Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
âSave the act, Song Yu! I canât see through the phone, so you can say anything you want!â Mu Sisi said while clenching her jaws together.
âItâs me, Qi Chengzhi,â Qi Chengzhi said coldly.
âBrother Chengzhi!â Mu Sisi was shocked. She realized Qi Chengzhi had heard what she said just then. Who knew Song Yu was such a shrew in front of Qi Chengzhi.
âBrother Chengzhi, you heard what Song Yu said just now. She accused and degraded me with such horrible words like a shrew. Youâre lucky it was meâI know you well so I wonât stoop to her level. But if sheâs giving others this type of attitude, she could attract many enemies for you. People would think that Qi Chengzhi married a wife of this quality, the daughter-in-law of the Qi family was of this class, you ...â
Qi Chengzhi hung up the phone. Other than the introduction he gave just now, he said nothing else to Mu Sisi.
Mu Sisi was shocked and took a while to realize what had happened. Qi Chengzhi hung up on her.
Mu Sisi did not expect that Qi Chengzhi would not scold Song Yu despite her attitude.
âAh!â She grabbed the pencil holder on the table and threw it, the pens inside scattered all over the floor.
It was not enough for her. She continued to throw things until one nail of hers began to hurt. Mu Sisi lifted her hand to see the petal decoration on her middle fingernail was broken.
âEverything is against me! Nothing is going well!â Mu Sisi angrily stared at her imperfect nail and wanted to pull it off, but to no avail.
...
...
Qi Chengzhi returned the phone to Mu Huaisheng. Mu Huaisheng said, âWeâre indebted to Miss Ruan over this matter. I guarantee that this wonât affect Miss Ruanâs future.â
Mu Huaisheng looked over at Ruan Danchen and apologized, saying, âMiss Ruan, Iâm really sorry.â
Ruan Danchen remained silent. She wanted to reply sarcastically, but she still had to work with Mu Huaisheng. She could not release her frustrationsâshe could not say anything.
Mu Huaisheng got awkward and felt guilt in his heart. He said softly, âNothing will happen to Miss Ruan. Iâll make a move now.â
Song Yu stood up and did not attempt to ask him to stay. After walking him to the door, she said, âMaster Mu, I know youâre good friends with Chengzhi, but you canât use that relationship to make us give way time after time. No matter how much we do that, we have a limit. Donât use the fact that youâre friends with Chengzhi to make him feel uncomfortable between you and me! Letting Mu Sisi become greedy time after time and bully us.â
âI know.â Mu Huaisheng said seriously. He was afraid that if incidents like these continued, his friendship with Qi Chengzhi would end.
âDrive carefully,â Song Yu said.
After Mu Huaisheng left, Qi Chengzhi called Lawyer Song on his phone and said while walking towards the study, âLawyer Song, start preparingââ
Qi Chengzhi opened the door to the study and closed it behind him. âCheng Dongge should be nearly done with preparing the evidence, you give him a call and gather the evidence togetherâcharge Mu Sisi.â
...
...
âStay here for dinner tonight.â It was just Song Yu and Ruan Danchen in the living hall. âIâm really sorry,â said Song Yu, âthis whole thing happened because of me. I dragged you down.â
âDonât say that. You couldnât have expected Mu Sisi to be this unreasonable.â Ruan Danchen exhaled deeply and said, âWe just donât know what Mu Huaisheng is doing to settle the matter.â
âWhatever it is, donât worry about it. Even if Chengshi doesnât keep you, thereâs Qilin, isnât there? Qilin has so many projects, hotels, service apartments, theme parks. Wonât they need your expertise? After a few years of proving yourself, people will forget what happened today,â Song Yu assured her. Even though she was stern with Mu Huaisheng just now, Mu Huaisheng would not prioritize this problem if she did not point it out. It would happen again and again to no end.
Truth be told, with Qilin as a backup, she did not worry much. Ruan Danchen had no reason to fear.
The doorbell rang at this moment. Song Yu asked Ruan Danchen to sit while she went to open the door.
She found Qi Chenglin and Qi Youxuan standing at the doorâQi Chenglin was holding Qi Youxuanâs little duck bag and smiling at her. Qi Youxuan touched his hair with his small hand and said, âAunty, did you notice any changes about me?â
âAh, Youxuan how did you become more good-looking? How could you become more handsome day by day?â Song Yu said while laughing. She let them in immediately and brought out sandals for them to change into. She purposely bought a pair of childrenâs sandals for Qi Youxuan in case of emergencies. Qi Youxuan could come here anytime. âYour new hairstyle looks good.â
Qi Youxuan took off his sneakers and changed into the sandals. With his round gut, he said shyly, âAunty, you have such good taste.â
Song Yu did not dare to touch his hair like she used to, as she was afraid of messing up his hairstyle. She pinched his chin softly instead.
