Chapter 1309 Dreams And Delusions
Mu Chenyan looked at the old couple who straightened up in a hurry. They looked up at her and smiled at her... kindly?
Well, she had to say that they both weren't very good at looking kind or gentle. It could be seen that they weren't used to smiling in their daily life. Because, she could barely see any smile lines on their faces and considering that they were very old, it was truly a surprise to her. She really thought people of this age just naturally exuded kindness. But it was only now did she realize that it wasn't the case.
"Grandmother, Grandfather, meet Mu Chenyan," introduced Xia Zhao. "Yan Zi, meet my grandparents."
"Hello!" said Mu Chenyan.
"You both should stop smiling," said Xia Zhao. "It really isn't helping."
His grandparents stopped smiling instantly. Only now did their expressions look natural to Mu Chenyan. Now, she could see the real sharpness in Grandfather Xia's eyes and the hidden carelessness in Grandmother Xia's eyes.
"Why don't you both sit down?" said Grandmother Xia. "Don't worry, Chenyan. You can relax. Calm down and be at ease. I've stopped biting people long ago."
Mu Chenyan smiled a little, "You did bite once?"
"Yes, during the war, I bit someone to..."
"Grandma!"
"Wife!"
Grandmother Xia looked at her husband and her grandson who stopped her from completing the sentence. "Grandmother, let's not talk about your heroic deeds of the past," said Xia Zhao with a bit of pleading in his eyes.
"I agree with Zhao. Wife, no talking about the past."
"Oh," responded Grandmother Xia. She sighed to herself and looked at Mu Chenyan comfortingly, "They must be tired of listening to my stories. Sorry about that."
Mu Chenyan shook her head, "I love listening to old stories. I think I'd love to hear more."
"I knew it," groaned Xia Zhao. It's not that he wanted his grandmother to not share her past stories with Mu Chenyan. He just didn't want her to do it right now because he knew once it began, they wouldn't be talking about anything else. Besides, once he married Mu Chenyan, he believed his grandmother would have more chances to get a new listener.
Grandfather Xia patted his wife's hand and said, "We have a purpose to be here. Once these two get married, you can just sit with Chenyan and tell her all about your proud moments from your youth."
"Are you saying, I'm old?" asked Grandmother Xia.
"Hui, we are old!" was Grandfather Xia's very straightforward response.
"Sometimes, I wonder what did I see in you back then?"
"Oh, maybe, my handsomeness. Or probably my bravery. I think it was both."
"You were covered in blood when we met. Where did I see your handsomeness?" asked Grandmother Xia.
"Then it must be bravery."
"I don't think so," she replied and looked away from him. She smiled awkwardly at Mu Chenyan, "Sorry. We get distracted easily. Don't mind us old people. At this age, all we want to do is talk about the past. It makes us feel young again."
"You both are a lot easier to get along with than I thought," commented Mu Chenyan.
"Were you nervous about seeing us?" asked Grandmother Xia. "Did Zhao not tell you about us?"
"He did," answered Mu Chenyan. "I thought he was just trying to make me feel at ease."
"How is that possible? I know my grandson very well. He isn't capable of lying just for the sake of coaxing someone. He only speaks the truth."
"I have too many honest people around me," said Mu Chenyan. "And I'm still not used to it."
"Actually, we just wanted to see you. We heard so much about you but we never saw you in person. That's why when Zhao said you agreed to get married, we couldn't help coming over here in a hurry to see you. We don't have any other purpose. We would never doubt Zhao's choice. And you are not just his choice anymore. He finally realized he loves you. And I apologize that it took him so long. I can't even blame him. Let me tell you a secret, this whole family has problems with love. It's good enough that he managed to understand what he feels for you. I thought I'd see him die alone."
"Grandmother, I'm your favorite grandson," reminded Xia Zhao.
"And I'm embarrassed of you," she replied.
"You always said you are proud of me."
"You must have heard it wrong," said Grandmother Xia. "When are you guys getting married? Don't think I'm rushing you guys but I am rushing you actually. It's too late already. If I waited any longer, I might end up in a grave before I could see you guys get married."
"Grandmother, don't say that."
"Why do you old people love talking about dying? Isn't it good to live?" asked Mu Chenyan.
Grandmother Xia was amused by her words and said, "We old people have experienced everything. We have escaped death too many times already. It's not like we can live forever. I don't have any desire for that too. It's tiring to live."
"I thought with age, people get scared of death and start loving life more," said Mu Chenyan. "Isn't that why so many emperors chased the dream of immortality in the past?"
"Immortality is a delusion. Not a dream. Dreams are chased. Not delusions," said Grandmother Xia. "Besides, what's there to fear about death? I have seen it so closely when I was younger. I was still not scared of it. Much less now that I'm so old and got to see this new world with my own eyes."
"You have interesting thoughts," said Mu Chenyan. "It reminds me of your grandson. It really shows that you raised him."
"My grandson is of course a great person. He is better than me."
"I can never be better than you," said Xia Zhao. "Don't say that, grandmother."
"I agree with your grandson. He isn't half as good as you," said Grandfather Xia.
Grandmother Xia squinted her eyes at her husband, "You can be nicer to my grandson."
"I'm already very nice."
"I don't believe you. Try better."
"He doesn't mind. Do you, Zhao?"
Xia Zhao chuckled helplessly, "No. Why would I mind?"
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