Chapter Ten: Investigating Youbao’s Origins
“No, Grandpa, Yu Bao certainly doesn’t want to make you angry. Being upset isn’t good for your health!”
Mu You lifted her head, looking at him with eyes full of sincerity and concern for the elder.
Staring at the little face so closely resembling his daughter, Mu Deyan’s heart was filled with conflicting emotions.
“Hurry and catch up!”
“Okay!”
After a while, the grandfather and granddaughter arrived in the living room.
Except for Mu Weiyi and his sister, who had already gone to bed, Xu Ya and the others were seated on the sofa. Upon seeing Mu Deyan, they all stood up.
“Dad, you can’t just let them go! The fire in the basement must be connected to that brat from the Qi family. We have the truth on our side—what are we afraid of? We are the victims here!”
Mu Yao, thinking about how much he had lost, wished he could rush over right now and stop Qi Han.
But he didn’t have the courage.
“Shut up! Haven’t you embarrassed us enough already? Do you want to ruin the Mu family completely with your stupidity?!”
Mu Deyan roared angrily.
He simply couldn’t understand. He had built everything the Mu family had from scratch with decisive tactics and courage.
How could he have such a foolish and incompetent son?
Sometimes he couldn’t help but wonder if this brat was really his biological child.
“Dad, why are you always siding with outsiders? I—I’m only thinking about what’s best for the Mu family…”
After being shouted at, Mu Yao’s tone softened significantly, though there was still some reluctance.
Mu Deyan was so furious he puffed out his beard and glared, unwilling to speak.
“Deyan, don’t let this upset ruin your health. A Yao is just thinking that if the Qi family is also at fault, this farce today will be easier to resolve. It’s actually good news for the Mu family!”
Xu Ya gave Mu Yao a warning glance, signaling him not to antagonize them further.
Li Jiaojiao, feeling guilty, stood at the edge trying to lower her presence.
“Hmph, you admit it was a farce today?”
Mu Deyan looked toward Xu Ya, his eyes dark and unreadable.
“I may be old, but my mind is not so muddled that I would let you all run amok!”
“I will handle the Qi family’s matter properly. The Mu family will be fine. You are neither allowed to interfere nor inquire further. This matter ends here!”
“Liu Zhong, take her downstairs to dress her wounds. Also, have Aunt Zhang clean up the small room next to mine. Let her stay there for the next few days.”
Shifting the subject, Mu Deyan pointed at the little one bowing her head silently, then left.
Mu You was taken away.
The others were left staring at each other, clearly confused about the current situation.
“When did Dad become so concerned about the little stepchild?”
Mu Yao looked astonished.
---
“What did he mean by those words just now? Does he know something?”
Just as they were puzzled, Mu Deyan’s voice came again from ahead.
“Next week’s family camping, You... will be joining us as well. You are her elders too. Make sure to pay attention and treat everyone fairly.”
“What?!”
Now Li Jiaojiao couldn’t stay seated.
She wanted to rush up and grab the old man to ask why he was being so kind to Yu You.
Could it be that he actually didn’t dislike the little stepchild at all?!
But when she met Mu Deyan’s imposing, unyielding gaze, she quickly changed her expression.
Softly and obediently, she said, “Okay.”
“Jiaojiao, since Dad has settled everything, stop frowning. You’ll get wrinkles~”
Mu Yao, completely clueless about why Li Jiaojiao was upset, moved closer, trying to comfort his wife with what he thought was a high emotional quotient.
“Shut up. How could I possibly have wrinkles?”
After shooing away her useless husband, Li Jiaojiao cursed inwardly.
Yu You! How dare you steal my children’s affection and inheritance... just wait and see if you live long enough to enjoy it!
Ha, the outdoors is the easiest place to pull strings...
Li Jiaojiao curled her lips into a sinister smile.
All traces of the earlier anxiety from the arson exposure vanished.
Late at night.
Mu You lay in a small bed, blinking.
The winter solstice night was long; so much had happened, and she was tired, yet she couldn’t fall asleep.
“Meow.”
[Yu Bao, open the window quickly! I want to come in!]
Hearing the voice, Mu You hurried to the window and brought the tabby cat inside.
“Meow.”
[It’s warmer inside!]
[If it weren’t for you being here, I’d never set paw in the two-legged beasts’ territory.]
The tabby cat headed straight for the small bed, unabashedly finding a comfortable, warm spot to lie down.
“Hehe, thank you, kitty~ You were amazing today and helped Yu Bao a lot!”
Mu You took a small box out of her pajama pocket. Inside was fragrant beef.
“Kitty, are you hungry? Yu Bao saved some meat for you—it’s really delicious.”
A delicacy only eaten during the New Year!
“Meow.”
---
[Since you sincerely invited me, I won’t be polite.]
The tabby cat jumped off the bed, ready to enjoy the feast.
Just as it was about to open its mouth, it paused.
“Meow.”
[Actually, you should thank that old man. I’m beginning to believe he does have some affection for you.]
Before delivering a lighter to Mu You in the backyard, the tabby cat had ventured to the front yard to seek revenge against the Mu family.
Humans have an old saying: capture the ringleader first.
Besides, it didn’t fully trust that the old man was genuinely kind to Yu You—how could it allow others to bully her?
So it found its way to Mu Deyan’s bedroom window and saw he wasn’t sleeping but frowning while staring at a black lump.
On the black lump, many small figures moved. The tabby’s sharp eyesight noticed that after Li Jiaojiao set the fire and threw things away, she immediately turned back to look for them.
However, it only saw the lighter; the oil can seemed to have been taken by someone.
Could it be the old man who took it? Why?
The tabby cat bit off a piece of meat with a soft “ah-woo.”
Human emotions are too complicated for a cat to understand or describe clearly. It was better for Yu Bao to discover and comprehend them on her own!
“Grandpa has always been a good grandfather to Yu Bao. Yu Bao has never blamed him! Yu Bao is always very grateful to Grandpa!”
Mu You petted the tabby cat’s fur, her adorable face full of smiles.
She believed that Grandpa truly cared about her!
---
At the hospital.
Qi Han had stayed by Qi Haoxuan’s side all night.
Overwhelmed by shock, and with excessive smoke inhalation, the boy had a fever and fainted.
Now the fever had subsided; he just needed to wake up and rest well to be out of danger.
Thinking about yesterday’s events, Qi Han was furious.
He wished he could immediately wipe out the Mu family from Huaguo, even make them disappear entirely!
But a phone call from his father forced him to give up investigating and holding the Mu family accountable.
“Xuan, Dad won’t let you suffer or be disappointed!”
Qi Han believed in his son.
Although he hadn’t investigated whose fingerprints were on the lighter, it was certain that Xuan and Yu You had been locked in the basement and nearly burned alive by the Mu family!
Judging by how the Mu family treated Yu You and her unusually frail body, they were anything but kind!
“Wu Yi, investigate the Mu family.”
“And also... Yu You’s background.”