Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Upon being enlightened by Su Nan, Xi Xiaye felt much better.
She found a book from the study room to pass some time while he busied himself with reviewing data from the New York branch office and talk on the phone with the people there. He spoke fluent English.
Xi Xiaye vaguely paid attention to his conversation. It sounded like a secretary was being moved over, then she recalled that previously when Ah Mo had been transferred, he said that the branch office would send an assistant over. She seemed to have asked him about this before.
When he hung up, she closed the book in her hand and put it back onto the shelf. She walked to his side picked up a glass of water to drink her voice was still vaguely hoarse. "Are you planning to hire a man or a woman as your secretary?"
He put his phone aside, then reached around her waist and chuckled. "Li Si's alright. I don't need one for now. Whether it's a man or a woman, they're the same to me."
She shot him a glance of disagreement, pulled open the drawer and took her own phone out. "How can it be the same? Don't you know that office romance has always been a hot topic?"
"Who'd dare to think of the great Director Xi's Mr. Mu? I think she's too tired of living!"
When she heard this, she smiled and shrugged mischievously. She looked at the time on her phone. It was already 3 p.m. in the afternoon.
"Tidy up and get ready to leave. It's already 3 p.m. It'll be just right if we go now."
Maple Residence was not too far to the airport with the highway. When they reached the airport, it was 4 p.m. on the dot. The husband and wife parked outside and made their way to the entrance of the airport.
There were not many people at the airport departure gate, so they could see very clearly from the outside.
The husband and wife had just stood there for a short while when Mu Yuchen's phone rang. It was Mu Lingshi telling them that she was about to come out.
"Lingshi studied and worked part-time in France. She's been there for quite a few years now. She managed the night clubs for the branch over there. Besides being quite competent, she's also considered an experienced DJ. Previously, she was rebellious like my aunt. She's changed quite a bit in recent years. Later, when you meet her, don't be too shocked. She's a pretty great girl, just as straightforward as you and pretty silly too..."
When they were waiting, Mu Yuchen did his best to describe Mu Lingshi to Xi Xiaye, yet she could vaguely pick up some sorrow in his voice although his expression gave nothing away.
Xi Xiaye raised her brows and shot him a glance. She was about to say something when there was a commotion ahead. They looked up and saw that tourists had begun to walk over.
A stream of people quickly rushed up toward them. Xi Xiaye watched from afar. She subconsciously turned to look at the man beside her, yet he was just staring at a certain direction ahead. A bright flash of silver-gray greeted their sight.
With a petite and slender figure, she had trendy dark purple hair that went past her shoulders and a black hat worn tilted on her head. She wore silver-gray androgynous pants and a coat. Inside, she wore a long, white blouse and she had on a pair of sneakers. Her skin was as white as jade, and she donned huge sunglasses that covered almost her whole face. She also had earphones on as she strolled with a trolley case in one hand, and the other in her pocket.
While Xi Xiaye was checking her out, the girl had also seen them. She casually shrugged at them and then walked over in huge strides.
"Bro!"
Mu Lingshi stopped in front of Mu Yuchen and put her earphones away. She looked at Mu Yuchen before turning her gaze to the side and stopped abruptly on Xi Xiaye.
"Mmm. This is your sis-in-law, Xiaye. She's Lingshi." Mu Yuchen nodded as he introduced plainly.
The instant Mu Yuchen finished, Mu Lingshi examined Xi Xiaye for quite a while through her lenses. She looked up and down several times before slowly lifting her sunglasses.
Mu Lingshi's sunglasses had just been taken off when Xi Xiaye's eyes darkened while she still examined her.
Unexpectedly, on Mu Lingshi's delicate face was a scar that crossed from her right forehead all the way to her cheek. It was a very long scar. Even though the wound seemed to have faded from surgery, it still looked vaguely scary.
From the outline of her face, she should be a stunning girl, but with that scar on her face, she looked...
Her eyes were bright. Xi Xiaye seemed to be able to see the stillness from the grind she had been through all those years. She looked very peaceful.
Xi Xiaye took a few more glances at her and suddenly felt pity for her. Perhaps, it was because of the introduction Mu Yuchen had given her earlier.
No wonder every time Mu Lingshi was mentioned, Mu Yuchen's eyes would reveal an odd emotion. It must be because...
Moments after that, Mu Lingshi flashed a friendly smile at Xi Xiaye, then put on her sunglasses. Her voice was melodious, but she only spoke to Mu Yuchen, "Bro, I think I know why you haven't fancied other girls before this. So, it turns out that you like this type? Mmm... A beauty with a classic charisma... Exquisitely hipster! Bro, your taste is so unique!"
