The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 455 - 457. Test the Waters

Chapter 455: 457. Test the Waters

Ancients often said that heroes find it hard to resist the charms of a beautiful woman, Fu Hengyi thought there was reason in the saying, yet he indulged in it willingly. Now his pursuits were simply his child, his wife, and the warmth of a heated kang.

Shen Qinglan brought the luggage into the house, and Old Sir Fu knew that Fu Hengyi had returned as soon as he saw the luggage in her hands, "Qinglan girl, where’s Hengyi?"

"He’s outside playing with Anan. Grandpa, I’m going to organize the luggage first."

"Alright, go ahead, I’ll tell Xiao Zhao to make a couple more dishes for lunch."

Because Fu Hengyi had returned, Anan exceptionally didn’t cling to his mother today, and sat in Fu Hengyi’s arms, letting Fu Hengyi feed him. Fu Hengyi fed his son while talking with Old Sir Fu, occasionally serving Shen Qinglan dishes, and he was quite happily busy.

With Fu Hengyi’s return, the travel plans that had been on hold for two months were also activated. After discussing with Shen Junyu and the others, the family decided to take advantage of the weekend to go stay in the small town for a few days.

"Mama, I want Pangpang." On the day of departure, Anan didn’t see his beloved little friend and refused to get in the car, pulling Shen Qinglan’s hand. Shen Qinglan squatted down, "This time we go by ourselves; we won’t bring Pangpang. When we come back, we can play with Pangpang, okay?"

Anan shook his head, "I don’t want to, I want Pangpang."

"Anan, be good," Shen Qinglan coaxed her son, "There’s someone at home to take care of Pangpang, he won’t go hungry."

No matter what Shen Qinglan said, Anan insisted on taking the dog and even took advantage of Shen Qinglan’s inattention to crawl to the kennel, squatting there to watch the puppy. The door to the kennel had already been locked, with Pangpang squatting inside, eyes brimming with tears, silently gazing at Anan with deep affection.

Shen Qinglan was stumped, but in the end, it was Fu Hengyi who spoke up to let Anan bring the dog along. Anan immediately beamed with joy, hugging Fu Hengyi and kept calling Daddy.

It was currently autumn, and the small town was busy harvesting rice, a bustling scene. Anan was visiting for the first time and was curious about everything here.

Pei Yinong originally wanted to come along this time, but because something came up unexpectedly at work and she couldn’t get away, Jiang Chenxi brought Haohao over instead. Haohao was already captivated by the scenery here, impatient to get out of the car, "Uncle Jiang, it’s so beautiful here."

Though Jiang Chenxi had known for a long time that his friend had invested in such an ecological resort, for various reasons, he had never visited. He looked at the golden vista before him with deep admiration.

They all grew up in the city as children, never experiencing this kind of countryside.

"Mama, it’s pretty," Anan, held by Shen Qinglan, clapped his little hands excitedly. Shen Qinglan pinched his cheek, "You know it’s pretty?"

Anan laughed foolishly, and Shen Qinglan found her son even more amusing, "Why are you laughing like a little silly?"

As there were many people this time, Shen Qinglan and the others did not choose a guesthouse. Shen Junyu had booked rooms in the hot spring resort well in advance. It was peak tourist season, and it was difficult to find rooms, but of course, there wouldn’t be a shortage of rooms at a resort developed by Shen Junyu.

After the rooms were allocated, Fu Hengyi took Anan out to play, along with Jiang Chenxi and Haohao. Oh, and Pangpang the dog as well.

Shen Qinglan stayed in the room to introduce the town to the two elderly gentlemen, "Grandfathers, Mom, we’re lucky this time, it’s their harvest season. The town is most beautiful in this season."

"Haha, good, we’ll go have a look tomorrow." Old Sir Fu laughed heartily. Truth be told, this was the first time in many years since the passing of his son and daughter-in-law that he was outing with family, and his mood was as buoyant as Anan’s.

The next day, Shen Qinglan and Fu Hengyi woke up early to grab barbecuing tools and ingredients from Sister Xu’s house and went to the riverside they visited the first time with Fu Hengyi.

There were many rocks of different sizes on the riverbank. The stones’ surfaces had become very smooth due to the years of water erosion, so smooth that even walking barefoot on them felt comfortable.

