The taxi pulled up in front of a villa in Bailu Bay. The housekeeper spotted it and wondered who had come to visit.
When Mu Xingyu stepped out, she cried out in delight, “Young Master, you’re finally home!” She hurried over to help with his luggage.
Xiaowen had already guessed the truth, but he still couldn’t hide his surprise.
He’d been working with Mu Xingyu for a while now, and Xingyu had always treated him well. He’d never acted like some spoiled young master from a wealthy family.
“Xiaowen, would you like to stay for dinner?” Mu Xingyu asked.
Xiaowen quickly shook his head. “No, thanks, Brother Xingyu.” He was curious to see what a wealthy family’s home was like, but he knew they had plenty of rules and worried he’d feel out of place. Better to go back to his own place.
“All right. I’ll be staying home for the next few days, so you don’t need to come to the office. Get some rest.” Mu Xingyu had the family driver take Xiaowen home.
As Xiaowen climbed into the Rolls-Royce, his heart pounded.
The driver focused on the road, and Xiaowen had no idea what to say. He decided to look up prominent people surnamed Mu on his phone, and discovered that the owner of one of the country’s best-known real estate companies was a Mu.
Xiaowen felt as if he’d missed out on a fortune. A young master from a wealthy family had been right beside him, and he hadn’t known a thing.
…
In the Mu family’s living room, Father Mu was reading a magazine while Mother Mu played on her phone. They were both waiting for dinner. It was already past the Mu family’s usual mealtime, but they hadn’t eaten because Mother Mu had said Mu Xingyu would be coming home.
Just as Mother Mu was about to give up waiting, she finally heard Mu Xingyu’s voice. She hurriedly stood up, but Father Mu said sternly, “Don’t go!”
“Why are you being so serious? Xingyu’s finally home. Don’t scare him off.” Mother Mu went out into the hall and spotted Mu Xingyu.
“Mom.” Mu Xingyu was overcome with emotion. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.
Mother Mu was a little surprised. It had been a long time since her son had been this affectionate. She smiled. “Did you have fun on your trip? Let me see if you’ve lost weight.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’m fine.” Mu Xingyu glanced at Father Mu, who was still sitting in the living room with his magazine, then went over and said, “Dad, I’m home.”
“Hmph. So you do remember how to come home.” Father Mu glanced at Mu Xingyu, then returned his attention to the magazine.
“Old Mu, our son just got home. Watch your temper,” Mother Mu said, coming over with a frown.
Mu Xingyu smiled to himself. His father called all the shots at work, but at home, his mother ruled the roost. Still, Mu Xingyu knew his father cared about him. He was only acting cold on purpose.
Mu Xingyu sat beside Father Mu and pulled the magazine out of his hands. “Dad, I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have gone off on a trip. But look, I’m home now.”
“Hmph, you know you were wrong? Why did you keep turning off your phone? Do you know how worried your mother was?” Father Mu scolded him.
“You make it sound as if you weren’t worried about your son too,” Mother Mu said, calling him out without a moment’s hesitation.
Father Mu’s face stiffened. He coughed awkwardly.
Mu Xingyu quickly handed him a cup of tea.
Father Mu took a sip and sighed. “Don’t worry about the marriage arrangement with the Gu family. I’ll find a way to handle it.”
“Dad, I’ve thought it through. President Gu may be in a coma now, but he could wake up soon. Besides, he’s talented and handsome. It’s not as if I’d be losing out by marrying him.”
Father Mu and Mother Mu stared at him in surprise.
“Xingyu, don’t force yourself,” Father Mu said.
“Dad, I mean it.”
Mother Mu couldn’t understand what had made her son change his mind so completely after going away. She sat beside him and studied his expression. “Did the Gu family threaten you?”
Mu Xingyu burst out laughing. “Mom, what are you thinking?”
“Don’t laugh. Gu Yunzhou is unconscious, and Old Master Gu would do anything to bring him good luck through marriage.” As she spoke, Mother Mu’s eyes reddened.
The Gu family had always looked out for the Mu family. Because of their connection, companies across the country had been willing to show the Mu family some respect.
After Gu Yunzhou’s accident, Old Master Gu clung to the hope that a chongxi marriage might help him. Father Mu and Mother Mu had no idea how to refuse.
It was only when Mu Xingyu had angrily gone off on a trip and stopped answering their calls that Father Mu and Mother Mu began to panic.
Even if people accused the Mu family of repaying kindness with ingratitude, even if it meant offending the mighty Gu family, they had decided to call off the engagement. Their son’s happiness mattered most.
When Father Mu told Mu Xingyu what they had decided, Mu Xingyu’s eyes reddened too.
“Dad, Mom, thank you for thinking of me. But don’t worry. I truly want to marry Gu Yunzhou.”
In his previous life, Mu Xingyu had stayed with the cast of Warm Moments until he came home for Father Mu’s birthday.
By then, Old Master Gu had already understood how he felt, and in the end, he had given up on the chongxi plan of his own accord.
