Be Careful, Scum Dad! Mommy Is Back!

Chapter 75: Chapter 75: The Secret from Five Years Ago

A loosely secured window let in a draught of hot summer air.

Lu Xining rarely focused her gaze on Ji Muye’s face—the incredible facial features, wealth that rivaled nations—no wonder so many women constantly chased after him.

She was certain that even in forty or fifty years, there would still be young girls around this man.

Ji Muye frowned upon hearing her words, his temples throbbing drastically, and he was just about to explain that his relationship with Liu Xixi was purely a debt of gratitude when he received an urgent call from Yan Dong.

“President Ji, Miss Liu is in a life-threatening situation!”

The prior conversation, the silence between them, allowed the quietness in the restaurant to be so profound that one could hear a pin drop, let alone Yan Dong’s unmodulated voice.

Ji Muye immediately looked into Lu Xining’s eyes, the undisguised mockery between her brows deepening his look.

She stood up, ready to leave the restaurant, “I won’t disturb President Ji anymore.”

Hearing Lu Xining’s voice on the other side of the phone, Yan Dong felt a pang of fear—It’s over! It affected the former couple’s relationship!

His wrist was seized by the man. She lowered her gaze, meeting Ji Muye’s dark, profound eyes. Her emotions froze for a moment but soon settled.

Ji Muye held her hand, “I’m not in the kind of relationship you think with Liu Xixi.”

He turned on the speakerphone directly and addressed Yan Dong, “Go on.”

While still grasped at the wrist by Ji Muye, Lu Xining struggled a few times but couldn’t escape and could only stand next to him, listening to the situation about Liu Xixi on the phone.

“President Ji, there were complications during Miss Liu’s cosmetic surgery, her body reacted adversely to the medication, and now she has been transferred to another hospital for emergency treatment. She hasn’t come out of the operating room yet.”

Ji Muye furrowed his brows after hearing this, “Wasn’t she supposed to undergo a corrective surgery? How did it turn into cosmetic surgery?”

Yan Dong was also unclear. He had arranged for someone to care for Liu Xixi and then returned to the country with Ji Muye.

“Maybe since she was already there, she thought why not go for it?”

Ji Muye’s expression darkened, and Lu Xining couldn’t help but chuckle.

Meeting his icy gaze, she waved her hand, “I’m not laughing at Liu Xixi; I just think Secretary Yan’s comment was quite humorous.”

Ji Muye: “…”

The coldness on his handsome and dignified face slightly faded, his voice deep and magnetic, “Secretary Yan, you arrange for someone to follow up on this matter and try your best to save Liu Xixi’s life.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Xining’s expression immediately darkened.

Her dislike for Liu Xixi was deep-rooted. Hearing Ji Muye’s words filled her with disdain.

The sunlight outside was bright and splendid, yet it couldn’t pierce the shadows in Lu Xining’s heart at that moment.

She struggled forcefully to pry his fingers off her wrist while simultaneously stomping hard on his toenails.

Ji Muye’s brow slightly knitted; careful not to hurt her, he never exerted much force. Seeing her resistance, he slackened his grip a bit more.

“Xining, listen to me explain.”

Unable to escape his grasp, Lu Xining deflatedly said, “Fine, explain it then. I want to hear just how earth-shatteringly romantic your love story is.”

Ji Muye sighed, “I don’t love Liu Xixi.”

Her laughter burst out at his words, scoffing, “But you don’t love me either, do you? You left me alone in the restaurant in Jingzhou during that torrential rain five years ago—you haven’t forgotten that, have you?”

Ji Muye was still defending himself, “But wasn’t that restaurant one you’ve always wanted to try? The food had already been served; I couldn’t just drag you along, right?”

“And besides, I left you with a bodyguard and a driver.”

Anger swirled in her mind, slightly skewing her rationale. Hearing Ji Muye’s words, Lu Xining couldn’t help blurting out,

“You think I just wanted to eat at that restaurant? Do you even know what I was preparing that day…”

Her sentence abruptly cut off!

Lu Xining’s ears burned hot, frightened by her own near slip of the tongue, and she closed her eyes to calm herself.