Fu Hengyi had already gone to fetch charcoal, and Shen Qinglan washed the yet-uncleaned ingredients in the clear, bottom-visible stream water. The water was so clean that some residents would drink directly from the stream.

It wasn’t long before Shen Junyu brought the rest of the group over, following Shen Qinglan’s directions.

"Qinglan, that smells so good." Wen Xiyao could smell the scent of food from a distance.

Shen Qinglan smiled and handed a skewer of barbecued meat to Wen Xiyao, "I haven’t grilled in a long time, sister-in-law, would you taste it for me?"

Wen Xiyao took it and before she could take a bite, she saw Anan eagerly looking at her. Wen Xiyao glanced at the fragrant barbecue in her hand and then at the drool on Anan’s lips, blew on the skewer, and held it out to Anan, "Be careful, it’s hot."

Anan puffed up her cheeks, imitated Wen Xiyao and blew on it a few times, then carefully opened her mouth and took a small bite. Shen Qinglan had not put a lot of seasoning while grilling, especially considering the taste preferences of the children.

Anan, with her eyes squinted, chewed the barbecued meat vigorously, and even without saying anything, everyone could see how satisfied he was from his expression.

Shen Qinglan first gave Haohao a skewer of chicken wings, then distributed food to the adults.

"Qinglan, your barbecuing skills are really good, much more delicious than the dishes you cook," Wen Xiyao, while eating a skewer of grilled shrimp, did not stint her praise of Shen Qinglan’s culinary skills. As soon as this was said, it was agreed upon by everyone present; aside from Jiang Chenxi, everyone had tasted Shen Qinglan’s disastrous cooking, including the two children.

Anan’s least favourite meal was his mother’s cooking, which was well-known in the Fu Family, and this had caused Shen Qinglan several days of depression.

"Daddy, that one." Anan pointed at the chicken wings. Fu Hengyi handed him one, letting him hold and gnaw on it, "After this, there are no more." Fu Hengyi reminded, Anan had already eaten two in a row and couldn’t have another.

Anan frowned, then looked towards the puppy, "What about Pangpang?" The puppy was eagerly watching the chicken wing in Anan’s hand.

"Pangpang can’t have meat; Daddy brought it dog food," Fu Hengyi said lightly.

Anan knew dog food was the puppy’s meal, and after finishing the chicken wing, he demanded Fu Hengyi feed the dog, while Jiang Chenxi took Haohao to the creek to catch fish.

Although there were no big fish in the creek here, there were still small fish and shrimps to be found.

"Uncle Jiang, look what I caught." Haohao cradled it in both hands; in his palm was a small fish not much thicker than a chopstick. Jiang Chenxi quickly took a small bucket, "Here, put it inside."

"Uncle Jiang, can I take this little fish home to raise? It’s too small," Haohao squatted on the ground, looking at the little fish in the bucket and asking Jiang Chenxi, who was rolling up his trousers, standing in the creek.

Jiang Chenxi turned back, smiling at Haohao, "Of course, when we go back, Uncle will buy you a big fish tank so the little fish can grow up happily."

Haohao heard this and was immediately overjoyed, "That’s great, thank you Uncle Jiang."

"Click," the sound of the shutter came from not faraway, Shen Qinglan looked at the warm scene on her phone, thought for a moment, and then sent the photo to Pei Yinong.

Pei Yinong was in a meeting, when she heard the message alert sound. She glanced at the leader speaking on the stage, and seeing he hadn’t noticed her, she stealthily took her phone under the table, her gaze instantly softening.

"Yinong," the leader on the stage called out her name.

The colleague beside her tugged at Pei Yinong’s sleeve, signaling her to look up. Pei Yinong lifted her head to meet the leader’s sharp eyes, smiled apologetically, and placed her phone on the desk.

The meeting ended, and Pei Yinong was called into the office by the leader alone. Pei Yinong looked down slightly, "General Manager, I’m sorry, my family sent me a message just now, and I thought my son was in trouble, so..."

"Alright, I didn’t bring you here for this. Just don’t make a similar mistake during the meetings again." The leader waved her off, turning serious, "There’s a dinner event tonight, you’ll accompany me."

Pei Yinong frowned, she originally intended to join Shen Qinglan and the others after work today, but now she wouldn’t be able to go.

"General Manager, I have something at home tonight."

