His Beloved Treasure

”Why are you suddenly talking so much!”

Qin Mu glared at him: ”I’m telling you, don’t you think I... Ah.”

”Don’t bring up your complaints to me again.”

Mu Yichen’s hand was gripping her calf so hard it felt like he was about to crush her bones.

His voice was still so soft, yet far too intimidating.

”Why?”

Qin Mu questioned discontentedly.

”I miss you so much I could die! From now on, a new rule must be established in our Mu Family.”

”If it’s an unfair rule, I refuse.”

”You must abide by it.”

”Why should I?”

”Because it’s made for you.”

Qin Mu...

”From now on, no matter what happens, Mrs. Mu must fulfill her wifely duties every evening.”

Qin Mu...

”Remember that!”

Mu Yichen demanded of her, his domineering demeanor, those pitch-black eyes staring at her, ready to devour her.

”That’s obviously unfair; I won’t agree to it either way.”

”Then I’ll just have to exercise a husband’s rights.”

”What rights?”

——

Afterward, Qin Mu looked at him: ”Does our previous agreement still stand then?”

”We can add one more rule.”

Mu Yichen gently brushed away the stray hair on her forehead with his hand, and even though it instantly fell back into place, he couldn’t resist repeating the gesture.

Qin Mu’s bright, round eyes stared back at him, suddenly spirited.

”Add another rule?”

Her heart was in turmoil. Was this unfair treaty going to continue indefinitely in their Mu Family?

”Yes! If one side resists, it is the other side’s responsibility to tame them.”

Mu Yichen’s eyes were as deep as inkwell, so profound, like the vast starry sky, causing her to inadvertently tumble in.

Qin Mu shivered with fear, and involuntarily scoffed: ”You might have the strength to tame me, but I sure don’t have the strength to tame you.”

”You can act coquettishly!”

Mu Yichen said softly.

That was her unique weapon.

Too bad she seemed unaware of it.

Qin Mu’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked up at him, disbelieving.

He suddenly smiled.

Qin Mu felt her heart melt at the sight of his smile.

His eyes seemed to hold a world of beautiful landscapes, so captivating that Qin Mu found herself mesmerized, unable to look away.

”The commercial shoot is over, so can we break off relations with Li Yu now?”

Mu Yichen noticed she had calmed down significantly, so he asked her another question.

Qin Mu blinked: ”There wasn’t much of a relationship to begin with. He used me, I used him, is there anything else?”

”That’s why I say, you’d still be counting money for someone after they’ve kidnapped you.”

Mu Yichen sighed helplessly, then got up.

Qin Mu had to move over a bit, lying down further inside.

”The contract period isn’t over, our studio still has to supply him with fashion, but the rest can be handled by other partners. I won’t be involved.”

This was written in the contract when Qin Mu and Li Yu signed it. Li Yu even protested at the time, but he didn’t say anything else.

——

It was only later that evening that they reluctantly returned to the old house. Feng Fanghua and Mu Zihao were talking about them in the living room. Mu Yichen pulled Qin Mu to a stop at the entrance and listened in covertly with a calm expression.

”Why don’t you give your son a call? Ask him if he’ll come back for dinner tonight.”

Feng Fanghua said to Mu Zihao.

Holding his grandson in his arms, Mu Zihao scoffed upon hearing Feng Fanghua’s words: ”He’s not a child anymore.”

”What if neither of them comes back tonight?”

Feng Fanghua knew her son was no longer a child, but she couldn’t help worrying upon hearing Mu Yichen hadn’t come home to sleep that day.

”If they don’t come back, then they don’t. Isn’t the daughter-in-law still here? And besides, don’t we have Chengcheng?”

Mu Zihao laughed, watching his grandson grow day by day; he had already tossed aside concerns for his son.

Mu Yichen stood at the doorway, his gaze mysterious and inscrutable.

Qin Mu looked up at Mu Yichen, thinking to herself, now you know your position in this family isn’t as high as mine, right?

”But Mumu still hasn’t come back. Sigh, this girl is so set on making money that she neglects her family. Our family’s wealth is enough for her to spend for several lifetimes, yet she still insists on working so hard, causing her marriage to suffer.”

Feng Fanghua spoke of Qin Mu with a belly full of dissatisfaction, but now she doesn’t only see Qin Mu’s faults like before, which is why the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship has become so harmonious.

”She may be a bit foolish, but it seems like you and your son actually like that about her. I think it’s quite good, too. It’s better for a girl to be ambitious and strive for success than to be capable of nothing and just stay at home taking care of children, right? After all, your son isn’t looking for a nanny.”