From their first meeting, Lu Xining knew that Ji Muye was truly a heartless and ruthless man.

Though he did not love her then, at least he didn’t love other women.

Though he wasn’t fickle, he was arrogant.

She had thought that even if they were only to be a respectful couple after marriage, supporting and respecting each other, life could still be harmoniously beautiful.

Yet she couldn’t guard her own heart and was unwittingly drawn to Ji Muye.

After their twin sons were born, Ji Muye began to value family more. Lu Xining started to see hope, even harboring dreams of love after marriage.

Once her feelings were certain, she decided to confess to Ji Muye. She had booked a private room, ordered flowers, filled with anticipation, but then Ji Muye left.

Ji Muye, sensing the story she hadn’t finished, tightened his grip on her slender fingers.

They had been divorced for two years now, what did that confession matter at that time?

“Let go, I need to see the children.” As Lu Xining broke free from Ji Muye’s grasp, she heard his apology.

“…I’m sorry.”

His voice, elegant and serene, was intoxicatingly beautiful, yet her eyes began to feel sour, and she quickly raised her head to look at the crystal lamp overhead.

Proud as Ji Muye was, in Jingzhou he could summon the wind and call the rain; even powerful figures had to respectfully address him as President Ji.

From young to old, nothing and no one could make him apologize.

Except for her, except for the three children.

Lu Xining thought those three words were the limit for this man, but Ji Muye continued.

“I’m sorry for leaving you five years ago.”

“I’m sorry for the misunderstanding when Little Dumpling got hurt in Yunqiao Village.”

In all their years together, this was the first time Ji Muye had apologized so earnestly.

He didn’t realize that the stormy night five years ago had such a profound impact on Lu Xining.

At that time, Liu Xixi had been taken away by a man notorious for abusing women, and he thought it was an emergency.

To Ji Muye, it was just a helping hand to the savior of his children, without any personal emotions involved.

Lu Xining sharply turned her face away, “You can apologize, but I won’t accept it. You have wronged me far beyond just these two incidents.”

Her voice trembled with suppressed emotion, like a bottle of vinegar spilled over in his heart, turning its waters bitterly acrid.

This unfamiliar emotion clenched his heart.

Ji Muye knew he felt heartache for Lu Xining.

He released her wrist and instead held her slender arms, adjusting her turned away body to face him again.

“Xining, I think there are a lot of misunderstandings between us, if you are willing, we can discuss them one by one, maybe…”

Ji Muye hadn’t finished speaking when the phone on the table rang again.

Hearing the hurried words from Yan Dong on the other end, Ji Muye’s dark pupils suddenly changed with emotion, and his grip on Lu Xining’s hand loosened.

After hanging up the phone, Ji Muye said to her, “I need to step out, try to stay home with the kids these next few days, and if you must go out, bring more people.”

“The people outside are trusted elders from the Ji Family, you can arrange for them to handle any situation.”

Lu Xining took in his words but didn’t feel much warmth from his concern.

The so-called clarification he alluded to; she had no desire to hear.

Until the misunderstandings were completely resolved, Ji Muye avoided offending her, only leaving behind a “wait for me to return” before hastily departing from the Lu Family.

The situation was urgent, and Ji Muye headed straight for the airport.

During the car ride, Yan Dong diligently reported the unexpected cause, “The former partner has been ousted, and the current person in charge wants two more points on top of our existing contract.”

The man’s face turned icy, “Then switch to another partner.”

Ji Muye then went abroad for a week.

It was also during this week that Lu Xining became more certain of her own thoughts.

Seeking the love of a cold-hearted man was like falling into a freezing pit, where breathing could only be regained by holding one’s breath and swimming upward under thick ice.

She was actually very content with her current life, setting aside past sorrows, she established her own business, and discovered new possibilities in life.

She did not want to disrupt the happiness she had finally re-established with her children.

As soon as Ji Muye returned to Jingzhou, he rushed to find Lu Xining, wanting to continue explaining what hadn’t been finished before, but at the Lu Family Garden, he saw Song Henian and Lu Nuonuo sitting in his lap.

Under the sunshade, Lu Xining and her two sons each had a camping chair, the small box beside them filled with fresh fruits and beverages.

