Chapter 312: Chapter 288: I’ll Give You Another Chance
Hu Jiaojiao was unpacking a delivery and replied with a coquettish voice, "Guess what, it might not be a love letter."
Mu Hewen’s face darkened, "Who would dare to write a love letter to you, I’ll chop off his hands."
"Wow, how did you suddenly become so ferocious." Hu Jiaojiao opened the delivery package and the contents inside made her expression slightly freeze.
"What is this?" Mu Hewen reached out to snatch it,
"Just a worthless piece of paper, nothing to see there." Mu Hewen found himself uninterested and went out to smoke.
But to Hu Jiaojiao, the paper she held in her hand might be worthless to Mu Hewen, but it was priceless to her. Otherwise, Gu Qili wouldn’t have purposely taken it away at the beginning.
She had once been obsessed with these certificates, desperately trying to earn more than Gu Qili, but now that she had regained the lost Level 8 certificate, she felt no excitement at all. On the contrary, she even felt a bit of regret for why she had let things with Gu Qili become so irreparable.
Even though she voluntarily returned the certificate to her, she knew she had not forgiven her. Their relationship had been set in stone, and no opportunity would take them back to how they were before.
After tidying away the certificate, Hu Jiaojiao heard Qi Meihui’s voice from the living room, "Is the food ready? Rou’er is getting a little hungry."
Today was Mu Family’s dinner gathering day, and the Mu family members would gather together for dinner. Hu Jiaojiao had been waiting precisely for this occasion.
She was more than four months pregnant, her belly just beginning to show, but she habitually held her waist when walking, afraid that others might not see she was expecting.
"Sister, you’re here." Hu Jiaojiao greeted Qi Meihui with a brilliant smile and reached out to pat Mu Xinrou’s head, "Rou’er is hungry? Let me ask the kitchen to bring some snacks for you."
Her tone was unmistakably that of the mistress of the house.
Mu Xinrou brushed away her hand, glaring at her with wide eyes, "Save it, you home-wrecker."
"What nonsense are you talking about, who’s a home-wrecker?" Mur Hewen, just back from smoking, heard this remark and immediately put on a stern face, "Qi Meihui, what kind of education is this, where she learns to say ’home-wrecker’ the moment she opens her mouth?"
On hearing Mu Hewen’s tone, Qi Meihui immediately flew into a rage, raising her voice, "Mu Hewen, you’re questioning me for a home-wrecker? Am I wrong to call her that? A mistress brazen enough to carry a married man’s child and even has the nerve to live here in this house, it’s letting her off easy if I just scold her a bit."
"Hewen." Hu Jiaojiao hid behind Mu Hewen, hugging his arm in fear, "Sister, we both love Hewen, what’s wrong with true love?"
"Pah, shameless, she talks about true love as a mistress."
"Enough, Qi Meihui, tone it down a bit, don’t set a bad example for the child," Mu Hewen coldly glanced at her and turned to speak gently to Hu Jiaojiao, "Sweetheart, what would you like to eat? I’ll ask the kitchen to prepare it. Don’t bother arguing with that shrew, be careful not to scare our son."
Qi Meihui trembled with anger, listening to his words. Back when Hu Jiaojiao first came to their doorstep, he was too scared even to acknowledge her. Now that the Qi Family was in decline, he immediately changed his tune. Was Hu Jiaojiao carrying the seed of a dragon? Then what about her, Qi Meihui’s daughter?
She couldn’t swallow this humiliation.
"Enough, stop arguing, every time we meet it’s nothing but squabbling," Mu Haotian walked down with a displeased face, followed by Mu Shuoqian, who had just finished discussing business with him.
Mu Haotian glared at Qi Meihui, "Can’t you be a bit more generous? Jiaojiao is also doing it for the sake of the Mu Family’s future."
On hearing this, Qi Meihui almost spit blood in anger. She had done so much for the Qi Family, had even born them a child, only to receive such treatment just because it wasn’t a boy. Her husband could blatantly keep a pregnant mistress at home, and her father-in-law wholeheartedly approved and sheltered her.
Qi Meihui’s lips quivered with rage, losing her reason in a burst of impulse, "Is the Mu Family looking for a wife or a breeding machine? You have three sons, are you worried you won’t have any grandsons?"
"Bastard!" Mu Haotian immediately became infuriated. As head of the family, how could he tolerate such disrespect, "Do you even know what you are saying?"
After speaking out, Qi Meihui herself regretted it. The Qi Family was no longer what it used to be, and she had lost her value to Mu Hewen. Now she couldn’t afford to offend Mu Haotian as well.
Just as Qi Meihui was about to soften her tone, she suddenly heard Hu Jiaojiao say, "Dad, don’t be angry, sister didn’t mean to upset you, she just spoke without thinking. Sigh, it’s not her fault she couldn’t bear a son."
While saying this, Hu Jiaojiao lightly stroked her belly, "Sister, don’t worry. When my son is born, I’ll let him recognize you as his godmother."
