Ch 118: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

Mu Rongrong proudly lifted her head. “That’s right, with Little Xingxing having this kind of ability now, I’m not afraid of anything anymore.”

The old master Mu’s gaze fell on Mu Xing.

Back then, he had wanted to choose a capable husband for his eldest daughter, someone who could help Mu Rongrong manage her career.

But Mu Rongrong chose Lan Xi, a man with no talent beyond his looks.

The old master Mu had always disapproved of this. His daughter’s two children—the older one resembled Lan Xi, which irritated him whenever he saw him. The younger one looked more like his daughter, but was born frail and sickly.

So he had deliberately ignored these grandchildren.

This was the first time he really examined Mu Xing carefully.

The young boy stood before his powerful grandfather’s gaze, his expression still calm. His face was somewhat pale and his figure thin—it was clear his health wasn’t great—yet there was no trace of weakness in his demeanor.

The old master Mu said in a deep voice, “You are very good.”

Mu Rongrong looked at her father in surprise. She knew how strict he was; such praise from him was extremely rare.

But Mu Xing wasn’t fond of such scrutiny, nor did he feel much joy from the recognition.

He had inherited the memories of the body’s original owner, and in those memories, this grandfather only appeared at New Year, when he would follow the adults in greetings and receive a red envelope. Nothing more.

Mu Xing tilted his head slightly, glanced at his mother, and said with a smile, “Thank you, Grandpa. I’ve always been doing well.”

The old master Mu was momentarily stunned. He swept another look over Mu Xing, then turned his head and glared harshly at Mu Rongrong and Lan Xi.

“The two of you together aren’t worth as much as one child.”

Mu Rongrong: “…”

For a moment, she didn’t know whether to feel embarrassed or proud.

Very soon, the old master Mu arrived at the Mu family villa.

The sky overhead was gray, sand and dust swirling. In the large residential district, aside from the Mu family villa and a few seemingly new villas nearby, the rest were old and shabby houses.

The old master Mu frowned. “You live in a place like this?”

Mu Rongrong was blunt now. She retorted, “What are you so surprised about? Wasn’t it you who told Mu Lin to drive our whole family out here? The Mu family’s house is right here. I don’t have money to buy another one.”

As for the city center, it wasn’t much better—just a bit livelier with more people.

Here was quieter.

The old master Mu instinctively wanted to argue. “I only meant to make you suffer a little, I didn’t mean to…” let you live in such hardship.

Mu Rongrong waved her hand. “Enough, what’s the point of saying this now? If not for Little Xingxing’s rose, you wouldn’t even be seeing me at this moment.”

She couldn’t be bothered to argue further. After getting off the hovercraft, she pointed toward the front. “See that? Our family’s wall. I can guarantee this is the most expensive wall in the entire interstellar.”

A gust of sand-laden wind blew by, making the old master Mu cough twice. At the tip of his nose came the strong, intoxicating fragrance of flowers.

Looking up, he saw large clusters of pink and white blossoms blooming among lush green branches.

Mu Rongrong heard him cough and quickly said, “Let’s go in first.”

Inside, it was clear the online reports had not been exaggerated.

The villa stood entirely surrounded by flowers.

The old master Mu looked at the sentries standing every few meters, like guards at attention. “Who are they?”

Mu Rongrong said, “They’re bodyguards arranged by the StarNet.”

The old master Mu frowned. “Why ask the StarNet? Things like this should be handled by our own people.”

Mu Rongrong stayed silent.

Mu Xing spoke softly. “Grandpa, right now the rose is officially under the StarNet’s name.”

The old master Mu raised his brows. “What did you say?”

Mu Xing briefly explained how he had mortgaged himself to buy Red Moon Star.

The old master Mu’s face darkened. “If you wanted this planet, you could have asked the family. Why go beg outsiders?”

Mu Rongrong couldn’t bear to see her son scolded. She raised her brows sharply. “Dad, don’t start lecturing us after the fact. Ask the family, ask the family—who was I supposed to ask? That brat Mu Lin can’t wait for us to die out here and never return. And as for you—I tried to reach you thousands of times, but could never find you. Hand it over to ‘family’? By the time they acted, the flowers would have withered already!”

She poured Mu Xing a cup of water, then glared at her father. “Little Xingxing’s health isn’t good. He can’t stand harsh words. Dad, if you want to scold someone, scold me, but don’t scold my son.”

The old master Mu: “…”

He coughed lightly. “Your brother isn’t as bad as you think…”

Mu Rongrong cut him off. “Dad, I have eyes.”

She said, “I may not be smart, but I’m not so stupid that I can’t recognize what’s right in front of me. You want family harmony, but some things just can’t be made whole.”

The old master Mu quietly looked at his eldest daughter. Mu Rongrong met his gaze without flinching.

The atmosphere in the courtyard grew heavy. Lan Xi and Mu Yue didn’t dare make a sound, while Mu Xing calmly sipped his water.

