Chapter 403: Chapter 362: You’ve Been Neglecting Me Lately
Mu Qinian woke up the next day, only to find himself tragically back in his childhood room, without any idea how he ended up there.
Rising from the bed in a huff, he bounded downstairs, ready to argue his case.
Gu Qili was just coming out of a room and saw Mu Qinian charging down like a little fighting rooster.
"Niannian, what are you up to?"
"Duel." Mu Qinian held his head high with his little fists clenched, eyes sparkling determinedly, "Dad is being too bullying, taking advantage of people’s weakness."
Gu Qili squatted down and patted his head: "It’s taking advantage of someone’s vulnerability, not danger."
While speaking, the man who took advantage of vulnerabilities pushed the door open, obviously dressed for a run, and glanced indifferently at Mu Qinian: "What’s up?"
"Dad, why did you move me back to my room? We agreed I would sleep with A-Li." Mu Qinian glared at him resentfully, "You can’t just meddle with me while I’m asleep."
Mu Shuoqian didn’t seem concerned at all, glancing at the small silkworm chrysalis between Mu Qinian’s legs, he said blandly: "Put on your underwear before you go demanding explanations from anyone."
Mu Qinian rolled his eyes and then looked down, immediately yelping and bouncing back to the second floor. Soon after, the sound of a door slamming shut echoed down.
Gu Qili couldn’t help but laugh, yet didn’t forget to glare at the man: "Speak more gently to my son."
"Be gentle to your husband as well."
"Who’s husband are you? Mr. Mu, are we married?" Gu Qili huffed, disdainfully flicking away his arm, "A husband is not legally recognized, but my son is truly my own."
Mu Shuoqian watched her somewhat arrogantly turn away, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
He waited a moment before following her into the kitchen: "I have a social engagement tonight."
"I won’t be coming back tonight either; there are some things I need to deal with at the vineyard." Gu Qili tied on an apron and began cooking, "Don’t drink too much."
"Really?"
"What do you think?"
"Auntie, the meal will be ready soon." Gu Qili turned her head to see Qiu Lan and quickly elbowed the sticky man away.
"I’ll come help." Qiu Lan entered the kitchen, "What do you need me to do?"
"No need, Auntie, don’t get into it, I can handle it myself." Gu Qili smiled and pushed her out, meanwhile giving Mu Shuoqian a meaningful look, "Why don’t you accompany Mom for a walk, it’ll be just about half an hour."
Qiu Lan said, "We should hire a maid in the future; you’re already busy enough with the vineyard, it’s too hard on you to worry about cooking as well."
Qiu Lan’s concern was heartfelt. Hearing this, Gu Qili was deeply moved. No matter what misunderstandings they’d had between them, Qiu Lan was after all Mu Shuoqian’s mother, and now that the misunderstandings were cleared up, they would be one family. After all, family has no overnight grudges.
"Mom, I’ll arrange it, don’t worry about it." Mu Shuoqian said, "Let’s go, get some fresh air."
"Shuoqian, let Mom take care of the wedding arrangements, how about that?" Qiu Lan was in no rush to leave, instead voicing a decision she had pondered for days.
Gu Qili was somewhat shocked and looked at her; Qiu Lan’s expression was gentle and warm, not haughty or sharp like in front of others, nor distinguished or extraordinary. Now she was just an ordinary mother, kind and benevolent.
"Mom always felt she owed you both, but didn’t know what to do to make up for it. Mom knows your wedding won’t lack money, but she still wants to show her sincerity. What do you think, is that okay?" Although Qiu Lan was standing in front of Mu Shuoqian, she was speaking to Gu Qili, her beautiful eyes filled with hope.
Gu Qili had already agreed with Mu Shuoqian that they didn’t want a lavish wedding, but seeing Qiu Lan’s hopeful eyes, she barely hesitated before nodding happily: "Auntie, we’ll leave it to you, we’ll be at ease."
Qiu Lan didn’t expect Gu Qili to agree so readily and got a little flustered in her excitement: "Good, good, I’ll start making arrangements right away."
