“How has your grandfather been this year?”
“...” The old man’s grandson frowned the moment Mu Anxiao spoke. “Didn’t you say you could see my grandfather? If you want to know, why don’t you ask him?”
“To be honest, your grandfather…” Mu Anxiao worried that her words might ruin everything, so she started to babble, “he has amnesia. He’s lost all memory of the past year. He only remembers that you are his most beloved grandson.”
“Amnesia…”
“Yes, he’s even forgotten how he died.” Mu Anxiao shook her head slightly, her words filled with helplessness and regret.
The moment Mu Anxiao said this, the old man’s grandson lowered his gaze. “Forgotten. Just one word, ‘forgotten,’ and everything he did for me this past year can be erased.” He snorted, “What a beautiful thought.”
“Don’t you miss your grandfather dearly?”
At this moment, Mu Anxiao saw deep disdain on the grandson’s face, making her feel she had said the wrong thing.
“I do.”
“You miss him, yet you still act like this…”
“I miss the grandfather I had a year ago. I want to ask you,” the grandson looked up at Mu Anxiao, “did my grandfather die a year ago?”
“....” Mu Anxiao was stunned by the grandson’s question.
“Why aren’t you speaking?”
Mu Anxiao swallowed and asked, “Why do you think so?” She glanced at the old man beside her.
Following Mu Anxiao’s gaze, the grandson looked towards the old man and asked, “Are you looking at my grandfather?”
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao turned back to the grandson. “Yes.”
“....” The grandson’s eyes darkened, fixing on the old man’s location. He said, “Grandfather, I don’t believe you would dislike me. You’ve always been the best to me since I was little.”
The old man’s face showed sadness as he listened to his grandson’s words.
However, Mu Anxiao perceived something else from the grandson’s expression, especially his face, which made her suspect he was faking it. Though she knew it was unkind to think this way, the reality was just that.
The old man: “Tell him I can hear him.”
Mu Anxiao, hearing the old man behind her, sighed helplessly and said, “Your grandfather says he can hear you.”
“That’s great.” The grandson continued to stare in the old man’s direction, tears welling up in his eyes.
The old man: “I’ve always missed you. You’ve always been my favorite grandson.”
Mu Anxiao tilted her head and continued relaying the message, “He says he’s always missed you and that you’ve always been his favorite grandson.”
“Grandfather,” the grandson cried out, “Grandfather, do you remember what you said that year?”
The old man frowned. “What?”
Mu Anxiao sighed. “He asks, ‘What?’”
Unexpectedly, the moment Mu Anxiao relayed these two words, the grandson frowned. “You’re lying to me, aren’t you?” He looked at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao stiffened. “What do you mean by that?”
“How could my grandfather forget the promise he made with me?” The grandson’s expression immediately changed, and he snorted coldly. “I knew something was off about you. You want my money, right? No way.”
Mu Anxiao clenched the wooden stick in her hand. “What are you talking about?”
Mu Anxiao had experienced being bitten back before, but she hadn’t expected the grandson to be like this. Looking at his face now, her heart began to churn with impatience. However, considering his relationship with the old man, she could only restrain herself further.
“Do you want to know the promise between my grandfather and me? I’ll tell you right now, and I’ll see what else you can make up.” Mu Anxiao took a deep breath, glanced sideways at the old man who was frowning deeply, and then turned back to the grandson. “You speak.”
The grandson also looked in the old man’s direction and sneered, “Trying to pretend my grandfather is here again. You’re quite the actor.”
“Fine, I’m an actor. You speak, and I’ll listen to what kind of promise you and your grandfather have.”
“....” The grandson looked at Mu Anxiao’s face and snorted again. “If that’s the case, I won’t say it.”
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao immediately stepped forward and placed the wooden stick against the grandson’s sword. “I hate people who play coy the most. Speak quickly if you have something to say, or let me have it. Otherwise, we’ll fight.”
“You…” The grandson looked down at Mu Anxiao’s wooden stick and chuckled. “You think a mere wooden stick can contend with my sword? How ridiculous.” With that, he used his sword to flick away Mu Anxiao’s stick.
At that moment, a slight smile curved Mu Anxiao’s lips. She immediately took a step back. As the grandson prepared to swing his sword wildly, she swiftly dodged. Seizing the opportunity, she maneuvered the wooden stick past his sword and deliberately struck his sword-wielding hand several times with force.
His hand, throbbing with pain, instantly loosened its grip, and the sword clattered to the ground.
The young girl’s eyes widened the moment the sword fell.
At the same time, a girl in blue emerged from behind the stables and walked gracefully to the young girl’s side. “You really are related to my brother.” As she spoke, she pulled the young girl back five or six steps.
This speaking woman was the old man’s youngest granddaughter. From childhood to adulthood, her status in the household was even lower than that of a maid, as her mother had died during her birth. The old man had always been indifferent to her, only remembering her when it concerned her half-brother, the old man’s most beloved grandson. Yet, despite this, she had always been good to the old man. She never retorted when he scolded her and was exceptionally well-behaved. She never disliked him. The reason for her such sensible behavior was her mother. Her mother had been a maid in this household. It was because of her mother that the old man had set such rules for the family. Furthermore, the old man had never driven her away; despite her low status, she was still a young lady of the household, so she was only grateful to him. Even if he disliked her, she didn’t get angry. Because of her sister-in-law, she had been secretly watching her brother every night to see if he had a relationship with the maid. Just now, on her way there, she happened to see the old man’s grandson leading the young girl towards the main gate. Therefore, she had followed them without a second thought. So, she had been there from the very beginning, and she had heard everything they said.
The young girl: “I…”
“No need to say anything. You go back, and I won’t say a word.”
“Really?”
“Really, as long as you break up with my brother.”
“Your servant…”
“Sister-in-law has become suspicious. And you were sold into this family. If you want the same fate as my mother, then continue to be with him.”