456 A Luxurious Prison

The breakfast looked mouth-watering and had her mom's flavor.

Such an environment and atmosphere gave Xiang Wan a little feeling of disbelief.

It seemed like it was a long time since she had such an experience.

… This was surely a wonderful feeling!

She stretched herself and sat down to eat.

According to her mom, Bai Muchuan went out early in the morning, and she didn't know where he went.

"… What's there to do so early in the morning?"

Jin City was no longer his area of jurisdiction. He need not worry about the case. Why did he wake up so early in the morning?

This puzzled Xiang Wan, but before she could think of anything else, her mom started to preach her again.

Her mom grew up with the old thinking that 'women should wait on their men'. Sleeping till morning with an unwillingness to get up was simply "treacherous". Her mom had felt like that especially when Xiang Wan met a man like Bai Muchuan; if it was any other woman in Xiang Wan's place, chances are that they would treat him really well to the point where they would put him on a pedestal…

Blah, blah, blah…

Her mom's preaching felt like bazookas that kept blasting at her ear.

"Ahhhhh!" Xiang Wan almost went crazy!

It seemed like living with her mom was not all advantageous after all.

She hugged her head. "Mom, my head hurts!"

"Which part? Come, let me have a look?"

Tan Yunchun finally stopped her endless nagging and now pointed her concern to her body.

Xiang Wan rubbed her temples and glanced at her mom. "I won't hurt so much if you didn't nag me so much."

"… You!… Aye!"

Tan Yunchun's worries were common and understandable.

With such a son-in-law, which mother wouldn't worry?

Even though he was so filial and nice to her, she still wouldn't feel at ease.

She hoped that her daughter would step up her game and learn how to please her future son-in-law more…

Nonetheless, Xiang Wan behaved more like the one who required more care than Bai Muchuan, and this behavior of hers really worried her!

"Be rest assured! Don't worry about things that you can't worry about. If he's mine, he's mine… If he's not mine, even if I hold on to him like a leech, he will still leave!"

Xiang Wan did not know how to explain the concept of love that modern men and women now believed in. She used the excuse of wanting to give Bai Muchuan a call before she hurriedly left the dining room and escaped into the bedroom.

"Darling, where are you?" she asked with a smile once the call connected.

"Wow, so sweet today. Mm, I'm pleased!" Bai Muchuan did not reply to her question directly. "I'll be back soon!"

"Alright!" Xiang Wan snorted slightly. "I'll wait at home."

Bai Muchuan then replied with a simple 'good'.

After a brief pause, he suddenly said something. "Why don't you start packing up? We're leaving in the afternoon to the Capital…"

Afternoon? What's with all the rush?

This perplexed Xiang Wan. "Did anything happen at the Capital?"

Bai Muchuan replied, "Yup! Grandma called me again earlier—"

…

In less than an hour, Bai Muchuan drove his car back to the garage.

At that time, Xiang Wan had not yet finished packing up for their trip to the Capital.

He also returned with two other people.

The two people accompanying him were a couple—husband and wife in their forties.

Xiang Wan had never met them both before and found it puzzling. "Who are they?"

Bai Muchuan looked at Tan Yunchun and said to Xiang Wan, "When we leave, aren't you worried that it will wear mom out if we would leave such a big house for her to manage alone?"

So, he employed these two people as helpers?

Geez!

Xiang Wan was a little dumbfounded.

She was actually thinking of working very hard to support her mom.

How would she be able to afford that now when she had the costs of another two more helpers to consider?

However, she had to agree that Bai Muchuan did the right decision. His mansion was really too big for one person to manage alone.

Moreover, living alone in a huge mansion like this would mean that her mom would be really lonely.

The most important thing was how Bai Muchuan had thought about these.

"This is Uncle Zhao and his wife. Their children are studying in another city. They can keep mom accompany while we're not around!"

He had hired them to work there because of her mom, yet he had put it in such a polite way. By doing so, he showed that he had taken the self-esteem of others into consideration.

Xiang Wan looked deeply at Bai Muchuan with gratitude. "Thank you!"

He held her shoulders and spoke to her in an unhappy but low tone."Don't say thanks again or I'll get annoyed! Let's go ask mom if she's fine with this arrangement. We need to respect her wishes too…"

"Well, we can do that. It's just that… just that…"

It was a waste of money!

Tan Yunchun was not someone who took things for granted.

Although her future son-in-law cared for her, she felt that she shouldn't put on airs either.

Hence, she felt the need to reject such an arrangement…

However, Bai Muchuan would come up with many reasons that did not hurt her self-esteem, so it would be more comfortable for her to accept such an arrangement.

"Aye!"

She puffed a sigh.

Thus, they settled the matter.

Tan Yunchun felt that her life had suddenly taken a sharp turn for the better.

Xiang Wan also had the feeling that she had found a good man, and she felt like she had leaped towards a whole new world.

"So you're actually working on this when you went out so early in the morning?"

