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

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: An Unexpected Discovery

The next afternoon, Gu Qingyin arrived at the café right on time.

Chen Ling was a busy person herself. She had come to Yun City on a commission, and while she didn’t have time for a full meal, she could spare a moment for a cup of coffee.

Gu Qingyin was a little late due to traffic. As she entered, she immediately spotted Liu Ergou and Chen Ling sitting in a corner booth.

"Sorry, I’m late." Gu Qingyin sat down, smiling apologetically. "Senior Sister Chen, long time no see."

Chen Ling’s gaze was complicated. "Long time no see. You... haven’t changed a bit."

Gu Qingyin immediately started the mutual flattery. "You haven’t changed much either, Senior Sister Chen." She gave a thumbs-up. "You’ve really preserved your youth!"

Chen Ling’s fingers, gripping her coffee cup, turned slightly pale. She was instantly reminded of the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. ’Is Gu Qingyin mocking me?’

Just then, the completely tactless Liu Ergou suddenly spoke up. "I used to think Senior Sister Chen had an ageless beauty, too, but she looks older compared to Qingyin. If I remember correctly, Senior Sister Chen is actually a few months younger than Qingyin, right?"

Chen Ling’s expression soured. It was true; she was a few months younger than Gu Qingyin. In the past, she couldn’t help but feel a secret thrill whenever Gu Qingyin called her "Senior Sister," but now, she didn’t want to hear that title at all!

Gu Qingyin beamed. "That’s right. I used to be unhappy about having to call her Senior Sister, but seniority is seniority. I had to do it whether I liked it or not."

Liu Ergou burst out in a gloating laugh.

Chen Ling could only force a laugh, but she was seething inside, and the curve of her lips grew stiff.

Gu Qingyin noticed and casually asked with concern, "Are you not feeling well, Senior Sister Chen?"

"Maybe I’ve just been too busy lately." Chen Ling touched her face and asked, seemingly nonchalantly, "Where have you been these past few years, Junior Sister Qingyin? Why haven’t you been active at all?"

The mission she had accepted back then was a direct assignment from the high-ranking members of the Xuan Technique Association; the lower ranks knew nothing about it. After so many years, she didn’t know if the mission was still classified.

Gu Qingyin hesitated, not saying a word. But Liu Ergou leaned in conspiratorially. "Qingyin went off to get married and have a child!"

Chen Ling was instantly shocked. "Qingyin?!"

Gu Qingyin nodded helplessly. ’Fine, I’ll keep the mission a secret for now, then.’

Chen Ling didn’t understand. ’Can getting married and having a child really slow down aging?’ For the rest of their conversation, she was completely distracted, her mind consumed with how Gu Qingyin had managed it.

It wasn’t until she was leaving the café that, in the instant she turned away, inspiration struck.

’Could it be... Gu Qingyin has been practicing some kind of dark art?’

The more Chen Ling thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. She even remembered Gu Qingyin saying her husband had died ten years ago. ’What happened after that? Did Gu Qingyin refine and absorb her husband’s soul to maintain her youthful looks?’

’Since I’ve discovered such a vicious dark art, I absolutely cannot turn a blind eye, even if the one using it is an old acquaintance.’

Meanwhile, Gu Qingyin was venting to Liu Ergou. "Oh my god, that was so awkward. We weren’t that close to begin with, and with a twenty-year gap between us, we had absolutely nothing to talk about!"

Especially toward the end, when Chen Ling wouldn’t even give a perfunctory response. She probably regretted coming out to meet today, just like I did.

Liu Ergou stroked his beard, pondering. ’Was it awkward? I didn’t feel it.’

With a light cough, Liu Ergou changed the subject. "Where are you headed? Want a ride?"

Gu Qingyin shook her head. "My son’s company is nearby. I’m going to drop in on him." She was planning a surprise inspection to see if Huo Xingye was eating his meals on time.

Liu Ergou nodded. "I have a flight back to Dragon Tiger Mountain tonight."

