138 My son... did he threaten you? (Tenth installment)

"What do you mean by 'willing' or 'unwilling'? Is that what I'm talking about?"

Father Si had always been blunt and straightforward, lacking the subtlety to pick up on the hidden meaning in Si Qingchen’s words.

Mother Si, however, shifted her gaze, looking at Mu Qingcheng with deep scrutiny. Her son had always been emotionally detached, showing no interest in girls and keeping his life clean and solitary. For a long time, she had even feared he might be gay.

Fortunately, that was not the case. Looking at the way her foolish son was eyeing this girl now, it was clear that his feelings for her were absolutely genuine. Moreover, given Si Qingchen’s standards, it was unlikely he would ever settle for an ordinary girl.

Sensing the need to ease the tension, Father Si changed the subject, naturally shifting the focus to Mu Qingcheng. "Si Qingchen, aren't you going to properly introduce your friend?"

Hearing this, Si Qingchen set down his chopsticks. He reached out to take Mu Qingcheng's hand, which rested on the table, and said with utmost formality, "Forgive my oversight. Let me formally introduce her to you both: this is Mu Qingcheng, the daughter of the Mu family."

"You are... from the Mu family?" Mother Si looked at the girl before her with genuine surprise.

She could never have associated this girl with that notoriously capitalistic family. The young woman before her was pure and lovely, with fair skin and a gentle, soft-featured face. Although she kept rebuffing her son, Mother Si could tell that, deep down, she actually cared for him.

"Yes, I am the fifth child of the Mu family, Mu Qingcheng," she replied, revealing her identity completely.

Father Si nodded meaningfully but said nothing more. Mother Si, however, smiled kindly. She looked at her with such gentleness that her next question startled everyone: "Miss Mu, my son... he hasn't threatened you in any way, has he?"

"Huh? Threatened?" Mu Qingcheng looked at the woman in confusion, her face full of question marks.

Three black lines appeared on Si Qingchen’s forehead. Helplessly, he looked at his mother and said, "Mom, what are you talking about?"

"Shut up!" Mother Si shot him a glare, and Si Qingchen immediately fell silent.

The woman stood up and sat down right next to Mu Qingcheng. "Dear, tell your auntie, are you truly with my son of your own volition? If he has threatened you in any way, just tell me, and I will discipline him for you."

"I... I haven't... I mean, no, Auntie... I..." Mu Qingcheng waved her hands, shaking her head as she looked between Si Qingchen and his mother. She stammered for a long time, unable to form a coherent sentence.

"Ahem, well..."

At this, Si Qingchen cleared his throat, feeling awkward. For the first time, he looked at his mother with a trace of guilt. "Qingcheng... hasn't agreed to be with me yet."

...

The silence that followed was suffocating. After that single sentence, no one spoke; naturally, no one knew what to say.

Unable to bear it any longer, Mu Qingcheng stood up abruptly, bowed deeply, and said, "I'm sorry, Uncle and Auntie. Since you have both returned home, I will take my leave now."

Without waiting for a response, she dashed out. Si Qingchen didn't try to stop her; he simply watched her retreating figure as she practically fled, a faint, foolish smile playing on his lips.

The moment she left the dining room, Mother Si sighed. "Hmph, I said as much. What decent girl could possibly stand being with you?"

"..." Si Qingchen looked at his mother, speechless and feeling quite put out.

A moment later, Mother Si seemed to recall something. She looked at her son and added, with a meaningful glint in her eye, "Though, Si Qingchen, this 'pitiable' act of yours... it really has your father's flair from back in the day."

Father Si: "..."

***

Meanwhile, Mu Qingcheng sped along, driving quickly toward the Mu estate. Her mind was a chaotic mess, and even now, she couldn't calm down.

Just as she turned onto the quiet road leading to the Mu estate, a flash of silver appeared in the distance.

Immediately after, her car, which had been driving steadily, suddenly lurched out of control.

The next second, there was a loud bang.