HR Chapter 51
by VolareSi Cheng Houzai’s youngest grandson was born before the fire. Cheng Hui also had some accomplishments in gynecology, so Si Cheng Duyu entrusted him with delivering his wife’s baby, ensuring the safety of both mother and child.
The child opened his eyes at birth, his pupils dark and lustrous. He didn’t cry or fuss. After being patted on the chest, he didn’t cry but laughed, his cheerful laughter filling the entire delivery room.
Those eyes, that laughter, haunted Cheng Hui like a nightmare for five whole years. He had to admit that he couldn’t match Lu Jianwei or Si Cheng Houzai in ruthlessness.
Cheng Hui contacted Si Cheng Houzai again, wanting to make a mutually beneficial deal.
At this time, he had changed his name to Mu Linxian.
Mu Linxian volunteered to be a lab rat, but he wanted to take care of that child until he died.
“Why?” Lu Qinyuan knew the question was idiotic and meaningless, and vaguely guessed why Mu Linxian didn’t want to return, but he couldn’t help asking, “If you go back, can’t the Cheng and Lu families protect you?”
Mu Linxian said, “I can’t go back. If I do, the Cheng and Lu families are finished. Si Cheng Houzai will spread rumors that the Cheng family has someone who might be immortal. Whether the news is true or false, more people will believe it. In the end, I’ll still fall into the hands of the Si Cheng family. Whether I’m caught back or return on my own, I don’t have control. In this matter, Si Cheng Houzai is the winner.”
“Holding that child, I thought of the little white rats in the incubator. I studied medicine to save people, but before I could save anyone, I harmed someone. It’s good to be back.” Mu Linxian’s voice contained a hint of pain. “If I provide more data, maybe he can suffer a little less.”
Lu Qinyuan’s throat choked, unable to speak. Mu Linxian continued, “Thank you for taking care of Xiao Qi. These past days must have been the happiest time he’s ever had. I’m the one who dragged him down.”
“He’s been waiting for you. Are you really not going to see him?” Lu Qinyuan suppressed the ache in his heart, trying his best to arrange a meeting for Xiao Qi.
Mu Linxian shook his head slightly, his gaze as gentle as water. “Seeing him would make things difficult for him. It’s better not to meet.”
Lu Qinyuan was stunned, instantly understanding. His expression turned ugly. He had become the reason for their separation.
Mu Linxian said, “We both understand. I don’t blame anyone.” He reached out and patted Lu Qinyuan’s shoulder. “Go back. Xiao Qi is waiting for you.”
Lu Qinyuan hesitated, finally clenching the red velvet box in his hand and leaving.
As soon as Lu Qinyuan left, Si Cheng Houzai came chasing after him, panting. Mu Linxian looked down at Si Cheng Houzai and asked coolly, “Teacher, take it easy. After all, every breath is one less.”
Si Cheng Houzai wasn’t angry, only sighing, “Yes, you’re still so young, but I’m already old.”
Mu Linxian said, “Teacher’s wish will soon come true.”
Si Cheng Houzai laughed, “Thanks to you.”
Luckily, he had taken precautions. If he had let the Cheng family take Mu Linxian back, how would Xiao Qi have obediently returned? In his eyes, Xiao Qi was a caged bird, and Mu Linxian was the unbreakable golden cage. The two were the perfect match.
These words pierced Mu Linxian’s heart with a subtle pain. His expression turned cold. Before he could retort, another voice preempted him. Si Cheng Zhengli strode over, scolding Si Cheng Houzai as he walked, “Old man, you have no sense! Letting Brother Mu stand in the wind to talk to you. You have thick skin and many wrinkles, so you’re not afraid of the wind, but can Brother Mu compare to you?”
He reached Mu Linxian’s side while speaking, grasped Mu Linxian’s hand, and said, “Cold as ice. Brother Mu, come inside quickly. Don’t pay attention to that old man. He’s sick.”
