novelraw Chapter 293 - 166. I owe him and there’s no way to compensate.
Chapter 293 - 166. I owe him and there’s no way to compensate.
When Cheng Shihong is alone with her husband, all her sharpness and astuteness disappear, transforming into a tender-hearted woman, a completely unexpected image for outsiders."Have I grown old?" She sighed, leaning on her husband’s shoulder, "I can only see the surface when looking at people."
What Lu Li said on such an important occasion, even if it wasn’t true to ten CDs, it’s at least ninety percent.
Nan Wan is a clean and pure girl who can go to such lengths for friends, carrying all the blame on her shoulders, misunderstood and verbally injured by the world without uttering a word.
It’s conceivable how deeply hidden her good nature is.
How ridiculously wrong she was...
Mu Libei patted his wife’s shoulder in comfort, "Knowing now isn’t too late, Wanwan is a good kid, and so is Mu Huan, otherwise he wouldn’t have come back tonight to have New Year’s dinner with us."
Cheng Shihong was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I owe him, and there’s no way to compensate."
She doesn’t regret what she did in the past; the Mu Family and the whole Mu legacy are more important than anything.
The Ji Family is safe and won’t mistreat her son, but... being sent to a strange place, changing names, with all relatives becoming strangers, such empty and lonely memories can’t be filled by anything.
’Compensation’ is too pale a word.
"So, having this situation, we both should be content," Mu Libei held his wife’s hand, gently patting it, looking at the flying snow outside the window, laughingly said, "Even the heavens understand your thoughts, giving us a snowfall to help keep Mu Huan here."
The whole world is a blanket of white snow, with faint sounds of firecrackers coming through the walls, ringing in the ears.
The family is all in this villa they’ve lived in for thirty years.
This New Year, seems particularly warm.
...
The room that Mu Jinhuan once lived in is quite large, the study and bedroom, although connected, are separated by a large wall, just without a door.
Except for the bed, the furniture looks very old, clearly styled from many years ago, but it’s clean and tidy; the study room is the same, those unaware might think it’s a retro attraction built by some organization.
The study room has a whole floor-to-ceiling window, with the curtains not drawn, allowing view of the snow swirling in the night sky, a dreamlike scenery.
Someone knocked on the door, Mu Jinhuan turned around to open it.
The butler holding two folded pajamas with both hands, respectfully said, "Second Young Master, the pajamas are new, washed, you can wear them directly."
Mu Jinhuan received them with calm eyes, closed the door, placed the pajamas at the foot of the bed, and returned to the study room.
He embraced the woman’s waist from behind, resting his chin in her shoulder hollow, his voice deep, "Looked for so long, did you see anything?"
Nan Wan stared at the photo on the desk in a daze, after a long while murmured, "Is this... me?"
With the protection of the frame, the photos from over twenty years ago remain intact.
Two similarly aged boys standing side by side, with one holding a chubby baby, frowning with some contempt, while the other has his arm around him, displaying the exuberance characteristic of that age.
The photo’s background is the Nan’s villa.
The boy with the exuberant brows is Nan Ze.
Mu Jinhuan inhaled the fragrance filling his chest, curled his lips, slowly said, "I almost forgot, there’s this photo."
Nan Wan remembered he had said before, he saw her when she was a month old, a memory she didn’t have, now completed today.
A strange sweetness gradually emerged, wrapping around her heart.
Relaxing her body against the man’s embrace, her gaze fell on the youthful face that could faintly be recognized now.
Her pretty eyebrows gradually spread with a gentle smile, pouting, "You were quite disgusted with me."
The stiff posture in the photo, not even looking at the camera while frowning, as if he almost threw her to the ground.
Mu Jinhuan glanced at the photo on the desk, let out a low chuckle, then slowly explained, "Who made you pee on me."
Nan Wan, "..."
In the photo, the white shirt he wore indeed had some yellowish rings of something...
She thought it was the reason of time, never imagined the truth was like this.
"You’re lying!" Her face turned completely red, she broke free from the man’s embrace, didn’t have the courage to turn around to glare at him, could only vent her anger at the photo.
"Anyway, there’s a witness, whether I’m lying or not," Mu Jinhuan took a step forward, pulled her back into his embrace again, his voice growing hoarse, "wait till your brother wakes up, you can ask and know, right?"
Nan Wan’s ears were almost red enough to drip blood, never imagining at twenty-six years old, she’d be pointed at evidence and told she peed freely???
Mu Jinhuan also noticed the little woman’s embarrassment and discomfort, after laughing twice softly, he stopped continuing this topic.
Looking at the snow outside that kept him here, remained silent for a long while, before slowly saying, "I knew you earlier than them."
In the man’s deep voice, there seemed to be some emotion.
This time, Nan Wan understood.
She curved her lips into a smile, her voice softly, "Earlier for what, still has to meet the right timing."
If he hadn’t been sent to the Ji Family in An City, maybe he wouldn’t have met Ji Wanxia...
