The woman’s high-pitched voice was in bits and pieces when it came to their ears.
Xiang Wan could feel Bai Muchuan’s back stiffen.
She embraced him tighter.
“Bai Muchuan…”
He didn’t reply.
He was as quiet as a statue.
“Bai Muchuan…”
Xiang Wan called his name again.
This time, he lifted his hand slowly to touch her finger. “Let’s leave, okay?”
Leave?
Xiang Wan was confused.
It was so late already… Where did he want to go?
Bai Muchuan didn’t wait for her reply. He took hold of her wrist and strode away.
Somewhere in the courtyard, Zhu Xueyan was crying while Bai Zhenhua was smoking quietly. He didn’t comfort her and seemed to be deep in thought…
Bai Muchuan’s sudden appearance together with Xiang Wan, startled the unhappy couple.
Bai Zhenhua said sternly, “Where are you going?”
Bai Muchuan replied without turning his head, “I’m going home.”
Bai Zhenhua pulled a long face. “Home? Isn’t this your home?”
Bai Muchuan turned his head with a sneer on his face. He looked at him then at the agitated Zhu Xueyan. “Do you really think so?”
Bai Zhenhua didn’t talk but his expression turned grim. Zhu Xueyan pointed at Bai Muchuan and started to grumble. “You see it for yourself now? He’s a heartless and ungrateful monster. Look at his attitude towards us, why do you still treat him as a treasure… Let me tell you Bai Zhenhua, if he would show at least some respect for me, I wouldn’t have treated him in this manner!”
Bai Muchuan grunted a laugh. “Respect? If you knew the meaning of respect, you wouldn’t have kicked up a fuss in the courtyard at this hour. You could have quarreled inside your room instead, am I right?”
She had deliberately said all those words in the courtyard without lowering her volume, wasn’t that so he could hear that?
When he heard that, he would find it intolerable.
And when he found it intolerable, he would leave.
She had been like this for years, and she was still doing the same thing.
At the end of the day, as long as he was at home, she couldn’t be at peace with herself.
And as long as they were there, Bai Muchuan couldn’t be at peace with himself.
“Just take care of yourselves and let’s not interfere with each other!” After that, Bai Muchuan held Xiang Wan’s hand and left the house.
…
There was no sight of any vehicle on the road.
At this hour, a lot of people would be staying up late to welcome the New Year at home.
There was silence in the neighborhood.
Bai Muchuan held Xiang Wan’s hand as they strolled along the neighborhood. “Are you cold?”
Xiang Wan shook her head. “Not cold.”
Bai Muchuan smiled. “Let’s go back to our own home.”
Xiang Wan smiled sweetly as well. “Let’s go.”
Bai Muchuan: “We should be able to get a cab.”
Xiang Wan’s eyes formed a line as she smiled. “Mm.”
She looked at him; her gaze was filled with trust, admiration and gentleness like that of a mesmerized fangirl.
“Aye, what happened? Why are you looking at me like that?” He patted her head.
“Bai Muchuan, you’re really dashing earlier!” Xiang Wan couldn’t stop smiling.
“Dashing?” Bai Muchuan then let out a bitter laugh after a brief pause.
He looked up at the sky and sighed softly.
“In fact, that’s actually considered ‘fleeing’.”
Whenever something like this happened, he would choose to leave.
Him being tough and angry was just pretense.
The ethical and moral values on him could never be shaken off.
That family had brought him up.
He couldn’t bring himself to be truly harsh with them.
“Bai Muchuan.” Xiang Wan swung their hands as they walked. “There’s a question that I don’t know if I should ask…”
“If I tell you that you shouldn’t,” Bai Muchuan laughed. “Will you just stay quiet and not ask?”
“…”
“Just ask.”
Huff!
Xiang Wan was amused by him.
“I actually wanted to ask you for a long time. I was worried that you might be unhappy so I’ve been holding it in…”
“Silly girl!” Bai Muchuan took her waist. “Say it! I’m listening.”
“Mm!” Xiang Wan still hesitated for quite a while before popping the question. “Their problem. Aren’t you curious at all?”
Bai Muchuan halted his steps.
A few seconds later, he held her hand again with a smile and continued to walk.
“I’m curious but I don’t want to do anything.”
