After dinner, Mu Chen returned to the study.
After Mu Chen left, Jiang Jin put her chopsticks down and sighed.
Sister Yu could not help but feel distressed for Jiang Jin. She pushed a small bowl of soup in front of Jiang Jin and said, “Old Madam, have a few spoonfuls of soup. Young Madam has been simmering this soup the entire afternoon.”
Jiang Jin nodded and drank a few spoonfuls of soup. “It’s delicious…”
Song Ning moved to sit next to Jiang Jin before she held Jiang Jin’s hand to check Jiang Jin’s pulse. Following that, she smiled gently and said, “Grandma, if you’re not in a good mood, don’t force yourself. It’s not a bad thing to give an outlet to your emotions. If you’re not happy, you can scold Mu Chen. Don’t feel reluctant to scold your grandson…”
Jiang Jin chucked, amused by Song Ning’s words. She tapped Song Ning’s forehead and said, ‘Ningning, you’ve been led astray by me…”
Song Ning rested her head on Jiang Jin’s shoulder and said, “Grandma, I’ll stand on your side no matter what. If Mu Chen doesn’t stand on our side, I’ll definitely think of a way to pull him to our side. What do you think??
Needless to say, Jiang Jin understood Song Ning’s meaning. She looked at Song Ning affectionately and said, “Back then, Grandma made a choice. Once I made a choice, I shouldn’t regret it. I’ll persevere. Mu Chen’s heart is scarred by the matter of the past; for a long time, I was his only supporter. Now that he has you, he has gotten so much better. You can’t send him back to hell…”
Song Ning rose to her feet and moved to stand behind Jiang Jin before she began to massage Jiang Jin’s shoulders. “But Grandma, do you regret your decision?”
Jiang Jin shook her head and sighed. “How can I regret it? Although I wish I didn’t have to make such a choice, I won’t regret it for the rest of my life. It’s fate; there’s no helping it…”
Following that, Jiang Jin patted Song Ning’s hand, indicating there was no need to massage her shoulders. When she rose to her feet, she said to Sister Yu, “Ah Yu, accompany me to the greenhouse for a walk. I should take a look at my flowers.”
Sister Yu quickly went forward to help Jiang Jin.
Meanwhile, Song Ning brewed a pot of fruit tea before she went upstairs. When she pushed the door to the study open, she saw Mu Chen sitting in front of the computer. Although his eyes were staring at the computer screen, there was no movement from him at all.
It was only when Song Ning entered the study that Mu Chen slowly leaned against the chair.
Song Ning said, ‘Come and have some tea. The dishes today are slightly greasy; the tea will help with digestion.”
Mu Chen rose to his feet and moved to sit across from Song Ning.
Song Ning asked, “Do you want to play a game of Go with me?”
“Alright,” Mu Chen replied.
Song Ning’s Go and chess skills were quite good.
Coincidentally, Mu Chen had learned the two games when he was young. Previously, the duo would often play a game of Go after dinner; both of them would take turns winning and losing.
However, Mu Chen’s mind was clearly not on the game today. When he regained his senses, he was stunned by the number of his Go pieces that Song Ning had obtained.
Song Ning held onto one of the pieces as she asked gently, “Are you willing to share your thoughts with me?”
Mu Chen’s hand that was about to pick up a Go piece stilled immediately.
Song Ning continued to say, “My grandfather once told me that a game of Go is the same as leading a troop of army. You have to strategize to win. However, when it comes to the unpredictability of the human heart, it’s naturally more difficult to plan and strategize…”
Mu Chen understood the meaning hidden in Song Ning’s words. After a moment, he asked, “How’s Grandma?”
“She went to the greenhouse with Sister Yu. I checked her pulse earlier; I can tell she’s troubled and upset. I’ll brew some medicine for her to drink at night. It’s not a big problem…”
Mu Chen did not respond to Song Ning’s words. Instead, he asked, “Before we get home, were they getting along harmoniously?”
‘So this is what is weighing on his mind?’
“Ningning, do you think I’m unfilial? Grandma is getting old, but she can’t even see her son,” Mu Chen said with a hint of uncertainty.
Song Ning met Mu Chen’s gaze and replied, “Both you and Grandma consider each other’s feelings. Both of you are willing to sacrifice what you want to fulfill the other person’s wish…”
Mu Chen shook his head and said, “No, Grandma is as you said, but I’m not. I’m a selfish person…”
“Mu Chen, Grandma is old. I think her greatest wish is to be with her son and grandson. Moreover, she knows if she insists on the matter, you won’t refuse her. However, she didn’t do that because she doesn’t want to hurt you. However, for you, the hurt has penetrated deep into your heart, right?” Song Ning asked softly.
“Yes.” Mu Chen nodded.
“Then, are you willing to endure your pain for Grandma’s sake?” Song Ning asked.
After a long time, Mu Chen nodded slightly. “I’m willing…”
Song Ning reached out and held his hand as she said, “Mu Chen, don’t worry. You still have me. In the future, we’ll have our own children. Our little family will definitely live a happy life!”
Mu Chen was incredibly moved by Song Ning’s words to him. He said, “Song Ning, when I saw them, I really couldn’t control my emotions at all. My mother was suffering so much back then; they bullied her too much. They harmed her and ruined her life. What right do they have to live happily and enjoy their lives after doing such wicked things? My mother died because of them; she was so depressed. Why did she have to suffer while they remained happy?”
