608: Thick-Skinned

Thick-Skinned

Early in the morning, Mu Chenyan had a puzzled look on her face as she silently pondered on something. It really made even the servants' heads turn to give her another look. It needed to be mentioned that Mu Chenyan was the most carefree person in this family. Things like thinking were not her thing. She'd rather do it first and think later.0

The proof of that was when she once caught a thief in her youth. She first beat him up and only after asked about the situation making people around her wonder if she was really teaching the thief a lesson or just wanted a punching bag?

But it really had to be said that none dared to go over and question Mu Chenyan. Only Yue Yue stepped up and tapped her shoulder to get her attention.

'What are you thinking so deeply?'

Mu Chenyan looked at her best friend and pouted, "I... Actually, it's about my niece."

'I should have known. For the past two days, you only have your niece and nephew on your mind.'

Mu Chenyan didn't pay attention to her words and continued, "It's that although I had a big hand behind Wai's suspension, her suspension wasn't for this long. But seeing how leisurely she is this morning, it seems she is still not planning on going back to work. I'm a little confused."

Yue Yue almost rolled her eyes and rapped her head, 'Why are you thinking about this? Just ask her.'

Mu Chenyan nodded in agreement. She should really ask unless she got a headache from thinking so much. But when she sat in front of Xiang Wai and Xiang Weimin after breakfast, she couldn't bring herself to speak. She was really too cautious before these two in fear that she might say something wrong.

And she knew she was very capable of saying wrong things. 

Seeing her tapping on the table, both siblings shared a look before Xiang Wai asked, "Aunt, is something on my face?"

"Huh? No," answered Mu Chenyan.

"Then stop looking," said Xiang Wai. "If you continued to look so intently, flowers might bloom on my face."

Mu Chenyan gave a hollow laugh as she commented, "You have a bad sense of humor. But I guess that also runs in the blood." That was the first thing that came to her mind. After all, no one in this Xiang family had a good sense of humor. They were all too sober and none had the humourous personality like Hyson.

"Aunt, if you say it like that, I'll be hurt," said Xiang Wai.

Mu Chenyan was startled, "What? Did I say something wrong? Don't take it to heart. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Both Xiang Weimin and Xiang Wai actually felt a bit distressed seeing her like this. 

"Auntie, I have long heard from dad that you have never been cautious in life," said Xiang Weimin. "Why are you so cautious around us?"

"Well, Gege didn't lie to you," said Mu Chenyan. "I have always had a casual and carefree personality. As for being cautious right now, I just... don't want to hurt you both with my wrong words."

"Do we look that fragile to you?" asked Xiang Wai. "We have thick skin, we don't get hurt so easily." Thanks to their maternal family, they were indeed quite thick-skinned after all these years. Besides, you can't possibly survive in the army as a thin-skinned person either.

"Wai is right," agreed Xiang Weimin. "If you have something to say, just say it."

"Then..." Mu Chenyan looked at both of them and finally settled her eyes on Xiang Wai, "Xiao Wai, why aren't you back on duty?"

"Didn't you get me suspended?"

Mu Chenyan stiffened and smiled awkwardly, "That..." She coughed unnaturally and continued, "But I made sure the committee doesn't suspend you for this long."

Xiang Wai was amused by Mu Chenyan's expressions and decided not to continue being a bitch. Yes, she knew she had a habit of acting like one once in a while. She couldn't help it. Her snarkiness was honed after years of jabs thrown in the Song family. She just couldn't stop it all at once.

"I took vacations," she answered Mu Chenyan. "Since the time I joined the army, I have never taken any of my yearly vacations. So, this year, I decided to add them all and use it all at once."

"Really?" Mu Chenyan was suddenly excited.

"Why are you happy? I thought you asked me about my job because you want me to leave as fast as possible. But I can't blame you. Even I'd choose a sensible nephew like Ge over a niece like me."

Mu Chenyan glared at her and wanted to beat her up for talking nonsense. But in the end, she pulled her ear and gave it a twist shocking Xiang Wai so much that she forgot to react. "Say that again! Is it necessary to talk so much nonsense? Why would I want you to leave early? It isn't even my place to ask you to leave! This is your home!"

Xiang Wai suddenly smiled at that stunned Mu Chenyan and she realized what she did. She let her ear go and looked horrified, "I... I didn't mean to."

Xiang Wai and Xiang Weimin chuckled at the side. 

"Aunt, do you remember when was the last time you pulled my ear?" asked Xiang Wai. "It was my birthday and I sneaked out while everyone was looking for me. Only you found me and you twist my ear so bad. Then you even picked me from the back of my collar like a chicken and brought me home while scolding me."

"You!" Mu Chenyan was quiet for a long moment because of shock. "You can actually remember that?"

"I have some impression of it," said Xiang Wai.

"I only did it because I was worried," said Mu Chenyan. "Who told you to sneak out like that? It scared everyone."

Xiang Weimin suddenly laughed out, "I remember that day dad also scolded you aunt."

Mu Chenyan pouted, "That's right. Gege was so mad at me. It wasn't even my fault but he scolded me so badly that I almost cried."

There was a snort heard as soon as she finished.

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