"Alright then, but try to come back early, Grandpa really misses you."

The old man hastily picked up a newspaper and threw it at his grandson, Mu Yichen, who couldn’t dodge in time, and the newspaper hit him right in the face.

"Hmm!" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Qin Mu agreed obediently, hurriedly hung up the phone, but after hanging up, she suddenly froze.

Mu Yichen felt a bit agitated, but couldn’t get angry with the elderly man, so he sighed heavily with both hands and then helplessly looked at the old man.

"Grandson, why do I feel like you’re about to cry?"

The old man stared at him for a moment before asking.

Exactly! Inside, his heart was already overflowing with hot tears.

"Since you know, yet you still say it? Give your grandson some dignity?"

Mu Yichen, with a defeated tone, pleaded with the elder.

"Hmph! Useless kid! Serves you right!"

The old man listened to his pathetic response, immediately got up, and without looking back, headed to his room.

Mu Yichen collapsed entirely onto the couch.

Serves him right?

Yes, indeed, he deserves it, he promised Qin Mu he’d protect Qin Haiming, but Qin Haiming actually...

After the old man left, he lay on the couch, not wanting to go upstairs to that empty room at all.

In this house, it’s rare for only the two of them, grandfather and grandson, to remain. After the old man went back and showered, he went to sleep, and the lights in the living room dimmed, yet there was still a glimmer of starlight.

——

The next day, Mu Yichen was working upstairs as Yang Qin knocked on his office door: "Boss, Boss Cong and his secretary are here. Would you like to see them?"

"No!"

Mu Yichen slightly raised his black eyes from the document, making the decision within a second.

"Understood!"

Yang Qin immediately returned to her post and picked up the internal phone: "The boss is not available, please ask Boss Cong to return."

As a competent secretary, she already knew how to smooth over the boss’s words, this being the simplest and most straightforward explanation.

Boss Cong was still standing downstairs, Zhang Hongyun beside him, and passing employees couldn’t help but glance at Zhang Hongyun. After all, she was once one of them, and some had even been treated by her. At that time, Zhang Hongyun seemed almost second only to one, but now...

Looking at her, she seemed like this fat boss’s mistress, or perhaps the other woman?

Zhang Hongyun noticed everyone looking her way, initially wanting to greet them, but upon seeing their eyes, she suddenly lowered her head, feeling uneasy and deeply humiliated.

Still, everything she was doing was for the gentleman upstairs.

"Sorry, Mr. Cong, our boss isn’t in the office right now."

The front desk handled the situation politely after finishing the phone call.

"Not in? Then... when will he be back? I can wait here for him."

"Yes, we can wait!"

Boss Cong had just finished speaking, and Zhang Hongyun immediately echoed him.

The front desk glanced at Zhang Hongyun, then at Boss Cong, offering an apologetic smile: "We’re really sorry, Boss Cong, we don’t know when our boss will be back either."

Qiao Yi and Zhao Huai returned from outside on business, and as soon as they stepped inside, they noticed a seemingly familiar woman at the front desk. Then, upon seeing the man, Zhao Huai and Qiao Yi exchanged glances, preparing to pretend not to recognize them and walk past, but Zhang Hongyun turned around and immediately called out to Qiao Yi: "Special Assistant Qiao!"

Qiao Yi’s back stiffened, and Zhao Huai also furrowed his brow in mild frustration.

"Oh dear, it really is Old Qiao, Old Qiao, I was just planning to find you!"

Boss Cong turned around upon hearing Zhang Hongyun’s call, and upon seeing Qiao Yi and Zhao Huai, his spirits immediately lifted. Clutching his wallet, he quickly scampered over.

"Boss Cong! What wind blew you over here?"

Qiao Yi exchanged pleasantries.

"Ah, what wind indeed, it’s just that our contract is nearing expiration, so I’m here to discuss renewal."

Boss Cong laughed heartily, sporting his belly as he spoke straightly.

"Brother Qiao, has Sister Xi Meng already started resting at home for pregnancy? She previously said she’d never take leave!"

Zhang Hongyun followed Boss Cong forward, her voice instantly becoming more gentle and considerate.

Qiao Yi forced a smile: "She’s resting at home for pregnancy, not long after you left, she had some health issues,— are you now Boss Cong’s secretary?"

Qiao Yi thought, instinctively glancing at Boss Cong, his gaze slightly ambiguous.

"First day on the job as a new secretary today."

Boss Cong immediately explained, having learned that Zhang Hongyun worked for Mu Yichen, but he always thought Zhang Hongyun surely had poor relations with the company people, but now it seemed he was mistaken. He thought she might actually help him out, possibly his lucky star. While pondering, he suggested to Qiao Yi and Zhao Huai: "Why don’t we go to your office to talk?"