CH 35.2

Missing an Appointment (2)

Ruan Qingmu was dripping with sweat in the small kitchen and suddenly cried out “ah” as a plate fell to the ground.

Xiao-Zheng was startled and he anxiously fumbled to the doorway. “What happened?”

Ruan Qingmu frantically shouted. “Don’t come in. There are plate shards on the ground!”

Xiao-Zheng was calmer than him. “Okay, I won’t add to your troubles. Be careful when you clean it up. Please don’t cut your hand.”

So annoying. Mu Wanli and Xiao-Yun hadn’t returned yet. His mother was usually responsible for preparing meals for the whole family. There were only two people left in the house, a blind and a young master who had never cooked before in his life. But at the same time, he couldn’t just let the two of them go hungry.

Ruan Qingmu studied the rice cooker’s button with great difficulty before cooking the rice and warming up several dishes. The two people hastily ate.

When he clumsily finished washing the plates and got everything settled, it was already seven to eight o’clock.

He finally could find time to look at his phone and saw that question waiting there.

“Is there a traffic jam? Are you stopping to eat at the cafeteria later?”

It quietly lay there as if it had stubbornly been there for a long time.

Ruan Qingmu flicked the water off his hand and stood in a daze before letting out a long sigh.

“I helped my mom to cook, so that’s why I’m so late.” Ruan Qingmu pondered for a while and could only send this.

Qin Yuan sat inside the dorm and looked at his WeChat.

He was cooking and eating with his mom – no wonder. That’s right. This was the daily life of a normal happy person with a kind mother and filial son.

Not everyone was like him. His father and pregnant stepmother already resided in another city. The only ones by his side were Aunt Liu and Uncle Yan.

He faintly replied, “Um, that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

Ruan Qingmu felt slightly at a loss. What did he mean by “that’s what he’s supposed to do”?

Grabbing his phone, he clenched his teeth and suddenly replied by impulse, “I will return soon! Tomorrow is the monthly exam, but I can’t review because it’s too noisy at home.”

Qin Yuan grabbed his school bag and just wanted to go to the school building, but he was stunned when he suddenly saw this message.

Where would he go when he returned? Was it to their Class 9’s self-study room or straight to here? If he came here, what if they reviewed until too late…

Ruan Qingmu didn’t say anything and he couldn’t ask any more questions.

He stood at the doorway in a daze. Then, he turned around appearing distracted and put down his school bag.

He opened the cabinet, looked for a spare bedsheet and pillow, quickly climbed to the other bed, and carefully laid them on top of the spare bed.

Even though he didn’t live here anymore, what if he was tired after reviewing and wanted to take a nap?

***

Ruan Qingmu finished packing up, grabbed his suitcase, and walked out. When he walked to the doorway, a clamor sounded from outside. The group of people finally returned.

Mu Wanli supported Xiao-Yun as they entered the door. The arm-tattooed man, Brother Qiu, carried the little mute on his back, following closely behind them.

Brother Qiu placed the little boy down and went ahead to sit in a chair. He was sweaty all over and immediately started cursing, “Fuck him! Pissed me off to death!”

The little boy’s body was fully covered in iodine, with gauze covering some places. The back of his head was wrapped up, making his head look bigger.

When the little boy got off Brother Qiu’s back, he instantly rushed over to his sister’s side. He silently hid most of his body behind her and carefully peered out through the slit in her arm.

Ruan Qingmu put down his suitcase and frowned. “What did the doctor say?”

Xiao-Yun was still silently crying, so Mu Wanli explained, “Fortunately, there’s no serious injury. Most of them are only superficial wounds. The ribs aren’t broken and the brick wound on his head is already healing, so there’s no way to stitch it back up again.”

When Xiao-Yun heard it couldn’t be done again, tears streamed down her eyes. “Xiao-Zhuang, sister has let you down…”

The little boy couldn’t hear anything. Xiao-Yun’s tears splattered on his face. He raised his head and tiptoed while trying to wipe his sister’s eyes. His expression at this time was slightly anxious.

Ruan Qingmu crouched down and picked him so that he could reach Xiao-Yun’s face while avoiding the wounds on his legs.

The little mute stretched his dirty hands and slowly wiped his sister’s pretty face, making anxious and hoarse sounds from his throat.

“I shouldn’t be softhearted. I should have taken a knife and chopped off that family to bits!” Brother Qiu accepted the towel handed by Mu Wanli to wipe off his sweat, still feeling unsatisfied.

Ruan Qingmu hugged the little mute while grimly turning to look at him.

“That would be too merciful of us. We should instead hang that husband and wife upside down, chop off their arms, and slowly let their blood drip out. Then, take a brick and beat that bastard’s head too, one to the left and right.”

Brother Qiu slapped his thigh. “Aiya, well-spoken, that’s what I’m talking about. We should do that next time!”

Mu Wanli reached out and slapped his head once, not light nor heavy. “Shut up! You’re such a bad influence on my son.”

Brother Qiu was being hit by her until his head tilted, feeling extremely wronged. “Sister Li, be a little reasonable. It’s your son who’s so bloody…”

Mu Wanli turned to look at Ruan Qingmu, her fierce face immediately turning gentle. “Mumu, ah, don’t speak nonsense and don’t learn those lines from the TV. You’re scaring me.”

Ruan Qingmu laughed.