Mu Lingshi did not hide and immediately told Mu Yuchen her first impression of Xi Xiaye. As she said this, there was also a teasing smile on the corner of her lips. "At first, when I got Grandmother's call, I didn't quite believe it. I wanted to immediately come home to see which divinity my brother has fancied, but since you're willing to marry her and she received the confidence of the family, I thought that you must be a pretty great person, Sis-in-law!"
"Hello, Sis-in-law! I'm Mu Lingshi. It's our first time meeting today. Please watch over me after this!"
As Mu Lingshi spoke, her gaze turned to Xi Xiaye. She hurled a hand out sincerely to Xi Xiaye. The few rings she wore on her fingers flickered in the brilliant light.
When she heard Mu Lingshi say this, Xi Xiaye was confused.
A few seconds later, she slowly reached out her hand and gently shook Mu Lingshi's equally slender hand. Her beautiful face revealed a sincere smile. "Hello, just call me Xiaye."
Mu Lingshi smiled gladly, a faint curve appearing on the corner of her pink lips. "I can call you that in private, but etiquette still needs to be observed. You're my sis-in-law. You can call me Ah Shi."
Xi Xiaye smiled and nodded. She had quite a good impression of Mu Lingshi.
Mu Yuchen took Mu Lingshi's trolley and put his other hand around Xi Xiaye's shoulders. "Okay, let's go home first. Grandmother and the rest are anxiously waiting. They've prepared food and drinks to welcome you home. Spend the next two days getting over your jetlag. The day after tomorrow, Su Chen and the rest want to meet up."
Outside the airport, after they loaded the luggage, Xi Xiaye drove while the siblings sat in the back.
Xi Xiaye rolled steadily out of the carpark. The Mu residence had called to check if they had fetched her. Mu Lingshi answered the phone and spoke for a while before hanging up.
"Right, Bro, previously I told Bro Su Chen to get me a driving license. Has he done it? I heard that in the past two years, it's been quite hard to get a driving license. The new rules have reduced in integrity, but I'm lazy to take the exams."
Mu Lingshi saw Xi Xiaye drive skillfully up front and immediately remembered about her driving license.
Mu Yuchen who was browsing on his tablet then looked up at her. He thought about it and asked Xi Xiaye who was driving, "Where did I ask you to keep it the other day?"
"It's in the second drawer on the left of your work desk. I've also helped you keep your cardholder. I'll get it for you tomorrow, Ah Shi!" Xi Xiaye was quick to get used to the term of endearment.
Mu Lingshi nodded and slowly took the sunglasses off to reveal her face. Her scar looked even clearer in the dim space. When Xi Xiaye unexpectedly looked through the rearview mirror, her long eyelashes fluttered a little. Although she looked quite gentle, that scar...
It ruined her beauty...
"I'll go over to Maple Residence tomorrow. You don't have to send it around. Mmm... And about my work..." Mu Lingshi spoke as she turned to Mu Yuchen again.
"Let your sis-in-law arrange it. We still need someone for the entertainment club at Imperial Sky Entertainment City. Previously, it was Ah Mo handling it. I'm letting him handle the development of Movie City and you'll be the perfect substitute. Rest for a few days first, then let your sis-in-law organize things for you. She's more well-versed with matters there," Mu Yuchen calmly answered, yet there was a light that shifted in his still eyes as he looked at Mu Lingshi.
Mu Lingshi's gaze darkened in that instant too. She sighed and rubbed her temples. "Mmm, I'll go along with your arrangements then. Just don't let me idle around."
The instant Mu Lingshi finished, Xi Xiaye smiled and answered her, "You probably won't be free for long. The club's just opened for a short while. A lot of things aren't on track yet. I was going to get an experienced person to manage it for a while, and then let you handle it when everything's on course. Your brother says you're pretty adept at this, so the best person to handle this would be you."
When she heard this, Mu Lingshi shrugged and shot a side glance at the expressionless Mu Yuchen. "Sufficiently and reasonably utilizing resources. That's so like my brother. I'm used to it as well. I don't need much rest. Arrange for me to go to work the day after tomorrow. I've rested for a few days earlier when I was there, so I'm not that tired. Just give me a day to adjust tomorrow. There isn't much jetlag to get over anyway."
Mu Lingshi was also a workaholic. She was a DJ. In fact, her work of handling the club turned her days and nights upside down, so the time difference here worked out well for her.
"As you wish. If you don't want to stay in the old residence, I did leave you a villa on Ah Mo's side. You can redecorate it according to the Mediterranean style that you like so much. Ah Mo will be overseeing it, so it can probably fit your fancy. Do you want to move over and see how it goes?" Mu Yuchen responded softly, his line of sight never leaving the tablet in front of him.
