Back then, while Li Hua had been beside her, Mu Xue had purposely revealed that Mu Jingzhe was allergic to sesame. She had thought that if Mu Jingzhe got married, Tang Moling might give up.

  She’d wanted to protect her relationship, but in the end, she realized that she had dug her own grave. She had completely lost her love and Tang Moling.

  Tang Moling said something else, but Mu Xue couldn’t hear anything. She turned around and walked back, mumbling about retribution.

  She’d only done a wicked deed once. It was just that one time. Why would she suffer through such intense retribution?

  She blamed Tang Moling and hated Mu Jingzhe. In the end, it was her own fault.

  Mu Xue couldn’t even cry anymore. She didn’t know how she got home either. When she got home, she broke down and fell seriously ill.

  Old Lady Mu’s heart ached terribly. She felt that Mu Xue had fallen ill because she was really upset. When she heard Mu Xue mention Mu Jingzhe in her dreams, she became resentful. When Mu Xue woke up, she asked, “Xiao Xue, did that wretched girl Jingzhe cause trouble again? Just you wait, I’ll deal with her.”

  Old Lady Mu’s eyes were filled with hatred. If this was really Mu Jingzhe’s doing, she would kill her. The marriage she had been waiting for so long had been canceled. Old Lady Mu was even more disappointed and furious than Mu Xue.

  “No, Grandma, don’t go.” Mu Xue reacted, pulling Old Lady Mu back. “Grandma, don’t go. It’s all my fault.”

  If she had not known the cause, she might have let Old Lady Mu go. However, now that she knew, she could only blame herself.

  After Tang Moling accidentally blurted out the whole incident to Mu Xue, he felt really regretful. He kept an eye on Great Eastern Village, afraid that there would be hurtful rumors about Mu Jingzhe.

  After waiting for a few days, he didn’t hear anything about that. However, he heard that Mu Xue had fallen sick. He felt quite upset about that.

  He even found an excuse to get a doctor to go to Great Eastern Village to treat Mu Xue. He only heaved a sigh of relief when he found out that Mu Xue had recovered.

  Now that winter had come, knowing that Mu Xue felt cold going to class, he even anonymously donated a lot of things, saying that it was hard on the teachers.

  Tang Moling was afraid that others would find out, so he donated some thick, cotton-padded clothes to the kids as well, thinking that Shao Dong and his siblings could benefit from it.

  When it came to the five kids, Tang Moling had always been a little jealous. In the past, it used to be because of Mu Xue, but now, he felt even more jealous because of Mu Jingzhe. He felt indescribable jealousy.

  In reality, the five kids didn’t need the cotton-padded clothes. In the past, they would definitely have wanted them, but now, Mu Jingzhe had already bought thick, cotton-padded clothes for them, and they could also buy some themselves, so they didn’t take any.

  \r \r \r

  They left these cotton-padded clothes to their classmates who needed them more.

  When winter came, Mu Jingzhe didn’t like to go out because it was too cold. She felt like her hands were freezing no matter what she did.

  During the weekend, the five kids had to go to art school to study. Shao Qiyang took the initiative to adjust his shift as much as possible so that he could take them there.

  Thus, Mu Jingzhe made them a set of gloves, a scarf, a hat, and earmuffs to keep the five kids warm.

  Because she had also made a set for herself, when she thought of Shao Qiyang coming and going in the rain every day and even running around outside, she also made him a set.

  He did not have a wife, so as his sister-in-law, she could only take care of him for now.

  Mu Jingzhe was always afraid that the kids would catch a cold due to the freezing temperature, so she made them thick cotton pants and shirts, covering them up so firmly and completely that only their eyes were visible.

  “Don’t let yourself be exposed to the wind on the way, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Shao Dong nodded obediently. Shao Qiyang also got obediently dressed, covering up thickly and firmly as he watched her warn the kids. Now, he was the most enviable among his colleagues, as he was fully equipped and his hands and ears wouldn’t get frostbite anymore.

  Although he was clumsy most of the time and would sweat after walking for a certain distance, this was much better than getting frostbite on his ears and hands.