Later, when Andre went after the Mu family, everyone thought the Gu family was taking revenge on them. But Mu Xingyu knew it was just a way for Andre to gain control of the Gu family.
This time, Mu Xingyu had come home of his own accord. Things were already entirely different from his previous life.
He was determined not to let the same tragedy happen again.
Father Mu looked puzzled. “Why did you change your mind all of a sudden?”
“Dad, actually, I haven’t been traveling these past few days. I… signed with a talent agency.”
Father Mu frowned. “You joined the entertainment industry?”
“Yes. I want to be a star.”
“Xingyu, is that true? I don’t exactly approve, but my son is so handsome. It would be a shame not to be a star.” Mother Mu smiled, lightening the heavy mood.
Father Mu glared at her. His son was too innocent, and the entertainment industry was such a complicated place. He was worried Xingyu would get taken advantage of.
“If you wanted to be a star, why didn’t you tell me?” Father Mu asked.
“It was just a sudden idea. The main thing is, I realized these past few days how naive I was. Running a company isn’t easy. Gu Yunzhou manages the Gu Group, with hundreds of thousands of employees, and keeps everything running smoothly. It’s honestly impressive. He’s just a great dragon stranded in shallow water right now. Maybe, as Old Master Gu hopes, if I marry him, he’ll wake up. What do I have to complain about?”
“You really mean that?” Father Mu asked.
“Of course. And, Dad, I want to marry him as soon as possible. Talk to Old Master Gu about setting a date. Oh, and I’d like to visit the Gu family soon, too.”
Father Mu and Mother Mu both stared at Mu Xingyu in disbelief.
Mu Xingyu realized they needed time to adjust. He took their hands and smiled. “Come on, let’s go eat.”
The family shared a warm, happy meal, and Father Mu and Mother Mu finally believed their son had truly changed his mind.
After dinner, Mu Xingyu went back to his room.
He showered, changed into his pajamas, and lay down on his soft bed. Only then did he feel his body fully relax.
He examined the lotus bracelet on his wrist again. The buds hadn’t changed at all, and he wondered when the lotus would bloom again.
Before long, Mu Xingyu fell asleep.
He’d been up before dawn and working late on set, and Feng Zian had kept setting him up. He hadn’t had a proper rest in ages. Back home, surrounded by familiar things and lying on his soft bed, he soon drifted off.
Mother Mu had wanted to tell him they were visiting the Gu residence the next day, but when she knocked and got no answer, she had no choice but to leave.
The next morning, Mu Xingyu woke to find it was already past eight.
He quickly raised his arm and saw that all three lotus buds had bloomed. The lotus must need some time to produce spirit liquid, he thought.
He called the drops that dripped from the lotus “spirit liquid.” There were only three a day, so he treasured every one.
He hurried downstairs to get some cups, planning to let his parents try it too.
He put a drop of spirit liquid in each of three cups, added a little drinking water, then set them on a tray and carried it into the living room.
Father Mu and Mother Mu had already eaten breakfast and were sitting in the living room, talking.
When Mother Mu saw him, she said, “You’re up. We’re going to the Gu residence today, so hurry and get ready.”
“What? We’re going today?” Mu Xingyu was surprised. He wanted to see Gu Yunzhou, but hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
“Old Master Gu heard you wanted to visit, so he quickly set it up for today,” Father Mu said, still looking worried.
Mu Xingyu understood his father’s concern. Old Master Gu was in such a hurry because he wanted Mu Xingyu to bring Gu Yunzhou good luck through marriage as soon as possible.
He handed his parents their cups and smiled. “Today’s fine. I’ll get to see Gu Yunzhou sooner.”
“Are you really willing to marry him?” Father Mu asked again.
“Dad, stop asking. I really am willing.” Mu Xingyu emphasized each word.
Only after watching his parents finish their drinks did Mu Xingyu lift his own cup and take a sip.
Then he went back to his room to wash up. He wandered around his walk-in closet before finally choosing a white casual suit.
Around ten, they set off for the Gu residence.
The Gu family’s old mansion stood in the eastern part of the city, beside Central Garden. It was a five-story European-style villa, surrounded by gardens and spacious grounds, with beautiful scenery.
In Beijing, where every inch of land was worth a fortune, owning a property this large beside Central Garden was not something money alone could buy.
Aside from the old mansion, the Gu family owned many properties at home and abroad: a centuries-old European castle, a Suzhou garden with its little bridges and flowing water, and a private island in the South Pacific.
Before long, the limousine pulled up in front of the Gu villa. Lin Xiao, the butler, was waiting to greet them.
“Mr. Mu, Madam Mu, Young Master Mu, welcome. The master has been waiting for you in the living room,” Lin Xiao said respectfully.
Mu Xingyu followed his parents into the villa, but all the while, he kept an eye on Lin Xiao.
In his previous life, he had taken chicken soup to Gu Yunzhou, only for Gu Yunzhou to be poisoned after drinking it.
In prison, Mu Xingyu had gone over the details in his mind. Aside from himself, the only person who had touched the soup was Lin Xiao, who had claimed he was checking it for poison.
What a case of the thief crying “Stop, thief!”