Chapter 38: Chapter 37: Refusing Jiao Yuyao’s Flowers

Mu Ran went to a cinema and bought as many as five movie tickets. They were mostly films that weren’t screened domestically, and during the movie, she kept taking notes.

In the middle of the second movie, her phone started ringing.

Mu Ran saw that it was Xiao Jin calling. She bent down and walked out of the cinema to answer the call, “Hello, Xiao Jin, what’s up?”

“Auntie, I just finished shooting an advertisement, and they gave me a necklace as a gift. I don’t need it. Can I give it to you?” said Chu Xijin, cheerfully, with a hint of wanting to please.

“Sure.” Mu Ran chuckled softly, “I’m at the movie theater. Do you want to watch a movie? If you do, I’ll send you the address and have someone around you bring you over.”

“Okay!”

Chu Xijin happily agreed.

He knew Auntie made films.

But he had never actually watched one.

This time Mu Ran brought him to see a suspense movie. The director’s filming technique was truly brilliant. From the start, you know the truth, but you can’t help wanting to know why and how they did it. You’re kept on edge, not wanting to miss a second, and when it concludes, you can’t help but exclaim how beautiful it was!

The movie was thoroughly enjoyable.

Mu Ran had shot suspense films before, but this one was by a big festival director. Her level was far from enough; she needed to improve the script, visuals, and her ability to direct actors!

After watching all five movies, Mu Ran and Chu Xijin were starving, even though they had some snacks, so they quickly found a Western restaurant.

Mu Ran didn’t help Chu Xijin order.

She let him do it himself.

Chu Xijin easily placed his order using his learning machine and oral skills.

And cute kids are really liked all over the world. The waiter was extremely patient with Chu Xijin and kept praising his outfit.

Chu Xijin was very grateful and praised her back.

Watching him socialize, Mu Ran thought that the term “social butterfly” suited him perfectly!

In the past, when he first came to the otherworld, he might have been a bit unused to it or anxious, but after getting used to it, he navigated things more smoothly than she, who had lived there for twenty-three years.

Mu Ran fixed her eyes on him.

Chu Xijin naturally felt it, and smiled shyly at his aunt, “Auntie, what’s up?”

“Nothing, I just wanted to ask you about your mother and uncle. What kind of people are they?” It was the first time Mu Ran talked to Chu Xijin about his ancient relatives.

Chu Xijin’s thoughts were pulled back to the time of Daqi by Auntie’s words, “Mother was a gracious and dignified woman. In terms of personality, my uncle said she had a lively and cheerful personality, but when I was with her, she seemed a bit staid. But I could feel that she loved me very much and planned many things for me. In many life-and-death situations, it was her people who protected me.

As for my uncle, he was very spirited. He was invincible on the battlefield and was our Daqi’s War God. He was very good to his soldiers, and they were the most cohesive because my uncle always liked to subsidize the soldiers out of his own pocket. Because my father wouldn’t give the soldiers any money, when winter came, we didn’t even know how many soldiers froze to death at the border. My uncle could only give his own money, but it could only last for so long.

Moreover, my uncle was very strong in commanding troops. The soldiers were willing to follow him to death, so my father eventually wanted him dead.

My uncle was a genius in the military, but in private, he could be a bit rigid, a bit serious, a bit stubborn, and often didn’t care what others thought.”

“You spent a lot of time with your uncle, didn’t you?”

From the child’s analysis, Mu Ran could clearly see that he was much more familiar with his uncle than his mother.

“A bit more than my mother, because I could only see her once a month. Every meeting was crowded with people. I was five years old, too young to remember much unlike my uncle, who took me horse riding, taught me to read, learn military tactics, and watch soldiers line up. He took me to see the battlefield and the people.”

Chu Xijin had a truly colorful year at the border.

Recalling it now, he felt a bit nostalgic.

“Your uncle took you to the battlefield?” Mu Ran was incredulous.

“Yes, my uncle would ride the horse and put me in front, to see if I could dodge the battlefield’s attacks because he said boys need to build courage,” Chu Xijin said.

The first time he went to the battlefield, he had nightmares for a long time.

He didn’t dare tell his uncle.

Because his uncle said that the men of the Xiao Family should be on the battlefield by the age of three, all fearless. To avoid being looked down upon, he pretended to be calm.

But the battlefield’s bloody smell was overwhelming, with bodies and severed limbs everywhere. He was only four years old then and was terrified.

Luckily, after going to the battlefield several times, he got used to it.

He even managed to kill enemies with a crossbow designed specifically for him by his uncle!

When he was leaving the border, his uncle said, if he grows up and still wants to come back, he could start as a Centurion.

Chu Xijin was very proud!

He was history’s youngest Centurion at four years old.

Chu Xijin now boasted to Mu Ran, “Auntie, I actually have a position. If I return to the border, I would be a Centurion.”

The child’s eyes were clear and pure, but Mu Ran thought of the situation back then.

Did Xiao Jin grow up so fast because Xiao Jin’s mother and uncle knew early on that their Xiao Family was destined to fall, so they pinned their hopes on Chu Xijin being able to protect himself?

But…

They could never have expected the dog Emperor to be so cruel as to eradicate even his own son.

“You’re really amazing,” Mu Ran praised quietly.

Chu Xijin smiled shyly, “It’s alright. I can’t go back to the border now, but when I grow up, I definitely want to join the army.”

“I’ll support you!” Mu Ran said.

“Mm-hmm!” Chu Xijin nodded vigorously, his eyes turning into crescent moons.

Auntie is just so nice.

After finishing their Western meal, they returned to their residence.

As Mu Ran led Chu Xijin in, Jiao Yuyao suddenly presented a bouquet to her, “Mu Ran, as I passed by a flower shop today, I thought these looked nice, so I got them for you.”

“No, it’s a waste on me. You keep them and take good care of them yourself.” Mu Ran declined.

She never kept flowers—a fact Jiao Yuyao didn’t know?

Jiao Yuyao looked a little embarrassed. He had clearly heard from Yang Yingying that Mu Ran complained that no one in her peer group ever gave her flowers as a token of affection.

So he had prepared a bouquet especially for her today.

But Mu Ran’s rejection was so straightforward and clear-cut.

“You don’t like them?” Jiao Yuyao asked reluctantly.

Mu Ran nodded, “I don’t.”

Jiao Yuyao looked directly into her eyes. In the light brown of her eyes, there was indifference and annoyance, but no affection. Wasn’t he already aware of this?

“Then I’ll keep them myself.”

“Mm.” Mu Ran led Chu Xijin back to the room.

Chu Xijin turned to glance at Brother Jiao, who looked dejected and sighed softly. Earlier he thought they suited each other well, but now it seemed auntie didn’t like him.

So be it, then.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep