Mu Yichen’s movements, as he kissed her, suddenly stopped, his dark eyes fixed on her.
After a few snowflakes fell on the night of New Year’s Eve, it truly began to snow heavily on the evening of the first day of the lunar new year.
As the two were discussing the issue of having children while intertwined in bed, the biggest snowfall of the year began to fall quietly outside.
The entire city seemed particularly quiet over these two days because fireworks were banned within the city limits, so any occasional fireworks heard were from the beach or the distant outskirts.
The snowflakes gently settled on the withered grassland, quietly covering it with a layer of white cotton blanket.
Later, the couple stood at the window, sharing the same blanket tightly embraced, watching the beautiful snowy night together.
The second day of the new year was the day for daughters-in-law to visit their maternal homes. The elder summoned Mu Yichen to his room to ask him in private, "Are you two planning to visit the Qin Family today? Traditionally, today is the day to visit the maternal home."
As soon as Mu Yichen entered, the elder asked him this question. Mu Yichen gently closed the door, leaned against the wall near the entrance, hands in pockets, and quietly pondered his grandfather’s words.
A cold light gradually emerged in his dark eyes, ending in a scoff.
"Grandpa, my mother-in-law has been dead for many years!"
His voice was so low when he spoke, as if it was pressed into his throat.
In the warm room where silence was so profound that the drop of a feather seemed audible, the elder looked up at his grandson, whom he understood very well, and couldn’t help but sigh unconsciously.
"Why did you bring her back here to endure so much for nothing?"
The elder saw how his grandson cherished his granddaughter-in-law, but he didn’t understand; if he cherished her so much, why didn’t he hide and pamper her instead of bringing her back to Rongcheng, a place full of disputes.
"This is her home, why shouldn’t she be allowed to come back? As for the experiences—everyone has things they must go through; such is her life."
In previous years, she had been on a different path, and he had simply pulled her back onto the right path that she was meant to walk.
Moreover, he would always be by her side, no matter what she went through—he would be there to experience it with her.
He was determined to reclaim for her everything that she was supposed to have, one by one.
"So this second day of the new year, are you taking her to the Qin Family or not?"
The elder’s keen gaze fixed on his grandson, asking pointedly.
"I will consult her!"
Mu Yichen’s sharp gaze softened, and with a faint murmur, his tall figure straightened from leaning against the wall. One hand remained in his trouser pocket while the other reached out to open the door and walk out.
The elder sighed again, knowing the resentment in his grandson’s heart for his granddaughter-in-law’s sake. He even understood why his grandson insisted on having his granddaughter-in-law return, but the long road ahead was probably not an easy one to travel; all he could do was wish the young couple well.
When Mu Yichen returned to the room, he saw Qin Mu standing by the bed, braiding Huanhuan’s hair, who was sitting at the edge of the bed. After closing the door, he approached and said, "Today is the second day of the new year."
Qin Mu turned to look at him with a smile, "You’re not reminding me that I should make a trip to the Qin Family, are you?"
Her eyes, too, were sharp, the suppressed emotions of this time seemed to have found some release after last night’s heavy snow.
"There’s no need to go!"
Qin Mu smiled, continuing to braid her daughter’s hair, "Why not go? I want to make a trip there today."
Mu Yichen gave her a puzzled look, but thinking of the matter of the tombstone, he did not ask further, guessing it was probably for this reason.
"If I don’t remind him, he might think that my words were just casual talk."
Qin Mu finished the braid with a beautiful elastic band and then patted the little girl sitting down, "All set!"
Huanhuan, vain as ever, played with the makeup mirror, then cheerfully slid off the bed and ran to her father’s side.
Mu Yichen’s hand, which had been in his trouser pocket, immediately came out to support Huanhuan’s shoulders, afraid she might hurt herself bumping into him.
Qin Mu put away the comb in the bathroom, and when she came out, Huanhuan was no longer in the room. Qin Mu approached the man who stood in front of the wardrobe fiddling with his phone, "How about we go over this afternoon?"
"This afternoon? And there’s no need to call ahead?"
"Why call? Doesn’t he want a surprise? I’ll give him a surprise."
Qin Mu said, her eyebrows arching playfully.
All of a sudden, Mu Yichen laughed, "My wife has become more and more thoughtful recently."
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders as she came to stand close to him by the wardrobe.