It would be very easy for him to find out who his biological dad was… However, he never attempted to confirm that. Firstly, back then when the Cheng Family took him in, he was very sure that Cheng Weiji must have done a DNA Paternity Test and that these two men would surely know. He didn’t believe a word of what Zhu Xueyan said in anger and jealousy. Secondly, in his eyes, no matter if it was Bai Zhenhua or Cheng Weiji, they weren’t good fathers at all.
Hence, he only wanted to acknowledge the fact that they had brought him up and nothing else.
As for repaying the favor of bringing him to the world, was there a favor in the first place?
That person, no matter whom he was, had owed him, not the other way round.
“To me, it’s not important at all to know who my dad is.”
He puffed a sigh and gazed at her, tilting his head. “The most important thing is that you’re by my side.”
So sweet!
Xiang Wan’s heart skipped a beat.
He chuckled and suddenly picked her up off the ground.
“Ah!” Xiang Wan quickly put her arms around his neck. “What are you doing?”
“I want to carry you and walk.”
“…” Xiang Wan looked around her surroundings. “Don’t you think it’s too embarrassing if someone sees this?”
“There’s no one here at all.”
That night, everyone was at home celebrating Lunar New Year. Why would there be people in the streets?
The empty streets without people and vehicles actually felt clean.
There was hardly anyone and no vehicles to be seen. They could see the end of a street in one look.
This aspect of the city was a rare sight, and it was as beautiful as expected.
It felt like they were the only people in the world.
Xiang Wan rested herself in Bai Muchuan’s arms, leaning on his shoulder.
In the far horizon, fireworks were still rising up and lit up the sky one after another.
There were so many words that could be said but at that moment, there was only silence.
…
When they got back home, Xiang Wan was relieved and comfortable.
By then, it was already 1:00 a.m at night.
The two of them did not feel tired at all. “Let’s have a drink,” said Bai Muchuan, “just the two of us.”
Xiang Wan smiled. “Sure.”
The atmosphere at the Bai Family was too stifling.
Xiang Wan took a look at the refrigerator. “I can whip up two simple dishes, do you want to eat?”
When she took out some ingredients from the refrigerator, Bai Muchuan stopped her. “My Queen, please go rest, let me do it!”
“You…” Xiang Wan’s eyes widened slightly.
“Don’t look down on me.” Bai Muchuan gave her an unhappy glance. “Go bath first, be good.”
Fine!
Since he wanted to cook, then let him do it.
Xiang Wan went to bathe and was smiling away. After her bath, she put on her home clothes and saw that Bai Muchuan was busy in the kitchen.
She often heard and saw on the internet that hard-working men were the most charming.
In fact, a man who was seriously cooking for his woman was even more attractive.
Xiang Wan leaned against the wall at the entrance of the kitchen and watched his busy stature preparing food. His presence made the kitchen seem warm and sweet, and she felt her heart happy and satisfied…
“Don’t come in here!” Bai Muchuan detected her presence and turned around. “You’ve already bathed so don’t get tainted by the cooking smell!”
“…”
Come on, I’m not so delicate? she thought in her head.
Xiang Wan shrugged her shoulders and smiled.
“I’m here to supervise you.”
“What’s there to supervise?”
“… I have to, what if you drug me or something?”
Bai Muchuan let out a chuckle then waved the soup spatula, pretending to be angry. “What kind of person am I? You think I’ll stoop to that level?”
“Men…” Xiang Wan pursed her lips into a smirk. She walked slowly towards him and put her arms around his waist. As she looked at the food he was making for her, she rested her head on his back. “Bai Muchuan,” she murmured sweetly, “why are you getting more and more attractive? You can’t go on like this, you’ll make me collapse!”
“Little Xiang Wan.” Bai Muchuan looked down and squeezed the hand that was on his waist gently.
“Mm?” Xiang Wan felt that she was blushing.
“If you continue to stay like this, we won’t be able to eat the food.” He turned his head to look at her. There was a glow in his eyes. “I’ll eat you up first.”
Uh!
Xiang Wan took a look at the ingredients that he had prepared—they were laid nicely and neatly aside. Then she quickly let go of him.
“I think it’s better that we eat some food first.”
She giggled happily and left the kitchen.
Bai Muchuan smiled and puffed a sigh. His line of sight was on a certain place that showed signs of waking up. There was a feeling that he found difficult to contain… a feeling that he couldn’t wait to do something.