"Pah, who cares about your bastard. Who do you think you are? Do you have the right to call him ’Dad’?" Renewed by another provocation, Qi Meihui succeeded in thoroughly infuriating Mu Haotian, who shouted at her, "The descendants of the Mu Family, who would dare call them bastards? Qi Meihui, don’t be ungrateful; control your vile mouth."
Qi Meihui turned pale from Mu Haotian’s scolding, while Rou’er suddenly burst into tears, "Grandpa’s so mean, grandpa’s so mean."
Maybe for the sake of his granddaughter, Mu Haotian’s expression softened slightly.
"Dad, with what right does she call you ’Dad’?" Qi Meihui glared fiercely at Hu Jiaojiao, who promptly hid closer into Mu Hewen’s embrace, "Hewen, your sister’s glare is scaring our baby."
Mu Hewen gently patted her back, comforting her, "Don’t worry, she’s just a paper tiger, there’s no need to be afraid of her."
"Mu Hewen, you..."
Mu Shuoqian sat down, utterly disinterested in this smoke-filled war. Apart from exchanging a few words with Mu Haotian, he remained silent the rest of the time.
After dinner, Mu Shuoqian prepared to leave. As the servant was putting the wine given by Mu Haotian into a bag, he looked up to find Mu Shuoqian already heading out.
Just as the servant was about to chase after him, Hu Jiaojiao swiftly took over, "Let me see him out."
Before the servant could respond, Hu Jiaojiao was already on her way out with the bag in hand.
Mu Shuoqian pressed the remote control, opening the car door to get in, when he suddenly heard a hurried voice behind him: "Young Master Qian."
He furrowed his brows, not even turning his head as he took a seat in the passenger side.
Hu Jiaojiao quickly walked over and, standing on the opposite side of the car door, looked at him. This man, despite having lost a lot of weight recently and not looking well, still exuded an overwhelming regal aura.
Although Hu Jiaojiao claimed not to like him anymore, her heart still fluctuated when she saw him.
She swallowed nervously before urgently speaking out, "Young Master Qian, I saw Qiqi yesterday."
Mu Shuoqian had already started the car, preparing to leave, but stopped once he heard this.
"I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but it seems she’s fallen ill," Hu Jiaojiao said with difficulty, her gaze fixed on his handsome face. "If you have time, you should visit her."
Mu Shuoqian waited for her to finish before driving away without a word.
She’s sick? Is it serious? But he no longer had any right to go see her.
Watching his car disappear into the distance, Hu Jiaojiao was somewhat conflicted and rubbed her palms together. Perhaps even she didn’t expect that one day she would speak up for Gu Qili. When had she stopped detesting her? Was it because Qiqi had saved her? Or was it because of those unknown past events her mother had mentioned? Or perhaps deep within her heart, some emotions were merely concealed by jealousy and resentment, only to reveal their true nature now.
After returning inside, Hu Jiaojiao went upstairs where Qi Meihui was preparing to accompany Mu Xinrou to her room to watch cartoons.
"Slut." Qi Meihui came striding over, hand raised to strike her.
Hu Jiaojiao suddenly intercepted her hand, her face no longer wearing a docile expression, her almond eyes flashing sharply: "Qi Meihui, you won’t last long in this house."
"You think so? Don’t assume that just because you bore a son you can take my place. Let me tell you, even the thin camels of the Qi family are bigger than horses. We are stronger than a poor wretch like you."
"Oh really? Even if your Qi family can barely survive, are you sure the Mu Family will want a vicious woman who ruthlessly caused the death of their grandson?"
Qi Meihui froze: "What did you say?"
"You had someone drive a car into me last time. Unfortunately, I was too lucky for you to kill the child. Today, I’ll give you another chance."
The moment her words fell, Qi Meihui suddenly realized something but it was too late to retreat. The gripping glare in Hu Jiaojiao’s eyes turned ferocious.
"Help, ah, someone help!" Hu Jiaojiao suddenly screamed.
Qi Meihui tried to shake off her grip, but Hu Jiaojiao held on too tightly; she couldn’t break free.
Only when she heard the door open and frantic footsteps did Hu Jiaojiao let go of Qi Meihui. Simultaneously, she closed her eyes, took two steps back, missed her footing, and tumbled down the stairs.
"Jiaojiao." The first to rush out was Mu Hewen, who saw Hu Jiaojiao rolling down the stairs, his face turning ashen with fear. He then looked at the dumbstruck Qi Meihui and suddenly slapped her across the face.
Qi Meihui stumbled to the ground from the unexpected blow, her eyes wide in disbelief as she looked at Mu Hewen.
She was born into a wealthy family, spoiled from childhood. Ever since she married Mu Hewen, she had been pampered. When had she ever faced such humiliation, received such a beating?
"Mu Hewen, I’m going to fight you to the end." Qi Meihui’s eyes reddened as she tried to stand up, only to be kicked away by Mu Hewen.
With a venomous glare, Mu Hewen warned, "Qi Meihui, if anything happens to my son, it’s not over between us."
After saying this, he dashed down the stairs.
Mu Haotian also came out, pointing at Qi Meihui while trembling with anger: "Nothing is more poisonous than a woman’s heart, you vicious woman!"