"Yinong, we’re meeting some potential big clients tonight, and it’s not good to offend them. Going there is to your benefit, you can meet more people and expand your network." The General Manager spoke. Pei Yinong was one of his capable officers, and if it weren’t for his intention to groom her, he wouldn’t have said so.

"Fine. I’ll go. I’ll go back to change my clothes now."

"Go ahead, tonight at six o’clock, at Jindu Hotel, and don’t be late."

On the way back, Pei Yinong phoned Jiang Chenxi to explain the situation, "I’m sorry, Chenxi, I won’t be able to make it tonight."

Though Jiang Chenxi was disappointed, she didn’t say much, speaking gently, "That’s okay, work is important, but you can’t overdo it either. Remember to take some hangover pills before tonight’s dinner and drink a cup of hot milk if your stomach feels uncomfortable."

Pei Yinong quietly listened to Jiang Chenxi’s rambling, her eyes shiny and very attractive.

"Alright, I understand. Is Haohao okay?"

Jiang Chenxi glanced at Haohao, who was playing with Anan and a chubby puppy, sweating profusely, and smiled, "Haohao is being very obedient and is playing with Anan right now."

"That’s good, I’ll try to come over tomorrow as soon as I can."

"Okay."

After hanging up the phone, Pei Yinong went home to change her clothes before heading to the arranged location.

Haohao and Anan were still running around in the harvested field, with Haohao holding a kite and running swiftly, while Anan clumsily followed behind, calling out "brother." By Anan’s feet, there was a chubby black and white puppy.

After Haohao ran for a while and saw that Anan couldn’t keep up, he stopped.

The two had been flying kites here for quite some time but had yet to successfully launch the kite high into the sky. After Jiang Chenxi and Pei Yinong finished their call, Jiang Chenxi came over and picked up the kite, "Let me try."

With one adult and two children, they completely lost themselves in the fun, "Fly, high." Anan looked up at the soaring kite, his little face flushed red.

Shen Qinglan and Fu Hengyi watched this scene from a distance, shared a smile, and walked hand in hand on the riverbank, Shen Qinglan barefoot, feeling the smooth surface of the stones beneath her feet.

"Be careful where you step," Fu Hengyi said, occasionally glancing down, clearing away any sharp objects in advance.

Suddenly, Shen Qinglan stood on the instep of Fu Hengyi’s foot, arms around his neck, "Fu Hengyi, do you really have no plans to give Anan a little sister?" She deliberately lowered her voice, giving it a magnetic and slightly seductive hue.

Fu Hengyi held on to her waist to prevent her from falling, and chose to ignore her seduction, "Doesn’t Anan already have a brother and sister?"

At his words, Shen Qinglan’s expression faded, "You’re just playing dumb with me."

This time, Fu Hengyi truly played dumb to the end, refusing to take the bait, and Shen Qinglan was completely without recourse. She glared at Fu Hengyi fiercely before turning to walk away. Fu Hengyi followed behind with an ingratiating smile, "Wife, slow down, be careful not to hurt your feet."

**********

Pei Yinong arrived just on time; the general manager was already there, "President Zou, I didn’t arrive late, did I?"

President Zou stood up, "The timing is perfect, let’s go in. The other party hasn’t arrived yet."

They had booked a private room in advance, and soon the other party’s people arrived. Pei Yinong was just about to speak when she saw who was coming, and her smile instantly froze on her face. Duan Ling had not expected to see Pei Yinong here either, as he had come with Cui Zeyu today.

"Yining," Duan Ling said with a smile.

President Zou was taken aback and looked at Pei Yinong, "You know each other?"

Pei Yinong’s expression was indifferent, but Duan Ling spoke warmly, "She was my junior in college."

President Zou heard this and burst into laughter, "Since you know each other, that’s great. Yining, you, why didn’t you say earlier that you knew Mr. Duan? Right, Mr. Cui?"

Mr. Cui Zeyu chuckled, taking an unexpected glance at his friend. He hadn’t anticipated that he and Pei Yinong would be acquainted. Cui Zeyu and Duan Ling had been close friends since high school, when Cui Zeyu’s father happened to do business in Duan Ling’s hometown. He studied there and hit it off with Duan Ling right away, forming a very close bond.

However, later on, as Duan Ling enrolled in Z University and he had to return to Beijing due to his parents’ work transfer, they didn’t end up at the same university.

"I didn’t expect that they knew each other either. Miss Pei, let me introduce myself. My name is Cui Zeyu, the General Manager of Hengtong Technology and a good friend of Duan Ling."

