337 To Frame Or To Be Framed! 2

Xi Jiyang's frail hands trembled slightly as he took the tea that Xi Mushan handed him. He took a sip, then pointed to the Chinese chess set beside him and looked to Mu Yuchen to say, "Let's have a game, shall we?"

Mu Yuchen set the cup in his hand aside and nodded.

Xi Xiaye watched a smile surface underneath Xi Jiyang's aged face, yet she could feel a sense of loss and loneliness coming from him. With a sigh, she arranged the chess set for them while Xi Mushan sat down beside Xi Jiyang and watched them play.

Xi Xiaye was not very skilled at chess, so she would not be able to give Mu Yuchen any suggestion even if she watched them. Instead, it was Xi Mushan across her who clearly had more knowledge about chess, so he became Xi Jiyang's strategist.

After one round, Mu Yuchen's great skills were showcased. He kept on getting into a tie with Xi Jiyang and Xi Mushan, so they ended the session as such.

"If you're busy and can't come back often, it's fine. Wait for me to recover, then perhaps I can go over to visit you two." Xi Jiyang sipped his tea as he looked at the husband and wife across him. He could not help but smile.

"We're not busy on the weekends. Besides, Mother has been hoping for us to come home and visit. There are some things that we obviously cannot overlook."

Xi Xiaye lowered her head to separate the chess pieces on the board, her clear voice was like a cool breeze making its way around the maple forest, it was calm, no emotions could be heard.

At the same moment Shen Wenna was brought up, Xi Mushan who was beside Xi Jiyang immediately shifted in expression. He abruptly paused and then continued what he was doing.

When Xi Jiyang heard this, his expression turned stiff and there was dimness in his eyes. He could not help but sigh, "Your mother is a person who understands the big picture. It's us Xis that let her down... Had we known..."

Xi Jiyang let his sentence trail off. Instead, he sighed sadly and put the cup in hand down.

Hearing Xi Jiyang, Xi Xiaye's hand that held one of the chess pieces froze. Without looking up at him, she just said calmly, "Mother's quite a forgiving person. She didn't blame you guys all these years. Furthermore, she could continue living her life peacefully and there's nothing bad about that. She likes the peace and quiet."

Xi Jiyang thought about it and said softly, "I know. You've been unhappy because of all the things Xinyi has done in the past. All these years that you haven't really been home either is because you resent us..."

Xi Xiaye put the chess pieces on the board one by one back into their box. When she heard Xi Jiyang's admission, she fell silent for a moment, then looked up at Xi Jiyang and Xi Mushan. Her gaze was as clear as water and her voice was very gentle. "Let's not talk about the past anymore. I've already forgotten all of those things. Grandfather, just recover at ease. When you're better, you can come by Maple Residence often to visit us.

"I've always hoped for everyone to live more simply, and I've never really blamed you all. After I've explained it to you guys, I hope you won't continue to brood over it. I'm doing really good right now, and I hope that you two can live well too. It's just that simple."

These words were the result of all the mature reflection she had naturally gone through on her end. In her heart, no matter what, she shared the same blood as them. They were her closest kin. That was a fact that could not be erased. After all, they had once protected her and she was grateful. Naturally, she would hope for them to live a decent life.

She had always believed that no one in this world was expected to be kind to you. If you wanted to receive care and respect from someone else, you had to first be the person that freely gave love out.

She did not know whether doing this was right or not. She just knew that certain emotions in her were moved, so she told herself that if she cared about something, she had to work hard to protect it.

She thought about it and added, "When it comes to some grudges, you two can just stay out of it. That way, everyone will fare better."

She could be very forgiving, but there were some things that she still could not let go of.

When she said this, the few of them fell silent. Since no one spoke, the atmosphere felt a little stifled.

Mu Yuchen turned to look at her and saw that she was silently arranging the chess pieces neatly. His eyes that were as deep and distant as the sea flickered for a while. Finally, he turned to Xi Mushan and Xi Jiyang. His tone was low yet calm. "Grandfather, Father, about Xi Xiaye's past. Neither do I want to know, nor have it mentioned. As she said, let's forget it.

"We're planning to have our wedding in June. Next month, the Mu family will send the betrothal gifts to the Shen residence and West Park simultaneously. I hope that we can have your blessings. Allow us to have an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime wedding."

"Wedding? So soon?" Xi Mushan and Xi Jiyang were both shocked. Previously, they heard that they planned to have the wedding in October.

"I wanted to rightfully take her as my wife earlier." Facing their shocked expressions, Mu Yuchen laughed casually. "So, this time, we've mainly come to see Grandfather, and at the same time, tell you about this."

Xi Mushan nodded. Naturally, he was satisfied with the way Mu Yuchen did things. He was humble and did not forget etiquette, executing things steadily and rigorously. Of course, Xi Mushan knew that the reason they would send the bethrotal gifts to West Park at the same time was to give Xi Mushan the honor.

Quite a while after that, Xi Mushan said, "Okay, I'll get people to attend to it. If you need anything, just let me know."

"Just leave the wedding stuff to the Mu family, you are the VIP, we will just have your blessings."

Mu Yuchen smiled calmly and humbly.

...

The men were still chatting while Xi Xiaye had already left the room. She was planning on going to her previous room for a look, especially since she had not stepped foot into it for so long.

Xi Mushan had said the servants would frequently sweep it, so the room was still very clean. Actually, there were not many things that belonged to her in there. Back then, when she had moved out, she had pretty much brought everything she could with her. As for those that she could not, she just threw them away.

On the empty bed and along the windowsill on the right, there were still all the numerous plushies that Han Yifeng had given her. She always wanted to tell him that she was not a little girl anymore and did not like these things anymore, but when he gave them to her, she still felt thrilled about it for a very long time.

However, all of it had now become the past. When the wind blew, the feelings faded and there was nothing much left in the end.

She walked over and pulled open the tightly shut curtains as the chime of a bell was heard. She looked up and noticed that the little doll hanging by her bed was gently swaying.

It looked like something that Han Yifeng had given her for a certain festival.

She stared at it quietly for a long time, then touched the little doll's head with her fingertips. Her beautiful face flashed with a faint smile as she said softly, "Goodbye, little fellow!"

Then, she took it down and threw it into the dustbin on the side. When she turned her head, she saw Xi Xinyi standing by the door.