"The two younger sisters-in-law haven’t had a drink with Brother Qiao Yi yet!"
Suddenly someone called out.
"Then let’s toast to Brother Qin!"
Qin Mu stood up first, raising her glass. Helian Hao also stood up, saying, "Qiao Yi, I wish you a smooth journey."
"Thank you, you beauties."
Qiao Yi quickly filled his glass to the brim again, this time not as gloomy as when he had drunk with Jing Qing.
The two women giving him face really put their men out of sorts, as they never received such attention usually.
"I’ve been to Paris to see you many times, but I’ve never seen you send me off before."
Mu Yichen, one hand resting on the back of her chair, bent down to whisper in her ear as Qin Mu sat down.
Qin Mu smiled subconsciously but did not respond, her piercing gaze resting low on the cooling dishes on the table.
"Yichen, if you’re going to be jealous too, you’re really turning into a vinegar jar."
"What’s wrong with being a vinegar jar? Do you have any vinegar?"
Mu Yichen raised an eyebrow, in no way embarrassed by this.
Qin Mu held back a laugh, knowing all too well that if the normally serious President Mu became unserious, he could be truly difficult to handle.
Even his jealousy was so willful.
"Fine, forget I said anything."
The young master nodded, realizing that it indeed was the case.
Later, everyone was a bit drunk and talked about staying in the guest rooms upstairs. Mu Yichen had a few extra drinks: "Fine, let’s stay. We’ll all go to the airport to see off Qiao Yi together tomorrow."
He then quickly arranged for guest rooms, and Mu Yichen pulled Qin Mu to the room she had stayed in before with the fastest speed.
Qin Mu felt like President Mu might have a thing for nostalgia.
"Why don’t we go home? I only drank a little and can drive."
"We’re not going back!"
Going home every day was too tiring.
He was a little tipsy, resting his forehead against hers at the doorway.
Time trickled by slowly, yet the hearts of the two people were drawing steadily closer.
Outside, the stars were dazzling, creating a mutual radiance with the indoor lights, magnificent and enchanting.
This night was destined to be peaceful and enriching.
In the big bed, the silver light of a crescent moon shone through.
In another room, Young Master Jing was rarely staying in a hotel with his little wife and, of course, seized the opportunity.
Helian Hao, having just been through that incident, retreated to the edge of the bed as soon as she saw his devouring gaze.
Both had just taken a shower.
"Get away from me! I knew you didn’t have good intentions, sleeping here."
Helian Hao kicked him angrily, then turned to sulk at the edge of the bed herself.
The next day, everyone went early to see off Qiao Yi. President Mu had to attend to an emergency at the factory, so he went there, while Qin Mu sat alone in the now quiet living room.
"Stepdaughter Beats Stepmother and Lands Her in the Hospital: A Violation of Heaven’s Will!"
As she read on, the photo of the woman in the hospital gown in the VIP ward and her bedside companion was deliberately blurred.
Someone dared to publish such a report, which could impact whether Haiming could be re-elected or not, right?
Although the news didn’t mention any specific names, those familiar with the mother and daughter would recognize them.
She sat calmly on the sofa, reading through the content on her phone before switching it off.
Her serene gaze and helpless expression eventually led her to place the phone in her bag next to her, stand up, sling the bag over her shoulder, and leave the hotel.
Yesterday, the mother and daughter went to design a cheongsam; that was a lie, the truth was they were looking for trouble, wasn’t it?
Wen Runuan called her when she was already on her way to the studio.
There was an event in the afternoon, but she suddenly found out that the dress she was supposed to wear was two sizes too large and had no choice but to come to the studio again.
After Qin Mu fixed the dress for her, Wen Runuan stroked the fabric at her waist and couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, looking at her reflection in the mirror she laughed and said, "Are you only responsible for design in the future? Aside from your clothes, I don’t think I’ll like anyone else’s."
"Thank you for the affirmation!"
Qin Mu stood in front of the desk and paid Jing Qing a compliment for her good figure. As soon as his discerning eyes spotted a thread on her leg, he immediately picked up the small scissors for cutting threads that were nearby, walked over to her side, bent down, and deftly snipped off the stray thread.
Wen Runuan looked down, then unconsciously smiled: "You can even see such a tiny thread?"
"After you put it on, I realized it was my mistake," Qin Mu answered.
Wen Runuan turned her head and asked: "By the way, about the sudden interview this afternoon, I’ve decided to personally announce to the public that you are my designer, is that okay with you?"
Qin Mu’s sharp eyes looked towards the floor for a moment before nodding.
"That’s great, then from now on you will be my personal designer; you can’t easily design clothes for other female celebrities."
"Designs for your company are fine, but I still have to accept other commissions."
"Of course, I know your ambitions aren’t limited to just me."
Qin Mu did not falsely agree, but Wen Runuan wasn’t one to force her.
She is a designer, but not a designer for just one person; no one can change that.
"Did you see a piece of news on the internet today?"
Later, Wen Runuan sat on the sofa, looked up at her, and asked.
Qin Mu stood in front of the desk again, leaning gently on the edge while looking down at the woman on the sofa with a slight smile.
"About the mother and daughter who came to see you yesterday?"
"So, does that mean you really are the mayor of Qin City’s daughter?"
Qin Mu, unconsciously lowering her head to laugh, didn’t even know what she was mocking, or was it because she truly couldn’t deny it?
"Mr. Zhang told me about it, but I’ve always been hesitant to believe it; I’ve never heard you mention it, nor has the media reported extensively on it, only some gossip that no one knows whether to believe."
"But now, whether it’s true or not, it’s all false."
Qin Mu said unenthusiastically in a low voice.
"If your mother died because of your father’s affair, could you still act like a good father and daughter with him?"
Wen Runuan fell silent, the atmosphere in the office becoming heavy.
"With Qin Haiming, it is just like that. His blood runs through my veins, and the relationship between us is only sustained by this blood. I can’t ask him to bring my mother back to life, nor can he take away the blood in my veins."
Wen Runuan suddenly laughed bitterly.
"So, you accepted Mr. Zhang’s offer to be my designer because we have similar life experiences?"
"Perhaps, but the bigger reason is Jing Qing!"
Qin Mu continued to speak frankly.
The two women chatted for a bit longer and it was after this conversation that they truly understood each other’s past, and then parted ways.
After work that evening, Qin Mu packed up her things early, preparing to return to the Mu Family.
The sky outside was a dull gray. As she came down from the second floor, she looked up and saw an older man with white hair walking in.
It was Qin Haiming’s driver.
Qin Mu asked curiously and also courteously lowered her head a bit.
"Miss, Mr. Qin said there are some things he wants to give you."
The driver always looked at her tenderly, the look in his eyes when greeting her full of pity, but he eventually got to the point.
"I’m afraid there’s nothing left for me at the Qin Family’s, right?"
Qin Mu asked softly, her eyes growing sharp at the mention.
"It’s about the belongings of the late madam."
The driver bowed his head as he finished speaking and glanced at her as if to confirm something.
Qin Mu raised her eyes to look at him; the driver, seeing her questioning gaze, bowed his head closer to his chest.
Her mother’s belongings?
Weren’t they all burned or thrown away a long time ago?