On the other side was Song Henian holding Lu Nuonuo, feeding Little Dumpling fruit.

As he neared, he could hear the clear voices of the children even more distinctly.

Ji Chao looked at his motionless fishing rod and wondered, “Mom, why aren’t the fish biting?”

Next to him, usually quiet Ji Ze also frequently glanced at his own fishing rod, “Mom, my rod isn’t moving either, do the fish not like my bait?”

Lu Xining turned her head and smiled softly, “Fishing requires patience.”

Seeing the bewilderment and restlessness in the eyes of the two little ones, she gently inquired, “Xiao Chao, Xiao Ze, are you hot? Do you want to go inside and rest for a bit?”

Ji Chao shook his head, “It’s not hot, I want to catch a big fish and make soup for my sister.”

Hearing her brother’s statement, Ji Ze also spoke competitively, “Mom, I will definitely catch a fish!”

Lu Xining praised them a few times then turned to her daughter, “Nuonuo, are you sleepy? Want to take a nap?”

Little Dumpling shook her head, “Mom, I’m not sleepy.”

She slid off Song Henian’s lap, took a fork from the small table, and fed her mom and brothers fruit.

Before finishing, she also handed a piece to Song Henian, thanking him for the care earlier.

Lu Nuonuo with her soft adorable voice said, “Uncle, eat.”

Song Henian’s leg hadn’t fully recovered, and his normally cold demeanor seemed even more pitifully frail while seated in the wheelchair.

His gaze towards Lu Nuonuo was always very gentle, and Little Dumpling liked him very much.

This harmonious scene resembled that of a family.

Pain in humans comes from emotions, and Ji Muye felt a tearing pain around his heart, as if suddenly caught by the fangs of a beast unexpectedly.

He felt he could understand the discomfort Lu Xining spoke of when seeing him with Liu Xixi at the same time.

At the moment, Ji Muye seeing Song Henian at the Lu family was entirely displeasing.

Little Dumpling first noticed him and exclaimed with surprise, “Uncle?”

The others turned their heads and saw the dusty Ji Muye, each harboring different emotions in their eyes.

Ji Chao and Ji Ze flashed a look of joy, putting down their fishing rods and running towards him.

Little Dumpling also wanted to follow her brothers, but Song Henian held her back, “Nuonuo, be good, wait a bit, your face has watermelon juice, let uncle clean it for you.”

She obediently lifted her face, “Thank you, uncle.”

At the mercy of Song Henian wiping her cheeks, Little Dumpling did not see the loss in her stepfather’s eyes not far away.

Ji Ze held his hand and walked toward the pond, saying as they walked, “Dad, Xiao Ze and I were competing in fishing, but we’ve been waiting for a long while and no fish have taken the bait.”

Ji Chao comforted, “It’s okay, little brother, I haven’t caught any fish either.”

The path from the courtyard gate was not long, Ji Muye’s gaze fixed on Lu Xining, his eyes burning fiercely with eagerness and an unstoppable desire to clear the misunderstandings, yet his expression remained seemingly calm and serene.

Lu Xining, except for the initial turning of her head at her daughter’s “Uncle”, didn’t look at him again.

Ji Muye pursed his lips, taming the emotion in his eyes.

He led his two sons to the pond, instantly noticing the tiny fish fry in the pond and the bait on his sons’ fishing rods, as large as dumplings.

Ji Muye’s lips twitched slightly, feeling for the children who had been sitting for so long.

He casually inquired of the man in the wheelchair, “Mr. Song, how come you’re here?”

Song Henian responded with a grin, “Nothing much, just here to express my thanks.”

His gaze tenderly fell on Lu Xining’s face, his tone filled with sincere gratitude.

Out of politeness, Lu Xining gave him a smile that said “no need to thank.”

Ji Muye clenched his fist, under a calm and indifferent façade, his heart was already swept away by a blaze of wild fire.

His eyes were cold yet sharp as knives, meeting Song Henian’s gaze in the air, the atmosphere around them seemed to carry an undercurrent ready to explode.

“Come fishing with us, Dad, let’s have a competition!”