Gold Cage - Chapter 29

It wasn't until noon the next day that Mu Yu finally got out of bed. Groggy but not forgetting his lunch plans with Lan Mo, he arrived at the restaurant to find her already waiting.

The girl seemed to have regained her spirits and greeted him with a smile. Mu Yu sat down and took a sip of water. Lan Mo's eyes immediately caught sight of his fingers, her mouth forming a perfect "O."

"Isn't this the diamond ring that was auctioned off in Kowloon last week? I heard it sold for an astronomical price—I never expected to see it on your hand!"

Mu Yu's sleep-addled brain finally caught up as he looked down at his hand. A ring had somehow appeared on his ring finger—a band of white gold set with small diamonds, centered by a brilliant blue stone so clear and luminous it resembled a flowing lake of blue ice, alive with countless refracted sparks of light.

He took the ring off, much to Lan Mo's dismay. "Not wearing it? It's so beautiful, and it looks amazing on you."

"I won't," Mu Yu said. "I hate the person who gave it to me."

Lan Mo could only offer a regretful expression and dropped the subject.

Dark clouds gathered, and a dreary rain began to fall.

Liu Shuyan stepped out of the car in a black dress, flanked by attendants as she entered the Liu family estate. Her light makeup did little to conceal her pallor and cold detachment. Raindrops dampened the white flower pinned to her chest, and though those around her whispered in hushed tones, she remained silent, listening without response.

The doors opened, and the gathered guests turned to scrutinize the current head of the Liu family with mixed expressions. Liu Shuyan moved through the crowd, distant sobs echoing faintly from the far end of the corridor. Her eldest and second brothers were conversing with visitors, their faces darkening at her arrival.

"Little sister finally graces us with her presence," Liu Keren, the second brother, remarked. "We thought you were too busy to even attend Grandfather's funeral."

Liu Zhaoyi, the eldest, forced a smile. "Don't say that. She must be heartbroken she didn't get to see Grandfather one last time."

Though Liu Shuyan had long engaged in hollow pleasantries with her brothers, today she had no patience for it. Ignoring them, she strode coldly into the room. Liu Keren hissed in irritation, but Liu Zhaoyi nudged him, signaling restraint in such a setting.

Incense burned in the mourning hall, surrounding a black coffin adorned with flowers. Liu Shuyan approached—inside, the old man lay peacefully, his expression as gentle and serene as it had been in life.

She had only received word of his passing the day after it happened and had rushed back to Yushi from abroad. In his final years, he had been bedridden, and though Liu Shuyan visited monthly, he eventually asked her to stop.

"My dear, take care of yourself. No need to keep visiting this old man," he would say.

"I'm not a child anymore, and you still call me that?"

"You'll always be my precious girl."

Grandfather was gone. There was no one left in this world who would love her wholeheartedly. Liu Shuyan stared blankly at the elderly man lying in the coffin. Perhaps it was for the best—free from this filthy world, no longer tormented by illness.

Liu Zhaoyi entered the mourning hall and said to Liu Shuyan, "Father has something to discuss with us after the funeral. You should stay for a few days."

Liu Shuyan quickly composed herself, the moisture in her eyes fading. She stood with her back to the man. "If there's something to say, let's get it over with today."

"Little sister, Grandpa is gone. Can't you even spare a few more days for him?"

Liu Shuyan turned and looked coldly at Liu Zhaoyi. "The dead are dead. I don't have time to keep up this charade with you."

Liu Zhaoyi's expression darkened. Liu Keren, waiting by the door, sneered, "With Grandpa gone, you won't even bother pretending with us anymore. Let me tell you straight—before he passed, Grandpa left a will. Father will announce it in front of all the relatives—"

Liu Shuyan laughed, her beautiful face filled with scorn and disdain. "Grandpa personally wrote his will three years ago. The only copy is held by the law firm. Where did you get yours from? Liu Zhaoyi, Liu Keren, you two good-for-nothings dare mention Grandpa's will? He dedicated his life to Yushi with integrity, never taking a penny. And now you want to carve up his money?"

Liu Zhaoyi snapped, "Liu Shuyan, don't push your luck!"

Liu Keren was even angrier. "It's you who wants to hog the old man's fortune! You're so desperate for money—back then, Father already decided that my brother and I would be directors of Hongfeng. The position you're in now was stolen, not rightfully yours!"

Liu Shuyan smiled sweetly. "Liu Keren, with your walnut-sized brain, you can't even count how many factories the family owns, let alone understand financial reports. Do you expect all of Hongfeng to follow you into the streets and perform monkey tricks for spare change? As for you, Liu Zhaoyi—hasn't Father been drained dry by your gambling debts yet? You two are the perfect example of father-son harmony—one willing to beat, the other willing to take it. Should I commission a 'Loyalty and Filial piety' plaque for you to hang at the Liu family gate?"

The brothers' faces flushed red with rage. Liu Keren, hot-tempered, immediately moved to grab Liu Shuyan, but Liu Zhaoyi stopped him. Amid the commotion, someone at the entrance hurriedly announced, "Mr. Mu is here!"

Everyone instantly fell silent. Liu Keren and Liu Zhaoyi instinctively straightened their clothes. Mu Hanxiao and Xie Ming entered, the former towering and casting a glance that inexplicably made people stand rigid with unease.

Xie Ming, as stern as Mu Hanxiao in public, spoke bluntly, "Gentlemen, a mourning hall should remain solemn."

The brothers' attitudes did a complete about—face in Mu Hanxiao's presence. Liu Zhaoyi lowered his voice. "Of course. My brother isn't in the best state. Our apologies for the disturbance."

Liu Keren shot his brother a glare but kept silent. Mu Hanxiao said to Liu Shuyan, "My condolences."

