The two sisters just sat there without uttering a single word. It took quite a while before Xi Xiaye continued speaking, “The doctor said your body hasn’t been doing well. You shouldn’t stay up late all the time. What you should do is to pay more attention to your nutrition intake. That way, your body will recover faster.”
She was unsure whether it was her tone of concern, but Xi Xinyi had an indescribable feeling while listening to her sister’s advice. After hesitating for quite some time, she accepted the bowl of porridge under Xi Xiaye’s delicate gaze and quietly started eating it with her head bowed down.
While looking at her sister in silence, Xi Xiaye pulled a napkin from the side table and passed it over. Xi Xinyi extended her arm to take it.
Meanwhile, both the sisters could not have known that amidst all the silence, two sturdy silhouettes were witnessing everything through the gap of the door from just outside the room.
“She is still who she was. She worries about her all the time, thus she has never truly made up her mind, Father,” Mu Yuchen spoke with slight resignation in his deep voice.
Speaking of that, her personality was the exact duplicate of his. No matter how inhumane they might be to others, they could never really do the same to the people who were close to them just like how he treated Mu Lingtian. Maybe that was the reason why he managed to find such a profound resonance within her.
That was why he found it emotionally impossible to tear himself away from his attachment to her. Sometimes, he just wished that she could be a little more heartless. Then, she would be more relaxed and not face too much pressure.
It was not that he loved her kindness. If she was part of the equation, he could put up with anything that came with her, including her so-called viciousness. Plus, if he had chosen to be with her in the first place, he must be someone who would willingly get his hands dirty with her and not someone who would despise her malice. This had nothing to do with kindness since he was not a saint of any kind to start with. However, it was those imperfections of hers that made him feel lucky.
Xi Mushan remembered every action and detail that took place in the ward, including the conversation between both sisters, word for word. He nodded and sighed lightly before he retracted his gaze from his daughters, turned his body away slowly yet silently, then took a few steps to the side while Mu Yuchen followed him from behind.
“Her personality resembles her mother’s a lot. However, she’s a soft-hearted person. Some see it as a strength while to others, it’s a shortcoming. If Xi Xinyi can realize that, it’s naturally the best-case scenario, but if she can’t, the person that she’ll hurt the most is definitely Xiaye,” Xu Mushan said faintly.
“But after all that has happened, I do also hope that Xinyi can let bygones be bygones. You have been giving in to accommodate Xiaye although that should be tiring. Thanks to you, she has an easier way out,” he continued while staring at Mu Yuchen with his grateful eyes.
In fact, when he knew that Mu Yuchen and his daughter were going out, deep down, he was filled with contentment and satisfaction.
Although he had changed his career path and was now an educator, he had been in politics for many years, and with his career advantage plus his relationship with Shen Wenna, he had learned a lot about the Mu family. After all, Mu Tangchuan was a rather prestigious name in the government, and this man standing in front of him was also a legend himself…
“Moreover, when it comes to both of us, I’m afraid that even a biological son wouldn’t have treated us better, and for that, I’m grateful.”
“I’m lucky if you appreciate what I’ve done so far. As for Xi Xinyi, I have been discussing it with Xiaye. How did Han Yifeng and her end up in their current situation? There are many details that we don’t know. Xiaye won’t forgive her, but I know she won’t want things to be how they are now. I have promised Xinyi that I’ll help her fight for another chance, and I’m already on it. I’ll be assigning her to San Francisco as a regional manager.”
“San Francisco? Where Han Yifeng is?” Xi Mushan asked.
Mu Yuchen replied with a nod, “Yeah, it isn’t an easy task to accomplish, but now I guess it’s for the best if I can make it happen as soon as possible.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Don’t you worry, Father. I will do all the thinking. I’m thinking maybe after the Lunar New Year, but you don’t have to rush to tell her that just yet. As for Yue Lingsi…”
“We’ll transfer her there when Xinyi has settled down. Then, we’ll hire a private nurse to look after her. It’s not a big deal.” When speaking about Yue Lingsi, Xi Mushan’s feelings did not fluctuate much. She was a stain he could never erase. All he felt whenever the name came up was his guilt towards Shen Wenna.
“I’ll let you make the final call on that.” He did not wish to upset his wife by needing her to deal with such matters, so it was best if they could resolve the issue in one go.
“Great. I’ll get Li Si to arrange a nurse. She hasn’t been getting enough rest these few days, and there’s much to do at the end of the year, so I think we should return home. If there is anything, just call me. Mother knows you’re here, so you should go home earlier too.”
Xi Mushan nodded. “Yeah, sorry to have bothered you. Go home. I can see that Xiaye is tired…”
Both father and son-in-law strode back to the door while chatting.
Meanwhile, back in the ward. Xi Xiaye took the empty bowl from Xi Xinyi and ladled out another half a bowl. Xi Xinyi accepted it silently though without much thought given.
“Do you know that restraining your temper a little will make you suffer less? Taking a step backward for a moment of peace and safety is always the best policy. You’re only one girl, so you don’t have to go all out and mess with them. You’re considered lucky today, but luck will not be bestowed upon you all the time, and it’s not always a good thing for one to always fight for her own rights,” Xi Xiaye advised after some thought when she saw that Xi Xinyi had wiped her tears dry and started to gulp her porridge down.
As soon as Xi Xiaye’s words hit her, Xi Xinyi’s dried eyes immediately got warm and tears started rolling down again. She could not stand any word of concern from Xi Xiaye even if it was just a little as it would only remind her of how terrible she had been before this, and that made her feel disgusted about herself.
Seeing Xi Xinyi go silent, Xi Xiaye did not plan to continue her lecture any more and she slowly stood up.
“Mu Yuchen has asked Li Si to get you a nurse. Rest well and call the doctors or nurses if anything happens,” Xi Xiaye advised before taking her leave.
As the steely scent faded away, Xi Xinyi raised her head in an instant and stared at Xi Xiaye’s slender back. Following a moment of strenuous struggle, she called out to the silhouette in her hoarse voice, “Sorry, Sis! I’m terribly sorry…”
When the apology struck her, Xi Xiaye halted for a moment, but then she swiftly continued her movement out of the room without looking back or saying a single word.
As soon as she left the ward, she ran into the two men standing out there: Xi Mushan and Mu Yuchen.
“Dad?” Xi Xiaye looked at Xi Mushan in shock.
“I was the one who called him here,” Mu Yuchen replied.
“I was informed about the incident, so I came by to check on you girls. Are you okay?” Xi Mushan expressed his concern.