Live in My Home

After Mu Qingxi finished speaking, she carefully observed her mother. If things didn’t go well, she’d better keep silent, otherwise she’d get another round of nagging or even a beating.

Shen Yali nodded. “Go ahead, I promise I won’t get angry.”

Mu Qingxi glanced at Mu Qingyang, blinking at him to signal her brother to support her.

She then recounted what had just happened, making Shen Yali visibly tense. Shen Yali felt herself stiffen all over, and finally asked in a trembling voice, “Are you all right?”

Mu Qingxi shook her head, then moved a few steps to the right, revealing Bai Fanhao, who was leaning against a rock, to Shen Yali. Looking at Bai Fanhao lying on the ground, then at her mother, Mu Qingxi said, “Mom, let’s take him home. Leaving him here isn’t a solution.”

Seeing Bai Fanhao on the ground, Shen Yali quickly said, “Qingyang, help me get him up. Let’s take him home and let him stay in our guest room tonight. I keep it clean anyway. Leaving him outside in this cold would ruin him.”

As Mu Qingyang and Mu Qingxi helped Bai Fanhao up, Mu Qingyang found a moment to whisper, “See? Mom agreed without me needing to back you up.”

Mu Qingxi nodded in agreement. The two took turns supporting or carrying Bai Fanhao as they made their way home. No sooner had they dropped Bai Fanhao onto Mu Qingyang’s bed than both siblings sat down, panting loudly.

“You really need to work out, Qingyang. You’re way too weak,” Mu Qingxi said.

Mu Qingyang patted his chest. “Sis, you think everyone’s like you? You’re a girl and even stronger than most guys. You’re one to talk.”

At that moment, Shen Yali called out, “The water’s ready. Qingyang, help your classmate wash up. Qingxi, go get yourself cleaned up. It’s late—rest early.”

Mu Qingxi agreed, but then remembered something. She recalled overhearing Wu Li say they’d dump the unconscious man by the trash bins, and said, “Mom, I can’t. I have to go out again.”

Shen Yali was displeased. “It’s already late. What do you need to go out for? Go to bed.”

“No, Mom, I have to. That man’s in bad shape—if he spends another night out there, something will definitely happen by morning,” Mu Qingxi explained.

Only then did Mu Qingyang realize what his sister wanted to do. “Sis, when we went looking for you, we saw someone lying by the trash bins and had Mom call the ambulance. The paramedics already took him away.”

Hearing her brother’s explanation, Mu Qingxi finally relaxed. She couldn’t just turn a blind eye—just thinking about it made her angry, and she cursed unconsciously, “Wu Li and those scum—let’s hope I never run into them.”

Shen Yali and Mu Qingyang both looked exasperated at her words. Shen Yali was especially annoyed. “Mu Qingxi, just do your own part. No more fighting or causing trouble. If I hear you’re at it again, you’ll stay home and not set foot outside.”

Mu Qingxi felt stifled. She hadn’t meant to say it—she wasn’t really planning to pick a fight. She glanced at Mu Qingyang and noticed his shoulders shaking, so she threatened, “Mu Qingyang, by my count, you still owe me…”

“Sis, I was wrong. Go wash up and sleep. I’ll help your classmate clean up, then I’m off to bed, or I’ll be late tomorrow,” Mu Qingyang said, and slipped away.

That night, lying under the covers, Mu Qingxi thought about all that had happened, about Bai Fanhao’s words of warning, about the moment he stepped out before her, and the instant he fainted, the worry and regret in his eyes…

“Bai Fanhao, thank you for making me feel what it’s like to be important to someone I haven’t known for long,” Mu Qingxi murmured.

With that, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.