Rebirth: Start to Save the Treasure Girl

"Dad, is my sister-in-law's car of poor quality?"

Xue Yao lay on the back seat, looking utterly confused.

"How could a Range Rover be bad?" Xue Jianfeng didn't pay much attention, assuming that a girl of this age wouldn't recognize the car logo.

"But their car kept shaking."

"Ok?"

Xue Jianfeng glanced in the rearview mirror and saw that the Land Rover following behind was swaying noticeably, and Yu Minlan seemed to have a dark expression on her face as well.

What is Xue Rui doing in the car so early in the morning?
"Yes, that car is really not good quality. We won't buy it again," Xue Jianfeng changed his mind.

"Dad, that's not what you said just now."

"Oh, so that means the female driver isn't a good driver and drives haphazardly."

……

Inside the Land Rover, Yu Minlan glanced at the rearview mirror with a look of utter despair, thinking to herself that Xue Rui was indeed no ordinary person.

Normally, when Gu Muxue put on a cold and aloof demeanor, Xue Rui would have to muster up the courage to even strike up a conversation, but Xue Rui seemed to be able to ignite Gu Muxue's emotions instantly.

At this moment, Gu Muxue was on top of Xue Rui, tickling him incessantly: "If you won't say anything, fine, but you still want me to apologize..."

Xue Rui, not to be outdone, tickled Gu Muxue's waist.

Xue Rui could probably guess that Gu Muxue was still sulking because of what happened last night, so he simply spoke up to provoke her.

The effect was obvious. Gu Muxue was very angry at first, but as long as there was physical contact, it was easy for Gu Muxue to put down her pride.

"Okay, stop messing around, you've messed up my hair."

Gu Muxue patted Xue Rui on the shoulder and tucked herself into the corner of the car door to tidy herself up.

"Mu Xue, let me help you." Without waiting for a reply, Xue Rui snatched the comb and began to groom Gu Mu Xue's waist-length hair.

"What do you mean by 'help'? If you hadn't ruffled my hair, how would it be a mess?"

Gu Muxue had a smile on her lips.

"Okay, okay, it's what I should do." Xue Rui continued the story as he combed his hair:

"If you have older or younger brothers..."

"I'd like to see if you still dare to bully me then," Gu Muxue interrupted angrily.

Xue Rui's lips twitched, and he said with a smile, "Oh dear, I wonder who always calls me 'brother' when they beg for mercy."

Gu Muxue's pretty face turned red. She subconsciously glanced in Yu Minlan's direction and cursed in a very low voice, "Bastard, there are outsiders here."

“Mu Xue, you don’t need to be so sensitive. It’s not the first time Xi Xi has overheard this. She always eavesdrops at home,” Xue Rui said truthfully.

This time, Xue Rui didn't think he was slandering her; he had caught Lin Ruoxi red-handed many times.

It's fine if Gu Muxue finds out; consider it desensitization training, and you'll get used to it.

If they can't even listen, how can they live together in the future? His beautiful dream of holding Lin Ruoxi with his left arm and Gu Muxue with his right hand will be shattered.

"I..." Gu Muxue's gaze was unfocused. What Xue Rui said was true, but it just sounded strange to her.

"Sigh~" Gu Muxue sighed, she didn't know what to do.

Well… if Lin Ruoxi heard this, she would feel both ashamed and angry. She felt more ashamed towards Lin Ruoxi and simply angry towards Xue Rui.

"Next time you bully them back, we'll call it even," Xue Rui shamelessly urged.

Gu Muxue tilted her head, wondering what Xue Rui meant by "bullying" and what he meant by it.

Xue Rui raised an eyebrow with a cheeky grin, and Gu Muxue instantly pictured it in her mind.

Gu Muxue's heart pounded. Xue Rui meant for her to do the same thing, to switch places with Lin Ruoxi, so that Lin Ruoxi could also experience what she had gone through last night...

She knew exactly what Xue Rui wanted to do; Xue Rui wanted to keep lowering her standards.

“Xiao Rui, can’t you think of something serious?” Gu Muxue stammered.

"Um... what serious things can a boy my age think about?" Xue Rui said with a self-deprecating laugh.

Gu Muxue was quite helpless, thinking to herself, "How can someone say they're not serious?"
Using age as a shield...

She turned her head and glared fiercely at Xue Rui, then turned her head to look out the window.

Xue Rui's faint reflection was visible in the glass. At that moment, Xue Rui was helping her tie her hair up, and Gu Muxue's gaze gradually softened.

What's there to be angry about?
Hasn't the Xue Rui she knows always been like this?

"What did you say happened to Mom just now?"

Gu Muxue continued the previous topic, which was about Xue Rui's family; she still really wanted to hear about them.

"You've changed your tune so quickly? Does Mom know?" Xue Rui said with a grin.

