Rebirth, but baby, where are you?

Chapter 68

“Then it’s happily settled! Today we must eat, drink, and not stop until we’re drunk. Wait for me!”

“Alright, we’ll be waiting for you. Be careful on the road.” Amid Su Yang’s series of “wait for me, wait for me.” Qin Huanxi shook his head with a mixture of laughter and exasperation, hung up the phone, tossed his mobile back onto the table, and propped his chin on one hand as he turned to watch Qin Yu and Mo Shaoheng helping Mo Siyuan with his winter vacation handicraft homework. Unconsciously, the corners of his mouth curved upward.

Withdrawing his gaze, Qin Huanxi lifted his chin slightly and squinted through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows at the warm winter sun, inexplicably feeling that these past few days had been incredibly pleasant. No torturous final exams, no concerts that demanded absolute vigilance, and most importantly, no unpredictable and moody Ning Shen.

Qin Huanxi turned to look at Qin Yu, whose smile was gentle and warm, and couldn’t help but sigh. When it came down to it, Ning Shen was still the most troublesome. As long as Ning Shen didn’t show up uninvited from time to time, wandering around in front of them for no particular reason, making his presence known before departing with smug satisfaction, life would be peaceful for him.

“What’s wrong? Hasn’t Su Yang arrived yet?” Mo Shanshan entered the observation lounge carrying a tray full of pastries, set it on an empty table nearby, and said with a smile to Mo Siyuan, “Xiao Yuan, finish your pastries before continuing with your handicraft.”

“Okay, big brother Huanxi and Sister Shanshan should eat together too.” Mo Siyuan cheered and jumped down from his chair, quickly running toward Mo Shanshan. He didn’t forget to call Mo Shaoheng and Qin Yu over as well: “Dad and Uncle Qin Yu should come eat together too.”

Qin Huanxi chuckled and shook his head, getting up to walk toward Mo Siyuan.

“Why hasn’t Sister Su Yang come yet?” Mo Siyuan asked while eating, craning his neck to look toward the entrance of the observation lounge.

Qin Huanxi laughed at this: “She’s probably still packing her luggage. From the looks of it, she’s planning to stay until school starts next year.”

Mo Shanshan laughed: “Is there any difference? She spends 300 out of 365 days a year living at the Mo residence. Does she really need to pack luggage?”

“Sister Su Yang used to celebrate New Year with us too, and this year we have big brother Huanxi and Uncle Qin Yu as well.” Mo Siyuan was quite happy about this. He turned to look at Qin Huanxi with expectant eyes: “Will big brother Huanxi celebrate New Year with Xiao Yuan this year?”

“Of course!” Qin Huanxi gently ruffled his little head. New Year family reunions were such important occasions that he would definitely stay by his precious son’s side no matter what. Besides, the Qin residence would once again be a battlefield of open and covert struggles and bloody conflicts. He had no desire to get involved and would rather stay with his son, out of sight and out of mind.

“Will Uncle Qin Yu join us too?” Mo Siyuan looked at Qin Yu with hopeful eyes.

Qin Yu was slightly startled, looking with some surprise at Mo Siyuan’s innocent and cheerful face. He found himself nodding unconsciously, his expression suddenly becoming somewhat dazed. As an illegitimate child of the Qin family, happy and harmonious occasions like New Year family reunions had never belonged to him, not even when his mother was still alive.

For all these years, rather than anticipating such occasions, he had actually feared them, because every time they came around, he would feel more lonely than ever. But now things were different. Everything he had once lost seemed to be slowly returning, and the happiness he had never dared to hope for in the past was becoming something he could look forward to.

Mo Siyuan smiled with satisfaction and obediently ate his pastries. Though he was young, his childhood experiences and encounters had made him quite perceptive about reading people’s expressions. Except for big brother Huanxi and Grandpa Qin, Uncle Qin Yu’s family members didn’t seem to like him. Since that was the case, Uncle Qin Yu wouldn’t be happy going home for New Year either, so it would be better for him to celebrate with them.

