Rebirth: My Reclusive Husband Helps Me Get Revenge!
Chapter 68: I will not allow anything or anyone to harm my family

Chapter 68: I will not allow anything or anyone to harm my family

Mo Ran shut the door quietly, his brow furrowing as he turned back to the bed. His grandparents rarely visited unannounced. Their arrival could mean something serious—or just their usual attempt to meddle in his life.

Either way, he couldn’t ignore them.

Lixue stirred, her brows knitting slightly as she woke. "Mo Ran?" she murmured sleepily, her voice soft.

He walked over, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "Good morning," he said gently. "I didn’t want to wake you, but my grandparents are here."

Her eyes widened, the last traces of sleep quickly leaving her. "Your grandparents? Now?"

Mo Ran nodded. "They’re downstairs waiting. We should go greet them."

Lixue immediately sat up, running a hand through her hair. "I’ll get ready."

"Take your time," he said, offering a small smile. "They arrived unannounced, they can wait..a bit."

As Lixue hurried to freshen up and choose an outfit, Mo Ran leaned against the window, his mind racing.

His grandparents were the heads of the Mo family, as his father had refused the position, same as his older brother and he had yet to take it up, they were traditional and shrewd. Their visits were rarely casual, and he doubted this one was an exception.

When Lixue emerged, she wore a simple yet elegant dress, her hair pinned neatly. Despite the rushed preparation, she looked poised and composed.

"Ready?" Mo Ran asked, his expression softening.

She nodded. "Do you think they’re upset about something?"

"I’ll handle it," he assured her. "Just stay by my side."

They walked downstairs together, hand in hand. The air in the mansion felt heavier as they approached the main living area, where the Mo elders sat.

Mo Zhengrong, dressed in a perfectly tailored dark changshan suit that reflected his reserved dignity, sat in a high-backed chair. His expression was stern, his sharp eyes scanning the room like a hawk. He held a jade-topped cane in his hand, though he didn’t seem to need it, and his posture was upright and commanding.

Beside him sat Fei Baeya, a vision of understated elegance. Her silver hair was pulled into a neat chignon, and she wore a simple but delicate cheongsam paired with a silk scarf.

Despite her soft demeanor, her sharp gaze betrayed her calculating mind.

"Good morning, Master and Madam Mo," Lixue greeted respectfully as she entered the room, bowing slightly.

"Good morning, my dear," Baeya replied, her English-accented Mandarin warm yet measured. Her eyes lingered on Lixue for a moment before she smiled faintly. "You look well. I trust you’re adjusting comfortably."

"Thank you, Madam Mo," Lixue replied, taking a seat beside Mo Ran. "It’s a pleasure to see you again."

Mo Zhengrong, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke. His voice was deep and commanding, every word he said held weight. "Mo Ran, we’ve come because we received word of... a disturbance."

Mo Ran’s jaw tightened slightly. Of course, they already knew. "It’s being handled," he said evenly. "There’s no need for concern."

Mo Zhengrong raised a bushy eyebrow. "Handled, is it? Forgive me if I find that difficult to believe, considering what we’ve heard. Your wife’s mother was taken—abducted, I believe. That is not a trivial matter."

"Grandfather, I assure you, I’ve taken every precaution to ensure Lixue and Madam Leili are safe," Mo Ran said firmly.

Baeya set her teacup down gently, her gaze shifting to Lixue. "And how are you, my dear? This must have been a frightening ordeal for you."

Lixue hesitated before answering. "It was," she admitted. "But Mo Ran has been very supportive. He’s handled everything with such care and efficiency. I trust him completely."

Baeya smiled faintly, her sharp eyes brightening. "Good. Trust between husband and wife is paramount. Soon he would be a complete wife slave."

"..."

Mo Zhengrong, however, was less easily satisfied. "Trust is important, but so is vigilance. I trust you’ve increased security, Mo Ran?"

"Of course," Mo Ran replied, his tone clipped.

"Good. We cannot have any further incidents. The Mo family name carries weight, and any scandal—even one not of our making—reflects poorly on us all."

Lixue’s hands tightened slightly in her lap, but she kept her expression calm.

"Rest assured, Grandfather," Mo Ran said, his voice steady. "I will not allow anything or anyone to harm my family."

"See that you don’t," Mo Zhengrong said, leaning back in his chair.

Baeya’s tone softened as she addressed Lixue again. "And your mother? How is she faring?"

"She’s recovering well," Lixue replied, her voice quiet but steady. "Thank you for asking."

"Good," Baeya said with a faint nod. "Family is everything, my dear. Never forget that."

The conversation shifted to lighter topics as the morning wore on, but the undercurrent of tension remained. Mo Ran maintained his composure, while Lixue navigated the subtle pleasantries of her in-laws’ probing with grace.

As they bid the Mo grandparents farewell, one thought lingered in Lixue’s mind: How did they find out so quickly?

As the sleek black car carrying Mo Zhengrong and Baeya disappeared down the long driveway, Lixue let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Her shoulders relaxed, but her mind was still turning over the encounter.

Mo Ran closed the door behind them and turned to her, his expression unreadable. "You handled that well," he said simply.

Lixue tilted her head, studying him. "Did you expect me not to?"

He chuckled softly, stepping closer and brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "Not at all. But they can be... demanding, even for me."

"I’m used to their questions," she replied, her tone light, though the pressure of their subtle scrutiny lingered in her chest. "But I wonder... who told them about my mother’s kidnapping?"

Mo Ran’s smile faded, replaced by the sharp edge. "That’s the question, isn’t it?"

Lixue frowned. "You think someone in the family told them?"

He hesitated, then shook his head. "Not necessarily. My grandparents have their own network of information—people loyal to them, who report anything that might affect the Mo family’s image. I wouldn’t be surprised if they heard about it from someone I’ve never even met."

Lixue crossed her arms, her gaze thoughtful. "They were worried. That much was clear."

"Worried," Mo Ran echoed, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "And controlling. They want to make sure everything is being handled to their standards. That’s how they’ve always been."

Lixue considered his words before speaking again. "Do you think they’ll involve themselves further?"

"I’ll make sure they don’t," Mo Ran said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You don’t need to worry about them, Lixue. Just focus on yourself and your mother. I’ll deal with everything else."

His words were reassuring, but Lixue couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more at play here. Mo Zhengrong and Baeya didn’t seem like the type to leave things entirely in someone else’s hands, even if that someone was their capable grandson.

"Alright," she said finally, though her tone lacked conviction.

Mo Ran noticed but didn’t press her further. Instead, he slipped an arm around her waist and guided her toward the dining room. "Come on. Auntie Feng should have breakfast ready by now."