Han Muzi took the elevator straight to her office. In the office, Yan was holding her phone while standing beside the file rack. She was searching the rack while speaking into the phone. She must have found the folder she wanted because she pressed her phone against her shoulder while flipping through the file. “I’m so sorry, madam. The line wasn’t clear; I didn’t catch you. Can you please repeat that?”
“Eh? Is that so? No worries. You just have to send that to me via e-mail and I’ll have a look for you. Sure, sure.” After hanging up the call, Yan let out a sigh of relief before turning around with the folder.
Yan was stunned to silence when she saw Han Muzi, but she snapped back to reality soon enough. “Muzi?” She smiled at Yan in response, and she went forward to take the files from her. “You seem busy,” she commented in delight.
Yan let Han Muzi take the files away and pocketed her phone. She answered Han Muzi helplessly, “I don’t have a choice, especially not when you’re not around, so I need to handle everything alone now.”
“By the way, why are you here? I thought you wouldn’t come to the company today. After all…” Yan’s eyes darted around, and she lowered her head in silence.
“After all, what?” Han Muzi flipped open the folder while looking at her.
“After all, I must have offended you after what I said last night.” Yan bit her lower lip. She gazed at Han Muzi guiltily while starting to explain, “Actually, I mulled over what I said last night in bed. I think I was wrong to say that. How could outsiders judge someone else’s feelings? I might see how you present yourself, but that doesn’t mean I can see what’s in your heart. The worst thing I could do, as your friend, is to say such self-righteous things. I’m so sorry…”
“It’s okay.” Han Muzi cut her off and reassured her in a resigned tone, “You don’t have to apologize for this. I didn’t take it to heart.” Her voice sounded scratchy, and it was most probably one of the side effects after her fever.
Yan was a very attentive person, so she immediately sensed that something wasn’t quite right with Han Muzi’s voice. After glancing at her, Yan asked, “Are you sure you are not mad at me? Last night—”
“I’m not.” Han Muzi shook her head. “It’s in the past. You need to let it go.”
“Alright.”
After that, Han Muzi didn’t comment further; instead, she started working alongside Yan seriously.
After about ten minutes, Han Muzi thought of something, and broke the silence. “By the way, I have to leave soon.”
“Why?” Yan was confused and asked, “Are you sick?”
Han Muzi was stunned to silence when she heard it that she looked up at Yan. “Is it very obvious?”
“Your voice sounds scratchy, and your face is flushed red. What happened? Are you sick? I was just checking.”
“No,” Han Muzi answered with a smile. “How can I fall sick so easily? I’m just having a bit of a sore throat. I’ll be fine after having some water,” she denied it.
Han Muzi checked the time, and there were only a few more minutes left before the agreed time with Ye Moxuan. If I don’t go downstairs, based on Ye Moxuan’s character, he would most probably come barging in to look for me. I suppose it’s best for me to leave on the dot.
She was deep in thought when the door to the lounge opened suddenly. Then, a childish voice called her from behind, “Mommy!”
Shocked, Han Muzi turned around and saw Little Bean walking out of the lounge suddenly. Upon seeing her, he immediately charged toward her swiftly.
Just when she was stumped, Little Bean had already leaped at her for a hug. Han Muzi supported his bum reflexively while asking in surprise, “Little Bean, why are you here?”
Little Bean nuzzled Han Muzi’s cheek affectionately, and she responded in kind. How can I possibly not miss my own son? However… Ye Moxuan is waiting downstairs for me, and he might barge in here anytime soon. Would all my previous efforts of keeping this hidden go to waste if he and Little Bean meet?
“Their school launched some activities today, so they finished school early. The teacher phoned me to pick Little Bean up. Seeing as I had work to be done in the company, I asked if he was willing to wait for me in the company. He said he’d love to, and that is why I brought him here.”
Han Muzi hesitated before responding, “I see. Did school end so early today?”
“Mm-hmm!” Little Bean nodded earnestly and tightened his arms around Han Muzi. “Mommy, I haven’t been home for two days. Do you miss me?”
“Of course! I am always missing you, Little Bean. Have you been paying attention at school for the past two days? Did you have your meals regularly and sleep on time?”
Little Bean nodded somberly, putting on a serious expression. “Mommy, I have been very serious. You can ask Uncle Qing if you don’t believe me.”
“That’s great.” Han Muzi pinched his cheeks. However, she acted as if something struck her because she blurted out, “Why don’t we stay in the lounge for a bit?”
Little Bean nodded happily.
“Go into the lounge and wait for me. I’ll be there in a jiffy.”
Little Bean turned around and entered the lounge obediently. Meanwhile, Yan asked suspiciously, “What’s up? Why did you ask him to go into the lounge all of a sudden? Why can’t you chat here?”
Han Muzi smiled until she saw Little Bean entering the lounge. Then, her smile vanished from her face when she explained to Yan gravely, “Ye Moxuan is downstairs.”
“W-What?” Yan’s eyes bulged in shock. “Why is he downstairs? Besides, how do you know that?” Yan stopped herself at this point by covering her mouth in disbelief. “D-Did President Ye drive you here?”
Han Muzi nodded with a sour expression.
“He will come up to get me later. I need you to lie to him. Get him to wait for me downstairs for a bit. I will head downstairs very soon.”
“But…” Yan’s lips twitched. “How long can you keep this a secret? What with the current situation, and what happened several days ago—they cropped out of nowhere! What if next time—”
“I can’t care about the future right now. At this moment, I’ll keep it a secret for as long as I can. You just have to give me your word if you’re willing to help me.”
Yan nodded numbly. “I’m always willing to help you as long as you ask me to. I couldn’t be helping him instead, could I?”
“Yan, thank you.”
“You should go in. I’ll speak to Ye Moxuan when he arrives later.”
“Alright.”
After discussing with Yan, Han Muzi made her way into the lounge. After entering the lounge, she locked the door from within and walked toward Little Bean.
After listening to Han Muzi’s explanation, Yan started panicking slightly. True enough, someone pushed the office door open very soon. Upon hearing that, Yan immediately looked up at the source of the sound.
As she met Ye Moxuan’s cold and dark eyes, Yan felt shivers running down her spine.
