Chapter 128 (First Update)
128:
Mu Shaowu left Mu Feng's study and went downstairs.
Ye Qingxi and Mu Shaoting were playing in the courtyard outside.
The snow from yesterday melted last night, and now the sky is clear and the sun is shining brightly.
The bright afternoon sunlight shone on Ye Qingxi's small body, making him look golden and fluffy, like a soft ball of light falling to the ground.
Mu Shaowu looked at him, feeling an unspeakable sense of guilt and self-reproach.
—He hadn't thought much about the future.
At least, they hadn't seriously considered the future after having Ye Qingxi.
In a normal family, the birth of a child is a long process.
From the moment parents learn they are pregnant, to the day the child grows in the mother's womb, and finally to the moment the child appears before the parents, crying and kicking his little legs, and then slowly learning to crawl, talk, and walk.
He gave his parents enough time to grow from adults into parents, and to let them know what their future should be like.
But he and Ye Qingxi are different.
Ye Qingxi arrived suddenly, without being pregnant for ten months, and without going from being able to be carried by her parents to slowly learning to walk on her own.
He has been like this ever since he appeared.
She is sensible, considerate, and adorable, and never causes worry to those around her.
So, it seems that he really didn't worry too much.
I never thought about what the difference was between having children and not having children.
Mu Shaowu lowered his head.
Before today, he never thought he was a bad father.
He thought that he liked Ye Qingxi, he cared for Ye Qingxi, and he treated Ye Qingxi as his own daughter, so he was certainly a good father.
But now, he suddenly realizes that his love was so superficial.
Ye Qingxi was not part of his life plan at all.
In fact, he didn't even have a life plan.
He remained the same as before, doing whatever he pleased, never considering what the future held for them.
He hasn't changed at all; he's the same as before.
Just like when Ye Qingxi wasn't around.
He doesn't seem like a father who supports a family; he's more like a child in a family who is being supported.
He really is a child—only children can live one day at a time without planning for the future.
Parents cannot do this; they need to take a long-term view and consider their children's future.
But in this family, the one who has always been thinking about Ye Qingxi is not him, but his father.
He lives in the family that his father supports.
Ye Qingxi also lives in the future that Mu Feng has planned for him.
So although they were father and son in name, they were actually his father's children.
They all depended on his father.
They lived together under his protection.
But this shouldn't be the case.
He is clearly his father.
Clearly, he was the one who should be thinking about and planning for Ye Qingxi's future.
On this day, Mu Shaowu finally understood what a father truly meant.
For the first time, he began to seriously consider what his life should be like.
What should Ye Qingxi's life be like?
What would their lives be like if they were bound together?
Ye Qingxi turned around and saw him standing in front of the French windows, then turned and ran into the house.
Mu Shaowu quickly composed himself and temporarily interrupted his thoughts.
"Dad, do you want to go to the supermarket?" Ye Qingxi entered the house, ran up to him, and asked.
"supermarket?"
"Yes." Ye Qingxi nodded. "Auntie said she wanted to go to the supermarket to buy some things."
"What does she need to buy herself?" Mu Shaowu looked at Mu Shaoting, who came in with Ye Qingxi. "Why not just have someone deliver it?"
Mu Shaoting pouted, "What do you know? Buying New Year's goods is all about the festive atmosphere. If you don't go out, how can you experience the festive atmosphere?"
Mu Shaowu: ...So your idea of the New Year's atmosphere is just people crowding together?
Mu Shaowu turned to look at Ye Qingxi, "Do you want to go?"
Ye Qingxi really wanted to go. "I want to buy a picture frame."
Buying another picture frame?
However, Ye Qingxi thought that Mu Shaowu did not refuse.
“Alright then, I’ll go and disguise myself,” he said.
Mu Shaoting nodded, "I'll go call Mu Shaoyan."
"Then I'll go ask Grandpa if he's going or not," Ye Qingxi said.
Mu Shaoting: ...
Mu Shaoting felt that only he had the guts to do that.
Mu Shaowu was different.
He listened to Ye Qingxi's unwavering words and saw the natural, joyful expression on his face.
A child's heart is always pure and clear.
He knows very well who is good to him and who he can trust and rely on.
In the entire Mu family, all the children are afraid of his father.
But Ye Qingxi wasn't afraid.
He is not only unafraid, but he thinks of his father in everything he does.
They all had to bring their grandfathers along.
You need it when you buy a short-sleeved shirt, you need it when you go to the water park, you need it when you take photos, and now you need it when you go to the supermarket.
He was never worried that his grandfather would refuse him, find him troublesome, or think he was bothering him.
This is a very typical sign of relaxation.
He felt very relaxed at his grandfather's place.
Mu Shaowu patted Ye Qingxi's head.
Even Ye Qingxi himself probably didn't realize that he had become the person in the family closest to his grandfather.
A child's growth is a process of leaving home.
To have more friends, a lover, a career, and pursuits and dreams.
As a result, his parents were no longer frequently mentioned, and home was no longer the place he spent the most time.
They were all walking out, but Ye Qingxi was walking in.
They were getting further and further away from his father, but Ye Qingxi was getting closer and closer to him.
Finally, they came to each other's side and became each other's closest people.
Mu Shaowu thought that if his father hadn't been so old, he would have definitely become Ye Qingxi's father himself, personally teaching her as she grew up.
He will become the most special and the most favored among his brothers.
Even now, his father is doing the same thing.
