MMLDU Chapter 85

“Isn’t my sister-in-law doing just fine? That child was just temporarily confused and made a mistake. You’re being too harsh, how will outsiders view our Yan family? Father is getting old. Now he has to endure people talking behind his back.” Yan Tong was just using this opportunity to criticize Yan Han, even dragging Old Master Yan into the conversation.

Old Master Yan sat expressionless, not interrupting.

Hearing this, Yan Han couldn’t suppress his anger. Pei Lang felt the pressure in the air drop, so he gently squeezed Yan Han’s hand to comfort him. But it seemed to have no effect.

Yan Han sat there, while Yan Tong stood. The confrontation between the scheming, sharp, and ruthless older brother and the mature, strong, indifferent, and protective younger brother was intense, with neither side yielding.

“So what you’re saying is, attempted murder isn’t a crime?” Yan Han’s gaze, sharp like a blade, fixed on Yan Xiuyuan. Feeling the gaze, Yan Xiuyuan froze, trying his best to reduce his presence.

“Yan Xiuyuan!” Yan Han called.

At being named, Yan Xiuyuan trembled and fearfully looked up. “Uncle…”

Yan Tong had never seen his son act so cowardly. He almost couldn’t hold back from scolding him in front of everyone.

“Do you think attempted murder isn’t a crime?” This question wasn’t just about Pei Ziqing’s attempt to murder Pei Lang, but also about Yan Xiuyuan’s attempt to kill Yan Han. Being named as one of the murderers, Yan Xiuyuan was terrified, thinking that Yan Han was going to reveal his crimes.

His throat tightened painfully. For a long time, he couldn’t speak.

He struggled to open his mouth, trying to make his voice sound less suspicious. Yan Han didn’t rush him, waiting for his answer.

Finally, Yan Xiuyuan stammered, “It… it’s a crime.”

As soon as he spoke, his face turned pale, his expression lifeless. Yan Tong assumed he was heartbroken over Pei Ziqing and didn’t think much of it.

Yan Han smiled coldly. “Very well, then…”

“Uncle!” Yan Xiuyuan suddenly shouted loudly, interrupting Yan Han’s words. “Ziqing made a mistake. He should be punished for his crime. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with how you’re handling this. I’m here to apologize to you and Xiao Lang… Uncle, on behalf of Ziqing.”

 

Yan Xiuyuan’s voice broke through the obstacles, trembling as he spoke loudly, forcing the words out.

“What are you saying? You ungrateful child!” Yan Tong couldn’t hold back his frustration and slapped Yan Xiuyuan.

It was bad enough to lose face in public, but now he was doing the same in front of Yan Han. How did he end up with such a troublesome and useless son? The wife he found, his thoughtless actions, all of it made him unable to hold his head up in front of others.

Yan Xiuyuan’s pale face turned blood-red from the slap, but he didn’t regret it. Instead, he cast a fearful and pleading glance at Yan Han.

Pei Ziqing’s actions had angered Yan Han. The words Yan Han had just spoken were a warning to Yan Xiuyuan that he had evidence of his attempt to murder his uncle. If Yan Xiuyuan didn’t do something, once this matter was exposed, not only would Yan Tong lose face, but he might also face punishment from their grandfather.

Grandfather doted on this little uncle so much. Yan Xiuyuan had no chance of winning in this matter. So, he could only act first, begging for forgiveness. Even though he disappointed his father and was slapped, it didn’t matter.

“Is there anything else you want to say, big brother?” Yan Han no longer looked at Yan Xiuyuan, but instead turned to ask Yan Tong.

Having avoided disaster for the moment, Yan Xiuyuan breathed a sigh of relief, shrinking further into the background.

Since Yan Xiuyuan, as Pei Ziqing’s husband, had already admitted to it, no matter how dissatisfied Yan Tong was, he had no choice. Yan Tong’s face was livid. “You really don’t consider yourself part of the Yan family. You don’t care about the family’s reputation. What else can I say?”

“Big brother doesn’t seem to treat me like family either,” Yan Han replied coldly. “The Yan family’s reputation was ruined because you didn’t pick the right people. Lang Lang is the victim. Does Big Brother really think the victim should remain silent, suffer in silence?”

Growing up, Yan Han had endured all their actions in silence, only striving to become stronger so they couldn’t hurt him anymore.

It wasn’t because he cherished this family bond, but because he didn’t want to make his only loving father feel troubled. Now that they were targeting Pei Lang, that was his bottom line. It was something he could not allow.

So when he fought back, it made him seem heartless.

 

Yan Han’s words carried deeper meaning. Both Yan Tong and Yan Xiuyuan looked unhappy. At this moment, the elder spoke up.

“Xiuyuan, Pei Ziqing is the person you loudly proclaimed you were going to marry, that’s a fact. You chose the wrong person and caused such a mess, how can you blame your uncle and the others?” The old man was old, but not blind or confused.

“Grandfather, it’s my fault. I admit it.” Yan Xiuyuan understood the current situation very well. He stepped forward to bow his head in apology, his attitude respectful. He was worried that if his apology wasn’t done properly, it would anger Yan Han.

“As long as you know your mistake.” The old man was somewhat satisfied with his attitude and then turned to look at his eldest son, Yan Tong. “Xiuyuan has always been under your guidance. If a child misbehaves, the father is at fault. It’s one thing for him to be playful, but how could his judgment be so poor? I’ve heard that there have been many issues at the company recently. I hope you’ll reflect on your approach to his upbringing. Teach him well, manage him properly, and don’t waste time on meaningless matters.”

As an elder, his words carried weight. Yan Tong was unhappy but had no choice but to bow and accept the reprimand. “Father, your words are correct.”

