Sui Qing has a passion for jewelry and jade. It is said that she was once a renowned beauty in her youth, and her family's collection of treasures is priceless. Sui Qing happily took out an exquisitely carved rosewood box, opened the gold-inlaid lock, and took out the items one by one for her daughter and daughter-in-law.
Chu Weiyuan leaned lazily against the bedside, her eyes lighting up when she saw Sui Qing open the treasure box. She reached out and touched a perfectly smooth, translucent bracelet. "Awooo!! I want this! I want this!!"
Sui Qing smiled gently and kindly, then slapped Chu Weiyuan's hand, "You're the only one who knows how to pick the best."
Shu Yi'an comes from Jiangnan, where she has seen plenty of warm jade and soft gold since childhood. The bracelet is a clear, lustrous green with excellent translucency, and it is obviously quite old. Its value is beyond monetary measure.
Sui Qing picked up the bracelet and examined it under the light, explaining to Shu Yi'an, "It's an old item. It was part of my dowry when I married your father in Shanghai." Sui Qing pointed to the other items in the mahogany box: a sapphire ring surrounded by pink diamonds; teardrop-shaped emerald earrings; and a blood-red coral necklace; each one was no less impressive than those exhibited in museums.
“It was passed down from the previous generation. This bracelet has been with my Sui family for three generations. I first heard that it was brought out of the palace by a Manchu princess during the Republic of China period. I am the only daughter in my family, and I can’t let the tradition end with me. So I’m giving it to you.”
Shu Yi'an looked at the thing Sui Qing was handing over and quickly waved his hand, "Mom, I can't accept something so valuable. Even if it's to be passed down, it should go to Yuan Yuan..."
"Sigh!" Sui Qing shook her head somewhat displeased, and ignored Shu Yi'an's refusal, directly putting the bracelet on. Shu Yi'an's skin was fair and delicate, and her already calm and composed nature, coupled with this jade embellishment, made her so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.
"Wow..." Chu Weiyuan, leaning against the headboard, didn't hide her admiration for Shu Yi'an. "Sister-in-law, you look so good in this!" Sui Qing also shook it with satisfaction. "It does look good. You know how picky people are when it comes to these things. This should be yours!"
Shu Yi'an felt it was inappropriate to wear such a valuable item on her hand. "Mom... this is not suitable... how can I wear your dowry?"
Sui Qing decisively stopped Shu Yi'an from taking it off, saying, "What's inappropriate about this! Yi'an, you're married to Chu Mu now, why don't you treat me like family? If you two give me a grandson in the future, I'll be counting on you to pass this on to my granddaughter-in-law."
“Everyone says daughters are the apple of your eye, but you and Yuanyuan are the same to me, both are my precious treasures. You lost your parents at such a young age, and as your mother-in-law, I can’t bear it…” Sui Qing touched Shu Yi’an’s somewhat thin shoulders, “You are different from this girl. She has been spoiled by me and her brother since she was little. I will treat you even better in the future. If Chu Mu bullies you, just come home. I will back you up.”
Perhaps it had been too long since she had heard such care from an elder, Shu Yi'an suddenly felt a warm glow in her heart from Sui Qing's words. She nodded obediently to Sui Qing, "Don't worry, Mom, Chu Mu didn't bully me, we'll be fine."
After the mother and her two children finished their private conversation inside, it was almost nine o'clock in the evening. Since Father Chu had a meeting the next day, he asked Chu Weiyuan to see them off before he left.
Chu Weiyuan tugged at Shu Yi'an, looking at the tall, slender figure ahead. The young girl was a little apprehensive. "Sister-in-law, I made my brother angry. Do you think he'll ever talk to me again?"
Although Shu Yi'an didn't know the exact reason for the siblings' falling out, she had heard from Chu Mu that it was probably related to the Pang family's boyfriend. Looking at the worried girl, Shu Yi'an felt troubled. "Are you with Pang Zexun again?"
