His gaze was filled with a faint tenderness as his fingers gently brushed through her hair while simply helping her comb it.

"If it's you, then I'm not afraid of the pain at all."

She looked at him earnestly and suddenly reached out with both hands. While she gently held his noble and handsome face, she carefully examined it, and her twinkling eyes glowed. She lowered her voice and said softly by his ear, "I like you, Mr. Mu."

Then, her calm and cool lips closed in.

Mu Yuchen's dark eyes were stunned for a moment. His handsome face could not help but turn hot. Quickly, he reached out to press the button for the partition shutter in the car, blocking the scenery from behind before enjoying the tenderness from her.

...

By the time they returned to Maple Residence, Xi Xiaye had already fallen asleep, leaning against him.

When Li Si knocked on the car door, Mu Yuchen then looked down at the woman who slept soundly in his arms. He sighed and suddenly said softly, "I've long fancied you. I've given all of my feelings to you, Xi Xiaye."

The woman in her deep sleep would not have known what he admitted. Because she slept so soundly, she missed a certain person's confession.

When the weekend came around, Qi Lei returned just in time. By the time he went to Mu Yuchen's office, he looked travel-worn.

Mu Yuchen immediately arranged for them to meet at his office.

At that moment, inside the vast and neat office, a few high definition screens above the French window across were displaying some information. Mu Yuchen was standing before the window underneath the screens, looking up at them while Qi Lei stood right behind him.

"I thought you wouldn't make it back in time." Mu Yuchen's voice was very soft.

Qi Lei looked around the office in shock. His eyes quickly fell on the closed door of the resting lounge.

"Is Xiaye inside?"

Mu Yuchen nodded. He turned to flip open a document on the desk behind him as he replied calmly, "She wanted to come. She didn't rest well and just fell asleep."

"I can see that you're not having it easy as a father-to-be. Do you feel anything yet?" Qi Lei teased and smiled as he looked jokingly at Mu Yuchen who was becoming thinner.

Mu Yuchen looked up from his document calmly. He shot him a nonchalant glance and said, "You find a woman to marry. You'll feel it very soon."

Qi Lei brushed his nose and shrugged. "I'm not rushing myself. Not everyone's like you, so easily accepting about marriage. However, the fact that you and Xi Xiaye could reach to this stage does surprise me more or less. I just find it sad that if I had agreed to Deng Wenwen's request back then. I wonder if she would've been Missus Qi instead right now."

"Forget it. She doesn't like playboys like you. Missus Qi doesn't sound any better than Missus Mu does."

Qi Lei could not help but hit his head, feeling annoyed as he said bewilderedly, "Time that has passed can never return. I'm afraid they're talking about this."

"Master, CEO Shen is here!" Right at that moment, Li Si's voice suddenly came from outside the door.

Mu Yuchen quickly closed the documents in his hand and walked towards the door. Qi Lei subconsciously raised his brows and followed Mu Yuchen's figure to peer over too.

After a while, there was suddenly the sound of footsteps.

"Grandpa, this way!" Mu Yuchen humbly helped Shen Yue into the office.

Shen Yue wore a gray overcoat and held a walking stick in his hand. His pair of deep and sharp eyes immediately showed that he was a strong competitor who had long been in the world of business. Qi Lei subconsciously felt respect for him.

"Hello, Elder CEO. I'm Qi Lei! I'm very honored to get the chance to meet you," Qi Lei spoke up humbly.

Shen Yue examined Qi Lei through narrowed eyes, then turned to ask Mu Yuchen, "Ah Chen, this is the person you recommended?"

Mu Yuchen nodded. "Mmm, he's Master Qi from Qi Kai. He has tons of knowledge in terms of construction. The proposal that Grandpa has was personally prepared by him. If you have any questions, feel free to ask him. You can also personally evaluate him," Mu Yuchen answered Shen Yue softly.

Shen Yue then nodded and sized Qi Lei up again before walking towards the sofa and slowly sitting down. His aged voice was heard. "He does look like a talented one. Let's all sit. Ah Chen, you too. Since it's a partnership proposal, there are many things we still need to deliberate."

"Elder CEO, please have some tea!" Li Si respectfully served the tea, and then quietly retreated to the side while Lan Zilang stood quietly beside Shen Yue.

