Late at night, with Yaya in tow, Su Li couldn't return to her parents' place, and she had intended to just make do for one night at a hotel.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she had pushed her suitcase out of the neighborhood's gate, she ran straight into Xi Muqian's car.
"What a coincidence, what a... coincidence," Xi Muqian, under Su Li's piercing gaze, couldn't continue his spun tale and awkwardly got out of the car, rubbed his head, and whispered an explanation, "I, I have a friend who's a partner at a law firm... so I..."
Su Li waited with a smile that wasn't quite a smile for Xi Muqian to continue his explanation, but he couldn't come up with a coherent reason after much hemming and hawing.
"So you purposely came to intercept me late at night, to see if I needed any help?"
Su Li kindly filled in for him.
Xi Muqian's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh, saying, "That's exactly it...."
"Oh, is that so..."
"Yes, yes, yes... that's it," Xi Muqian firmly stuck to this reason and quickly took hold of Su Li's suitcase with one hand and picked up Yaya with the other. His voice was loud but tinged with guilt and barely concealed excitement, "Let's go, let's go, we're old friends after all, I can't just watch you be homeless...."
"I have a vacant apartment here, an aunt comes to clean it every week. You two can just bring your bags and move in, stay as long as you like, please don't be polite with me...."
Su Li didn't ask anything; she knew very well that this man waving the flag of friendship probably had a clearer understanding of the details of her divorce than she did herself.
The heart of Sima Zhao is known to all.
In the end, unable to withstand Xi Muqian's repeated persuasion, Su Li went with Yaya to his apartment to make do for the night, planning to figure out what to do next the following day.
Xi Muqian was like a plaster that wouldn't come off once it stuck.
He had been somewhat restrained before, acting all proper...
But now, seeing Su Li single again, his hidden thoughts seemed to feel no longer necessary to conceal, as he became extremely attentive.
-----------------------------
The next day dawned, and the early morning air was still moist, with the sounds of birds and insects gradually rising.
The city was slowly waking up.
It was going to be another beautiful new day....
But Chen Jin didn't think so.
He only felt it was the worst, absolutely worst day of his over thirty-year life.
The incessant crying of a child, coupled with the clanging from the kitchen and the flustered sounds of pots and pans, made Chen Jin feel like his head was about to explode.
It was more exhausting than several sleepless busy nights had ever been.
"Daddy, I'm so hungry, so hungry...."
Doudou, with puffy eyes, pitifully clutched his growling little stomach, feeling very aggrieved.
Seeing the closed kitchen door with no response, he could only stand on tiptoe, trying to reach for a box of biscuits on the shelf higher than himself, when he accidentally knocked down a glass jar beside him.
With a loud "crash," it shattered on the floor.
The scattered shards of glass terrified the little boy, and the bitterness and fear unabatedly filled his tender heart.
Doudou burst into tears with a "wah."
On Chen Jin's side, while still in chaos, the lean fingers that were usually accustomed to holding a pen were now dotted with several small blisters from splattering oil.
Burnt eggs emitted a scorched smell, and charred toast that had lost all recognition of its original form...
All of this continuously fed into Chen Jin's feeling of frustration.
The violent clatter outside combined with Doudou's crying tightened Chen Jin's heart, and without waiting to tidy up the messy kitchen, he rushed out.
"Doudou, are you alright, did you hurt yourself?"
Doudou, upon seeing his daddy appear, pursed his lips, crying even louder, sobbing and gasping, his face full of accusation, "I, I... I want Mommy....I want Mommy....."
Chen Jin's heart sank. He pulled out his phone, then put it down, repeating this several times, but in the end, he didn't dial the familiar number.
Seeing his son crying so hard that his whole body was shaking, unable to stop, Chen Jin felt helpless and defeated.
In the end, he could only comfort him, "Don't worry, Mommy and your sister are just staying outside for a few days. Once they cool down, they'll come back."
"Really, really?" Doudou clearly took in these words, and immediately, his cries subsided.
"It's true, you can relax."
The unexpected divorce had thrown Chen Jin's original plans into chaos.
For now, he could only settle Doudou first, and as for taking him to Shanghai, that idea probably wouldn't be feasible.
By the time Chen Jin had sorted everything out and arrived at the company, it was already well past the start of the workday.
Vice President Chen, known for his workaholic tendencies, was, for the first time ever, late.
And he wasn't his usual clean-cut and energetic self.
His wrinkled white shirt, slightly disheveled hair, and dull, lackluster eyes.
Even though he still maintained a stern demeanor, his distinct appearance from the usual made those around him feel surprised.
Liu Yin, who had been watching the door, noticed him as soon as Chen Jin walked in.
She was worried to death.....
Even though she outwardly claimed that from now on, their relationship would be purely superior and subordinate, deep down she felt that her connection with him was different from others.
After all, the traces of their close encounters couldn't be faked, could they.....
Unlike others who only whispered behind his back for a moment, Liu Yin approached him directly without any disguise, her face filled with concern.
"Boss... are you okay...."
Chen Jin, hearing her voice, glanced over Liu Yin's innocent face, but unexpectedly, he glared at her fiercely.
Chen Jin admitted, at that moment, he was taking his anger out on her.....
Even though he knew he shouldn't.
Liu Yin's look of disbelief made Chen Jin feel slightly remorseful, but right now, he desperately needed an outlet to vent.
"Heh, thinking you're so special...."
A female colleague, who always had a hard time getting along with Liu Yin, couldn't help but let out a laugh.
Liu Yin threw a harsh glance at the colleague who had just spoken, then turned and rushed into the restroom.
-------------------------
On the other hand, Su Li was enjoying an especially relaxed and comfortable time with Yaya.
The mother and daughter were giggling and playing, getting the little girl all dressed up and ready to go out when, timely, the doorbell rang.
Upon opening the door, Yaya's eyes lit up with a smile, and she threw herself into the arms of the man outside, "Daddy Mu Qian...."
Mu Qian, too, was delighted to scoop Yaya up in his arms, handing the steaming breakfast to Su Li with one hand.
"My cook made it, prepared breakfast for you and Yaya."
"See if it suits your taste...."
Su Li stepped aside to let Mu Qian in, and by the time she had placed all the breakfast items on the dining table, she looked up to find Mu Qian had already carefully seated Yaya in her high chair and put a bib around her neck.
Su Li stared at Mu Qian for a few moments, feeling a wave of emotion.
Over time, the careless young man who had carried the air of being the best in the world had also grown into the person he was today.