"Dad, what are you talking about?"
Yan Xinxin felt puzzled.
For more than a decade?
She had lived in that house for 23 years. How could it be just over a decade?
Yan Xinxin suddenly realized something.
"Dad, is there something you want to tell me?"
Yang Guoping realized he misspoke and quickly covered it up with an excuse.
"What I meant was, during those five years I was in jail, I didn’t take good care of you."
"Dad, you’ve already done so much for me. I couldn’t have gotten to where I am today without your persistent guidance and teachings from my childhood."
Yang Guoping nodded with satisfaction but then sighed.
"In the same living environment, with the same education, Rou hasn’t learned even half as well as you. If she were as sensible and hard-working as you, the situation between you two sisters wouldn’t be so vastly different now."
"Everyone walks their own path, Dad. You don’t need to feel guilty."
Yang Guoping lifted his head slightly and nodded, stretching out his elderly hand to gently grasp Yan Xinxin’s hand, his gaze full of affection.
"Xinxin, I wish you happiness, a lifetime of happiness."
He choked up, his blessing from the heart.
Yan Xinxin’s eyes moistened at the corners.
"Dad, I will. Thank you."
Yang Guoping held Yan Xinxin’s hand tightly for a long time before releasing it.
He didn’t linger and left soon after.
Yan Xinxin returned to her room, taking a while to calm down.
At dinner time, the dining room atmosphere was quite gloomy.
Mu Shaoqian set down his bowl and chopsticks in annoyance.
"In a few days, Mo Chuxi will be marrying Yan Xinxin. Dad, Mom, are you really going to let Mo Chuxi do this?"
As soon as he spoke, the Mu couple lost their appetite for dinner.
Mu Qianshui also put down her bowl and chopsticks.
"Big brother, don’t be . Since Chuxi likes Yan Xinxin so much and insists on marrying her, what can we do?"
"How can you say that? Mo Chuxi is the son-in-law we arranged with 23 years ago, and now he’s marrying someone else, completely going against the agreement!"
"But sister has long since..."
Mu Qianshui deliberately paused with a heartache, then turned to look at Ning Zitong, whose face was somber. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩•𝗳𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝕟𝕖𝕥
"Mom, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned sister, making you and Dad sad again."
Ning Zitong sighed lightly and smiled faintly.
"Silly child, how could I blame you?"
She said, glaring at Mu Shaoqian.
"Mom, I’m doing this for justice for the Mu family!"
"Justice for what? Since Yuan is gone, what does it matter if Mo Chuxi marries someone else? Should he remain single for Yuan’s sake all his life?"
Hearing this, Mu Shaoqian was momentarily stunned.
Mu Qianshui felt something was off.
Before, Ning Zitong was very proactive in facilitating her and Mo Chuxi and would never say such things!
"Mom, you wouldn’t be bewitched by Yan Xinxin looking like Yuan, would you..."
Mu Jingheng shouted angrily, causing Mu Shaoqian to immediately fall silent.
"Such words are not befitting of a noble family. Since Chuxi is set to marry Lady Yan, we should graciously give them our blessings!"
Mu Jingheng spoke and looked at the silent Mu Qianshui.
"Qianshui, don’t feel heartbroken or unwilling. Chuxi never liked you, and no matter how many years you persist, he won’t marry you."
"Dad, how can you say that to Qianshui? She will be sad!"
Mu Shaoqian defended, and indeed Mu Qianshui’s face turned quite sullen.
Mu Jingheng, however, maintained a stern expression.
"Better a short pain than a long one. If Chuxi doesn’t marry Lady Yan soon, I’m afraid Qianshui will do something even more outrageous, like before when she hired people to kidnap Lady Yan and the two children, confining them in some remote mountains. It’s truly over the line!"