Pei Yinong gave a slight smile, "Pei Yinong, nice to meet you."

Feeling the cold shoulder, Cui Zeyu awkwardly withdrew his hand and glanced at Duan Ling, sensing some kind of story between the two.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was quite good. Cui Zeyu was talkative, and although Duan Ling was more reserved, his remarks were always on point, never making anyone feel left out.

On the contrary, Pei Yinong spoke very little throughout the evening. President Zou gave her several meaningful glances, but she pretended not to see them, much to his frustration. It was as if she was rejecting the perfect opportunity to get closer to her former university senior.

Since Duan Ling’s business wasn’t in the country, President Zou’s target wasn’t him but Cui Zeyu. They weren’t well-acquainted with Cui Zeyu, but having Duan Ling acting as a go-between would surely bring them closer.

Hengtong Technology’s current project was a government-supported project, highly valued because of its scale. Hengtong was looking for partners, and naturally, President Zou’s company also wanted a piece of the action.

"Miss Pei, when did you meet Duan Ling?" Unable to contain his curiosity, Cui Zeyu finally asked after holding back the entire evening.

Pei Yinong’s expression remained indifferent, "It’s been so long, I’ve forgotten."

Upon hearing this, Cui Zeyu wasn’t discouraged. In fact, his interest was piqued, "Miss Pei, our Duan Ling is so handsome, many girls like him. Surely you couldn’t have forgotten him?"

Pei Yinong felt an irritating unrest within her, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Duan Ling sitting aside indifferently, which instantly flared up her anger. Her lips curved into a faint smile filled with sarcasm, "Mr. Cui is joking. Not every woman lunges at a handsome man she sees. Some may just seem like gold on the outside, but are worthless on the inside."

Cui Zeyu raised an eyebrow. The woman had guts to imply that Duan Ling was all show and no substance. He looked at Duan Ling, who had no reaction, and realized there was something odd about the two. Lifted his glass, he laughed, "Haha, Miss Pei is right. I really appreciate your level-headedness. Miss Pei, shall we?"

Pei Yinong picked up her glass for a light toast, and just as she was about to drink, a well-defined hand reached across the table, took her glass, and spoke, "Yining doesn’t handle her liquor well, I’ll drink for her." And with that, he downed the glass in one gulp.

Pei Yinong’s gaze darkened, and she poured herself another glass, "Some things do change. Now, I hold my liquor quite well."

She drank the contents of the glass in one go, not leaving a single drop, then sat down in silence.

"Hey, come on, don’t just focus on drinking. Let’s eat." President Zou, sensing the awkward mood in the private room, tried to lighten the atmosphere.

Neither Pei Yinong nor Duan Ling moved, but fortunately, Cui Zeyu was cooperative, giving President Zou a way to gracefully change the subject.

After the meal ended, the four of them walked out of the hotel. "Yining, let me take you home," Duan Ling offered.

"No need. I drove here. And you’ve been drinking; it’s not safe to drive. I’ve called for a designated driver," Pei Yinong refused coldly.

"It’s not safe for a girl to be out alone late at night."

"Having you take me isn’t necessarily safe either."

Duan Ling pursed his lips, "Yining, do you really have to be so hostile towards me? Can’t we just talk calmly for a moment?"

Pei Yinong looked at him coolly, her eyes devoid of any emotion, "I’ve said it before, there’s nothing to talk about between us. Please don’t disturb my life, thank you."

"Yining."

Pei Yinong pushed him away and got into her own car.

On the way back, Cui Zeyu looked at his friend. "What’s your relationship with Pei Yinong?"

Duan Ling closed his eyes, massaging his temples. "Just the relationship between a senior and a junior."

"No, it doesn’t seem like it. To me, you two seem more like ex-boyfriends and girlfriends. Aling, I remember you told me you had a girlfriend in college. When I wanted to see her, you fiercely refused, saying that you would let me see her later. Could that person have been Pei Yinong?"

"Don’t talk nonsense. Such speculation could harm her reputation."

However, Cui Zeyu’s face suddenly became serious. "Duan Ling, tell me the truth. Was your girlfriend back then Pei Yinong?"

Duan Ling was startled by his friend’s sudden seriousness and looked at him confusedly. "What’s wrong with you?"

