Gold Cage - Chapter 42

When Mu Yu returned to Yunhai, he learned that Mu Hanxiao was not home.

Yet the remote surveillance never missed a second. Mu Yu sneered inwardly.

Li Bing, concerned about his sleep, urged him to go upstairs and rest. After his shower, Li Bing deliberately called out from downstairs, "Mr. Mu has business to attend to and won't be staying at Yunhai tonight."

Mu Yu tossed back, "No need to tell me. I don't care."

He turned and retreated to his bedroom, shutting himself inside.

For over half a year, to avoid prying eyes, Mu Hanxiao had rarely returned to Yunhai—until everything was finally settled. Yu Jing, however, had secretly visited a few times. Strangely enough, she had never been to the Mu family home before. On her first visit, she marveled at Yunhai's opulence and beauty, later even catching a distant glimpse of Bibotang's corner, nestled among the trees on the mountainside—though it had since been confiscated as part of Mu Yunting's personal assets.

She had known the Mu family was wealthy and the Zhao family powerful, but she never imagined it was to this extent. That such a colossal dynasty could collapse under the hands of its ruler, Mu Hanxiao, left her awestruck—and fearful.

Yet Yu Jing sensed that Mu Hanxiao cared for her Helkin. At the very least, this man would not harm her child but would protect him, which put her mind at ease.

"How often does Mr. Mu usually visit you?"

Once, Yu Jing asked Mu Yu this. His reply? Almost never.

Yu Jing could only say, "Mr. Mu must be worried about your safety."

But Mu Yu thought to himself: Whether he worries or not, it's none of his business.

He didn't care.

In the October chill, the overseas company Mu Hanxiao had transferred and established welcomed a new major shareholder—a young man named Helkin Glinka.

No one knew who this sudden newcomer was, save for a select few who vaguely heard he might be related to the Mu family.

Even Mu Yu himself was caught off guard by his new shareholder status. With Mu Hanxiao completely absent, he was left to navigate meetings with directors and shareholders alone—juggling a week of conferences, half a month of gatherings, endless business negotiations, and social engagements. Despite having no real involvement in the company, Mu Yu somehow found himself swamped beyond belief.

However, after touring the new company, Mu Yu couldn't help but admire Mu Hanxiao's business acumen. The company focused on emerging global industries, controlling the entire supply chain from upstream to downstream. Although its foundation came from funds and factories transferred from the Mu Group, it had since developed completely independently. Even Mu Hanxiao himself had barely intervened in its operations, which was why it remained unaffected during the recent turmoil.

In the bleak autumn wind, the suburban fields stretched pale yellow like mist. Mu Hanxiao stepped out of his car and walked into a white, low-rise building against the wind.

It was the prison holding his mother, Zhao Mengling.

Behind the iron bars, Zhao Mengling sat in her prison uniform, her slender frame draped in the plain fabric. Her back remained ramrod straight—years of ingrained habits and posture were hard to break. She sat coldly, staring at Mu Hanxiao, who was dressed entirely in black on the other side.

Mu Hanxiao spoke first: "How have you been lately?"

Zhao Mengling smiled faintly: "What do you think?"

"If you need anything, you can have someone contact me."

"Your father and I raised you for so many years, pouring all our energy and time into you." Zhao Mengling glared at Mu Hanxiao as if he were an enemy: "And in the end, you repay us by sending us to prison."

"Even without me, things were bound to come to this. You'd already lost control over Father you know that better than I do."

Zhao Mengling regarded him coldly: "Do you think I don't know what's on your mind? Your heart left this family long ago, Mu Hanxiao. I thought there was still hope for you—I thought Mu Yu's death would bring you back to your senses! But you're beyond saving. You're completely sick in the head!"

Mu Hanxiao remained silent as Zhao Mengling grew increasingly agitated: "Ever since that bastard entered our family, your heart flew away with him! You knew how important family alliances were, yet you cut ties with the He family for his sake. That was when I knew something was wrong with you. He's already dead—what more do you want to do for him? Take revenge on your parents? Destroy your own family? Have you lost your mind?! You personally sent your own brother to prison! Xiao Ye is your real brother!"

Mu Hanxiao finally responded: "It's a pity that by the time you finally realized your parenting methods were flawed and tried to mold him according to your ideals, it was already too late."

Zhao Mengling's sharp eyes bore into Mu Hanxiao. Years of authority made even the slightest hint of her anger feel oppressive, enough to make most people avert their gaze.

But Mu Hanxiao met his mother's gaze calmly and said, "The entire Mu family has been rotting from within for a long time. It may look glamorous on the surface, but it's decayed underneath. My abilities are limited—I can't fill the void Father left behind, nor can I single-handedly uphold this family anymore."

Mu Hanxiao stood up. Zhao Mengling snapped, "Stop making excuses for your filthy thoughts! You think just because you've grown wings, you can take revenge on me and swallow the entire Mu family whole?! Your father and I have never done anything to wrong you! Xiao Ye cares about you more than anyone! He's still so young, he—"

At the mention of her beloved youngest son, Zhao Mengling finally broke down, covering her face as she wept. Mu Hanxiao simply looked down at his mother and suddenly asked, "When you tried to kill Mu Yu all those times, did you ever stop to think about how young he was?"

