Mu Wan immediately turned on the speakerphone.

“Wan wan, I have something to discuss with you. It’s about Kuang Ye. Can you meet me so we can talk?”

The family members exchanged glances, their expressions stiffening.

Wang Lan’s face turned red with anger. If her dislike for Kuang Shuyu before was merely due to his arrogance and incompetence, then after learning how he aided the villains in harming Wan wan in the past life, her hatred now burned with the intensity of a thousand suns.

Mu Wan replied bluntly, “You’re delusional. There’s nothing for us to talk about.”

Kuang Shuyu’s voice tightened in urgency. “Wan wan, I’m not trying to pester you. This is about your engagement with Kuang Ye.”

“He told Grandpa that if he got engaged to you, he’d quit esports. Did you know that?”

Mu Wan was about to retort, but before she could hang up, Mu Yanci gestured for silence and handed her a note.

[Ask him where to meet.]

Although confused, Mu Wan followed the note’s instructions.

Kuang Shuyu let out a relieved sigh. “The Wutong Café on Shui Jiang Road. I remember you like the riverside view. Wan wan, you must come tomorrow.”

When Mu Wan heard “Shui Jiang Road,” her grip on the phone tightened involuntarily. The family’s expressions also changed instantly.

Mu Wan forced herself to respond, “Alright. Tomorrow then.”

With a click, she ended the call.

Wang Lan, in her fury, slammed a teacup down. “That scumbag! He’s still trying to harm my Wan wan!”

Mu Yanci’s eyes glinted coldly. He had suspected that if the kidnapper couldn’t use Kuang Ye to lure Wan wan, they might turn to her ex-fiancé as a backup plan. To his dismay, he was right.

Kuang Ye frowned. “So Kuang Shuyu is in the hands of the kidnappers?”

Mu Jianhua nodded grimly. “Most likely. His tone just now was clearly strained.”

Mu Wan asked, “Then tomorrow—”

Mu Jianhua, Wang Lan, Mu Yanci, and Kuang Ye interrupted in unison, “You’re not going.”

Mu Wan, startled by their overreaction, timidly clarified, “I was just asking how we’re going to catch them at the café.”

The family collectively fell silent.

Clearing his throat, Mu Jianhua quickly regained composure. “I’ll arrange for a female officer to disguise herself as you to lure them out.”

Mu Yanci chimed in, “I’ll deploy the company’s drones to monitor every corner of Shui River Road.”

Kuang Ye leaned closer to Mu Wan and murmured, “Then I’ll protect Wan wan.”

Mu Wan shot him an exasperated look. “I’m staying in the villa. What is there to protect me from?”

With a sly grin, Kuang Ye whispered, “I’ll protect you from tripping while walking, falling while climbing stairs, being hungry without food, or being cold without a heating pad.”

Mu Wan’s cheeks flushed red, and she nervously glanced at her family to ensure they hadn’t overheard. Then, she pinched Kuang Ye hard.

No flirting in front of the family.

Kuang Ye winced. Mu Wan immediately panicked. “Did I accidentally hit your injury?”

All eyes turned to them, and Kuang Ye, who had just been teasing her, suddenly looked embarrassed. “No, no, I’m fine.”

Mu Jianhua and Wang Lan exchanged a knowing glance. Once the kidnappers were caught, they decided the lovey-dovey couple should be sent elsewhere—they were simply too blinding for their aging eyes.

Mu Yanci shot Kuang Ye a look, his lips twitching as if to say something, but ultimately, he let it go. Fine, this brother-in-law was inevitable. Kuang Ye’s devotion to Wan wan earned him a pass this time.

—

The next day, Mu Wan and Kuang Ye stayed home to monitor the situation at Wutong Café through surveillance.

“Wow, she looks just like me!” Mu Wan exclaimed as the disguised officer appeared on the screen.

Her walking posture and side profile, hidden under a hat, were so convincing that if Mu Wan weren’t home herself, she might have started questioning her father’s fidelity.

Wang Lan beamed with pride. “Of course! I specifically hired the best makeup artist to create the look.”

Thanks to modern makeup techniques and the officer’s skilled imitation, the resemblance was uncanny.

Mu Wan clung to her mother’s arm. “Mom, you’re amazing.”

Looking at her daughter’s face, Wang Lan felt a pang of sadness as memories of her past life’s suffering surfaced.

Sensing her mother’s mood, Mu Wan tightened her grip, letting their warmth flow between them. “Mom, Wan wan loves you.”

Being blessed with a daughter like her for two lifetimes, Wang Lan believed she must have saved the galaxy in her previous life.

Her eyes reddened as she stroked Mu Wan’s hair. “Mom loves you too.”

Watching the heartwarming scene, Kuang Ye’s lips curved into a faint smile. In his heart, he spoke to his past self:

See? I told you. This lifetime would be filled with happiness.