Chapter 656: Extremely awkward!

Yin Yirou apologized while her eyes reddened.

Lin Yuan, seeing this, also hurriedly chimed in:

"Right, Lingxue, don't misunderstand—I really have no relation with Yin Yirou at all, never have. What just happened was indeed an accident."

He really didn't want this matter to cause all three of them to lose face, and he especially didn't want Mu Lingxue to misunderstand him.

But Mu Lingxue, seeing his innocent expression, then recalling the scene she had just walked in on……

The anger in Mu Lingxue's heart flared up instantly.

She gritted her teeth, not letting Lin Yuan say another word, reached out and pinched the wound wrapped in gauze on his body……hard……

The force wasn't lethal, but it precisely struck his still-unhealed sore spot.

"Hiss……!" Lin Yuan felt his vision go black as she pinched him.

A suppressed cry of pain escaped Lin Yuan's throat……

Yin Yirou beside him also panicked, seeing that Mu Lingxue was truly angry.

Yin Yirou bowed again to Mu Lingxue and apologized:

"Sorry, Lingxue, it's all my fault, I'm really sorry……"

Mu Lingxue listened to Yin Yirou's apology, and the anger in her heart gradually faded.

She let out a soft sigh, wiped the fluster from the corner of her eyes, and spoke slowly.

"Forget it, it's not your business. This matter……let's leave it as is. Besides, I'm actually not Lin Yuan's official girlfriend."

"Huh?" Upon hearing that, Yin Yirou froze stiffly.

The guilt on Yin Yirou's face……was instantly replaced by utter surprise.

Yin Yirou's eyes widened round, she stared at Mu Lingxue in disbelief,

Yin Yirou was completely dumbfounded.

She had always thought Mu Lingxue and Lin Yuan were lovers……

So, Yin Yirou only felt guilty just now and thus apologized proactively……

But Yin Yirou never expected that the matter……seemed, not what she thought.

Mu Lingxue lifted her head, her gaze falling on Lin Yuan……

A flicker of complex emotion flashed in the depths of Mu Lingxue's eyes……

In her eyes there was concern, helplessness, and a hint of sorrow not easily noticed……

Mu Lingxue spoke slowly, revealing the truth: "I and Lin Yuan are merely a secret romance. Actually, at first he was just my pretend boyfriend, used to deal with my parents."

"Huh??" Yin Yirou was completely dumbfounded.

"You also know, Lin Yuan……is mixed up in the Underworld, he bears too many things, too many dangers, between us it was never likely to have an outcome……I never hoped for anything either, I just wanted to stay by his side, to protect him even a little bit." Mu Lingxue said with a sigh.

Mu Lingxue's words were spoken calmly and lightly, yet they hid too much helplessness.

Yin Yirou stood there, completely stunned, her face full of shock and bewilderment……

She had never known. The relationship between Lin Yuan and Mu Lingxue was actually like this??

For a moment, Yin Yirou's mind went blank, even forgetting to apologize.

Just then, Lin Yuan lightly coughed, his tone helpless: "You two……stop arguing."

Mu Lingxue and Yin Yirou both came to their senses……

Lin Yuan coughed, seeming quite weak.

Yin Yirou also quickly nodded, speaking softly: "Lin Yuan, rest well, we won't argue, we'll stay to take care of you."

Mu Lingxue also nodded: "Yes, tonight we two will both stay to look after you, you're seriously injured and not healed, you can't be alone, no matter what our relationship with you is, at least we both want to keep you safe."

Lin Yuan looked at the two women before him with determined expressions, a flicker of complex warmth flashing in his eyes.

Lin Yuan wanted to say something, but lacked the strength to rebut, so he could only lightly nod.

The night grew deeper, the interior fell into silence.

Mu Lingxue and Yin Yirou carefully helped Lin Yuan onto the bedroom bed, letting him lie flat.

Mu Lingxue then carefully checked the gauze on Lin Yuan's body once more……

After confirming the gauze on Lin Yuan hadn't come loose or bled, she finally relaxed a little.

The clock inside ticked, already pointing to late night eleven.

Lin Yuan lay in bed, feeling a bit sleepy.

Although he closed his eyes, he never fully fell asleep,

By now it was already midnight.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the quietly sitting Mu Lingxue and Yin Yirou beside him.

Seeing the fatigue in their eyes, seeing them force themselves to stay awake while still staring intently at him……

Lin Yuan spoke softly: "It's getting late, you two go back, rest early, I'm fine alone here, no need to keep watching over me."

Mu Lingxue was the first to shake her head at the words: "No, we can't leave. Your injury isn't healed yet, nighttime makes relapse likely, someone must stay by your side, if anything happens we'd have no one to attend to us, we wouldn't feel at ease going back."

