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

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: She’s Back

The Huo Family was a great clan with a legacy stretching back nearly a thousand years, having endured through several dynasties. Naturally, a few subordinate families followed in their wake, the Xue Family being one of them. For generations, the Xue Family Head had served as the right-hand man to the Huo Family Head.

Though their relationship resembled that of master and servant, they were actually more like dear friends.

"How are you related to Xue Wei’an?"

When Huo Yunjing was the Family Head, his assistant had been Xue Wei’an. Gu Qingyin had seen him often, so she considered him an acquaintance.

"My father."

Realization dawned on Gu Qingyin. She lowered her head and began rummaging through her bag. ’It’s our first meeting. As his elder, I have to give him a gift, right?’

She pulled out a yellow talisman folded into a bagua pattern and handed it to him. "A peace charm. It’s nothing valuable, but carry it with you. It’ll keep you safe."

Xue Ning was overwhelmed by the honor. He respectfully accepted it with both hands. "Thank you, Matriarch."

Gu Qingyin gave a dismissive wave, then picked up her chopsticks and resumed eating.

Gleefully, Xue Ning put the Amulet away. When he turned his head, he found Huo Xingye staring at him, his gaze dark and clearly displeased.

Xue Ning was utterly baffled.

Huo Xingye turned his head away and spoke flatly, "You’ve delivered the items, so you can go. Unless you were planning to stay for dinner?"

"No need, I’ve already eaten." Though he didn’t understand the reason for the coldness, Xue Ning still smiled. "In that case, I’ll head back to the office."

After Xue Ning left, the more Huo Xingye thought about it, the more it bugged him. He stewed on it until Gu Qingyin had finished her meal, then asked with feigned nonchalance, "What was that you gave Xue Ning?"

"A peace charm. Didn’t I just say so?" Gu Qingyin took a sip of tea and replied nonchalantly, "I drew it a long time ago. It’s just been kicking around in my bag. Glad it finally came in handy today."

Huo Xingye pressed his lips together. ’What about me?’ he wanted to ask. ’Even Xue Ning gets a first-meeting gift. How can I, her own son, have nothing?’ But he was too proud to ask. Sullenly, he handed the file folder to Gu Qingyin.

"Here’s what you asked for."

Gu Qingyin took it and glanced inside. It contained her ID, bank cards, and a new cell phone.

After all, twenty years had passed. Anything that could expire had expired.

"Are you finished eating?" Gu Qingyin asked as she put the items back in her shoulder bag. "I’m going to Antique Street. Give me a ride."

Huo Xingye got up and walked out, his retreating figure radiating displeasure.

Gu Qingyin’s lips curled into a faint smile as she leisurely followed him. ’A first-meeting gift... of course I hadn’t forgotten about it. But I just returned from a mission and used up nearly all my good materials. I need to restock before I can make one for him.’

Gu Qingyin got out at the head of the street and waved to Huo Xingye. "You can go. Don’t worry about me, I’ll grab a cab home later."

Watching her walk away, Huo Xingye was suddenly struck by a sense of unease. On instinct, he picked up his phone and called his bodyguards. "Have two men follow Gu Qingyin. Ensure her safety."

The bodyguard thought it was a bit much. ’With Gu Qingyin’s skills, if she actually ran into trouble, it’s hard to say who’d be protecting whom.’ But the boss had spoken, and all he could do was obey.

And so, Gu Qingyin had only been browsing for a few moments before two big guys in black suits caught up with her. After learning why they were there, she didn’t object, simply letting them follow.

Twenty years had passed, but the Antique Street hadn’t changed much. At a glance, it was still filled with the same old things—nine out of ten of which were fakes. The only things that had changed were the shopkeepers and the store names.

Gu Qingyin quickly lost interest. Looking straight ahead, she walked deeper into Antique Street and entered a shop named "Zhenpin."

The moment she stepped inside, a young man in a cyan long robe emerged. He subtly sized Gu Qingyin up, a thoughtful expression on his face. Noticing her frown, he approached with a smile. "Is our guest perhaps dissatisfied with the wares in our shop?"

