Ch 107: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

“Okay!” Mu Xing responded loudly.

He actually wasn’t confident at all, but whether he was cultivating or not in past lives, small animals had always liked him, and the flowers and plants he grew always thrived better than others’.

So, holding onto hope, he thought—why not try? Maybe it would work.

From that day on, the rose in the yard became Mu Xing’s personal charge.

Every day, besides taking time to water it and chat with it, he also searched the star-net for information to better understand this world.

In addition, he continued practicing breathing techniques to nurture this frail body.

That day, as usual, Mu Rongrong and the others went out.

After watering the rose and giving it his daily care, Mu Xing returned to his room, sat cross-legged, and began adjusting his breath.

This body’s meridians were full of blockages, circulation sluggish—that was one of the major reasons for Mu Xing’s poor health.

He had been gradually clearing them over these days. Today, he was about to open a particularly important meridian.

If this one could circulate smoothly, his body would truly enter the stage of recovery.

Everything went well—except Mu Xing slightly overestimated this body’s tolerance for pain and weakness.

—The pain made him faint.

When he woke up again, he saw three pairs of rabbit-red eyes staring at him.

The moment he opened his eyes, Mu Yue burst out crying: “You scared us to death!”

When she and their parents came home, the house had been silent. They thought Mu Xing was asleep.

But after knocking with no response, they pushed the door open, only to find him lying on the bed, a trace of blood at his lips!

The three nearly lost their souls, rushing him to the hospital.

The doctor examined him, found no serious issue, and, upon hearing Mu Rongrong had no money, impatiently sent them away.

But Mu Xing still hadn’t woken, leaving the three anxious and helpless, watching over him without rest.

The butler robot Ami stood by with its round head, sounding guilty: “It was my fault for not watching over young master.”

Mu Xing hadn’t expected this accident either. He said: “It was me—I told Ami I needed rest and didn’t want to be disturbed.”

Otherwise, Ami would certainly have noticed something wrong.

The three couldn’t care about Ami now. They only asked Mu Xing what had happened and if he felt unwell anywhere.

Of course, Mu Xing couldn’t tell the truth: “Nothing happened. I just accidentally fell asleep. The blood on my lip… maybe I bit it in a dream.”

None of them believed him. If he had only fallen asleep, how could he not wake no matter how they called? Translated on Hololo novels.

But since the hospital found nothing, they had no choice.

Mu Rongrong and the others all looked pale. Seeing their exhaustion, Mu Xing urged them after dinner to rest early.

They all agreed in front of him, but the moment they turned away, their eyes met with newfound determination.

The next evening, the three returned beaming to tell Mu Xing they had found jobs.

Mu Xing was a little surprised: “That fast? What kind of jobs?”

Mu Rongrong: “I’m a manager at a big bookstore.”

She said proudly: “Your mom may not be learned, but my degree still looks impressive. Finding a decent job was easy.”

Lan Xi spoke gently: “Dad found work at a beauty clinic.”

Mu Yue grinned: “I found a plaza where I can paint. Each painting sells for a hundred credits!”

Mu Xing thought for a moment and said: “I also found a part-time job online—teaching a child beginner’s piano, two hours a day…”

Who knew, Mu Rongrong immediately looked at him with distress: “It’s Mom’s fault for being useless, making Xingxing think about earning money.”

Lan Xi also looked at him with tenderness: “No need. Your parents both have jobs now, we can support you.”

Mu Yue rolled her eyes dramatically: “Part-time? Please. Your big sister can earn money now—no need for a minor like you to worry about the family.”

Lan Xi and Mu Rongrong nodded repeatedly: “That’s right. Our little Xingxing only needs to stay home happily and take care of his health.”

Mu Xing: “…”

Mu Yue even gave Ami a direct order in front of him: “From now on, when we’re not home during the day, keep an eye on Xingxing. Don’t let him take online jobs. And when he’s sleeping, monitor his health data, okay?”

Ami, still feeling guilty, obediently nodded: “Mm! Ami will take good care of young master Xing!”

Mu Xing: “…”

He tried to protest: “But I’ll be bored alone.”

This time, before the family could reply, Ami’s round red eyes lit up: “Ami’s database has over twenty thousand games, and art-level skills at basic mastery. I can play games with young master, play piano for young master, or study together with young master…”

As Ami spoke, three more round robots rolled over—they were Ami’s helper units.

“And Dami, Xiaomi, and Xiaoxiaomi can also keep young master company.”

As if to prove it, the three half-human-tall robots raised their tiny hands over their heads in a heart shape.

Mu Xing: “…”

Just like that, Mu Xing’s plan to take a part-time job online was vetoed by the whole family. Perhaps noticing his displeasure, Mu Rongrong promised: once Mu Xing’s health recovered more, and he was sure not to fall sick again, he could do whatever he wanted.

Mu Xing wasn’t truly a child after all—he knew they were worried about him. So he didn’t sulk over it.

Since he couldn’t take on work for now, he could only spend his days touching the rose leaves, watering it, trimming its branches, hoping it would bloom sooner.

The other three of the Mu family went out cheerfully every day, and only ever reported good news to Mu Xing, never the bad. So he pretended not to notice the weariness on Mu Rongrong’s face, the dirt stains on his always-fastidious father Lan Xi’s clothes, or the swelling on Mu Yue’s fingers.

The next day was a rest day.

The three returned home early, and Mu Yue even brought back a cotton candy shaped like Ami for Mu Xing.

“Tomorrow none of us have work. We’ll take little Xingxing out to play. Xingxing, staying at home every day must be boring, right?” Mu Rongrong stroked the soft hair on her son’s head as she asked.

Mu Xing shook his head: “Not boring.”

It was true—he wasn’t a restless child, and with so much to watch and play with on the star-net, he really didn’t feel bored.

He said seriously: “Since Mom, Dad, and Sister rarely have free time, you should all rest at home tomorrow. I’ll cook for you.”

Mu Rongrong’s eyes grew hot. Over these days she had learned how hard it was to earn money. People only grew when they had suffered.

As for her—this hardship was her own doing. But now her two children had to suffer with her, and that weighed on her heart.

Especially Xingxing—not only had she failed to give him a healthy body, she couldn’t even provide him the most basic living conditions.

She hugged Mu Xing and said hoarsely: “Mom will work hard to earn money. After a while, when your grandpa cools off, we’ll be able to go back.”

Mu Xing turned in her arms, looked at her seriously, and asked: “And after we go back? Uncle Mu Lin will be the head of the Mu family. He doesn’t like us. Won’t we still be driven out?”

Mu Rongrong froze.

Her son’s clear eyes looked straight at her as he promised: “I’ll grow up well, and work hard to earn money. Even without the Mu family’s support, I’ll be able to take care of Mom, Dad, and Sister.”

Hearing this, Mu Rongrong and Lan Xi both felt ashamed. Even their twelve-year-old son knew the truth—that one must rely on oneself. Yet in all their hardship these days, what they had been clinging to was still the hope that the old patriarch would forgive them and take them back.

And then what? Go back to their old parasite life?

Until the old patriarch passed away, and they were cast out again by Mu Lin’s family, who despised them?

Just then, Mu Yue asked doubtfully: “But won’t we inherit lots and lots of money? Even if we don’t work, we could still live happily forever.”

That was true. With the Mu family’s vast fortune, after the old patriarch’s passing, Mu Rongrong’s family would indeed inherit more than enough to last several lifetimes.

They truly had the capital to live as happy salted fish for life.

The premise, however, was that they could smoothly obtain—and keep—that wealth.

And clearly, right now, Mu Lin had no intention of letting them have it.

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