Chapter 15: Struggle
Wei Xun’s breathing was rapid, struggling to suppress his incredible thoughts. He remained silent, until Mu Jiashu looked at him questioningly. He took a deep breath and managed to say, “I know, just wait a moment.”
Mu Jiashu was puzzled but didn’t ask, simply nodding.
The two sat side-by-side in the car, Wei Xun’s two-story house standing quietly nearby. The light from the streetlamp outside illuminated their faces. In the narrow, dimly lit space, a faint, yellowish warmth seemed to flow between them.
Wei Xun secretly glanced at Mu Jiashu. He saw one hand gripping the steering wheel, the other resting on his forehead, lost in thought. His profile, a soft silhouette in the dim light, looked remarkably similar.
“I’m going crazy…” Wei Xun thought.
Mu Jiashu had a faint scar on his temple, possibly from the fight. It wasn’t serious, but the pale skin made the red mark strikingly obvious, making one want to gently rub it.
He had seen it earlier but had refrained from asking.
His thoughts were chaotic, scenes from their recent encounters flashing through his mind.
He took a cigarette from his pack, his hand trembling. He fumbled with the lighter, failing to light it several times before finally succeeding. After taking two deep drags, he remembered something, glanced at Mu Jiashu, and cracked the window slightly. “You don’t mind the smoke, do you?”
Mu Jiashu said, “Young Master Wei, please go ahead, I don’t mind. I smoke too.”
Wei Xun’s eyes moved, immediately offering him a cigarette. He passed the lighter, and Mu Jiashu lit the cigarette, taking a deep drag, inhaling the smoke completely, and closing his eyes comfortably, looking like a seasoned smoker.
From the moment Mu Jiashu took the cigarette, Wei Xun had been watching him, only realizing when the burning ash fell onto his fingertips, his face showing undisguised disappointment.
“Let’s go,” Wei Xun said listlessly, stubbing out his cigarette and opening the car door. “Let’s go inside.”
Mu Jiashu had just realized his mistake and managed to dispel Wei Xun’s suspicions, finally relieved, when he heard this and froze, “I’m not going in. I’ll take Young Master Wei home and then leave.”
He was worried about Wei Xun and just wanted to take him home; he wasn’t prepared to meet Wei Xun’s parents. He hadn’t expected this from Wei Xun.
Wei Xun raised an eyebrow, glancing at his watch. “It’s so late now. If you go home now and come back tomorrow morning, will you even get any sleep? Don’t be silly, come in.”
He didn’t give him a chance to refuse, striding forward. Mu Jiashu had no choice but to lock the car and follow.
Wei Xun took him home. He had just argued with his family and ran out, but despite the incident, his face was still grim. He went in without speaking, changed his shoes, gestured for the housekeeper to get Mu Jiashu new slippers, and led him inside.
Mu Jiashu looked at Wei Xun in surprise. Wei Xun’s father, Wei Shao Cheng, was the current deputy political commissar of the military region, a powerful figure, known for his bad temper. In the past, Wei Xun had behaved like a mouse around his father; now he dared to show his temper at home.
His inner surprise lasted less than three seconds before a shout echoed behind them, “Stop right there!”
Mu Jiashu turned to see Wei Shao Cheng standing at the entrance of their bedroom, his face grim. Wei Xun’s mother, Jiang Shu, also emerged from the bedroom, gently tugging her husband’s arm.
The father and son looked remarkably alike, both strikingly handsome. But Wei Shao Cheng’s features were sterner, while Wei Xun was softer and more refined, with a hint of casualness and ease.
Wei Xun stopped but didn’t speak.
Seeing Wei Shao Cheng’s cold face, Mu Jiashu felt a pang of familiarity. The words “Uncle Wei” hovered in his mind before he simply nodded respectfully, addressing him as, “Commissar Wei.”
Wei Shao Cheng was about to scold Wei Xun, but his gaze fell on Mu Jiashu’s face, clearly showing surprise, momentarily speechless.
He looked at Mu Jiashu, then at his son with disbelief.
Jiang Shu exclaimed, “Xiao Xun, what is…”
Wei Xun, his face stern, pulled Mu Jiashu behind him. “He’s a new bodyguard from my company. Is there a problem?”
Mu Jiashu was also puzzled. The Mu and Wei families had always had a good relationship. His mother had passed away, and he had often stayed with Jiang Shu when he was young. He was very close to both parents.