"Of course." Bai Muchuan patted her head again. "If we don't make sure things are okay here, how would you be able to leave at ease and follow me to the Capital?"

Xiang Wan scrunched her nose and snorted a laugh.

"Little Chuanchuan, I'll be very nice to you."

"Hurhur! Someone's asking to be taught a lesson again!"

…

It was time to say goodbye again, although she was unwilling to part with her mom.

Xiang Wan actually felt heavy to leave Jin City this time.

She also felt a bit complicated.

The last time she wanted to fly to the Capital, her flight landed in Xi City instead.

This time, she hoped that she could reach there safely!

On the way to the airport, they prepared themselves thoroughly.

Bai Muchuan wore a cap, a pair of sunglasses, and a mask to cover himself up entirely.

Originally, Xiang Wan felt that he had overdone it since he was behaving like those celebrities who had to disguise themselves when they went out. This was because she had thought that people wouldn't be so crazy to chase after him… after all, he was just a famous author, not a celebrity.

However, the surrounding people proved this thought of hers wrong.

Many people not only argued over about him in the internet, they even tried to find him in real life.

Countless media outlets were waiting to interview Second Young Master Mu…

They were waiting at the airport.

Second Young Master Mu's fans were also waiting at the airport.

That kind of situation looked as if he was already a celebrity.

"Goodness!" Xiang Wan said with a stunned expression, "What is this that I'm seeing?"

Bai Muchuan held her and went through the special access passage to get through to the VIP lounge. "Do you believe me now?" he laughed.

"Mm? What?" Xiang Wan looked at him.

"If I really become a celebrity, I'll give the hot young studs a run for their money…"

Pffft! Indeed, he had said something like this before.

Back then, Xiang Wan simply laughed it off.

That day, there was a tinge of joy amidst the bitterness.

She tugged gently at his sleeve. "So Sir Little Bai, do you intend to become a celebrity?"

Bai Muchuan walked in big strides, not only did he do this, but he also walked swiftly while holding her hand.

"I think I've already become one! Classified under the C-List! Didn't you see them talk about that?"

"Haha…"

"Faster, are you not afraid of being seen?"

"Orh."

…

After getting on the plane, Xiang Wan's nervousness finally lifted.

When they stepped foot onto the Capital safely, they saw the Bai Family's chauffeur the moment they stepped out of the terminal.

It was Nanny Li's son.

He said that he was waiting there as per Old Madam's wishes to take them back to the Bai Residence directly.

"…"

Somehow, it felt like they were being arrested or something?

Once again, Xiang Wan felt tense.

…

Her heart was feeling uneasy throughout until finally, they arrived at their destination.

Prior to coming to the Bai Residence, Xiang Wan had imagined how it would be like to meet Bai Muchuan's adoptive parents.

What should she say?

What kind of expression should she show?

She had mulled over this issue for a long time.

However, things differed greatly from what she had expected.

The foremost problem she encountered was the question as to how she would face the strict security check at the Bai Family.

Poverty really restricted one's imagination. Before she came, Xiang Wan had never thought that there would be a family that lived in a compound under strict security. To enter their own house, they actually required so many checks. Not only did they verify the car's license plate, but they also had to check anyone coming in and out of the household… which was like entering a metal inspection security.

It almost took over half an hour just to get from the entrance to the living room.

That was too bizarre!

Xiang Wan had never seen a family that was so strict on security like them.

In the beginning, she had thought that maybe the rich and powerful were like this.

Somehow, as time passed by, a different thought arose in her mind.

Could they have targeted such an arrangement purely on her?

She was, after all, an outsider.

They might feel that a security check was a must, for she might carry items that could endanger their safety.

Mm, she concluded that this might simply look like a tactic used by the authoritative and the powerful to faze her.

She glanced at Bai Muchuan's cold, gloomy face while she faced all these security checks.

Even though she was swearing profanities within, she still minded her manners and said a word of thanks!

She presumed that they had specially instructed the security staff to be polite, but they did not say a word more besides telling her about the security checks.

Bai Muchuan had a really dark and brooding expression.

There were several times that he had the urge to flare up.

However, Xiang Wan kept stopping him with her gazes.

If she couldn't even withstand the first round, then she would really be a failure—

If she couldn't even withstand this, on what grounds should she get happiness?

"I've said it before, if you ever felt upset, then we can leave right away." Bai Muchuan took her hand. "I can let anyone else undergo such treatment, but I don't want you to go through this!"

Such resolute and decisive expression of his feelings was enough for her.

Xiang Wan squeezed his hand. "I'm really alright, Young Master!"

Bai Muchuan's gaze still looked gloomy.

"Don't worry!" Xiang Wan smiled. "I'm really fine. I'm the woman you picked, and I'm certainly not weak!"

Bai Muchuan simply looked at her. "…"

Thus, they went through the first round.

After layers of "security checks", they finally entered the living room.

Xiang Wan had originally thought that once she entered this huge mansion, she would face even more difficult "trials" prepared by his adoptive parents.