Si Cheng Houzai was so angry he wheezed, striking the ground with his cane. Si Cheng Zhengli’s instructions floated over from afar, “Are you bored? Go to the pharmacy and cut out those two hundred catties of astragalus.” Then, he comforted Mu Linxian, “Don’t listen to that old thing’s nonsense. Rest easy and get better.” He said many more comforting words.
The door was a wooden door painted red, ajar. Lu Qinyuan pushed it open and entered, closing it behind him. With a click, it automatically locked. He frowned slightly, a bit dissatisfied. Underneath his feet was a thick velvet carpet, soft and silent to walk on.
The space was large, separated by screens.
The screens were mainly mountain-shaped, with redwood bases, zitan frames, and silk embroidery, depicting lotus in the rain, carefree flowers in the wind, unfinished rubies, and the other shore of reincarnation. The embroidery was exquisite, lifelike. The water droplets on the lotus seemed about to fall, adorning the tips of the petals, reflecting a crystal-clear light. The carefree flowers were like clusters of flames, dancing in the wind, leaping to life. The rubies faded away when a hundred flowers withered, the other shore opened fiercely but also heroically without seeing each other for thousands of years.
The spaces separated by the screens were a living room, study, kitchen, and bedroom, just like a normal home.
Looking further, there was a screen with calligraphy and paintings, placed horizontally in the center. The four panels depicted Zhongren’s plum blossoms, Zhao Mengjian’s orchids, Wentong’s bamboo, and Shitao’s chrysanthemums. Although they were imitations, they captured some of the original spirit. All had the same signature: “Hui.”
Lu Qinyuan carefully appraised them for a while, then walked around the screen to the back.
Behind the screen was a garden-style courtyard. The artificial mountains were deliberately left behind during excavation as decoration, covered in green grass and wildflowers. At the top of the mountain was an octagonal pavilion, and halfway up, the eaves of a temple were faintly visible. Fine streams of water cascaded down the mountain, and at the bottom was a valley with houses and streams and small bridges, resembling the appearance of Mount Fu.
The artificial mountain wasn’t large, only about half a person’s height, occupying about one square meter.
The rest of the area was mostly occupied by flowers and plants, mostly climbing vines, their branches and leaves intertwined in layers, giving the feeling of being in a secluded valley of flowers and trees. Near the edge was an old-fashioned soft couch, with a chessboard, cushions, and a thin blanket. Xiao Qi was sitting on the couch, looking down.
Their location was the only cliff on this mountain, which looked like it was waving to people from afar, so the locals called it Zhaoyao Mountain, saying that it might be the legendary divine mountain, inhabited by gods.
Lu Qinyuan couldn’t help but scoff. Indeed, a god who didn’t eat the food of mortals lived here, but unfortunately, he was a miserable god trapped by people, unable to control his own destiny.
Hearing Lu Qinyuan’s almost mocking scoff, Xiao Qi turned to look at him. Seeing him looking around, he asked, “How is it?”
Lu Qinyuan snorted, “A divine cave abode.” His tone was very sarcastic.
Xiao Qi chuckled and didn’t speak, turning his head to continue looking down the cliff. The sunlight shone thinly on him, which should have been warm, but was tainted by the misty air of the mountain, making Xiao Qi look cold and lonely.
Lu Qinyuan stepped forward, tossed the velvet box into Xiao Qi’s arms, sat down on the edge of the couch, pulled the thin blanket, wrapped it around Xiao Qi, and held him in his arms. Xiao Qi fumbled in his arms for a long time before finding the box, then freed his other hand and carefully opened it. Inside was a jade-carved chestnut, made of the finest Hetian jade, the size of an adult’s thumb, with a point of condensed white in the blood-red color. The carving master’s skill was superb, using the color to carve a chestnut that looked like it had been half-peeled. Xiao Qi held it in his hand and carefully examined it. Lu Qinyuan also leaned closer to look. On the condensed white part, two small seal characters, “Wu Qi,” were carved. The lines were smooth and delicate, so they couldn’t be easily noticed without careful attention.
Xiao Qi played with it for a while, dispelling his previous unhappiness. He put the jade chestnut around his neck, then squeezed the silver dragon cat and placed them both inside his clothes. He sat cross-legged and continued to look down, not knowing what he was looking at.
