Chapter 28 (Combined with Twenty-Eight)

Twenty-eight:

Ye Qingxi changed her shoes in the entryway, pushed open the villa door, and went out.

Mu Feng stood by the living room window and turned on the courtyard lights for him.

Ye Qingxi walked through the courtyard, raised his hand and pressed his fingerprint, and the courtyard gate opened automatically in front of him.

It was already quite dark when Pei Liang stood by the roadside not far away, bathed in the light of the car headlights.

He waved to Ye Qingxi, then ran two steps forward and stood in front of her.

The summer night was warm. Ye Qingxi looked at the person she had just met and asked in confusion, "What's wrong? What do you want to see me about?"

"Here, take this." Pei Liang handed the bracelet in his hand to Ye Qingxi. "My grandfather said that this already belongs to you, so I can't take it back."

Ye Qingxi was surprised; he hadn't expected Pei Liang to come and return the bracelet.

He subconsciously looked up at the car parked not far away, and saw that the car window was already rolled down, and Pei Ying was sitting by the window, looking in their direction.

Seeing him look over, Pei Ying smiled gently and nodded slightly.

It was as if he was being told to take it back.

Ye Qingxi withdrew his gaze and looked at Pei Liang again, whose hands were still outstretched in front of him.

“Take it,” he said.

His tone was soft, and his face showed the innocence of a child.

A faint, hazy smile played on her lips under the moonlight.

He wasn't sad; he genuinely wanted to return the bracelet to him.

Ye Qingxi then reached out and accepted it with peace of mind.

"Then will you still come to my school to find me?" he asked.

If Pei Liang wanted to attend the same school as him out of gratitude for the bracelet he received from his grandfather, now that the bracelet is back in his hands, would he still be willing to come?

“Of course.” Pei Liang replied without hesitation.

"You wait, we'll see each other again when school starts," Pei Liang said with a smile.

"Okay." Ye Qingxi smiled as she heard that he was still willing to come.

Pei Ying watched from afar, feeling an indescribable warmth in her heart.

Pei Liang returned the bracelet and prepared to leave.

See you at school.

"Mm," Ye Qingxi said.

He watched Pei Liang get into the car, and then saw Pei Ying raise her hand and wave to him.

Ye Qingxi quickly raised her hand and waved to him.

The Pei family's driver started the car, and it disappeared into the dark night in no time.

Ye Qingxi watched until the car was completely out of sight before turning around and walking back.

Pei Liang sat in the car and heard his grandfather say to him, "Xiao Liang, do you know, although I lost a bracelet tonight, I'm not sad at all. On the contrary, I'm very happy. Do you know why?"

"Why?" Pei Liang looked up.

"Because of this bracelet, you will learn to think things through before you speak or act, and that people should keep their promises. Once you've made a promise, you've made it. You will become even more outstanding in the future, so I'm not sad at all; I'm very happy."

Pei Liang is his most beloved grandson, and the Pei family company will inevitably be handed over to him in the future. Therefore, Pei Ying hopes that he will grow up to be a person of his word and keep his promises.

Compared to this, a jade bracelet worth 20 million is nothing.

Meanwhile, Mu Feng watched Ye Qingxi walk back into the courtyard, then turned around and walked towards his bedroom first.

Ye Qingxi entered the house, closed the door, and then looked down at the jade bracelet that had returned to her hands.

This bracelet is indeed very beautiful, with a flawless emerald green color. It must have taken Grandpa Pei a long time to find such a bracelet.

He originally intended to return it to its original owner, but now the original owner doesn't want it anymore. What should he do?

Ye Qingxi leaned against the door, deep in thought, when suddenly, an idea struck him.

He changed back into his slippers, went up the stairs, and walked briskly to Mu Feng's bedroom.

Ye Qingxi knocked on the door and heard Mu Feng's voice, "Come in."

He pushed open the door and went inside.

"What's wrong?" Mu Feng asked.

Ye Qingxi walked to his side, spread her hands, and said to him, "Pei Liang returned this bracelet to me. He said his grandfather said it already belongs to me and he can't take it back."

Mu Feng had been watching his interaction with Pei Liang through the window and had already seen the bracelet. He guessed that Pei Liang was probably looking for him to return the bracelet.

As a grandfather himself, he could guess Pei Ying's intentions.

Therefore, he said gently, "Then you can keep it for yourself."

Ye Qingxi, however, did not intend to do so.

He took Mu Feng's hand, looked at his somewhat aged hand, and then slowly put the bracelet in his hand on his wrist.

Mu Feng has very fair skin, and wearing such a flawless emerald green bracelet suits him surprisingly well.