Yin Yirou beside him also quickly chimed in: "Yeah, Lin Yuan, we won't go back, we'll stay here to look after you. Anyway we have nothing to do if we go back; staying with you lets us relax, so stop urging us."

Lin Yuan looked at the two women's determined looks, feeling helpless.

Lin Yuan said: "If you two stay at my place, there's nowhere to sleep, it's inconvenient……"

Mu Lingxue replied: "I can sleep beside you, your bed is big enough. Squeaking in a bit is fine."

Yin Yirou also said: "I, I can also squeeze in, I'm not fat either, your bed is big, I'll sleep on your left side."

Mu Lingxue hesitated a moment, then added: "Lin Yuan, I'll sleep on your right side."

Lin Yuan was dumbfounded.

"What the heck??" Lin Yuan looked speechlessly at the two women.

"No, we three unmarried men and women sleeping on one bed— isn't that inappropriate?" Lin Yuan asked, surprised.

"What's wrong with it? We don't dislike you, yet you dislike us?" Mu Lingxue snapped, her voice cold.

Yin Yirou also nodded slightly…

Lin Yuan: "……"

Both women said that, so what could Lin Yuan say?

Lin Yuan's bedroom wasn't large, with only one bed, and no extra bedding besides that.

Even the sofa was in the living room;

If one were to keep watch by the bed at night, sitting for a long time would ultimately not be a solution…

The two women exchanged a glance and decided.

The two women each found a clean blanket and spread it on either side of Lin Yuan's bed.

Lin Yuan, being injured, could not possibly stop them.

After they finished speaking, they no longer paid heed to Lin Yuan's refusal… The two women, having laid out the blankets, each lay down.

Mu Lingxue and Yin Yirou, one on the left and one on the right, pressed tightly against the side of Lin Yuan's bed.

The two women were covered with thin blankets.

At this moment, Lin Yuan could be said to be embraced on the left and held on the right!

Lin Yuan was speechless.

But the two women had already lain down; what could he do?

He was merely an injured person.

He simply couldn't drive the two women away….

Moreover, the two women stayed to care for him. Lin Yuan couldn't really just drive them away, could he?

Thus…

That night, Lin Yuan could only barely squeeze in together and sleep…

Inside the room…… tranquility was restored once more.

Only the ticking of the clock and the even breathing of the three people intertwined.

The moonlight was gentle, the lamp light soft…

Mu Lingxue and Yin Yirou…… lay quietly beside Lin Yuan's bed.

Sleepless through the night, the two women lay on the bed, constantly watching over him;

While Lin Yuan lay on the bed, though he closed his eyes, he still could not fall asleep for a long time.

The breath of the two women beside him was like a warm current enveloping him.

This made it impossible for Lin Yuan to fall asleep.

As the night deepened, the moonlight outside the window grew ever softer.

Through the gap in the curtains, the silhouettes of the three were stretched out long.

Yin Yirou, without realizing it, fell into a deep sleep…

On the bed, her brows were slightly furrowed, perhaps she was having a peaceful dream…

Yin Yirou, in a daze, shifted her body and instinctively leaned toward the warmth—

That was Lin Yuan's body heat, the breath that let her feel at ease.

Yin Yirou slept so deeply that her arm unconsciously wrapped around Lin Yuan's waist…

Yin Yirou's cheek…… pressed tightly against Lin Yuan's arm, like a docile little cat…

In her sleep, she clung tightly to Lin Yuan, unwilling to let go…

Even her breathing grew ever softer, the corner of her mouth faintly hinting at a slight smile…

Evidently, Yin Yirou had plunged into deep sleep, completely unaware of her actions, thereby breaking the previous boundaries.

Lin Yuan, who had not been deeply asleep anyway, was stiffened all over by Yin Yirou's sudden snuggling…

Lin Yuan instantly woke up.

He could clearly feel the soft touch on his arm, and the firm yet not forceful pressure on his waist…

A flicker of surprise crossed Lin Yuan's eyes, and he instinctively wanted to gently push Yin Yirou away.

But Lin Yuan exerted a little force, trying to pry open her hand that was wrapped around his waist,

but Yin Yirou slept so soundly that her grip grew even tighter.

As if, if she let go, she would lose that warmth…

No matter how gently Lin Yuan pushed or shoved, she didn't budge at all…

On the contrary, Yin Yirou burrowed further into his embrace.

Lin Yuan sighed helplessly, ultimately unable to bring himself to forcibly push her away…

She had stayed here solely to care for Lin Yuan; being so exhausted, Lin Yuan truly did not wish to disturb her sleep any further.

Mu Lingxue beside him, already fighting off sleepiness, kept constant watch on Lin Yuan's movements.

At this moment, Mu Lingxue saw Yin Yirou's actions crystal clear.

