translator: Eve
The second his eyes met with that pair of dark, clear eyes, the cold expression on Song Xuanhe’s face froze. His gaze became a bit out-of-focus for a moment. When he realized that Xiao Yuanmu must have heard what he had just said, the tips of his ears flushed. Despite this, he maintained his composure.
He nodded slightly, as if he wasn’t surprised by the other’s appearance. His tone was extremely calm. “You’re back.”
Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze was fixed on Song Xuanhe. There was a myriad of emotions boiling in his eyes. It made Song Xuanhe want to look away.
The second before he looked away, Xiao Yuanmu made his way over, wrapping his arms tightly around Song Xuanhe. Xiao Yuanmu rested his chin on his shoulder and then pasted his soft, icy lips against Song Xuanhe’s neck. There was a raspy quality to his voice. “I’m back.”
Song Xuanhe didn’t know why, but Xiao Yuanmu gave off a weak and warm impression right now. Even though Song Xuanhe knew he was probably just imagining it, he still raised his hand and gently tousled the other’s hair. Quietly, he replied with a ‘mn.’
Xiao Yuanmu held Song Xuanhe quietly, enjoying the heat emitting from the other’s body. When he recalled the nightmare from three days ago that had made him unable to close his eyes again, he couldn’t help but tighten his hold.
“Yuanmu….”
Mrs. Xiao stood to the side. It was the first time she had seen her eldest son show such a dependent and soft side to him. It made her forget her alarm while throwing her into a sea of astonishment and bitterness.
Her feelings for Xiao Yuanmu were complicated. The first few years after Xiao Yuanmu’s disappearance, she had searched for him like mad. Even if she knew that the likelihood of her son surviving after being led away from the family by those malicious, unknown people, she had not given up for a second.
But later on, Xiao Lin had adopted a child to console her. That child had been lovable and quiet, but she hadn’t been able to accept him. She knew that it wasn’t her son and she couldn’t accept the fact that another child would get to enjoy everything that belonged to her missing son. That’s why she had rejected the child so vehemently.
The servants were very tactful. Gradually, they had stopped bringing the child in front of her. But even though the child wasn’t in sight, he still reminded her constantly of her missing child.
This only ended when she became pregnant with Xiao Baicong.
Once more, a little life emerged within her, their hearts beating as one. After ten months, he was born. She was more experienced this time and even more careful with her second son after the disappearance of her first. She didn’t let Xiao Baicong out of her sight.
Later on, as Xiao Baicong slowly grew up, she dedicated all her energy and emotions to him. This distracted her, leaving her no time to wonder whether her eldest son was alive, and if he was alive, what kind of horrible life he might be leading. She never had the courage to think about these things.
A little after that, she wiped all traces of her eldest son’s existence from her home, from the pictures and videos of him to his little toys. She had everything stored away. Gradually, signs of her eldest son’s existence disappeared while her youngest son grew up. She started to believe that she had only ever given birth to the little angel in front of her.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
She meticulously raised Xiao Baicong and watched him grow up to the young adult he was today. The fact that he was still filial and gentle even after growing up made her soft. She wanted to give him the best the world had to offer. If he wanted the Xiao Family, she would help him take on the pressure and the criticisms. She was willing to do anything to ensure that he lived his entire life happy.
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But all this changed when she saw the young man, who looked like her deceased brother and shared the same eyes as her youngest son.
She hadn’t needed any tests. She had known that this was her child. She had known that this was her eldest son, who her younger brother had loved to hold and carry. Her younger brother had often smiled at Xiao Lin and said that the boy was ‘just like his uncle’, that he would definitely be like him and like him after he grew up.
This was her eldest son. He had indeed become like her younger brother after growing up.
Because of him, all of the memories she had tried to bury became unearthed. She remembered how her brother had apologized to her before his death, apologized to Xiao Yuanmu. Her brother had always blamed himself for Xiao Yuanmu’s disappearance because, at that time, he had wanted to take Xiao Yuanmu to the park. And then, when he had gone upstairs to get something, a servant who had been tasked to look after Xiao Yuanmu had whisked him away.
That matter didn’t only gnaw on his heart, but on hers and Xiao Yuanmu’s as well. As Xiao Yuanmu’s parents, even if they knew that they shouldn’t blame her younger brother—no one could know that someone had infiltrated their residence and disguised themselves as the help—it was still difficult for them to smile at him now that their son had gone missing.
