Chapter 99

Chapter 99: She Dislikes More Than One

Bai Mu Mu, he told himself, was different from Shen Sang Ruo. She had not grown up by his side, and he owed her too much. [I owe Mumu too much.]

As for pushing aside sect matters today, he also had a reason.

“Today is Mumu’s birthday. I should of course keep her company…” he began, then suddenly stopped.

Shen Sang Ruo smiled with faint sarcasm. Shen Dao Chen had remembered.

Shen Sang Ruo’s birthday fell on the same day as Bai Mu Mu’s.

In his memory, once Shen Sang Ruo began cultivating, he had never spent a birthday with her.

He had even forbidden her to celebrate. He felt that, as the future Young Sect Master, she had to work harder than others.

He certainly had never pushed off sect business to spend her birthday with her.

The obvious contrast finally made him feel that his way of treating Shen Sang Ruo was not right.

His mind replayed her earlier words, and his feelings grew complicated.

He looked at Shen Sang Ruo. Her face showed no extra emotion.

There was no disappointment, no sadness, no grievance.

Just as when she spoke earlier, she was calmly stating facts.

Under Shen Dao Chen’s strict rules, Shen Sang Ruo had long dropped the habit of celebrating her birthday.

If she had not run into these two today, she would not even have remembered it was her birthday.

Seeing this scene did not stir much feeling in her. She only felt annoyed that her steps were being held up.

Shen Dao Chen’s gaze grew complicated.

At last he felt a little guilty.

In his mind, Shen Sang Ruo would always be sad because he treated Bai Mu Mu better, afraid Bai Mu Mu would take away his care from her. [She must be very upset today.]

Thinking carefully, in the past two years he had indeed ignored Shen Sang Ruo somewhat.

He seemed to wake up all at once. He chose to ignore her “rebellious” words for now and decided to take this chance to give Shen Sang Ruo a proper birthday.

He figured that would count as doing his duty as a father.

But he still began by blaming her, saying, “Do not overthink. Mumu suffered outside for many years. I treat her better to make up for you.”

“After all, you took several years from her. If I compensate her more, others will not gossip about you.”

[His whole face said, I am doing this for your own good.] Shen Sang Ruo wanted to laugh. What did it mean to make it up to Bai Mu Mu on her behalf?

He was the one who had mistaken his own child. What did that have to do with her? [What was I supposed to do at birth, jump up and shout, Old man, you picked up the wrong baby, I am not yours?] He loved to cover his faults with grand, noble reasons.

“Since we happened to meet today, come with us,” Shen Dao Chen went on. “It has been a long time since I celebrated your birthday.”

His tone made it sound like a reward for Shen Sang Ruo.

In his eyes, it really was.

When Shen Sang Ruo trained in the past, he would only spend time with her as a reward after she hit certain goals.

In his mind, at some point his company had become a prize he granted her.

But when it came to Bai Mu Mu, he had never thought that way, and he had never noticed that problem.

He even remembered that every time Shen Sang Ruo received such a “reward,” she would be very happy.

He thought this time would be the same.

He even felt that his company was the best birthday gift, and Shen Sang Ruo would be deeply moved.

Because she had never had a birthday like this.

But he did not know that Shen Sang Ruo was no longer the same as before.

She did not need them anymore, and she did not need anything from them.

She answered coldly, “No need.”

“Are you throwing a tantrum again?” Shen Dao Chen’s face sank as he spoke without thinking.

“I do not mind,” Bai Mu Mu cut in at once. “Senior Sister Shen, come with us. Do not waste Father’s kindness.”

“Mumu does not mind, so why will you not come?” Shen Dao Chen asked, confused.

In his eyes, a chance to spend her birthday with him was rare. He only thought Shen Sang Ruo was making trouble again.

“I simply do not want to spend my birthday with people I do not want to see,” Shen Sang Ruo said plainly.

“You dislike Mumu that much?” Shen Dao Chen thought the person she meant was Bai Mu Mu. His voice grew sharp. “If you want to stay and celebrate, then put away your little temper. You and Mumu are sisters. How can you be so hostile? Where did you learn this behavior?”

He tried to use the birthday as a threat to correct her “bad habits.”

He was sure she would give in.

Shen Sang Ruo only smiled. Who said she disliked just one person?

“I have said it clearly enough. I should return to prepare for the Young Sect Master trial. I will take my leave,” she said.

Then she turned and left, ignoring whatever Shen Dao Chen might say.

He had not expected her to really walk away and give up the chance to celebrate with them.

He was not the type to spoil Shen Sang Ruo, so he did not chase after her.

Yet after she had gone far, Shen Dao Chen finally realized what she meant by “said it clearly enough.”

Her clean, decisive steps showed no sign of regret.

The person she did not want to see might also include him.

Noticing where his thoughts were going, Shen Dao Chen frowned and told himself he was being silly.

He shook his head. Fine. Maybe she was just in a rebellious phase.

What child would hate her own dad? They had so many years as father and daughter. No matter how she acted, they were still one family that could not be split apart. [She might leave Thunder-Scale Peak, but she would never cut ties with me.]

Watching Shen Sang Ruo’s back grow distant, he told Bai Mu Mu, “Do not learn from her. She picked up bad habits while training outside.”

“She even says she will prepare for the Young Sect Master trial. A person who cannot face personal bias calmly, how can she lead the whole sect without favoritism?”

He paused a moment on the words “favoritism and bias.” Shen Sang Ruo’s earlier words had clearly left a mark on him.

“I want to see how she performs in the Young Sect Master trial,” he said at last.

“Father, do not worry. I will work hard and will not let you down,” Bai Mu Mu replied firmly.

Shen Dao Chen’s thoughts settled. He looked at Bai Mu Mu with fondness and said, “My Mumu is the one who understands.”

“Come, Father will keep celebrating your birthday.”

Bai Mu Mu agreed with a smile.

She had long since stopped being surprised by Shen Sang Ruo’s change. [As long as it does not affect my plan, I can leave her for last to kill.]