After a long time, the old master Mu sighed and lowered his head first. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other, let’s not talk about such unpleasant things.”

Mu Rongrong smiled. “Fine!”

No one could resist the allure of the flowers. Soon enough, the old master Mu’s attention was completely drawn to the rose.

With assistance, he stood by the flower wall for a long while. Then he looked at Mu Xing and sighed. “How did you manage to raise this? I’ve seen the Fu family’s work—their reputation is so great—but even after all these years, their results can’t compare to this.”

Mu Xing answered seriously, “I don’t know either, maybe flowers just like me more.”

When people get older, they like children who are good-looking and clever. In the Mu family, the old master had always been strict and authoritative, and the younger generation felt more fear than closeness toward him. Seeing Mu Xing like this, he couldn’t help but feel curious.

“I remember before…” He narrowed his eyes in thought. “You didn’t seem this lively. You were always holding your mother’s hand, hiding off to the side.”

Mu Xing’s expression didn’t change. “Oh? Back then my health was too poor, I had no strength. Maybe after coming to Red Moon Star, the environment suits me better, so I got healthier and stronger.”

Red Moon Star good for health?

The old master looked at the yellow sand outside and almost laughed in anger.

He pointed at Mu Xing, about to say something, when Mu Lin’s communication request came through.

He opened it.

Mu Lin immediately saw the clusters of blooming roses beside him.

“Dad, you’ve arrived at Red Moon Star already? How’s your health? Is that the rose beside you? As expected, it’s blooming so lush and beautiful.”

The old master gave a hum of acknowledgment. They exchanged a few words of small talk.

Then Mu Lin said warmly, “Red Moon Star is remote, poor, and full of all sorts of people. I was thinking, why don’t we move this rose back and plant it at the main residence on the capital star? A miraculous rose like this, as Mu family’s heirloom treasure, will surely protect us and bring prosperity for generations.”

The old master’s smile grew fainter. “I can’t decide that. This rose was cultivated by your nephew himself.”

Mu Lin didn’t hesitate. “Mu Xing is still just a child, what does he understand? The capital has a much better environment, and isn’t the family under your word?”

The old master gave a half-smile. “Under my word? Then what if I decide to hand Mu family over to Mu Xing? This child is clever and sharp. Entrusting the Mu family to him would ease my mind.”

Mu Lin’s smile froze on his face.

Then the old man chuckled slowly. “I’m joking. He’s still young, what could he possibly manage?”

“I’m a bit tired.”

Mu Lin quickly said, “Then please rest well, I won’t disturb you.”

After hanging up, Mu Lin’s expression darkened. What did father mean by that? Could it be… he really has such thoughts?

Mu Xing raised his head to look at the old master and said earnestly, “Grandpa, next time don’t say things like that. It scares me.”

The old master asked strangely, “Scares you? Shouldn’t you be happy?”

Mu Xing said, “I’m afraid Uncle Mu Lin might take it seriously. If he really did, and I’m just a frail and sickly child, I’d feel very sad.”

The old master studied the grandson he had never paid attention to before. The boy’s expression was calm, his eyes clear and bright.

For a moment, he couldn’t tell if the child was just speaking casually or hinting at something deeper.

He asked, “Then what if Grandpa truly gave the Mu family to you?”

Mu Xing shook his head without hesitation. “I don’t want it.”

“Why?” The old master fixed his gaze on him and said in a low voice, “So many people fight desperately and never get it.”

Mu Xing pointed at himself, face full of sincerity. “I’m so thin, so weak. The Mu family’s burden is too heavy, I can’t carry it.”

“Then what about your mother? Wouldn’t you help her?”

“My mom?” Mu Xing thought of Mu Rongrong’s ability and shook his head with some distaste. “For the Mu family’s sake, I advise you not to entertain such crazy thoughts.”

“You brat!” The old master rapped him lightly on the forehead, but before he could react, a sharp shout came from behind.

“Dad, what are you doing!”

Mu Rongrong rushed over, standing in front of Mu Xing. “You actually hit Xiao Xing’s head? What if you hurt the child?”

Mu Xing tugged her sleeve. “I’m fine, Mom.”

He yawned. “I’m a little sleepy, I’ll go rest.”

“Go, go.”

Mu Xing bid them goodbye and returned to his bedroom.

Inside, he found two uninvited guests—Mai Mai and Mao Mao were sitting side by side on the windowsill, turning their heads in unison when they heard him.

The movement was perfectly synchronized.

Adorable.

Mu Xing exclaimed in delight, “Mai Mai! Mao Mao! Hello!”

Mai Mai tilted her head and smiled at him.

Mao Mao snorted. “Mai Mai says you’ve been so busy these past few days, with strangers coming and going in the yard. She missed you but didn’t dare come out, so she begged me to bring her to see you.”

Mai Mai’s eyes widened, looking at Mao Mao with a bit of grievance.

Obviously it was Mao Mao who came to find her first, asking if she wanted to go see Xingxing together.

Why was he twisting the truth like this?

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