Feng Fanghua...

A twitch tugged at the corner of Qin Mu’s lips, a touch of sadness in her expression.

In the eyes of her in-laws, both she and her husband were so lacking.

She had thought at least one of them would be regarded well.

Unexpectedly, they both faced criticism.

Mu Yichen suddenly chuckled, his dark pupils hidden by his long lashes, as he whispered close to her ear, ”Now you know what image you have in this family, don’t you?”

Qin Mu looked up at him, feeling as though his gaze was saying: You get called a foolish woman and still aren’t happy about it, but the eyes of the masses are always bright, aren’t they?

”Ah, it’s so late already, this is really...”

”Young Master, Young Madam!”

The butler went to the back and upon his return, greeted them both as he saw them standing at the entrance.

And with this greeting from the butler, the old couple on the sofa inside heard them as well.

Instantly, a look of panic crossed their eyes.

”Ah! We’re back!”

Qin Mu greeted the butler and then headed inside first.

Mu Yichen followed behind, taking many more steps than Qin Mu.

”How come there was no noise when you came back?”

Feng Fanghua asked with concealed unease.

”Oh, we also just got back!”

Qin Mu replied casually to spare her the embarrassment.

Mu Yichen walked over and sat down beside Qin Mu. Seeing that Qin Mu was about to pick up Chengcheng, he grabbed her hand.

Qin Mu turned her puzzled gaze towards him.

The elderly couple also looked in bewilderment at Mu Yichen’s action, and at the hand they were holding—what was this about?

Mu Yichen paid no attention to the old couple, simply lifted Qin Mu’s hand, touched her ring, and whispered softly, ”How did the ring get dirty?”

After ’cleaning’ it, he placed her hand back down.

Qin Mu...

The corners of Feng Fanghua and Mu Zihao’s mouths twitched involuntarily.

Qin Mu still went to pick up Chengcheng, who excitedly flapped his arms and legs about, his big eyes brimming with delight.

Mu Yichen glanced up, seeing the little guy about to grab his wife’s face, and immediately took hold of Chengcheng’s little hand, then lifted him from Qin Mu’s arms onto his own, ”Didn’t you say your clothes were uncomfortable? Go upstairs and change into something else first.”

Qin Mu...

Feng Fanghua and Mu Zihao gave Qin Mu questioning looks.

Qin Mu, with a blushing face embarrassedly smiled and explained, ”Actually, I overindulged in desserts this afternoon, and this outfit feels a bit tight.”

The truth was, on their way home, Mu Yichen had suddenly stopped the car to tease her.

As soon as Qin Mu left, Mu Yichen placed Chengcheng down where she had just sat, and Chengcheng crawled about on the sofa.

Feng Fanghua said, ”You don’t have an ounce of fat on your body, to the point where you’re running out of sizes to wear, and you still claim to have overeaten?”

Mu Yichen saw that Mrs. Feng completely believed Mrs. Mu’s explanation and decided not to say more, but he thought back to the conversation he overheard at the entrance and felt deeply disappointed in the old couple.

Qin Mu went upstairs and changed into a dark blue dress.

Everyone was video-calling with the grandfather. Seeing her come down, Feng Fanghua promptly called out to her, ”Mumu, come and greet your grandfather.”

”Okay!”

Qin Mu hurried over, bending over at the waist to peer over Feng Fanghua’s shoulder, ”Grandpa! When are you coming back?”

”Oh, my granddaughter-in-law is getting more and more beautiful. Stand up and let grandpa see what dress you’re wearing.”

The elder of the Mu Family and the elder of the Jing Family were sitting together while a young male doctor waited on them hand and foot, also playing the role of a part-time nanny, sorting out their computer.

”It’s just a very ordinary dress!”

Qin Mu stood up but suddenly felt awkward.

Because all three, oh, no, four of them seated in front had turned their heads to look at her.

Feng Fanghua couldn’t help asking, ”Why are you so formally dressed at home in the evening?”

”Are you going out?”

Mu Zihao asked in confusion.

”I just randomly changed into this. Should I go change back?”

Qin Mu felt awkward as everyone else seemed uncomfortable, and she felt extremely awkward herself.

Only Mu Yichen remained silent, turning his head back seriously to sit down again.

”Only my granddaughter-in-law can wear a dress so casually and still look so beautiful, even more beautiful than those big stars.”

The elder complimented and glanced to the side. The elder of the Jing Family immediately got up with the help of his cane, unable to continue the conversation.

”That’s enough, let’s hang up!”

Mu Yichen said aloud, then stood up to grab Qin Mu by the arm, leading her towards the washroom on the first floor.