Slow to mature after marriage

Chapter 6 For Your Own Good

Xu Ruolin was startled and tugged at Mu Cheng's sleeve, quickly trying to smooth things over: "Oh dear, Old Mu just talks too much. Siwan, don't take it to heart. Come here, Siwan, come to Mommy."

"They're a bunch of grown men talking about business, so let's not get involved. Come here, let Mom see if you've lost weight."

Mu Siwan instinctively gripped Bo Yan's arm, her fingertips turning white.

The man glanced down at her, then slowly leaned down and whispered in her ear.

To onlookers, it looked like the intimate whispers of a newlywed couple.

"Don't you want to go?" he asked.

She didn't answer, but she held his hand tightly.

He nodded.

"Then I won't go."

However, seeing Xu Ruolin's smile that was about to falter, Mu Siwan slowly released Bo Yan's arm and walked towards her.

"I'm going," Mu Siwan said softly.

Staring at the woman's departing figure, Bo Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.

Xu Ruolin pulled her towards the side hall, looking her up and down as they walked, her tone intimate as if she genuinely felt sorry for her.

"You've lost weight, you've really lost weight. Is the food at the Bo family's place bad? Or is your work too tiring? I've said for a long time that your job isn't suitable. You're working so hard every day, how can your body take it?"

Mu Siwan remained silent.

Having grown accustomed to Mu Siwan's silence, Xu Ruolin pulled her to sit down on the sofa, took her hand, and continued her rambling.

"Mom knows you're upset. Don't take what your dad said to heart. That's just how he is; he can't keep his mouth shut, but he's really doing it for your own good."

Mu Siwan looked down at the hand that was holding hers.

She was very well-maintained, with neatly manicured nails and a jade ring.

Just like I remember.

When she was little, she was locked in the attic. Occasionally, these hands would bring food up, pat her head, and say, "Be good, bear with it. Mom can't do anything about it. Your dad's temper is just for your own good."

At that time, she felt that these hands were warm.

Now she's a little confused.

Living people can be really hard to understand sometimes.

Mu Siwan didn't pull away from that hand. She simply raised her eyes and asked calmly, "So, before, every time Mu Cheng hit me after socializing, was it for my own good?"

Xu Ruolin's smile froze.

"Was it for my own good when he locked me in the attic?"

"And from childhood to adulthood, they never let me go to school, leaving me alone at home, making me—"

"Mu Siwan!"

Xu Ruolin gripped her hand tightly, so hard it hurt.

The slight pain made Mu Siwan pause in her words.

She looked down at her fingers, which were clenched so tightly they had turned white, and accepted the grip without breaking free.

Xu Ruolin took a deep breath, her expression changing repeatedly—there was anger, embarrassment, and something else, like an instinctive reaction after someone had touched a sore spot.

But they quickly composed themselves.

She released her grip, reverting to her gentle tone, though her voice was a few decibels lower.

"Siwan, what's wrong with you today? I'm just trying to be helpful, why are you bringing up those old stories?"

Mu Siwan raised her eyes and looked at her.

"Those old stories," Mu Siwan paused, "I remember them all."

Xu Ruolin felt uneasy under that look.

His gaze was so indifferent, it didn't seem like a question, but more like a statement of fact.

"Why do you remember all this?" Xu Ruolin was angered by her gaze. "Wasn't your father doing it for your own good? It's so dangerous for a little girl like you to run around playing. You know how Wanwan got lost. We were afraid of repeating the same mistake."

"Your dad may have a short temper, but there's always a reason behind it."

Xu Ruolin sighed and reached out to hold her hand again, but she avoided it.

The hand hovered in mid-air for a second before awkwardly withdrawing it.

"Siwan," Xu Ruolin changed her tone and softened, "Mom knows you're suffering, but you have to understand us too. Back then, the company wasn't doing well, your dad was under a lot of pressure, and he came home drunk and was in a bad mood, hitting you. I didn't protect you well, and I apologize to you now."

"Yes, your dad didn't let you go to school, but he did find you a tutor, didn't he? Compared to many children, you're already very lucky."

"If your father and I hadn't adopted you, you would have starved to death on the roadside long ago. Would you have grown up to be this big? Wanwan—"

She patted Mu Siwan's hand and said earnestly, "One should not forget kindness."

One word, "ungrateful," shut Mu Siwan up completely.

What could she possibly say?

Tell me about those years when we were locked in the attic?

What about those seven days you spent alone in the mourning hall?

He said he had no friends growing up, couldn't go out, and could only see the outside world through square walls.

What good would it do to say it?

All Xu Ruolin can say is "it's for your own good" and "you're ungrateful."

Ultimately, she wasn't the Mu family's biological daughter.

They gave her a way out, so she had to kowtow and express her gratitude.

After a long silence, the door to the side hall was pushed open.

"Mom, Siwan, what are you talking about?"

Meng Wan stood at the door, her gaze sweeping between the two of them, before walking in with a smile.

"Mom is definitely biased. She talked to Siwan for so long, I was even jealous standing outside."

When Xu Ruolin saw her, her previously somewhat cold expression softened instantly.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" She reached out and pulled Meng Wan to sit down next to her, flicking her nose. "Your hands are so cold, don't you know how to wear more clothes?"

"Didn't Mom send you a lot of clothes? Why aren't you wearing them?"

Meng Wan smiled and leaned closer to her: "I'm busy with work, you know that."

"No matter how busy you are, you must take care of your health." Xu Ruolin gave her a reproachful look, reached out and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, "What do you want to eat tonight? Mom will have the kitchen make it."

"Whatever, I love whatever Mom orders."

"You silly child, then eat your favorite stuffed eggplant."

Mu Siwan watched the mother and daughter's affectionate behavior, lowered her eyes, and knew it was time for her to leave.

She turned and left.

Meng Wan's voice came from behind: "Mom, why did Siwan leave?"

"She has her own things to do."

Xu Ruolin casually responded.

She then asked with a smile, "Have you been busy with cases lately? I've told you before that being a police officer is a tough job, and I suggested you change jobs."

"I like this job, and Siwan's job is just as tough."

"How can you be the same...?"

Mu Siwan came out of the side hall and did not go back to Bo Yan's side, but walked along the corridor towards the restroom.

She needs to slow down.

There was a window at the end of the corridor. She stood in front of the window, looking at the night outside, and took a few deep breaths.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

She didn't turn around.

The footsteps stopped behind her, followed by a soft voice.

"sister."

Mu Siwan turned around.

Mu Sigui stood two steps away, a twenty-year-old boy wearing a black sweater, his face expressionless, just like hers.

To the uninformed, they would look like siblings at first glance.