His Beloved Treasure

Wasn’t my temper just as bad?

Qin Mu subconsciously looked towards Mu Yichen, who was leaning back in his chair, watching her intently.

He seemed to exist outside of this gathering; despite wearing a simple light-colored shirt, he exuded an air of imperial authority.

Late into the evening, as everyone stayed up together, cracking sunflower seeds while watching the New Year’s Gala, the father and son duo continued to play chess.

Latter, Huanhuan fell asleep on Qin Mu’s lap. Feng Fanghua glanced up and said in a low voice, ”Take her upstairs to sleep.”

Qin Mu nodded obediently and carried her daughter upstairs.

Mu Qingxin whispered into Feng Fanghua’s ear, ”Mom, you look so kind and understanding right now.”

”Go on, get out of here!”

Feng Fanghua shot her daughter a look, then shoved a fruit platter into her arms, sending her on her way.

Mu Qingxin wrapped one arm around the fruit platter and the other around Feng Fanghua: ”I don’t want to, I just want to stick with my mom.”

Feng Fanghua looked down at her daughter, who was acting spoiled, thinking to herself, You’ve been gone for so long without coming back, do you really miss me now?

Especially knowing that her daughter had forsaken her family for a man, and to make matters worse, they weren’t officially together yet.

She had thought that her daughter and Jiang Yan had secretly gotten married, but only found out today that it wasn’t the case at all.

Mu Qingxin said that Jiang Yan was afraid others would find out about the marriage, so the wedding had to be postponed.

Actually, Mu Qingxin was very nervous at the moment. She didn’t know what might happen on Jiang Yan’s end; she didn’t even dare to call him or send him a message. She just wanted to ask if everything was alright with him.

But there was nothing she could do.

After Qin Mu had put Huanhuan to sleep, she didn’t hurry back downstairs.

Many things seem simple on the surface, but what about reality?

Thinking of her mother’s gravestone and Qin Haiming’s promise, she wasn’t sure if Qin Haiming could still get through this New Year’s peacefully, especially since his first wife’s gravestone had been vandalized.

Of course, if the concern he had shown her throughout the year was just a facade, it was not unforgivable for him to be able to spend the New Year in happiness.

The Qin Family’s New Year didn’t go well actually.

By the time dinner was finished, it was almost nine o’clock. Qin Haiming was in a bad mood, so Qin Mingzhu was on tenterhooks.

Zhang Rujia, observing the pair and their concealed thoughts, felt a drumming in her heart when she saw Qin Haiming’s ever-ready-to-anger expression, thinking he was upset about his daughter sneaking out to spend the night again.

”Mingzhu, no matter what, you’re not allowed to run out in the middle of the night anymore, understand? Your dad was worried sick after you left.”

Zhang Rujia helped Qin Haiming with the dishes while saying this to her daughter.

Qin Mingzhu nodded vigorously: ”I know, I won’t dare to do it again!”

Qin Mingzhu’s voice was somewhat weak, and her expression was frail.

”As long as you know better, that’s good. Now eat up. It’s the New Year; our family should be happy and joyful!”

Zhang Rujia said with a smile, serving some food into Qin Mingzhu’s bowl. Just as Qin Mingzhu was about to eat with her lowered head, Qin Haiming suddenly put down his chopsticks.

The force with which he set down his chopsticks wasn’t very strong, but it was enough for the mother and daughter to hear and feel his anger.

Zhang Rujia looked at her daughter, who immediately set down her own chopsticks, and then, in a low, coaxing voice, asked Qin Haiming, ”What on earth is the matter? You’ve been frowning since the afternoon. Did something unpleasant happen outside? If it’s because of Mingzhu, hasn’t she already said she won’t dare anymore?”

”Hmph! She says she won’t dare? Haven’t I heard that enough? My ears practically have calluses from it.”

Qin Haiming had intended to drink, but the incident with the gravestone had spoiled his appetite for alcohol.

”Mingzhu, what outrageous thing have you done? Look how angry you’ve made your father.”

”I haven’t! I just spent last night at AM...no, at a classmate’s house. When I came back, I saw Dad was already upset.”

Qin Mingzhu quickly corrected herself after blurting out ”AM,” switching it to a classmate’s house.

Qin Haiming just squinted at her, his gaze making Qin Mingzhu start to feel uneasy.

”Was it a male classmate’s house or a female classmate’s?”

Zhang Rujia thought for sure that her daughter had stayed at a male classmate’s house and it had come to Qin Haiming’s attention, otherwise, he wouldn’t be so angry.

”A female classmate. Dad, you said not to stay with other boys before getting married. I remember that.”

Qin Mingzhu immediately responded nervously, already tense, her voice rising with agitation, only becoming cautious when she raised her eyes to Qin Haiming.

”Your aunt’s gravestone has been destroyed. I promised Mumu I would give her an explanation, give your aunt an explanation. Do you understand?”