C16 Young Master is Waiting for You in the Study

As Moo Nuannuan stared into his crinkled eyes and welcoming smile, she was stunned into silence. Who would've thought that the most feared man in the city would be such an amiable person? As he glowed at her and motioned for her to come closer, she couldn't help but follow his lead. She blinked a few times, wondering if she was just dreaming. If his glowing personality was part of the Mu genes, Mu Jiachen probably didn't get any. At the thought, she resisted the urge to snort.

After a few seconds, she finally recovered from her surprise. "Good evening, Sir." She bowed her head, not daring to meet him in the eye. "Yes, I am Moo Nuannuan. It's nice to meet you."

This time, she wasn't pretending to be dumb. This certainly surpassed her expectations."

"Don't be shy," he encouraged. "You've already married into the Mu family, have you not? Essentially, you're already part of the family. There's no need for these formalities."

He picked up the kettle right beside him and poured a cup of warm water for her. As she held the cup close to her chest, his smile widened even further, and his eyes glistened in what seemed to be kindness. It was an unfamiliar look. and it was one that she hadn't been used to all these years. Even Moo Nuannuan had to take a double-take.

Back when she was still part of the Moo family, she had always been used to a more recluse lifestyle. Moo Liyan refused to even look at her unless he was scolding her if she was ever accused of doing something wrong. Xiao Chuhee, on the other hand, was so focused on Moo Wanqi to even pay her any extra attention.

It was a weird feeling to be treated with such pleasantries, even if it was from a stranger.

"Thank you, Sir" she said softly.

"Enough with the pleasantries." He stared at her deeply. "You can call me 'Dad', as what Tingxiao calls me."

Although the woman wasn't as beautiful as he had thought and wasn't as quick-on-her feet as he had heard, she looked simple and kind–exactly the woman who fitted his son's raging temper. They seemed to be a great pair.

"...Dad," Moo Nuannuan finally said with great difficulty.

Mu Qingfeng smiled in response. "Although I do have to apologize, I know how wronged you must feel, given that you didn't have the chance to have a grand wedding. I know how all the young women dreamt of having their own wedding day...I would've wanted to discuss this matter more with you at the manor if the both of you were present, but alas..." He sighed. "Tingxiao had a burden to carry ever since what had happened with his mother...He could bear to head back to the old manor with me. I could only hope that you'd be able to convince and teach him in due time."

The Mu family had gone on for hundreds of years, and the manor was one of their legacies.

There were rumors that the Mu family manor had no fair market value; it was just that priceless. No matter how many years had passed, they had never offered it up for sale despite its outdated design. Once, there was a man who was arrogant enough to bid 100 billion for the residences, only to become the laughing stock amongst the upper class. "No one buys that manor," they could only say in response.

There was also little information of Mu Tingxiao's mother.

When the kidnappers had raided the household more than ten years ago, they didn't just kidnap Mu Tingxiao, but also his mother.

In the end, Mu Tingxiao was the only one who was announced to have been rescued that day.

As for his mother, nothing much was said, but there were plenty of rumors that had circulated within the cityscape.

Some said that she had died back at that cell. Some had said that she still wasn't dead and was recuperating in one of the guarded hospitals. Some had said that she was raped by the kidnappers–that was the reason why the Mu family refused to address her. Whatever happened, one thing was for certain–they never had the opportunity to see his mother again after that incident.

There was a brief silence when she finally looked up. "I haven't actually seen him ever since I got here."

Although her voice was soft, Mu Qingfeng could still hear her.

His expression changed slightly, but even then, the smile on his face had stayed.

"Well, let's worry about him another day." He chuckled. After this, the old man didn't include Mu Tingxiao in the conversation anymore. Instead, he chose to ask a bit about her lifestyle and her condition, keeping his questions light and casual. "It's been a while since I've had someone to talk to, so you have to forgive me if I seem a bit intrusive."

"Not at all." She may have acted a bit slow, but there was sincerity in her features that couldn't be erased.

An hour had passed, and their light conversation finally came to an end. "Leng Xu will take you back to my son's villa," he said with a smile. "It was nice meeting you, Nuannuan. And hopefully, I'll be able to see the both of you soon enough."

The ride back to the mountains was shorter than usual since there wasn't any traffic anymore. Leng Xu stared at her retreating figure, only driving away when she finally entered the front doors.

Throughout this time, she felt deep in thought. Even as she had walked into the living room, she couldn't help but think back to her conversation with her father-in-law. Although his tone was light and simple, there was an edge around his words–as if he was trying to dig for more information. Her fingers drummed against her side.

Hm...No.

He wasn't trying to dig information about her, but about Mu Tingxiao.

Although Moo Nuannuan had never seen the legendary Mu Tingxiao since the day she arrived, she suspected that their relationship wasn't as bright and sunny as the reporters had expected. Given that the young man refused to see his own father and how Mu Qingfeng didn't know much of what's happening inside this household, they obviously weren't speaking to each other as often as they would've liked.

The old man had said something about his mother...how Mu Tingxiao was burdened...Could it be that he had a grudge against his father because of what happened?

"Young Madame."

A firm voice snapped her out of her reverie, and she turned around.

It was the same bodyguard who had picked her up from the Moo family. "You called me?"

"Yes." He nodded. "Young Master wants to see you."

"What did you say?" She blinked. "Young Master? You mean, Mu Tingxiao?"

"Yes, Young Master is waiting for you in the study."