Zhao Mengling froze.

After giving birth to Mu Zhiye, she had gone to see that illegitimate child she so despised. She wanted to see what the boy looked like and to know who his mother was. If either mother or son dared to overstep even slightly, she would make them vanish from the Mu family immediately.

But that day, Mu Yu was running a fever. Burning with delirium, thin as a little animal, he curled up under the blankets, crying for his mother. Zhao Mengling watched from the doorway for a while, then turned and left without a word.

She repeatedly reminded Mu Hanxiao that once the child turned eighteen, he should be sent abroad—wherever he went, whatever he did, he simply could not remain with the Mu family.

Later, Mu Yu did go overseas for university, but even amid her busy schedule, Zhao Mengling noticed something amiss with Mu Hanxiao.

His focus was no longer solely on his own family. He was distracted, making countless trips to the U.S. each year, barely even bothering to conceal his movements. It was as if he had fallen ill, as though he had become a completely different person.

Alarm bells rang in Zhao Mengling's mind. She had long suspected that Mu Hanxiao's attitude toward Mu Yu was unusual, keeping the boy like a caged golden canary in Yunhai, hidden under a veil where no one could see! At first, she thought it was just Mu Hanxiao's habit of playing the role of the eldest brother, doting on all his younger siblings. But as time passed, things grew increasingly wrong. How could her eldest son be so bewitched by a ridiculous illegitimate child? They were even related by blood! That boy was just like his mother, using his looks and underhanded tricks to ensnare men—even she had almost been fooled into thinking the child was truly pitiable!

"The bodyguards you've stationed around him are quite competent," Zhao Mengling sneered at Mu Hanxiao. "You've sealed every crack against me."

Mu Hanxiao replied calmly, "Father said that whatever the Mu family has, he should have too."

"He shouldn't! He has no right! He's the product of your father's affair! Mu Hanxiao, I thought marriage would have straightened out your mind. I overestimated you—you're the Mu family's greatest failure—"

Mu Hanxiao said, "I realized that a long time ago."

Mu Hanxiao left the prison and returned to Yunhai late that night.

Mu Yu was already asleep. Over the past six months, his sleep schedule and diet had been carefully regulated. Li Bing strictly monitored his bedtime, while Phil oversaw his meals. His health had improved somewhat, and his face had filled out with a healthier glow.

On the terrace, potted plants of various sizes were arranged on the table and the grass. Roses and orchids were in full bloom, and wisteria vines cascaded from the table down to the ground. A pair of scissors lay on the table, and trimmed branches were scattered across the ground, being tidied up by a servant.

The servant said, "Mr. Mu Yu spent a long time pruning the flowers since they were blooming so beautifully, but he couldn't find a suitable flower stand. He plans to buy one first thing tomorrow."

Mu Hanxiao gave a slight nod, glanced at the flowers on the terrace, then headed upstairs.

The next morning, Mu Yu was yawning as he was called for breakfast. Still drowsy, he ate the steamed buns in his pajamas after washing up—the buns were made by Phil, with thin wrappers and generous fillings, fragrant and soft, perfectly complemented by the milk.

Hearing movement in the garden, he took a bite of his bun and stepped onto the balcony to look. There, he saw Mu Hanxiao standing in the open space of the garden, his back turned. A large table stood before him, with planks of wood of various sizes piled at his feet.

The October air carried a crisp autumn chill, yet the man wore only a black short-sleeved shirt with casual pants and black boots. His muscular arms, from shoulders to waist, displayed smooth, powerful lines. Mu Hanxiao's long legs extended past the worktable as he bent over, measuring and marking lines on a wooden board.

Mu Yu ate his breakfast upstairs, watching as Mu Hanxiao finished marking, sawed the board into shape, sanded the edges, and picked up a drill to make holes. After a while, he dragged over an armchair, sat cross-legged, and continued observing. Mu Hanxiao worked in the open space all morning, sweat glistening on his back.

At noon, Mu Hanxiao had lunch at Yunhai. Mu Yu sat across from him in a fluffy onesie pajama set. "What were you doing all morning?" Mu Hanxiao removed his gloves, washed his hands, and took a seat. "Making a flower stand."

"I never asked you to make one for me."

"Then throw it away if you don't want it."

Mu Yu frowned at him, finished his meal, and went back upstairs.

In the afternoon, Mu Hanxiao continued working on the flower stand. Mu Yu, wearing headphones, watched a movie while talking to Yu Jing on the phone.

"Yeah, he's downstairs doing carpentry."

"No idea. Said he's making me a flower stand."

"Mom, why do you like him so much? He's nothing like what you imagine."

After a while, Mu Yu hung up. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees outside, casting dappled rays into his room. He took off his headphones, walked to the balcony, and lifted the sheer curtains to peek into the garden.

