Xi Xiaye stopped Shen Yue who was about to swing his walking stick again, crying out in alarm, "Grandpa!"

As she shouted, she reflexively looked toward Xi Mushan and saw that his left hand was already swollen. His entire hand trembled with pain. The walking stick had hit him right on his finger. It must have hurt very much.

However, Xi Mushan's expression remained calm. There were only signs of enduring the pain between his brows, and he was looking straight up at Shen Yue whose expression had hardened.

Shen Wenna reacted at this moment too. She quickly sat up straight and widened her eyes. She struggled to hurl both her hands out. "Father!"

"How dare you come here? Do you think I'm dead?"

Shen Yue gripped his walking stick tightly as his old eagle eyes were dense with a sharp coldness. He looked bitterly at Xi Mushan.

"Grandpa, don't be so worked up. Sit and talk." Xi Xiaye blocked Shen Yue, afraid that he was going to beat Xi Mushan up again. Knowing Shen Yue's temper, it was very likely that he would. In fact, Xi Mushan definitely would not evade him too.

"How can I not be worked up? Look at the kind of woman he married?"

"My daughter was willing to desert me to go with you, and look how you've treated her! How did the Xi family treat her? I have never liked you. If it weren't for my child's dignity, do you think I wouldn't dare to give you a lesson?"

Shen Yue flew into a rage, pointing at Xi Mushan with his walking stick and cursing, "You've got it going great for you! Xi Jiyang's not a good person either. He's been doing pretty steadily as a government official all these years, letting the two women ride on his neck. You two have really benefitted from them! Why did you come over? Do you deserve to come?"

"Grandpa, Grandpa, that's enough! Father's just here to take care of Mother..."

"Does he deserve to be your father? Do you still call him your father? He's the husband and father of those two women in the Xi family. Who's your father? Did you forget about the hurt now that your scar's healed? You, get out! Immediately! We can't fit the Buddha in here. Don't tarnish my daughter's reputation!" Shen Yue fiercely lashed out at Xi Mushan, tossing the rolled up newspapers in his hand at Xi Mushan.

Xi Mushan reflexively reached out to catch it. What greeted his sight was a headline about him and Shen Wenna!

"Father, I..."

"Father? Who's your father? Don't call me father. Your father is Xi Jiyang, that shameless, old fellow! Go! Don't come and harm my daughter. Isn't it all because of you that things are what they are today? If you're a man, then take responsibility." Shen Yue's tone was hostile as though his words were his daggers. He did not leave Xi Mushan any dignity at all!

Xi Mushan was not angry either because it was his fault that they were where they are today. As long as he could fight for Shen Wenna again, he would do anything. This little lesson was nothing. He had long prepared to receive Shen Yue's lecture.

"Father, I know this is my fault, so I will take responsibility. I will take care of Na Na with my whole heart from now on. Please believe me."

"Don't talk nonsense with me here. Do you think I'm the foolish Wenna from years ago? That I'll just believe whatever you say? Come talk to me when you've settled all your matters at home, you bastard!"

Shen Yue was getting angrier as he spoke. Clutching his walking stick, he wanted to walk over, so Xi Xiaye had to stop him herself. Mu Yuchen walked over in huge strides as well and saw that the back of Xi Mushan's hand was already swollen. His gaze darkened a little.

"Father, Father! Don't be impulsive!"

Shen Wenna hurled out her hands in panic toward the source of the voices.

"Mother!"

Shen Wenna almost fell off the bed. Thankfully, Xi Xiaye was quick enough and Mu Yuchen was a step ahead, so the husband and wife managed to support Shen Wenna from her left and her right.

"Everyone, calm down. The doctor says Mother can't be provoked."

Xi Xiaye frowned and said, "Father, go home first. You've already stayed here for so long. You must be tired too."

Then, her clear gaze looked at Mu Yuchen as she said softly, "Send Father out. Grandpa's a little emotional. Don't make him worry further."

Nodding, Mu Yuchen turned to look at Shen Wenna and he could vaguely see that she had mixed emotions in her expression. It was not the same stillness from before.

"Mother, I'll let Mu Yuchen send Father back first."

When Shen Wenna heard her, she nodded. "Go then. Sorry for troubling you, Ah Chen."