Seeing the elder joyously set off to work, Gu Qili finally exchanged a smile with Mu Shuoqian. No words were needed; she knew, he understood her.
After breakfast, Gu Qili was about to head to the winery when she suddenly received a call from Avi. Originally, Avi was supposed to attend a wine study meeting today, but he mentioned that Chenchen suddenly threw up, so he asked her to listen in on his behalf. Actually, it wasn’t a big deal, just picking up some study materials and returning them. There was an exam after, and just passing would suffice.
Exams were Gu Qili’s strong suit, but this course was exceedingly dull, running the whole day, all the way until 5 PM. She organized the study materials and got ready to bring them back to Avi.
On her way back to the winery, she received a call from Mu Shuoqian.
"Where are you?"
"Just about to head back to the winery. I’ve been in class all day, exhausted to death."
"Social engagements," his reply was brief, only two words, "Drive slowly."
"Got it, you drink less too."
Considering she was driving, he didn’t talk much with her and soon hung up the phone.
As Gu Qili neared the winery, Mu Shuoqian called again, still asking the same two words, "Where are you?"
"Two minutes away from the winery." She felt baffled, as this man seemed a bit strange today, but she couldn’t put her finger on the peculiarity.
"Got it." He hung up decisively.
Gu Qili glanced at the screen and took off her headset.
Her car reached the winery’s parking lot at the entrance, she turned off the ignition, and stepped out. Normally at this time, there would definitely be lights on in the winery, but today it was pitch-dark inside. She took out her keys to unlock the main gate, and as soon as one foot stepped in, the winery, which was shrouded in darkness, suddenly lit up with rows of small colorful lights stretching all the way to the innermost part of the winery, multicolored, like cascading rainbows falling from the sky.
She took a few steps inside, and the vineyard by her side also instantly lit up, this time with meteor-like falling bands of lights, adorning each grapevine, sprawling massively as if the Milky Way had fallen down.
Gu Qili stood there dumbfounded, her brain struggling to catch up, it wasn’t New Year’s yet, was it? What was going on with all these festive lights in the courtyard, and more importantly, why couldn’t she hear a sound? It was as if everyone was hiding.
Gu Qili followed the path marked by the colored lights under her feet, walking all the way to the end, until she finally saw the man standing there.
He was donned in a sharp black suit and a white shirt, the overhead lights causing his chiseled face to flicker between light and dark. He stood there, as if on the farther shore of the Milky Way, his deep black eyes steadfastly watching her approach.
Gu Qili never expected to see Mu Shuoqian here. Hadn’t he said he had social engagements? So it was all a lie, he had secretly prepared all this without her knowing.
Before he even spoke, Gu Qili was already moved to tears, she never dreamed that Mu Shuoqian would propose to her.
In his hand, he clenched a brocade box, and upon opening it, it revealed a diamond ring. Pink Heart was set in the middle, surrounded by seventy-seven smaller diamonds, symbolizing her name, Qiqi.
Gu Qili was dazzled by the beautiful ring, her tears uncontrollably welling up.
Mu Shuoqian knelt on one knee, quietly gazing at the woman before him, the woman he had admired since she was sixteen years old.
"You know I’m not one for sweet nothings. I believe you understand all that I want to say. So, marry me, Qiqi."
Gu Qili looked at him, unable to stop her tears because of his single sentence.
It had been four years, they had been apart for four years. How many sets of four years does one get in life? To just miss each other like this. If there were such a thing as a pill for regret, she would without hesitation pay any price to take it. She wants to grow old in the company of him, hand in hand till they’re gray. She wouldn’t waste another four years.
How could she not agree? She was even more eager than he was.
Gu Qili wiped her tears, and with a sniffle, she said, "Mu Shuoqian, you’re holding the ring upside down."
Mu Shuoqian paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "Could you spoil the moment any further?"
She grabbed the ring as if afraid he might change his mind: "I agree."
Mu Shuoqian stood up and opened his arms to embrace her: "Why do I feel you’re so eager, wife,"