Gu Muxue took a deep breath, thinking to herself that Xue Rui really knew how to exploit linguistic loopholes; she had been taken advantage of again by Xue Rui…

But then I thought, is this considered taking advantage of someone else?
What does "again" mean?
Wasn't everything in the past something I did willingly?

Gu Muxue felt it was time to sound the horn of counterattack; she couldn't let Xue Rui keep teasing her.

A sly glint flashed in Tao Hua's eyes as Gu Muxue took out her phone and made a video call to her mother.

She held the phone up to Xue Rui: "Our mom is still in Jiangnan, why don't you ask her yourself?"

Xue Rui was stunned for a moment, looking at Gu Muxue in disbelief.

In his mind, Gu Muxue would shyly snuggle into his arms and then softly scold him, "You rascal~"

But why didn't Gu Muxue follow the expected path?

I made a video call directly to my mother-in-law...

The moment Zhao Lizhen's face appeared on the screen, Xue Rui's heart tightened.

Xue Rui considered himself to have a strong heart, and few people could make him nervous, but Zhao Lizhen was one of those very few...

Is this the oppressive power that comes from a mother-in-law?
Xue Rui quickly put on a big smile: "Happy New Year, Aunt Zhao! I called you on the first day of the Lunar New Year to wish you a happy new year, but the line was always busy, so I sent you a text message. It's so convenient to use your own daughter's phone."

Gu Muxue's mouth formed an "O" shape in surprise.

Xue Rui is incredibly shameless. He didn't dare call his mother because she wasn't around on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Moreover, the video call was made by her, so how come it sounds like Xue Rui made the call on his own initiative?
"Xiao Rui, where are you and Mu Xue going to play?"

Zhao Lizhen didn't think much of it. She was always very busy during the Chinese New Year, so it was normal that Xue Rui couldn't get through.

"I'll take Mu Xue to visit my maternal grandmother's house."

Looking past the phone, Gu Muxue, tired of holding it with one hand, switched to holding it with both hands, her bright eyes blinking repeatedly, gesturing to Xue Rui to hold it himself.

Xue Rui pretended not to see it, reached out and rubbed Gu Muxue's cheek, which made Gu Muxue show her shiny teeth in a threatening gesture.

But now that Gu Muxue's hands are "controlled" by herself, she has no way to stop Xue Rui.

Having tasted success, Xue Rui became increasingly arrogant, but his face always wore a warm smile.

Gu Muxue pouted her red lips, her chin furrowed deeply, and her expression was pitiful.

She had intended to use her mother to tease Xue Rui and make him nervous, but somehow, she ended up being the one who got teased. Xue Rui's heart softened, and he stopped teasing Gu Muxue. He took Gu Muxue's wrists in his hands and helped relieve her pressure.

Gu Muxue appears fierce but is soft-hearted. When it's just the two of them, she always bullies him, but once a third person is present, she is easily bullied in return, even if that person is her biological mother.

In fact, as long as Gu Muxue complains, Xue Rui would have to obey obediently, but Gu Muxue will not do so.

"Xiao Rui, give the phone to Mu Xue so I can chat with her."

"Okay, Mu Xue, I'll hold the phone for you." Xue Rui said, turning the phone around.

Gu Muxue's smile deepened as her hands were freed, while Xue Rui's hands were occupied by his phone.

Gu Muxue mimicked Xue Rui's earlier actions, chatting with her mother while scratching and pinching Xue Rui, trying to get revenge for the grievances she had just suffered.

"Mu Xue, just have a normal conversation, don't pinch me!" Xue Rui said, sounding very aggrieved.

The smile in Gu Muxue's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by shock.

This is my mother. I haven't even complained about her yet, why are you complaining first?

"Mu Xue, stop fooling around. You've been staying at Xiao Rui's house for a week now. Remember to be diligent and don't let anyone wait on you around," Zhao Lizhen said.

"Don't worry, Auntie, I will definitely take good care of Mu Xue," Xue Rui immediately assured her.

"Um……"

Gu Muxue gritted her teeth, and Xue Rui perfectly portrayed the "victim accusing first" trope.

"Mu Xue is hanging up now. Goodbye, Xiao Rui. Have fun."

With a "ding" sound, the call ended. Gu Muxue tickled Xue Rui's waist, saying, "Serves you right for bullying me..."

However, Xue Rui was still savoring the conversation he had just had and did not react much to Gu Muxue's harassment.

Gu Muxue has only been at his house for two days, so how come her mother-in-law says it's been a week?
The last time they met, he and his mother-in-law parted on bad terms because of Lin Ruoxi, but today Zhao Lizhen was very kind to him, her eyes filled with affirmation.

Xue Rui held Gu Muxue tightly in his arms, and no matter how hard she tried, he only held her tighter.

"Let go," Gu Muxue said angrily.

"Mu Xue, what did you say to my mother-in-law? You've only been here for two days!" Xue Rui asked gently.