Cui Zeyu just stared at him intently. "Aling, I hope you tell me the truth, the real truth."

After a long moment, Duan Ling met Cui Zeyu’s gaze and finally pursed his lips, admitting, "Yinong was indeed my ex-girlfriend."

Just as expected. Cui Zeyu had sensed that there was something wrong between Duan Ling and Pei Yinong. He hadn’t anticipated that it was just as he had guessed, and his gaze towards Duan Ling became complex. "Why did you break up with Pei Yinong back then?"

"Because we were not suitable for each other," Duan Ling said indifferently.

Cui Zeyu scoffed. "You can deceive others with that line, but you expect me to believe it? If it were truly because of incompatibility, you wouldn’t have been together for three or four years."

Cui Zeyu hadn’t forgotten how much his friend cherished his then-girlfriend, constantly talking about her in their conversations, yet stubbornly refusing to reveal her name.

"Zeyu, what’s wrong with you? You never used to ask me about these things."

Because I didn’t know your mysterious ex-girlfriend was Pei Yinong, Cui Zeyu thought to himself.

Cui Zeyu didn’t respond to Duan Ling’s question but instead asked, "Did you break up with Pei Yinong because of her? You broke up with Pei Yinong to marry her?"

Duan Ling’s lips tightened even more, and his complexion darkened, evidently confirming Cui Zeyu’s guess.

Cui Zeyu could tell from his reaction that his guess was correct, and his eyes became even more complicated. "Duan Ling, do you realize what you’ve missed? A woman endured being pointed at by thousands for your sake, bore an out-of-wedlock child for you, she must have loved you so much. But you, you gave her up for another woman."

At that moment, Cui Zeyu felt Duan Ling was so unfamiliar. The Duan Ling he remembered had always been responsible, but the man in front of him now... Cui Zeyu suddenly didn’t know what to say.

"Zeyu, do you know something?" Duan Ling felt uneasy under Cui Zeyu’s gaze, sensing there was something he didn’t know about.

Cui Zeyu harbored a bold guess in his heart. If it were true, would it really be a good thing for his friend?

"There’s nothing." Cui Zeyu felt that it was better not to tell his friend until the matter was confirmed; if it turned out he was wrong, it would be truly embarrassing.

"Sigh, stop looking at me. Really, it’s nothing. I was just curious, so I asked. Just think of me as being nosy," said Cui Zeyu, unwilling to divulge more.

After returning to the country, Duan Ling had not specifically inquired about Pei Yinong’s affairs and naturally was unaware of the various rumors and gossip about her.

Later, Duan Ling would often think if he hadn’t made that decision back then, perhaps he wouldn’t have hurt that innocent girl.

The next day, the more Cui Zeyu thought about it, the more he believed his guess might actually be the truth. So he called Pei Yinong. "Miss Pei, this is Cui Zeyu. Regarding the new project of Hengtong Technology, I’m very interested in cooperating with you. Do you have time for lunch to discuss this further?"

"I’m sorry, I might not have time at noon. If President Cui is genuinely interested, I could arrange for President Zou to talk with you," Pei Yinong replied, instinctively not wanting to have much contact upon remembering Cui Zeyu and Duan Ling were friends. She was also not sure whether Duan Ling knew about Haohao’s existence.

Cui Zeyu seemed to discern her hesitation and said, "Miss Pei, it’s just me today, and what I want to talk to you about is work-related."

Pei Yinong hesitated for a moment but ultimately agreed to Cui Zeyu’s lunch invitation.

"Miss Pei, do you need me to pick you up? It’s on the way."

"No need, I drive my own car."

"Alright, see you then."

The lunch was set in a Western restaurant. When Pei Yinong arrived, Cui Zeyu was already there.

"Sorry for being late," Pei Yinong said, there was some traffic on the way.

Cui Zeyu smiled, "Being late is a woman’s prerogative, especially for a beautiful woman like Miss Pei."

Pei Yinong took a seat opposite him, noncommittal about his words.

Cui Zeyu handed her the menu, and Pei Yinong took it and ordered a set meal.

"I’ll have the same as this lady," Cui Zeyu told the waiter.

"Miss Pei’s renown precedes her, yet only now have I had the opportunity to meet you, which is a pity," Cui Zeyu said gently, his tone very friendly and comfortable as if chatting with an old friend, not at all uncomfortable for others.