Once Mu Yuchen said that, Mu Lingshi instantly fell silent again. Her lowered gaze seemed complicated. Then, she suddenly turned to look out the window and did not answer.
The considerably harmonious atmosphere in the car instantly vanished, and gloominess hung in the narrow space, filling it with a suffocating stillness.
Xi Xiaye did not say anything either. She glanced at the two people behind from time to time through the rearview mirror. She saw that Mu Yuchen was expressionless as always while Mu Lingshi looked down. She seemed rather lonely, paired with that scar. She actually looked a little...
Xi Xiaye silently averted her gaze and continued to focus on driving. She wanted to say something, yet she did not know how she could break the ice.
After a pregnant pause, she suddenly heard Mu Lingshi sigh softly, her clear voice colored with a sorrow that she had endured, "Brother, I know you're doing this for my own good, but I hope that you can stay out of whatever's between him and I. Once some things have happened, they can never return to the way it was before. Why do you have to care about it so much?"
"Yes, we can't return to how it was before, but I know very well what you're really thinking. Ah Mo has never given up on you. You should know this better than anyone else." Mu Lingshi had just finished when Mu Yuchen's calm voice came through. His eyes that were deep as the ocean suddenly flashed with a cold light as he looked at Mu Lingshi.
Startled, the gleam in Mu Lingshi's eyes twinkled. She could not help but put her hand to her forehead and sigh deeply. She then turned to look out the window again, without uttering another word.
"Go visit Lingtian and Aunty tomorrow. You've been abroad for the past few years. Every year, Ah Mo returns to mourn and offer prayers to them. Yesterday, I noticed that he was at Lingtian Cemetery, but he didn't go up. I think he wanted to wait for you," said Mu Yuchen softly as he looked at her.
A mocking, bitter smile suddenly flashed at the corner of her lips. She put her sunglasses on again and muttered coldly, "What's there to mourn about? If they're dead, they're dead..."
"Lingshi!"
Upon Lingshi's brash attitude, Mu Yuchen immediately frowned. His gaze held a gleam of sternness as he silently stared at her.
"I'm just laying the facts out." Mu Lingshi lowered her voice now as she just replied with that single sentence.
Xi Xiaye could vaguely understand something. She thought that it should be about Lingtian. When she noticed the iciness between them, she spoke after some thought, "Ah Shi, is there anything you need? There's a supermarket up front."
Mu Lingshi then eased a little and looked at Xi Xiaye, shaking her head. "No, thanks. Everything should be prepared back home."
The mood was still a little awkward, and the stifled air remained all the way until they reached the Mu residence. The joy of reuniting with the whole family flushed away the bitterness.
Inside the Mu residence, Wang Hui and Zhuang Shurong were pretty much done preparing dinner. When they saw Mu Lingshi, everyone's faces shone with rare happiness.
Wang Hui pulled at Mu Lingshi and started to nag, her eyes filled with deep concern. "It's marvelous that you're back! Rest for a while and just let your brother arrange everything. What's so great about a girl who keeps running abroad? You don't even have anyone to take care of you when you're sick. You are the one who ends up suffering."
Mu Lingshi smiled. She sat down near Wang Hui and responded, "When Brother first returned, I wanted to come back with him, but my matters over there weren't settled yet, so I had to stay a while longer."
"It's time you came back. Your grandmother and I have retired. We've been idle and you shouldn't rush to get to work too. Accompany us for a few days. Your grandmother's missed you for a long time." The person who spoke was Mu Yinan.
"I've already told Sis-in-law to arrange for some work for me the day after tomorrow. I've been relaxing for the past few days over there, so I've rested enough. I'll accompany the two of you a lot more after this. Don't worry, Grandfather and Grandmother!"
Mu Lingshi shrugged and beamed. "I'll go to the kitchen to see what delicious things Mother has cooked."
Mu Lingshi was about to get up, yet she had not taken a step when someone at the door called out, startling her. "Hello, Master Ah Mo!" She subconsciously turned to look at the door, and indeed, Ah Mo who was dressed in a black, well-ironed suit was walking in as he greeted the servants.
Maybe it was because he noticed Mu Lingshi's gaze that Ah Mo instantly glanced up at her too. Their eyes met and it was as if the air suddenly froze.
Despite her shock, she eased back after a while. Ah Mo had regained his senses and said softly, "Everyone, come out to take a picture. The Master and Missus are already waiting outside."
Wang Hui and Mu Yinan wanted to have a family picture. After all, it had been quite a few years since the whole family gathered, and Xi Xiaye had just joined the family, so a photograph of the whole family was very much needed.