When she saw Yin Yirou nestled in Lin Yuan's embrace, sleeping peacefully…

A faint hint of sourness and resentment flashed in Mu Lingxue's eyes.

Mu Lingxue's lips twitched slightly as she silently fumed: Why could she snuggle up to Lin Yuan while she could only guard beside the bed?

Unable to suppress her resentment, Mu Lingxue also gently moved closer.

Mu Lingxue lowered her voice and tentatively called out twice: "Yirou, Yirou, wake up, you're sleeping in the wrong place."

But Yin Yirou slept too deeply; neither Mu Lingxue's soft calls nor gentle shaking could wake her…

This only made Yin Yirou hold him even tighter.

Yin Yirou mumbled a few incoherent words of sleep talk, still lost in her dream.

Mu Lingxue shouted several times, but couldn't wake Yin Yirou…

Mu Lingxue's reluctance flared ever brighter in her eyes.

Mu Lingxue gave up shouting altogether.

She gazed at Lin Yuan's helpless, embarrassed expression, then at Yin Yirou's tranquil sleeping face, and steeled herself…

Mu Lingxue likewise abandoned all restraint, gently pulling back the blanket and carefully edging to Lin Yuan's other side.

Mu Lingxue, too, followed Yin Yirou's example, slipping her arm around Lin Yuan's other arm.

Mu Lingxue's cheek lightly touched his shoulder, then she slipped into his arms.

Lin Yuan stiffened entirely, unable to move, his eyes filled with helpless disbelief.

He glanced left at Yin Yirou clinging to his waist, then right at Mu Lingxue nestled against his shoulder…

One on his left, the other on his right, they clung tightly to him…

The two women breathed gently, their sleeping faces serene.

Warm breath surrounded Lin Yuan, leaving him ill at ease but powerless to change it.

What… what is this supposed to be?

Lin Yuan silently cursed, his lips twitching.

Lin Yuan's eyes were dumbfounded—left arm, right arm? I'm being forcibly hugged on both sides…

Mu Lingxue leaned on Lin Yuan's shoulder, eyes closed but not fully asleep.

Mu Lingxue's nose caught the faint herbal aroma clinging to Lin Yuan.

By her ear lay Lin Yuan's steady heartbeat.

Mu Lingxue's mind replayed the Public Security Bureau explosion scene again and again…

Lin Yuan, heedless of danger, shoved her aside as the blast hurled him away…

Those images stabbed her like needles, guilt and sorrow entwined, refusing to fade.

Mu Lingxue quietly opened her eyes, bathing in the moonlight from the window, and studied Lin Yuan's face.

The dim light softened his features.

Lin Yuan's usually stern brows and eyes were now relaxed, though a hint of fatigue remained.

A faint scar still marked the man's cheek.

It was the mark he'd gotten saving her.

A sheen of tears glistened in Mu Lingxue's eyes…

Her guilt intensified…

Mu Lingxue's fingertip gently traced his cheek scar, so delicately she feared to startle him.

After a long hesitation, Mu Lingxue could no longer hold back her feelings…

Mu Lingxue leaned forward, casting aside all reserve, and softly pressed her warm lips to the corner of Lin Yuan's mouth.

The kiss was light, laced with guilt, pity, hidden gratitude and affection—brief but utterly sincere.

After Mu Lingxue's kiss, Lin Yuan's eyes were already open.

He had been roused.

Seeing Lin Yuan awake,

Mu Lingxue clung to his shoulder, voice barely above a whisper, tinged with a faint sob, and murmured:

"I'm sorry, Lin Yuan… I'm sorry you shouldn't have sacrificed yourself for me. Truly, I'm sorry."

Her voice was soft and hoarse, full of self‑blame, afraid to disturb Yin Yirou nearby.

But she hadn't anticipated that the soundly sleeping Yin Yirou beside her—whether stirred by her whisper or still deep in dream—

Yin Yirou stirred in her sleep, tightening her grip around Lin Yuan's waist and inching closer to him.

Yin Yirou's cheek stayed pressed to Lin Yuan's arm, her brow relaxed, a faint smile still on her lips—clearly she was still asleep.

Yin Yirou, still half‑asleep, lifted her head, seeking warmth, and brushed her nose against Lin Yuan's neck…

Then Yin Yirou, following the familiar scent, leaned in and brushed her lips toward Lin Yuan's cheek, meaning to kiss him.

But just as her lips neared Lin Yuan's cheek, Mu Lingxue had only just ended her guilty kiss and had not yet pulled away…

Thus…

The three froze in place—

Yin Yirou's sleepy kiss landed precisely on Mu Lingxue's lip corner…

while Mu Lingxue's lips were still resting on Lin Yuan's lip corner…

Thus the three inadvertently found themselves in contact…

Their lips lightly touched…

The sudden silence was broken.

An awkward tension flooded the room like a wave.