There was also that Uncle Ning Shen. He couldn’t say he particularly liked him, though he didn’t dislike him either. But every time Uncle Ning Shen appeared, Dad and big brother Huanxi’s expressions would become very strange, and Uncle Qin Yu would be the most unhappy of all. Although he didn’t know what had happened, he didn’t dare mention Uncle Ning Shen in front of everyone anymore.

But none of that mattered. What mattered was that this year would definitely be very lively. In the past, only Dad and Sister Shanshan had celebrated New Year with him. Sister Su Yang couldn’t celebrate with them every year since she had her own father, but this year they had big brother Huanxi and Uncle Qin Yu as well. The more Mo Siyuan thought about it, the happier he became, and he could no longer hide the smile on his face.

Seeing Mo Siyuan secretly smiling to himself, Qin Huanxi exchanged a glance with Mo Shaoheng beside him. Without needing to guess, he knew what the little guy was thinking. He raised his hand and ruffled his head with a smile. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Mo Shanshan walking aside to organize Mo Siyuan’s scattered handicraft materials.

A flicker of something unusual passed through Qin Huanxi’s eyes, and he felt some confusion and concern. Mo Shanshan hadn’t left the house since that incident. He wondered if it was because Brother Shui’s mangled corpse had frightened her, or if there was some other reason. These past few days, apart from staying by his and Mo Siyuan’s side, Mo Shanshan had been hiding in her studio painting. She didn’t seem to be in much contact with Li Junyan either.

Meanwhile, Su Yang hummed a tune as she finished packing her luggage. She stood in front of the full-length mirror for a look, pulled her suitcase with satisfaction, and left her room. As soon as she came downstairs, she saw Su Wentian sitting unusually in the living room sofa drinking tea. Her footsteps paused for a moment, then she continued walking out, paying him no mind.

“Stop!” Su Wentian put down his teacup and looked at Su Yang with some displeasure. “Don’t you know to greet someone when you’re leaving?”

Su Yang took a deep breath, casually pushed back her hair, and turned to look at Su Wentian with a calm expression: “Since you know I’m leaving, isn’t it unnecessary to go through the motions?”

Su Wentian frowned at her words, suppressing his displeasure: “Is this how you speak to your father?”

“You’re only concerned about my attitude now? Isn’t it a bit too late? Usually, there’s barely even a chance to discuss attitudes… I have an appointment with someone. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.” Su Yang couldn’t help but laugh, saying this carelessly before preparing to leave.

“Come back!” Su Wentian put down his teacup, stood up, and walked in front of Su Yang.

Su Yang instinctively stepped back, raised her chin defiantly to look at Su Wentian, a trace of faint surprise flashing in her eyes. If this had been in the past, every time they met they would part on bad terms, and gradually she had grown reluctant to come home, naturally reducing her chances of encountering Su Wentian.

But without exception, whenever they did meet, she would anger Su Wentian to the point of explosive rage. Su Yang naturally didn’t want to start arguing as soon as they met, making both of them unhappy. She simply spent most of her time at the Mo residence, even living there long-term. Su Wentian was too lazy to discipline her anyway. However, today he actually wasn’t furious?

“Sit down. I have something to ask you.” Su Wentian looked at Su Yang’s stubborn expression and sighed deeply. He seemed to have no way of dealing with this daughter of his, so he softened his attitude, reached over to take her suitcase and set it aside, then pulled her to sit on the sofa.

Su Yang yanked back her grabbed arm and hugged a cushion as she moved to the single-seater sofa farthest from Su Wentian.

Su Wentian didn’t make an issue of it. He picked up his teacup for a sip of tea before slowly beginning: “You’ve been getting quite close to Qin Huanxi recently? I heard Qin Huanxi also frequents the Mo residence?”

Su Yang frowned and carefully parsed Su Wentian’s words: “What exactly are you getting at? Huanxi is mine and Shanshan’s classmate. We’ve grown up together since childhood, don’t you know that? Besides, Huanxi is now Xiao Yuan’s tutor. It’s natural that we’d become familiar after spending so much time together.”

Su Yang’s tone was full of wariness and vigilance. Su Wentian felt only slight displeasure, but thinking there were many things he still needed to ask her, he suppressed the anger rising in his heart and softened his tone: “The Mo family main residence is interested in having Mo Shanshan marry into the Qin family. Qin Huanxi would be the best candidate.”