Gu Muxue glared at Xue Rui with dissatisfaction and said slowly, "Some people want to treat everyone equally, but they often spill the water, leaving me to clean up after them all the time."

"Uh..." Xue Rui blushed. The little girl was subtly hinting at him again.

“I lied to my mom and said I was at your house, and I also had Lin Ruoxi film some videos. I sent the videos to my mom, pretending that I was at your house…”

Gu Muxue explained.

"Thank you." Xue Rui lowered his head, kissed Gu Muxue's forehead deeply, and hugged her even tighter.

The young woman suffered a lot of grievances with him, but she never said a word to her family. She even helped him lie to her family.

He must cherish a girl like this.

"Mu Xue, there's a flaw in your statement. Aunt Zhao only needs to check the accounts with Grandpa, and you'll be exposed, won't you?" Xue Rui laughed.

His family members are easy to talk to; they'll help Gu Muxue cover up the lie. But Gu Muxue's family is a different story.

"Don't worry, my mom and grandparents have a terrible relationship. They argue every year during Chinese New Year. She won't ask about it," Gu Muxue said with a light laugh, covering her mouth.

"Oh? What do you mean?" Xue Rui pressed.

“I heard from the neighbors that my grandparents wanted a grandson, but my mom got me a one-child certificate, and every year Lao Gu goes to my mom’s house for the New Year, which makes my grandma very unhappy…” Gu Muxue explained.

Xue Rui narrowed his eyes slightly; he seemed to understand something.

Gu Qingshan is the only son in his family. Perhaps because of his high level of education, he does not pay attention to the inheritance of tradition. He even goes to the woman's house to celebrate the New Year despite his family's objections.

In rural areas, only sons-in-law who live with their wives' families don't go home for the Lunar New Year...

Moreover, the absence of male descendants in the family symbolizes the end of the family line.

Either way, it's a very shameful thing, something the whole village will talk about for a lifetime.

Moreover, for a wealthy family like Gu Muxue's, having only one daughter is a huge disadvantage. Once Gu Muxue gets married, it's as if all the family's efforts have been wasted on someone else.

"No wonder Uncle Gu always wanted me to be a live-in son-in-law."

Xue Rui shook his head with a wry smile, realizing that the root of the problem lay with Gu Muxue's grandfather.

The old man would have no regrets if he simply found a son-in-law to live with him.

"Well..." Gu Muxue hesitated. She didn't want to talk about marriage; it felt like she was secretly stealing her best friend's boyfriend, like a traitor...

But Xue Rui had brought the topic here, and she was genuinely curious.

Gu Muxue's eyes darted around, and she asked jokingly, "Xiao Rui, what do you think?"

"I?"

Xue Rui grinned. If Gu Muxue was his only girlfriend, he certainly wouldn't mind marrying into her family. What's wrong with being a kept man? Especially since Gu Muxue was so protective of him.

If you can live off a woman, where do you get the audacity to have two relationships at the same time?
"A true man is born between heaven and earth; how can he remain subservient to others for long?" Xue Rui replied jokingly.

Upon hearing this, Gu Muxue's gaze wavered for a moment, and she felt a sense of loss.

Xue Rui meant that he disagreed...

“But then again, what difference does it make whose surname the child takes? Our child will take your surname from now on,” Xue Rui said magnanimously.

Gu Muxue's eyes lit up instantly.

She never imagined that a boy would agree to such a condition, especially a boy like Xue Rui who was extremely possessive.

"Xiao Rui, what are you thinking?" Gu Muxue pressed, her eyes filled with disbelief.

“Um…” Xue Rui fell into deep thought.

Xue Rui thought about it carefully and felt that it was a good idea for the child to take Gu Muxue's surname.

“Mu Xue, look, as long as our child takes your surname, it will fulfill Grandpa and Uncle Gu’s wishes. They will also wholeheartedly raise our child. If our child takes my surname, Uncle Gu will be unhappy and won’t treat our child well. It’s all for the child’s good…”

Gu Muxue sighed, "But what about Uncle Xue? He'll probably be unhappy..."

"Why do you care about him? It's none of his business how I raise my child." Xue Rui waved his hand, indicating that Gu Muxue didn't need to interfere.

Actually, Xue Rui didn't say the second half of his sentence: Anyway, Xi Xi's child will take my surname, so Lao Xue will feel at peace...

A wave of emotion rose in Gu Muxue's heart, gradually spreading in her chest and making her heart flutter. Then it spread to the tip of her nose, and a feeling of soreness made her eyes begin to blur...

She buried her face deep in Xue Rui's arms, enjoying his embrace.

Neither her father nor her grandfather ever asked for her opinion; they simply made decisions for her on their own.

But the boy in her arms was different; he always considered things from her perspective…

"Xiao Rui, I won't let you suffer anymore." Gu Muxue's voice was muffled.

Xue Rui frowned, momentarily wondering if he had misheard.

These should be my lyrics, right? (End of Chapter)