"It looks great." Ye Qingxi smiled and looked up. "Grandpa, you look better in this than I do, so I'm giving it to you."

Mu Feng was stunned for a moment.

The jade on her wrist was cool to the touch, but Ye Qingxi's small hands were warm and soft.

He said, "When I grow up, I'll buy you something even better."

Mu Feng was momentarily speechless, unable to articulate his feelings.

He simply gazed at the child before him, feeling that he was like a star in the night sky, small yet bright, twinkling with light.

“I have money, I can buy it for myself, you just need to buy it for me,” he said.

"No, I want to buy it for you," Ye Qingxi insisted. "I'll buy you lots and lots of it."

It felt like being burned by the stars of the night.

It's somewhat scorching, yet it makes you want to cherish it.

Mu Feng softened his voice and said gently, "Then you should grow up first. We'll talk about it when you're older."

Ye Qingxi nodded, "I'll grow up soon."

"That won't happen quickly," Mu Feng thought to himself. "He's only five years old; he'll still be thirteen years away from eighteen."

Thinking about it this way, he felt that he had at least another thirteen years to live.

Seventy-three years old is not bad; it's not an age that's hard to live to.

Mu Feng touched Ye Qingxi's face. "Go back and get some sleep."

"Grandpa, you should go to bed early too."

"Um."

"good evening."

"good evening."

Ye Qingxi turned around and left Mu Feng's bedroom with satisfaction.

After Mu Feng saw that he had left, he continued to look at the reports.

As he looked at it, for some reason, his gaze slowly shifted to the jade bracelet on his wrist.

It seems he hasn't worn one of these things since he turned twenty.

Mu Feng looked at it, raised his hand and touched it. The jade was cold, but the child's heart was warm.

Mu Shaowu waited in the bedroom for a long time before Ye Qingxi finally opened the door and returned.

He asked curiously, "What's wrong? What does your new friend want with you?"

“He came to return the bracelet to me,” Ye Qingxi said.

Mu Shaowu: "Huh?"

Seeing this, Ye Qingxi had no choice but to recount what had happened at Kang Cong's house that day.

Mu Shaowu listened, becoming more and more shocked.

After Ye Qingxi finished speaking, Mu Shaowu exclaimed, "Wow, Xiaoxi, you're amazing! Are you some kind of genius? You're so young, yet you can already recite 'The Tortoise's Longevity' and know its meaning, and you even use it in the right context!"

Mu Shaowu raised his hand and gently rubbed his face. "I've done so many good deeds in my life, I deserve to have such a cute and smart genius baby like you! I have to go to your parent-teacher conferences from now on! It'll be so awesome!"

Ye Qingxi: ? ? ?

No, how did you even grasp the key point?

I was talking about bracelets! Who told you about the parent-teacher conference?!

Ye Qingxi was utterly helpless. He had done good deeds and accumulated merit throughout his life, so how could he have encountered a father like Mu Shaowu who couldn't even grasp the important points?

well!

Looking at his rosy cheeks, which he had rubbed together, Mu Shaowu couldn't resist leaning in and giving him a kiss.

Ye Qingxi: !!

Ye Qingxi jumped out of bed instantly. "I'm going to take a shower."

"I'll be with you."

“I can wash myself!” Ye Qingxi said.

"I can't, Xiaoxi, Daddy can't bathe by himself. Daddy needs your help, you genius baby." Mu Shaowu grabbed his arm and followed him.

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi looked at the person next to her in disbelief, "Where's your face?!"

Are you completely giving up on it?!

However, Mu Shaowu didn't care about such formalities. As long as he successfully soaked in the bathtub with his son in the end, that was enough.

Compared to my son, I should be willing to sacrifice some face when necessary.

"So you gave the bracelet to your grandfather," Mu Shaowu said.

Ye Qingxi nodded.

After he finished speaking, he suddenly realized that Mu Shaowu was his nominal father now, and that he had always taken good care of him.

If I gave it to Mu Feng instead of him, will he be unhappy?

“That’s what Grandpa Pei wears,” Ye Qingxi said casually. “It’s not something we kids wear. I can’t even wear it properly, but Grandpa can.”

“Grandpa, Grandpa Pei, they are both grandpas, you can wear them.”

"He should feel better now," Ye Qingxi thought.

“Your grandfather must be very happy now.” Mu Shaowu looked at him with a smile. “Your grandfather likes you very much, so he must be very happy that you gave him the bracelet.”

Ye Qingxi breathed a sigh of relief after hearing him say that.

It seems his father wasn't upset that he gave it to his grandfather but not to him.

That's good.