Pei Yinong chuckled, "President Cui is joking. How can I, a person of no consequence, be compared with someone as important as you?"

"Ah, why belittle yourself, Miss Pei? I’ve heard President Zou mention you several times, praising your strong work capabilities."

Pei Yinong didn’t take his compliments seriously, assuming they were mere pleasantries. "President Cui didn’t invite me here just to praise me, did he?"

Cui Zeyu laughed heartily. "Haha, Miss Pei is truly straightforward. So I won’t beat around the bush. Apart from discussing work, I also want to talk to you about my good brother Duan Ling."

Pei Yinong’s gaze dimmed, her expression became muted. "President Cui, I didn’t realize you also have the potential to be an entertainment reporter."

Being called gossipy straight to his face, Cui Zeyu was unbothered. "I don’t have many virtues, but one of them is my curious nature. I can’t enjoy my food without getting to the bottom of things. So, could Miss Pei help clear up a few doubts I have?"

"That depends on the nature of the doubts, President Cui. If it’s about business, I will certainly have no secrets," Pei Yinong said with a light smile on her face.

Cui Zeyu inwardly sighed, recognizing the adaptability of a woman who could stand her own ground in the company.

"How many years have you been with the company, Miss Pei?"

"Five years."

"Being a veteran in the company with strong abilities, it’s no wonder President Zou wants to cultivate you."

Pei Yinong pursed her lips slightly, her mouth corners lifting in amusement. "You’re too kind, President Cui. Compared to you, my achievements are nothing."

"By the way, Miss Pei, I heard you say yesterday that you and Duan Ling were college classmates?"

Here it comes, Pei Yinong thought to herself. She knew there was nothing good about Cui Zeyu asking her out for a meal.

"Mr. Cui, didn’t we agree to discuss only business matters?" Pei Yinong’s expression remained detached.

Cui Zeyu smiled, "Haven’t we just finished discussing business, Miss Pei? You don’t need to be nervous. I’m just asking casually. If it’s inconvenient for you to answer, then never mind."

"There’s nothing I can’t answer. Duan Ling is indeed my senior, and we’ve known each other for many years. However, it’s also been many years since we last contacted each other."

"I thought you seemed quite familiar with each other. Why did you suddenly stop contacting each other?" Cui Zeyu asked, feigning ignorance.

"We weren’t that close. If we were, Mr. Cui, you wouldn’t have been unaware of my existence, right?" Pei Yinong cut a piece of steak and gently placed it in her mouth, speaking methodically.

Cui Zeyu chuckled, "That’s true. I used to only know that Duan Ling had a girlfriend he treasured a lot, kept hidden from me because he was afraid I might steal her away."

At these words, Pei Yinong’s hand tightened on the cutlery, but her face remained unchanged, "It seems that Mr. Duan and his girlfriend had a good relationship. They should be married by now, right?"

Cui Zeyu kept observing Pei Yinong’s expression. Seeing her consistently indifferent demeanor, he began to doubt his own guess. Could he have been wrong?

"No, they broke up afterward. As for the reason, I’m not clear. Miss Pei, you went to the same school as Duan Ling, do you know?"

Pei Yinong scoffed lightly, "Mr. Cui must be joking. Mr. Duan and I are merely casual acquaintances; we are far from the point where we can discuss personal matters."

Seeing her repeatedly distancing herself from Duan Ling, Cui Zeyu felt even more certain in his suspicions.

"Miss Pei, I heard you have a son?" Cui Zeyu suddenly changed the subject.

Caught off-guard, Pei Yinong’s face briefly changed color before quickly recovering, but Cui Zeyu still caught it, solidifying his speculation.

"Yes, I indeed have a son." This was something everyone in Beijing knew; even if she wanted to deny it, it would be useless.

"Miss Pei, don’t get me wrong. I have no ill intentions in asking this question," Cui Zeyu hurriedly explained upon seeing Pei Yinong’s displeasure.

Pei Yinong had already put down her cutlery, "Mr. Cui, if you’re here today on behalf of Duan Ling to inquire about my son, then you need not bother. Nor will I discuss these non-work-related matters with you. If you truly contacted me for work, then from now on, we will only discuss work. If Mr. Cui has another purpose, then please excuse me from accompanying you any further."

She stood up to leave when Cui Zeyu stopped her, "Miss Pei, you have been avoiding every question about Duan Ling. Is it because your old feelings for him are difficult to forget? I’ve already learned from Duan Ling that you two were once boyfriend and girlfriend."