"Qi Kai's considered a leader in City Z. The movie industry is your focus, so why have you suddenly become interested in construction? In fact, I quite admire your talents in construction. You're a young fellow and you already have a calling in the construction field. It's really quite rare."

Shen Yue reached out to take over the materials Lan Zilang handed him. He flipped through and browsed them.

"Elder CEO, you're flattering me. Thank you for the praises." Qi Lei laughed. Others said that Shen Yue did not seem to be someone one could get along with easily, but right now, he did not seem like what the rumors said.

Of course, Qi Lei actually neglected a piece of truth, that no matter how stringent Shen Yue was, when he was in front of Mu Yuchen and Xi Xiaye, he would be exceptionally friendly.

"I've had some dealings with Qi Kai before. CEO Qi of your company should be your father, right? He's not very honest with business. If he came to discuss with me today, I almost wouldn't consider this. This partnership wouldn't happen, but since Ah Chen and Xiaye have recommended you strongly, and I'm quite happy with this proposal, I decided to come to meet you."

Qi Lei looked at Mu Yuchen. There was a light in his eyes. After a while, he responded, "Looks like I'll have to properly thank you, Master Mu, and Xiaye. It's also my honor that Elder CEO is willing to meet me, but I also trust my own standards."

"I do like this confidence in you young people, but confidence is one thing and abilities are another. It's not just a simple proposal for construction projects. Now, I'd like to understand how you're going to do this project if I agree to collaborate with Qi Kai a little better. Back then, when Qi Qiming came looking for me, I'd immediately rejected him."

"Don't worry, Elder CEO. I'll personally be in charge of this entire project. Qi Kai wanting to collaborate with Fuhua isn't a matter of a day or two either. I hope that you'll believe our sincerity, Elder CEO," said Qi Lei sincerely. His serious and earnest manner was quite different from his usual frivolous ways.

Qi Lei's humility and sincerity made Shen Yue quite pleased.

"This is the first phase of the project's initial proposal. Elder CEO, you may look through it. Consider me asking you for some guidance."

Qi Lei took the document from the side and handed it to Shen Yue who raised his gray brows and accepted it. Casually, he flipped through it and then nodded. "Your design concept isn't bad. I'll go back to look into it later on. You can let me know about Qi Kai's situation a bit more."

"Elder CEO, I've already included the details on our company in the proposal," Qi Lei responded.

Shen Yue flipped the document to the back and roughly looked through it before he closed it. He looked at Qi Lei through squinted eyes before handing the document to Lan Zilang, and nonchalantly picked up his tea to drink a sip. He turned to his side and looked at Mu Yuchen who was tidying his desk. "Ah Chen, didn't you say that Xiaye was around too?"

Mu Yuchen looked up at the data on the screen as he said, "She didn't sleep well last night. I let her sleep a while more. Grandpa, Master Qi's Chinese chess is quite good. You should have a game with him."

However, Qi Lei was slightly shocked by his words.

What did Mu Yuchen just call Shen Yue?

Grandpa?

Some things that Yang Sheng had previously told him about flashed in Qi Lei's mind. There was something about how Fuhua and Glory World had some kind of relationship. Had Xi Xiaye not been running to Fuhua quite frequently recently?

Could those rumors have been true?

Was Shen Yue Xi Xiaye's grandpa?

Wait, Shen Yue? Shen Yue?

Aunty Shen? Shen Wenna!

A lightbulb flashed in his mind. The answer was as clear as day!

Even though he did notice it before this, he did not take it to heart. Now that he heard this truth, he still felt somewhat astonished.

No wonder Mu Yuchen could persuade Shen Yue! In the end, it was one of them, he just knew that Shen Yue was not that easy to persuade. He had not heard of Mu Yuchen being in touch with Shen Yue before this, and Glory World Corporation did not do much in the construction and property development aspect either, so how did he suddenly get involved so quickly?

Qi Lei suppressed the shock in him. Shen Yue already looked at him to see if he had anything more to say, and he quickly added, "If Elder CEO is interested."

Then, he got up and opened up a chess set.

"The earlier stages of the project is about to begin. I'm afraid I wouldn't ask too much. This project matters will be left to Ah Chen and Xiaye. Since you are good friends with both of them, I'll feel more assured. When the proposed plan has had a final assessment, I will tell Zilang to inform you. Of course, I do know a bit about Qi Kai's internal situation too. I hope that there won't be another repeat of the South River project. I think you should be able to do that."

