“No matter what happens, I hope you will protect her.”
Chi Dali spoke softly, as though he was talking to himself, but he was, in fact, telling Mu Xichen these things.
A little dazed, he quickly snapped back to the present to focus on Mu Xichen and emphasized, “You’re her husband, only you can protect her now.”
Mu Xichen nodded with determination as his eyes made contact with Chi Dali’s.
Relieved, Chi Dali laughed as he refilled Mu Xichen’s teacup. “These are tea leaves that Beinian especially got for me. They are exceptionally good. Have more.”
Mu Xichen nodded, his expression unfathomable.
Having noticed this, Chi Dali refilled the man’s teacup again and gave a slight smile. “If there’s something you wish to say, please go ahead. There’s just the two of us here, the two ladies will take some time to chat with each other.”
Mu Xichen took a sip of his tea and finally asked, “You mentioned that when you first saw her at the orphanage, she was fighting the other children for food?”
Chi Dali nodded. There was nothing unusual about his response.
The subtle light in Mu Xichen’s deep and dark eyes flickered subtly as he continued in a muted tone, “At the time, you specifically went to look for an orphan, while Grandpa Li was trying all ways and means to marry her to Mu Donglin. And now that she’s married me, your attitude is similar to Grandpa Li’s.”
Chi Dali was stunned for a moment and finally realized the flaw in what he had said.
Mu Xichen’s expression darkened as he asked, “Godpa, what’s her background?”
…
When Chi Hailang came home and heard the news that Li Beinian had gotten married, he looked so surprised one could easily pop an egg into his open mouth.
Weren’t they… arguing so fiercely just a few days ago?
But in a matter of a few days, they had not only made up but had even got freaking married?
His first reaction was that they were lying to him, for sure.
“It’s fake, it’s fake, it’s all fake news!”
Chi Hailang clutched his own head, but when he noticed the little red marks around Li Beinian’s neck, he was so grieved he couldn’t speak.
Casting his gaze on Mu Xichen, he expressed, “You’re really more than you let on.”
The man took it as a compliment and even lifted his chin, looking somewhat proud of himself.
Chi Hailang was speechless.
As they got ready to leave for dinner, Chi Hailang grew morose the more he thought about it. He lamented, “How could she have gotten married so suddenly…”
Supporting her decision was one thing, but having this happen so unexpectedly was something else.
Although Mu Xichen was notorious, having had this personal contact with him, Chi Hailang felt that the man wasn’t all that bad—he seemed quite upright and generous. But…
It was too sudden, all too sudden!
To get back at Mu Xichen, Chi Hailang insisted on going to Guang City’s most prestigious restaurant.
It was a Chinese restaurant and a very suitable venue for a family gathering.
Chi Dali and Tang Xiaoge had no preference, so the five of them filed into Li Beinian’s Range Rover with Chi Dali taking to the wheel.
Given Tang Xiaoge’s tall and large frame, she naturally got into the front passenger seat.
As Li Beinian got into the back seat, Chi Hailang and Mu Xichen exchanged a stare. After a while, the former finally sighed. With regret and self-blame in his voice, he said, “I’m sorry, Beinian.”
His apology came out of the blue, catching Li Beinian by surprise. “What’s the matter?” she asked.
Chi Hailang looked hesitant. He looked at his parents in the front seat, then shifted his gaze onto her and Mu Xichen. Eventually, he steeled himself and said, “Aye! It was all my fault. If I hadn’t been in that fight, I wouldn’t have needed Chief Mu’s help, and we wouldn’t have owed him a favor. And you wouldn’t have needed to… get married in such a hurry.” There was a dull ache in his chest, and he said, almost in tears, “Chief Mu, I thought you were a gentleman. I didn’t think you’d be so unscrupulous, taking full advantage of the situation!”