12dz Chapter 937 I'll give it to Dad later
Chapter 937 I'll give it to Dad later
Dou Jinde wore a well-tailored black suit, which made his figure appear even more upright.
He was driving a bright silver sports car, the engine emitting a deep, powerful roar.
It sped along and came to a smooth stop in front of the Jinjiangwan Villa.
"Squeak—" The sports car tires made a soft sound as they rubbed against the ground. He pulled the handbrake, unbuckled his seatbelt, and got out of the car.
Sunlight fell on his angular face. He raised his hand, took off his sunglasses, and casually hung them on the open collar of his shirt, revealing a pair of sharp and piercing eyes.
He strode confidently into the courtyard, his leather shoes making a steady sound as they trod on the stone pavement.
When the security guard at the gate saw him, he quickly greeted him with a smile: "Oh, Attorney Dou is here?"
"Hello, Lao Liu." Dou Jinde nodded in response, his tone relaxed. "Is the young master here?"
"Yes, Young Master Chenxi is resting upstairs too," Old Liu replied with a smile.
"Thanks, see you later." Dou Jinde waved his hand and headed straight for the living room without looking back.
His steps were light and quick, carrying the efficient and capable air of someone who had been handling affairs for many years.
As soon as I stepped into the living room, I heard the old lady's slightly hoarse voice muttering, "My eldest grandson just came back and left again?"
I was sleepy last night and went to bed early, so I didn't see him; I haven't even gotten up this morning, and he's already gone?
As she spoke, she complained to Shen Rou, who was combing her hair.
Shen Rou held a peach wood comb in her hand, gently combing the old lady's gray hair, and softly scolded her:
"Mom, he hasn't left yet. That kid, he finally came back for a visit, he must be exhausted, he's catching up on sleep in his bedroom upstairs, sleeping very soundly."
She paused, then added, "You didn't see it, but the way Chenxi sleeps is exactly the same as how Choubao was when he was little."
"That's right, otherwise it would be the father and son! Hey? Where's that brat? And what about Xiaoxue? Where did those two little ones disappear to?
The old lady was clearly feeling lonely. She glanced around the living room and asked all the family members questions.
Shen Rou picked up a small mirror and showed the old lady her newly styled hair, explaining as she did so:
"Choubao and Xiaoxue are reading in their room. They know you didn't get up early."
I didn't come over because I didn't want to disturb you. I'll have them come down to pay their respects to you later.
"Madam, good morning, old lady."
A slightly magnetic voice rang out, and Shen Rou looked up to see Dou Jinde standing at the living room door.
She put down the comb, smiled, and asked, "Attorney Dou, what brings you here? Is there something you need?"
"Oh, Madam, there's no need to be nervous." Dou Jinde made a reassuring gesture.
With a professional, composed smile on his face, he asked directly, "Is the young master here?"
I heard he was back, and since the law firm has been pretty quiet these days, I thought I'd come over and take him out for some fun.
Shen Rou's previously tense nerves relaxed, and she said uncertainly:
"It should be in Chenxi's bedroom upstairs. I think I heard some noises coming from inside just now."
"Yes, Madam, I'll go look for it myself. I won't disturb you any longer!" The words had barely left his lips when...
Dou Jinde nodded, took long strides, and quickly disappeared at the top of the stairs.
The old lady was still a bit dazed and didn't see who it was, but now she heard the footsteps fading away.
Then she asked again, "Was that... Cheng Yu, that child, back just now?"
Shen Rou quickly explained, "Mom, it's not Cheng Yu, it's Dou Jinde, the lawyer from our company's law firm. Don't you remember? He came back with A-Jie last time."
"Oh..." the old lady drawled, her brows furrowing slightly, "Then what is he doing here? Has something happened at home again?"
"It's okay, Mom. Don't scare yourself at the slightest sign of trouble."
Shen Rou picked up a shawl and draped it over the old lady, gently coaxing her, "He came to see Chou Bao. He heard Chou Bao is back and wanted to take him out to play."
The old lady was relieved, but after a few seconds, she couldn't help but start nagging again:
"Speaking of which, Cheng Yu should be back tonight, right? I wonder what he's been up to out there? Sigh! Is the office under renovation?"
"No, why would you renovate the office for no reason?" Shen Rou asked, puzzled.
"When Cheng Yu came back last time, he was covered in dust and dirt. If you didn't know better, you'd think he was a migrant worker!" the old lady scolded.
Shen Rou paused, a pang of sadness rising in her heart, but she still smiled and comforted him:
"Mom, I'm not too sure either. Cheng Yu is coming back tonight, why don't you just ask him yourself?"
The living room returned to silence, with only the birdsong outside the window and Shen Rou's occasional soft words of comfort to the old lady, creating a peaceful and filial scene.
Dou Jinde, looking refreshed, walked briskly to the door of Mu Xiaoji's bedroom.
He tapped the solid wood door panel three times lightly with his knuckles, the force even and conveying just the right amount of politeness.
"Come in." Mu Xiaoji's voice came from inside the house, calm but with a slightly hoarse tone that sounded like he had been sitting still for a long time.
Dou Jinde pushed open the door in response, and a strong ray of sunlight shone through the glass window onto the doorway, making Dou Jinde turn his head involuntarily.
Mu Xiaoji was seen leaning against a pile of soft cushions, a white gauze wrapped around her forehead.
The edges of his face were faintly red, and his left cheek was still slightly swollen, but it did not affect his movement of turning the pages of the book. The pages made a soft "rustling" sound as they turned.