Her younger brother had died with guilt in his heart. This fact only made her all the more obsessed with finding her eldest son. It was the only light in her darkest times.
——But Xiao Baicong’s birth had dispelled all that darkness.
She was genuinely ecstatic to find Xiao Yuanmu. It wasn’t just her wish, but the long, cherished wish of her younger brother as well.
It was just that Xiao Yuanmu’s eyes were too cold.
He was not the child she had imagined. Even though she tried so hard to get closer to him, even though she had done everything she could to explain that they all wanted to get closer to them, even if she wanted to do everything she could to make it up to him…she had never seen any warmth in his eyes.
This was a highly ambitious child with a heart that would never warm up.
That had been the conclusion Mrs. Xiao had come to after finding out Xiao Yuanmu had mercilessly gotten rid of the people she had specifically cultivated for Xiao Baicong in several of the Xiao Family’s large corporations.
As she watched the confident, warm smile on her youngest son gradually disappear; watched how he had to focus on school while having to stay up late to manage the companies; watched how he lost weight and gained dark circles in his eyes; and finally listened to him ask her in a defeated voice, “Mom, am I really inferior to Gege,” a sliver of discontent towards her eldest son rapidly formed in her heart.
He already had RE. Everyone knew that he was extremely gifted in business. He already stood out in the crowd and had a place in these circles. Even Xiao Lin and the majority of the Xiao Family inwardly shifted the title of ‘successor’ over to him.
He already had so much, why couldn’t he give Congcong a little? Why couldn’t he treat his younger brother a little better, to reassure her that even if her husband and herself were no longer around, Xiao Yuanmu would be able to take care of the company and his younger brother?
That’s why she had looked for Song Xuanhe. She had hoped that he would help persuade Xiao Yuanmu, so that her heart could be rest assured.
Actually, before Song Xuanhe had said his piece, she had never thought that she was in the wrong. She was a mother. She loved both her sons. Was there anything wrong with wanting them to get along and help each other out? Even though Xiao Baicong used to fight for the successor title, he had already given up. So why was Xiao Yuanmu so cold to him? He even seemed indifferent at times.
That was his younger brother. That was the closest person to him in the world aside from his parents. How could she stand by and allow their relationship to remain cold like this?
But Song Xuanhe’s words had been like a slap to the face.
Xiao Baicong was wronged by having to give up the successor position. Then was Xiao Yuanmu not wronged, having been forced to suffer in the outside world for the last twenty plus years? Xiao Baicong could honourably give up in the battle for succession as her and Xiao Lin’s son. Xiao Yuanmu was also their son. So why did she think that Xiao Baicong was conceding when Xiao Yuanmu rightfully won the position as successor?
Compared to Xiao Yuanmu, Xiao Baicong possesses so much more. So why did she think Xiao Yuanmu was wildly ambitious?
After seeing the fury and pain for Xiao Yuanmu in Song Xuanhe’s eyes, after seeing the trusting, weak appearance of Xiao Yuanmu while he embraced Song Xuanhe, he suddenly realized how ridiculous her words had been. She had been so wrong and so unreasonable.
She was thoroughly biased towards her younger son. What right did she have to demand her eldest son to be as reliant and trusting towards her as her youngest son? She wasn’t worthy of his trust or dependence at all.
Now, her eldest son probably didn’t even want to give her even the most basic of trust and kinship after hearing what she had said.
But how could she give up on her eldest son after finally getting him back? Could she watch quietly while he treated her like she was a stranger?
Of course not! She had to explain herself!
“Yuanmu….”
Mrs. Xiao reached out and grabbed onto one of Xiao Yuanmu’s arms that were looped around Song Xuanhe’s waist. She also shifted his head, that was leaning against Song Xuanhe’s neck, so that he was now facing her.
“Mom didn’t mean anything by that. Mom only wanted to talk to Mr. Song. I don’t know how things got to that. Mom just wants you and your brother to get along….”
Mrs. Xiao’s voice gradually weakened under Xiao Yuanmu’s clear and tranquil gaze.
“I know, Mother.” Xiao Yuanmu lifted his chin off of Song Xuanhe’s shoulder but his arms were still tightly wound around the other’s waist. He continued to hold Song Xuanhe with a very dependent and possessive posture as he spoke to his mother. “I know what you want to say. You don’t need to apologize. I will not misunderstand. But I still have some things to attend to right now. Can I come see you another day?”
Xiao Yuanmu’s tone was the same as always. Mrs. Xiao didn’t know if it was because he really didn’t mind her words just now or if didn’t care because he had never let her into his heart.
