed by Mu Lingxue until his breathing went haywire...

But the next second, he shoved her away forcefully.

"Lingxue, what are you doing! We could never be."

In the rain, those words cut like a knife.

Mu Lingxue stared, stunned for a moment.

The next second.

Smack!

She slapped Lin Yuan across the face.

She was soaked through, rain dripping from her chin,

Mu Lingxue's voice trembled:

"Why can't it be?"

Just as Lin Yuan was about to explain, Mu Lingxue lunged at him again, kissing him fiercely.

This time it was anger, grievance, dependence, impulse...

Mu Lingxue's kiss, a blend of all her emotions.

Lin Yuan gritted his teeth, yet still pushed her away.

"Stop messing around."

Lin Yuan said softly, "I'm leaving."

After saying that, he didn't even glance at Mu Lingxue, turned and got on his bike to leave.

Mu Lingxue stood frozen in place, the rain pouring down harder.

She suddenly crouched, covering her face with both hands, and burst into uncontrollable sobs in the downpour.

Just then…

A car sped past.

Splash!

A whole sheet of dirty water splashed onto her, making her feel as if the world had ruthlessly stomped on her.

Disheveled, pitiful, collapsed to the extreme.

Lin Yuan had just ridden off when his foot stumbled.

That scene… stimulated his heart to clench tightly.

He cursed: "Damn..."

Then, soaked in the rain, he threw down his bike and turned back.

"Get up." Lin Yuan grabbed her arm and pulled her up from the ground.

Mu Lingxue cried like a child: "If you don't want me... I'll just sit here... I won't go..."

Lin Yuan sighed, draping his own coat over her.

Lin Yuan said gently, "Stop fussing, come with me, get in the car."

Mu Lingxue cried, "I'm not getting in, don't bother with me!"

Lin Yuan soothed softly, "I need you, don't make a fuss, please get in the car?"

At this moment, Mu Lingxue finally looked at him with beautiful eyes full of grievance.

Mu Lingxue got into the Range Rover.

The two returned to the Range Rover's interior.

Lin Yuan looked at her drenched body, brows furrowed.

"Turn the heat up max, I'll send you home."

Mu Lingxue shook her head, "I want to go to your place."

"Stop fussing, I'll send you home first." Lin Yuan insisted.

Mu Lingxue kept shaking her head, "No, I said... I want to go to your place."

"Why would you go to my place?" Lin Yuan said, speechless.

"Can't I just send you home first?" Mu Lingxue said.

Lin Yuan fell silent for a few seconds, then relented.

"Okay."

Thus, Mu Lingxue drove, slowly heading toward Lin Yuan's home.

Upon arriving at Lin Yuan's apartment, Mu Lingxue had already begun to shiver.

Lin Yuan had just gotten out of the car.

He saw Mu Lingxue inside the car sneeze: "Ah-choo…!"

She rubbed her nose, her face slightly pale.

"Did you catch a cold?" Lin Yuan said, somewhat worried.

"I'm a bit cold. Can I go to your place to take a shower and change clothes?" Mu Lingxue said softly, her arms tightly crossed over her chest.

Lin Yuan hesitated a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, come upstairs quickly. Don't get chilled."

After all, she got caught in the rain while seeing him off. Lin Yuan also felt reluctant.

Upon arriving at Lin Yuan's apartment, Mu Lingxue had already begun to shiver.

As soon as she got out of the car, she sneezed: "Ah—choo!"

Lin Yuan frowned: "Go take a hot shower first."

Mu Lingxue hesitated for a second, then whispered: "... Can I borrow a piece of clothing from you?"

Lin Yuan nodded: "Come in."

Ten minutes later, she came out of the bathroom wearing Lin Yuan's white shirt, her hair still dripping water.

She had just taken two steps...

"Ah—choo!"

She couldn't help sneezing again, her body felt cold and her face turned pale.

Lin Yuan walked over and placed his hand on her forehead.

"You have a fever."

"I'm not... Ah—choo!" Mu Lingxue stubbornly tried to lift her head...

As a result, she felt dizzy and fell directly into Lin Yuan's arms.

Lin Yuan quickly supported her and helped her sit down on the sofa.

Lin Yuan rummaged through the drawer and took out an acupuncture kit,

He took out a few silver needles and quickly inserted them into Mu Lingxue's Hegu, Quchi, and other acupuncture points.

He attempted to use the silver needles to lower Mu Lingxue's body temperature.

But half an hour later, Mu Lingxue's temperature not only didn't drop, it rose even higher.

Lin Yuan asked doubtfully, "Do you have any other discomfort? How could this be? The acupuncture can't bring down your temperature?"

Mu Lingxue then blushed and whispered softly, "I... I have my period."

Only then did Lin Yuan understand.

During menstruation, a woman's body is naturally weak.

Added to that, she got caught in the rain and caught a chill.

Only under this double blow did her condition become so severe.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Lin Yuan said solemnly.

"Wait here." Lin Yuan immediately got up.

Taking advantage of the nighttime rain, he went downstairs to the 24-hour convenience store... and bought brown sugar, fresh ginger, and some herbs.

After Lin Yuan returned, he hurried into the kitchen.

He tied on an apron... and got busy.

Soon, a rich medicinal aroma wafted from the kitchen.

Lin Yuan brought the prepared brown sugar ginger tea and herbal soup to Mu Lingxue.

"Drink the ginger tea first to warm your body, then the herbal soup to alleviate the symptoms."

Mu Lingxue looked at his busy back, feeling warm inside.

She nodded and obediently finished the ginger tea and herbal soup.

The night grew deeper.

Mu Lingxue looked at the heavy rain outside the window, hesitated, and said: "Lin Yuan, the rain is too heavy outside; can I stay at your place tonight?"