Seeing Dou Jinde enter, Mu Xiaoji looked up and closed her book, her gaze meeting his suddenly widened eyes.
A faint smile played at the corners of his lips, and his tone was as nonchalant as if he were discussing the weather: "Is everything settled at the prison?"
Dou Jinde then came to his senses, took a few steps to the bedside, and frowned deeply.
"Mr. Mu, what happened to you? How did you get such a head injury? When did this happen?"
He couldn't hide his surprise, "Yesterday, when Jiang Shuo was talking about handling Zhou Xue's matter, he didn't mention that you were injured!"
"It's nothing, just a minor accident," Mu Xiaoji replied casually.
Dou Jinde's gaze swept over his face, and seeing that he didn't seem to be putting on a brave front, he finally felt a little relieved.
Looking around the quiet bedroom, she couldn't help but ask, "Where's Jiang Shuo? Isn't he here watching over you?"
Mu Xiaoji shook her head, her gaze drifting to the window: "She should... be downstairs playing with Zhou Xue!"
“I’ve made all the arrangements at the prison, and I’m just waiting for someone to come over! I came here specifically to pick up Zhou Xue.”
Dou Jinde explained his purpose and then glanced at Mu Xiaoji's injuries. "Are you also visiting him in prison? Judging from your condition, it might be inconvenient for you to go out, right?"
"I won't go." Mu Xiaoji closed the book in her hand and placed it on her lap, her tone resolute.
"Take Jiang Shuo and Zhou Xue with you. When you get there, take good care of Xiao Xue."
"The child is young, and the situation inside is complicated; don't frighten the child." He paused, then added,
"Tell Zhou Xue not to be too nervous. Just talk to your dad casually, like you would at home."
Dou Jinde nodded in agreement, then asked again to confirm, "Is your injury serious? Your cheek is still a little swollen."
"It's just a minor cut. I've taken some anti-inflammatory medication, and it'll be fine in a couple of days."
After confirming Mu Xiaoji's situation, he didn't ask any more questions, only saying, "Then I'll go down and find them. You rest well and wait for my news."
Mu Xiaoji smiled and nodded, "I'm sorry to have troubled you." She watched him turn and leave.
The smile faded slightly as the door closed gently, and her fingertips unconsciously touched the gauze on her forehead.
There was still a lingering pain there, but it was nothing compared to the lingering, inexplicable unease in my heart.
Just as Dou Jinde closed the door, he turned around and saw Jiang Shuo leading Zhou Xue from the other end of the corridor.
The lights in the corridor shone down on the two children, casting a soft glow. Jiang Shuo stood ramrod straight, his mature demeanor exuding composure.
"Uncle Dou," Jiang Shuo spoke first, his tone perfectly polite.
"Grandma just said you came. I guess you must have acted quickly and taken care of the prison visit."
Dou Jinde was amused by his adorable appearance, stepped forward, and reached out to ruffle his hair.
His fingertips brushed against the child's soft hair, his eyes gleaming with mischief but also with genuine affection.
"You little rascal, you say you're smart, but you can't hide your mischievous and clever nature."
"Hmph! I've come to take you away. Are you all ready?"
Jiang Shuo turned to look at Zhou Xue beside him. The young girl was clutching her skirt, her eyes filled with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.
Jiang Shuo's youthful expression and gentle tone, yet mature beyond his years, offered a thoughtful reminder:
"Xiaoxue, go and bring the family portrait you drew yesterday. Give it to your father later as a source of comfort."
Zhou Xue's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously: "Yes! Thank you Jiang Shuo, and thank you Uncle Dou too."
Her voice was soft and gentle, and her understanding nature was so touching.
Looking at her slender figure and recalling her background, Dou Jinde couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.
Jiang Shuo took Zhou Xue's hand and turned to walk downstairs. Zhou Xue's steps became lighter, and her braids swayed rhythmically with her movements.
Dou Jinde followed behind, listening to the two children talking quietly. Jiang Shuo would occasionally whisper a few words of comfort, like a reliable parent.
As they reached the top of the stairs, Zhou Xue suddenly stopped, turned back to look at Mu Xiaoji's bedroom door, and whispered, "Isn't Uncle Mu coming with us?"
Jiang Shuo patted the back of her hand: "My father's condition makes it inconvenient for him to go out."
Let him rest well. Uncle Dou and I will be with you the whole time, so don't be afraid. We'll share the story with Dad when we get back, okay?
Zhou Xue nodded in understanding and followed Jiang Shuo down the path.
Dou Jinde watched their retreating figures, then glanced back at Mu Xiaoji's tightly closed door, and sighed softly.
The bandage around Mu Xiaoji's forehead made him feel uneasy, a feeling stemming from his professional instincts.
In his eyes, the injury was like an unsolved case file, with the word "accident" written on the surface, but full of unanswered questions between the lines.
In his line of work, he absolutely cannot tolerate the word "ambiguity"—even when it's something right under his nose.
The cause and process sound simple, but the more you think about it, the more something feels off, like a tiny thorn stuck in your throat, itching and itching until it's cleared up.
Having handled numerous cases, he understands best how many twists and turns lie beneath the surface of calm.
To him, what was happening under the gauze was like a testimony with a missing page; the more he said "nothing happened," the more suspicious it seemed.
This lingering sense of unease was more agonizing than encountering a dead case; it felt like a wad of waterlogged cotton was pressing on his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.
Only when that ambiguity is clarified and the whole story laid bare in the sunlight can the restless anxiety in his heart dissipate.
Otherwise, it's like carrying an unopened summons, constantly on edge, with even the light in front of you shrouded in mist.