Shen Yue was a man who had been in business for decades. Even though he did consider Qi Kai's situation, if he could get someone with potential like Qi Lei to be on his side right now, it would be extremely beneficial for him. Besides, with Mu Yuchen around, he could be free of worries.

Qi Lei responded earnestly, "Elder CEO, if you fancy me being on board, I definitely won't disappoint you."

Shen Yue nodded and made the first move on the chessboard. Qi Lei swiftly followed after.

The vast and comfortable office was very quiet. There was the occassional sound of chess pieces tapping the board. Shen Yue and Qi Lei were both very focused people. Meanwhile, Mu Yuchen stood underneath the screen, flipping through the materials and recording things from time to time.

Just as Mu Yuchen was busy and focused, Li Si suddenly walked over carefully and said softly into Mu Yuchen's ear, "Master, there's news from Ah Bao. He's just gotten off the plane. He wanted to come here and report to you immediately, but considering that Elder CEO and Qi Lei are here, I stopped him."

Mu Yuchen immediately stopped what he was doing. He turned to Li Si and there was puzzlement in his eyes. Li Si lowered himself and softly reminded, "Master, did you forget? Ah Mo previously delegated Ah Bao to investigate that pen."

With Li Si's reminder, Mu Yuchen recalled that a few months ago, he did order Ah Mo to investigate the source of that pen. A few months had passed in the blink of an eye, yet there was no news. Ah Mo could only do a blanket search, so it took a long time.

After they negated Qi Qimin, this matter was stuck. Even though Mu Lingshi was relieved, the hope in her heart had not been put out either.

Mu Yuchen fell silent for a while, then said plainly, "Get him to come to Maple Residence at night."

"Yes, Master!" Li Si replied and then quietly retreated as he took his phone out from his pocket.

Qi Lei, who was conversing in the office, would not have known that just as he walked into Glory World, at the plaza in front of Glory World, a black car slowly come to a halt. The passenger watched him walk into Glory World Corporation. Even Shen Yue's arrival after that was taken in too.

At that moment, at the back seat of the car.

"Miss Gu, they seem to have gone inside for quite a long while! The old man who went in after that should be CEO of Fuhua, Shen Yue. I heard that Fuhua and Glory World are interested in collaborating to take on the other item under the South River project," Assistant Xiao Dong, who was in front, turned around to say to Gu Lingsha.

"Why would Qi Lei be here today?" Gu Lingsha asked puzzled.

She wanted to walk around the plaza when she saw Qi Lei's car by chance and tailed him all the way there. Unexpectedly, Qi Lei had driven his car straight to Glory World Corporation.

Even though she knew that Qi Kai and Glory World had a partnership, it still seemed quite odd to her. Was Qi Lei not previously prejudiced towards Mu Yuchen? Especially after she and Lingtian got into the accident, Qi Lei and Lingtian were very close friends back then too.

These past few years when she had been abroad, she actually knew about the situation on Qi Lei's end very well. Qi Lei's undying friendship also moved her, but now it looked like even the ones she thought she could rely on were slowly moving further away from her.

Gu Lingsha's arched brows instantly furrowed, and she suddenly felt upset.

She obviously did not forget that Qi Lei had even helped plead for Su Nan on behalf of Xi Xiaye. She also remembered asking back then whether he liked Xi Xiaye, and the way he had responded...

Even if he did not like her, at least, he admired her!

In fact, now with his relationship with Mu Yuchen...

She had to admit that the balance in Qi Lei's heart had slowly tipped toward Mu Yuchen and Xi Xiaye!

Gu Lingsha's thought made her shudder, and she started feeling bitter.

'I came back, but everything has changed...'

She could not protect the things she held dear, and she realized she was losing more and more...

She had to hold onto something.

"I heard Master Qi was going to send some samples to Glory World. He should be here for the documents," Assistant Xiao Dong voiced out her thoughts.

"Is Fuhua very close to Glory World?" Gu Lingsha asked with a frown.

"They have plans to collaborate. CEO Shen's assistant had been visiting Glory World frequently because of the South River project. CEO Qi tried to approach CEO Shen before, but CEO Shen is known to be difficult to deal with, so CEO Qi could not get anything from him. Vice CEO Yue got humiliated there and he was very unhappy with CEO Shen."

