Seeing Mu Lan giving her Liang Liang a light peck on the cheek, Mu Feng covered his eyes. “Don’t do shameful thing in front of kids. Have some manners!”
Qi Ying, whose face was flashed in embarrassment, stood frozen. Mu Feng came forward and hugged her. “Ying darling, you shouldn’t watch this shameless couple. It’ll destroy your innocence.”
Mu Lan was speechless.
Who was a kid? Just because he was younger than Mu Liang, he dared to take liberty of being young. If he called himself a kid, did it mean Mu Liang and Mu Lan were middle aged?
Moreover, what innocence? Qi Ying’s skin was covered with red hickeys. Though she tried to hide them with concealer, it couldn’t deceive Mu Lan’s eyes. After making out with playful Mu Feng, could she be innocent anymore? Mu Feng was deliberately trying to piss Mu Lan off.
Before the war began, Mu Liang changed the subject. He said to Mu Lan, “You look excited. Did something happen?”
Mu Lan’s eyes glinted. “I have a surprise for you at lunch.”
Mu Liang asked, “Is this what you were talking about after you woke up?”
“Yes.” Mu Lan excitedly said.
Qi Ying interfered, “I don’t like your idea, Xiao Lan.”
“Don’t be a party pooper now.” Mu Lan interjected.
Mu Feng said, “Alright, we should go and see what surprise you prepared for us.”
“Not for you. Only for your big brother.” Mu Lan wouldn’t let him have fun. He pissed her off a moment ago.
“…” Mu Feng was speechless. Then he turned towards Qi Ying and said, “Ying, I told you, she is a bad company. Don’t learn from her.”
Mu Lan kicked his right shin and said, “Shut up and let’s go.”
When they entered the dining hall, Mu Feng who was in the front, rooted on the spot. The next was Mu Liang who stopped on his track. Qi Ying, who knew what made them like that, her face was pale. The dining hall became silent as well.
Mu Lan pushed them forward and entered the room. “Do you like my surprise?” Her eyes twinkled.
Mu Feng spoke first, “Sister, what the hell is this?” His face was threatening.
Mu Lan’s smile vanished. “Hey, how can you talk to your grandmother like that?”
The person who was in the dining hall beside grandpa Mu Cheng was Mu Lin, the greatest woman who almost destroyed a beautiful family.
‘What grandmother? She doesn’t deserve to be one.’ Mu Feng’s face was twisted.
Grandpa Mu Cheng and grandma Mu Lin both were looking at their unhappy grandsons. They looked somewhat guilty.
Grandma Mu Lin stood up from her seat and called out her favorite grandson, “X-xiao Feng…”
Mu Feng turned his face away. He wanted to get out of the dining hall, at that moment, Mu Lan grabbed his hand and pulled him towards his seat. She said, “Family should eat together.”
Mu Liang sat beside Mu Lan without a single word and Qi Ying sat beside Mu Feng. Mu Chen was out with his friends, Yan Su was sleeping after breakfast and Jing Sheng was in her flower shop. Only six of them were in the dining hall but it was dead silent.
Grandma Mu Lin looked like she aged a lot. Her elegance and arrogance were long gone. She seemed like a simple old lady. She coughed and spoke while trembling slightly, “X-xiao Liang, Xiao Feng, I know that this grandmother disappointed you greatly. I-I have no face to apologize to you and wouldn’t dare. But for the sake of blood relation, can I ask you one last favor? Please let me stay with my husband until I die. This old woman lost everything. She doesn’t wish anything back; just this only thing, my husband’s company till my death, please don’t take it away from me.”
She lowered her head and her throat hurt. She tried hard not to cry but tears formed in her eyes without knowing.
“Dear…” Grandpa Mu Cheng held his wife’s hand. Her smooth hand became rough in the dungeon. He also became emotional.
Mu Feng glanced at his big brother. They exchanged glances before Mu Liang opened his mouth. “Alright, as long as everyone wants peace and no one makes trouble for others, no harm will be done.”
His message was clear. There was nothing wrong being with one’s partner. But if there was anyone who wanted to ruin other’s happiness, he or she would face worse than death.
Grandma Mu Lin nodded. She forced herself not to cry and tried to smile. “T-thank you, Xiao Liang, Xiao Feng.” She glanced at Mu Lan and bowed, “Thank you, Xiao Lan. Without you…”
It wasn’t sure why she couldn’t look at Mu Lan. Whether it was guilt or shame or hatred, only she knew it.
“It’s alright grandma. We all make mistakes. As long as we are live, we can be forgiven. Please sit down and have your meal.” Mu Lan then signaled the butlers to serve the meal.
After lunch, Mu Liang took Mu Lan to his chamber. He sat down on the sofa and pulled her to sit beside him.
“Explain.” He said only one word.
Mu Lan shrugged. “It’s not what you think it is.”
Mu Liang patiently waited her to finish.
She continued, “After I saw grandpa yesterday, I realized that what I did back then was wrong.”
Mu Liang said, “She tried to hurt you.”
Mu Lan grabbed his both hands. “I know. I still don’t like her. But grandpa didn’t do anything wrong. What right do I have to take his beloved away from him? Moreover, he looked so sick and deadly as if his heart dried. Didn’t you notice? And today, he was livelier than any one of us. When I was without you, I felt every second was living hell. After seeing grandpa’s lifeless eyes, I thought of that time. It was just a week and I became nuts without you. Then how is grandpa feeling? Every couple dream to stay together till they die. But grandpa has to live in luxury where his wife was in the same building but locked up in the dungeon. They can’t even meet. That is what I call ‘living hell’. I only let her go because I thought of grandpa, nothing else.”
