Traveling Through the Book and Becoming a Cub Among the Villains - Chapter 132
froze, genuinely flattered and surprised.
His son had actually asked for a hug!
Fireworks cascaded from the sky, landing behind Ye Qingxi like stars sinking into the sea. They framed his radiant smile, so dazzling that Mu Shaowu couldn’t tear his gaze away.
Mu Shaowu scooped up the child into his arms, holding him close and planting a kiss on his soft cheek.
“Such a good boy,” he murmured.
Ye Qingxi wrapped his arms around Mu Shaowu’s neck, thinking his father was pretty good, too. He gazed at him, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
Mu Shaowu smiled back, affectionately nuzzling his forehead against Ye Qingxi’s.
Mu Shaoyan, standing nearby, thought, Did I buy these fireworks just to be the backdrop for their father-son bonding?!
Has anyone considered the feelings of the fireworks or their owner?!
Speechless, turned back to lighting his lonely, cold fireworks. Heaven knew how icy his heart felt right now!
Ye Qingxi nestled in Mu Shaowu’s arms, watching the colorful fireworks burst and fall.
“So beautiful,” he sighed in awe.
Every blossom was exquisite. Every hue was breathtaking.
“If you like them, Daddy will light another one with you,” Mu Shaowu said softly.
Ye Qingxi nodded.
Mu Shaowu set Ye Qingxi down, then asked Mu Shaoyan for a match. Holding Ye Qingxi’s small hand, he lit another firework.
This time, the firework burst into a kaleidoscope of colors, resembling a giant, vibrant cotton candy in the sky—exquisite and romantic.
Ye Qingxi gazed upward in awe.
Upstairs in the music room, Cotton Candy the cat perched on the bay window, also looking up.
The soundproof glass muffled the explosions, leaving only the dazzling colors and intricate patterns visible.
The kitten didn’t understand what fireworks were, but it loved the colors it could see and the moving lights.
Its head tilted high, eyes wide and round, and it let out a cheerful “Meow!”
Today, Cotton Candy was very happy, too.
After the fireworks, everyone returned indoors.
Ye Qingxi felt a little sleepy. He was about to ask Mu Shaowu to take him to bed when handed him a red envelope first.
Then came Mu Shaowu’s red envelope.
Soon after, and Mu Shaoyan also gave him their red envelopes.
Finally, it was ‘s turn.
“Happy New Year,” Mu Feng said.
“Happy New Year,” Ye Qingxi replied, looking at him. “Grandpa, I bought gifts for all of you, too.”
With that, he turned and dashed upstairs.
Mu Shaowu followed curiously and found Ye Qingxi in his room, pulling out a larbag.
Mu Shaowu quickly took the bag from him and carried it downstairs.
Ye Qingxi took out the gifts he had chosen from the bag and handed them out one by one.
He gave Mu Feng a bodhi seed bracelet.
Mu Feng had never worn anything on his wrist before, but ever since Ye Qingxi had given him Pei Ying’s jade bracelet, he had worn it constantly, even today.
With the winter cold, Ye Qingxi always felt the jade bracelet was too cold against his skin and wanted to give him a warmer alternative.
“I specifically called Pei Liang and asked Grandpa Pei to help me choose this one. He said it’s good,” Ye Qingxi said softly.
Mu Feng gazed at him, his heart overflowing with tenderness.
“Grandpa, let me put it on for you,” Ye Qingxi offered.
Mu Feng nodded.
Ye Qingxi removed the jade bracelet from Mu Feng’s wrist and replaced it with the bodhi seed bracelet from the box.
The textures of wood and jade were different, and they evoked different feelings.
Mu Feng’s commanding presence, which had radiated noble elegance with the jade, now carried a serene detachment with the bodhi seeds.
“It looks really good on you, too,” Ye Qingxi said.
He held Mu Feng’s hand. Mu Feng’s hand was broad, warm, and much larger than his own.
With a gentle squeeze, he could capture Ye Qingxi’s hand completely within his palm.
He was bundled up tightly, completely protected from harm.
But Ye Qingxi really wanted to hold Mu Feng’s hand, to safeguard his life.
His grandfather was getting old.
If only his grandfather could live to be 100-years-old.
5-year-old Ye Qingxi’s New Year’s wish had been for Mu Feng to live a long and healthy life, and for his family to be safe and well.
As for himself, he hadn’t made a wish for himself.
In his heart, his family’s well-being mattered more than his own.