…
The woman’s high-pitched voice was in bits and pieces when it came to their ears.
Xiang Wan could feel Bai Muchuan’s back stiffen.
She embraced him tighter.
“Bai Muchuan…”
He didn’t reply.
He was as quiet as a statue.
“Bai Muchuan…”
Xiang Wan called his name again.
This time, he lifted his hand slowly to touch her finger. “Let’s leave, okay?”
Leave?
Xiang Wan was confused.
It was so late already… Where did he want to go?
Bai Muchuan didn’t wait for her reply. He took hold of her wrist and strode away.
Somewhere in the courtyard, Zhu Xueyan was crying while Bai Zhenhua was smoking quietly. He didn’t comfort her and seemed to be deep in thought…
Bai Muchuan’s sudden appearance together with Xiang Wan, startled the unhappy couple.
Bai Zhenhua said sternly, “Where are you going?”
Bai Muchuan replied without turning his head, “I’m going home.”
Bai Zhenhua pulled a long face. “Home? Isn’t this your home?”
Bai Muchuan turned his head with a sneer on his face. He looked at him then at the agitated Zhu Xueyan. “Do you really think so?”
Bai Zhenhua didn’t talk but his expression turned grim. Zhu Xueyan pointed at Bai Muchuan and started to grumble. “You see it for yourself now? He’s a heartless and ungrateful monster. Look at his attitude towards us, why do you still treat him as a treasure… Let me tell you Bai Zhenhua, if he would show at least some respect for me, I wouldn’t have treated him in this manner!”
Bai Muchuan grunted a laugh. “Respect? If you knew the meaning of respect, you wouldn’t have kicked up a fuss in the courtyard at this hour. You could have quarreled inside your room instead, am I right?”
She had deliberately said all those words in the courtyard without lowering her volume, wasn’t that so he could hear that?
When he heard that, he would find it intolerable.
And when he found it intolerable, he would leave.
She had been like this for years, and she was still doing the same thing.
At the end of the day, as long as he was at home, she couldn’t be at peace with herself.
And as long as they were there, Bai Muchuan couldn’t be at peace with himself.
“Just take care of yourselves and let’s not interfere with each other!” After that, Bai Muchuan held Xiang Wan’s hand and left the house.
…
There was no sight of any vehicle on the road.
At this hour, a lot of people would be staying up late to welcome the New Year at home.
There was silence in the neighborhood.
Bai Muchuan held Xiang Wan’s hand as they strolled along the neighborhood. “Are you cold?”
Xiang Wan shook her head. “Not cold.”
Bai Muchuan smiled. “Let’s go back to our own home.”
Xiang Wan smiled sweetly as well. “Let’s go.”
Bai Muchuan: “We should be able to get a cab.”
Xiang Wan’s eyes formed a line as she smiled. “Mm.”
She looked at him; her gaze was filled with trust, admiration and gentleness like that of a mesmerized fangirl.
“Aye, what happened? Why are you looking at me like that?” He patted her head.
“Bai Muchuan, you’re really dashing earlier!” Xiang Wan couldn’t stop smiling.
“Dashing?” Bai Muchuan then let out a bitter laugh after a brief pause.
He looked up at the sky and sighed softly.
“In fact, that’s actually considered ‘fleeing’.”
Whenever something like this happened, he would choose to leave.
Him being tough and angry was just pretense.
The ethical and moral values on him could never be shaken off.
That family had brought him up.
He couldn’t bring himself to be truly harsh with them.
“Bai Muchuan.” Xiang Wan swung their hands as they walked. “There’s a question that I don’t know if I should ask…”
“If I tell you that you shouldn’t,” Bai Muchuan laughed. “Will you just stay quiet and not ask?”
“…”
“Just ask.”
Huff!
Xiang Wan was amused by him.
“I actually wanted to ask you for a long time. I was worried that you might be unhappy so I’ve been holding it in…”
“Silly girl!” Bai Muchuan took her waist. “Say it! I’m listening.”
“Mm!” Xiang Wan still hesitated for quite a while before popping the question. “Their problem. Aren’t you curious at all?”
Bai Muchuan halted his steps.
A few seconds later, he held her hand again with a smile and continued to walk.
“I’m curious but I don’t want to do anything.”