Qi Youxuan ran into the living hall and found Ruan Danchen. He shouted in excitement, âAunty Ruan!â
Ruan Danchen watched him run towards her in shockâhe ran around the coffee table. Ruan Danchen shielded him as she was afraid that he would run into the corners of the table. Qi Youxuan came over, climbed up the sofa, and shook his thick and short legs. His sandals slipped off his feet, and âBang!â it dropped onto the ground.
âLook, arenât I better looking in person than in photos?â Qi Youxuan teased his short and gelled hair.
His act reminded Ruan Danchen of Kazuhiko Hanawa.
âYes, way better looking than in photos,â Ruan Danchen laughed and replied in earnest.
âAunty Ruan, did you come to chat with Aunty?â Qi Youxuan was satisfied with the answer he received and asked with his fat cheeks. He also grabbed a grape from the plate and put it in his mouth.
Ruan Danchen was about to answer when Qi Chenglin walked in with Qi Youxuanâs little duck bag. He looked over at Ruan Danchen.
Ruan Danchen was stressed by Qi Chenglinâs stare. She forcefully greeted, âMaster Lin.â
âWhy didnât you reply to my text?â Qi Chenglin sat across them and asked.
âHuh? You texted me?â Ruan Danchen dug out her phone from her bag immediately. It was just a photo of Qi Youxuan. She looked up and said innocently, âThereâs nothing.â
âYou didnât see Youxuanâs photo?â Qi Chenglin moved his chin.
âYes I saw it, soââ Ruan Danchen went silent suddenly. She blinked and said, âThis was the text youâre talking about?â
âWhat else could it be, me chatting with you over text?â Qi Chenglin said sarcastically. âWhy didnât you reply to the photo? I thought you didnât receive it.â
âMaster Lin, can you not be so sarcastic? Iâm not thinking about chatting with you either,â Ruan Danchen said while pursing her lips. She put her phone back in her bag and added, âDidnât Youxuan call me right after I saw the photo? I told Youxuan I saw it, so I didnât reply to your text.â
âAre you equating him to me? Calling you was his call, texting you was my text. Since I texted you, you should reply to me as basic decency,â Qi Chenglin squeezed his eyes and said.
Ruan Danchen felt something in her chest. She was speechless after what Qi Chenglin said.
âWhy are you here?â Qi Chengzhi asked after finishing his call in the study. He was still holding onto his phone when he saw Qi Chenglin and Qi Youxuan in the living hall.
âYouxuan wanted to come over,â Qi Chenglin briefly explained.
Qi Chengzhi scoffed, lifted his brow, and asked with half a smile, âSince when you listen to him?â
Ruan Danchen looked at the family in the room. She felt uncomfortable being the only outsider.
Although she was reluctant of leaving Qi Youxuan, she looked at Qi Youxuan before standing up and said, âI think itâs time for me to leave.â
âWhy are you leaving? Didnât I ask you to have dinner here before you go? Since youâre all here, Iâm cooking tonight. None of you are leaving,â Song Yu walked over and pulled her to sit down.
âRight, why donât you call Cheng Dongge and Chengyue over as well,â Song Yu turned around and told Qi Chengzhi.
Qi Chengzhi nodded. He went to call Qi Chengyue without Song Yu asking twice.
Ruan Danchen could not leave after being held back by Song Yu. Qi Youxuan sat down while leaning against her, and Song Yu watched them. Qi Youxuan was usually stuck to her, calling her Aunty for all kinds of things, but he was stuck to Ruan Danchen at this moment.
Truth be told, they barely met each other before this. It was a wonder why Qi Youxuan liked Ruan Danchen that much.
After Qi Chengyue and Cheng Dongge arrived, Qi Chengyue echoed Song Yuâs thoughts as she said, âHe did not care about me when he met Muran before this, now that he met Ruan Danchen, heâs still ignoring me. I was never on his list despite being his aunt.â
Aunt Yong gathered the necessary ingredients for dinner and waited for Song Yu to prepare them. Ruan Danchen and Qi Chengyue went to the kitchen to help out. Qi Chengyue said she did not know how to cook, so she was helping out while learning.
