Mu Yuchen could easily detect the shock in Gu Qiwu's eyes, yet he obviously did not miss the hint of bitter disdain in his expression either.

Gu Qiwu nonchalantly set his sunglasses on the newspapers beside him and looked up at Mu Yuchen and nodded without denying it. "That's right. That was one of the estates the Hui Gu Corporation invested in, but now the government has already withdrawn it to build a new residential area and office buildings."

"I know. I went there to check on it this morning. My aunt used to have a place in the Xiang She residences. Did you know about that?" Mu Yuchen continued to ask.

"Your aunt? Mu Zi?" Gu Qiwu chuckled with a lukewarm attitude while he leaned back against the chair with a wry smile on his face. "Would you know every single person you sold a product to?"

"In the same respect, do you think I would know?"

The light in Gu Qiwu's eyes seemed to mock Mu Yuchen as he held up his coffee for a drink. He lowered his head and said, "Do you think I don't know that your people were in front of the Gu residence for the whole night? Can you explain what exactly you're trying to do? Why did you visit this time?"

"I want to see if you were home, Uncle Gu. I heard that you're quite hard to meet. Coincidentally, there was something I wanted to understand from you. Are you satisfied with this explanation?" Mu Yuchen lowered his body slightly to explain. Then, he straightened up and appeared relaxed and elegant.

"Mu Yuchen, you should know that I'm the kind of person who hates others playing dumb with me. Six years ago, when Shasha made her escape, she was wrong, but you gave orders to chase after them. In turn, you caused the tragedy to happen. That's a fact, so I hope that you can fix your attitude a little."

"My attitude has always been very proper. It was you lot who wanted to cause trouble. My aunt seemed to have been quite good friends with you in the past. Would you not have known that she bought an expensive place in a residential area you invested in? If you were me, would you believe that?"

"It's up to you whether you'd like to believe me or not. Mu Yuchen, since Mu Zi has passed away for many years now, the fact that you're raising this again right now is suspicious. Today, I've come to meet you just to let you know that you'd better exercise restraint. City B is not City Z. This is my turf. Knowing too much about some things might not necessarily be a good thing unless you'd like to give up on your peaceful days to come."

Gu Qiwu slowly stood up and took the sunglasses from the side to put on as he said, "I already know about your collaboration with Qi Lei. Not bad, Mu Yuchen, you have a right to challenge me," he said this before walking to the door.

"Mr. Wen?"

At this moment, Mu Yuchen suddenly called out to Gu Qiwu's back, yet the man did not seem to hear him and just walked out of the door.

Mu Yuchen watched Gu Qiwu slowly vanish out of the door. After a long while, a mysterious smile appeared on his face.

...

On their flight back to City Z, Zhou Zimo examined Mu Yuchen who fell silent for a long while, finally he could not help but ask, "What did Gu Qiwu say to you? Why do I feel like you're behaving a little fishy right now?"

Mu Yuchen took a deep breath, and could not help but massage the tired space between his brows as he said calmly, "He knows that I ordered people to trail and investigate him. While he didn't say anything, I feel like he was testing me."

"Testing you?" Zhou Zimo frowned in confusion. "Why would you say that? Testing you about what?"

"I can't be sure. Gu Qiwu's a very unfathomable person, so it won't be easy for me to guess what he's thinking. I have no idea what he's trying to do. I asked him about Xiang She Residences, but he acted all nonchalant, so I can't be sure of his true feelings. I can't see through him," Mu Yuchen said, as he closed his eyes.

"No wonder you looked defeated, but you don't have to worry too much. As long as there are some clues, we can continue investigating, so don't worry. The only thing I'm confused about is why Doris wanted to chase after that person who bid for that pen too. Was their aim also that pen? Or was it just a pure coincidence?"

"There are not that many coincidences in this world. If we want to clarify these things, we'll have to first find out that person's identity, and which side of the power they're representing, but right now we can find a breakthrough from Doris's end. This time, at the auction, I could vaguely sense something unusual. At the auction, Doris and Gu Lingsha seemed to only bid for that pen. They didn't bid for anything else after that, so I came up with a hypothesis. Could this mother-daughter pair have come just for the pen, while also knowing that the person who'd compete with them would definitely come? This could also explain why the moment that man left the auction since they would immediately chase him too."

