CHAPTER 243: CHAPTER 229: CARRYING THE MU FAMILY’S FLESH AND BLOOD IN THE WOMB

"Dad, it was my fault." Gu Qili suddenly let go of Mu Shuoqian’s hand, she walked to Mu Haotian, and bowed, "Dad, it was my fault, I shouldn’t have stooped to Rou’er’s level, please don’t be angry, I promise it won’t happen again."

Mu Haotian didn’t expect her to suddenly come over and apologize to him. In the past, when he reprimanded her, she would remain silent.

"Apologizing to me is useless, you should apologize to Rou’er, she is the darling of our Mu Family, I usually don’t even dare to offend her." Mu Haotian was not satisfied but ordered sternly, "Apologize to Rou’er."

Apologize to a five-year-old child?

Gu Qili bit her teeth and silently took a deep breath.

This was not the first time Mu Shuoqian had offended Mu Haotian for her. She knew it even when Mu Shuoqian wanted that 3% of the shares, Mu Shuoqian’s ambitions were not small, he had bigger plans. Therefore, enduring a bit of humiliation for him wasn’t a big deal; it wouldn’t cost her a bone or flesh.

Just as Gu Qili was about to apologize to Mu Xinrou, her wrist was suddenly grasped, Mu Shuoqian held her hand tightly, and his icy gaze turned towards Qi Meihui. That gaze, like a sharp sword, pierced through Qi Meihui’s calmness, and she almost blurted out immediately: "Dad, there’s no reason for an elder to apologize to a child, Qili didn’t do it intentionally, let it be."

After speaking, she went and took Mu Xinrou from Mu Haotian’s arms, "Don’t cry, dear, your second aunt knows her mistake, let’s not be too harsh."

Qi Meihui utterly despised this couple, Mu Shuoqian and his wife, but now, with Mu Hewen recuperating at home, she was alone and vulnerable. If she really angered Mu Shuoqian, she couldn’t hope for good days ahead, but revenge is a dish best served cold, she could wait.

Mu Haotian handed Mu Xinrou back to Qi Meihui, and seemingly casually said: "If Rou’er were a boy, grandpa would love you even more."

These words changed Qi Meihui’s expression, Mu Haotian said it without a thought, but Qi Meihui heard it with deep feelings, she turned her face, her eyes brimming with tears.

Mu Haotian was not unaware that she had been sick two years ago, her uterus was damaged, and she could no longer have children; although she had a daughter, her inability to bear a son for the Mu Family had always troubled her. In Mu Haotian’s conservative view, no matter how large the family business, it must be inherited by a male, and even though he cherished his granddaughter, he would not allocate much of his estate to her.

Mu Haotian didn’t want to continue to be displeased with Mu Shuoqian, especially since today was his birthday. Qi Meihui had given him a way out, so he took the opportunity, seemingly still with a stern face but trying to smooth things over: "Let’s eat, the cake hasn’t been cut yet, stay and eat the cake before you leave."

Gu Qili quickly clutched his hand, silently shaking her head at him; she had already apologized to Mu Haotian, if he still wanted to leave, wouldn’t her apology be in vain? Besides, Mu Haotian was an elder and Mu Shuoqian’s father, no matter his faults, apologizing to him didn’t degrade her.

Mu Shuoqian furrowed his brows deeply, pushed by her several times in secret before reluctantly heading to the dining room.

The family sat together, dishes began arriving from the kitchen, the servant brought up the warmed red wine, starting with Mu Haotian circling the table to pour wine, while Gu Qili, Qi Meihui, and Mu Fan had non-alcoholic drinks in their glasses.

"Mom, I want to eat cake," Mu Xinrou suddenly pointed at the cake in the middle of the table, clinging to Qi Meihui’s neck playfully.

"Eat your meal first, we’ll cut the cake afterwards."

"No, I want to eat it now, I want to eat the cake, I want to eat the cake," Mu Xinrou insisted, eventually, disregarding Qi Meihui’s attempts to stop her, reached out with a spoon in hand and scooped out a piece of cake.

"Mu Hewen, control your daughter," Qi Meihui couldn’t hold her back, irritably yelled at Mu Hewen.

Mu Hewen was looking down at his phone, startled by her shout, his phone slipped from his hand, his face hidden under the table showing a trace of panic.

Shortly after, Mu Hewen’s phone rang again, he glanced at the caller ID, and forcefully ended it.

"Alright, let’s first wish Shuoqian a happy birthday," Mu Haotian raised his glass.

No sooner had he spoken than Mu Hewen’s phone rang again, he promptly ended the call, facing everyone’s questioning looks, he quickly picked up the glass, smiling, "Shuoqian, happy birthday, big brother didn’t prepare a gift, don’t mind it."

Mu Shuoqian simply said "Thank you."

Just as everyone was raising their glasses, Mu Hewen’s phone rang loudly again, and Mu Haotian finally lost his patience, angrily slamming his glass down on the table: "Whose call is it? If you want to answer, then answer, if not, turn off the phone. Don’t spoil everyone’s mood because of you."