If she chose to go abroad after graduating university, left Qing City to escape the Nan family’s nightmare, she might’ve missed him...
But the most insubstantial word in the world is ’if’. Those hypotheticals don’t exist; they met and became husband and wife.
If there are no surprises, they’ll be entangled for life.
Nan Wan turned around, looking at the man’s handsome face close to hers, with a smile in her eyes almost overflowing.
Mu Huan, since we’re both growing old, why don’t we do it together?
"Mm, you’re right," Mu Jin Huan said, then bowed his head to kiss her.
At twelve o’clock, this city started its fireworks show on time, red and green fireworks bursting in the night sky, crackling as they welcomed the New Year.
The brightness reflected in the bedroom, as Nan Wan was spun halfway around by the man, facing the scene beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, which seemed like a dream.
All sorts of fireworks, and the snowflakes dancing in the night sky, complementing each other, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Now, have you started to love this world?"
A low, gentle voice sounded beside her ear.
Nan Wan suddenly remembered the day she and Shen Zhimei took Jiashu out for dinner and ran into him at the restaurant; it was also such a fireworks show, just missing the snowy backdrop.
That night she said she didn’t love this world and felt nothing beautiful existed...
Though Mr. Mu was very charming, at that time, Nan Wan never thought she would actually marry him.
A few minutes later, Mu Jin Huan heard her answer, "I’ve started to love you."
————
Mu Jin Huan and Nan Wan both struggled to sleep in new surroundings and hardly slept all night.
When they got up in the morning, there was a faint weariness in their eyes.
Mu Jin Huan was a bit of a clean freak; apart from the two years in the military, he almost never wore the same clothes for two days in a row.
The snow had stopped, and after a hasty breakfast, he drove Nan Wan back to the North Shore Villa.
The first thing they did at home was take a shower, then catch up on sleep.
Before closing her eyes, Nan Wan suddenly remembered something, "I’ve accompanied you to the Mu Family, so you have to come with me to have dinner with Grandma."
Her tone now wasn’t asking for agreement; it sounded more like a direct notice rather than consulting him.
Mu Jin Huan seemed unfazed, drawing her closer to him, his voice hoarse with sleepiness, "I’ll accompany you this evening."
They definitely needed to visit Grandma, but Mrs. Mu might not have slept well, making her not so bright-minded?
"I’d still have to trouble you to come with me to the Nan Family."
Upon hearing this, Mu Jin Huan opened his dark eyes, looking at her gentle face, speaking quietly, "If you don’t want to go back, then we won’t go back. Besides me, no one can force you to do what you don’t want to."
A gentle sort of dominance.
Nan Wan snuggled in the man’s arms, feeling his warmth, "When I was little, Jiang Xiaoman would always bully me behind Nan Chengzhi’s back. After I moved out of the Nan House Villa, she disliked me returning even more. Whenever I went back, she wasn’t happy."
She spoke this part with a smile.
Lifting her head to meet the man’s deep ocean-like eyes, her tone lighter than before, "If she’s unhappy, then I’m happy."
She has a support now, so there is no need to fear Nan Huaiyu.
Mu Jin Huan kissed the woman’s lightly smiling eyes, his warm breath landing on her cheek, "Then let’s make a trip."
————
In the evening, Nan Wan and Mu Jin Huan went to Xu Shuyu’s place.
Again, Grandma Xu cooked herself, with Aunt Jing assisting, preparing a table full of dishes, catering to everyone’s tastes.
When the meal started, just like the last time they came for dinner, Xu Shuyu placed a serving of fish on Mu Jin Huan’s plate before anyone else picked up their chopsticks.
Her loving face with a smile, "Wanwan said you don’t quite like the fishy smell; I have a secret recipe that makes the fish not fishy at all. Give it a try."
Mu Jin Huan nodded politely, "Thank you, Grandma."
This time, Jiashu didn’t get jealous; instead, he blinked mischievously at Mu Jin Huan.
Nan Wan and Shen Zhimei looked at him clueless.
After the meal, Aunt Jing cleaned the kitchen, while the remaining people sat in the living room drinking tea, the tea leaves brought by Mu Jin Huan.
Shen Zhimei kissed her son’s face, gently coaxing, "Mommy has to go to the hospital for overtime; will you sleep with Great-Grandma tonight?"
Jiashu blinked his round bright eyes, innocently asking, "What about auntie?"
"Auntie is going to sleep with your Uncle Mu," Shen Zhimei smiled and stroked his head.
She’s never able to correct the terms of address, so she simply gave up.
The third brother’s at the hospital alone, and she wants to go talk to him.
Jiashu nodded, his understanding demeanor heart-wrenching to observe, "Okay, then Mommy drive safely."
Although he knew in his heart that Mommy wasn’t going for overtime but to be with Daddy, he still behaved well and quietly followed Xu Shuyu upstairs to sleep.