He knew he couldn't be with him forever, so he took the initiative to speak up, remind him, and teach him, hoping he could become a good father.
Then, he will raise the child he loves well.
Mu Shaowu withdrew his hand and said softly, "Go."
Ye Qingxi nodded and pulled him upstairs together.
They parted ways on the second floor. Mu Shaowu continued upstairs, while he turned and went to Mu Feng's study.
"Supermarket?" Mu Feng looked at him, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
When was the last time he went to the supermarket?
Mu Feng thought about it and figured it was probably because his wife was still there and insisted on going to buy things herself, dragging him along as a laborer.
It's been so many years.
"You can go yourselves," Mu Feng said.
Ye Qingxi was reluctant.
The supermarket feels like the New Year when the whole family goes together.
"Grandpa~" Ye Qingxi said sweetly, "Uncle, Aunt, Daddy and I are going too, you can come along too~"
"Otherwise, you'll be so bored at home alone~"
Mu Feng waved the documents in his hand. "I'm not bored."
Ye Qingxi: ...
How could you not be Pei Liang's grandfather?
Judging from the level of your work, only the young Pei Liang could put up a fight!
"Grandpa, is there anything you want? I'll buy it for you."
Mu Feng didn't want anything. "You can buy it for yourself."
Ye Qingxi: ...
What could Ye Qingxi say?
Ye Qingxi could only say, "Oh."
He watched as Mu Feng remained calm and composed, then slowly walked towards the door.
As they reached the door, Ye Qingxi turned back to look at him again, unwilling to give up. "Really not going?"
Mu Feng: ...
Mu Feng was at a loss.
He always softened easily around Ye Qingxi.
It's probably because he's young.
Perhaps it's because he's always been too sensible.
Mu Feng felt sorry for him and always hoped that he could live a happier and more fulfilling life in this family.
"Never mind," Mu Feng thought, "it's not a big deal. I'll just treat it as a workout."
Mu Feng stood up, grabbed his coat, and said, "Let's go."
Ye Qingxi instantly became happy.
He naturally took his hand and said, "Grandpa, you're so kind."
Mu Feng: ...
Ye Qingxi happily shook the two clasped hands and walked all the way to Mu Shaoyan.
Mu Shaoyan: ? ? ?
Mu Shaoyan: ...
Mu Shaoyan looked at his adorable little nephew and his father holding hands.
Wow, that's rare! Old Mu can even hold hands with people. That's truly uncommon.
"What kind of look is that?" Mu Feng asked sharply.
Mu Shaoyan smiled. "It's nothing, I just didn't expect Dad to be holding hands with someone."
Mu Feng: ...
Mu Feng was speechless. "I also held your hand when you were little."
Upon hearing this, Mu Shaoyan was taken aback.
Then some images slowly emerged.
Indeed, when he was little, Mu Feng had also held his hand like this.
It was only later, when he grew up and no longer needed him to hold his hand, that he let go of his hand.
Thinking of this, Mu Shaoyan felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
"Where's my dad? Is he ready yet?" Ye Qingxi looked around.
"No," Mu Shaoting said. "They're probably still pretending."
No sooner had he finished speaking than footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Ye Qingxi turned his head and saw the bearded uncle he had seen at the sports meet before, standing in front of him again.
Mu Feng: ...
Mu Feng felt a pain in his eyes.
"Alright," Mu Shaowu said, looking at them. "You can go now."
Without saying a word, Mu Feng grabbed Ye Qingxi and left.
Mu Shaowu quickly caught up and took Ye Qingxi's other hand.
Ye Qingxi looked at him from the left and Mu Feng from the right, listening to the voices of Mu Shaoyan and Mu Shaoting, feeling an indescribable sense of lightness in her heart.
The group consisted of five people. Mu Shaoyan and Mu Shaoting did not have driver's licenses, and Mu Feng had one but was too lazy to drive, so the responsibility of being the driver fell on Mu Shaowu.
“Perfect timing, you’re dressed like a driver today,” Mu Shaoting said.
Mu Shaowu: ? ? ?
Mu Shaowu looked down at himself, then at Ye Qingxi, "Is he a driver?"
Ye Qingxi shook her head politely.
Mu Shaowu also thought, "Where can you find a driver as handsome as me!"
Ye Qingxi nodded.
Mu Feng: "Heh."
Mu Shaowu: ...
Mu Shaowu pretended not to hear, and lowered his head to pat his son's little head. "So cute."
The roads were relatively clear at the moment, and the group arrived at the supermarket in no time.
Mu Shaowu pushed a cart and asked Ye Qingxi if she wanted to sit inside.
Ye Qingxi shook her head. If he were a little younger, it would be alright, but he's already this big, how could she accept that?
Seeing this, Mu Shaowu felt quite regretful—when he was a child, he used to sit in a car and have his father push him around.
Now, however, he can't push his son away.
“Then stick close to your dad!” he said.
"Don't worry," Mu Shaoting said. "Dad and I are holding your hands, it's fine."
Ye Qingxi quickly shook the hands she was holding, which were holding Mu Feng and Mu Shaoting, to show that she was safe.
Mu Shaowu nodded, then looked at Mu Shaoyan, "What are you standing there for? Come and push the cart."
Mu Shaoyan: ? ? ?
Mu Shaoyan: ...
Mu Shaoyan shoved another shopping cart with a "bang" and strode forward with a triumphant air.
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