Chapter Fifty-Six: Heartbroken Once More

Wu Ting glanced at Ma Wu, hesitated for a moment, and finally, as she had always done in the past, playfully punched Ma Wu in the waist.

After performing this familiar gesture, Ma Wu was momentarily stunned, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

Wu Ting had intended to maintain her frosty demeanor, but upon hearing Ma Wu's laughter, she could not suppress the smile tugging at her lips; she let out a soft giggle, unable to help herself.

As she laughed, she shot Ma Wu a sidelong glance, feigning annoyance, "What are you laughing at?"

Ma Wu gazed at Wu Ting's charming expression, and a wave of happiness washed over him. He opened the insulated food box, ladled out the seafood and cured meat porridge, and brought it to Wu Ting. He blew gently on the spoon, then held it to her lips, speaking softly, "Here, it's not hot anymore. Ah… open your mouth."

Wu Ting blushed, looked at Ma Wu, and said, "I'm already grown up, do you really have to feed me?" Yet she made no move to refuse.

Ma Wu chuckled, "Of course I do. In my eyes, you'll always be a little girl." With the spoon, he gently coaxed Wu Ting's lips open and fed her a mouthful of porridge.

Wu Ting was about to say something when a look of surprise flashed across her face. She swallowed the porridge and looked at Ma Wu in disbelief, "Wow, you're amazing! I had no idea you could cook like this!"

Ma Wu laughed quietly to himself, thinking: It’s true, knowing how to make medicinal cuisine gives one limitless power.

He didn't reply, but continued to feed her spoonful after spoonful, and Wu Ting obediently ate each one. Before long, the bowl was empty.

Ma Wu asked, "Would you like another bowl? There's still some left in the box."

Wu Ting nodded instinctively, then shook her head. She turned to Ma Wu, "No rush. I have something to ask you."

Setting the bowl aside, Ma Wu sat beside her and listened.

Wu Ting hesitated for a long time, then finally said, "Ma Wu, I've been thinking about what you said to me yesterday. Did you mean… did you mean that..."

"Did you mean that Wu Di has a problem?"

Ma Wu's gaze flickered as he looked at Wu Ting's uncertain expression. He thought: Since Wu Ting has already guessed it, there's no point in evading. Rather than let her continue interacting with Wu Di with doubts, it's better to tell her the truth now.

He turned toward her, intending to meet her eyes and reveal everything. But just as he shifted his head, his peripheral vision caught a glint—a reflection.

Ma Wu paused sharply, refraining from looking directly at the reflective spot. Instead, he focused on Wu Ting while subtly inspecting it from the corner of his eye. After a moment, horror dawned on him: embedded in the socket was a surveillance device!

He exhaled softly. Wu Di's infiltration had gone this far? Even Wu Ting's room was bugged? If there was a surveillance camera, surely there was a listening device as well. Their conversation was likely being transmitted to Wu Di in real time.

No. He absolutely could not admit to Wu Ting's question. He had to play dumb, joke, and divert her attention.

Ma Wu suddenly feigned surprise, pointing at Wu Ting's plush bear, "Wu Ting, is that bear new? It's so big and fresh-looking. If you wanted to put it in your room, surely the housekeeper or maid had to help, right?"

"And you said you've never invited anyone into your room. Clearly, you're lying."

Wu Ting shook her head, "That bear is an old purchase. Besides, the housekeeper or maid isn't really an invitation. Sometimes they need to check my room for safety, so they come in."

"But I never let them enter when I'm not home. Yesterday, though, my housekeeper said the maid forgot my instructions and went into my room while I was at your house, supposedly to bring me dinner."

A cold gleam flashed in Ma Wu's eyes. If his suspicions were correct, the maid had already been bought by Wu Di. This surveillance device—and an as-yet-unlocated bug—must have been installed yesterday.

Knowing Wu Di was monitoring him and Wu Ting, Ma Wu could not tell her the truth now.

Wu Ting, noticing Ma Wu kept changing the subject, stomped her foot in frustration, "Why are you doing this, Ma Wu? You're just talking about random things. I'm asking you: yesterday, were you trying to tell me Wu Di isn't a good person?"

Ma Wu inhaled deeply, a flash of something unreadable in his eyes.

He snapped, "Wu Di? Of course he's not a good person! He's always messing with me. Yesterday, he deliberately wouldn't let me park—he drives me crazy!"

Wu Ting frowned, "That's not what I meant. I was asking if Wu Di is trying to undermine our faction?"

Ma Wu immediately played the fool, "Faction? What faction?"

Wu Ting, baffled by his ignorance, asked, "So yesterday, you weren't acting?"

Ma Wu knew that ever since Wu Ting asked if Wu Di was a bad person, Wu Di was likely monitoring the conversation closely. If he showed any sign of irregularity or let Wu Ting sense anything amiss, Wu Di would suspect exposure and openly break with them, aligning himself against Wu Xin.

He had to maintain the persona of a spoiled, reckless heir.

Ma Wu scoffed, "Acting? I've never liked Wu Di, that little brat. He's always opposing me, really gets on my nerves. I'm going to keep fighting him, didn't you hear me say yesterday? It's him and me, till the bitter end."

Wu Ting's expression darkened. She asked in a low voice, "But Wu Di is a major asset to our faction. If I said that your feud with him would make things very difficult for us, might even let others take our place, would you still insist on fighting him?"

Ma Wu fell silent.

For safety's sake, he could not promise Wu Ting he'd stop opposing Wu Di. If he did, Wu Di would have free rein to send medicine to Wu Xin, meddle in Wu Ting's faction affairs, and Ma Wu would have no reason to stop him. His personal vendetta was the only respectable excuse he had. If he promised Wu Ting here, he would have no justification for interfering next time. That was not an outcome Wu Xin wanted.

Ma Wu drew a deep breath, grinning mischievously, "It won't be that serious. No matter what, even if the Emperor himself shows up, I'll still go against Wu Di. He provoked me, so that's how it is. As for your faction, it won't be that bad, honestly."

Wu Ting shuddered, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Ma Wu, biting her lip, "You—Ma Wu—you are impossible!"

With those words, Wu Ting abruptly fled from her room.

Ma Wu's mind was still haunted by her last gaze—filled with sorrow, despair, and pain—and his heart throbbed with anguish. How many more times must he hurt Wu Ting for the sake of this so-called factional struggle, for the supposed greater good?

He took several deep breaths, struggling to steady himself, then resolved to chase after Wu Ting and explain everything:

He had chosen not to tell Wu Ting the truth before because he feared her sudden realization that Wu Di, who seemed kind, was in fact manipulative, would cause her too much grief and anger, leading her to slip in front of Wu Di and jeopardize Wu Xin's plans.

But in truth, Ma Wu believed he should trust Wu Ting. She only appeared to be a little girl; in reality, she was mature and astute. He should trust that Wu Ting had the perspective to conceal her emotions and handle Wu Di with composure.

Rather than let Wu Ting remain in grief, it was better to tell her the truth directly. He had had enough—enough of the suffocating feeling of having to hurt Wu Ting again and again with lies because of Wu Di.

Ma Wu decided to catch up to Wu Ting and, regardless of any bug or surveillance, regardless of Wu Di, to tell her everything: Wu Di is a villain—and I am the one who will love you forever!

Let Wu Di's threats and schemes go to hell! I have the system; even if the Emperor himself comes, I have nothing to fear. No matter what, I will protect Wu Ting and their faction!

At that moment, this was all that filled Ma Wu's mind.