She quietly tore her gaze away, the smile on her face gradually fading too. Finally, it turned into tranquility, and even her twinkling eyes returned to usual.

When she lowered her head to drink her tea, she saw that across her, someone had reached out to take the cup in her hand. When she looked up, Mu Yuchen's handsome face greeted her sight.

"Be absent-minded again and your hand will have to suffer again." His deep and sensitive voice floated into her ears.

Xi Xiaye then slowly returned to her senses as she peered down at the cup in her hand. Indeed, she noticed that the tea inside was tilting, about to spill out.

She unexpectedly laughed and suddenly let go.

Bam!

The sound of crisp ceramic shattering was heard. The teacup that was once in her hand instantly shattered into pieces and the light-colored tea had spilt all over the floor.

"He's my father. Tell me... Tell me, how did I get such a father?" Xi Xiaye laughed bitterly. She gripped the side of the table with one hand, while the back of her other hand covered her nose as she started to choke with tears. Quietly looking down, her long hair fell and hid her beautiful little face. He could only see her shoulders gently tremble and hear her pained voice. "I'm always wondering... Was it something that my mother and I had done wrong? If one could predict today's outcome, then... Then, wouldn't it have been better to choose to have not met right from the start?"

Yes, if one could predict the unknown fate of the future, how many people would wish that they did not make the choice that they did?

Unfortunately, there were no such ifs in life. Once a decision was made, there would not be a chance to turn back anymore...

Mu Yuchen suddenly lowered his gaze and looked at the shattered pieces on the floor. His indifferent lips curved up slightly and his usual low and calm voice was heard. "You're upset because you care."

"I'm just upset for my mother. Initially, they were a very loving couple. I don't know why they ended up here. I had a beautiful childhood..." Xi Xiaye said as her mind started to nostalgically flash with all the scenes from before.

Back then, there was no Yue Lingsi or Xi Xinyi yet. It was just the three of them and they had been very happy.

However, Mother never would have expected that Father had long cheated on her...

Her and Xi Xinyi's birthdays were only a few days apart. Whilst all of the beautiful things were happening, it had actually been a continuation of her father's lies.

When she recalled all those times from back then, Xi Xiaye could feel that her father should have loved her mother dearly, but why had it turned out like this?

Was it because of time?

No matter how deep love was, could it not handle the wearing down of time?

To a man, was it not enough having one woman?

What replied her was only the sound of Mu Yuchen pouring her a cup of tea...

"Mother has always been alone. Even though she looked very cold and apathetic... and very indifferent, I know that she's actually lonely too. I never dared to get close to her because I don't know how to face her."

When she thought about her mother, Shen Wenna, Xi Xiaye just felt anguish in her heart. Her mother was actually a very silly woman too.

Back then, she had chosen to leave her marriage with nothing. It was just to protect what was left of her pride and self-respect. Apart from that, it was also for her father's career that she had chosen to compromise and let him get what he wanted, but now?

"Okay, Xiaye, just let the past be the past. Don't think about it anymore. Drink your tea. If you don't want to go back, no one can force you to." Mu Yuchen suddenly did not know how to console her, so he could only pour her some tea and pass it to her.

Xi Xiaye who had been keeping her head down slowly looked up. He saw her determination and stubbornness from her dark eyes. She had turned slightly pale. Nevertheless, she nodded and inhaled before very quickly returning to her usual calm self. Her voice was a little raspy and dry. "I'm fine. I'm used to it."

"Mmm, don't worry. If you want to go back, I'll obviously accompany you," he said softly and watched her with still eyes.

Xi Xiaye just shook her head. "I won't go back. I don't want to make myself an actor because I cannot be as into the entire act as they are. I'm fine. All of these miscellaneous matters have nothing to do with you, so you don't have to worry about them either. I'll go over to look for Professor Lin to handle some things. Have a seat for a while or continue helping me arrange the shelf."

Then, Xi Xiaye forced a smile as she stood up. That smile of hers appeared very bitter to Mu Yuchen.

Before Mu Yuchen could respond, she had already walked over and left behind an elegant view of her back.

"Xiaye!"

Xi Xiaye had just taken two steps forward when Mu Yuchen instantly stood up as well. He held her by the arm and pulled her closer while his other hand held onto her right shoulder firmly. He looked down at her and said in disagreement, "I want to know what our marriage means to you. What do you mean it has nothing to do with me? Explain what this means to me."

Mu Yuchen's tone sounded unusually serious and was filled with a delicate scolding. "I think you're not self-aware as my wife at all! If I don't worry about you, who should I be worrying about?"

The man's deep and domineering voice announced his position and qualifications, his eyes filling with disagreement and reprimand as he looked Xi Xiaye. The way he looked at her was just like a strict senior brother lecturing his younger sister...

"I'm serious about this marriage. Tell me that you feel the same, Xi Xiaye!"

His deep gaze locked onto her slightly pale, little face. When he saw that she was looking worse and had fallen silent for a long time, he then eased his tone. "Now, don't you have anything else to say to me?"

"What should I say to you? How do I explain to you? Do I explain how, as the first wife's daughter, I've fallen to this state, or do I explain about how I've endured it the past ten years and more?"

She looked up, her calm eyes filled with stubbornness. Her face was unfriendly and was different from her usual calm and distant self.

Seeing his pupils starting to gather with depth and complexity, it was easy to see hints of concern as well. She took a deep breath and calmed down herself. "I'm in a bad mood. I don't want to pull you in and be angry with you, Mu Yuchen. Don't talk to me. I want some peace and quiet. I'll be fine very soon. Don't worry, Mr. Mu."

When he heard this, Mu Yuchen's darkened expression eased up a little. Since she had already turned her head away from him, he suddenly sighed, "Fine, I didn't mean to reprimand you. If it makes you feel better, I don't mind you being angry at me either."

His deep voice held faint hints of sensitivity and tenderness. Xi Xiaye suddenly felt her heart tighten at hearing this and her throat started to choke.

She had wished countless times to hear these words from Han Yifeng, yet she never saw the day it happened until now. When she heard it from Mu Yuchen, she suddenly realized something.

Sometimes, as sad as she was, a string of simple, attentive words of comfort could reduce the grievance and bitterness in her heart by a lot...