Mu Yi'ai's cat-like eyes widened, darting around twice, as she looked at Xin Yu defiantly.
"Paying for yourself?" she snorted. "Then what's the point of having you as a boss!"
Xin Yu blinked, not expecting Mu Yi'ai to use that to shut her up.
What's wrong with being a boss?
Not to mention that she, the boss, was poorer than her employees.
Even if the company was profitable, not every boss would take their employees out for fun!
Seeing Xin Yu pouting and deep in thought, Mu Yi'ai raised an eyebrow. "What? Reluctant?"
How stingy!
She invested a hundred million! "Great!" Xin Yu looked up at Mu Yi'ai. "Then let's treat this trip like a website tour, and we can invite Liu Hen too!"
"Exactly! Traveling and researching together—isn't that trendy now?" Mu Yi'ai readily agreed. "When do we leave?"
"This Friday afternoon." Xin Yu glanced at the calendar, then clinked glasses with her friend. Only after the "devilish" friend disappeared did Cheng Yuan show concern.
"Xin Yu, is this okay? Last time we had a meeting, we were planning to expand our scale and agency scope."
Xin Yu nodded. That was exactly why she thought it would be better for several people to travel to S country together; more people meant more perspectives and a wider view of things.
"But Liu Hen will definitely be very happy!" Cheng Yuan added, resting her chin on her hands. This happy news had come so suddenly. She had always imagined traveling with a few close friends—it must be the most wonderful thing in the world!
Sure enough, when Xin Yu and Cheng Yuan told Liu Hen this news, the person on the other end of the phone almost jumped up. "Great!" she exclaimed. "I'm so bored at home, and I can even see my brother!"
See Liu Shuihan?
Xin Yu's brow furrowed slightly. So Mu Yichuan took him with him to S Country this time!
The three of them discussed things carefully, assigning tasks to each other, before hanging up.
"Brother Cheng Che," Liu Hen hesitated, staring at her phone for a long time before finally picking it up and dialing. Her face flushed, she called out softly.
"Henhen, what are you doing?" came the usual gentle voice from the other end of the line. "Did you miss me?"
Liu Hen's face flushed even more. Hearing Cheng Che's question, her heart felt like a 300-watt light bulb had been turned on, shining brightly.
"Brother Cheng Che, I—I—"
"Open the door and talk," Cheng Che interrupted Liu Hen, a mocking smile playing on his lips. He really didn't need to use too much force with such a naive young girl.
"Huh?" She was stunned for a moment before rushing to open the door. Sure enough, Cheng Che, dressed casually, stood outside, gazing affectionately at Liu Hen and smiling.
He walked in, reached out and pulled Liu Hen into his arms, nestling her neck and saying, "I missed you, so I came to see you."
Liu Hen froze, not daring to move, unsure how to react.
Cheng Che pulled her away, still looking gently at the dazed girl. She was too naive!
"Did you need something?"
"Ah!" Liu Hen finally snapped out of her daze and told Cheng Che about Xin Yu's plan. The latter's eyes darkened. "That's great!" He pulled Liu Hen to sit on the sofa. "Perfect timing, didn't your older brother go to S country too? You still have a chance to bring them together."
Liu Hen pursed her lips and scratched her head. "But Ayu, she really doesn't seem to like my brother."
"Are you going to watch your older brother live such a miserable life every day?" Cheng Che's tone was slightly stern, as if he were genuinely concerned for Liu Shuihan. "Xinyu is like you, a very simple girl. Once she realizes how good your older brother is, she will definitely be devoted to him."
As long as she leaves Mu Yichuan, or disrupts Mu Yichuan's life, he will have a chance to deal with the Mu Group!
"Yes." Liu Hen nodded firmly. She would definitely do it for her brother!
"Good girl." Cheng Che reached out and lifted her chin, leaning closer and gently biting it.
This caused Liu Hen to tremble.
"Heh." He chuckled softly, his expression unreadable, neither happy nor angry, nor mocking. He simply leaned closer, pulling open her clothes.
…
"Why can't I go!" Mu Yi'ai slammed down the bowl in her hand, glaring angrily at Old Master Mu. "I'm going!"
"I'll lock you up and see how you get out!" Old Master Mu said firmly, recalling his own ruthless ways in his prime.
Mu Yi'ai immediately stood up, trying to run.
But two men in black appeared out of nowhere and restrained her.
Xin Yu and Cheng Yuan trembled in fear, not only because of Old Master Mu's attitude, but also because they only now realized that there were people hiding in the shadows.
"Let me go!" Mu Yi'ai roared, "Why have you never believed me!"
"Believe you?" Old Master Mu coldly retorted, "Tell me what you've done since you were a child, how can I believe you!"
From elementary school onwards, Mu Yi'ai did nothing but fight and try all sorts of thrills.
The crucial point is that since she was ten years old, she had been constantly clinging to Nan Yu.
Now, she had even staged a scene of forcing him to marry her. Finally, the person was scared away and went into the military camp, never to come out again.
"Take her away and keep a close watch on Eighth Miss," Old Master Mu coldly ordered.
"Who dares!" Mu Yi'ai was definitely not one to back down to force. She kicked the dining table, knocking over the bowls and chopsticks. "Anyone who dares touch me, I'll kill them!"
