Chapter 20: What a Coincidence
Wei Xun didn’t know what to say for a moment. Mu Yanrui came from a noble background, had a gentle temperament, and was exceptionally good-looking; in his youth, he was a famous playboy who had captured countless hearts.
His personality was one that gravitated toward pleasure—he loved fine wine and beautiful women. It could be said he had incurred countless romantic debts. Because of this, Mu Jia Shu had held a deep grudge against him, and the relationship between father and son had never been close.
Wei Xun had known all of this for a long time, so logically, there was nothing to be surprised about. However, after Mu Jia Shu had passed away, for Mu Yanrui to suddenly produce a secret illegitimate son of a similar age made Wei Xun feel an indescribable discomfort. It felt as if someone was trying to replace Xiao Shu.
Mu Yanrui had spent many years immersed in the business world, and under his hand, the already massive Mu family estate had nearly doubled. When it came to the ways of the world, he had long since become a seasoned fox.
He only needed one look at Wei Xun to understand what he was thinking. He shook his head and said, “Xiao Shu…”
That name was like a signal. Wei Xun immediately looked up. Mu Yanrui had originally found those two words difficult to say, but seeing Wei Xun’s reaction, he couldn’t help but sigh and continue:
“When Xiao Shu was born, it was my first time being a father, and I didn’t know what it meant to be a good one. I was young then, loved to play, and could never mind him. Once, on a whim, I wanted to give him a bath and nearly drowned the child in the basin. He caught a terrible cold and was seriously ill for a long time. But when that child was little, he was so silly; every time he saw me, he was still very happy. I would carry him around everywhere, and everyone said he looked just like me… Later, when Xiao Shu was two, his mother and I divorced. Haochang was taken to America, and he was raised by me, a grown man, stumbling through it. One nanny after another was replaced because none were dedicated enough, so I often had to keep an eye on things myself. Sometimes, when I was truly fed up, I’d throw him over to your house. I know he hated me in his heart, especially after his mother passed away.”
Wei Xun said, “Mu Shushu…”
Mu Yanrui waved a hand. “But I don’t really care. I’m at an age where I’ve long since seen through these things. I truly failed Xiao Shu, and I failed Haochang. As long as they lived well, they could hate me all they wanted… I just never expected to be a white-haired person sending off a black-haired one. Instead, he went first…”
Wei Xun felt as if a knife were twisting in his heart. He felt that if Mu Yanrui continued, he might actually die. Fortunately, Mu Yanrui realized at that moment that he was drifting off-topic again. “Forget it, what’s the use of saying all this? Xiao Xun, I just wanted to tell you that I know you’re still thinking of Xiao Shu, but he was the only child I raised by my side. How could I not love him?”
At this point, his voice choked up slightly. He adjusted his tone before slowly continuing, “Some things are for elders like me and your father to handle. Since you’ve decided not to pursue a career in politics, I don’t want you to get your hands dirty. Xiao Xun, don’t let the past shackle your footsteps.”
Wei Shaocheng would scold him with stern severity, and Wei Xun could argue back, but Mu Yanrui’s tone made him feel like a boy who hadn’t grown up yet. Wei Xun could say nothing.
However, he knew that they still didn’t understand. None of them could persuade him otherwise.
Mu Yanrui said, “Go and check on that child for me. I didn’t know about this matter before; I was very negligent. Now that I know, the fatherly sentiment has long since faded… Don’t state your intentions at first. If he’s living well, don’t disturb him. If he’s not doing well, and wants money or a status, I can compensate him. It’s not convenient for Haochang to know about this, which is why I sought you out. Xiao Xun, do you understand my meaning?”
Mu Yanrui wanted to fulfill a father’s responsibility, but Mu Jia Shu’s death had left him exhausted. He didn’t have much affection for this other child, and he didn’t want to unsettle his other son. Thus, he chose this method.
Wei Xun understood perfectly. “Mu Shushu, I understand.”
He didn’t bring anyone with him and found the address alone. It was a dilapidated area of “tube buildings” surrounded by construction waste and illegally built shacks. It seemed even the demolition office had forgotten this corner. A car couldn’t even drive in.
When Wei Xun was in the military, he had been to disaster zones many times and had seen all sorts of scenes, so he wasn’t particularly surprised. He took a gift bag from the trunk and walked through the twisting, narrow alleys.
He was used to being casual; when not at the company, he always dressed simply. However, with his sharp brows and starry eyes, he was strikingly handsome, attracting many glances along the way.
Though it was daytime, sunlight could hardly penetrate the cramped stairwell. Wei Xun used his phone as a flashlight, carefully avoiding the clutter on the floor as he walked up to the third floor and knocked on the door on the right.
After knocking for a long time, an old lady tremulously opened the door a crack, looking at him warily. “Who are you looking for?”
Wei Xun said, “Hello, may I ask if a person named Nie Qi lives here…”
The old lady said impatiently, “No, no!” and moved to shut the door.