"What about you? Do you like the kind of bracelet your Grandpa Pei wears? If you do, Dad will buy you one too, a small one that your little hands can fit in."

ah?

Ye Qingxi shook his head. He didn't have a habit of wearing jewelry. Although he used to wear bracelets, rings, and necklaces when attending parties, red carpet events, or fashion events, it was because he had endorsements and needed to promote his products on those occasions.

Normally, he doesn't wear anything.

"No need," Ye Qingxi said with a smile. "Grandpa Pei's bracelet is so cool and refreshing."

"That's jade, so it's naturally cool to the touch, just like your jade pendant."

However, since Ye Qingxi didn't like it, Mu Shaowu didn't insist. He thought he could wait until Ye Qingxi was a little older and buy him a mechanical watch. Most boys prefer to wear watches as accessories.

Not now. Ye Qingxi is still too young. Mechanical watches are not as convenient as phone watches, so he should wear his phone watch for now.

Mu Shaowu patted his head. "Come on, let Daddy wash your hair."

Ye Qingxi: ...I already told you he can do it himself!

The next day at noon, when everyone was eating together at the same table, Mu Shaowu finally saw the legendary "Grandpa Pei's bracelet" on his father's wrist. It did look quite nice, no wonder it caught Uncle Pei's eye.

He also noticed Mu Shaoting.

Mu Shaoting was somewhat surprised. When did her father start wearing bracelets?

Doesn't he always only wear a watch?

"Dad, you've started playing with prayer beads now?"

Only after she said that did Mu Shaoyan realize that his father had a new bracelet on his wrist!

It's made of jade!

"No," Mu Feng said indifferently.

"And what's this in your hand?" Mu Shaoting raised his chin. "If you like it, just tell me. I looked into this stuff a while ago, and I'll buy you a few."

Upon hearing this, Mu Feng looked up at her and said, "This belongs to your Uncle Pei."

"How did Uncle Pei's bracelet end up in your hands?"

Mu Shaowu knows the answer to this question.

He quickly answered, "Of course it's because our Xiaoxi is smart. She successfully defeated Uncle Pei's grandson in last night's ancient poetry competition and won this bracelet."

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi silently picked up the water glass beside her and took a tactical sip.

Upon hearing this, Mu Shaoting and Mu Shaoyan immediately became interested. "What happened? Tell us in detail."

This was exactly what Mu Shaowu was waiting for.

He didn't even eat his meal, and instead, with great enthusiasm, he described what Ye Qingxi had told him the night before, embellishing the story. He described it with passion, climax, conflict, and twists and turns. To the uninitiated, it sounded like Ye Qingxi and Pei Liang had recited a few simple ancient poems, but to the uninitiated, it would seem like they were vying for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Ye Qingxi quickly pushed the water bottle to Mu Shaowu's side, "Dad, have some water."

"Okay." Mu Shaowu picked it up, took a couple of sips, and couldn't help but praise, "Xiao Xi is so filial and thoughtful. She even knows that her father needs to drink water after talking too much."

Ye Qingxi: ...You can think of it that way if you want.

But couldn't you have said less?!

Ye Qingxi was utterly helpless.

Mu Shaoting and Mu Shaoyan were quite surprised after hearing Mu Shaowu's description.

"Xiaoxi, you can play the piano? You should have told me sooner! Auntie has a music room. If you like, Auntie will teach you to play the piano in the future."

Ye Qingxi: ...

"No need, Auntie, I don't want to play recently."

The main thing is, he's really familiar with this stuff.

There's no need to learn it anymore.

"It's alright. If you want to play, just tell your aunt. You can go into her music room anytime."

"Okay, thank you, Auntie."

"You are welcome."

Mu Shaoyan lowered his head and didn't dare to speak, afraid that his father would remember him because of Ye Qingxi's glorious deeds.

However, even though he had almost buried his head in the bowl, he still couldn't escape Mu Feng's eyes.

"Mu Shaoyan, your school year is about to start," Mu Feng said coldly. "It's your last year. If you don't live up to expectations, don't blame me for being ruthless as your father."

Mu Shaoyan: ...You talk as if you've ever had feelings for anyone.

Mu Shaoyan didn't speak and ate in silence.

Seeing his defiant expression, Mu Feng didn't bother to say anything more to him.

He felt he knew Mu Shaoyan all too well now, just like him at eighteen—unruly and arrogant.

In this situation, he should be sent to a place like Fenghua County to experience hardship and get a real sense of reality so he can realize how foolish he has been.

If it weren't for the fact that Ye Qingxi was new to the Mu family and it was a good time for the family to build a relationship with him, Mu Feng would have exiled him long ago.

