Chapter 144: Father and Son Conversation
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Mu Yuchen’s calm, handsome face flashed with a rare uneasiness. He thought about it, then replied, “She lost at chess, and I…”
He did not need to finish the rest of his sentence. The father and son exchanged a look, the kind of look that only men would understand.
Mu Tangchuan then chuckled before sighing, “You’re not that young anymore either. You’re going to be 31 soon. Before this, we’ve been waiting for you to get married. Now, we’re looking forward to you being a father. Chen Er, push away all those worldly possessions. There’s isn’t much a man can hold onto. Your grandparents and parents can’t be with you until you’re old. Even your children will leave you to lead their own lives in the future. The only person who can stay with you is the woman in your arms. So, you have to treat your wife, Xiaye, well.”
Mu Yuchen did not quite know how to respond to Mu Tangchuan’s words. In his impression, his father was not the sort to say such sentimental things to him.
He fell silent for a moment, then calmly looked up at Mu Tangchuan and asked, “Then, Father, how do you see Mother? I know that previously you didn’t love each other.”
Mu Yuchen was right. Mu Tangchuan and Zhuang Shurong had been forced into an arranged marriage by their parents. After getting married, the husband and wife continued to be busy with their own careers. They had been married for more than 30 years. Based on what Mu Yuchen recalled, he had never seen them argue.
It was not that Mu Tangchuan and Zhuang Shurong did not have any conflict between them and were always this harmonious. It was just that every time a conflict happened, Mu Tangchuan would compromise. No matter how Zhuang Shurong flipped out, he would just pretend to be deaf and mute, or just hide. Then, he would appear again a few days later, and it would all be fine.
“The term ‘love each other’ has a very deep meaning. Until now, I still can’t differentiate whether I have a kinship of love for your mother. Just because you’re all grown up, you should know her well too. I really can’t get ahold of her. However, since I’ve married her, and she’s now your mother and my woman, I’ve got to let her be. Sometimes, over these years I just treat her like my daughter. Would you make life difficult for your daughter?”
When he spoke about Zhuang Shurong, Mu Tangchuan did not look quite indifferent. His extraordinarily dark eyes that were similar to Mu Yuchen’s oozed with a faint tenderness.
Observing Mu Tangchuan, Mu Yuchen seemed to be able to predict his days with Xi Xiaye in the future. He was afraid they would not be able to live so peacefully. They did not need to fuss about whether it was love, or whether they liked each other. The point was that as deep as one’s love may be and as perfect as an ending could be, it seemed to just evolve into a familial love that was meant to be guarded for life.
It was as simple as that.
He fell silent for a while, then Mu Yuchen suddenly said, “Actually, since I was young, I was most grateful for you and Mother. It wasn’t so much about how great of a life you gave me, but the role models that you two have unintentionally been for me. You have influenced and encouraged me.”
His tall figured shifted over and walked under the dim, yellow wall lamp. “I hope that Xiaye and I can be like the two of you. As for all the unhappiness in the past, it’ll all be put to a full stop her. No more bringing it up… Can you fulfill this request of mine?”
Then, before Mu Tangchuan could answer, he had already walked out the door and left.
“Chen Er…”
He had just walked out the door when he saw Zhuang Shurong right before him. She had a peculiar expression on her face; she must have heard a lot of their conversation.
Mu Yuchen nodded and said softly, “I’m going back to call Xiaye.”
“Go ahead. The dishes are being prepared downstairs. I don’t think she ate much tonight,” Zhuang Shurong responded, and Mu Yuchen picked up his pace to walk out.
As she watched her son’s fading shadow along the corridor, Zhuang Shurong could not help but sigh softly. When she turned over, she noticed that her husband had already walked over.
“Why did you say all of these things to your son? Who’s your daughter?”
A rare and suspicious blush crept across Zhuang Shurong’s composed and beautiful face as she fixed her gaze on Mu Tangchuan.
Mu Tangchuan laughed gently. “Aren’t I just teaching our son to properly manage his marriage and family?”
“What Chen Er said… Do you think he’s still blaming me for it? With his intelligence, I’m afraid he’s long figured out the whole thing. Watching him get along pretty well with Xiaye, I… I’m guessing that the two of you are father and son indeed. Even your taste in women is the same. Years ago, your imagination also ran wild with Wenna. Now that your son’s fancied Wenna’s daughter… The mother and daughter have such remarkable resemblance…”
“What nonsense are you spouting? What wild imagination? If I did, would I have had such a grown-up son with you? How is Shen Wenna as amazing as you, Chief Zhuang?” Mu Tangchuan smiled in amus.e.m.e.nt at his frowning wife.
Zhuang Shurong shot him a side look. She breathed in and said, “Do you think Wenna and Xi Mushan really ended just like that? Who’s that Yue Lingsi anyway? During our schooling years, she was just part of Wenna’s little posse just because of her family background! Xi Mushan has really gone and done it… Wenna’s life has been ruined by the two of them…”
“What do we know about other’s family matters? Let them be. We should just watch after ourselves.”
Mu Tangchuan heaved a long sigh. “I can tell that Wenna didn’t get over Xi Mushan all these years. Sometimes, I really don’t understand you women. Since he’s already decided to leave, why should she still be so hung up?”
“You’re wrong about this. Sometimes, it might not be about being hung up. It’s about giving up. With Wenna’s personality, it would be like that. However, if it were me, I wouldn’t let go of them so easily! People who betray me must pay horribly. Then, I’ll find the next good stop and relive my glory!” Zhuang Shurong’s tone was resounding while her gaze flickered with determination.
“The way you are, you definitely won’t lose out. Look at how you raised Chen Er and Lingsi. If Wenna had a bit of your vigor, she wouldn’t have to live such a difficult life.”
As Mu Tangchuan said this, he pulled her out the door.
“What’s so bad about that? The children can only be at less of a disadvantage after they’ve truly toughened up themselves. Otherwise, if we let them take after your personality, what benefit would they bring?”
Zhuang Shurong had always been frank and clear-cut when she spoke. She was incisive and had a threatening manner. Even Mu Tangchuan, as the grand member of the provincial government, had now become a good-for-nothing before her.
Mu Tangchuan was lazy to argue with her, so he just followed after her and smiled gently.
The entire provincial government knew that his wife was amazing. He suddenly remembered that there was once when she came to his office to look for him. Even the female secretary who was receiving her stuttered when she spoke in her imposing manner…
However, only he knew her gentleness best…