It was clear the old man was siding with Yan Han. Yan Tong was so angry that his teeth were almost grinding, but he had to admit that this matter was indeed the fault of his ungrateful son. If it weren’t for him provoking Pei Ziqing, if they hadn’t deliberately made their relationship public on the internet, this wouldn’t have happened, and they wouldn’t have been the subject of so much attention and shame.

They weren’t even here for the meal to begin with. After being reprimanded, Yan Tong left with his useless son, shooting a furious glare at Yan Han before leaving, feeling that their joined hands were a constant irritation.

Once they were finally gone, Yan Han and Pei Lang stayed behind to eat.

The ones who left were in a bad mood and had no appetite, but they were different. Yan Han got out of his wheelchair and sat at the table with Pei Lang. Across from them, the old man sighed deeply, feeling heartache for the two but also reassured by their trust and love for each other.

They didn’t stay overnight. After eating and chatting for a while, they left.

By the time they returned, it was late, and the chilly dampness of late autumn hit them. Pei Lang couldn’t help but pull his coat tighter. “Yan Xiuyuan’s behavior tonight was really strange. Is there something you’re hiding from me?”

Yan Xiuyuan had always been arrogant, not taking Yan Han seriously. Today, with his father backing him up, he acted like a sick cat in front of Yan Han, actively admitting his mistake. This was something Pei Lang hadn’t expected at all.

 

Pei Lang didn’t say a word during this time, but he took note of the reactions of those present. Yan Xiuyuan’s fear of Yan Han and his eager admission of guilt made Pei Lang suspicious.

Once they got into the car, Yan Han tossed the wheelchair aside. The road from the old house was still quite cold, but once in the car, he pulled Pei Lang into his arms for warmth. Yan Han remained silent, weary, while Pei Lang didn’t press him any further, nestling quietly into Yan Han’s embrace. Su Jia drove in the front. The three of them were silent on the way back.

Back at the villa, Yan Han pulled Pei Lang upstairs and explained, “I found out that the car accident from a few years ago was planned by him. I was lucky to survive, but lost the ability to move my legs.”

“You mean… Yan Xiuyuan tried to murder you!?” Pei Lang wasn’t doubting it, just shocked.

“Yes. I talked to him. He was afraid I’d reveal the truth, which is why he fears me now.” Yan Han’s mood was unreadable, but Pei Lang’s heart ached for him.

In the original story, Yan Han’s legs were injured because of a “white moonlight”. Although he hadn’t met that so-called “white moonlight” yet, he didn’t expect there to be another hidden truth. Yan Xiuyuan, the male lead, had his character collapse, but to find out he was actually a criminal was a surprise. What kind of hatred would lead someone to try to kill their own uncle? After the plan failed, he could still mock his uncle’s disability without a second thought.

Pei Lang had thought Yan Xiuyuan was just a crazy person with a ruined image, but now, he seemed like a brainless and cowardly villain, holding onto a glimmer of hope after his crimes were exposed.

“You must have been really upset when you found out the truth,” Pei Lang said. He couldn’t really understand the feeling of being harmed by a family member. Pei Ziqing didn’t count, so he couldn’t empathize with that kind of pain. But he was certain that something like this would make anyone feel terrible.

Even though Yan Han didn’t like his nephew and knew from the start that the other didn’t see him as family, the fact remained—they were family.

This kind of thing was cruel even to outsiders, let alone to someone who was related by blood like Yan Han.

“It was painful, but I also gained something from the misfortune.” Time had passed and his legs had healed. Heaven had even granted him a lover. “If it weren’t for my disability, you wouldn’t have come into my life. Isn’t this turning misfortune into a blessing?”

Yan Han was trying to comfort himself by looking at the situation from a different angle. If he didn’t have this level of realization, how bitter would the memories be?

“Who said that? As long as we’re destined, we’ll meet one day,” Pei Lang disagreed, smiling as he explained. “Even without that car accident, we would have met. Maybe in a mall, maybe in a restaurant, maybe at some event. But no matter how we would have met, since it has already happened, let’s just let it pass. We have a long future to look forward to. I’ll walk with you all the way.”

 

He then gave Yan Han a big hug, patting his back reassuringly. Compared to Yan Han, his slightly smaller frame gave off an immense sense of strength.

With him around, the darkness behind them dissipated, and the road ahead gleamed brightly.

“Thank you, Lang Lang.” Yan Han, comforted, sat down while still holding onto Pei Lang.

“So, what are you planning to do about Yan Xiuyuan?” Murder is no small matter.

“For now, he’s been obedient. What do you think I should do?” Yan Han asked Pei Lang in return, wanting to hear his thoughts, although he already had his own decision.

Pei Lang thought seriously. Looking at Yan Xiuyuan’s cowardly attitude tonight and how he hadn’t caused any trouble recently, it seemed like he was terrified. As Yan Tong’s son, living a life of glory without trouble would have been easy for him, but ruining everything because of murder would be worse than death.

“Since this is making him obedient, we can keep him on edge. Let him live in fear. If he steps out of line again, then we can make our next move,” Pei Lang’s thoughts aligned with Yan Han’s.

When they were kids, Yan Xiuyuan bullied Yan Han, but now the tables had turned. With this leverage, Yan Xiuyuan didn’t dare to cause trouble and was practically doing everything he could to please his uncle, just to earn a chance to survive.

Wasn’t this also a form of torment and punishment? The most important thing was that Yan Han’s father was getting old and couldn’t withstand such emotional turmoil. If the old man found out about this, he’d probably be so angry he’d collapse.

As the only relative Yan Han truly cared about by blood, neither Pei Lang nor Yan Han wanted anything to happen to him.

“Just like I thought.”

“Of course, we’re on the same page.”

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