Chapter 26: Today, She Will Settle Everything

Several of them were fond of seafood, so they were able to enjoy the meal together, though it took some time. Thankfully, the lunch break lasted over two hours. Mu Yinyin's lips curved in a slight smile as she saw Gu Xiaoqi hand her a pair of disposable gloves, which she accepted.

Li Chuan shelled a crayfish and placed it in Gu Xiaoqi’s bowl. His gaze then fell on Mu Yinyin, and he asked calmly, “Who were you talking to on the phone just now?”

Mu Yinyin’s eyes flickered. Earlier, while her grandmother was calling her, another call had come in. She hadn’t noticed it at the time because her mind had wandered, and only realized after hanging up with Gu Xiaoqi.

She spoke softly, “It was Fu Siyue’s grandmother. She asked me to come over tonight.”

“Ah?” Gu Xiaoqi immediately looked troubled. “Is she going to bring up you and Fu Siyue again?”

Jiang Ling frowned slightly. “Are you going tonight?”

“I have to.” Mu Yinyin pressed her lips together, the words simple and decisive.

Gu Xiaoqi’s frown deepened. “You’re still going? What if she insists you and Fu Siyue should try being together again? Usually, when you go back, she calls Fu Siyue over too. She’ll definitely have him there tonight. You’ll run into each other.”

Gu Xiaoqi was worried. She didn’t want her friend to have to face that man again.

Jiang Ling also turned to Mu Yinyin and spoke slowly, “I suspect she doesn’t know you’re divorced.”

Li Chuan continued shelling shrimp in silence, dropping another into Gu Xiaoqi’s bowl once finished.

Mu Yinyin nodded, her expression complicated, but it didn’t stop her from shelling shrimp for herself. Before she could finish, Jiang Ling placed another peeled shrimp into her bowl.

She said softly, “You don’t have to do that for me, I can manage.”

Gu Xiaoqi quickly chimed in, “Exactly, Li Chuan, I can do it myself. Don’t worry about us, eat while it’s still hot or it won’t taste as good.”

Li Chuan didn’t reply to Gu Xiaoqi, his eyes remaining on Mu Yinyin. “So you’re really going tonight?”

Mu Yinyin sighed quietly. “I don’t want to go, but Grandma has taken such good care of me all these years—I can’t embarrass her. Besides, I need to make things clear tonight. Since the divorce is final, there’s no need to keep hiding it. I’m guessing Fu Siyue didn’t tell her because he didn’t want to disappoint her.”

Gu Xiaoqi tilted her head, eating a shrimp as she spoke slowly, “That divorce wasn’t exactly clean. He probably wouldn’t say anything.”

Mu Yinyin pulled her lips into a thin smile but said nothing.

The mood seemed to grow a bit heavier.

After a pause, Gu Xiaoqi looked at Mu Yinyin, “How about I go with you? If they dare say a word against you, I’ll put them in their place! If you can’t, I can!”

Mu Yinyin couldn’t help but laugh. “And what would you say?”

“I’d call out that heartless man! My Yinyin is so outstanding, and he didn’t appreciate her—running around with other women. He cheated first, he should compensate you. You should never have left with nothing, Yinyin!”

Mu Yinyin smiled gently. “I don’t care for anything he has.”

Jiang Ling’s lips curved slightly. “She’s right, there’s nothing of his worth having. Fu Siyue may be rich, but it’s not ours. We can earn our own money. Besides, does Yinyin lack for anything?”

“Lady Yama? Of course she doesn’t!” Gu Xiaoqi declared, waving her hands for emphasis.

Mu Yinyin couldn’t help but laugh.

She hadn’t hidden her identity as Lady Yama from them. After all, anyone could fall ill, and she wanted her friends to get the right treatment if anything happened, so she’d told them. Should a problem arise, she could help immediately—but thankfully, they were all in good health.

“Let’s not talk about them anymore. I’ll handle it—don’t worry about me.” Mu Yinyin didn’t want her issues to ruin everyone’s lunch.

“All right, no more talk about those killjoys! Let’s eat!” Gu Xiaoqi said, picking up a crab.

Soon, they were chatting about other things. Even though Mu Yinyin hadn’t eaten with them in a long time, it hadn’t affected their friendship. Everything was as it should be.

After they finished eating, the four of them lingered, talking about everything from the present to the future of the company. Each topic was filled with laughter.

Watching her friends’ smiling faces, Mu Yinyin felt a growing complexity in her heart.

Why had she given up such wonderful friends for the sake of some ridiculous romance?

What had Fu Siyue ever done to deserve her devotion?

If she’d never gotten involved with him, could she have focused more on Starlight?

If she’d paid more attention to that mother and daughter, perhaps she’d have noticed something amiss, and her father might not have been driven to his death…

She took a deep breath, reining in her emotions so they wouldn’t notice anything wrong, and continued to chat with them.

It was nearly one o’clock when Li Chuan finally spoke. “Time to get back to work.”

“So soon?” Gu Xiaoqi glanced at her watch, whined softly, and said, “Time flies too fast. Every time I talk with you guys, it never feels long enough. Now it’s back to a dull afternoon.”

“Show some ambition,” Li Chuan said, giving her a sidelong glance.

“Hmph!” Gu Xiaoqi made a face at him and stood. “I’m off! I’ll finish my work before any of you today!”

Jiang Ling chuckled but said nothing.

Li Chuan’s cold face softened with a trace of a smile. He always lavished all his affection on Gu Xiaoqi.

Watching the two of them, Mu Yinyin felt a pang of envy. This was what she’d always longed for, wasn’t it?

Gu Xiaoqi and Li Chuan would probably be getting married soon.

She stood as well. “I’ll head back too.”

With that, they each returned to their offices.

The afternoon passed quickly in a haze of work, and soon it was time for her to go to the Fu family’s old house.

No sooner had she gotten in the car than her phone rang.

She didn’t hesitate to answer. “Grandma.”

“Ah, Yinyin, are you on your way?”

“I’m just about to leave. I should be there in about an hour,” Mu Yinyin replied gently.

Liang Min laughed, “Good, good, I’ll be waiting for you. Drive safely.”

“I will.”

With that, they ended the call. Mu Yinyin set down her phone and gripped the steering wheel, her gaze fixed ahead as she took a slow breath.

Today, she would resolve everything.