Unfortunately, she could not get an answer from his ripple-less eyes.
Xiao Yuanmu was always calm and composed whenever he interacted with her—or anyone for the matter. It was impossible to read the emotions in his eyes.
It was only in front of the young man he was currently holding that he would become vibrant and alive.
Something flickered through Mrs. Xiao’s eyes as she quietly said, “Okay, Mom will go back first. Your father and I have been very worried about you after not being able to contact you for the last few days. Come see us when you’re free, okay?”
Xiao Yuanmu said ‘okay’ and Mrs. Xiao quietly left.
A second after the click of the door closing was heard, Xiao Yuanmu found Song Xuanhe’s lips. His cold but soft lips covered Song Xuanhe’s warm pair. There was a sense of urgency, passion and strength in his breath. Song Xuanhe couldn’t resist him.
And he didn’t want to resist either. Song Xuanhe responded enthusiastically to Xiao Yuanmu’s kiss. His hands stroked the other’s back, in what seemed like comfort but also provocation. Xiao Yuanmu paused, before continuing with more intensity and recklessness than before.
The temperature in the room gradually increased. Unwittingly, the two of them made their way from the living room to the bedroom, and from the bedroom to the bed. Song Xuanhe’s shirt had already been discarded somewhere and Xiao Yuanmu’s wicked hands were over his fair chest. His leather belt was also undone, revealing his underwear.
Xiao Yuanmu was in a similar state. His jacket had disappeared at some unknown point in them and Song Xuanhe had ripped his t-shirt to pieces. Parts of it still hung from his shoulders while Song Xuanhe undid his belt.
The two of them embraced impatiently. Except for the conversation they had in the beginning, no other words were exchanged. But for the first time, it felt like their hearts were linked. It felt like they knew what the other wanted to say, what the other desired. For the first time, they both wanted to become one with the other.
Everything felt right….
The author has something to say:
Shh!
Eve: Yeah, this is gonna be glossed over, if anyone wants to write the smutty fanfiction, go for it. But yeah, Mumu and Mrs. Xiao, it’s hard to pin the blame on either person. Because we know Mumu’s perspective, I am also biased towards him. As someone who has a strained and complicated relationship with one parent, I am even more biased against the mother. She may have truly loved him and genuinely want to get close, but sometimes, the best thing you can do for someone is to let go. To give them the power to decide if and when they choose to open up their heart. And if they choose to never do that, the best thing you can do is accept it and hope for their happiness. Even if their happiness doesn’t include you.
Ahhh finally,,,,
I’m just so disappointed with mrs xiao.
Totally agree with Eve comments.
Oh god I was so angry reading what Yuanmu mother was saying x.x so biased, so wrong.
agree, ma’am wait until you find out what your precious baicong did to xuanlin bruh
*shenglin aaa got his name wrong
I agree with Eve’s comments. The best thing is to back off and let Mumu decide on his own. He doesn’t need all the added pressure the Xiao family brings or the added pressure of having to instantly feel emotions towards his family of strangers. It is not fair for her to just expect him to do as she says and treat Baicong as his didi.
He won the fight to be the successor. He should also have the right to remove all of Baicong’s people.
I am happy Mumu and Xuanhe are on the same page now!
Thanks for the chapter! <3
He already had RE. … He already had so much, why couldn’t he give Congcong a little?
🙃🙃🙃
excuse me madam, did u not know or just naive? ur husband’s fam is the one who force XYM to fight in Xiao, because they’re greedy for his big pie RE. if ur little family simply just try to reunite as family and not always bring Xiao complicated business relationship, or just let him made a choice (doing his own RE or doing Xiao’s business), ur Congcong still has a better and easy life at Xiao and soon become the head of his ability is enough; I believe Yuanmu, both past and now, might not bother ur lovely Congcong at all. but you just have to always brought up about Xiao business bit and pieces here and there; the sincerity evaporate everytime u do that.
and Congcong… I have so many rants about you but lemme see if u got ur own perspective, and if it’s worth it 🙂
sorry for my long ranting…
why… there’s long spacing below my comments ?👁️👁️
+1 I love the perspective change as well~
+2
I love them whole heart
eyes moist heart flustered and hell gate open 🥺🥺 I am going to die
Though i understand the mother Im just disappointed on her.
Thanks for the chapter!
I dont like mother Xiao… nuff said….
