CHAPTER 452: CHAPTER 452: UNEXPECTED HARVEST

Moments later, Mu Ziqing appeared at the door.

"Big sister, what are you doing here?" Yan Qianyi was surprised, not expecting the person hiding outside the door to be Mu Ziqing.

Mu Ziqing’s hands were clasped together, appearing somewhat uneasy.

"I came to thank you for speaking up for me in front of Grandpa just now, but when I saw you talking, I felt too embarrassed to interrupt. I really didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I was about to leave when Ah Lie called out to me."

After saying this, Mu Ziqing timidly looked towards Mu Yunlie.

In her memory, the young Ah Lie, although not a big talker, always had a bright smile on his face.

More than a decade later, upon seeing Ah Lie again, it was as if he was a completely different person, so cold, especially those eyes that one dared not meet directly.

Yan Qianyi said, "It’s okay, no need to thank me. I simply told the truth in front of Grandpa."

She could tell that Mu Ziqing was probably often bullied by Mu Zixuan and didn’t dare to speak out.

"What did you overhear just now outside?" Mu Yunlie’s eyes lifted to Mu Ziqing.

His voice was cold, his gaze sharp, frightening Mu Ziqing into taking a step backward, "Ah Lie, don’t... don’t look at me like that, I really didn’t mean to listen to your conversation."

Yan Qianyi stepped forward, "Don’t be afraid, big sister. Ah Lie is always like this, he doesn’t mean anything by it."

Yan Qianyi’s gentle manner slightly eased Mu Ziqing’s anxiety as she asked, "Why are you both looking to find out about the circumstances of Third Uncle’s fall from the building that day?"

Mu Yunlie’s lips were tightly pursed and he did not reply, his gaze fixed on Mu Ziqing.

Yan Qianyi explained, "Ah Lie is about to become a father, and all of a sudden, he really misses his dad. So he wants to find out about his dad’s past. He was too young back then and doesn’t remember much."

Hearing Yan Qianyi say this, Mu Yunlie’s expression softened a bit.

He had explained it to Grandpa in the same way.

Was this the so-called marital telepathy?

"Oh," Mu Ziqing nodded, "that day, I...I was at home."

A trace of surprise flashed through Yan Qianyi’s eyes, "Big sister, come inside and talk."

She quickly pulled Mu Ziqing inside and closed the room door.

Mu Yunlie asked, "Why haven’t I heard that you were at home that day?"

He had looked into it: on that day at the Mu Family’s estate, apart from the servants, only his father and Mu Chen had been present.

Mu Ziqing said, "I was supposed to be at dance class that day, but I thought of my mother and felt emotionally upset, so I snuck back home alone. Afraid of being discovered by Aunt Shen, I hid on the side of the main house."

It was from the main house where Mu Feng had fallen.

Yan Qianyi quickly asked, "Big sister, did you see or hear anything that day?"

"I was hiding at the time, I didn’t see anything, but I did hear the voices of Second Uncle and Third Uncle arguing, followed by a loud ’boom.’ I was so scared at the moment that I didn’t dare go out. Later I found out that it was...it was the sound of Third Uncle falling."

Mu Yunlie furrowed his brow, "What were they arguing about?"

Mu Ziqing tried to recall, then shook her head, "It’s been too long, I don’t remember. I couldn’t make out what they were saying at the time, I only recognized Second Uncle and Third Uncle’s voices."

Yan Qianyi and Mu Yunlie exchanged a look.

The argument indicated that there had been a dispute between them at that time.

If it were just Mu Feng wanting to jump, Mu Chen should have been trying to persuade him, not arguing with a person wanting to end their life.

This made it even more certain that Mu Feng’s fall was related to Mu Chen.

"I remember now!" Mu Ziqing suddenly said, "They kept mentioning the word ’Nangong,’ as if talking about something to do with Second Aunt."

Mu Yunlie’s brow furrowed.

Their argument was related to his mother?

"Big sister, take a seat," Yan Qianyi drew Mu Ziqing to sit down, gently saying, "Can you try to remember again, to see if you can recall anything else?"

Mu Ziqing shook her head, "I’ve tried to remember hard already, I truly only recall that much. I don’t remember the rest."

"I heard Ah Lie say that when Dad fell, only Second Uncle was there. Second Uncle told the family that he didn’t manage to stop him in time. Then how could there have been an argument? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?"

"No, I remember the sound of arguing, the tone was agitated and very loud."

"Then didn’t you tell this to Grandpa?"

"No, I was also young at the time and didn’t think that much of it. Only when I grew up and recalled it did I feel..."

"Feel what?" Yan Qianyi pressed.

Mu Ziqing hastily stood up, "Nothing, I should go back now."

Mu Yunlie blocked Mu Ziqing’s path with a darkened gaze, "Finish what you’re saying!"

Mu Ziqing took a step back, frightened.

"Ah Lie!" Yan Qianyi quickly said, "Don’t scare big sister."

Mu Ziqing held her hands nervously, looking towards Yan Qianyi with urgency, "Qianyi, I quite like you and am very thankful for you speaking up for me in front of Grandpa. Zixuan often bullies me, and I never dare to speak out. Just now I heard you trying to find out about Third Uncle’s incident, so I told you. I truly don’t know anything else."

Yan Qianyi nodded, "Thank you, big sister. I know what you’re worried about in your heart. Do you also think there’s something amiss about Ah Lie’s father’s fall from way back?"

Mu Ziqing lowered her head and didn’t speak.

Yan Qianyi said patiently, "The fact that you are willing to tell us shows that you want to help, but you’re afraid of getting involved, right?"

Mu Ziqing still did not speak but hesitantly nodded.

Yan Qianyi glanced at Mu Yunlie, not expecting to gain unexpected information from Mu Ziqing.

"Big sister, rest assured, what you shared with me and Ah Lie today, only the three of us know. We will not let anyone else find out."

Mu Yunlie’s tone also softened a bit, "You can trust us."

With Mu Yunlie’s assurance, Mu Ziqing finally spoke, "Later, when I recalled it, I felt that Second Uncle might have lied because I’m sure I heard the sound of an argument. I also thought about telling Dad or Grandpa, but I was too scared..."

Speaking up to this point, Mu Ziqing’s voice began to choke up.

"I’m not clever, not as smart as Zixuan who knows how to win people’s favor. Ever since my mom died, and Zixuan and her mom moved in, I became more and more invisible at home."

"Everyone prefers Zixuan because she can make the elders happy in front of them."

"Aunt Shen also warned me that if I didn’t behave, she would kick me out of the Mu Family."

"Even if I spoke up about the arguing I heard, no one would believe me. After all, by the time I realized something was off, it had been a long while and everyone already believed what Second Uncle said."

"I didn’t dare speak, nor could I imagine the consequences I’d have to face if it disturbed the peace at home."

"After all, ever since my mother passed away, there has not been anyone in this family to protect me."