Mu Hewen was just about to turn off his phone when a message popped up on the screen: I’m at your front door now.

The previously composed Mu Hewen’s face suddenly changed drastically, he couldn’t care about anything else, grabbed his phone, pulled out his chair, and hurried outside.

Qi Meihui suddenly put Mu Xinrou beside her on the adjacent seat, seemingly ignoring Mu Haotian’s presence, her voice close to shrill as she shouted, "Mu Hewen, you stop right there."

Mu Hewen was clearly scared, but with the current situation, the consequences of not going outside were more terrifying, so, he chose to offend Qi Meihui for the time being.

"Meihui, I have a bit of an emergency, I’ll be right back." He hastily reassured her and headed for the door, and at the same time, the doorbell rang, coincidentally a maid was standing at the door, without waiting for Mu Hewen to stop her, she opened the door.

Seeing the girl standing in the porch, she immediately politely asked: "Miss, who are you looking for?"

"I’m looking for Mu Hewen. Is he here?" Her gentle and soft voice along with her calm and gentle demeanor made her seem completely harmless.

Mu Hewen hearing this voice, his whole body stiffened, he hadn’t recovered yet when Hu Jiaojiao already walked in. She obviously didn’t expect to see so many people in the dining room, she was startled at first, then hung up her signature smile: "There are so many people at home."

Gu Qili choked at her words, her statement sounded as if this was her own home.

Glancing again at Mu Shuoqian beside him, holding a glass of red wine, slowly savoring it, his handsome features carrying an inherent aloofness and coldness, as if all matters had nothing to do with him.

"Hewen, who is that, your friend?" Mu Haotian had also noticed the commotion at the door, "If it’s your friend, let her come in, don’t leave the guest out in the cold at the doorstep."

"No way." Qi Meihui suddenly stood up from her seat, the movement so vehement that the chair behind her was knocked down, crashing loudly against the floor, a maid promptly ran over to help with the chair but was forcefully pushed away by Qi Meihui. She walked straight to the door, pointing outside: "This is my house, get out."

Qi Meihui never expected Hu Jiaojiao to show up at their door. The last time she had her people teach her a tough lesson, she was quiet for a while; she thought she was scared and retreated, but her villainous intentions never died; she dared show up boldly at the Mu Family mansion, indeed, at the Mu Family mansion and not hers and Mu Hewen’s home—she bypassed the upper management straight to the biggest BOSS.

"Sister Meihui, don’t be so harsh, you’re really scaring me." Hu Jiaojiao put on an act of delicate frailty, in contrast to Qi Meihui’s fierce and aggressive manner, it appeared as though a gust of wind could knock her over.

Gu Qili couldn’t help but look to the sky, remembering the times she was also deceived by such acts from Hu Jiaojiao, thinking she was a vulnerable girl. Whenever Hu Jiaojiao put on such a weak act, she would stand like a big sister in front of her, solving all her troubles. Recalling this, she couldn’t help cursing herself in her heart as an idiot.

"Mu Hewen, you clarify who she is!" Qi Meihui suddenly grabbed Mu Hewen who was still in shock, staring at him fiercely.

Mu Hewen looked at Hu Jiaojiao and then at Qi Meihui, immediately drew a clear line with Hu Jiaojiao, "Meihui, I don’t know her." His expression was icy as he spoke very firmly, "Miss, you’ve got the wrong place."

Hu Jiaojiao didn’t expect Mu Hewen to be so heartless as to pretend not to know her; it seemed that Qi Meihui’s position in his heart was indeed much higher than hers. It’s inappropriate to speak of position, rather, her value of use was more fitting, however, she dared to come knowing he would not side with her.

"Miss, you’ve got the wrong person." Mu Hewen tried to push her away from his embrace, his eyes revealing annoyance.

"Hewen, you can disown me, but you cannot disown my child." Hu Jiaojiao said, and then suddenly shouted loudly toward the dining room: "Old Master Mu, you cannot disown your own grandson, he is your blood grandson."

"You’re talking nonsense." Qi Meihui’s eyes red, she went forward to grab Hu Jiaojiao’s hair, pulling her outside while cursing, "You fox, bullying people all the way to my head, look at yourself in the mirror, how could someone like you deserve to carry Mu Hewen’s child, get out, get out."

Hu Jiaojiao was in pain from her grasp, and despite Mu Hewen not intending to help her, she raised her voice, continuing to yell: "You are committing murder, it doesn’t matter if you kill me, but I’m carrying the Mu Family’s flesh and blood in my stomach, how can you bear to lay a hand on me."

"Get out." Qi Meihui, furious, used all her strength to pull her out.

"Everyone stop." Mu Haotian quickly reached the door, looking at the few people entangled there, he sternly said: "Who dares to harm my Mu Family’s flesh and blood?"