CHAPTER 242: CHAPTER 228: IF YOU LEAVE, DON’T COME BACK

Gu Qili just came out of the bathroom and saw Mu Shuoqian putting his phone back into his pocket, then he fumbled inside for a while and took out a set of keys.

He put the keys into her open palm and closed her fingers around them, saying calmly, "Returning to the original owner."

The cold metal gently pressed against her palm, but her body was warm.

"Thank you."

He was silent for a while before saying, "You don’t have to thank me. This was something I had promised you before, and it was obtained with three percent of Mu Guang’s shares; it rightfully belongs to you."

She smiled and hugged him, "You think I am a three-year-old child? Even selling three percent of Mu Guang’s shares at the highest market price can’t afford this vineyard. You’re clearly making a losing deal."

"Then I’m even more profitable, now I have both the vineyard and you." Her stomach grumbled embarrassingly, and she looked at him with a wronged expression, "I’m hungry."

"Hmm."

After saying a word to Fan Bin, the two of them drove away.

Gu Qili had a rare two-day holiday and originally wanted to stay at home to spend his birthday, but halfway through Mu Shuoqian received a call from Mu Haotian asking them to come back to the old house for lunch.

Ever since Mu Hewen annoyed Mu Haotian last time, the Mu family hadn’t gathered for a meal in a long time.

Right upon entering, Gu Qili saw a rather big birthday cake on the dining table, probably because they knew Mu Shuoqian liked cars, it was deliberately made in the shape of a car model.

In the kitchen, several servants were bustling about vigorously.

"Second brother, happy birthday." Mu Fan poked his head out of the kitchen, his mouth stuffed with stolen ribs.

"Thank you," Mu Shuoqian nodded to him.

"Wait a moment, I’ve prepared a gift for you." Mu Fan said and then quickly ran upstairs, and soon rushed down again, moving like a whirlwind.

He handed a small box to Mu Shuoqian, "Second brother, this is for you, happy birthday."

Mu Shuoqian opened it in front of him, it was clear that the gift was thoughtfully chosen based on Mu Shuoqian’s preferences.

Mu Shuoqian looked very pleased, his lips curling up slightly, "I really like it."

"If you didn’t like it, I’d be at a huge loss. I saved up two months of pocket money for this; I almost lived on just air!" Mu Fan scratched his hair, feeling a bit embarrassed, then suddenly turned his gaze to Gu Qili with a provocative air, "Gu Qili, what gift did you give my second brother? Surely, it can’t compare to mine."

"Stop bragging. The gift I gave, even if you added up a lifetime’s pocket money, it wouldn’t suffice," Gu Qili stuck out her tongue at him. Since they were around the same age, she especially loved to tease him, feeling that sticking out her tongue wasn’t enough to provoke him, she then put both hands above her head and made a face at him.

"Bullshitter, I don’t believe you’re that rich," Mu Fan, unwilling to be outdone, lifted a hand to his eyelid and pulled it downwards, "King of Bullshit."

"Childish."

"You’re even more childish."

As these two were about to clash, Mu Shuoqian seemed uninterested in stopping them, he casually flicked the small box with his index finger and put it into his pocket.

Mu Haotian finished his work and walked downstairs, just in time to see Gu Qili and Mu Fan teasing each other, his face darkened, and he scolded, "Behave properly, what kind of decorum is this, sister-in-law and younger uncle playing around like this."

Gu Qili secretly stuck out her tongue; this Mu Haotian really was everywhere, and plus, Mu Fan always chose such times to cause trouble for her.

Mu Fan was unapologetic, a smug look on his face as he said to Mu Haotian, "Dad, what birthday gift did you prepare for my second brother? I doubt it’s better than mine."

Gu Qili sneered: This guy is really overstepping his bounds, it’s just a pair of cufflinks, why show off everywhere, so restless at such a young age.

Mu Haotian turned his head to look at Mu Shuoqian, smiling benignly, "Shuoqian, I got a bottle of red wine for you at an auction, do you want to drink it at noon or take it home to savor slowly?"

Mu Shuoqian said, "Let’s drink it together."

Mu Haotian nodded, "Good." Then he went to instruct the kitchen to let the wine breathe.

"Gu Qili, I have the college entrance exams next week, aren’t you going to give me something to bless me to get into Australian University?" Mu Fan relentlessly followed her.

"Give your sister," Gu Qili glared at him, "The Third Young Master of Mu family still lacks my little object? You said yourself I have no money!"

"Why are you so stingy? Can’t afford expensive gifts, nor cheap ones?" Mu Fan seriously thought about it: "How about this, gift me a signature pen."

"Not gifting, pens are quite expensive too."

"Come on, just gift it, being a top student, your gift will surely pass."

Unable to resist him, Gu Qili had to agree.

Mu Shuoqian sat on the couch and turned on the TV, seemingly disinterested in the birthday banquet meticulously prepared by the Mu Family for him.