Mu Yuchen began to piece things together as he squinted his profound eyes and began to analyze the facts with Zhou Zimo.

"If that's the case, then Gu Lingsha probably didn't bid for that pen for Lingtian's sake. It should've been for something else, or maybe they know a story behind the pen. That's why they didn't spare the cost just to get that pen."

"Perhaps the person I should've met was Doris and not Gu Qiwu."

"Forget it. Let's not alert the enemy first. Let Ah Bao continue to lurk around. I'm sure we'll soon be able to find out the ins and outs of those people."

With a nod, Mu Yuchen felt his heart become a little heavy as he began to have a bad feeling, but he hoped that all of this was just wild speculation.

"We'll have to wait for Ah Bao to find out more about that person, but I believe that it won't take too long."

He stopped thinking about it before turning to look out the window to watch the coiled clouds that filled the sky. Suddenly, his mind flashed with Xi Xiaye's beautiful and elegant little face.

At this moment, in Xi Xiaye's ward in Hospital T, Su Nan came over to visit.

"I thought that I'd have a son, and offer him to your daughter, but who would've thought that it would flip the other way around? But, seriously, he's got excellent genes. It's only been a few days, and I can vaguely see that your son's a copy of Mu Yuchen. With those eyes, that mouth, and that nose, they look so similar. Don't you think so? Even Director Zhuang said that the baby looks exactly like Mu Yuchen when he was younger. In another 20 years, he'll be another excellent and dashing gentleman. Sigh, Xiaye, can you reserve him for our Xiao Xi?"

Su Nan leaned over and watched the little baby in Xi Xiaye's arms as she reached out to carefully brush his faint brows, and looked up miserably at Xi Xiaye.

Xi Xiaye returned her gaze, then continued to look down and hold her son's little hand as she chuckled. "Oh, you, just let the children go with the flow. It's not fashionable to arrange for the betrothal of children anymore. When he grows up, Mu Yuchen and I won't interfere in his relationship matters. We'll let him go about it himself. If he fancies Xiao Xi, I won't have any opinion on it either."

"May your son not mind dating an older girl even though I myself mind it a little..." Su Nan muttered.

"Has Ruan Heng's condition been better these few days?" Xi Xiaye asked.

When she mentioned that, Su Nan's eyes immediately dimmed, and she sighed. "It's still the same. He's not awake, but his wounds have all pretty much healed. I don't know when he'll be waking up either. Every day, I just see him lying on the bed unmoving. It makes me really sad."

Xi Xiaye held out a hand to hold Su Nan's gently as she consoled her friend, "Nannan, don't worry. Ruan Heng will definitely wake up. Just talk to him every day. He cares so much about you, and he loves you and Xiao Xi. He wouldn't just abandon the two of you. Now that his external injuries have healed, he can immediately be discharged once he wakes you. You can't be dispirited first."

"I know. Aren't I concerned now? Sigh, it's fine. I'm feeling better too. No matter what, I'll have to keep marching on. Right, I'll be returning to work after the 10th, so please give me some encouragement!" Su Nan sighed deeply and lifted a hand to pat the back of Xi Xiaye's hand, indicating for her to not worry.

"Go to work? Have you recovered already? Are you going to work so soon already?" Xi Xiaye looked a little worriedly at Su Nan who was getting thinner, she pondered for a bit, and then continued, "Nannan, how about you don't work at that company anymore? I'll ask Mu Yuchen to arrange for you to work in Glory World or you can work at Fuhua too. I'll arrange a light job for you. That way, you'll have more time to take care of your daughter and Ruan Heng."

"There's no need! Your companies aren't doing fashion design, so I won't be able to help even if I go over. Don't worry. I'm fine. My dream is to be a new age successful career woman. I used to always rely on Ruan Heng, and my skills have deteriorated terribly. Now that I think about, I've actually been holding him back. He's worked so hard. I should share his burden."

Xi Xiaye nodded. "Mmm, wait till you've adapted, then we can start a studio. You have great talents in design, and I believe in you."

"Mmm, when have I ever disappointed you? Right, I'll leave now. I'll come over to see you guys tomorrow. You take good care of yourself too. Being such a critical period now, don't treat your health lightly."

"I got it. You're nagging me just like a housekeeper. Go home now."

...

