Traveling Through the Book and Becoming a Cub Among the Villains - Chapter 5

After finishing the gift, Mu Zheng naturally escorted Ye Qingxi upstairs.

Although Ye Qingxi felt it was unnecessary, Mu Zheng said, “It’s okay, we’re heading to the study anyway. Just happens we’re both going upstairs.”

Seeing that, Ye Qingxi didn’t insist on refusing.

When he reached his room, he opened the door. Mu Zheng stood at the threshold, casually glancing inside.

Just as he had guessed.
Though his father clearly cared a great deal about his friend’s grandson, he wasn’t exactly a detail-oriented person.

So while the room had indeed been prepared, that was all. It had simply been prepared, without any real thought as to whether it was actually suitable for Ye Qingxi.

Ye Qingxi was 5-years-old, not 25.

An adult wouldn’t find anything wrong with a guest room like this, elegantly decorated in a vintage style, fully furnished with everything one might need.

But for a 5-year-old, it felt far too impersonal.
Too lacking in any sense of home, especially considering this place wasn’t really Ye Qingxi’s home to begin with.

Mu Zheng, however, didn’t mention it then and there. Nor did he plan to bring it up with his own father.

He wanted to talk to Mu Shaowu about it instead.

After all, Mu Shaowu was Ye Qingxi’s father, the one who would be living with him the longest.

So if there was a chance to earn the child’s goodwill, it was most appropriate to let Mu Shaowu take it.

He came to discuss this matter with Ye Qingxi, and whether it was changing the room or the layout of the room, no matter what, Ye Qingxi would have a good impression of him and think that he should like him.

In this way, their father-son relationship could continue well.

The parent-child relationship is an extremely difficult one to handle, especially since Ye Qingxi and Mu Shaowu are not related by blood.

This was destined to require his younger brother to take the initiative to take his first step and show his kindness so that Ye Qingxi would trust him and be willing to get close to him.

This is not an easy task, so Mu Zheng wants to help his younger brother.

“Then rest well,” Mu Zheng said gently, looking at Ye Qingxi.

Ye Qingxi nodded. “You, too, go to bed early.”

“Alright.”

“And Grandpa, also, rest early,” Ye Qingxi added, speaking to Mr. Mu standing behind Mu Zheng.

“Mm.” The old man nodded.

Only then did Ye Qingxi close the door, leaning against it.

He let out a soft breath, then lowered his head to glance at the smartwatch on his wrist. After that, he lifted the jade pendant hanging around his neck and examined it.

Mu Zheng was certainly generous.
Even though it was the very first time they met, even though there was no blood relation between them, he was still willing to give such a valuable gift.

Ye Qingxi gently rolled the pendant between his fingers, then carefully placed it back down.

He walked silently to the bed, took off his shoes, and lay down.

Mu Zheng also followed Grandpa Mu downstairs and entered Grandpa Mu’s study.

Mu Feng sat down on the sofa in the study and motioned for Mu Zheng to sit down as well. “In a couple of days, go contact Fenghua County High School, and then wait until school starts in September to have Shaoyan transfer there.”

Mu Zheng was a little surprised, “Does Shaoyan know about this?”

“Does he need to know?!” Mu Feng got angry when he talked about Mu Shaoyan, “I sent him to the best school in the city, but what did he study? He ranked last in the grade! You were the best in the school. Shaowu was not as good as you, but he was also in the top 30 in the grade. Shaoting didn’t like studying, but she easily passed the first-tier line in the college entrance examination. But what about him? It’s even a question of whether he can get into college! The worst that can happen is that he can go abroad. Yes, of course I can send him abroad, but with his mentality, he can just mess around. What’s the point?!”

“I think he has had a good life for too long, so I don’t know how happy his life is now. He should be allowed to experience some hardship, see how hard those children in the county study, and reflect on himself!”

“But he will take the college entrance examination next year.” Mu Zheng said.

“So what?” Mu Feng argued, “With his grades, does it matter whether he takes the college entrance examination or not? Maybe if he goes through some hardships and learns the importance of studying, he’ll do better next year.”

Mu Zheng, “….”

“You don’t have to beg for mercy for him,” said Mr. Mu, who had made up his mind. “Look at his grades. When has the Mu family ever had such bad grades?! Isn’t he ashamed of himself?!”

Mu Zheng thought to himself …Aren’t you ashamed of back then?

Mu Zheng felt helpless.

Mu Shaoyan’s grades were indeed not very good, or rather, very bad. For this reason, he had specifically talked to Mu Shaoyan, but Mu Shaoyan said that he couldn’t learn and that he didn’t want to learn.

Of course, Mu Zheng didn’t believe it.

When Mu Shaoyan was in junior high school, his grades were not bad, otherwise, he would not have been able to enter the current high school.

But after he entered high school, his grades inexplicably began to plummet.

Mu Zheng suspected that his brother had a mental block, but no matter how he asked, Mu Shaoyan said it was not the case. He just said that he couldn’t concentrate on his studies.

