009 Different Lives for the Same People (Desperately Asking for Collections~)

That deliberately affected voice made Mu Jingchi’s brows knit together in clear displeasure. He opened his mouth and, almost unconsciously, spoke with disdain, “Tsk! Why has that troublemaker shown up?”

“Who is it, Third Brother?” Mu Qingcheng asked with feigned confusion, though she already knew who it was. This was the young lady the Mu family kept outside their home.

Her birth mother was her father’s own younger sister, who, years ago, had insisted on marrying into a family with a dubious reputation, even at the cost of severing ties with her kin. After the marriage, once it was discovered that she had broken off relations with the Mu family, her life became a living nightmare. In the end, she died in childbirth. Old Master Mu, unable to bear the guilt, brought the child back but did not allow her into the ancestral home, raising her elsewhere.

The Mu family had always favored sons over daughters, so the fact that Mu Qingcheng herself could live here was nothing short of a miracle. Yet, it was said that even while being raised outside, that girl remained as unruly and domineering as ever. She went about causing trouble, relying on her Mu family name, and managed to offend many people both openly and behind the scenes. Old Master Mu simply turned a blind eye, hardly ever intervening. Apart from a sense of guilt toward his daughter, it was probably because the name ‘Mu Family’ alone was enough to allow her to run rampant in the imperial capital.

At this moment, looking at her own “dear” younger sister’s soft and adorable little face, Mu Jingchi’s mood eased a little. In a gentle voice, he said, “Just a very troublesome, reckless troublemaker. Qingcheng, be good and don’t play with her. Third Brother will stay with you.” He soothed Mu Qingcheng as one would a child, gently stroking her hair.

Mu Qingcheng nodded obediently, pushing up the glasses slipping down her nose. “Alright, Third Brother, go have a look.”

“Mm, okay.” She had no interest in watching a “monkey show” anyway, so she happily agreed. In fact, she was even more eager for her clingy Third Brother to leave as soon as possible.

She hadn’t expected, though, that before Mu Jingchi could even turn to leave, footsteps sounded outside the door. At the same time, Butler Ji’s anxious voice urged, “Miss Ran, Miss Ran, the old master has just gone to sleep. If you want to see the Fifth Miss, you must at least inform him first.”

“She’s not some protected animal—is all this fuss really necessary?” Even without seeing her, Mu Qingcheng could easily picture the look on the face of this Miss Ran: full of jealousy and indignation. Both were ‘Mu Family Misses’ recognized halfway through their lives—so why did one rise effortlessly, moving straight into the old house, while the other was kept outside, and for years at that?

Now, Mu Qingcheng timidly hid behind Mu Jingchi, tugging lightly at his sleeve and whispering, “Third Brother.”

“It’s alright. I’m here, Qingcheng. Don’t be afraid.” Even if Mu Qingcheng hadn’t called out, Mu Jingchi would never have allowed anyone to bully her on her very first day in this house. Now, seeing her rely on him so completely, his heart ached for her all the more.

He protectively shielded her with one arm, his gaze turning cold as it swept toward the doorway.

The bedroom door had only been half-closed, not shut tightly. Now it was suddenly pushed open. In walked a girl in a floral dress, gaudily adorned. Her skin was somewhat dark but well cared for, glowing with healthy radiance. Her sharp gaze met Mu Jingchi’s without warning—she froze, her attitude instantly subdued by half. She spoke cautiously, “Th-Third Brother, you’re here too?”

“It’s late. What do you want?” Mu Jingchi’s snort was cold, his expression utterly unwelcoming.

The girl remained unruffled, blinking as a sudden idea struck her. “I heard Fifth Sister had finally been brought home, so I came to deliver an invitation to the equestrian event in a couple of days.”

As she finished speaking, she really did take a white, gold-embossed envelope out of her little handbag.