Sheng Yuan.

  Qin Shu stepped out of the car the moment Ye Luo parked.

  Just as Ye Luo opened the passenger door, President Ba lunged out without giving him so much as an opportunity to pick him up.

  Such an action was a first for President Ba. The fact that he would rather walk than allow Ye Luo to carry him into the house, spoke volumes of the resentment he bore for the man who withheld his precious dried fish.

  Ye Luo: “.……”


  Slinging her bag over her shoulder, Qin Shu saw President Ba running to the house. She did a double-take to ensure she was not dreaming. Had the sun risen from the west that morning? Why hadn’t she been alerted? President Ba’s willingness to walk, on his four cute paws, was unheard of.

  By the time she reached the living room, President Ba had already scampered off somewhere and not even his shadow remained.

  Two hours later……

  Qin Shu sat in the living room, drinking a cup of tea.

  Ye Luo walked in, followed by Ye Qing.

  Ye Qing arrived at her side and reported, “The results of the investigation have come in. The man’s name is Wei Ge, and he’s her sugar baby. They’ve been together for a little more than twenty days. According to the information we were able to gather, it seems Mu Lan has promised him a villa. Interestingly, Wei Ge claims that Mu Lan will soon have her own company.”


  As part of his investigation, Ye Qing even struck up a conversation with Wei Ge. Wheedling information out of him was easy. Wei Ge was an extremely vain man. A few words of praise and he was just about ready to spill his entire life’s story. Ye Qing had not needed to expend much effort buttering him up at all.

  Qin Shu was not surprised. She had expected as much for a while now. If Qin Hai learnt of how his wife was taking advantage of him, what expression would he wear?

  Looking up at Ye Qing, Qin Shu demanded, “I want evidence of their relationship.”


  “That’s easy. As long as they meet up, I’ll be able to get proof.” Ye Qing replied with confidence. Obtaining evidence of Mu Lan’s infidelity would not be hard at all.

  Two days later, Fu Corporation……

  Fu Tingyu sat at his lacquered mahogany desk, going about business for the day.

  Suddenly, his cell phone rang. The screen lit up showing the caller’s ID. It was Gu Yan.

  Gu Yan had called him five days ago before he ventured deep into the mountainous forests.

  If he was calling, it meant that he had returned.

  He picked up his cell phone, pressed the answer button, and brought it to his ear. The baritone of his voice rumbled into the receiver, “You’re back?”


  “Yes, I’m back! I have got good news for you. I’ve managed to find a few suitable herbs. Come over to my place tomorrow. The medicine should be ready for you to try it, then.”


  Gu Yan’s laughed cheerfully. His tone was vastly different from what it had been before leaving on his search.

  Hope was a frail platitude he rarely indulged in but upon hearing the exuberance in Gu Yan’s voice, the dying embers of hope rekindled in his heart. “I’ll be there.”


  “What on earth happened between you and your wife on your last visit to the capital?”


  Gu Yan seldom meddled in the affairs of love but seeing Qin Shu’s selfless dedication, he was moved and the question simply slipped out of his mouth.

  Fu Tingyu paused. “Nothing much. She’s back.”


  Naturally, Gu Yan knew Qin Shu was in town. After all, he had been the one to send her home. “How is your relationship with her now?” Gu Yan asked softly.

  Fu Tingyu knew that Gu Yan was not one for gossip – gossip was something closer to Mo Chengyu’s own inclinations.

  Puzzled by Gu Yan’s unusual forwardness, he traded a question of his own, “Why are you suddenly so interested in the matters between us?”


  “Oh, it is nothing. I was just thinking that you should talk with her more – settle your differences more calmly, you know? Try and reign in your temper a little more.”


  Gu Yan knew his friend well. Fu Tingyu was the perfect gentleman in all aspects except his temper. Thinking of past events, Gu Yan shuddered. It would be best if Fu Tingyu learned to communicate with people more peaceably.

  Fu Tingyu was silent for a long time.

  “En.”


  He hung up a short while later. Staring at his phone, Fu Tingyu decided to dial Qin Shu’s number.

  Qin Shu was waiting at home for Gu Yan’s message when she heard her phone ring. At first, she thought it was Gu Yan calling but later realized that it was her husband.

  Answering the call, Fu Tingyu’s magnetic voice rolled out from the other end, “Bao’er.”


