“That’s good to hear. You guys should go back first. It’s been a long day,” Xi Mushan said.

“Then, we’ll make a move first,” Mu Yuchen had already reached out to hold Xi Xiaye as he said this.

She frowned when he held her and inhaled sharply before she decided to follow him.

When Xi Mushan walked into the ward, Xi Xinyi was in a daze while holding half a bowl of porridge in her hand. She slowly raised her head when she heard footsteps. “Father? Why are you here?”

Xi Mushan walked a few steps closer. “Ah Chen called, so I just wanted to drop by and visit. Are you alright? What’s the matter? Why did you get into a fight?” he asked as he was slightly worried.

“I’m okay. Those women drank too much and there was some disagreement. The alcohol also kicked in, thus I just went for it without much thought. Fortunately, Brother-in-law got there in time to break up the fight. Su Nan was also injured. Is she okay now?”

“She’s fine. Eat your porridge while it’s still hot,” Xi Mushan said as he pulled a chair from the side and sat down.

“Do you still blame your sister?” he looked at Xi Xinyi’s pale face and asked in his low voice.

Xi Xinyi paused when she heard this. After a while, she broke into a bitter smile and said, “How could I bring myself to hate her?”

“It’s best if you can think like that and have an open mind. She’s the closest person to you after me and your mother. She’s your sister.”

“I understand, Father.”

“Get well soon. Remember that no matter what, you should never let anyone or anything hurt your own people because, at the end of the day, they might be all you can rely on. Your grandmother and mother didn’t understand this, and I hope you won’t be like them because you’d be going down a road of no return.”

“Father, I—”

“Okay, you don’t have to say anything as long as you truly understand. Now, take a good rest.”

Xi Xinyi sniffled as she looked down at the steaming bowl of porridge in her hand. Her eyes welled up a little.

…

It was dark when Xi Xiaye and Mu Yuchen finally returned to Maple Residence. Sis Wang had already prepared dinner and was waiting for them.

Zhou Zimo had also sent Mu Xiaocheng back and gone out to socialize before he could have dinner.

The couple washed their hands, had dinner, and went upstairs.

Although Xi Xiaye was tired, she called Ruan Heng just to make sure there was nothing serious about Su Nan’s injuries.

After her shower, Aunt Fang came and took Mu Xiaocheng away.

The little guy seemed to be exhausted from playing today. Xi Xiaye played with him for a while before he stopped paying attention to her. He then crawled to the middle of the bed and fell asleep, setting her mind at rest.

Mu Yuchen was still taking a bath. It was just past nine o’clock and Xi Xiaye did not normally go to bed early, so she started reading a book as she lay on the bed.

She was so focused on reading that she lost track of time, but suddenly she could smell a strong scent of Chinese liniment followed by a shadow in front of her.

Xi Xiaye frowned and quickly raised her head, only to see a man in a dark blue bathrobe who had already sat down next to her. He was holding a bottle of Chinese liniment and some cotton in his hand.

“Take your clothes off.”

“What?” Xi Xiaye was dumbfounded and she looked at him with a frown.

“If you don’t apply some medicine on your chest, you’ll have to suffer the pain longer.” He glared at her furiously.

Xi Xiaye just remembered that she had been punched by the drunk woman, and she felt a little sore. While she was taking a shower, she could feel the pain with just a slight movement in her hand.

She slowly removed her shirt, revealing the bruise on her chest near her right shoulder. It was small but quite obvious.

“If you ever encounter something like that in the future, don’t get involved. For someone your size, you’ll only suffer,” he scolded her.

“I didn’t expect the two women to be good at fighting, but Su Nan was pretty amazing herself. They also got their front teeth knocked out, didn’t they?” Xi Xiaye could not help but smile as she remembered the tragic expression on the two women’s faces. “Su Nan didn’t let me do it, but I did it anyway and showed them who’s boss.”

“Do you feel proud of it? You’ll only cry about it if you lose. You’re already in your 30s, but you still think you can fight like a thug in school! Only irresponsible and immature teenage girls would do stupid things like that,” he reproached angrily while applying the medicine-soaked cotton on her bruise. You’re mature and wise. You’re already in your 30s!”

She glanced at him disdainfully. “You’re indirectly saying that I’m old and less charming now, aren’t you!?”

“Then, I have to commend your IQ now that it seems like it has improved. It’s not easy to read between the lines,” he said as he glared at her and the pressure of his hands slightly increased, so she started crying in pain.

“Ouch! Be careful! Don’t you know that it hurts!?”

“How would you remember it if it didn’t hurt? Your temper has gotten worse recently. Was the docility that I saw when we first got married just a show? Now, you’re showing your true colors!” Mu Yuchen said. However, he could not help but smile when he saw her furrowed brows.

“Aren’t you the same? Also, do you believe I can easily list more than ten of your weaknesses?” Xi Xiaye was certainly unimpressed and she immediately rebutted.

He listened but shot her a wry look.

Xi Xiaye thought he did not believe her, so she immediately started counting, “You call me a clean freak and picky eater, but when I say something about you, you just ignore me! You’re also narrow-minded as if you’re the only good man in the world. Sometimes, you can even be petty with your own son. Also, sometimes you like to pretend like you’re a deep thinker, but I can see right through you now!”

“Then, do you know what I want to do now?” He did not seem to be angry when he heard what she said. Instead, he started smirking. Xi Xiaye felt her back going numb and her hair stood on end!

“You…want to strangle me?” she raised her eyebrows and smiled nervously.

“There’s a secret I’ve been wanting to tell you. Do you want to know what it is?” There seemed to be a touch of seduction in his tone.

“What?” Of course, she wanted to know!

“It seems like you didn’t just start having a spare tire around your waist recently. You actually have one more!” he smiled innocently as he said.

Xi Xiaye was taken aback, and it took her a while to figure out what he meant. Her face turned sour and she struck him with the pillow next to her with one hand. “Get out! You’re sleeping in the living room tonight!”

He ignored her and grabbed the pillow with one hand while putting the medicine bottle on the table next to him. Then, he lay down next to her…

“I’m asking you to leave…Hey!”

“If you want our son to see any obscenity, then shout all you want!”