Chapter 12 – “He’s Not Worthy? And That Cripple Song Qinian Is?”

Song Liancheng stared at Su Mujin in shock—he had clearly not expected her to say something like that.

Old Master Song, however, nodded approvingly.

“Well said!
Liancheng, even though you and Mujin were once engaged, you didn’t see each other much and had no real emotional bond.
Now that she’s married to your older brother, you must be mindful of your behavior.
We can’t have people thinking our family lacks discipline—or worse, that our relationships are a mess.
From now on, you must address her as sister-in-law. Don’t call her by name again.”

Old Master Song held the highest authority in the Song family, and if Song Liancheng wanted to rise through the ranks, he had to rely on the old man’s support.

So, no matter what he was truly feeling inside, he could only reply obediently:

“Yes, Grandpa. I understand.”

But Old Master Song frowned.

“Understanding isn’t enough—you must act on it.
Go ahead and say it. Right now.”

“…Alright.”

Song Liancheng turned to look at Su Mujin.

She met his gaze calmly and confidently, without even the slightest trace of discomfort. Her eyes were steady, waiting leisurely for him to speak.

“S-sis—”

Song Liancheng opened his mouth a few times, struggling to force out the final syllable. The word “sister-in-law” barely escaped his lips in a whisper.

That made Old Master Song quite unhappy.

“Liancheng, you’re a grown man now—why are you acting like a shy little girl? Say it properly! Loud and clear!”

Good job, Grandpa!
Su Mujin cheered for Old Master Song in her heart and took a moment to recall how he was described in the original novel.

In the original version, Old Master Song held a highly respected position and remained untouched by political purges or scandals.

But with Song Qinian disabled and later drowning to death in the river, the Song family’s main branch took a heavy hit.

Song Huaian and Chen Yuehua aged what seemed like ten years overnight. Still, with their daughter Song Muxue to care for, they gritted their teeth and carried on.

But not long after Su Moli married Song Liancheng, a terrible incident occurred.

One rainy evening, Song Muxue didn’t return home from school.
Her parents went out to look for her in the storm, but tragedy struck.

Song Huaian fell and died in an accident. Chen Yuehua broke her leg.

Although Song Muxue was eventually found, she had been violated—a bright, polite, lively girl of sixteen was left broken, her spirit shattered.

After losing her husband and becoming disabled, Chen Yuehua still had to console her traumatized daughter.

So much suffering turned her hair white overnight.

From then on, mother and daughter depended on each other—but their fate only worsened.

Remembering all this, Su Mujin looked at Old Master Song with a new, more complex emotion.

In the novel, after Song Qinian and Song Huaian both died, Song Liancheng became the sole grandson of the Song family and received Old Master Song’s full backing.

Yet the old man never gave much attention to Chen Yuehua and Muxue.
At most, he told the second branch of the family to “look after them more.”

Was it that he was too old and lacked the energy to care—or did he simply not care about the two remaining women of the main branch?

But now… Song Qinian was still alive—and he would walk again one day.

When that time came, what would Old Master Song do?
Would he still favor Song Liancheng the most?

The more Su Mujin thought about it, the more she looked forward to what was coming. Her smile deepened, her expression calm but meaningful.

After being scolded, Song Liancheng’s face looked even more sour.
But he didn’t dare go against Old Master Song.

He turned his eyes away from Su Mujin and quickly muttered:

“Sister-in-law.”

Just two simple words—yet they carried a storm of complicated emotions.

Su Mujin pretended not to notice.

She responded with a face full of satisfaction:

“I thought Liancheng didn’t want to call me that—maybe he didn’t want to acknowledge me as his sister-in-law!
But now that you’ve said it, I feel much better!”

“Since I’m already married to Qinian, I’m his wife—and we’re a united couple. From here on out, life will only get better and better for us!”

As she spoke, Su Mujin looked down at Song Qinian—and just then, he looked up too.

Their eyes met, and they both smiled—in perfect sync, as if this moment had been rehearsed.

This was only their second day of knowing each other, their first day as a married couple.

Yet the way they looked at each other—smiling with their eyes and hearts—radiated such a strong sense of harmony and connection that no one could possibly insert themselves between them.

Old Master Song was visibly pleased.

“Mujin, with thoughts like that, I’m relieved.
Qinian is a good kid. The two of you, live well together!”

“Got it, Grandpa,”
Su Mujin replied sweetly.

Old Master Song took out a red envelope from his pocket and handed it to her.

“You two just got married yesterday. As your grandfather, this is a little blessing from me. Keep it safe.”

Su Mujin immediately held out both hands to accept it.

“Thank you, Grandpa!”

She beamed brightly, her voice sweet, and her manners perfectly graceful.

Old Master Song was absolutely delighted, his smile growing even wider.

“Don’t just stand there—sit down and eat. The food’s going to get cold.”

Su Mujin wheeled Song Qinian to the table, carefully locking his wheelchair in place, and then sat down beside him.

“Qinian, tell me what you’d like to eat—I’ll serve it for you.”

“I’m not picky,” Song Qinian replied gently.
“Whatever you serve, I’ll eat.”

To Su Mujin, that sentence translated instantly into:

— Whatever you choose for me, I’ll love.

Too sweet!

Su Mujin couldn’t help but give Song Qinian a smiling glance before beginning to serve him.

The entire meal passed in harmony. Both Su Mujin and Song Qinian ate with content smiles and full hearts.

Chen Yuehua, watching from the side, had tears brimming in her eyes.

She truly hadn’t expected Su Mujin to be this thoughtful and considerate.

More attentive than even a biological mother!

Her son had married such a good wife—it was like the heavens had smiled upon them.

She made up her mind: from now on, she had to treat Su Mujin even better.
She’d make up for her son’s share of love too!

After dinner, they stayed to chat with Old Master Song for a while longer before finally getting up to leave.

Song Liancheng, standing to the side, watched Su Mujin’s retreating figure, and his gaze slowly darkened.

After their engagement, he’d seen Su Mujin a few times—shared a few meals.

But each time, she’d been silent, head lowered, barely saying a word.

He hadn’t even gotten a good look at her face—let alone see such a brilliant smile.

Now she smiled so radiantly… What did she mean by that?

So he didn’t deserve her smile, but that cripple Song Qinian did?

Was he unworthy, but Song Qinian was?

His hands clenched tightly into fists, his heart full of unwillingness.

He had to ask her—face to face—what exactly she meant by this.

---

At that moment, Su Mujin had already brought Song Qinian home.

“Mujin, weren’t you going to the department store with Muxue?” Song Qinian said with a smile.
“Go ahead—I’ll be fine. I’ll just sit here and read, maybe get some sun while I wait for you.”

Su Mujin was quite curious about what a department store looked like in this era, so she didn’t decline.

“Is there anything you want me to buy for you?” she asked, smiling.

“No. Just get whatever you want.”

He really had no specific desires.
Before, he was either training or on missions and hardly spent any time at home.
He wasn’t picky about food, clothes, or possessions.

“Then I’ll just buy whatever catches my eye!”

Saying that, Su Mujin opened the cabinet and pulled out some money and ration coupons.

She also found a military-green crossbody bag and stuffed the money and tickets into it.

Just as she finished packing, she looked up to see Song Qinian watching her with a warm smile.

His features were gentle, his skin like jade, and the look in his eyes was full of affection—intensely focused on her.

Who could possibly resist a gaze like that?

Su Mujin certainly couldn’t.

She walked up to him cheerfully and planted a kiss on his cheek.

“I’m off now. Wait for me to come back!”