Chapter Sixty: What’s Wrong with You!

Luoshui was already endearingly pretty, and now, as she wept quietly, she appeared even more pitiable. Qiu Shuixia's heart melted at the sight, and she hurriedly took Luoshui by the hand, pulling her into the house.

Jiang Haishan stood at the doorway, sternly lecturing Qin Mu.
"I've taught you since childhood to be gentle with girls. Even if there are minor disagreements, you can't let a delicate girl sleep on the sofa! What if she catches a cold?"

Qin Mu, his face darkening, replied, "Godfather, don't listen to her nonsense."

"You must have bullied her usually, otherwise why would she complain as soon as she arrived?"

Qin Mu knew well that he could only listen to his elders; to argue would be disrespectful. Besides, the situation had shifted entirely against him—whatever he said now would be wrong.

"You all talk, I'll go cook," Qin Mu found an excuse and quickly slipped into the kitchen to escape the storm. As he passed by, he caught Luoshui's furtive glance, secretly gleeful.

So you doubt my abilities, do you? Dare to laugh at me again?

Yet, it was the first time she had seen this formidable, upright man display such domestic warmth. Usually, she only saw Qin Mu cooking, reserved and unsmiling. Evidently, his character was even better than she imagined—someone truly dependable.

Qin Mu was busy in the kitchen, working up a sweat. Before long, the aroma of dishes wafted out, teasing Luoshui's senses, nearly capturing her soul.

"Qin Mu's cooking smells amazing! Did he learn from you, Auntie?"

"Yes, Xiao Mu is naturally clever—he masters whatever he sets his mind to."

"In the past, whenever he cooked, people from the village would follow the scent right to our door, begging for a piece of meat," Qiu Shuixia recalled fondly, smiling.

"I used to love his cooking too, but later, he started bullying me and wouldn't cook for me anymore..." Luoshui was about to pile on her complaints when Qin Mu arrived with an exquisite fruit platter, placing it before her.

Luoshui felt triumphant; Qin Mu's intent was clear—he was bribing her with delicious food to keep her quiet.

"I'll go check on Jiang Zhen," Qin Mu said, carrying a bowl of sobering herbal soup into Jiang Zhen's room.

He had arranged for Wu Mu to escort Jiang Zhen home from the hotel. Now she lay on the bed, her cheeks flushed, brows furrowed in discomfort.

"Little one, get up and drink some soup—it'll help you sober up," Qin Mu reached into the covers, gently propping up the unwilling Jiang Zhen.

She was startled at first, but upon seeing Qin Mu, she relaxed, leaning against the bed.

"Brother, am I troubling you?"

Qin Mu affectionately smoothed her hair. "Silly girl, it's nothing. No matter how big the problem, your brother will shoulder it for you."

"Here, drink this. Sleep a bit and you'll feel better."

Knowing she lacked strength, Qin Mu took up the spoon and fed her the soup, mouthful by mouthful. When she finished, he settled her back into the warm bed and lingered at her bedside, only leaving once she was sound asleep.

The moment he stepped outside, he saw Luoshui waiting by the door.

"You're just too warm-hearted!" Luoshui's curiosity had gotten the better of her; she had wanted to peek in, and now she was consumed by jealousy.

"Brother Qin, I want some too..." Luoshui grabbed Qin Mu's hand, swaying it as she pleaded.

"Go on, sit and wait for dinner," Qin Mu, used to her antics, ignored her and returned to the kitchen.

Qiu Shuixia came in to help, though Qin Mu remained the main cook; Qiu Shuixia merely assisted. Luoshui tried to join in, but Qiu Shuixia ushered her back to the sofa, insisting she sit quietly.

After more than half an hour, seven or eight beautifully prepared dishes were laid on the table.

"Call Zhen’er out to eat," Qiu Shuixia suggested.

"She’s asleep. She drank today—let her rest for now," Qin Mu replied.

With that, Qin Mu called everyone to the table. He intended to sit anywhere, but Jiang Haishan barked at him, placing him right next to Luoshui.

"This is even better than your previous cooking," Luoshui exclaimed, tugging at Qin Mu's sleeve after sampling a piece of meat, amazed.

"If it's good, eat more. You're so thin—Qin Mu must not have cooked much for you," Qiu Shuixia said, placing a chicken drumstick in Luoshui's bowl and teasing Qin Mu in passing.

Qin Mu seemed to have grown thick-skinned, keeping his head down and eating without comment.

When the meal was nearly finished, Jiang Haishan remembered something and made a suggestion.

"The New Year is approaching. After dinner, Qin Mu, you should head to the village to tidy up the ancestral house, and then we’ll pack our things and join you."

According to the village custom, no matter how far one roamed, the New Year had to be spent at home. Qin Mu had spent the past ten years on missions, unable to return, earning much gossip—some even speculated he’d died abroad.

"Alright, I'll leave shortly," Qin Mu calculated; he had already dealt with many Jiang League families, and lately, they were all lying low. He finally had some free time, and there were old friends he hadn’t seen in ages.

"Our countryside is rather dirty and messy, girl, you’d best not come," Qiu Shuixia said after some thought.

Their village was technically within Jiang City, but on the outskirts, undeveloped, with incomplete paved roads and general poverty.

"It's fine, as long as Qin Mu is with me," Luoshui replied with a gentle smile.

After dinner, they sat and chatted for a while.
"Xiao Mu, it's getting late, escort the young lady home," Qiu Shuixia said.

"Understood. See you soon, godfather and godmother," Qin Mu replied.

Hand in hand, Qin Mu and Luoshui left together, sweet and content. It was only a short walk before Qin Mu saw Luoshui safely to her door.