"Kill me?" Old Master Mu walked to his daughter with his hands behind his back. He truly didn't know what sins he had committed to give birth to such a worrisome child. "Let me see how you dare kill me!"
"Grandpa!" Seeing the two escalating the argument, Xin Yu quickly went to Old Master Mu's side and supported him. "Grandpa, please don't get so angry!"
If things were investigated, she also bore some responsibility.
"If you want to blame someone, blame me. I promised Mu Yi'ai I would organize the company trip." Xin Yu gently patted Old Master Mu's back, her dark eyes glistening with tears. "Child, don't plead for her. I know exactly what kind of person she is."
"Who am I!" Mu Yi'ai retorted angrily, "Isn't she the one you conceived and gave birth to!"
Old Master Mu was so angry he was practically spitting fire, wanting nothing more than to slap her.
At this moment, Cheng Yuan ran to Mu Yi'ai's side and pulled her back.
Going against the head of the family is just asking for trouble!
"Grandpa, you don't know, our company has been doing very well lately! That's why we're planning a trip to boost morale." Xin Yu continued her gentle persuasion, then, a thought struck her, "Grandpa, if you're worried, why don't you come with us?"
"You're such a busybody—" Cheng Yuan instinctively reached out and covered Mu Yi'ai's mouth.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Mu's deep-set eyes shot out like sharp swords. "What? You don't want me to go?" He sneered. "My granddaughter invited me, I'm going anyway!"
Uh…
Xin Yu understood. This father and daughter really were alike; no wonder they were always fighting!
"Take your filthy hands off me!" Mu Yi'ai broke free of his hand, wiped her mouth haphazardly, and glared fiercely at Cheng Yuan.
Old Mu glanced at the men in black. "If you're not going, it's better to go with them."
Mu Yi'ai kicked each of the two men in black, finally saying with satisfaction, "Who said I wasn't going!"
After settling Old Mu in S country, Xin Yu finally felt a bit of peace.
"Ayu, how come you have a grandfather now?!" Liu Hen had been holding back all the way, only asking the question when only her three friends remained.
This…
Xin Yu scratched her head, not knowing how to explain, and only vaguely mentioned it.
"Aren't you two tired?" she quickly changed the subject. "Why don't you rest?"
"Ayu, aren't you going to rest?" Cheng Yuan looked at her friend in surprise.
"I...I want to go see Mu Yichuan." She didn't hide it, especially in front of Liu Hen; she wanted her friend to know how she felt.
This way, everyone could avoid unnecessary speculation.
"Then I'll go with you!" Liu Hen volunteered. "I also want to see my brother."
"Then I'll go too." Cheng Yuan also chose to go along with the others. "We're new to S country; having another person means more support."
The three of them happily headed towards the hotel where Mu Yichuan was.
S country has a typical subtropical climate. The weather in November was pleasantly warm, and the air carried a sweet, moist scent.
It brought a strange sense of joy and comfort.
Xin Yu squinted, watching the greenery recede into the distance, her heart pounding like a deer.
Why did she feel like she was visiting relatives? Although it had only been three or four days since they last saw each other, she knew clearly that she missed him.
So, after the three of them arrived at the hotel, Xin Yu went straight to the floor where Mu Yichuan was.
"Xin Yu, are you sure it's on the 20th floor?" Cheng Yuan asked, still unsure. Shouldn't they ask the staff?
Xin Yu nodded firmly. She had seen this during her video call with Mu Yichuan the night before last.
His room was 2020.
"That's right, my brother said he's staying in 2010."
Ding.
As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, the three of them felt an inexplicable chill.
Xin Yu's lips twitched; it really did feel like Mu Yichuan.
"Look! A man in black!" Cheng Yuan exclaimed softly. Ever since she saw the man in black who had mysteriously appeared at the Mu family's old mansion, she had been haunted by him.
But when Xin Yu looked over, what attracted her wasn't the man in black, but rather the back of a woman in a tight red dress.
The woman was tall and slender, with long, straight black hair cascading over her shoulders.
She was knocking on room 2020.
Without a moment's hesitation, without a trace of doubt.
She knocked only three times and entered smoothly.
Bang.
The door slammed shut.
Xin Yu froze, her heart sinking rapidly.
It felt like it had sunk to the bottom of a lake, icy and bone-chilling.
Instinctively, she checked the time; it wasn't even nine o'clock. She tried to convince herself.
This was a time she could meet.
"Ayu..." Cheng Yuan took Xin Yu's arm, calling softly, "It must be business."
"Yes." She forced a smile. "Henhen, weren't you going to see your brother?"
Liu Hen nodded blankly, but as she turned to walk towards room 2010, a smile crept onto her lips.
This time, she was determined to help her brother seize this opportunity! Xin Yu leaned against the doorway of the emergency staircase, staring intently at her watch. The minute hand spun round and round, but the person still hadn't emerged.
The hour hand spun round and round; it was nearly one in the morning, and the person still hadn't come out.
"Let's go," Xin Yu said, looking up at the dark sky outside, which, like her heart, seemed devoid of light.
But as soon as she stepped out of the emergency staircase, she saw Liu Shuihan standing there.