It would be very easy for him to find out who his biological dad was… However, he never attempted to confirm that. Firstly, back then when the Cheng Family took him in, he was very sure that Cheng Weiji must have done a DNA Paternity Test and that these two men would surely know. He didn’t believe a word of what Zhu Xueyan said in anger and jealousy. Secondly, in his eyes, no matter if it was Bai Zhenhua or Cheng Weiji, they weren’t good fathers at all.
Hence, he only wanted to acknowledge the fact that they had brought him up and nothing else.
As for repaying the favor of bringing him to the world, was there a favor in the first place?
That person, no matter whom he was, had owed him, not the other way round.
“To me, it’s not important at all to know who my dad is.”
He puffed a sigh and gazed at her, tilting his head. “The most important thing is that you’re by my side.”
So sweet!
Xiang Wan’s heart skipped a beat.
He chuckled and suddenly picked her up off the ground.
“Ah!” Xiang Wan quickly put her arms around his neck. “What are you doing?”
“I want to carry you and walk.”
“…” Xiang Wan looked around her surroundings. “Don’t you think it’s too embarrassing if someone sees this?”
“There’s no one here at all.”
That night, everyone was at home celebrating Lunar New Year. Why would there be people in the streets?
The empty streets without people and vehicles actually felt clean.
There was hardly anyone and no vehicles to be seen. They could see the end of a street in one look.
This aspect of the city was a rare sight, and it was as beautiful as expected.
It felt like they were the only people in the world.
Xiang Wan rested herself in Bai Muchuan’s arms, leaning on his shoulder.
In the far horizon, fireworks were still rising up and lit up the sky one after another.
There were so many words that could be said but at that moment, there was only silence.
…
When they got back home, Xiang Wan was relieved and comfortable.
By then, it was already 1:00 a.m at night.
The two of them did not feel tired at all. “Let’s have a drink,” said Bai Muchuan, “just the two of us.”
Xiang Wan smiled. “Sure.”
The atmosphere at the Bai Family was too stifling.
Xiang Wan took a look at the refrigerator. “I can whip up two simple dishes, do you want to eat?”
When she took out some ingredients from the refrigerator, Bai Muchuan stopped her. “My Queen, please go rest, let me do it!”
“You…” Xiang Wan’s eyes widened slightly.
“Don’t look down on me.” Bai Muchuan gave her an unhappy glance. “Go bath first, be good.”
Fine!
Since he wanted to cook, then let him do it.
Xiang Wan went to bathe and was smiling away. After her bath, she put on her home clothes and saw that Bai Muchuan was busy in the kitchen.
She often heard and saw on the internet that hard-working men were the most charming.
In fact, a man who was seriously cooking for his woman was even more attractive.
Xiang Wan leaned against the wall at the entrance of the kitchen and watched his busy stature preparing food. His presence made the kitchen seem warm and sweet, and she felt her heart happy and satisfied…
“Don’t come in here!” Bai Muchuan detected her presence and turned around. “You’ve already bathed so don’t get tainted by the cooking smell!”
“…”
Come on, I’m not so delicate? she thought in her head.
Xiang Wan shrugged her shoulders and smiled.
“I’m here to supervise you.”
“What’s there to supervise?”
“… I have to, what if you drug me or something?”
Bai Muchuan let out a chuckle then waved the soup spatula, pretending to be angry. “What kind of person am I? You think I’ll stoop to that level?”
“Men…” Xiang Wan pursed her lips into a smirk. She walked slowly towards him and put her arms around his waist. As she looked at the food he was making for her, she rested her head on his back. “Bai Muchuan,” she murmured sweetly, “why are you getting more and more attractive? You can’t go on like this, you’ll make me collapse!”
“Little Xiang Wan.” Bai Muchuan looked down and squeezed the hand that was on his waist gently.
“Mm?” Xiang Wan felt that she was blushing.
“If you continue to stay like this, we won’t be able to eat the food.” He turned his head to look at her. There was a glow in his eyes. “I’ll eat you up first.”
Uh!
Xiang Wan took a look at the ingredients that he had prepared—they were laid nicely and neatly aside. Then she quickly let go of him.
“I think it’s better that we eat some food first.”
She giggled happily and left the kitchen.
Bai Muchuan smiled and puffed a sigh. His line of sight was on a certain place that showed signs of waking up. There was a feeling that he found difficult to contain… a feeling that he couldn’t wait to do something.
…