Chu Weiyuan nodded sadly, on the verge of tears. "I also said a lot of things I shouldn't have said to him... Sister-in-law, this time my brother is really angry..."
At this moment, Chu Mu had already driven the car up to Shu Yi'an, leaned over to open the car door, and didn't even glance at Chu Weiyuan standing there. Shu Yi'an always sided with her sister-in-law, and seeing how pitiful she was, she steeled herself and decided to persuade Chu Mu. So she poked her little head in and said to the person staring straight ahead, "Yuanyuan has something to say to you, come out."
Chu Mu glanced at Shu Yi'an with a look of exasperation, "Who are you on board with?"
A wife and a younger sister stood hand in hand in front of the car like the five warriors of Langya Mountain. Chu Mu finally got out of the car because he couldn't stand their affection. Afraid of them causing trouble, he also stuffed Shu Yi'an into the car.
Even though Chu Weiyuan was usually very bold, she wouldn't dare challenge Chu Mu's authority at this moment. So, she simply followed her childhood strategy of always getting things done, giving Chu Mu a bear hug and starting to cry. She cried so hard that it was heartbreaking. Shu Yi'an didn't know what the two brothers were talking about outside. She only saw Chu Mu take out a handkerchief and wipe Chu Weiyuan's face, which looked like a cat's face from crying, pat her little head, and then go back to the car.
Along the way, Shu Yi'an wanted to ask him about being transferred back several times, but she swallowed the words back each time. Finally, Chu Mu couldn't hold back any longer. He glanced at the frustrated Shu Yi'an and then spoke softly, "Do you want to ask me why I was transferred back?"
Author's Note: Miss Shu is very popular with her mother-in-law, haha.
Girls who want to be tortured, don't be in such a hurry. You two have only been together for a few days and you're already asking for torture? You're being too much of a stepmother.
Do you want to see a bikini wedding on a Sanya beach?
Chapter 35 I love you all!
Shu Yi'an lowered her head, her eyes darting around, refusing to admit it, her two fingers almost twisted together.
Chu Mu pulled the car over to the side of the road and smiled helplessly. "I'm always the one who forces others to back down. Shu Yi'an, you're the first person who can make me lose my temper."
Shu Yi'an, like a tiny shrimp, lowered her voice even further. "Then why didn't you tell me you were coming back sooner?"
Chu Mu hissed in exasperation and reached out to pinch Shu Yi'an's soft earlobe. "You didn't even ask me! Besides, I just got back and that incident happened right away. How could I possibly take you to the mountains for treatment right away? And didn't you notice I'd been home for so many days?"
Shu Yi'an poked at the glass repeatedly, biting her lower lip, her voice lacking confidence. "Last time I asked you, you said I was in a hurry to make room for someone else... How could I dare to bring it up again?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Mu remembered the time when he came back last time and the two of them had argued over this very reason. He was in a bad mood that day, and he might have said something harsh when Xiao Ke saw her off. He didn't expect that it would leave a shadow on this little lamb.
The most important thing now is to appease her. But the policy for dealing with someone like Shu Yi'an is not to argue, but to go along with her. By using gentle methods and speaking softly, all sorts of feelings of guilt and morality welled up in Shu Yi'an's heart.
Chu Mu adopted a sorrowful expression, his tone unusually low. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have lost my temper with you. I only found out about your leg injury after you left Berlin, but you were in a bad mood at the time and I couldn't get away, so I thought I'd just wait until the transfer application was approved and I was officially staying before explaining to you."
“I didn’t come back because of your leg injury. I’ve had this idea of a transfer since the last time I went back, but I kept putting it off. After returning to Germany, I kept thinking about how you were all alone in the hospital. I didn’t consider your feelings before, and it was my fault for leaving you alone here.” Chu Mu looked at the woman who had been silent all along and delivered his final blow, “I’m sorry.”
