Mom's Back. The Villain Triplets Are in Trouble.

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Feeling Insecure

They had lunch at the company cafeteria. Liu Ergou joined them, his phone making TAP TAP TAP noises as he ate. He said he was exposing Bai Jiali’s wrongdoings to prevent others in their line of work from being tricked.

Gu Qingyin remained noncommittal. She popped a piece of lychee pork into her mouth and her eyes crinkled in pleasure. ’Sweet, sour, and absolutely delicious. A great appetizer!’

With no unhinged people harassing her, Gu Qingyin’s "white-collar life" was quite comfortable.

Under her supervision, Huo Xingye was eating his meals on time and leaving work at a reasonable hour every day. He looked noticeably healthier than before.

Gu Qingyin felt it was time to get back to her real job.

During this time, many people she knew from before had reached out—peers and clients alike. Quite a few had asked her to come out of retirement, but she’d turned them all down.

Back then, she had thought, ’What’s more important than my son’s health?’ and managed to resist the lure of money. Now, however, she was starting to get antsy.

But before she officially started taking on jobs again, there was one thing she needed to take care of.

"Xingye," Gu Qingyin asked with concern, "that friend of yours staying at your place, has his condition improved?"

Huo Xingye stopped reviewing his document and looked over, his expression neutral. "Why the sudden interest in her?"

Gu Qingyin said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "I’m going to start taking jobs again. Once I get busy, I won’t have time to treat your friend—unless he pays for my services."

Huo Xingye, however, completely ignored the last part of her sentence. He frowned. "You’re going to take on ghost-hunting jobs again? Do you have to?"

Gu Qingyin glared at him. "What’s that supposed to mean? Your mother is only twenty-seven! I’m strong, healthy, and at the peak of my powers. This is the perfect time for me to be working hard and making money!"

Huo Xingye pressed his lips together and said nothing, but the mood in the room clearly soured.

Gu Qingyin frowned. "What exactly are you upset about?"

Still, Huo Xingye didn’t answer.

Gu Qingyin clicked her tongue. "I’m a straightforward person; I hate it when people beat around the bush. I’ll ask you one last time: what are you upset about?"

Huo Xingye glanced up at her. Seeing her expressionless, angry-looking face, he turned away and said, "I’m worried you’ll be in danger."

Gu Qingyin was sharp; it only took her a moment to understand his concern.

"You’re afraid I’ll suddenly disappear, like I did twenty years ago?"

Huo Xingye didn’t respond, but his knuckles whitened around the pen he was holding.

Gu Qingyin sighed and reached out to ruffle his hair. "That was a freak accident. Once in a lifetime is more than enough. I’m not an idiot. I definitely won’t go chasing after something like that again."

Seeing that Huo Xingye was still silent, she leaned in and whispered, "I’ll let you in on a little secret. That job back then didn’t involve an ordinary ghost. You don’t just run into something like that twice."

After saying that, Gu Qingyin quickly cleared her throat and returned to her normal volume. "I can’t say any more than that. It’s classified. Son, you have to trust your mother. I wouldn’t want to leave you guys either."

Huo Xingye seemed to be wavering. "You’re sure it won’t happen a second time?"

Gu Qingyin nodded emphatically. "I’m positive!"

Huo Xingye’s expression was complicated. "Do you really love hunting ghosts that much?"

"It’s not about love; it’s about responsibility," Gu Qingyin said, full of conviction. "With great power comes great responsibility, right? I’ve learned all these skills—it would be a waste not to use them."

Huo Xingye still didn’t look happy about it, but he didn’t try to stop her anymore.

"If you want to go, then go. Just be safe."

Gu Qingyin suddenly felt a sense of accomplishment, like when her master had finally acknowledged her skills, allowing her to descend the mountain after completing her training all those years ago.

’That’s a bit weird.’

After a second of silence, she steered the conversation back on topic. "So, about your friend... you’re sure you don’t need me to take a look?"

"No need." Huo Xingye went back to his files. "She’s almost fully recovered."

That evening after work, Gu Qingyin took a car back to the old family home. She wouldn’t be coming to the company starting tomorrow. Liu Ergou had a case for her to help with, and she needed to prepare.

Huo Xingye watched Gu Qingyin’s car drive away before heading back to his own apartment.

The housekeeper had already prepared dinner. Normally, she would leave right after cooking, but today she lingered by the table. She spoke hesitantly, "Sir, I know it’s not my place to meddle, but Miss Wen... she looks really unwell. She’s barely eaten in days. She’s so thin she’s almost unrecognizable."

The housekeeper’s eyes grew red as she spoke, her voice choking up. "I don’t know what kind of major falling-out you and Miss Wen had, but whatever the misunderstanding or conflict, it’s best to talk it out, isn’t it? Why must she torment her own body like this?"

Huo Xingye looked down, silent for a long moment, before finally nodding. "Thank you. You can go home now."

The housekeeper knew her words carried little weight. She sighed and left. ’I’ve done all I can,’ she thought. ’Even if I get fired for this, I’ll accept it. But if it really makes a difference, then I’ll consider it a good deed done.’

Huo Xingye finished his meal in silence, then went to the room at the end of the upstairs hallway.

The moment he opened the door and saw Wen Ting, he was stunned. ’How did she get so thin?’ Her cheeks were sunken, dark circles bruised the skin beneath her listless eyes, and her lips were devoid of color. She looked like... she was dying.

"I was starting to think you’d forgotten about me."

Wen Ting was so weak that she had to gasp for breath after saying just that one sentence.

It was true that Huo Xingye hadn’t been to see her in several days. The change in her was staggering.

"Do you hate me?"

Wen Ting seemed surprised for a moment, then a sarcastic smile touched her lips. "Aren’t you going to ask if I’ve come to my senses?"

’Come to her senses about what? About being with him. About becoming his Mrs. Huo.’

This had been his whole reason for locking her up.

But looking at her now, in this state, Huo Xingye couldn’t bring himself to ask the question.

’No one is a fool. No one could love someone who hurts them, even if it’s in the name of love.’

"I’m sorry." With his eyes downcast, Huo Xingye uttered the words and left.

Wen Ting thought Huo Xingye was acting strangely tonight. She grew even more confused when the door opened again and several doctors and nurses entered, placed her on a stretcher, and began to carry her out.

"Where are you taking me?" Wen Ting asked, her expression panicked. She was terrified that Huo Xingye had finally snapped and was having her taken out to be buried. For a split second, she felt the urge to give in.

Fortunately, a gentle male voice spoke up just in time. "Miss Wen, please don’t be afraid. We’re doctors from Sanhe Hospital. Your body is in a state of severe decline; I’m afraid you’ll need to stay with us at the hospital for a while."

Wen Ting turned her head and saw a young doctor in a white coat. He had kind, smiling eyes and a gentle curve to his lips, giving him a very approachable air.

She unconsciously relaxed her body, then asked in disbelief, "Huo Xingye is actually letting me go?"

The young doctor nodded with a smile. "Of course. President Huo called us himself."

Wen Ting was silent. It wasn’t until they were out of the elevator that she let out a cold laugh. "Is the plan to get me healthy just so you can lock me up again?"

"You’re overthinking things," the young doctor said, smiling reassuringly. "President Huo won’t make the same mistake twice."

Wen Ting was loaded into the ambulance. The young doctor sat beside her, his gaze lowered as he gently advised, "Miss Wen, I hope you can see that President Huo has realized the error of his ways and is trying to make amends. Please, try not to hold this against him."

Wen Ting stared at him blankly. ’Is he telling me to just pretend none of this ever happened? Then what about all the suffering I’ve endured? Did I just deserve it?’

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