The smile was too sweet and beautiful, without being overly cautious or anxious, capturing the purest joy of a five-year-old child.
It was a very ordinary moment, but on Chu Xijin, it was especially different.
Very healing, and also heart-wrenching.
Mu Ran wasn't usually sensitive to people in real life, but this moment almost brought her to tears.
He was only five and should have been cherished, not thrown into an unfamiliar world, learning new social rules, meeting new people, without the company of his parents.
Thinking of this, Mu Ran felt an impulse to whip the damned emperor!
How could he bear to kill such a smart and gentle child!
"Let's go, time to eat!"
The restaurant they went to at noon was a Suzhou cuisine place, with decor still carrying a classic charm.
But it seemed more upscale.
Feng Qikuo even extravagantly booked a large private room, "Wow, let auntie have a look, whose child is this, how come he's so adorable?!"
She was thirty-three, married but not yet a mother.
Never thought much of children, but after seeing Chu Xijin, she felt...
It wouldn't be bad to take him home.
"No wonder Xiao Ran likes you, you're just too cute, auntie prepared a gift for you, it's a toy car, hope you like it."
Chu Xijin looked at Mu Ran, and seeing his little aunt nod, he smiled and thanked, "Thank you, auntie."
"Oh my, this smile is incredible!" Feng Qikuo clutched her heart, thinking that all the men in the entertainment industry were trash, "Who are his parents? Do they have any plans to send him into the entertainment circle? If they do, I guarantee I can make him a star!"
"No need for you," Mu Ran said coldly, while handing the menu for Chu Xijin to order.
This menu was in simplified Chinese.
Chu Xijin asked the learning device for anything he didn't know.
To not waste time, he randomly picked two dishes that he could eat.
Prices were not the lowest, but moderate.
Mu Ran told the waiter the dishes the child ordered, then sat there lazily, "So, what do you want from me?"
"I want to..."
"No playing the family card."
"Can you get someone into your next movie for me?" Feng Qikuo asked.
There was a lot of controversy online about Mu Ran.
But actors all competed to be part of her crew; just landing an important role could make them a sought-after star, who wouldn't want that.
But Mu Ran was being harshly criticized, directly related to offending people who disliked her.
For the sake of her work, she stood firm against capital, naturally drawing flak.
Usually, Mu Ran refused to insert people into her projects.
Not even for her sister-in-law.
But today...
Mu Ran hesitated.
Feng Qikuo raised an eyebrow, suddenly feeling a bit moved, realizing she still held some position in her sister-in-law's heart.
Then she heard Mu Ran say, "Fulfill one request for me."
"What is it, go ahead!"
"Have your husband sort out my nephew's household registration."
"This child has no identification?!" Feng Qikuo's face changed drastically, "Xiao Ran, tell me exactly whose child this is. I know you don't like us interfering, and I can't be bothered to intervene, but don't do something you'll regret forever."
"I won't."
"Then what's the child's background, where is his family from?!" Feng Qikuo pressed, "If you don't explain, I'll have to tell your brother."
"...It's hard to explain, but it's not illegal." Mu Ran held her forehead; she couldn't possibly explain the child was from ancient times, right?
Was she crazy?
Who would believe that?
Knock knock—
The door was knocked, and Feng Qikuo stood up in confusion, wondering why the waiter knocked but didn't come in.
She opened the door to find a man in a suit, looking extremely serious.
"I heard you were eating here, so I came to have a look." Mu Dixin adjusted his glasses, nonchalantly glancing at his sister sitting leisurely.
"Oh, then come in and eat." Feng Qikuo thought it was already a feat that he hadn't argued with Mu Ran for three years.
"And this is?" Mu Dixin slightly raised his chin, looking toward Chu Xijin.
Chu Xijin cautiously looked at the newcomer.
This person was not to be trifled with!
Feng Qikuo shrugged, "I don't know, you should ask your sister."
Silence—
A silence so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Mu Ran's lashes slightly drooped, her aura of distance was too obvious.
Mu Dixin tensed his jaw, anger brewing in his eyes, but three years ago, they both said they'd never speak again!
It would be too humiliating to initiate now.
So he shifted his gaze and asked the child sitting there, "What's your name?"
"Chu Xijin." Chu Xijin replied, his dark eyes staring at the man, increasingly feeling his intimidation, a pressure that must've been honed from holding high positions long term.
"Chu Xijin." Mu Dixin chewed on the name, "Where are you from?"
"What does it matter to you?" Mu Ran burst out.
"I'm asking because you don't see how people are talking about you online now. Can't you manage your personal image better? Do you realize how embarrassing this is for me?"
"This has nothing to do with you, you loser. I don't even know why you came to eat here, seeing you disgusts me, get out, don't let me see you!" Mu Ran slammed the table in anger, noticing that the child beside her shivered slightly.
She quickly and gently patted his back, seeing him a bit bewildered, she leaned closer and whispered, "Don't be afraid, he can't do anything to me, okay?"
Chu Xijin nodded.
He understood.
The man wasn't really loathing his aunt, but caring.
But towards him, he was downright rejecting!
Mu Dixin originally wanted to continue arguing, but seeing her gentle interaction with the child, it made him dazed.
Her gentle demeanor was reminiscent of before she was eight, back when she was cherished by the whole family like a little princess, or rather she was the little princess.
But at eight years old.
Their parents' plane crashed abroad.
Mu Ran became a different person, especially towards him, always speaking harshly. At that time, he was taking over the family business, overwhelmed, he didn't have the heart to handle her.
From originally spoiling and indulging her.
It turned into outright scolding and indifference, eventually leaving care to a nanny.
By the time he came around, wanting to manage her properly, she had grown thorns all over, anyone who touched her would be bloodied.
Three years ago, he was displeased with her career.
They completely fell apart.
Mu Ran moved out of the family home, living alone, and in three years, the two hadn't spoken a word.
He came today only after seeing the trending topics on Weibo, wanting to check on her.
Because her gentle demeanor seemed so unlike her.
The waiter brought up the dishes.
Mu Ran served food to Chu Xijin.
Mu Dixin served soup to Feng Qikuo.
The four of them fell into a peculiar silence.
After a long while, Mu Ran spoke, "The child belongs to an older sister who once saved my life. She had a child out of wedlock, always in hiding to avoid being found by her family, pretty much living in a temple. She entrusted her child to me today. Raising the child isn't a problem, but the household registration..."
"When did she save your life?" Mu Dixin furrowed his brows.
"When I was eight, I ran out and almost drowned. She saved me, she was ten at the time. Does this answer satisfy you?"
"Then why didn't you tell me!" Mu Dixin was startled, heart pounding wildly.
Mu Ran: "You weren't even home at the time..."
Mu Dixin fell silent.
Mu Ran continued, "The sister entrusted the child to me because she encountered an accident."
Encountered an accident.
In the couple's understanding, this naturally meant involuntary mortality. Looking at the obedient and polite child eating, they both showed sympathetic expressions.
Neither husband nor wife doubted Mu Ran was lying.
She was someone who, rather than lie, would choose to be silent to the point of death, or anger you to death, because she felt that such a rotten relationship wasn't worth her brainpower.
After a moment of silence, Mu Dixin said, "The household registration is not a problem, but are you really going to raise the child? Are you sure you can?"