“Wait, wait, wait!”
Wei Xun quickly propped his hand against the door crack, saying with a forced smile, “Sorry, Grandma, sorry to bother you again. Have you heard of this person? Or… would he be nearby?”
Seeing that he didn’t look like a bad person and was sincerely looking for someone, the old lady’s wariness eased slightly. “I’ve lived here for decades, and I’ve never heard of such a person.”
The old lady’s face showed only impatience, not guilt; she wasn’t lying. Looking at her age, she was clearly very old, her face covered in wrinkles and her back unable to straighten. It was hard to imagine how she had lived here for decades, navigating those steep stairs and the uneven ground outside.
Mu Yanrui’s address was very specific; Wei Xun couldn’t have the wrong place. This meant there was a problem with the investigation of the address. He would have to go back and ask for clarification.
In any case, he couldn’t search further today. He conveniently passed a carton of milk through the door crack. “I see. Thank you, Grandma.”
The old lady was startled and tried to refuse. Wei Xun said, “It’s just a few boxes of milk. I’m very sorry for disturbing you today; please take it.”
The woman hesitated. “You only asked me one thing. Just give me one box.”
He didn’t expect the old lady to be so principled. Wei Xun chuckled, said no more, and indeed took out one box to give her before saying goodbye and heading downstairs.
Just as he reached the entrance of the building, a tall man walked in. Seeing Wei Xun coming out, the man stepped back a few paces to make way for him.
As he backed out of the stairwell, the sunlight hit his face. Wei Xun blurted out, “Shen Shu?”
Mu Jia Shu shielded his eyes from the sunlight with his hand before recognizing who was standing in front of him. He was equally surprised. “Young Master Wei, why are you here?”
Wei Xun suddenly felt something was up. He thought to himself: Holy crap, things couldn’t be this coincidental, could they? But the kid’s name was Shen Shu, that part was correct.
He asked, “And you? Why are you here?”
Mu Jia Shu finally realized Wei Xun wasn’t there for him. “I live here.”
Wei Xun’s brows knit slightly. “Which unit?”
Mu Jia Shu’s gaze swept inconspicuously over the gift bag in his hand. “Third floor, right side.”
Wei Xun: “…Do you know someone named Nie Qi?”
Mu Jia Shu: “…That would be me.”
The two stared at each other for a moment, both feeling very complicated. Wei Xun sighed. “Do you have time to talk?”
Mu Jia Shu said, “Wait a moment, I need to take this medicine up to my Grandma.”
Wei Xun thought of the old lady who trembled as she walked and nodded.
He stood at the entrance waiting for Shen Shu to come out, his mind racing. If Shen Shu was Xiao Shu’s brother, he absolutely believed it—after all, the physical resemblance was something any clear-eyed person could see.
So brothers could be this similar—personality, speech, habits… even Mu Haochang had never given Wei Xun such a familiar feeling.
Perhaps now he could completely stop his delusional thinking. As expected, there was no such thing as reincarnation in this world. All the mysterious similarities were just the result of blood relations. He could finally give up.
Mu Jia Shu soon came back down. As he reached to take the things from Wei Xun’s hand, he said, “Let’s find a place to sit and have a drink.”
He felt a bit strange as he spoke. It wasn’t odd for Wei Xun to bring a carton of milk as a gift, but what was odd was that the carton was actually half-open.
Mu Jia Shu imagined a scene where Wei Xun got thirsty halfway through delivering the gift and poked a hole in a box to drink it himself, and he was silently weirded out.
“No need, I’ll carry it.”
Wei Xun blocked Mu Jia Shu’s hand and asked with surprise, “Is there a place?”
He had come all this way and hadn’t seen a single decent little eatery nearby. He didn’t expect there to be a place for drinks.
Mu Jia Shu smiled. “If Young Master Wei doesn’t mind, then there is.”
He led Wei Xun to a small convenience store and lifted the curtain to enter. In a corner of the room, on a lounge chair, a man in his sixties was watching TV shirtless, not giving the two who entered even a glance.
Mu Jia Shu didn’t speak to him either, taking two bottles of soda from the counter himself—he didn’t ask Wei Xun what he wanted because there was only one kind.
The green glass bottles were printed with the words “Beibingyang” in white paint. Aside from remote little shops, very few places still sold it.
Mu Jia Shu put the money into the paper box by the counter and handed the drink to Wei Xun. Wei Xun obediently took it and held it for him.
Mu Jia Shu then took two small folding stools and walked into the yard, placing them by a small square table near the shop door. He took back the drinks and set them on the table, then reached out to pluck a pale purple wild flower and tucked it into the empty bottle in the center of the table. He pulled the door shut and smiled, making a “please” gesture: “Young Master Wei, sit.”
His little touches made the ordinary soda feel quite atmospheric. Wei Xun found that even in this situation, he always felt a sense of joy when facing Shen Shu.
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