  “Baby Yu, have you had lunch?”


  Qin Shu had just eaten lunch. She didn’t know if Fu Tingyu had eaten his yet.

  “Shi Yan’s gone to order lunch.” Fu Tingyu gripped his phone tightly, at a loss for what else he could say to her.

  Repeating himself mechanically, he asked, “Have you eaten?”


  “I just finished.” Qin Shu leaned back against the sofa, reliving the kiss they had shared earlier that morning. “Do you miss me already?”


  “En.”


  Just then, Shi Yan pushed open the office door and walked in with a boxed lunch in his hand. Seeing that the fourth young master was on the phone, he tiptoed to the coffee table and set the lunch out on it.

  Qin Shu peered at her watch. “Shi Yan has ordered it, hasn’t he?”


  “Yes, he has.” Fu Tingyu made his over to the coffee table and sat down. Laid out on the table were a few dishes and a bowl of soup. It all looked rather unappealing. He really did not feel very hungry eating by himself.

  “Then you should start eating. You can take a nap after lunch. You’ll feel better that way.”


  “Okay.”


  Fu Tingyu hung up the phone, picked up his chopsticks, and trawled the food towards his open mouth in slow, agonizing bites. It all tasted the same, anyway.

  Putting away her phone, Qin Shu strolled out of the living room.

  She saw Ye Luo standing by the courtyard wall as she passed the Moon Cave Door. He was eyeing something perched on top of the wall. Following his gaze, she caught sight of President Ba nibbling on a small piece of dried fish; his eyes glinting with smug satisfaction.

  Noticing Qin Shu standing by the door, he asked politely, “Young Madam, are you going out?”


  Qin Shu nodded. “Yes, I’d like to go to the office.”


  No sooner had she expressed her desire than Ye Luo rushed to get the car; ignoring President Ba who still sat atop the wall.

  President Ba watched Ye Luo leave in satisfaction. Now that no one was around to steal what was rightfully his, he jumped down with the piece of dried fish hanging in its mouth. Landing by Qin Shu’s feet, President Ba rubbed himself against her legs affectionately. “Meow!”


  Qin Shu lowered herself into a crouch and whispered conspiratorially, “I’m going out for a while. Would you like to come with me?”


  “Meow!” President Ba cried out excitedly.

  President Ba’s excited cry was all the confirmation she needed to know that he wanted to tag along. Gently, she picked him up, rubbing his furry head in small circles. “Let’s go out together, then. It’ll be our little excursion.”


  At this moment, Ye Luo pulled over with the car. He got out of the driver’s seat and opened the backseat door for her.

  Qin Shu hugged President Ba close to her chest and slipped in.

  Closing the door behind them, Ye Luo sat in the driver’s seat and drove off in the direction of the office.”


  This time, President Ba did not ride shotgun. The grudge he nursed was palpable.

  While on the way, Gu Yan called.

  Qin Shu answered the phone as soon as she identified who was calling.

  “Is the medicine ready?”


  “Yes, I’ve already called Tingyu and asked him to come over tomorrow to try it out.”


  Qin Shu vibrated in both excitement and nervousness. She wanted to be there with him tomorrow.

  “Are you nervous?” Gu Yan asked.

  “Yes, I am.”


  “Don’t worry. The remedy I prepared will definitely work.”


  Before he hung up, Gu Yan added impishly, “Actually, I’m feeling quite nervous myself.”


  Qin Shu gawked at her phone incredulously. Gu Yan’s words were less than reassuring.

  Half an hour later……

  Ye Luo parked at the company’s entrance.

  Qin Shu, cradling President Ba in her arms, climbed out of the car and headed towards the foyer.

  Ye Luo shadowed her diligently.

  Taking the private elevator required her to scan her thumb but it was more convenient in that it travelled all the way to the top floor.

  The doors slid open with a “ding” and Qin Shu strode out. Knowing how jealous Fu Tingyu could often be, she handed President Ba to Ye Luo.

  “Hold on to President Ba for me, please.”


  President Ba: “.……”


  Ye Luo: “.……”


  Despite President Ba’s reluctance, Ye Luo managed to coax the haughty cat into his arms. Sighting the stairs that led up to the rooftop, Ye Luo trudged in its direction dejectedly.

  Qin Shu watched them go before entering the office.

  She did not call in advance because she wanted to give FU Tingyu a surprise.