The trio chatted while getting busy with dinner. Suddenly, Qi Youxuanâs head popped into the kitchen.
His head seemed more round now that he had short hair. It was less obvious before this as his hair was longer.
After seeing the three of them, Qi Youxuan walked over to the side of the table that was as tall as his chest. He could only hold onto the sides of the table with his little hands. After seeing Qi Chengyue cutting up ham, his little hand reached towards the plate and grabbed a slice to eat it.
âAre you here to steal food?â Qi Chengyue glanced over at him and said.
âIâm here to ask Aunty if she had strawberries in the house. I want to drink strawberry juice,â Qi Youxuan replied.
âAh, whatâs left of it is outside. How many are there outside? If you want, just bring everything in and Iâll use those to squeeze some juice for you,â Song Yu said, and Qi Youxuan ran outside almost immediately.
âIâll get it!â he said while running.
After a little while, Qi Youxuan carried a plate of strawberries into the kitchen. The three men outside barely touched it.
Song Yu looked at the strawberriesâthey were enough for a glass of juice.
The juicer was placed too high in the kitchen. She could not reach it, so she went out to get Qi Chengzhi come in and get it.
Qi Chengzhi did not step on anythingâhe did not even need to tip his toes. He stretched his arm and grabbed the juicer with ease.
Ruan Danchen took the juicer from him and cut up each strawberry into two before putting them into the juicer. There was enough juice for a huge glass. The pulp that dropped out of the other end of the juicer was too dry to be edible.
âThe glass is too full, itâd spill easily if you carry it like that. How about I pour some of it for you?â Ruan Danchen offered. The juice filled the glass to the brim, and it would spill over with a slight movement.
âNo, donât!â Qi Youxuan was reluctant to let it go. He tried to grab the glass while tipping his toes.
However, with that movement, the juice spilled over and onto Qi Youxuanâs shirt. His chubby, pale hands were also covered in juice, sticky.
Qi Youxuan stared at the glass and immediately downed three big gulps of juice. It would be a waste if any more was spilled.
Ruan Danchen could not decide if she should laugh or cry. He did not act like the grandson of a powerful familyâhe seemed like he had never had juice in his life.
Seeing his hungry look, Ruan Danchenâs heart ached. She used tissue to dry the juice on his hands, but they were still sticky.
âCome, letâs clean you up in the toilet. You can come back and drink later,â Ruan Danchen said while holding Qi Youxuanâs hand. She did not mind the stickiness.
She washed his hands in the toilet and used a towel to wipe the juice off his shirt. Although the stains left by the juice could not be cleaned immediately, the color of the stains seemed lighter and less sticky as well.
It was Ruan Danchenâs first time to be this close to the little guy legitimately. Her arms were wrapped around his small body. She wiped his shirt slowly and was reluctant to let him go.
âYouxuan, when is your birthday?â Ruan Danchen tried asking casually while wiping his shirt. Her eyes could not help but stare at his round face, and she was nervous. She gradually stopped wiping and rested her hand on Qi Youxuanâs stomach.
âAre you getting me a gift, Aunty Ruan?â Qi Youxuan blinked his big, black, grape-like eyes and asked. âMy birthday was on the 20th of April. Even though it has passed, you can still buy me a present if you want to. You have to remember it next year and give me a gift on time.â
Ruan Danchenâs body shook. She was squatting before this, but she almost fell backwardâit was fortunate that she held onto the basin in time. Her lips trembled, and her eyes were swelling and tearing up.
âAunty Ruan, why are you crying? I donât have high standards, you donât have to buy me expensive gifts,â Qi Youxuan said nervously as he used his little hand to wipe off the tears on Ruan Danchenâs face. He was afraid that he was the cause of her tears.
âNo, that isnât the case,â Ruan Danchen said while wiping her tears. She smiled at Qi Youxuanâher gaze was shaky, and her hand was grazing Qi Youxuanâs face. She caressed his face in detail, and her soft fingertips were tracing his features. âYouxuan... Youxuanâs so adorable, how could I not buy you gifts? I felt sad because I missed your birthday and didnât celebrate with you on time. Youâre six this year, arenât you?â
Qi Youxuan nodded and said while being annoyed, âGrandma said I have to go to school in September.â
âI only got to know you this late and missed six birthdays of yours, thatâs why I was sad,â Ruan Danchen said while touching his face. She really wanted to kiss and hug him, but she was afraid that she would scare him off. Her heart was racing so fast it felt like it could jump out of her chest.
