Chapter 6 Mu Lin, the instant he saw Yu Liuzhu, didn't...

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Beside a small patch of bamboo at the orphanage stood a boy of thirteen or fourteen. The boy already possessed the slender figure of bamboo, with fair skin and delicate features.

His parents told the director that they would adopt whichever child he chose. This news was exciting, and all the children were thrilled, including her.

She was abandoned at birth, when she was already eight years old. A child who had spent eight years in an orphanage without being adopted was either sick or disabled.

She had an illness, a very serious congenital kidney disease.

If she were older, the chances of her being adopted would be even slimmer.

It's ironic, really. God gave her a disabled body, but she was far more cunning than others. Even at only eight years old, she was acutely aware of her advantages.

She is good-looking, quiet, and well-behaved.

While many children surrounded the boy, showing off their strengths, she silently wept in a corner, her pale face upturned as she watched longingly.

She looked even more pitiful when the boy looked over.

Finally, her wish came true. She met a kind-hearted god and finally had a home of her own, loving adoptive parents, and... a brother.

Everything in sight exudes an ancient charm, both the objects and the people.

For a moment, she couldn't help but feel dazed.

The young man in the blue robes seemed to sense something and subconsciously looked over, his eyes meeting hers. His handsome face first showed surprise, then shy joy.

At this moment, Shen Linlang was in shock.

Not only was Mu Lin's attire exactly the same as Yu Liuzhu's description, but the stains on the hem of his clothes were also identical.

She was horrified, and to hide her shock, she turned her gaze to her second son.

Upon closer inspection, she discovered that her son was also stained, and in more than one place. She immediately felt a headache coming on, thinking to herself that this child was truly a handful.

Seeing that she was looking at him, Yu Jingliang casually flicked the hem of his clothes and said, "It rained a couple of days ago, and there were puddles of water in some places in the garden. I didn't notice and stepped in one, getting covered in mud."

The stains on Mu Lin's body were an undeserved misfortune.

Upon hearing this, she felt even more troubled.

This Erlang...

There shouldn't be any puddles on the right path; you must have been walking carelessly and stepped into water on the side of the road or hidden in the bushes.

In front of outsiders, she certainly wouldn't scold her son; she just gave Yu Jingliang a reproachful look.

Yu Jingliang was mischievous since childhood and was used to being disliked by his own parents, so he didn't care. He said, "Grandmother, Mother, look, a man should go to the border, gallop across the battlefield and shed his blood. If you had agreed to let me and Alin go together three years ago, I would have been just as impressive as him."

He looked on with envy, his tone clearly carrying a hint of regret.

Madam Xie laughed, "You little rascal, look at how steady Ah Lin is, you should really learn from him."

Yu Jingliang chuckled and scratched his head. He looked like Shen Linlang, with spirited and dashing features, the kind of carefree youthful appearance, and a straightforward and honest nature.

While scratching his head, he nudged Mu Lin with his elbow, saying, "No matter how steady you are, you'll still have to call me 'brother' in the future."

Upon hearing this, Mu Lin's handsome face immediately flushed red, and he subconsciously looked at the screen.

"Look..." Yu Jingliang was only halfway through his question when he suddenly saw Yu Liuzhu enter and paused for a moment. "Tang'er, why...why are you dressed like this today?"

Today, Yu Liuzhu wore no makeup, dressed in a green dress, and had no floral decorations on her forehead, a stark contrast to her usual attire, making her appear somewhat lackluster.

Yu Jingliang's words made Shen Qinglu's heart flutter. She peeked out again, staring intently at Mu Lin, taking in his expression.

The moment Mu Lin saw Yu Liuzhu, he felt not surprise or excitement, but astonishment.

He blurted out, "Tang'er? You're Miss Yu..."

If this is Miss Yu, then who was the elfin-like beauty just now?

When he looked at the screen again, Shen Qinglu had already shrunk back, her dark eyes filled with an unreadable emotion.

That kind of surprise was clearly from a stranger. No matter how much they looked alike, they couldn't possibly be the person she thought they were. For example, Yu Liuzhu clearly looked four or five parts like her, but she wasn't her either.

She died, so she ended up in this place. But her loved ones are all living well in another time and space, so how could they be here?

Yu Jingliang was quick-witted and had already noticed that there was someone behind the screen, but because he didn't think of it for a moment, he actually went around to her and their eyes met.

Because of Yu Qingxue's deliberate avoidance of suspicion, and Shen Linlang's instructions and intentional actions, they had only met a few times since childhood. He sized her up for a while before tentatively asking, "You...you...you are A-Li?"

Not to mention Shen Linlang, even Xie Shi almost facepalmed.

This Erlang is truly the most reckless of all!

Having no other choice, Xie said, "Second Brother, bring Ali out."

Yu Jing, being rather oblivious, failed to notice the helplessness in his grandmother's tone. He spoke to Shen Qinglu as if coaxing a three-year-old child, saying, "Ali, I am your second brother, don't be afraid."

Shen Qinglu's dull eyes brightened, and she called out to him, "Second Brother."

Upon hearing this, Xie felt conflicted.

The child called out "Erlang" from the start, which must be a sign of a natural affinity.

She watched as Shen Qinglu followed Yu Jingliang out obediently.