So Mu Feng was too lazy to waste his breath. There was no point in saying more. He would wait until next semester when Mu Shaoyan went to Fenghua County. At that time, it would be more useful than a hundred words from him.

He shifted his gaze from Mu Shaoyan to Mu Shaowu, "I think Xiaoxi really likes the ball pit at Kang Cong's house. Why don't you get one for him too?"

Ye Qingxi: ? ? ?

Ye Qingxi quickly denied it, saying, "I didn't."

Mu Fengcai didn't believe it; he clearly had a lot of fun yesterday afternoon.

"Okay," Mu Shaowu replied.

"No need," Ye Qingxi refused. "I'm just playing with them; I don't like it."

“Then let them come over and play with you from now on,” Mu Feng said. “You can also entertain your little guests.”

Ye Qingxi: This... isn't necessary.

However, Mu Feng clearly didn't think so.

As far as he was concerned, as long as Ye Qingxi could play whenever she wanted, then it was necessary.

As for the time Ye Qingxi didn't spend playing, that wasn't something Mu Feng cared about.

Mu Shaoting was very supportive of this idea. She said enthusiastically, "Let's build a big one so I can play too. I'll play with Xiaoxi then."

Seeing that she liked it, Ye Qingxi finally stopped objecting.

Well, actually... he quite likes it too.

Well... Mu Shaowu has already built him an outdoor amusement park, so Ye Qingxi felt embarrassed to ask him to build her one too.

Ye Qingxi was eating when she looked up at Mu Feng again.

His grandfather was truly a wonderful grandfather.

After dinner, Mu Shaowu took Ye Qingxi back to their room.

Mu Feng then called out to Mu Shaoting, asking her to come over.

Mu Shaoting, puzzled, followed beside him and asked, "What's wrong?"

Has she gotten into any trouble lately?

Even though Mu Shaowu had previously said that she and Mu Shaoyan were always going out, she had stayed home diligently for the past two weeks and only went out three times.

"Go and pick out a bracelet for me that's of better quality than the one I have. You have two months to give it to me today, two months from now," Mu Feng said.

Mu Shaoting chuckled. So that's what it was about.

"Then why did you say you didn't wear prayer beads?"

“It’s not what I want.” Mu Feng turned to look at her. “Your Uncle Pei’s birthday is in two months.”

Mu Shaoting suddenly realized, "No problem, I'll take care of it. Don't worry, I guarantee I'll pick out an absolutely gorgeous one for you that will amaze Uncle Pei."

Mu Feng glanced at her, quite suspicious.

"Just you wait," Mu Shaoting said defiantly.

"Okay." Mu Feng walked into the study.

Mu Shaoting didn't go in. She stood outside the door, poked her head out, and looked at her father. "Then I'm leaving."

"Close the door for me."

"OK." Mu Shaoting reached out and closed the door for him, then walked towards her bedroom.

Mu Shaowu, who lived on the floor next to them, was changing his clothes.

Ye Qingxi is about to start school, and he plans to take him to buy school supplies such as backpacks and stationery.

Ye Qingxi watched as he took off his pajamas and naturally changed into the cat-patterned short-sleeved shirt she had bought before. Her heart skipped a beat, and she knew something was wrong.

Sure enough, the next second, Mu Shaowu looked at him with a smile, "You should change your clothes too, let's change into our matching family outfits~"

Matching outfits for parents and children? These are practically family clothes!

Despite her complaints, Ye Qingxi still changed into the cat-patterned short-sleeved shirt as he wished.

After they changed their clothes and went out, they ran into Mu Shaoyan, who was curled up on the sofa playing games, as soon as they entered the living room.

Looking at their posture, Mu Shaoyan asked in confusion, "Are you... going out?"

"Go buy Xiaoxi a schoolbag and school supplies."

Mu Shaoyan nodded, "Then I'll go too."

He said, "I haven't left the house for several days."

Mu Shaowu: ? ? ?

“You were just out three days ago.”

"Really? I forgot." Mu Shaoyan stood up. "Wait for me, I'll go change my clothes."

Mu Shaowu: ...

Mu Shaowu was speechless. What business did his uncle, Mu Shaoyan, have of his activities with his father and son?

All you do is join in the fun!

Mu Shaowu helplessly pulled Ye Qingxi to sit down on the sofa.

Three minutes later, Mu Shaoyan and Mu Shaoting appeared in front of Mu Shaowu wearing their cat-patterned short-sleeved shirts.

Mu Shaowu: ...

Mu Shaowu looked at Mu Shaoyan.

Mu Shaoyan looked completely innocent. "I ran into her in the corridor. She said she was going too."

Mu Shaoting nodded, tugging at her cat-themed short-sleeved shirt, "A family should always be together."