The Mu family didn’t have the tradition of staying up all night on New Year’s Eve. After Ye Qingxi finished giving out gifts, everyone prepared for bed.
After showering, Ye Qingxi opened WeChat and saw New Year’s greetings from Pei Liang and the others.
He quickly replied to them.
Then he noticed that Duan Yi, Qin Yuan, and Qiu Yue had all sent him red envelopes.
And each envelope contained a substantial amount.
Ye Qingxi, “…..”
Wait, he could understand the others, but why would Duan Yi send him such a large red envelope?
Where did he get the money?!
Duan Yi, Your Little Uncle gave it to me, of course.
Duan Yi and his cousins from the countryside had returned from setting off firecrackers to find a New Year’s greeting from Mu Shaoyan.
Along with the message came a New Year’s red envelope.
He opened it to find another string of 9999s.
This time, Duan Yi respected Ye Qingxi’s status as Young Master Mu and didn’t insult him with a refund. He immediately transferred 9900 yuan, adding 500 yuan of his own, to Ye Qingxi.
Duan Yi’s family wasn’t as wealthy as Mu Shaoyan’s. Sending a 500 yuan red envelope for the New Year was already a luxury for him.
After all, the red envelope he himself had received only contained 200 yuan.
[Thank you, Brother Duan Yi~] Ye Qingxi replied.
He silently noted the amount, planning to spend it on Duan Yi in the future when the opportunity arose.
What came from one place should return to that place.
After replying to Duan Yi, Ye Qingxi responded to Qin Yuan, and finally to Qiu Yue: [Thank you.]
It was New Year’s Day, but Qiu Lu was stuck in the police station. The thought made Ye Qingxi immensely happy.
I wonder if the New Year’s meal at the station is any good. Eat well, Qiu Lu!
The thought made him burst out laughing.
“What are you laughing at?” Mu Shaowu asked.
Ye Qingxi looked at him. What else could he be laughing at? Of course, he was amused by the Male Lead’s current misfortune.
Ye Qingxi couldn’t tell Mu Shaowu the real reason for his laughter, so he simply said, “I’m just happy. If you can’t laugh during the New Year, when can you?”
“That’s true,” Mu Shaowu nodded. “Then laugh again for me.”
Ye Qingxi, “????”
“Why don’t you laugh for me?”
Mu Shaowu immediately grinned, “Is it handsome?”
Ye Qingxi, “……”
I knew my dad was a softie.
Ye Qingxi couldn’t help but laugh, “handsome.”
“Xi is handsome, too,” Mu Shaowu said, tapping his forehead.
For some reason, Ye Qingxi’s laughter grew even brighter.
He turned, pulled back the covers, and burrowed into bed, “Time for sleep.”
“Alright,” Mu Shaowu agreed readily. “Tonight, Daddy will tell you the story of the Nian beast.”
Ye Qingxi, “……”
He’s really persistent.
Well, whatever. At least his lullabies are worse.
Can’t tell bedtime stories properly, sings lullabies off-key… Xiao Mu, who else would be your loyal, unedited audience if I left?!
The thought made Ye Qingxi laugh again.
Mu Shaowu watched the smile on his face, his heart overflowing with indescribable joy.
Ye Qingxi’s smile was much more frequent now than before.
When he first arrived at their home, he was likely still unfamiliar with the family and genuinely unable to smile. was bedridden at the time, so Ye Qingxi rarely smiled. Even when he did, it was a faint, joyless smile, devoid of genuine happiness.
But now, his smiles were radiant.
He was like a child who had weathered a storm and was now thriving under the sun.
Mu Shaowu loved watching him smile.
His smile was beautiful. When he laughed, his eyes curved slightly upward, resembling a tiny, sugar-sweetened rainbow.
A rainbow that belonged to him alone, one that would never fade.
This New Year, Mu Shaowu made a wish: that his son would always be happy, forever laughing with ease and joy.
In northern China, it’s customary to eat dumplings on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
The Mu family followed this tradition.
The dumpling chef was a woman in her 40s. Her fillings were expertly seasoned, and her hands were incredibly skilled, capable of shaping dumplings into various forms.
As Ye Qingxi ate the twelve zodiac-shaped dumplings, each filled with a different filling, he marveled once again at the saying, “Every profession has its own expertise.” He knew he could never make dumplings like these in his lifetime.
As they were eating, Mu Shaowu suggested, “Since everyone’s here for the New Year and has some time, why don’t we take a family portrait?”
A family portrait?
Ye Qingxi looked up.