"What’s the rush to go back?"

"Sigh, I’ve been away for a while. I have to get back to teaching my apprentices."

Gu Qingyin paused, stunned. "You’re already at the age where you’re teaching apprentices."

Liu Ergou gave a wry smile. "I’m not even married, but I’m already experiencing the pain of raising a child. Teaching apprentices is so hard. You must have had a similar experience, right?"

Gu Qingyin guiltily touched her nose. She had gotten married and had a child, but she’d never had the chance to experience the pains of raising one. ’Sorry, I really can’t relate.’

Fortunately, Liu Ergou was just sighing wistfully and had no intention of discussing it further.

Gu Qingyin breathed a sigh of relief. She watched Liu Ergou leave before turning to walk in the direction of the Huo Family’s building.

It was still early, so she strolled along, browsing the small shops on either side of the street. Whenever she saw something she wanted to eat, she bought it. By the time she arrived at the Huo Family building, both her hands were full of bags.

Gu Qingyin sighed. ’There’s no way I can eat all this, but there’s just so much delicious food, and every single thing is tempting me with its enticing aroma. I really can’t control myself!’

The moment Gu Qingyin walked through the door, a mixed fragrance of various snacks wafted out.

SWISH. The two young women at the front desk snapped their heads up to look at her.

Gu Qingyin paused, raising her hands slightly, and asked tentatively, "I accidentally bought too much. Would you like some?"

Five minutes later, Gu Qingyin headed upstairs, unburdened, while the company’s gossip chat group exploded. Everyone who saw the message quietly got up and headed downstairs. The snacks weren’t the amazing part; the person who brought them was.

Getting to eat something brought by President Huo’s family was, by extension, basically the same as being treated to a meal by President Huo himself, wasn’t it?! This was a rare opportunity. They had to go for it!

Just as Gu Qingyin stepped out of the elevator, she ran into a secretary. The secretary was about to greet her with a smile when Gu Qingyin put a finger to her lips in a "shushing" gesture and whispered, "Is Huo Xingye in his office?"

The secretary nodded with a smile and added a reminder, "Special Assistant Xue is in there too."

Gu Qingyin gave an "OK" hand signal. ’I definitely won’t disturb my son’s work. I’ll just wait by the door and go in after they’re done talking.’

Coincidentally, the office door wasn’t fully closed. As soon as Gu Qingyin got close, she heard Xue Ning’s voice.

"...Miss Wen’s condition isn’t serious, but she’ll need a long time to recuperate. After she’s discharged from the hospital, should she still be sent back to your apartment?"

A question mark popped over Gu Qingyin’s head. ’Who is Miss Wen? Why would she be sent to Huo Xingye’s apartment?’ Instantly, she made the connection to the friend who was supposedly recuperating at Huo Xingye’s home.

"No need. And you don’t need to report to me about her affairs anymore." Huo Xingye’s voice was flat. "You can’t force a relationship."

Xue Ning seemed to chuckle. "It’s good that you’ve come to this realization." He paused, then, as if he couldn’t hold it back, added, "Although the Madam has only been back for a short time, you’ve changed a lot. You’re more... human now."

"Do you have too much free time?" Huo Xingye’s voice was tinged with a chill.

"Ahem, if the Family Head has no other orders, I’ll be taking my leave."

Gu Qingyin was still thinking about Miss Wen and hadn’t paid much attention to the movements inside the office. As a result, she looked up right as Xue Ning’s eyes met hers.

"Madam?" Xue Ning was a little surprised, his eyes flashing for a moment as he asked, "When did you arrive? Have you been waiting long?"

Gu Qingyin’s expression was normal. "I just got here. The secretary said you two were in a meeting, so I was planning to wait for a bit. I didn’t expect you to finish so quickly."

Xue Ning nodded with a smile. "It was nothing important. Please, go in."

Gu Qingyin entered, and Xue Ning smoothly closed the office door behind her before striding away. ’Whether the Madam overheard anything just now has nothing to do with me.’

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