"Okay, coming!"
"Let's go take a picture!"
Wang Hui and the rest beamed and stood up as they pulled Mu Lingshi to go out.
At the moment, on the dark green lawn of the Mu residence's front yard, the servants had already prepared a row of stools. Mu Yuchen was standing underneath a tree on the side and flipping through the document that Ah Mo had just delivered while Xi Xiaye stood by his side.
When Xi Xiaye saw him frown, she did not steal a look and just asked in concern, "Is it about Movie City?"
Mu Yuchen slowly closed the document and handed it to her, raising her brows and staring at him in shock. Her eyes flickered with a dazzling gleam. They sparkled incisively.
Mu Yuchen sighed, his extraordinarily handsome face revealing a rare smile as he chortled. "The company's matters are no secret to you. In fact, this isn't related to the company either."
As Xi Xiaye listened, she felt her heart warm although she did not take the document. She could not help but chuckle softly. "Then, what about things apart from company matters?"
When he heard this, Mu Yuchen shot her a side look. This little girl seemed to be trying to trap him a lot recently.
Noticing how she seemed to suddenly turn stiff, he suddenly reached out and put his arm around her. He leaned over and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. "I'm waiting for you to get to know me better."
Startled, Xi Xiaye slowly looked up at him and was about to say something when she suddenly felt a flash before them.
She was dazed for a moment, then she turned to see Wang Hui and the rest were grinning as they watched them. When she thought about what just happened, Xi Xiaye felt her face turn hot. Her delicate fair face could not suppress the blush as she turned away shyly and glared at him.
"Bro, Sis-in-law, don't just hide aside and display your affections to each other. Come over and join the picture!" Mu Lingshi winked at them, then put on her sunglasses and smirked.
Wang Hui, Mu Yinan and the rest sat down on the seats in front. Zhuang Shurong and Mu Tangchuan sat too. With Ah Mo, Mu Lingshi, the butler, and all of the Mu residence servants, there were close to 30 people altogether. In one look, you could see that the lawn was filled with people.
Mu Yuchen then smiled and released his long arms around her shoulders. He tugged her to walk over and stood on the side while he looked straight at the camera in a relaxed and calm posture with his arms around her. Xi Xiaye smiled gently, silently going along with it.
After the photographer started counting, there were several sounds of the shutter, then the family photo was done.
At this moment, the sky was about to turn dark and the background looked a little dull.
The dinner was rather harmonious. Itt was clear that everyone doted on Mu Lingshi, yet Xi Xiaye did not fail to notice that Ah Mo, who was made to sit beside Mu Lingshi, seemed absent-minded. His gaze fell onto Mu Lingshi from time to time. His intense gaze kept jumping about and Xi Xiaye could tell that something was going on.
Mu Yuchen and Xi Xiaye did not stay over at the Mu residence. She could vaguely tell that he did not seem to quite like staying at the old residence.
At that moment, the car was speeding back to Maple Residence, with him in the driver's seat.
She sat silently beside him for a long time before she suddenly turned to him to ask, "Does Ah Mo like Ah Shi?"
He turned to her and said calmly, "Is it that obvious?"
Xi Xiaye nodded, muttering, "I can see that Ah Mo looks at her in a different way. Anyone can tell..."
"You could even tell just from his gaze?" He chuckled.
"The way he looked at Ah Shi was just like how Father looks at Mother, so..." Xi Xiaye said softly, unable to help a smile from spreading across her face. "Do you ever realize that even though Father and Mother usually look quite imposing, I keep finding the way they interact to be very magical. To say that they have mutual respect in their marriage seems to be very appropriate."
As he listened, Mu Yuchen's expression eased too. "Father is a very steady and practical person. Back then, Mother fancied Father because of his refined charisma, his humorous speech, and his versatile abilities. I heard that back then, Father was once Prince Charming to Mother. You know how Mother's like too. Only Father can make her surrender. Perhaps, this is the key to maintaining the relationship between them."
"Prince Charming to her? No wonder I keep feeling like they... Su Nan told me that all women hope that the man they like will be someone that they or a lot of people can look up to..." She muttered softly.
"Someone you can look up to? Your friend really has thought it through. She definitely has the potential to be a relationship consultant," Mu Yuchen replied with a chuckle.
Xi Xiaye nodded. "I said this to her before this too... but, what actually happened between Ah Mo and Ah Shi? I can tell that Ah Mo really likes Ah Shi while Ah Shi... It doesn't look as simple as it does on the surface. In fact, during dinner, Grandfather and Grandmother keep intentionally mentioning the two of them together..."