The less he concentrated, the less he wanted to study. The less he wanted to study, the less he could concentrate. It was a vicious cycle, and it has become what it is now.

Mu Zheng tried to find tutors for him, both old-school and new-school, male and female, big A and big B, but it was of no use.

In the end, Mu Shaoyan even argued with him, asking if he was worthy of being Mu Zheng’s younger brother only if he studied well and did well in exams.

Of course, Mu Zheng didn’t mean that. Adolescents are naturally sensitive, so he could only comfort his younger brother and suspend his tutoring plan.

If he were suddenly exiled to Fenghua County at this moment, Mu Shaoyan would definitely be dissatisfied and would feel that neither he nor his father really loved him.

“One more year won’t make a difference.” Mu Zheng said, “We can give him another year’s chance. If he doesn’t do well in the college entrance examination next year, it would make more sense to let him repeat his studies at Fenghua County High School.”

“You’re just wasting your time.” Grandpa Mu leaned back on the sofa, “Do you still expect him to make progress in his studies this year?”

Mu Zheng actually didn’t expect it.

He also knew that the reason why his father brought up this matter at this point in time was because he himself was like Mu Shaoyan back then, cynical and with terrible grades, so he was sent to Fenghua County by his father in his senior year of high school.

There, his father met Ye Qingxi’s grandfather, Ye Min, which completely changed the rest of his life.

So after his father came back from Fenghua County, he continued to donate money to the school, repair dormitories, provide financial assistance to students, and set up scholarships, hoping that he, who had gained a new life there, could help the people there.

In addition, he met Ye Qingxi’s grandfather these days, and those memories came flooding back. His father wanted to educate his son in the same way his father educated himself, hoping that his son would grow up to be a person with ideals and goals after a year.

There was nothing wrong with this idea, but Mu Zheng was worried that Mu Shaoyan would not be able to accept it.

“Let’s get through this semester first.” Mu Zheng said, “Xiao Xi just joined the family. If Shaoyan leaves now—and stays away for nearly a year—by the time he returns, everyone else in the family will already be close with Xiao Xi. He’ll be the only one unfamiliar with him. He might not say anything out loud, but in his heart, he’ll feel awkward, like there’s a rift between him and the rest of the family.  And on Xiao Xi’s side, not knowing him well, he’ll naturally be more inclined to bond with those he’s already familiar with. In that case, it would be as if, without even realizing it, Shaoyan had lost the role of being an uncle.”

Mu Feng, “…..”

“After all, one semester won’t make a difference. Let Shaoyan stay for another semester. If he still doesn’t change, then let him go to Fenghua County.”

Mu Feng looked at him and finally nodded reluctantly.

Just talking about Ye Qingxi, he remembered again, “Tell the principal of Xiao Cheng‘s school and let Xiao Xi go there to start the first grade in September.”

“Have you told Xiao Xi about this?” Mu Zheng asked.

“No. What’s the problem?”

“Of course there are problems.” Mu Zheng said seriously, “First, Xiao Xi has been attending the Sunshine Kindergarten near his home for the past two years. He should be in the senior class now, but we suddenly let him go to the first grade. Will this be a bit difficult for him? Second, his parents left him early, and now his grandfather is leaving too. At this time, we take him away from his familiar kindergarten friends and let him go to a new school with a bunch of strangers. Is he willing? Can he accept it?”

Mu Feng had never thought about this.

His idea was actually very simple. That is, since Ye Qingxi had entered his family, he would naturally receive the best education. Grandpa Mu would not even look at a kindergarten like the Sunshine Kindergarten.

Qin Cheng went to an international kindergarten, so Ye Qingxi should also go to an international kindergarten.

However, at his age, he would have to go to the senior class, but in the senior class, other children have been playing together for two or three years.

He is a transfer student and is unfamiliar with the place. What if he is bullied?

So Mu Feng felt it might be better for Ye Qingxi to skip a grade and go straight to first grade—at the same school as Qin Cheng. That way, they could share a dorm room, eat lunch together, and Qin Cheng could look after him.

That’s what he was thinking, and it’s exactly what he told Mu Zheng.

Mu Zheng found the idea to be reasonable.

“Then let Shaowu talk to him about it,” Mu Zheng said.

At that, Mu Feng curled his lip into a faint sneer and let out a mocking laugh.

“Him? If he really cared about Xiao Xi, he would’ve come back early today. But look—Xiao Xi met everyone else today, and the only person he didn’t see was his so-called father. If you ask me, he’s not even half as reliable as you are.”

“Then, should we change Xiao Xi’s legal guardian?” Mu Zheng asked.
“Since he and Shaowu haven’t met yet, and there’s no emotional bond between them, I could adopt him instead and raise him myself.”

Author’s Note:

Grandpa Mu: ???

Newbie Dad Mu: ???

Dad Mu: No way, why are you trying to snatch the child?

Uncle: You take care of Xiaoxi, I take care of you, so why not just do it in one step and let me take care of Xiaoxi directly

Dad Mu: …Don’t be so lenient!

Dad Mu is on his way back in the rain!