Outside the door stood his father, Nanyang.
Nanyang looked at his son and asked with a smile, "May I come in?"
Nanzhou found the question amusing. "Dad, you were determined to come in when you arrived. Would you still come in if I refused?"
With that, he moved aside to make way.
Nanyang smiled and walked in. He was wearing a simple gray casual outfit that looked extremely comfortable, swaying with his every movement.
The father and son sat opposite each other on the sofa. Nanzhou smiled and asked, "Dad, would you like some tea?"
Nanyang shook his head slightly. "No, I had enough downstairs. I have something else to discuss with you."
Nanzhou said, "Please, go ahead."
Nanyang then spoke without hesitation, "Jiang Nuan, have you known each other for a long time?"
Nanzhou nodded slightly, understanding his father's thoughts. He didn't conceal anything. "Dad, I recall I told you last time that we've known each other for almost five years."
"Mm! I've investigated her, though it wasn't necessary. I already knew who she was. The young lady is very beautiful, but it's a shame she has children out of wedlock."
"I've heard her three children are bright and clever, and they seem to attend an elite school."
Nanzhou smiled and nodded. Judging by his father's expression, he seemed to like Jiang Nuan, but Nuan Nuan didn't feel the same way.
"Dad, do you fancy Nuan Nuan as your daughter-in-law?" he asked jokingly. His father was an open-minded person and wouldn't mind Jiang Nuan having three children; in fact, he'd probably be overjoyed to have three grandchildren.
Nanyang narrowed his eyes slightly, seeing only a smile in his son's eyes, no other intentions. He asked, "I know you have feelings for her. She has a good character, and she also saved my life."
Nanzhou chuckled upon hearing this. "She's saved thousands, if not tens of thousands, of lives. If everyone wanted to take her home as a daughter-in-law, wouldn't Nuan Nuan be living in a constant state of choice?"
Nanzhou sighed softly. There was nothing they couldn't discuss between father and son. "Dad, I like Nuan Nuan, but Nuan Nuan won't marry me. It's not that she looks down on me; she doesn't want to burden me. She always feels I deserve a better girl, so she won't have romantic feelings for me, only friendship."
"Dad, she has saved many lives, sometimes even risking her own to save others. Such people are rare in this era, but she is such a person – cold yet kind." It was precisely Jiang Nuan's personality that attracted him immensely.
Nanyang looked at him with disappointment, angrily saying, "Useless fellow, you haven't even tried. How can you know she doesn't have feelings for you? You need to put in some effort and get married soon to inherit my business. My health is declining year by year." Nanyang left in a huff.
Nanzhou gave a bitter smile. Hearing the door close, he muttered to himself, "What does this old man know? I don't even have a chance to try."
The children belonged to Mu Jiuchen. Mu Jiuchen's warning from that day still echoed in his ears.
"That person is mine." Even the usually stoic Mu Jiuchen had uttered such words, which was quite striking.
Nanzhou slowly stood up. His robust physique, honed by years of training, was particularly captivating. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and gazed at the sparse starry sky. The twinkling stars resembled Nuan Nuan's beautiful eyes. Nuan Nuan's eyes were always beautiful, her pupils clear and full, as if washed by spring water, without a speck of impurity.
The first time he saw Jiang Nuan, he was captivated by her clear eyes.
"Nuan Nuan," he whispered her name softly, his mood gradually improving.
The affection hidden deep in his heart dared to flow freely only in the quiet of the night.
At Mu Jiuchen's home, Li Qingshuo and He Mingrun were sitting under the long covered corridor in the courtyard, drinking tea.
Mu Jiuchen lounged with his legs crossed, occasionally swinging one of his long legs, appearing to be in a good mood.
He Mingrun looked at him and asked, "You called us over but didn't say anything. Are you tired of your own time or mine?"
Li Qingshuo also chimed in, "If there's nothing else, we should go back and rest early. I'm a patient, and I can't stay up late." He knew his illness was likely a result of staying up late and playing games in previous years, constantly sitting still made him prone to sickness.
He vowed never to do that again and would definitely prioritize fitness.
Li Qingshuo was helpless; all the bad things seemed to be happening at once.
Mu Jiuchen glanced at the two of them slowly and said, "I do have something to ask you both. I suspect my mother is still alive."
He Mingrun: "..." He looked at Mu Jiuchen seriously, thinking he wasn't joking.
Then Mu Jiuchen must be ill.
"Xiao Jiu, I know your aunt's death was a great blow to you, but there's no need to dwell on it. The dead cannot be brought back to life. Let it go. So many years have passed; letting go is letting yourself be free."
He Mingrun felt sympathetic towards Mu Jiuchen, but lately, he also felt sympathetic towards himself. His pursuit of love had failed, and his mother was constantly lecturing him on what kind of wife would be worthy of the He family.
Therefore, he too had been living in hell lately.
Li Qingshuo also looked at him and said, "Xiao Jiu, why did you suddenly bring this up? When Madam Mu died, the entire city was in an uproar. How could she possibly be alive?" He was still young then and didn't know Mu Jiuchen, but He Junshu was a renowned beauty in Jinshi City. Her death was reported by all major tabloids, and the heat only died down after more than half a year.
Mu Jiuchen knew they wouldn't believe him, but he wanted to know the answer. He had always regretted not seeing his mother one last time.
Forget it; he would uncover the answer himself.
Mu Jiuchen looked at He Mingrun and asked, "Has your mother said anything about you liking Meng Yuan?"
Since Madam He returned, he had rarely visited the He family.
Madam He's hostility towards him was always evident on her face.
"Heh..." He Mingrun let out a wry laugh and looked at him, asking, "Do you think she's the type of person who would let me off the hook? As long as I'm home, she'll nag from morning till night. Even if my grandmother scolds her, she won't think she's talking too much. Those two, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, have been arguing since they were young, neither giving way to the other."
"Over time, no matter how harsh the other person's words are, they don't take it to heart. So, every day when I go home, I feel caught in a difficult situation."
"As for me, I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. I haven't confessed to Meng Yuan yet, and my love is about to die. The last time I asked her out, she came, but her words and actions were very distant. I absolutely cannot let my mother ruin my love."
He Mingrun immediately sat up straight and looked at Mu Jiuchen with anticipation. "Xiao Jiu, you haven't married or had children yet. Why don't I move in with you for a while? Would that be okay with you?"