Sure enough, Shu Yi'an shook her head, expressing her understanding and magnanimity, "It's not your fault, I was wrong too." Cars with their headlights on kept driving past them in the night, and behind Shu Yi'an, a building shimmered with neon lights, making her face appear indescribably soft. "You're back... I'm still very happy." I'm still very happy that you didn't abandon me or even choose to give up on me.
Chu Mu hadn't expected Shu Yi'an to put herself in such a low position in this relationship, and his throat moved almost imperceptibly. "From now on, I'll try my best to spend time with you."
The two returned home, and Shu Yi'an changed her clothes, intending to pull out a mat and do two sets of yoga. Although she could no longer dance, due to her previous rehabilitation and the habits she had cultivated over the years, she still maintained her daily stretching routine. Chu Mu, after taking a shower, sat listlessly in the living room watching TV, his eyes constantly glancing at the person stretching their arms and legs on the balcony.
As she stretched upwards, a large portion of Shu Yi'an's already incredibly slender waist was revealed. Chu Mu pretended not to notice, grabbed his glass, and took a sip of water, but his mind was still preoccupied with her flat, supple body. For a man, simply watching a woman he had feelings for at night and doing nothing was already a test of willpower, let alone her making such... alluring... moves in Chu Mu's eyes while she looked completely oblivious.
Damn it, I can't take it anymore! Chu Mu absentmindedly flipped through a few channels, tossed the remote onto the sofa, and strode from the center of the living room to the balcony. He arrived just as Shu Yi'an was lying flat on the mat, slowly regaining her breathing. Chu Mu placed his hands on either side of her ears, and in a push-up position, he covered her completely. His hot breath fell on her ear, and Shu Yi'an's eyes suddenly widened in terror.
What are you doing?
Chu Mu's gaze was fixed on her heaving chest, his expression growing increasingly somber. "It's time. Go to sleep."
Shu Yi'an felt uncomfortable under his gaze. Even if she pretended to be stupid, she couldn't help but understand what he wanted to do. She turned her head away shyly, "I haven't showered yet..." Chu Mu carried her upstairs and said succinctly, "Do it first, then shower."
As a result, Shu Yi'an was tormented by him repeatedly being thrown onto the bed without keeping his promise, so how could she possibly take a shower? What Shu Yi'an didn't know was that Chu Mu had an almost obsessive-compulsive aversion to anything or anyone. She, Shu Yi'an, was the first person who could make him so utterly shameless.
The next day, because she had to go to her new job, Ms. Shu got up early despite her aching body to get ready, and also had to set aside half an hour to make breakfast for someone who was sleeping soundly.
Shu Yi'an's cooking skills were something she gradually developed after marrying Chu Mu. Because he said he didn't like eating out, Shu Yi'an spent the first few months of the first year practicing her cooking skills diligently. At the company, she exchanged experiences with Su Ying, a skilled cook who lived alone for many years. Back in the compound, she learned cooking from the housekeeper and listened to Sui Qing teach her what he liked and disliked to eat.
One night, Chu Mu took the key and opened the door to return home. He heard a series of crashing sounds coming from the kitchen. He had just changed his shoes and hadn't even had a chance to go inside when Shu Yi'an let out a terrified scream.
Chu Mu's mind went blank for a moment, and without thinking, he rushed into the kitchen. He saw Miss Shu wearing a beige apron, holding a spatula, standing a distance away by the stove, with a large red and swollen patch on the back of her hand. The boiling oil in the pot sizzled, and several pieces of pork ribs were already burnt.
Chu Mu quickly turned off the stove, frowned, and pulled Shu Yi'an to the tap to rinse her off. There were exactly three small bubbles. For the next few days, he took the inept cook Shu Yi'an out to eat almost every day.
Perhaps severely affected by Chu Mu's behavior, Shu Yi'an's cooking skills improved rapidly during his absence, despite wasting countless dishes and ruining numerous pots. When the picky man returned home three months later, he could actually nod nonchalantly and say that the dishes on the table tasted good.