...

"Father, come out for a while. I have some things I wanted to talk to you about too," said Mu Yuchen, then he walked out of the door. Throwing a look at the furious Shen Yue, Xi Mushan shifted his gaze towards Shen Wenna on the sick bed. "Na Na, I'll come over again at night."

Shen Wenna did not answer. She just turned her head to the side. When Xi Mushan saw that, his expression darkened, and he could only turn away and leave sadly.

Xi Xiaye looked calmly at that figure moving further away. She felt a bleakness in her heart, yet she could only quietly avert her gaze.

...

Following Mu Yuchen outside, Mu Yuchen who walked ahead only stopped when he reached a turning corner. Then, he turned to look at Xi Mushan who also halted behind him.

When he saw Mu Yuchen's handsome face burdened with an indescribable heaviness, Xi Mushan called out softly, "Ah Chen?"

The current Xi Mushan still had some gloominess in between his brows while the back of his left hand was scarily swollen. He thought about it, then said, "Let's talk as we walk. Let's go over and get the doctor to help you fix your hand up first."

Then, before Xi Mushan could say anything, he had already walked ahead, still holding the leather folder that Ah Mo had passed to him earlier.

When they reached the nurses' station, he let the nurse apply some medication for Xi Mushan, and then bandage it up before Mu Yuchen personally sent Xi Mushan downstairs.

Upon reaching the car, Mu Yuchen, who had not really said anything all the way, finally spoke up softly, "Grandpa's temper is like that. Because he's worried about Mother, you don't have to take it to heart, Father. Xiaye is quite worried about you."

Xi Mushan nodded gently. "Mmm, I know. I don't blame him too. This is what I deserve. I'm really sorry for making you two worry!"

At this moment, Xi Mushan did not have his all-powerful imposing manner and sharpness as he usually did in the political world. All that remained seemed to be a shell of fatigue and humility. It looked like he had been emptied out and his expression seemed a little dazed.

Seeing this, Mu Yuchen felt an unnamed gloominess in his heart. He looked down at his bandaged left hand. When Shen Yue hit him, he did not even make a sound which was enough to conclude that...

"The incident this time has actually impacted Mother a lot. She only pretends to be strong because of Xiaye and you, and Grandpa, Father. Now that the matter has come to this, you shouldn't blame yourself so much."

Mu Yuchen was quiet, his eyes indicating his concern when he looked at Xi Mushan.

Xi Mushan's expression darkened as he sighed, "That's how your mother is. I'm used to it already, but I owe the two of them so much that I don't know how I can ever make amends."

"What is Father planning to do? Mother is going to be discharged in a few days. With her current condition..."

Mu Yuchen's question put Xi Mushan on the spot!

What now?

What could he do?

Shen Wenna would surely head back to the Shen Residence after she was discharged. What about him?

Could he still go back now?

With all the messy relationships around him now, how could he protect her? What was the "forever" he talked about!?

Was he making empty promises again?

Xi Mushan clenched his fists as his eyes started to water.

"Since things have come down to this, I suppose you aren't afraid to lose anything else, are you? You should pursue what feels the most important to you. You might lose it the next moment."

Mu Yuchen looked at him calmly and said, "I know that you're afraid to lose. You're afraid that Mother will reject you, so you're hesitant. I don't want to add anything on. I just want to let you know that Xiaye and I will always treat you as our father. Be it for you or Mother, we'll always be here."

Xi Mushan was stunned and he stared at Mu Yuchen in shock. After a while, he mumbled, "What you just said... Did Xiaye tell you that she's willing to forgive me?"

Mu Yuchen smiled as he looked down at Xi Mushan's bandaged hand. "I think that she never really blamed you. What she always longed for is the love and care from you both. She can even forgive someone like Xi Xinyi, so why can't she forgive the man who gave life to her?"

Hope sparked in his eyes as he spoke and he looked at Xi Mushan genuinely. "Father, I hope you can make up for the lack of paternal love in the past twenty years. I beg you to be fair to her, to be fair to Mother, and to be fair to yourself. At your age, you should really fight for what you really want."

A bitter taste rushed towards Xi Mushan's throat as he felt a pain in his chest and he could not keep a calm expression like earlier anymore. His expression seemed a little cold and lonely.