As she watched Su Nan's figure vanish out of the doorway, Xi Xiaye glanced up and sighed slightly. She felt her son reaching out for her from her embrace. Gazing down at him, she saw that he was watching her with wide, brightened eyes while his pair of hands waved about. He was not easy to manage with all the fiddling.

Mu Zicheng rarely cried and always fell asleep after eating. Even the nurses praised that this baby was easy to manage as he would watch you quietly just like he was doing right now.

"Baby, you can go home with Father and Mother in another two days. Are you happy? Are you happy? Hmm?"

"Does he understand what you're saying to him?"

Xi Xiaye just finished cooing when a familiar voice suddenly came from the door. She looked up to the source of the voice and saw Qi Lei leaning against the door with a bouquet of fresh flowers in his arms.

"It's you?" Xi Xiaye stared in shock at Qi Lei by the door. "Everyone seemed to have returned to the office for work today. How do you have time to come?"

Qi Lei shrugged, lifting the flowers in his arms. "It's not my company. The upper management has a meeting that has got nothing to do with me. I knew that you gave birth to a son, so I came over to visit. Can I come in?"

Xi Xiaye then looked away and to the chair beside her bed, before Qi Lei walked in.

He put the flowers on the bedside table, then immediately closed in to Xi Xiaye and looked at Mu Zicheng in Xi Xiaye's embrace in awe as if he was discovering a new world. He looked very curious. "All newborn babies look the same. Which bastard told me he looked like a copy of Mu Yuchen? Wasn't that just nonsense? Mmm? His eyes are quite bright! Come on. Uncle is a good person. Smile!" Qi Lei said as he reached out to pinch Mu Zicheng's soft, cottony cheeks.

This pinch really brought it—

Waaaaa!

A loud and clear cry immediately exploded in the room!

This sudden wail shocked Qi Lei whose legs subconsciously felt weak suddenly. The nurses and Shen Wenna all rushed in from the door.

"Baby—"

"Why's it crying?"

"Move away!"

Qi Lei was immediately shoved to the side. The nurse, Shen Wenna, and Xi Xiaye all quickly coaxed Mu Zicheng and his earth-shattering cries while Xi Xiaye frowned and glared at him. He could only move aside and keep quiet.

Meanwhile, on the inside, he cried to himself.

Bloody hell, this was truly Mu Yuchen's seed, both father and son were Qi Lei's bane!

Earlier, his fingertips had only grazed his cheeks lightly. He had not even pinched him, yet he cried like this. How wronged was he?!

Finally, they managed to coax the baby to sleep, and Shen Wenna and the nurse carried him back to the incubator.

"I didn't do anything earlier. Your son is really quite..." Lei quickly explained.

"A child's reaction is the most intuitive. If you didn't do anything, he wouldn't have cried. Have you finished all your work since you're here? I heard from Mu Yuchen a few days ago that Qi Kai's planning on putting in another person-in-charge for the South River project No. 1? What's going on?" Xi Xiaye looked calmly at Qi Lei with her twinkling eyes.

"Didn't Mu Yuchen tell you?" Qi Lei looked at her in surprise

"Tell me what? He hasn't been telling me about work. By the time I recover, I'd probably be unfamiliar with the company's business. But the work on South River has finally gotten right on track, so I hope there won't be huge changes."

"That's the intentions of the higher-ups. They're planning to move Gu Lingsha over to be in charge of the project with me."

"What do you mean?" Xi Xiaye frowned.

"Well, I'm afraid Mu Yuchen would know better." Qi Lei's handsome flashed with a faint smile, yet his tone sounded cynical.

Xi Xiaye frowned as she gave it some thought before nodding. "I'll ask him about it. What about you? If Qi Qiming sent Gu Lingsha to handle this project, what will happen to you?"

Qi Lei smiled and closed his eyes. "What can I do? I'll just do whatever I can."

"Qi Qiming... Why does he hold such a huge bias against you? He shouldn't treat you like this even if he really favors Qi Feng." Xi Xiaye looked straight at Qi Lei. "No matter what, you're still his son."

If it were not for Qi Lei's similarity in appearance with Qi Qiming, Xi Xiaye seriously doubted if Qi Lei was actually Qi Qiming's son. There was no need to check. How could they not be?