Thanks for the chapter! ❤❤❤
Thanks for the chapter ♥️♥️
It’s good now she understands what she did wrong and aiyaa I love how these two gets deeper in their feelings for each other
thanks for the chapter!
Only then healing could start.
Mrs. Xiao getting some awareness is a good thing. The Xiao household was the one who pushed Yuanmu into their power play because of Re. He even announced that his lover is a man. That he has no intention of getting married to a woman making it clear that he won’t play according to that household rules. But because of his strong exterior, of course he’s the ambitious one ( •́ ‿ ,•̀ ).
Why else would you one have a fortress around their heart? Of course when the inside is so soft and vulnerable. Doesn’t mean that when a person doesn’t show it, they don’t feel it. Who wants to get hurt and hurt all over again?
It’s quite heartaching to be able to know both Yuanmu and Mrs. Xiao’s pain…
I’m so happy Yuanmu and Xuanhe found each other.
Thanks for the emotion packed update 💕
Ohhh they did it??? Full base??? 👀
Anyway… Glad that the Mother’s brain finally work in right direction. Hope her action also work in the right direction too.
Thanks for the chapter!!!!
I wonder what the final task the MC has to complete is. His time is almost up.
Me after reading the last part:
Got a nosebleed..
Had a heart attack…
Was in the IUC for a few hrs…
Just got back to read again…
Repeat the process
ICU* lol. My heart is still not at the right place to type (/ω＼)(/ω＼)
They did the snu snu!! Someone, please make the fanfic of their snusnu…
asking fanfic writers respectfully 🥺🤲🏼
Someone write the specifics of what is happening inside the bedroom in a detailed way, preferably not the ‘and the two dots on his snow like chest was now as pink as peaches as the other’s tongue circled around it‘ since its too……detailed, we prefer normal ones like ‘his nimpl£$ were now pink from the biting and n!mbl!ng of XY. SX couldnt hold it anymore and…‘ ok i know you get it now, now go write since my imagination is lower than my grades. (I felt like i was writing sm₩t at the end tho)
Leaving a comment here, in case someone drop a link 😁
Ohhhh censorship. Still. Romantic 😊
Thanks for the great translation ♥️
I dislike Mrs. Xiou due to her selfish thoughts and past actions but i am glad she finally is not muddlehead. Hope she takes this opportunity to flatten things down with Mumu.. Slow and steady
And I can’t believe I say this…but thank youuu Mrs.Xiou because of muddlehead
And selfish reasons
BOTH OF THEM FINALLY DID DEEED
I AM LITERALLY LAUGHING WHILE SMILING THROUGH THIS CHAPPIE
SONG XUANHE AND XIAO YUANMU .
YOU
BOTH
DESERVE
HAPPINESS
REALLY
I am just bump out we don’t get to read their full segsy night together.. WeLP TIME TO USE IMAGINATIONS AND CREATIVITY THEN *pulls out the old laptop *
Oh…I am also questioning that…what will happend to Song Xuanhe..The system did say he has a deadline…Honestly I don’t understand the system way of thought first he prevents Song Xuanhe from taking interest to the target by constantly reminding him about his real world then he says the opposite
I SWEAR IF THE SYSTEM DID SOMETHING TO XUER AND MUMU
IMMA GONNA THROWN IN THE TOWEL AND FIGHT THE SYSTEM TO DEATH IF I MUST !!!!
I’m on Mumu’s side, but I’m still glad she (sort of) realised and it’s nice to have a look in her head for once.
They were soo cute!! (／≧ω＼)
Thank you for the chapter ( ꈍᴗꈍ)
Huhu 😭
Thanks for the chapter <3
God, this novel (and the translator) taught me more than my school does.
Thx for translating
Thanks for the chapter!
Mumu must’ve been upset. Thankfully he has Xuanhe by his side 💖
…They’re at Louis’ apartment though- Oh dear.
Gahhhhhhhh FINALLY 🤩🥰🥰
[Song Xuanhe had ripped his t-shirt to pieces. Parts of it still hung from his shoulders]
Me: ( ⊙ o ⊙ ) Wow, so wild! ୧(๑•̀ㅁ•́๑)૭✧
The author has something to say: Shh!
Me: QAQ Can I still hope for smut?
Eve: blunt No.