)

The best birthday he had in thirty years was the one given by Gu Qili; no matter how hard others try, they are destined to be overshadowed by her. His attendance was merely to give Mu Haotian some face.

He quietly watched the TV, while Gu Qili and Mu Fan discussed college entrance exams, sharing her experience with him.

The harmonious atmosphere was disrupted by the arrival of Mu Hewen’s family. Mu Fan, who had been leaning on the couch talking to Gu Qili, straightened up to greet them.

"Mom, second aunt and uncle are whispering again." Mu Xinrou, held in Qi Meihui’s arms, suddenly pointed them out with a shrill voice. Being a child, her voice was naturally loud and it alerted Mu Haotian, who immediately turned his head from the wine cabinet to look over.

However, what he saw wasn’t just Gu Qili and Mu Fan; Mu Shuoqian was also there, holding Gu Qili’s hand, engrossed in watching the TV.

Mu Haotian frowned and continued selecting wine in the cabinet.

Gu Qili really disliked this little girl, extremely disliked her indeed. She was only five years old, yet always watched her as if guarding against a thief. At such a young age she already knew about whispering and liking someone, it’s really questionable if it’s because she ate too much KFC causing her to mature early.

"Rou’er, today is your second uncle’s birthday, wish him a happy birthday." Mu Xinrou’s eyes shifted as she looked at Mu Shuoqian and said, "Second uncle, happy birthday." Then she turned to Gu Qili: "Second aunt, what gift did you give to my second uncle?"

Gu Qili didn’t expect to be asked by her and after a moment of thought, she responded: "Cake and red wine."

Mu Xinrou stuck out her tongue, disdainfully: "Second Aunt, you’re really old-fashioned. There’s plenty of cakes and red wine on the table already, you gave such an uncreative gift, my second uncle must be very unhappy."

Gu Qili furrowed her brow; the child’s words were quite unpleasant, but considering she was just a child, she wouldn’t take it personally.

"Then what do you plan to give me?" Mu Shuoqian, who had been sitting there quietly, suddenly asked in a heavy tone.

He always looked grim and rarely smiled, so being stared at with such a heavy gaze made Mu Xinrou retreat in fear next to Qi Meihui, biting her lip before speaking: "I just found out about second uncle’s birthday, I haven’t prepared anything yet."

"If you haven’t prepared anything, then don’t mock others. Didn’t your parents teach you this simple principle?"

Mu Shuoqian wasn’t like her; Gu Qili was considerate because she was a child, but he didn’t make such distinctions. In his eyes, everyone was treated equally.

His serious demeanor clearly scared Mu Xinrou, and when she started crying, Mu Haotian turned his head again.

Mu Xinrou, who had been covertly watching from between Qi Meihui’s legs, immediately ran to Mu Haotian, crying even louder than before: "Grandpa, grandpa, second aunt mocked me, she said I didn’t prepare a birthday gift for second uncle."

Mu Haotian bent down to pick her up, wiping her tears, as it’s said the affection skips generations, and for Mu Haotian, his affection for this granddaughter was indeed exceptional.

After comforting Mu Xinrou, he angrily said to Gu Qili: "You, being an adult, still stoop to a child’s level, all those years of education wasted, even calling yourself a top student, your morality is worse than that of a kindergartener."

Upon hearing this, Qi Meihui hurriedly played the good person: "Dad, it’s not Qili’s fault, it’s Rou’er who spoke nonsense as a child."

"Knowing she’s a child and still acting like this. If she weren’t a child, would she bully someone to the bones?" Qi Meihui’s comments only fueled Mu Haotian’s anger further.

Gu Qili pursed her lips slightly; she was already accustomed to Mu Haotian’s attitude towards her, it wasn’t just a matter of a day or two of his dislike.

"Since none of you want to eat, then we’ll leave first." Mu Shuoqian suddenly rose and pulled Gu Qili’s hand to head out.

"Where are you going?" Mu Haotian shouted at him furiously, "You’ve grown capable now, thinking you can just come and go as you please, do you still regard me as your father?"

"You scold my wife in front of me, you don’t regard me as your son either." Mu Shuoqian spoke indifferently.

"Fine, everyone’s wings are hardened, right? Fine, you want to leave, then leave, but once you leave, don’t ever think of coming back." Mu Haotian, who had just selected a bottle of wine, in anger, directly smashed the bottle on the ground, shattering it.

Mu Hewen and Qi Meihui exchanged a glance, smirking as if they’d succeeded; indeed, to deal with Mu Shuoqian, attacking Gu Qili was the way, as she was always his weak spot.

Look, he lost control for Gu Qili again, even Mu Haotian got angry, go on, leave quickly, it’s better to completely offend Mu Haotian.

Gu Qili suddenly stopped, standing in place without moving; Mu Shuoqian was originally pulling her out, but after a tug, he couldn’t move her.