"The quality of these items is a bit lacking," Gu Qingyin said, disappointed. "Has the shop changed owners?"

"He hasn’t," the young man replied, his expression unchanged. "Times are troubled, so we don’t dare put the good stuff out in the open. What are you looking for? I can find it for you."

"Vermillion, yellow paper, and Jade Pendants. I need the highest quality."

The young man quoted with a smile, "The vermillion is thirty-two thousand yuan a tael, and the yellow paper is one thousand yuan a sheet. As for the Jade Pendants, a very high-quality batch just came in two days ago. They’re fifty thousand apiece. How many would you like?"

The Jade Pendants in the shop were all unfinished blanks, having only a basic shape with no carvings, which made it convenient for a Heavenly Master to engrave a Rune Array onto them.

Gu Qingyin’s brow furrowed. ’Wow, prices have really skyrocketed in twenty years,’ she thought. ’This is basically daylight robbery!’

"Can you give me a better price?"

The young man smiled. "We’re a small operation. Our prices are firm."

Gu Qingyin pouted, then pulled a card from her bag. "It’s a membership card from twenty years ago. Is it still good for a discount?"

A glint appeared in the young man’s eyes. He took the card and examined it carefully. It was genuine, but...

"Our membership cards are for the cardholder’s personal use only. They can’t be loaned to others."

"It is mine!" Seeing an opening, Gu Qingyin quickly stressed, "Boss Qin himself gave it to me back in the day. If you don’t believe me, go ask him! He’ll definitely remember me."

’I was one of this shop’s best customers back then!’

The young man laughed. "That won’t be necessary. I believe you. Please wait a moment while I get your items."

Three Jade Pendants, one jin of vermillion, and one hundred pre-cut sheets of yellow paper. After a twenty-percent discount and rounding down, the total came to an even four hundred fifty thousand yuan.

Gu Qingyin paid briskly and left, acting completely unfazed. In reality, her heart was bleeding at the cost.

’Good thing I have my own little stash,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, I wouldn’t have even been able to afford the first-meeting gifts for the kids.’

’Nope. From now on, I have to double my rates for taking jobs!’

Gu Qingyin departed, her heart still aching over the expense. She didn’t notice the young man watching her leave as he pulled out his phone and made a call. "Pops... that Heavenly Master who vanished without a trace twenty years ago? She’s back."

The bodyguards drove Gu Qingyin back to the villa. She took her purchases and went straight into the study, only emerging after night had completely fallen. She had finished making three Protective Jade Pendants.

The emerald-green Jade Pendants weren’t much bigger than a quarter and would look quite nice worn as pendants on a necklace.

Gu Qingyin put the items away. The moment she stepped out of the room, she caught the numbing and spicy aroma of meat. Following the scent downstairs, she discovered several new people in the villa.

A middle-aged woman in a Tang-style suit brightened at the sight of her and came forward with a smile. "Good evening, Madam. I am the new housekeeper. My name is Hua Xin."

Gu Qingyin habitually read her features, then her eyes curved into a warm smile. "Then I’ll be in your care from now on, Aunt Hua."

Hearing herself addressed so warmly, Hua Xin’s smile grew even wider. "Madam, dinner is ready. Shall I have it served now?"

Gu Qingyin walked to the dining room with practiced familiarity and asked as she took her seat, "When will Huo Xingye be back?"

Hua Xin shook her head. "I hear the Family Head usually stays at his place near the company, so he probably won’t be coming back here." She had previously been in charge of affairs at the Huo Family Manor and was only transferred over today, so she wasn’t very familiar with the Family Head’s routine.

Gu Qingyin nodded. Then she clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "Then let’s eat!"

’As for the Jade Pendant, I’ll just have to wait until Huo Xingye comes over again to give it to him.’

However, what Gu Qingyin didn’t expect was that for the next three days, there was not a single word from Huo Xingye.

She was getting a little annoyed. ’We’re finally reunited after twenty years, and he pulls a disappearing act after one meeting? What’s that supposed to mean?’

’That brat. He’s just asking for a lesson!’

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!