Mu Shaowu: Why didn't you invite Dad along?

Mu Shaoting: ...

Mu Shaoting snorted, walked to Ye Qingxi's side, and took Ye Qingxi's hand. "Come on, Xiaoxi, we won't talk to your father."

"You know I'm his father."

“That’s my nephew too.” Mu Shaoting glared at him.

Mu Shaowu snorted and took Ye Qingxi's other hand.

Mu Shaoyan, standing to the side: ? ? ?

He looked left and right, but Ye Qingxi didn't have a free hand to hold, so he stepped forward, walked behind Ye Qingxi, helped him put the cat-ear hat on his head, and reached out to pinch his little cat ears.

Let's go!

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi had no choice but to go out with his white cat ears on and his human ears slightly red.

Mu Shaowu was still driving.

Ye Qingxi sat in the back seat, glancing out of the corner of her eye at Mu Shaoting's cat-themed t-shirt, then at Mu Shaoyan's. The three cats sat in a row, indeed very cute, very much like... a family.

This is the first time they've gone out in their casual clothes.

However, thirty minutes later, Ye Qingxi stood in front of the shelves, looking at the three people in front of him who were chattering incessantly. He regretted it. Maybe they shouldn't have gone out together. Otherwise, shopping would be too troublesome!

"Buy this one, it's so cute!" Mu Shaoting said. "It's so adorable! It matches Xiaoxi so well!"

"What do you know? Guys have to be cool! This is what's cool! Buy this!"

"No, the two you picked are too simple. Look at mine, it can even transform!"

Unable to convince anyone else, the three finally turned to Ye Qingxi and asked, "Qingxi, which one do you like?"

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi looked at her aunt with her bright eyes, her father full of confidence, and her uncle whose face was full of "pick me, pick me".

Ah, this...

Ye Qingxi could only smile and hold the water, saying, "It's all good, it's all good, I like them both."

“Then let’s buy them all,” Mu Shaoting readily agreed.

Mu Shaowu had no objections.

Mu Shaoyan patted the backpack in his hand, "Then you can carry mine first."

"Are you kidding me? I'm his dad, of course he has to carry me first," Mu Shaowu said, dissatisfied.

"But mine is the cutest, shouldn't you carry mine first?" Mu Shaoting shoved the backpack she had chosen in front of Mu Shaowu.

The three started arguing again, then looked at Ye Qingxi again, "Xiaoxi, whose child do you want to carry on the first day of school?"

Ye Qingxi: !!

You have to choose this too!

Ye Qingxi was utterly desperate.

“I…” he struggled to carry the water pipe, “I… I’ll pick and choose whichever one I’m assigned to carry.”

"Then you'll have to carry me a few more times, okay?" Mu Shaoting tugged at the cat tail on the backpack and shook it. "Look how cute it is."

It's just too cute, that's why I don't want to carry it!

Ye Qingxi smiled, "Okay~"

“Then I’ll take mine too,” Mu Shaoyan said. “Xiao Xi, you should carry it at least twice a week.”

"Okay," Ye Qingxi agreed.

“I want to carry it twice too,” Mu Shaoting quickly said.

“No problem.” Ye Qingxi looked at them. “I’ll carry Dad on Monday and Tuesday, Uncle on Wednesday and Thursday, and on Friday and Saturday…”

Ye Qingxi paused, because there was no school on Saturday!

Ughhhhh, why don't we have school on Saturdays?!

How is he supposed to carry this water?!

Ye Qingxi: "I go to school on Friday, and go out to play on Saturday while carrying my aunt on my back~"

After he finished speaking, he silently wiped the sweat from his brow. Thank goodness, thank goodness his mind could think outside the box; that was really dangerous.

Mu Shaoting was delighted, "No need, no need. This backpack is a bit too big to carry around. I'll buy you a bag for when you go out to play later, and you can carry that one."

Ye Qingxi nodded.

Mu Shaowu: ? ? ?

No, isn't he the real father?!

Okay, even though he's not my biological father, he's still my dad!

What's the big deal about him carrying a bag his aunt bought him when he goes out to play?!

So Mu Shaowu also started picking out a bag for Ye Qingxi to take out when she goes out.

Seeing this, Mu Shaoyan was not to be outdone and quickly joined their buying team.

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi sighed, "Is this ever going to end?!"

In the end, Mu Shaowu, Mu Shaoting, and Mu Shaoyan each bought Ye Qingxi different schoolbags, bags for going out to play, stationery, pillows, dolls, blankets, and so on.

Multiply each item by 3.

Ye Qingxi: ...I feel like he won't need to buy these things for at least three semesters.