“What do you mean?” Su Yang jumped up from the sofa in shock. “Is that old woman getting restless again and stirring up trouble? Isn’t she afraid Uncle Mo will strip her of her last layer of skin?”

Su Yang was secretly alarmed. She had never heard Mo Shanshan mention this matter. Then her heart skipped a beat as she suddenly remembered the incident when Mo Shanshan got drunk and went missing. After finding Mo Shanshan that night, they had all been worried about her feeling hurt and guilty, so no one had brought up what happened that evening again.

Looking back now, this wasn’t behavior Mo Shanshan would normally exhibit. Su Yang understood better than anyone the neglect and harm Mo Shanshan had suffered since childhood. She had endured it all these years and would never lose her composure and sense of propriety over such a small matter.

So was this really the truth? Not only had the people from the Mo family main residence prevented Mo Shanshan from dating Li Junyan, they had actually set their sights on Qin Huanxi? Were these people determined to drive Mo Shanshan to her death?

Su Yang took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. The relationship between Qin Huanxi and Mo Shaoheng was visible to everyone in the Mo residence, from Mo Shaoheng’s associates and their group of friends down to the butler and servants. They had all tacitly accepted Qin Huanxi as another master of the Mo residence.

Su Yang didn’t dare imagine what kind of storm it would be if Qin Huanxi and Mo Shaoheng learned of this matter. Qin Huanxi valued Mo Shanshan highly, this she had noticed this long ago. Although she didn’t know the reason, Mo Shanshan held a unique position in Qin Huanxi’s heart, unrelated to romantic or familial love.

If the people from the Mo family main residence continued to exploit and pressure Mo Shanshan, even without Mo Shaoheng taking action, Qin Huanxi would probably turn their world upside down. Add to that Ning Shen, who thrived on chaos. If Qin Huanxi was truly angered, that psychopath Ning Shen wouldn’t sit idly by either, and would make sure those people regretted being born into this world.

Su Wentian simply drank his tea calmly, allowing Su Yang to vent her anger. He had never cared about the Mo family main residence’s thoughts and plans, he only needed to know the results. Su Yang’s current attitude had already given him the information he wanted clearly enough. As long as Mo Shanshan was unwilling, no matter how stubborn those people were, Mo Shaoheng would never act against Mo Shanshan’s wishes.

Su Wentian smiled faintly: “So why do you think they would approach Qin Huanxi? Knowing he’s on Mo Shaoheng’s side, yet going to great lengths to try to change Mo Shanshan’s mind? Qin Huanxi would be much more useful than that man of unknown origins.”

Su Yang’s expression turned cold as she stared at Su Wentian’s half-smiling face, tightening her arms around the cushion. She wasn’t some sheltered young lady living in an ivory tower, so she naturally understood the calculations behind Su Wentian’s words. She sneered: “Is Huanxi someone who can be manipulated at will? Don’t let them end up shooting themselves in the foot.”

“Isn’t there still Mo Shanshan?” Su Wentian smiled nonchalantly. “I can see that Qin Huanxi does care about her.”

Su Yang actually laughed at this: “How presumptuous of them…”

“What if both Mo Shaoheng and Qin Huanxi are uneasy about this Li Junyan fellow?” Su Wentian suddenly said.

“What do you mean?” Su Yang asked with a frown, then suddenly understood, smiling as she said, “Li Junyan wants to be with Shanshan, so Uncle Mo and Huanxi privately investigating his background is probably for Shanshan’s sake. After all, Shanshan is the Mo family’s eldest daughter, and there are countless people outside with ulterior motives. There’s nothing wrong with checking things out clearly.”

Su Wentian chuckled softly and said no more, changing the subject: “At the end of the day, those are all Mo family affairs. It’s fine to watch the excitement with interest, but it’s not appropriate to interfere. It’s just a pity about such a good candidate as Qin Huanxi.”

Su Yang listened thoughtfully and lowered her head, a sense of impending doom growing in her heart. She had a vague feeling that Su Wentian hadn’t come home on a whim to check whether his daughter was dead or alive, but had deliberately sat here waiting for her. What was coming next was his real purpose.