Yu Jingliang introduced Mu Lin: "Ah Lin, this is also my sister, her name is Ali."

Mu Lin finally saw Shen Qinglu's full appearance. Her flawless face, her innocent yet charming expression, and the bright and cheerful look that she unconsciously revealed were like a red lotus emerging from the water. While stirring his heart, he also felt an indescribable sense of melancholy.

He thought...

It turns out he misunderstood!

At that moment, Yu Liuzhu was also looking at him.

The amazement in his eyes and the disappointment he showed were like two thorns stuck tightly in her heart.

He still remembered the heartfelt words he uttered on their wedding night. He said that when he first saw her, she was dressed in red, and the begonia flower on her forehead was unforgettable—she was exactly how he had imagined her. So today, she deliberately wore this outfit, without any adornment, precisely to disappoint him.

But to her utter surprise, her cousin Ali was also there!

Shen Qinglu was also looking at them. One of the two faces looked like her, and the other looked like the person she cared about most. The coincidence was so strange that it felt eerie.

Life is but a dream, and everything is so bizarre.

Dressed in the same plain green gown, she seemed like the freshest, most tender bamboo shoot, plump and juicy, pleasing to the eye. In contrast, Yu Liuzhu paled in comparison, and her complexion was not good either.

Shen Linlang's expression was also somewhat unpleasant, partly because of her daughter's dream and partly because of Mu Lin's reaction. Mu Lin's gaze was clearly more focused on Shen Qinglu, barely glancing at Yu Liuzhu.

"Erlang, didn't you say that when Alin comes back, you must show him the bows and arrows you've collected over the years?"

Yu Jingliang slapped his forehead, then patted Mu Lin's shoulder. "Ah Lin, come on, I'll show you my treasured collection from the past few years."

Mu Lin nodded absentmindedly.

Before leaving, his gaze swept across Shen Qinglu's face.

Shen Linlang was even more displeased, not knowing who to blame.

It's not wrong for her to admire Mu Lin in her youth, nor is it wrong for her to be naturally beautiful. She can't blame Mu Lin, much less Shen Qinglu. Holding Yu Liuzhu's hand, she said with concern, "You're not feeling well, why did you come all this way? What's wrong with you today? Why are you dressed like this?"

Yu Liuzhu lowered her eyes slightly and said in a weak voice, "I thought that since Prince Mu is not an outsider, he should also see my original appearance."

It's true that she doesn't want to rekindle their past relationship, but she also doesn't want to be overshadowed by others, especially those who are staying with the Yu family. Her heart is still aching from the hurt from their past relationship, and she's also angry because she's been outdone. Naturally, she feels terrible.

Shen Linlang, who had always doted on her, felt even worse than she did. She understood that her deliberate dressing up was because she didn't want to marry Mu Lin and intentionally didn't want him to take a liking to her. However, such tactics were entirely self-destructive and only made her look bad to others.

"Tang'er..." She stroked her daughter's hair affectionately, "Mother said that no matter what happens, Mother will make the decision for you."

She glanced up casually and saw Shen Qinglu looking at them. Her dark eyes were as unsettling as a silent night, making her feel inexplicably uncomfortable, and she couldn't help but frown.

This child is so heartbreaking to see!

Seeing Shen Qinglu staring longingly at Shen Linlang and Yu Liuzhu, a pitiful yet yearning look in her eyes, Xie felt a pang of sympathy. She thought to herself, "What a terrible thing to do!" and then beckoned to her, "Ali, come here."

She obediently went over, her eyes still fixed on the mother and daughter, "Grandmother, she is also a mother."

Xie was bewildered, as was Shen Linlang, while Yu Liuzhu subconsciously frowned.

Seeing the various expressions on their faces, she asked again, "Grandmother, why are Mother and Mother different?"

Upon hearing this, Xie's heart pounded wildly.

As soon as Yu Qingxue stepped into the house, she felt her heart was about to jump out of her chest. She quickly walked a few steps to Shen Qinglu and grabbed her without saying a word.

"Ah Li, how can you be so insensible? Didn't I tell you not to run around like that?"

She was still looking at Shen Linlang and Yu Liuzhu, as if she hadn't heard, and murmured, "This mother is good, I want a mother like this."

His words shocked everyone, and their expressions all changed.

Yu Qingxue gritted her teeth, trying her best to appear gentle, "Ali, be good, let's go back, okay?"

Shen Qinglu finally turned her head and looked at her directly.

His dark, unfathomable gaze made her instinctively want to look away, "Ah Li..."

You're a bad person!

"A-Li!" Xie's voice trembled with shock, her heart pounding like a drum, "She's your mother..."

"She's bad. She doesn't let me eat my fill, and she even hits me." Shen Qinglu spoke clearly, and although she didn't show much emotion, her words were chilling. "Grandmother, can I not have this mother?"

Xie's heart clenched painfully.

She looked at the two similar faces in front of her and was speechless for a moment.

Yu Qingxue refused to admit it, her eyes reddening as if she were angry, or perhaps feeling wronged after being misunderstood. "Mother, all these years I've wanted to give her my heart. She was mentally unstable before, I don't know why she would say such things about me..."

Shen Qinglu sneered inwardly.

Isn't it just that you want evidence?

She has!