Me: ToT
Counselling with Eve. Eve sounds like a real family therapist. 😲
Thanks for the chapter ~♡
I’ve catch up to the last chapter in about three days and now i suffer🙂
Thanks for the chapter 😊
GLOSSED OVER SMH fights back against the demons inside me
T-Thanks for the smacks dirty thoughts chapter! 💕
Yay! Ok, for imagination sake… this life, Mumu is the gong? I kinda want him to be the shou, I like power bottoms!! Or will they switch off? 🤔
Also, TYPO – “ That matter didn’t only gnaw on his heart, but on hers and Xiao **Yuanmu’s [Lin – that’s the husband, right?] as well.“
I just hope mumu got a bath and the 20 seconds of mandatory hand wash before touching anything! It gave me the creeps when they started making out right after he entered the house. Also mama Xiao I don’t like you very much, how the fuck do you just give up and forget about your son? I got missing 2 minutes from my house and my mom turns into a purple minion
Your youngest son, Xiao Baicong, grow up under your meticulous care. He have everything Mumu dreamed for, money, clothes, food, parents, everything.
Xiao Baicong doesn’t have to experience the feeling of being locked inside a dark room full of snake.
Mumu, on the other hand, is being bullied, he needs to work hard first so that he can attend school. He get all he have now by his own hardwork.
In my eyes, you totally have no right to critique him even if he is greedy over the Xiao family’s assets, that’s something he should have own since his birth, not Xiao Baicong.
My heart hurts. Like real bad. This is why I stopped reading this and waited until it’s complete (but, again, I can’t wait so I’m reading it now. HAHAHAHAHAHA!) So that it’ll hurt once, not every week. Lol.
But dayuumm, I hate how biased his mother is, but at the same time, I kinda understand why she’s like that. But it doesn’t mean that I agree with her. Snjcjsjc
I probably didnt get my point acrodd but yeah lol 😆
it really… isn’t easy to side with someone once you see anothers perspective, especially one like XYMs mom, since its so human to subconciously disregard the others hardships and focus on yours
im glad that the author had given the mothers account on everything too, i really do think she is a good mother, just not to XYM
How can she be so biased when he’s doing the exact thing that he was supposed to be doing if he wasn’t kidnapped? Ah this women makes me so mad. Xiao Baicong has had every single advantage possible to him since his birth, yet Yuanmu was still able to make his own company and be successful after everything that’s happened to him. If that isn’t all the proof you need then I don’t know what you want anymore. Sighhh I understand her view on this, but it’s really hard to bear when she acts as if Yuanmu and Baicong have had the same advantages when their upbringing couldn’t have been more different.
I really want to rant about Xiao family but before that they’re still at Louis house, aren’t they?!
can any one give the link of smutty fanfiction????
god give me the those rauchy fics
*raunchy
I don’t know if it’s bc she’s someone who is part of such a big, influential family as the Xiao, or if there’s another reason, but, as mentioned in my previous comment, mother Xiao is full of arrogance and a sense of superiority even when it comes to interacting with her son. Or maybe it’s only when she interacts with XYM. Her thoughts keep going like ‘she already did everything she could, lowered herself for her son to forgive her and accept her as his mom but this child still acts as cold as he’s been at the beginning’. As if XYM should feel honoured and fall to his knees as soon as she deigns to sprinkle some kindness on him. How dares he not melt into a puddle as soon as he sees her, this mother of his? I don’t know if I make sense. Anyway, it’s messed up. With this kind of attitude she will never be able to make anyone like her. Nevermind someone who’s already a grown up and has his likes and dislikes very well defined.
Like Shenglin had said, that is a cold and desolate place to live. She is arrogant when talking about Shenglin too. Like he wanted to be her adopted child in the first place! Smh. Tbh, for Baicong to grow up putting facade and mask should also tell alot about her and Mr Xiao.
APEOKDKFO THEY FINALLY DID THE DO👀👀👀👀👀 THEY DID THE DANCE WITH NO PANTS, also just how strong is Song Xuanhe to be able to literally rip MuMu’s shirt to pieces 😳 (if anyone did or does make a fanfic detailing what happened, please do tell me👀)
Agree. The best thing to do in a relationship is listening to other party’s voice!
I really do appreciate her efforts in trying to get closer with Mumu but it’s just like eve had said, is his choice. Ty for the chapter! +1 on eve’s comments 🌸
mrs.xiao was being ridiculous go love ur congcong & leave mumu alone lord
Mrs Xiao you don’t deserve children 😭😭😭😭 i have never felt so hate for any mom in novels than i did for her, she almost ruined a child just because it wasn’t hers I hope she gets her karma
At least she woke up a little…
Thank You for the chapter (๑♡ v ♡๑)