"Father, be strong. Xiaye and I will help you however we can. It might be a rough path but as long as you don't give up, I'm sure things will work out!"

As Mu Yuchen saw the wavering in Xi Mushan's eyes, he took a deep breath and handed him the stuff in his hands. "I think you'll really appreciate these right now."

Xi Mushan glanced at Mu Yuchen before taking it from him. He opened it and flipped through the documents inside.

Suddenly, his expression turned from being cold and lonely to becoming unbelievably surprised!

He looked at Mu Yuchen in bewilderment. "These... These... How did you get them?"

He was aware that Yue Lingsi was cheating on him, so he tried to find out more but there was no result.

He never touched her ever since that night. Instead, he put all his focus onto his political career. Moreover, he did not find any woman more attractive than Shen Wenna. He felt that he could only be deemed a complete man when he was with Shen Wenna.

That was also why he missed and loved her even until now.

Throughout his political career, many women tried to lay him honey traps, but no matter how seductive they were, he just could not forget about Shen Wenna.

He then realized that he lost himself to her when he signed his name on the divorce contract. He had always been there, so how could he not go back to her to look for himself?

"I just happened to find out. It must be God's will." Mu Yuchen smiled.

He had asked Li Si to investigate Yue Lingsi but had only gotten some trivial information. They would probably have missed this piece of important information if Ah Mo and Ah Bao had not been alert enough!

Li Si had mentioned before that lonely people were prone to making mistakes. Not everyone could go through the loneliness. At least, Yue Lingsi did not feel like she could. Shen Wenna and Xi Mushan were each other's first love, so...

Mu Yuchen thought Li Si was just talking nonsense, yet now...

"With these, you can start your negotiations with Yue Lingsi. I know you're being pressured by the Yue family. I will..."

"It's alright, Ah Chen. Thank you! I think these are enough! I've handed in my resignation letter. Now that I've spent half of my life in the political field, it's enough. I just want to spend the rest of my time with the two of them."

Xi Mushan smiled, seeming much more relaxed now. "Don't tell them about this and wait until I'm done settling everything. I'll head back for now. Please take care of your mother!"

Xi Mushan kept the documents and went into his car, driving away swiftly.

Mu Yuchen was caught off-guard.

Resigned?

He should be at the peak of his career now. Furthermore, his achievements were great and many people loved him. If he stayed for another year or two, he would rise even higher!

Even Mu Tangchuan was impressed.

Did he not care now?

Xi Mushan's words shocked Mu Yuchen. He never expected such action from him!

However, things might be better like this. If Xi Mushan could take care of Shen Wenna personally under such circumstances, maybe they could go back to how they were!

Mu Yuchen was starting to look forward to it.

...

In contrast to the peace on Mu Yuchen's end, a storm was brewing in Shen Wenna's room!

"How dare they!? How dare they!? Do they think us Shen family can be easily bullied? Ridiculous!"

Mu Yuchen heard Shen Yue's furious voice roaring from inside as he arrived at the door.

As expected, the first thing he saw after he went in was Shen Yue walking to the side of Shen Wenna's bed angrily. The wrath inside him was spiraling out of control.

"What did I tell you back then? Huh? You didn't believe me! The Xi family is abnormal. They are a prideful political family. I told you to not marry him, yet you insisted on going to Xi Mushan! Huh?" Shen Yue was scolding Shen Wenna. The anger inside him burst out all at once, highlighting his hatred towards Xi Mushan and the Xi family!

"I disagreed to the both of you being together, and you dare to threaten to renounce your relationship with me. Look what's happened now! What's happening? Mu Tangchuan is doing just fine, and a thousand times better than Xi Mushan, so just what's wrong? Is he not as handsome as Xi Mushan? Is he not smart enough? Look at how happy their family is now? Do you see how handsome Ah Chen is?"

Suddenly, he noticed Xi Xiaye's odd expression and then realized the logical flaw in his sentence. He then continued, "Luckily, I'm quick enough to grab Ah Chen. Xiaye, you're much wiser than your mother! If you married Han Yifeng, you'd surely have led a hard life! A man like that needs a wife to serve him forever. How could you be happy marrying a man like that?"