The edge of the cliff was lined with glass, so from the outside, it looked like a glass greenhouse, protected from wind and rain, both for protection and prevention. Following Xiao Qi’s gaze, clouds and mist swirled, green and hazy. Lu Qinyuan watched with him for a while, then got up and went to the study. He wanted to read a book to calm his mind.
Although the study was simple, it had everything a study should have. The bookshelves were antique, old-fashioned bookshelves, packed full. Beside them was a small bookcase, also in a style that had been popular a few years ago. The desk was made of pear wood, with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, a jade brush washer, and a white jade paperweight. On the floor was a celadon porcelain painting vat, containing several scrolls of paintings. On the pear wood chair matching the desk was a cushion embroidered with honeysuckle patterns. On the wall behind the chair hung a single word: “Divination.” The word was written in a flowing, unbroken style, bold and unrestrained, but the meaning wasn’t good. Carefully looking at the signature, only the small seal character “Hui” was written.
Lu Qinyuan glanced at the books. Most of them were ancient books with obscure language, the Four Books and Five Classics, rites and justice, Spring and Autumn Annals, historical texts, and philosophical collections, as well as unofficial histories, erotic tales, and stories of the strange.
Before Lu Qinyuan could choose which book to read, he heard a “click,” and the door was opened. Someone came in, followed by a panicked voice: “Teacher, you can’t go in! Please come out quickly. I’ll take you to find Young Master Qi. Young Master Qi isn’t here…”
No matter how the voice outside pleaded, the teacher in his mouth didn’t seem to listen and return. The voice was almost crying, only coaxing and pleading at the door, not daring to take a step inside.
Through the gap, Lu Qinyuan saw the teacher. His hair was shoulder-length, gray, and messy. His face was pale, his eyes were red, and there were dark shadows under his eyes. There was a large sore on his lip, with a layer of dead white skin. His cheekbones were sunken inward because of his thinness. At first glance, he was a bit scary. He murmured, repeating, “Jian Yi, where did you go? Daddy misses you. Daddy can’t live without you. A-Mo will be angry if Daddy can’t find you…”
It was the crazy Si Cheng Duyu. He searched everywhere, checking each compartment one by one, and soon found Lu Qinyuan here. But when he got close, he didn’t come in. Lu Qinyuan was about to go out when he suddenly heard him say, “Jian Yi is back.” His voice sounded like a normal person, not crazy.
The pleading outside suddenly stopped, their mouths wide open, staring like they had seen a ghost.
Lu Qinyuan knew that Xiao Qi had come out. He stepped out and saw Si Cheng Duyu slightly bowing, his forehead touching Xiao Qi’s forehead, smiling happily, and saying, “Jian Yi, you’ve grown up. Daddy is happy, and A-Mo is happy too.”
Xiao Qi’s face was calm. After Si Cheng Duyu finished speaking, he softly replied, “It’s good that you’re happy.”
Si Cheng Duyu wanted to hug Xiao Qi, like hugging a child. He tried clumsily, realizing that the child in front of him wasn’t suitable for that kind of hug. He couldn’t bear to make the child accommodate him, so he knelt on one knee and hugged Xiao Qi, saying he was happy, tears streaming down his face. Xiao Qi was moved, reached out and hugged Si Cheng Duyu back, a calm look in his eyes.
After hugging for a while, Si Cheng Duyu let go of Xiao Qi, took Xiao Qi’s hand, and sat down on the sofa to talk to him. Xiao Qi had never been an easy child. Si Cheng Duyu had always worried about Xiao Qi’s illness. Now seeing Xiao Qi healthy and grown up so big, his mood was indescribably excited and happy, and his tone revealed a bit of joy. But he still regretted, “How did you grow up so big in the blink of an eye? Daddy has been busy with work, forgetting to be with you.”
Xiao Qi’s heart was actually warm. Looking at the pitiful man with gray hair in front of him, he smiled slightly and said, “Sometimes I might resent you, but I don’t hate you. Daddy, my body has been fine for a long time. Don’t worry.”