She touched his face and held his shoulders and arms. âHow about thisâIâll buy you presents enough for the past six birthdays of yours, and I wonât miss your birthday next year. Sounds good?â
Qi Youxuanâs face lit up as he heard that. He looked at Ruan Danchen in excitement, and his face blushed as he said, âAunty Ruan, youâre an amazing person. I knew I was a good judge of character.â
Ruan Danchen looked at Qi Youxuan as he lowered his head in shyness and said softly, âSorry.â
âWhat did you say, Aunty Ruan?â Qi Youxuan looked up all of a sudden and asked.
âNothing.â Ruan Danchen shook her head.
âAunty Ruan, do you think my Uncle is good-looking?â the little guy asked in embarrassment.
âHuh?â Ruan Danchen was stunned.
âTell me!â Qi Youxuan urged.
Ruan Danchen did not know what he was up to. She nodded and replied honestly, âYes, he is.â
âYou see, my dad looks like my Uncle, so this means my dad is pretty good-looking too. His looks could pass. Even though his attitude is a work in progress, he could pass having an adorable son like me. Heâs also particularly rich. Donât you think he ticks a lot of boxes?â Qi Youxuan widened his eyes and asked.
â...â Ruan Danchen was speechless.
âHeâs still single now, and as his son, Iâm worried about him. If he doesnât get married soon, no one would want him when heâs old. Iâm marrying Muran in the future, no one would take care of him then. Aunty Ruan, do you want to give him some pity?â Qi Youxuan came down from the toilet seat.
â...â Ruan Danchen silently patted Qi Youxuanâs shirt, the stains on it barely visible. âGo and drink your juice.â
Qi Youxuan got excited from the six presents he was promised and forgot about his juice. After being reminded by Ruan Danchen, he remembered he had a huge glass of fruit juice waiting for him in the kitchen. He could not care less about his fatherâs future. He turned around and ran out.
Ruan Danchen was still in the toilet. She shut the door, leaned against the door on her forehead, covered her face with her hands, and tried to muffle her sobbing.
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...
Qi Youxuan brought out his glass of strawberry juice from the kitchen and ran towards Qi Chenglin to sit next to him. He said happily, âDad, Aunty Ruan wants to give me six birthday presents. She was so sad when she found out that she missed my birthday just now, she started crying.â
Qi Youxuan took a sip of the fruit juice and said, âAunty Ruan is such an honest person.â
Qi Chenglin was about to take a sip of tea from his teacup but stopped himself midway. He turned and looked at him while asking, âYou told her your birthday?â
âYes!â Qi Youxuan nodded and took another big gulp of juice.
âWhere is she?â Qi Chenglin put down his teacup and asked.
âShe didnât come out with me, sheâs probably still in the toilet,â Qi Youxuan replied. He did not suspect anythingâhe seemed relaxed and leaned against the sofa comfortably while sipping on his fruit juice.
Qi Chenglin stood up in silence and walked away.
âDad, where are you going?â Qi Youxuan was still drinking fruit juice on the sofa and did not plan to follow him. His question was asked nonchalantly.
The sofa was too wide for him, it could double as a bed. The sofa could fit most of his leg as he leaned against the cushion, and only his feet were hanging out of the sofa, while the rest of his body was on it. The satisfaction on his face could frustrate someone.
Cheng Dongge laughed and said to Qi Chengzhi, âLawyer Song called me before I came here.â
âThatâs good, both of you handle this matter together,â Qi Chengzhi said briefly.
âHandle what?â Qi Chengyue heard them talking when she came out.
Song Yu had already prepared three cold dishes. After seeing Qi Chengzhiâs nod, Cheng Dongge said, âMaster Cheng wants to sue Mu Sisi.â
âIs it because of Danchenâs problem?â Song Yu asked. She had not suggested Qi Chengzhi to take any action against Mu Sisi. She thought that because of Mu Huaisheng, Qi Chengzhi would not actually do anything to Mu Sisi.
âNot exactly.â Qi Chengzhi smiled at her. âItâs clear that verbal warnings did not work on her. Mu Sisi is exploiting her brotherâs reputation and is becoming more and more arrogant. I cannot wait for her to do something worse and regret then. She targeted Ruan Danchen this time, and she could target others the next. If this went on, when will she stop? If we donât do something about it, she wonât refrain from doing worse things.â