His Beloved Treasure

Chapter 2254: Chapter 655: One Year Later (32)_2

Mu Yichen sat up and leaned against the headboard, opened the cigarette box on the bedside table next to him, took out a cigarette and lit it, then leaned back against the headboard again.

He knew he couldn’t pull her heart back, but even if she just stayed here in person, wouldn’t that still be a bit better?

He had thought about just letting her go like this, but if he let her go, he wouldn’t be able to feel better.

They had already been together for so many years; he thought if they kept breaking up and getting back together like this, who knew when it would end—at death?

What he feared was that even when he died, she still wouldn’t be willing to be buried together with him!

Mu Yichen took a hard drag on his cigarette, then turned his head to look at the person lying beside him.

Qin Mu sat up, hooking all her hair behind her ears, revealing her delicate yet exhausted little face. Mu Yichen watched her quietly, then reached out and handed her the cigarette.

Only then did a bit of life return to Qin Mu’s eyes. She pinched the cigarette and took a heavy drag, then another.

Mu Yichen’s brows furrowed, but he never said a word.

”Chengcheng and Huanhuan are still at Mom’s place!”

Once Qin Mu had regained a bit of strength, she told him softly.

”Yeah. I just called. I told them you were asleep; they only believed me after we did a video call.”

Mu Yichen answered her, his voice also weak and tired.

After hearing this, Qin Mu slowly lifted her eyes to look at him. She had just been asleep—he’d been video-chatting with the kids?

”Mom wasn’t with them, right?”

Qin Mu asked instinctively, truly alarmed.

”She was.”

Mu Yichen’s answer was like a bucket of cold water, dousing the last bit of luck in her heart.

Qin Mu heard her own heart pounding wildly, and lowered her gaze again. Just as she was about to take another drag to calm herself, a hand blocked her line of sight and snatched away the cigarette between her fingers.

Qin Mu felt a bit disappointed, but she didn’t dare grab it back, so she lowered her head again.

Mu Yichen smoked, staring at her hands, then reached over and held them in his.

Both of their hands were already without wedding rings. It was pride that had made him take his ring off as well.

Only now, he’d always brushed it off, but today, seeing that the things symbolizing their marriage and love were no longer on each other’s hands, he held back for a moment, the veins on his face nearly standing out from the strain, then suddenly let out a laugh.

It was a cold laugh!

Qin Mu’s brows were half furrowed as she looked at his indifferent gaze.

”Tell me, how did you manage to take that ring off?”

He asked her!

At this moment, both their voices were low and heavy, and utterly powerless.

He gripped her hand, holding it tighter and tighter.

”The day I took mine off, it felt like I was chopping my own finger off, alive.”

As he spoke, he stopped looking at her, lowered his eyes, and gave a series of bitter laughs.

Qin Mu wanted to laugh but couldn’t; instead her eyes felt as if sand had gotten into them, so uncomfortable that tears were about to spill out.

She took a deep breath and looked to the side: ”What’s the point of talking about this now?”

”True.”

——

That evening, they went to the Mu Family, but Mu Yichen didn’t ask Qin Mu to get out of the car; he went into the living room by himself.

”Daddy!”

”Daddy, you finally came! Where’s Mommy?”

The two little ones had been worried that Daddy wouldn’t come for them. Seeing Mu Yichen, they ran to his side, a bit excited.

”She’s in the car. You two go find her.”

Mu Yichen told them softly, then lifted his eyes to glance at the three elders sitting on the sofa: ”She’s not feeling very well, so I didn’t ask her to come over.”

The old man didn’t speak. His eyelids drooped, but when he looked at his grandson, there was still strength in his gaze.

Mu Yichen understood what the old man meant, then looked at his own parents: ”Then I’ll be heading out first.”

Feng Fanghua looked at him, so angry that tears were about to spill, yet proud enough not to say another word.

”Go on then. It’s almost New Year. Talk it over with Qin Mu and come back for the holiday.”

Mu Zihao nodded and said softly to his son.

Feng Fanghua immediately turned around and lightly smacked Mu Zihao’s hand. Mu Zihao still didn’t know what Feng Fanghua and Qin Mu had talked about alone, so he looked at Feng Fanghua in confusion. Feng Fanghua was so furious she could barely breathe, and got up to walk inside.

”Since my mom doesn’t want it, then forget it.”

Mu Yichen, however, could see what Feng Fanghua meant. After he finished speaking, he turned and left.

After Mu Yichen left, the old man sighed and said to Mu Zihao: ”That wife of yours, honestly! She’s as stubborn as a mule!”

Mu Zihao...

After returning to the apartment, Mu Yichen once again transformed into the good stay-at-home husband, took off his suit jacket and went into the kitchen.

Qin Mu sat with Huanhuan playing chess, while Chengcheng lay sprawled on the table, ready to cause trouble at any moment.

”Mommy, we thought you’d left.”

Huanhuan moved a pawn as she chatted with Qin Mu.