Chapter 16 Relationships between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law!
"You don’t have to worry about us overstaying our welcome. Once my mom is rested, I’ll take her and leave. We won’t be any trouble for you," Lin Mu said. Seeing Qin Luoli freeze, he turned and walked into the living room.
"Lin Mu, what do you mean by that?" Qin Luoli quickly followed him, her voice sharp with anger. "Even though I can’t stand you, we’re still husband and wife in name, at least for now. Your mother is my mother-in-law, so how could I possibly ignore this? If word got out, people would think I’m disrespectful to my elders. Even if it’s just for my own reputation, I have to get involved in this!"
Qin Luoli stared at Lin Mu with determination.
He stopped in his tracks, quietly watching her.
"For your reputation?" Lin Mu said with a hint of mockery. "I already told you we’re getting a divorce soon. There will be nothing between us, so you don’t need to worry about that."
Seeing Lin Mu’s indifferent expression, Qin Luoli felt an inexplicable pain in her heart, sharp as a needle prick. At the same time, a nameless rage surged within her, making her want to tear him to shreds.
How could this damned bastard say something like that? Am I a plague? Is that how little he wants me around?
She felt deeply wronged. To the world, she was a goddess, a powerful businesswoman respected and admired by countless people. Yet in Lin Mu’s eyes, she was utterly dispensable. He even wanted to be the one to divorce her!
This is infuriating!
"You are a live-in son-in-law of the Qin Family. You have no right to bring up divorce, so you can forget about it!" Qin Luoli said coldly.
Lin Mu frowned. Staring at the woman before him, he said, "Do you think that’s enough to keep me here?"
He thinks I want to keep him? Does this bastard have any idea what I’m thinking?
Qin Luoli was about to lose her mind. Though she wanted to tear him apart, she managed a sneer. "I know you don’t care, and neither do I. But your mother cares. When you married into the Qin Family, you signed a contract. Should I show it to our mother-in-law?"
Qin Luoli watched him like a sly little fox.
Lin Mu’s brows furrowed deeply. This is indeed my only weakness. I can ignore what anyone else thinks, but not my mother. If she found out I was divorcing Qin Luoli, who knows what she might do.
"What will it take for you to agree to a divorce?" Lin Mu sighed, feeling thoroughly frustrated.
The world’s number one assassin, the Emperor Zun of the Eternal Immortal Realm, is being cornered by a mortal woman. If word of this got out, the entire Eternal Immortal Realm would laugh itself into a frenzy.
"Hmph, that depends on your performance. We can talk about divorce whenever I feel happy about it," Qin Luoli said triumphantly, raising her chin like a victorious peacock.
「In the living room.」
Mother Lin woke up and tried to get to her feet.
Qin Luoli hurried over and carefully supported her. "Mom, you’re injured. Please sit down. Just tell me if you need anything," she said softly.
Mother Lin was taken aback and glanced at Qin Luoli. Mom? This girl, who looks like a fairy, is calling me ’Mom’?
"Mom, my name is Qin Luoli. I’m Lin Mu’s wife, which makes you my mother-in-law. Of course I should call you Mom," Qin Luoli explained gently upon seeing the confusion on her face.
"You’re... Xiao Mu’s wife?" Mother Lin looked at Qin Luoli, hesitating.
She could hardly believe her son had managed to marry a woman as beautiful as a celestial fairy. This must be the Lin Family’s good fortune, accumulated over a hundred lifetimes!
Qin Luoli took Mother Lin’s hand and said with a beaming smile, "Yes, that’s right."
She shot Lin Mu a glare before saying in a self-reproachful tone, "It’s all Lin Mu’s fault for not telling me you were in River City. Otherwise, I would have invited you over to live comfortably long ago."
Lin Mu froze, taken aback as he watched Qin Luoli chatting with his mother. Her gentle and endearing manner was a complete departure from how she treated him.
Does this woman have schizophrenia? A split personality?
Mother Lin looked awkward. Worried that Qin Luoli might blame her son, she quickly said, "I was the one who told Xiao Mu not to tell you. I was afraid of causing you trouble."
Qin Luoli feigned displeasure. "What trouble? Lin Mu’s mother is my mother. We’ve been married for so long, yet I haven’t had the chance to properly care for my mother-in-law. If word of this got out, people would not only say I’m disrespectful to elders, but they’d also call Lin Mu an unfilial son."
Mother Lin averted her gaze. "Please don’t say that. Xiao Mu is very good to me. I just didn’t want to be a bother."
This girl, with her extraordinary aura, beauty, and dignified grace, was truly the perfect daughter-in-law. But the Lin Family was no longer what it once was. The family had fallen on hard times, and they had often struggled just to survive. Otherwise, she would never have allowed her son to become a live-in son-in-law, a status looked down upon and ridiculed by society. Compared to the brilliant Qin Luoli, Mother Lin, who had been worn down by hardship and time, felt a deepening sense of inadequacy. She didn’t want to stay here a moment longer.
Holding Mother Lin’s hand, Qin Luoli said with heartfelt remorse, "Mom, what are you saying about being a bother? I’m your daughter-in-law. It’s my duty to care for you; it’s only natural. Please don’t say things like that anymore, okay?"
Seeing that Mother Lin was about to protest again, Qin Luoli quickly added, "Mom, starting today, you’ll live here with us. If you’re not comfortable, I’ll take you house-hunting tomorrow. As soon as you find one you like, we’ll buy it!"
"How could I possibly..."
Mother Lin waved her hands frantically. "No, that won’t do, absolutely not."
Saying this, she tried to stand up from the sofa to leave. Qin Luoli didn’t dare block her for fear she might fall, so she could only help support her.
"Xiao Mu, are you alright?" Mother Lin looked at her son. She had heard what happened outside. She looked him up and down, her face filled with concern as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Mom, I’m fine. Don’t worry," Lin Mu said, supporting his mother. He felt a storm of emotions inside, and he could sense her deep embarrassment.
"Lin Mu, let’s have Mom stay with us. If she’s not comfortable here, we can buy her a house and hire a couple of people to look after her, alright?" Qin Luoli urged, shooting him pleading glances.
Lin Mu looked at his injured mother, then at Qin Luoli, and finally nodded. "Okay."
"See, Mom? Just stay here and relax. Lin Mu and I will definitely take good care of you," Qin Luoli said excitedly, pulling on Mother Lin’s arm. That single word, "Mom," nearly brought tears to the older woman’s eyes again.
"Mom, just stay here. I’m here, so everything will be alright," Lin Mu said, clasping his mother’s hand tightly.
Looking between the two of them, Mother Lin hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. "Okay."