Shen Wenna's face turned pale as Shen Yue scolded her. A faint light flashed in her beautiful eyes, hinting at her aggrieved and sad emotions.

"Alright, Grandpa, stop it! If that happened, there wouldn't be Mu Yuchen and me anymore. Moreover, don't you see I'm pretty stupid as Father and Mother's child? Though Mu Yuchen is quite smart..."

Xi Xiaye tried to help Shen Wenna out when she noticed her evident discomfort.

Shen Yue calmed down drastically. He took a short pause before saying, "Well, there's that! At least we won't have such a messy life right now! Look at you now, what are you going to do in the future? Don't say that you don't care, you're my daughter, do you think I don't know what you're thinking?"

Shen Wenna took a deep breath and replied, "Don't worry, Father, I'm fine. I'll just take it as early retirement."

"Retirement?! You're just over 50 years old, right smack in your mid-life, and you're going to spend the latter half in total darkness! Do you think it's going to be easy?" Shen Yue glared at Shen Wenna on the bed.

Stunned, she looked downward silently and did not say anything.

Xi Xiaye frowned worriedly. "Grandpa, Mother, don't be so pessimistic. I'm sure there's a cure for this!"

"Whether there's a cure or not, I'm going to get this matter sorted out!" Shen Yue narrowed his eyes as a cold light lit up in them. "I'm trying to be considerate about you and Xiaye, so I never said anything in the past twenty years. I ignored it all these years when the two of you were handling them by yourselves, but with the recent incidents, I can't just sit here and do nothing!"

"Grandpa," Mu Yuchen finally said something as he walked over.

"Mmm." Shen Yue's anger and coldness toned down when he saw Mu Yuchen.

"I'll discuss sorting things out later with you. Mother needs more rest. Let's not worry about this for now." Mu Yuchen's neutral tone was effective.

Xi Xiaye quickly nodded and went along. "Grandpa, I just wanted to talk about this too. It's difficult for us to judge their relationship, and we can't really blame anyone for this either. It's all in the past now."

"Your grandpa is right. I was too headstrong and this is the price I have to pay. I deserve it, alright?" Shen Wenna mocked herself.

"Mother..." Xi Xiaye looked Shen Wenna's pale and exhausted face. She looked like she was in deep sorrow, and her heart sank.

"This is just too frustrating! I don't care anymore. I'm just so angry whenever I see Xi Mushan! He keeps going on about protecting you, but he was never there when you needed him the most! I can still keep an eye on you guys as I'm still alive now, but what happens after I'm gone?" Shen Yue's voice softened.

"Those two women from the Xi family did a lot of work to track you both down. They are aiming for the Yueying shares in your hands. If it weren't for me, they'd have gone straight to your door! Do you still think you can enjoy such peaceful lives?"

Shen Yue sat down on the sofa as Mu Yuchen poured him a cup of tea.

"Father will take care of the problems over there. Don't be too quick to get angry now, Grandpa. We're not just going to let this matter go."

Mu Yuchen smiled. He knew that Shen Yue had a pretty short temper seeing how hard he hit Xi Mushan just now. Xi Mushan's left hand was probably out of action for the next few days.

Xi Xiaye's violent temper probably came from him. She had gone right up to Yue Lingsi's office and beat her up, putting Yue Lingsi in a terrible state when she was sent to the hospital. Oh, how she wished she could slice Xi Xiaye up into pieces!

"If he's actually useful and can solve this issue, the two of them wouldn't need to suffer like this!"

Shen Yue's impression of Xi Mushan was the worst and he had no hopes for him at all.

"Do you not have any confidence in Father?" Mu Yuchen gave Shen Yue an odd smile as he glanced at him.

"You're smiling like a sly fox! You look just like a wicked businessman trying to lure me into a trap." Shen Yue was an old, cunning fox himself. After all, it took one to know one.

"I'm always a businessman, and businessmen are all wicked. I want to make a bet with you. Are you nervous about it?" Mu Yuchen raised his eyebrows as he looked at Shen Yue.

Shen Yue drank some tea and stared at Mu Yuchen sharply. "Bet on what? If you lose, is your first child with Xiaye going to carry the family name 'Shen'?"