He knew Shen Shu’s face was five-tenths similar to his, but that didn’t explain the Wei couple’s ghostly reaction. And Wei Xun’s subtle actions seemed to indicate he knew the reason.
Mu Jiashu discreetly glanced at Wei Xun’s hand on his, stepping forward, politely saying, “Young Master Wei is right. My name is Shen Shu, I’m an employee of Dingfeng, and I’m responsible for driving Young Master Wei home tonight. I apologize for the intrusion.”
After the initial shock and hearing Mu Jiashu’s explanation, Wei Shao Cheng’s expression softened. He said, “Thank you for your hard work,” then turned his gaze to his disobedient son.
Wei Xun said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go to my room.”
Wei Shao Cheng took a deep breath, finally softening his tone under his wife’s urging. “You’ll behave yourself these days. Don’t cause trouble for Wen Shihe.”
Wei Xun didn’t answer, walking towards his room, indicating a prior argument. Wei Shao Cheng’s anger flared again. “Did you hear me?!”
Wei Xun turned abruptly, staring at his father, saying word by word, “I won’t.”
“You!” Wei Shao Cheng exploded, raising his hand to slap him, but Jiang Shu held him back, gesturing to Wei Xun, “Xiao Xun, don’t talk to your father like that.”
But Wei Xun said coldly, “You told me not to investigate, but I can’t let it go! Xiao Shu was so young, why did he die? I refuse to believe it was an accident! Whoever killed him will pay, no matter the cost, I will never forgive that person! Dad, Mom, I’m being unfilial, but your advice is useless, even I can’t control myself!”
His words were resolute, making Mu Jiashu’s heart jump. Wei Shao Cheng was both angry and anxious, pointing at Wei Xun, “You…you really… Xiao Shu was like my own child, when did I say I wouldn’t care about this? I just told you not to act rashly, not to act alone, was I wrong? Even his father hasn’t acted yet, why are you so agitated! Besides, was he really murdered? We need to investigate. What evidence do you have? Didn’t you see those photos? Do you think the Wen family are fools to expose themselves?!”
Wei Xun said, “I’ve always known him. Even though his heart wasn’t very strong, his condition had been well controlled for the past two years, he shouldn’t have… and given Xiao Shu’s personality, was he an easily agitated person?”
Seeing his parents’ disapproval, he became angry and anxious, his sadness overflowing. “You can’t understand how I feel! I’ve told you everything, and you know I… Xiao Shu is gone, what am I living for? I don’t want to live anymore…”
“Slap!”
At these words, Wei Shao Cheng couldn’t restrain himself and slapped him.
Mu Jiashu was startled, stepping in front of Wei Xun to stop him, “Commissar Wei, please…”
Wei Shao Cheng pushed him aside, pointing at Wei Xun, speechless for a moment, then gritted his teeth, “Fine, I don’t care what you do anymore! I lost one child, and you want me to lose another… fine, do whatever you want!”
Their family was very strict, and Wei Xun had never talked back to his parents, except for this matter. Realizing he had been too emotional, he felt sad because of his father’s words, opening his mouth but saying nothing.
He couldn’t promise his parents, just as he had said, he couldn’t let go of this matter, he couldn’t control himself, those three words had become a lifelong curse.
Jiang Shu said, “Child, your father and I watched Xiao Shu grow up, like our own son… Do you think we aren’t sad and heartbroken? But you’re like a lost soul, are you hating the person who harmed Xiao Shu, or yourself? Do you have to go with him, making us suffer even more?”
Wei Xun said, “Mom…”
Jiang Shu looked at her son, the bodyguard Shen Shu standing beside him, reminding her of Xiao Shu coming home for dinner, her heart aching, tears falling. She covered her mouth and rushed back to the room.
Mu Jiashu witnessed this, feeling an unbearable pain.
In his impression, the Wei family atmosphere had always been good. Although Wei Shao Cheng was strict, he loved his son deeply, and their marriage was excellent. Every visit had been happy and harmonious, but now…
Mu Jiashu took a step forward, blurting out, “Actually…”
Author’s Note: Thank you q279941535-01 for the nutrient solution, thank you Tomato is not a Tomato and Rose for the rewards, Zui Zui is taking an exam today, I’ll reply to the comments later, mwah!
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