Collecting the Interest 1

Even if Tang Moyu was willing to overlook Feng Tianhua's impertinence, Feng Tianyi couldn't. His half brother had debts he needed to settle not only to Tang Moyu, but to him as well. No matter if he was able to walk or not, it wouldn't change the fact that Feng Tianhua and his mother had taken everything that was supposed to be his. His hatred was not something he could easily let go no matter what his mother or Tang Moyu thought of it.

"But you have me now, Moyu. Can't you share some of your burden with me? You don't have to worry about your children's safety, your safety alone no more. Won't you consider it at all?" He asked curiously.

Tang Moyu didn't answer him, but instead looked at him for a moment before shaking her head.

"It's alright. You don't need to bother yourself with it."

"I hate it when you say that. You and your children would never be trouble for any of us. You don't need to do everything alone, Moyu. You aren't alone anymore." Feng Tianyi countered.

Tang Moyu was taken aback by his words. She'd never thought that her rejection would make him assume that she didn't need help. It's just that for the longest time, she was too used to dealing with everything on her own, to the point that she never had to depend on someone else unless it was truly needed.

"It's not that I don't need your help. What I mean is; we're doing just fine, so you don't have to worry about us too much," she cleared it out. She was slightly mortified that he misunderstood her. She really wasn't good at explaining herself.

Feng Tianyi chuckled at her sudden shyness. What was there to be ashamed of?

"So… how long do you plan on staying like this?" She asked, hoping to dissipate the awkwardness between them.

"I plan to start therapy very soon. I don't like it when you look down on me." Feng Tianyi said in a matter of fact tone. He would definitely need to regain the strength in his legs and walk again.

He didn't want to limit himself by staying like this anymore, not when he needed to look after her and the little buns in the future.

"I'm not looking down on you. In fact, I was never bothered by it." Tang Moyu replied with all honesty.

"You mean to say you don't mind being with a crippled man?" He arched a brow.

"You aren't the only one who's been in a wheelchair." She said with a straight face, but didn't explain any further, which made Feng Tianyi curious. "I think I know why you are so bothered by this."

"Care to explain?"

"You lost everything through the accident. You missed being in control of your life, doing things you can do on your own without relying on anyone. And then you become like this…. I wasn't bothered because I know what it feels like to lose everything."

Feng Tianyi hated that the empress was able to see through him. Was he really that obvious that she was able to deduce what was on his mind? Tang Moyu's eyes were clear and bright like Little Star's for a moment, he had a glimpse of what the girl would look like once she grew up.

Before his accident, other than Feng Conglomerate, Feng Tianyi had everything and he was a cruel, selfish man. The mere mention of his name was able to evoke fear in other people. He used to be on top, but he was now reduced to a crippled 'old' uncle, babysitting his woman's children.

When he woke up two weeks after his accident, the only person beside him was his mother. She was half asleep sitting on a chair next to his hospital bed, exhaustion apparent on her face and the first thing he heard from her was her never-ending sorry.

He couldn't understand why she was apologizing until he tried to move his legs and pain shot through him. Pushing off the sheets from his lower body, his eyes widened seeing both of his legs in casts. Five years later, only zipper scars were left on his legs to remind him of how horrid the accident was.

"Am I wrong?"

She was right. His pride wasn't the only thing forbidding him to seek full recovery, it also the fact that two lives had been lost because of the accident he'd caused. He was a horrible man, true, but he would never wish death on anyone, especially women and children who had never wronged him.

"No, you are right."

"Well, it's about time you try to get back on your feet." The empress slightly tilted her head to look down at him while she put her hands behind her back.

"What do I get from you once I can walk again?" The devil's eyes were glinting with such mischievousness that sent an alarm to the empress's mind.

"What could you possibly want from me?" She asked, fully aware that it could be a trap. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

"A dance with the empress."

"A dance, huh?" Tang Moyu inclined her head, "Alright. As you wish."

"However, before that, I have something in mind." The devil said with a grin before pulling her wrist, making her stumble on his lap. "I'm collecting the interest now," he whispered against her ear.