Yue Hai went to talk with Shen Yue representing Qi Qiming. There was no way Shen Yue would entertain him knowing that he was from the Yue family!

Ever since then, Yue Hai was dissatisfied with Shen Yue.

"Fuhua is the leader of the industry. We can't clash with them straight on. I heard Uncle Qi has been troubled by the South River project."

"Yes, CEO Wang is trying to get this project as well. It'll make a huge impact in the next few years. This project is influential enough to gather the support of many people during the stakeholders' meeting. Glory World is now siding with CEO Wang. CEO Qi will need to make other plans."

Gu Lingsha frowned. "Wang Qin doesn't have much power in her hands, thanks to Uncle Qi getting people onto his side in secret over the years. I doubt Wang Qin can do much if a conflict actually happens. However, with Glory World... Well, if it happened, I'll ask my father to help Uncle Qi."

She grabbed her phone and called Qi Qiming who picked up very quickly.

"Lingsha? Suddenly thought of an old man like me?" Qi Qiming's gentle voice came through. It was a huge contrast compared to his cold attitude towards Qi Lei.

Gu Lingsha smiled gently as well. "Uncle Qi, you're still young and charming. How are you already old?"

Qi Qiming laughed. "Lingsha, you really know what I want to hear. So, what happened? I'm sure you have something on your mind if you're calling me at this time."

"Can't I just call you without anything in particular, Uncle Qi? I was near the mall and was thinking about getting you something. I didn't expect to see Qi Lei's car. He drove very quickly and I got my driver to follow him. I saw him going into Glory World Corporation, probably for work. I've been waiting for him for a while, but he's not out yet. I'm still thinking if I should continue waiting for him. It's a weekend and I think it'd be nice to have dinner together."

"Qi Lei went to Glory World?" Qi Qiming spoke in a grim tone, confusing Gu Lingsha. "Oh, by the way, I also happened to see Fuhua's Shen Yue go inside... so, I just wanted to remind you to be careful, Uncle Qi."

"That traitor!"

Qi Qiming's voice turned cold. "Just leave him be. Let him do whatever he wants. Come to my place tonight for dinner. That's it for now!"

Without waiting for Gu Lingsha's reply, Qi Qiming hung up on the call quickly, and he instantly gave Yue Hai a call.

...

Gu Lingsha put her phone away as a cold light flashed in her eyes. She glanced at the empty entrance in front for a while before saying, "Let's go back."

"Yes, Ms. Gu!" The chauffeur started the car after a brief reply.

Gu Lingsha took a deep breath as the car moved forward. She covered her face for some time. Then, she took out the necklace under her clothes. It was a pink heart-shaped diamond necklace. She then applied some force on the pink diamond and it opened.

Inside the jewel, there was a tiny photo inside.

It was a photo of Gu Lingsha with a skinny little girl.

She was wearing a long, red dress in the photo. There was a similarly beautiful little girl in her arms, but the little girl looked skinny. Her hair was braided and there was a butterfly hair clip on her head while she wore a pink dress.

Gu Lingsha stroked the little girl's face and she started to tear up. She gripped the necklace tightly and held it against her chest. She closed her eyes and mumbled, "Weiwei, Mother misses you... Mother will make the people who hurt you pay, so you have to give your mother courage."

The sky turned dark when Xi Xiaye woke up, and Shen Ye had already gone back.

The original plan was to have dinner with Shen Yue, but Shen Yue did not want Mu Yuchen to wake her up, so in the end, both Lan Zilang and he left.

The room was dark when Xi Xiaye got out of bed. She quickly switched on the lights and looked outside the window. City Z's nightlife had already begun.

She washed up before heading out of the room. There was no one in the office, but the lights were left switched on.

Xi Xiaye frowned as she tried to find that familiar figure. While there was no one at all, his coat was draped on the chair, and there were also two phones left on the table. The documents were left open as well...

Where did they go?

Xi Xiaye scratched her head as she walked toward the table and sat down on the chair.

She saw his powerful signature strokes on the paper. Grabbing the pen left on the table as well as a piece of paper, she then started writing.

Xi Xiaye.

After a moment of hesitation, she added another word before her name — Mu...