Mu Shaowu turned to Mu Feng, “Xiao Xi and Xiao haven’t had a proper family portrait yet.”
Ye Qingxi thought for a moment. He realized it was true. They had taken many casual photos together, but never a formal family portrait.
He agreed wholeheartedly!
agreed, too!
“It’s time we took one,” Mu Zheng said, noticing the children’s eyes light up. “I’ll arrange it later. How about tomorrow?”
“I can handle it,” Mu Shaowu offered. “I know more photographers.”
“Alright,” Mu Zheng replied.
Ye Qingxi quietly raised his hand. “Can we bring Cotton Candy, too?”
“And Donut!” Qin Cheng added.
“Of course!” Mu Shaowu smiled. “They’re part of the family, too.”
Ye Qingxi beamed with joy.
After finishing his meal, he eagerly returned to his room and began rummaging through drawers and cabinets for Cotton Candy’s accessories.
Cotton Candy, curious about Ye Qingxi rummaging through his things, trotted over and nuzzled him affectionately.
Ye Qingxi scooped him into his arms. “Baby, you’re going to be in our family portrait!”
Cotton Candy blinked stupidly and meowed, “Meow~”
Ye Qingxi stroked Cotton Candy’s furry head, “Don’t worry, I’ll make you look absolutely adorable!”
Cotton Candy, oblivious, leaned in to sniff him before extending its pink tongue to lick his cheek.
Ye Qingxi chuckled softly.
Cradling the kitten in his arms, he whispered, “Baby, we’re finally taking a family portrait!”
Their family portrait.
The person he loved most and his favorite cat.
Ye Qingxi couldn’t help but laugh again, nuzzling the kitten’s head affectionately.
The next day at noon, after lunch, they set off.
Mu Shaoting and Qin Luan, wanting to look natural for the photos, skipped makeup and opted for simple skincare.
Mu Shaoyan, ever the blunt man, remarked, “Why do you look less pretty than yesterday?”
Mu Shaoting, “…..”
“I’ll give you another chance to phrase that.”
Mu Shaoyan immediately backtracked, “Sister, you’re stunning! Like a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without artifice!”
Mu Shaoting huffed, “That’s more like it.”
She turned and got into the car.
As soon as she settled in, Mu Shaoting’s phone rang.
She glanced at the screen—it was Yang Yu.
Yang Yu: [Someone gave me a dessert voucher for some trendy cake shop. I don’t have a sweet tooth, so you can have it. Girls probably like cake more anyway.]
Yang Yu: [ [Photo] ]
Mu Shaoting clicked on the link and confirmed it was indeed a popular influencer-endorsed dessert shop.
However, the shop didn’t offer delivery, claiming that the true deliciousness could only be experienced in person.
Mu Shaoting had always been annoyed by these pretentious establishments.
What kind of nonsense is this? she thought. Does Miss Mu have to personally make the trip? Do they even know who they’re dealing with?!
She rejected the offer: [No, I’m too lazy to go.]
Yang Yu eagerly replied: [Perfect! I’ll be passing by there in a few days on business. If you want it, I can pick it up and bring it to you.]
Mu Shaoting clicked her tongue lightly.
She knew Yang Yu was trying to court her, but she hadn’t decided whether to let him. After all, his family background was far too ordinary.
The ideal boyfriend she had envisioned for herself would undoubtedly come from a wealthy family, just like her. Only someone with a similar pedigree could truly be worthy of her.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, she found herself harboring a slight, almost imperceptible fondness for Yang Yu.
Fine, Mu Shaoting thought. If he wants to deliver it, that’s fine. Ye Qingxi loves cake. It’ll be a nice treat for my adorable little nephew.
[Alright] Mu Shaoting agreed.
She sent Yang Yu a red envelope: [I don’t want to take advantage of you. This covers your errand fee and the cost of the cake.]
Yang Yu, “….”
Seriously? She’s treating me like a delivery boy?
Yang Yu was speechless, Was Mu Shaoting genuinely clueless, or was she pretending? He had made his intentions pretty clear, hadn’t he? Why wasn’t she reacting at all?!
Author’s Notes:
Mu Shaoting: What reaction do you want?
Xiaoxi:!!!
Xiaoxi: Auntie, who are you chatting with?!
Mu Shaoting: A cake delivery man.
Yang Yu: ???
Xiaoxi: That’s fine.
Storyteller CloudyPastels's Words
Translator: Mu Shaoyan is pushing his luck hahah