The wooden pieces were all shaped now, and Mu Hanxiao was meticulously sanding and oiling each one. Admittedly, even his craftsmanship was impressive—the curves of the wood were elegant.

Mu Yu stood silently behind the curtains for a moment before turning back, climbing onto his bed, and cocooning himself in the blankets.

He took an afternoon nap, waking up refreshed. After sipping black tea, he sprawled lazily on the bed, playing an online game with Lu Hao. Lu Hao asked, "When are you coming back to Qingfei? It's just not the same without you."

Mu Yu chuckled. "Aren't you afraid I'll scare the employees the moment I step in?"

"You're Helkin now, not Mu Yu. Just act like the new general manager what's there to fear?"

"So I've been demoted, huh?"

Lu Hao laughed. Mu Yu said, "It's probably not convenient for me to return domestically. I'll likely go to Fan en's side instead."

Lu Hao immediately protested, "No way! If you go to Fan en, what about us?"

"Haven't you all been doing fine these past six months?"

"We've been drowning in work! Without you and Uncle Xie gone, the new hires aren't cutting it. A-Yin's practically pulling his hair out from stress!"

Just as Mu Yu was about to tease him, a thought struck him, and he changed his tone. "Alright, fine. I'll figure something out."

Pleased with the promise, Lu Hao finally relaxed. They played two rounds before Mu Yu glanced outside—the sun had set, and dusk was settling in.

He was completely free now. Apart from Phil managing his meals and Li Bing overseeing his sleep, there was no one left to control him. Even Mu Hanxiao seemed to have taken the wrong medicine—no longer restricting his movements or even bothering to ask where he went.

Mu Yu went to the balcony again to check. This time, the flower stand was nearly complete. The framework alone looked beautiful, with plenty of extra space for creative additions beyond the main structure. Mu Hanxiao had built a large stand, and even used the leftover materials to make a smaller one.

Mu Yu went downstairs and circled to the garden. Standing at a distance with his hands tucked in his pajama pockets, he watched Mu Hanxiao kneeling on the ground, connecting the mortise and tenon joints.

The sun had dipped below the horizon, and stars began dotting the night sky.

After securing the final joint, Mu Hanxiao tested the stability of both stands. Spotting Mu Yu, he tossed aside his tools, removed his gloves, and walked toward him.

Having spent the entire day woodworking, his body still radiated warmth in the cool night. He stopped before Mu Yu. "Come."

"What for?"

"Test the stands."

Mu Yu hesitated for a moment but eventually followed.

Free flower stands—two of them—were too good to pass up.

Later, Li Bing and Phil came to help. The large stand was placed on the lawn beside the terrace, forming a corner with the villa's wall, while the smaller one was positioned near the swing. Mu Yu directed the three to move the potted plants he had pruned the previous night onto their designated spots on the stands. Then, dismissing their assistance, he personally trimmed and tidied the foliage.

Li Bing and Phil left, leaving only Mu Hanxiao watching him. Mu Yu carefully arranged the vines and picked up a watering can.

"You can go now. I want to water them alone," Mu Yu said.

Instead of leaving, footsteps approached from behind. A tall shadow enveloped him, stretching across the flower stand.

"Upset?" Mu Hanxiao asked.

"No," Mu Yu replied without looking up.

"What else do you want?"

This time, unlike before, Mu Yu didn't say he wanted nothing. It was as if he had been waiting for this question. Smiling, he met Mu Hanxiao's gaze. "Actually, yes. Will you agree?"

"Depends."

Mu Yu scoffed. A shrewd businessman—he wouldn't even concede a verbal advantage.

"Qingfei is short-staffed. Uncle Xie isn't around, and I can't step in openly." Mu Yu gave him a meaningful look. "They can't find suitable help temporarily. Any ideas?"

Mu Hanxiao studied him. Mu Yu added seriously, "Someone experienced who can get started within a day. Full-time, no distractions, and not too expensive. We're a small company—budget's tight."

"What's in it for me?"

"If the project goes well... a 20% bonus?"

Mu Hanxiao chuckled, making no effort to hide his disdain for such a paltry sum. Annoyed, Mu Yu snapped, "Keep laughing, and even that disappears.”

"Marry me," Mu Hanxiao said, "and I'll solve this for you."

Silence fell over the garden. Mu Yu wondered if he'd misheard. "What did you say?"

Mu Hanxiao repeated, "Marry me."

Mu Yu took a deep breath, struggling to contain his emotions as he scrutinized his brother's mental state. "Are you insane? You're asking to marry me now?"

Where was this when it mattered? Back then, he'd pretended Mu Yu was just a brother—so righteous in his detachment. Now he had the audacity to propose marriage? The words screamed in Mu Yu's mind: What took you so long?

He threw down the water bottle and turned to leave, but paused at the terrace before spinning back around, his eyes red with anger as he lashed out at Mu Hanxiao: "Don't even think about it, Mu Hanxiao! Do you take me for an idiot? Keep dreaming your ridiculous dreams!"

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