  This was the warmest winter Shao Qiyang had ever experienced, and it was all thanks to Mu Jingzhe.

  This warmth made him think that he didn’t necessarily have to get together with Mu Jingzhe or anything. As long as Mu Jingzhe stayed at home and this warmth continued, he wouldn’t have a problem being Mu Jingzhe’s brother-in-law for the rest of his life.

  Shao Qiyang led the children on the way energetically. Xiao Wu, who was on his back, was quite sensitive to emotions. “Uncle, are you happy today too?”

  “How did you know, Xiao Wu?” Because of Mu Jingzhe, Shao Qiyang was indeed in a splendid mood.

  “I can tell.” Xiao Wu chuckled and said, “I’m really happy too.”

  Shao Qiyang’s good mood lasted until he got off work. He tried to be as fast as possible, but he was still a little late. When he reached the art school, class had already ended for some time.

  He was still worried that the kids would suffer from the cold wind at the entrance, but in reality, they did not. Shao Dong and the rest were waiting for him, but they were waiting in a small car.

  It was Ji Buwang’s car. There were many snacks in it, and there was even hot water to drink. The five kids were playing and reading in the car, looking very much at ease.

  “Uncle is here.”

  As soon as Shao Qiyang went over, Xiao Wu saw him and hurriedly opened the car door to get out.

  Ji Buwang also got out of the car and greeted Shao Qiyang with a smile. “It’s cold outside, so I told them to wait in the car.”

  The two of them had met each other in Ocean City last time and had figured out each other’s intentions.

  Shao Qiyang nodded stiffly. “Sorry to trouble you, Teacher Ji.” He couldn’t tell the kids off, for they had done nothing wrong.

  Ji Buwang shook his head. “It’s no trouble at all. I like them very much. Besides, I’m Jingzhe’s friend. I’m more than happy to take care of them. If they didn’t insist on waiting for you to come, I would have brought them home for dinner before taking them back.”

  Ji Buwang paused for a moment before adding, “Actually, I want to discuss something with you. If you’re busy next time, I can bring them back.”

  “We shan’t trouble you.” Shao Qiyang gritted his teeth and turned him down. “I can bring them back. Jingzhe prepared scarves, gloves, and hats for us. We won’t be cold with these, right, Shao Dong?”

  Shao Qiyang touched the scarf on his body. He was obviously hinting that Mu Jingzhe had made these for them.

  Although he couldn’t afford a car yet, he had Mu Jingzhe’s warm clothes.

  Ji Buwang’s gaze scanned Shao Qiyang’s scarf and gloves. He pressed his tongue against the inside of his lower jaw and smiled. “Is that so?”

  “Mm. Shao Dong, let’s go.”

  Sensing that the atmosphere was a little tense, the kids did not say much and bade Ji Buwang farewell before obediently following Shao Qiyang.

  Ji Buwang smiled as he watched them leave. Only when they were out of sight did he reveal how aggrieved he felt.

  “I want gloves, a scarf, and a hat too. And that thing on their ears.” Jingzhe hadn’t even given that to him.

  Shao Qiyang, her younger brother-in-law, was as cunning as his older brother, Shao Qihai. He made use of the fact that they lived together as brother-in-law and sister-in-law to deliberately make Mu Jingzhe lower her guard and take care of him.

  Ji Buwang couldn’t help but say, “How hateful.”

  On the other hand, Shao Qiyang’s good mood was completely gone. He had previously thought that if Mu Jingzhe remained in the Shao Family, he could remain unmarried for the rest of his life.

  However, looking at the situation now, that was impossible. Ji Buwang was watching eagerly from the side, so how could he let Mu Jingzhe go?

  Although he wasn’t familiar with Ji Buwang, he could tell that he came from a well-to-do family. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have a car. Also, his aura was no joke.

  He was still very inadequate compared to Ji Buwang. Shao Qiyang didn’t know what he could use to compete against Ji Buwang

  No, he couldn’t go on like this. He had to make a change.