In the end, she was wrong again.

In the living room of the Bai Family, there was not a single member of the Bai Family present.

Only Nanny Li was there. She had just brewed some tea and prepared some cut fruits for them.

"Sir Little Bai, Miss Xiang, both of you are finally here. Madam had been talking about you two the whole day…"

Bai Muchuan still had a grim expression on his face. "Where's grandma?"

Nanny Li's glance swept through Xiang Wan's calm and composed expression. "Madam just went upstairs to rest. She has been having problems sleeping at night and could only take a nap in the afternoon…"

"Mm." Bai Muchuan got Xiang Wan to sit down.

Nanny Li then asked her son to help them bring up their luggage while she served them tea.

Xiang Wan thought that Bai Muchuan would ask about the whereabouts of his adoptive parents.

However, he did not speak a word of it at all. He only asked what else Xiang Wan needed.

Xiang Wan shook her head. She realized that the Bai Family knew she was coming to meet them. Yet, the whole family avoided her by not being at home. Obviously, that was a sign that she was not a satisfactory woman in their eyes.

Since his adoptive parents treated her in this manner, Xiang Wan couldn't help feeling numb in her heart.

Frankly, she did not feel comfortable.

If not for the sake of Bai Muchuan, even if this family had a gold or silver mine, she would simply leave that place…

The strange atmosphere ensued.

Nanny Li could also feel that.

She tried to read Bai Muchuan's expression carefully and spoke with a smile.

"Mr. Bai needed to attend an event and brought all of them there. I think they will be home a little later than usual…"

Bai Muchuan just responded with a "Mm."

Nanny Li seemed a little awkward. "Mr. Bai has said that they would have dinner outside, so Sir Little Bai, what do you want for dinner?"

Bai Muchuan looked at Xiang Wan. "We'll just eat what Grandma is having for dinner."

After a pause, he added, "I'm here today just to see Grandma."

Although Nanny Li was saying "orh, orh", she was sighing within her head.

…

Xiang Wan already thought that Bai Muchuan's mansion in Jin City was big enough.

Now that she stepped into the Bai Residence, she gained new insight on what a huge mansion really looked like.

With the exponential property prices in the Capital, the Bai Family alone had occupied such a huge area with such a huge house. Not only that, the surrounding neighbors seemed to be the rich and influential too. When the car drove into that street, she realized that the whole street was truly a well-guarded place. It seemed as though ordinary people wouldn't be able to enter that street…

The world of the rich was indeed hard to imagine.

The rich were also the people who were the most vulnerable to develop delusions that would harm them at any moment.

Hence, Xiang Wan did not want to move around or talk too much when she sat in the luxurious living room.

She suspected that there could be surveillance cameras in this place.

"Let's go upstairs." Bai Muchuan suddenly got up from the sofa. "You want to look at my bedroom?"

Huff!

This suggestion was too good.

Xiang Wan didn't want to stay there at all.

If it was his bedroom, then she should be able to feel more at ease?

Xiang Wan nodded and put her hand into his.

The house was so big that when they walked along the corridor, she could hear echoes that seemed to go right into her heart.

The moment she entered Bai Muchuan's bedroom, the uneasy and unhappy feeling within her had disappeared in an instant!

She felt a familiar feeling.

Although the furniture had a different arrangement, it still had a familiar feeling.

Xiang Wan heaved a sigh of relief when she sat down on the sofa in his room.

"Darling, I finally know why you don't want to return here."

Bai Muchuan turned to look at her.

Xiang Wan pursed her lips and nodded at him.

"It's because this place is a luxurious prison covered in cold shackles… how's that for a description?"

Bai Muchuan immediately gave a thumbs up. "I give you full marks!"

If his grandma hadn't rushed him, then he would not have returned here at all.

Moreover, there were too many things in life that one couldn't control—

The connection between him and the Bai Family would always loom over them somehow no matter what.

Bai Muchuan sat beside her for a while and finally said something.

"We've been busy for the whole day, so let's take a rest."

Well, every time Xiang Wan took a trip somewhere, she would always feel tired.

She suddenly stuck out her tongue at him. "Can I change into my pajamas?"

Bai Muchuan shrugged. "Of course. You are free to do what you want in my room."

All right then! Freedom is good, she thought.

Xiang Wan had previously worn a more formal pants suit since she thought she would meet the Bai Family right away. Hence, she felt uncomfortable all over since she was used to wearing simple clothes or even pajamas when she stayed at home.

After getting his permission, she quickly opened her suitcase and changed into her usual home wear. Then she sat cross-legged on the bed, and smiled at him, making an "Okay" gesture.

"I'll take a nap for half an hour then I'll get up to write my chapter."

Every time before she started to write, the most difficult thing was to get into the momentum.

Xiang Wan wanted to rest for a while to contemplate on how to write the subsequent plots. When her head had completely calmed down, she could finally start working on it.

However, Bai Muchuan's bed was too comfortable…

While she thought about her plot, she actually fell asleep.