"It doesn't matter. I've never thought of him as my father anyway. I'm just here to visit you today and I heard from the doctor you'll be discharged in two days. I'll be visiting you at Maple Residence then." Qi Lei stood up as he spoke in a bland tone, his usual cheekiness nowhere to be seen, "I'll head back for now. I've got something to attend to tonight. You two had better buy me a drink after you've recovered. Goodbye!"

Xi Xiaye nodded. "Alright, thank you, and Happy New Year."

Qi Lei waved his hand and walked towards the door, his retreating figure appearing lonely.

Xi Xiaye took a deep breath. With parents and environment like that, Qi Lei was really...

Night arrived soon, and it was 11p.m. when the plane touched down in City Z.

"Li Si, send Master Mo back home," Mu Yuchen left an order before boarding his car.

"It's late at night. Don't you want to eat something first?" Zhou Zimo asked.

"I've had some on the plane, let Li Si send you back."

His car quickly left, it was easy to guess where he was heading.

Li Si watched the car as it disappeared in the dark. A while later, he asked Zhou Zimo with a frown, "Master Mo, did Master tell you anything? I can feel that he has a lot on his mind. Did he find out something? Why did we suddenly come back? We might've been able to find the answer if we continue investigating. Why come back now and leave Ah Bao alone there?"

Zhou Zimo's expression turned solemn as well. He thought about his conversation with Mu Yuchen. Moments later, he took a deep breath and then said, "Maybe that's just how he rolls. He probably thinks there's no need to investigate anymore. Well, he has his own concerns."

Li Si nodded. "Concerns? But Master didn't do anything, or could he already know what's happening?"

"Let's wait for the outcome of the investigation from Ah Bao. This matter isn't as simple as we thought. Why else would there be no results after so many years of searching? I'm starting to feel uneasy now that we're getting closer to the truth. Well, there's no point in worrying now. I'm sure things will work out when the time comes. Believe your Master," advised Zhou Zimo before he got into the car.

"I'm not going back to my place. Head to Master Su's place instead."

"Yes, Master Mo!"

The car drove past quickly under the moonlight.

Inside Hospital T, Xi Xiaye made Zhuang Shurong go home in the evening. There was a huge group of bodyguards standing by as well as the nurse Aunt Yue, so Xi Xiaye felt safe and comfortable during this period of time.

Before she went to sleep, the nurse took Mu Zicheng over to hold him for a while. Xi Xiaye then went to sleep soon after.

It was very cold late at night when Mu Yuchen walked into the hospital with a strong, crisp breeze.

As Xi Xiaye was asleep, she felt her blanket being moved and a familiar scent reached her nose. Before she could react she found herself wrapped in a warm hug.

"Didn't you say you needed a few days? Why are you back now?" Xi Xiaye wrapped her arms around him as she asked.

"I just returned as soon as I was done. Don't ask so many questions and just sleep, alright?"

When she finally managed to open her sleepy eyes and looked at him, he climbed over and gave her a goodnight kiss before falling asleep.

Xi Xiaye was wide awake when she heard his deep breathing right beside her. She looked at him for a long while as she ran her fingers through his messy hair.

The New Year holiday passed, and they quickly returned to their normal daily lives.

However, there were a lot of traffic accidents recently, thus Su Chen had to work overtime almost every day. Sometimes, he could only go home in the morning like right now.

He drove down the highway and quickly arrived at an expensive residential area.

There was a severe accident at a highway yesterday. Su Chen received the news just as he was falling asleep, so he then had to get up and rush over. He did not expect the whole thing to last until the morning. Right now, he was so sleepy that he asked his assistant to send him home after he left his colleagues his orders.

He finally arrived home. Just as he was getting his key card—

"Long time no see, Instructor Su!" A loud voice came from behind him, and it was filled with fury!

Su Chen was stunned for a moment. He quickly spun around.

Ji Zitong was wearing a large black coat as she stood behind him. While his slightly bloodshot eyes seemed confused, his tone was calm. "Why are you here so early in the morning? What do you want?"

Su Chen took out his key card and opened the door before entering.

Ji Zitong's eyes turned cold as her expression darkened. She followed him in before closing the door.

Su Chen threw his briefcase onto the sofa and took out his coat. Then, he grabbed himself a glass of water and swigged it before looking at the woman who came into his house. "Speak. I'm very busy."

Ji Zitong's rage erupted like a volcano. "I'm very busy as well and I don't have time to play with you. Su Chen, you're really a bastard! You can stop your prank now!"