“It’s nothing. Yi Hang said you were at the hospital. I called to ask how the old man is doing, but with you like this… could it be that Grandfather’s condition isn’t good?”
Mentioning Grandfather’s illness stirred grief in Mu Wanqing’s heart again, instantly disrupting the composure she had just regained.
“Grandfather is mostly unconscious now, rarely awake… He just spoke a lot with me and has fallen asleep again.” The woman’s voice was soft and hoarse, devoid of yesterday’s sharpness and edge.
Wen Zhan understood—her tears were likely related to what the old man had said.
“What did he tell you?”
“He spoke about my grandfather, recounted his experiences in the battlefield under heavy fire, said all his comrades sacrificed their lives, and that he was content to have lived these extra years… Probably, he just didn’t want us to grieve.”
She didn’t mention Grandfather’s support for her divorce, afraid it might anger Wen Zhan again.
She had no energy left for arguments.
“Yes, Grandfather truly survived against all odds. Since we were young, we’ve heard him tell those battle stories countless times. Your grandfather was a great man; he saved several of his comrades.”
As they talked about the old man, the atmosphere remained surprisingly calm.
Mu Wanqing: “It’s a pity he lived a life of hardship and had to endure the torment of illness in his final days…”
The man immediately understood: “So, seeing Grandfather so ill reminded you of your own grandfather’s passing, and that’s why you’re so heartbroken?”
“…” Mu Wanqing fell silent, her ears warming.
When had he become so perceptive of her inner thoughts?
Sensing that continuing the conversation would lead to an awkward overstepping of boundaries, she quickly changed the subject after her silence: “Well… it’s almost noon. I should head back. If there’s nothing else, you can hang up.”
Wen Zhan felt an inexplicable reluctance—whether out of guilt toward her or concern for her well-being, he was uneasy about her current state.
But her obvious desire to retreat made him hesitant to press further, afraid of provoking more resentment. He simply responded softly and ended the call.
Mu Wanqing held her phone, the man’s words still echoing in her ears.
Earlier, on the way to the hospital, Yi Hang had mentioned that Wen Zhan instructed him to stay and look after the household.
Though she said nothing aloud, her heart wavered weakly.
She thought he still had a shred of conscience and cared for her in some way.
But now it seemed Yi Hang was more like a watchdog.
What was there to monitor, though?
Was she likely to abandon the children and run away? Or was he afraid she’d secretly cheat and disgrace him?
Mu Wanqing let out a faint, bitter laugh, unable to articulate the tangled emotions in her heart.
Meanwhile, Wen Zhan, who had just landed at an airport thousands of miles away, wore a similarly complex expression as he got into a car.
Yesterday afternoon, his father had called and berated him harshly, likely after hearing his mother’s exaggerated account, even threatening to sever ties with his “unfilial son.”
His mood grew more troubled, and he didn’t return home that evening.
He had considered asking Gu Xinchen out for a drink but worried it would reach Lu Kejun’s ears and cause more trouble.
In the end, he spent the night at the company and headed straight to the airport early the next morning for a business trip.
He hoped they could take some time apart to cool off.
But staying in the city without returning home would raise eyebrows, so using a business trip as an excuse made it seem legitimate.
As soon as he turned on his phone after landing, he saw Yi Hang’s message.
Thinking about how she had been so devoted to the elderly man who was no relation to her, he felt his own behavior was truly despicable, so he took the initiative to call.
She must be very sad—her voice was hoarse from crying.
But since her background was so pitiful, why couldn’t she just live peacefully with him?
As long as she didn’t mention divorce, she would remain the legitimate young mistress for life, enjoying endless wealth and luxury.
Wen Zhan’s thoughts were chaotic as he leaned back in his seat, letting out a heavy sigh from the depths of his heart.
Over the weekend, Ye Huan’s family of four moved to Chongcheng.
The “four” wasn’t because they had two children, but because her mother-in-law had come along as well.
Ye Huan’s daughter had just turned two and hadn’t started kindergarten yet, requiring full-time care.
Meeting her best friend finally brightened Mu Wanqing’s mood a little.
She bought gifts for both her friend’s new home and the child, with such thoughtful etiquette that Ye Huan’s mother-in-law treated her very politely.
At noon, Mu Wanqing joined them for a meal to celebrate their move and promotion.
Ye Huan’s husband, Chen Haoyang, was a lawyer. This promotion came because his law firm had opened a branch in Chongcheng, and he was assigned to oversee it.
Knowing that Mu Wanqing had married well, he didn’t want to be looked down upon, so he had reserved a high-end Western restaurant for the meal.
Just before they left, Ye Huan’s daughter, Xiao Xiao, fell asleep.
Thus, the mother-in-law stayed home to look after the child, while Ye Huan ordered a meal for her, and the three of them went out to eat.
On the way, Ye Huan noticed her best friend looked tired and listless. She nudged her and asked, “What’s wrong? You seem unhappy—did you have a fight with your husband?”
“No…” Mu Wanqing smiled faintly and said softly, “You’ve been through this—don’t you know how exhausting it is to take care of children? Especially when I have two…”
“But you have so many people helping you. It shouldn’t be that bad, right…”
“I don’t sleep well at night, and the younger one is very attached to me—she only wants me when she wakes up.”
“Oh, children being clingy can be quite troublesome.” Ye Huan nodded, understanding completely.
Chen Haoyang, sitting in the front passenger seat, turned around to look at his wife’s best friend and asked politely, “Wanqing, how much do you know about your husband’s company?”
Huh?
Mu Wanqing was taken aback. She glanced at her friend’s husband, who was turned sideways staring at her, and hesitated before saying, “His company… I don’t really know much about it.”
To be honest, she knew nothing at all.
After all, when they got married, she hadn’t expected it to last forever—why would she bother inquiring about his company?
Moreover, with her pregnancy and taking care of the children, she hadn’t had time to pay attention to anything else over the past year or so.
Ye Huan looked at her husband, her expression somewhat complicated. “What are you trying to do? Get him to support your firm?”
Chen Haoyang smiled and admitted openly, “I do have that intention.”
“…” Mu Wanqing didn’t know how to respond.
She would soon be divorcing Wen Zhan, and with such an awkward and strained relationship, she couldn’t possibly help Chen Haoyang make connections.
“When headquarters decided to send me to Chongcheng to handle the business here, I did some research beforehand. The contract between Wen Yuan Group and their current law firm is about to expire, and they’ll be reopening bids next month. I plan to submit our materials in the next couple of days. If I’m fortunate enough to secure a multinational enterprise like Wen Yuan Group, then I…”
He smiled with anticipation and pride, clearly viewing this opportunity as extremely important.
Whether he could make a big splash depended entirely on his wife’s best friend.
Ye Huan stole a glance at Mu Wanqing and noticed that although she wore a polite smile, her eyes were filled with discomfort and unease. Understanding immediately dawned on her.
“What are you thinking? If you want to do it, rely on your own abilities—don’t consider underhanded methods.” Not wanting to put her friend in an awkward position, Ye Huan flatly refused her husband.
Chen Haoyang’s expression stiffened slightly as he grasped his wife’s meaning. Forcing a smile at Mu Wanqing, he said, “I was just asking casually—don’t feel pressured.”
“Not at all, I truly don’t involve myself in his company affairs.” Mu Wanqing, also sensing the awkward atmosphere, politely smiled and explained once more.