Fu Shinian listened in silence to Su Mu’s almost hysterical words, and a long silence ensued, until Qiqi, worried, pushed open the bedroom door and peered cautiously through the crack at the two people on the brink of confrontation, especially upon seeing the scissors in Su Mu’s hand—she could not help but feel afraid.
"Mama, what are you doing with the scissors?"
Qiqi’s sudden voice startled them both, especially Su Mu, who realized Qiqi’s choice of address. She always called her ’Mu Mu,’ only using ’Mama’ when she was extrely scared. It was not Su Mu’s intention to be seen like this, and she certainly did not want to frighten Qiqi.
She instantly broke free from Fu Shinian’s restraint and ran over to embrace Qiqi:
"Mu Mu is fine, Mu Mu is fine, Qiqi don’t be afraid."
Su Mu’s attempt to comfort Qiqi did little to ease her trembling. Su Mu gave Fu Shinian a fierce look before he strode over, picked Qiqi up, and carried her out of the room. Su Mu wanted to follow, but Fu Shinian stopped her. He turned back to look at Su Mu:
"Don’t worry, I’ll talk to her."
Sohow, in that mont, Su Mu actually believed Fu Shinian could really calm Qiqi down.
Left alone in the room, Su Mu beca restless with worry for Qiqi, every second feeling interminable. She didn’t know how to relieve her anxiety and paced back and forth, nearly out of control with the urge to go check on them. But just then, Fu Shinian walked in. Su Mu hurried toward him but didn’t see Qiqi:
"Where’s Qiqi?"
Fu Shinian closed the bedroom door:
"She’s watching cartoons, she’s fine now."
"What did you say to her?"
"What I said isn’t important." Fu Shinian looked at Su Mu. "What’s important is, Qiqi is no longer afraid, and our discussion isn’t finished, let’s continue."
Su Mu had no interest in continuing the sa tired conversation that had been repeated a hundred tis over. She brushed past him, intent on leaving the room, but just as she touched the doorknob, Fu Shinian seized her and flung her onto the bed. She was about to shout, but he silenced her:
"If you want Qiqi to be scared again, keep yelling."
Su Mu’s voice died under the weight of his words. She wanted to see Qiqi, but it was clear that Fu Shinian was resolute. She knew that without resolving things with him, he would not agree to her leaving. So, with little patience left, she demanded:
"What do you want to say?"
"I only ask you once, would you rather die than continue being with ?"
Su Mu scoffed, "I thought I had made myself clear. Before, no matter how angry I was, a few sweet words from you and I would relent. This ti, you have said so much, yet I have absolutely no intention of looking back. What does that tell you? You know better than I."
"Su Mu." Fu Shinian lit another cigarette, gazing at her. "I know that no matter how many reasons I had, hurting you was still hurting you. It’s understandable that you have no confidence in . So people said that wooing you earnestly might move you, but I know that no matter what promises and assurances I give, you won’t believe them. No matter how well I treat you, you won’t be touched, so I didn’t do that. Instead, I resorted to extre asures to keep you by my side."
"What in the world are you planning to do?"
"I’m giving you a month to sever ties with Wen Han. If by then, you and he are still involved, I won’t hesitate to label you a traitor. I will stop at nothing, no matter the cost, to make you mine again. I know you’re not afraid of death, but what about Qiqi? Aren’t you afraid I’ll make it so you never see her again?"
Su Mu stood up from the bed, trembling with rage in front of Fu Shinian:
"You... by what right? What makes you think you can take Qiqi away from ? From the mont you knew she existed, you never acknowledged her. It was who carried her for eight months. It was who raised her on my own. You think you can just stop from seeing her? By what right?"
Fu Shinian chuckled softly:
"Think what you will. In a month, you’ll see whether I actually do it or not. Perhaps the only thing that matters to you in this world now is Qiqi. If this thod is really so effective, I don’t mind using our daughter to my advantage."
After those words, Fu Shinian picked up his shirt from the bed, turned, and left the room, leaving behind Su Mu, who wanted to scream but had to suppress her despair.
She was truly on the verge of madness because of Fu Shinian.
But no matter how much she fell apart inside, Su Mu still acted as if nothing happened in front of Qiqi. They talked and laughed as normal, and Su Mu didn’t quite understand what exactly Fu Shinian had said to Qiqi to dispel her fears so completely, to the point that Qiqi didn’t even inquire about Su Mu’s earlier state, continuing to interact with her amicably.
Su Mu was confused but chose not to ask further. The last thing she wanted was to remind Qiqi of her earlier frightening deanor, not knowing how to explain it.
Today, Su Mu still planned to move out, and Fu Shinian was still helping. With Qiqi there, they interacted as if nothing had happened, though Su Mu spoke much less than before. Thankfully, Fu Shinian and Qiqi had endless conversations, so the silence didn’t feel too awkward.
After a whole day of moving, they finally managed to get the apartnt completely settled by evening. Looking at the vacant apartnt, Qiqi too beca a bit lancholic. She held Su Mu’s hand and asked tentatively:
"Mu Mu, will we co back here?"
Su Mu smiled softly:
"We probably won’t. Didn’t you always want to return to Shen City, to be with Shinian all the ti? Once we go back this ti, you can make that dream co true."
Qiqi didn’t say anything further. Finally, casting a lingering look at the apartnt she had lived in for nearly three years, she turned and followed Fu Shinian into the adjacent room. Su Mu, however, did not enter. It seed Fu Shinian knew she wouldn’t, as he stood in the doorway, watching her:
"Do you have a place to go?"
Without responding to him, Su Mu crouched in front of Qiqi and smiled slightly:
"Qiqi, Mu Mu has been busy moving all day and there’s a lot of work waiting for at the studio. I need to go back and work overti. I probably can’t stay here with you tonight. Will you stay with Fu Shinian, is that okay?"
Qiqi glanced at Su Mu then looked up at Fu Shinian and finally nodded:
"Okay, but don’t overwork yourself, Mu Mu."
Su Mu smiled and kissed her forehead:
"Alright."
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