Pei Yinong’s gaze became piercing in an instant, "So what is it that Mr. Cui wants to say?"

"Miss Pei, I’m a straightforward person; I don’t like to beat around the bush. I just want to know the relationship between your son and Duan Ling."

That indeed was blunt, blunt enough to catch Pei Yinong off-guard, "There is no relationship; they have absolutely nothing to do with each other." Pei Yinong said calmly, as if stating a very ordinary fact.

Seeing her so composed, Cui Zeyu didn’t know how to judge for a moment but smiled apologetically, "Miss Pei, I was presumptuous. My apologies."

Pei Yinong looked steadily at Cui Zeyu, "I hope that this is the first and last time I hear such a thing from Mr. Cui’s mouth. I don’t want my son to be harmed by this."

"Rest assured, Miss Pei, I, Mr. Cui, am a man of principle. I will never speak of things I shouldn’t."

Pei Yinong turned and walked slowly out of the western restaurant, her pace steady and unhurried. However, no sooner had she stepped out of the restaurant than her face changed.

Hurriedly reaching her car, she gripped the steering wheel tightly, veins bulging on her hand.

She didn’t understand why Cui Zeyu had suddenly mentioned Haohao; did he know something? Could it be that Duan Ling suspected Haohao was his son?

No, that shouldn’t be the case. If Duan Ling really had doubts, then the person who came to see her today wouldn’t have been Cui Zeyu.

Pei Yinong’s mind was a tangled mess. She didn’t know what she would do if Duan Ling found out about Haohao’s existence.

Upon arriving home, Pei Yinong locked herself in her room, not even noticing when Chu Yunjin spoke to her.

"What’s wrong with Yinong?" Chu Yunjin wondered.

Pei Zhen didn’t think much of it, "She’s probably just tired from working overtime these past days. Didn’t you prepare some tonic for Yinong in the kitchen?"

Chu Yunjin smacked her head, "Right, right, right, I totally forgot about that. If you hadn’t mentioned it, it would have completely slipped my mind."

She hurried to the kitchen to get the tonic for Pei Yinong.

Pei Yinong was staring blankly at photos of Haohao from the day he was born to the present, having collected three thick albums full of Haohao’s pictures.

There were videos of every significant day saved on the computer, which Pei Yinong planned to give to Haohao as a wedding gift when he grew up.

She had recorded every minute and second of his life—a mother’s profound love for her child.

Haohao didn’t have a father, and Pei Yinong always felt that she had let him down. She became even more devoted to him, saying that Haohao was her life wasn’t an exaggeration. If Duan Ling found out about Haohao and wanted to take him away, Pei Yinong thought she would collapse.

Fortunately, in terms of financial strength, she was not inferior to Duan Ling; she was even better off, so there was no need to worry that Duan Ling would take Haohao away on that pretext.

"Yinong, you must be tired from work. Mom made you some tonic; you should eat it quickly," said Chu Yunjin, glancing down and noticing the album in Pei Yinong’s hands, "What made you think of looking at photos?"

Pei Yinong put the album aside and smiled, "I haven’t seen him for two days and missed him a bit."

"Haohao is with Qinglan and also has Chenxi with him. He’s fine," Chu Yunjin said, thinking she was worried about Haohao and trying to reassure her.

Pei Yinong took the tonic handed over by Chu Yunjin and took a sip, "I’m not worried about that. I just thought he must be having so much fun that he forgot to call me."

As they were speaking, her phone rang. It was a call from Jiang Chenxi, which Chu Yunjin naturally noticed. She smiled, stood up, and said, "You chat; mom will leave you two alone."

When the call connected, it wasn’t Jiang Chenxi’s voice that came through, but Haohao’s, "Mommy."

Pei Yinong’s eyes softened instantly, "Yes, mommy’s here."

"Mommy, did you miss me today?" Haohao’s cheerful voice came from the other end of the phone.

"I missed you, my dear. Did you have fun with your aunt and the others today?"

"Yes, mommy, we went to pick fruit today, really tasty fruit, red, both sour and sweet," Haohao babbled to Pei Yinong about what fun he had that day, and she listened patiently.

"Mommy, today my little brother accidentally fell into the water," Haohao suddenly said.

Pei Yinong’s gaze grew sharp, "What happened?"