Chapter 5: Young Master Mu Plays Tricks
Bai Ping saw him slander her like this, her face turning pale. She said with grievance, "Young Master Mu, must you humiliate me like this? Back then, you even said that if Xiaolin was proven to be a descendant of the Mu family, you would treat me well. But now…" Her eyes were filled with tears, as if they could spill at any moment.
"God as my witness, I haven’t done anything. I only said these chores are done by servants, how is that humiliating you, Aunt Bai?" Mu Lichuan wore an expression of shock, as if he were the one being wronged.
Bai Ping bit her lip lightly. "I only wanted to express my kindness. I never thought Young Master Mu would misunderstand me." Inside, she was seething with hatred. She had thought her child would smoothly enter the Mu family, never expecting the blood test to become an issue. Luckily, she had prepared in advance - otherwise, gaining the Mu family’s protection would have been impossible.
The original plan was to anger the Mu family’s matriarch to death, but plans couldn’t keep up with changes. Not only was the Mu family’s eldest young master not angry, he even wore a smiling face, yet every word he spoke stabbed at her heart, leaving her no room to retreat.
"So kindness means personally serving others?" Mu Lichuan said with a grin, his eyes flickering toward his father.
Sure enough, Mu Changnian’s expression darkened. "Such a disgrace! People who don’t know better would think our Mu family mistreats you, forcing you to do things yourself!"
Upon hearing this, Bai Ping could no longer hold back her tears. "Master, I…" This tactic had always worked before, but ever since entering the Mu family, she found her tears held no value.
"Aunt Bai, the Mu family sheds blood but not tears. For you to cry first thing in the morning, isn’t that just bad luck?" As if to twist the knife further, Mu Lichuan sighed lightly. "I see you’re not very familiar with the Mu family’s rules. Perhaps you should go learn them before returning, lest guests see you crying at the drop of a hat. What would outsiders think of our Mu family? What would they think of Father?" He knew his father was a proud man who would never tolerate others tarnishing his reputation.
[流血不流泪 (liúxuè bù liúlèi): lit. Shed blood but not tears; fig. To endure hardship without showing weakness.]
Bai Ping was so frightened that she forgot to cry, sensing Mu Changnian’s cold gaze. "Lichuan is right. You should go learn the basics before returning to the main family. Otherwise, you’ll make something out of nothing."
Thud— Bai Ping fell to her knees, and her son, Mu Xiaolin, knelt beside her.
"Father, Mother and I have never been apart since I was born. I don’t want to leave her," Mu Xiaolin said timidly. Inside, he was filled with hatred for Mu Lichuan. If not for him, he and his mother wouldn’t be living under someone else’s roof, and he could have enjoyed the privileged life of a young master.
[寄人余下 (jì rén yú xià): lit. To live under someone else’s roof; fig. To depend on others for survival]
Mu Lichuan frowned. "Little brother, you’re not a child anymore, you’re past breastfeeding age. Someone your size still can’t leave his mother? Is this the Mu family’s way? Men of the Mu family shed blood but no tears. Even in death, we’re never this weak."
"Mu Lichuan! You think I’m a useless waste like you?!" Since childhood, Mu Xiaolin had known he was a genius. Once he returned to the Mu family for testing, he would surely rise above others. Now, being insulted like this by Mu Lichuan, his temper flared.
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