Xie Ming handed her a red envelope. "This is the condolence money from Mr. Mu's mother. She regrets not being able to attend due to official duties."

The envelope was heavy. Liu Shuyan accepted it. With Mu Hanxiao present, the brothers didn't dare cause more trouble. Mu Hanxiao paid them no further attention, and they left awkwardly to attend to other guests.

Not long after, another man arrived in haste. He appeared to be over fifty, with streaks of white at his temples, dressed in a solemn black suit. After a brief exchange with Liu Shuyan, he stood alone in the mourning hall for a long time, speaking to no one, his silhouette exuding loneliness and desolation.

The man turned and left the hall, walking pensively down the corridor. Just as he reached the entrance, someone called out to him, "Uncle Long."

Long Chuan turned to see Mu Hanxiao approaching and smiled. "Ah, it's Hanxiao."

The two lit cigarettes and began a quiet conversation. Mu Hanxiao said, "Uncle Long, despite your busy schedule, you still made the trip back from the south. Shuyan is very grateful."

Long Chuan's face was stern, yet his smile carried a hint of warmth. "Shuyan has grown up. The teacher always favored her, and she's lived up to expectations. Though I never imagined you'd end up as her husband. Ah, and I've left Yushi... Fate plays cruel tricks."

In the past, Long Chuan had once stood as Zhao Mengling's fiercest rival, leading opposing factions. But in the end, Zhao Mengling prevailed, and Long Chuan was transferred to the distant south, far from the center of power.

Mu Hanxiao replied, "We do what we can, then leave the rest to fate. You're biding your time now, Uncle Long."

The man shook his head with a chuckle. As they smoked, their conversation gradually took them away from the crowd. By the time dusk fell, Long Chuan had to leave for his flight and bid farewell to Liu Shuyan and Mu Hanxiao.

Before departing, he exchanged a few words with Liu Shuyan.

"Your brothers haven't been giving you trouble, have they?"

"Don't worry, I can handle it."

Long Chuan smiled. He looked at Liu Shuyan with the affection one might reserve for a cherished junior, a sentiment largely inherited from his late mentor.

"It's lonely at the top," he said gently. "The higher one climbs, the colder it gets. But having someone by your side makes the journey less bitter and keeps you from losing yourself in the dazzle of the world."

Liu Shuyan replied, "Yes. With Hanxiao beside me, I feel much more at ease."

Long Chuan teased, "You two are cut from the same cloth—both so cold. Won't you just freeze each other out?"

Liu Shuyan remained silent. Soon after, Long Chuan left by car, and Mu Hanxiao prepared to depart as well. As the driver opened the car door for him, Liu Shuyan hesitated, then suddenly called out, "Hanxiao."

Mu Hanxiao turned back. Liu Shuyan smiled. "Won't you stay with me tonight?"

She was no stranger to handling the endless stream of guests, having navigated countless high-stakes situations before. Even in the face of her father and brothers, she had never faltered. Yet, since Mu Hanxiao's arrival, she had felt a quiet relief. The man seemed to possess an unspoken power merely standing there like an unwavering guardian, his presence alone ensuring safety for those under his protection.

Mu Hanxiao answered, "The lawyers will arrive tomorrow with the will. You can decide when to proceed with the notarization. Xie Ming will also stay until your grandfather's true wishes are fully carried out."

The two locked eyes, the man's gaze calm and profound, yet Liu Shuyan couldn't help but recall that phone call from that night—the sound of Mu Yu's voice, his suppressed gasps and faint moans had exploded in her mind like thunder. That night had shattered many of her beliefs. Mu Yu was Mu Hanxiao's younger brother. Even if they were half-brothers, they were still bound by blood!

She knew Mu Hanxiao cared deeply for this illegitimate younger brother, even though his public demeanor completely contradicted this belief. She had once thought Mu Hanxiao truly disregarded Mu Yu, but after marrying him and stepping into his life, Liu Shuyan seemed to have grasped a sliver of this man's true thoughts.

How could someone who didn't care about another person dare not meet their eyes?

In that garden under the falling night, she had kissed Mu Hanxiao, her husband. It should have been natural, yet they both knew it was anything but. That day, Mu Hanxiao had looked at her just like this—his eyes like a bottomless, undisturbed pool, devoid of any excess emotion—until he turned and saw Mu Yu.

And when she turned, she saw Lan Mo. That adorable, innocent child, who that day wore an expression of utter despair and agony, just like when she had told her she was leaving, that their relationship was over.

She still remembered how Lan Mo had cried uncontrollably, nearly kneeling to clutch her hand, begging to know why she had to leave, why she couldn't take her along.

And she had simply replied: I don't need you anymore.

She had never loved that child. Liu Shuyan told herself this repeatedly. It was just two lonely souls clinging to each other for warmth, filling the void in their hearts with intimacy on foreign soil. And all of it had to have an expiration date, for the price of indulging desire was terrifying.

She had more important matters to attend to, so she left Lan Mo. There was love, of course, but it was insignificant. In the face of immense familial burdens and tangled interests, a fleeting, tender love could neither serve as the steel and concrete to build her life nor as a shield against the storms. She had no other choice.

Mu Hanxiao and she were similar in this regard. He, too, was wavering and uncertain, far from the unshakable fortress he appeared to be— otherwise, he wouldn't have accepted that kiss.

"Apologies, this falls outside my responsibilities."

Liu Shuyan froze for a moment. Mu Hanxiao looked at her as the damp night air swirled around them, chilling their skin. She wasn't obtuse; she could see in his expression that he was drawing a line between them—one he had set himself, and thus, it was insurmountable, a chasm too deep to cross.

Mu Hanxiao left the Liu residence. Liu Shuyan stood alone by the quiet roadside for a long while before letting out a bitter laugh and turning to enter the gates.

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