Chapter 26: Huo Ziyan  

“Mm, let’s think about this long-term.”

“What do you want to eat today?” Fu Ciyu asked softly.

“I want to eat meat—”

“Eat something light. When you’re better, I’ll cook for you at home.”

“Okay—” Qu Wanwan pouted.

“The painting in the gallery—” Fu Ciyu looked at Qu Wanwan with deep eyes.

“Is it beautiful?” Qu Wanwan blinked and smiled at him.

“Beautiful.”

When he saw the painting that day, he was shocked. He never thought she would paint his portrait.

Qu Wanwan mysteriously said: “There’s another one, almost finished. It’s a surprise for you.”

As she said this, her cheeks flushed slightly. She wanted to see his expression when he saw the painting.

“You also painted it for me?”

“Mm—”

Ripples stirred in Fu Ciyu’s heart. His Wanwan had prepared a surprise for him.

Night fell, and Jiang Mujin sat by the window of his office, looking out at the quiet city.

After two hours, he received news that Huo Ziyan  had appeared once in the city of Haicheng, and then there was no more news.

His men searched the entire city, but found no trace of her.

“Huo Ziyan , where are you—”

“Ring”

A phone call interrupted his thoughts.

He picked up his phone, his brows furrowed at the caller ID.

Since it kept ringing, Jiang Mujin reluctantly answered.

“Aren’t you ever going to answer my calls?”

Jiang Mujin sighed: “Mom, I’m not.”

“Half an hour, Lanting.”

“Mom! I told you—”

“That woman has been gone for how long? Maybe she has a child by now. Are you still thinking about her?” There seemed to be some anger in the voice at the other end.

Jiang Mujin’s eyes darkened. “I’m not going!”

“Jiang Mujin, if you don’t come, I’ll directly announce your marriage. You can try!”

Looking at the disconnected call, Jiang Mujin felt helpless.

This was the fourth time this month. If he didn’t find her, he would go crazy—

He grabbed his coat from the office chair and left the office.

Assistant Jiang Yi hurried upstairs and met Jiang Mujin.

“Mr. Jiang—”

Jiang Mujin was puzzled: “Why are you upstairs?”

“We have news—”

“Where?” Jiang Mujin excitedly grabbed his shoulder.

Jiang Yi took a deep breath and slowly said: “Haicheng, Muya village.”

“A small village?” No wonder there was no trace.

“Mr. Jiang—” Jiang Yi hesitated.

Jiang Mujin’s brows furrowed: “What’s wrong?”

“You should see this—” Jiang Yi took a stack of photos from his pocket.

It was a woman holding a little girl. When Jiang Mujin saw the woman’s face clearly, his breath hitched.

He pointed at the little girl in the photo and asked in a hoarse voice: “This is—”

“Miss Huo’s—”

“Child.” Jiang Yi said carefully.

Jiang Mujin’s expression froze: “She—”

“She got married?”

Jiang Yi explained: “It’s unclear at the moment. Our people haven’t seen any men around Miss Huo.”

“Take me there—” He desperately wanted to see her.

Jiang Yi was stunned: “Now?”

“Yes, now, immediately!”

“But—”

“What about the Madam?”

“Let her be, let’s go.”

Jiang Yi followed behind Jiang Mujin, shaking his head. After all this time, Mr. Jiang was truly devoted.

In the distant Muya Village of Haicheng.

After the rain, the trees glistened, their leaves washed to a vibrant green.

Under the sunlight, they shimmered with a dazzling sheen, releasing a refreshing fragrance that was soothing to the soul.

“Mommy—”

“Mommy, look—”

A girl with rosy lips and white teeth, dressed in a pink little dress, looked enchanting. Her bright eyes sparkled with life.

She smiled sweetly, revealing dimples that made her all the more adorable, as she pointed at two large kites flying in the sky, waving her hands excitedly.

The woman beside her smiled gently: “Yuyu wants to fly kites too?”

“Yes—”

“Then Mommy will buy you one tomorrow?” The woman squatted down, speaking softly.

“Really?” The little girl’s eyes lit up.

“Really.”

“Mommy, let’s make a promise, you can’t lie to Yuyu—”

“Okay, promise.” They linked pinky fingers, sealing their promise.

Yuyu laughed happily and kissed the woman on the cheek.

“Mommy will cook, so don’t run around, okay?”

“Got it, Mommy.”

Around the corner, Jiang Mujin watched this scene, his eyes instantly reddening. That small face didn’t need any identification—

That was his daughter—

He gently stepped forward, approaching Yuyu.

Yuyu blinked her bright eyes, looking at the handsome uncle who appeared before her.

“Handsome uncle, are you here to find my mommy for a blind date?”

Jiang Mujin managed a warm smile: “Does your mommy often go on blind dates?”

Yuyu thought for a moment and replied: “Not really. But many bad people want to bully mommy, and Grandpa Li chased them all away—”

“Many people want to bully your mommy?” A hint of ruthlessness flickered in Jiang Mujin’s eyes.

“Yes, they are very annoying and don’t like me—”

“Then—”

“Do you think Uncle can protect her?”

“Of course, Uncle is the most protective I’ve ever seen—”

“Then can you be my daddy?”

“You can only if Mommy likes you—”

He wanted to hug this little one but was afraid of scaring her.

“Stay away from her!”

An exceptionally agitated voice rang out, causing Jiang Mujin’s body to stiffen.

He looked up—

She stood there, her expression cold, with a face like a melon seed, as frosty as ice.

With a low ponytail, her bangs stuck to her forehead, accentuating her fair skin even more.

Jiang Mujin’s voice was hoarse: “Yanyan—”

“Don’t call me that!” Huo Ziyan  trembled with agitation.

She had thought that leaving Kyoto and leaving him behind would allow her to live carefree with her daughter.

But—

Seeing him again, her eyes were filled with hatred—

“You hate me?” Jiang Mujin felt a pang in his heart when he sensed the hatred in her eyes.

When did her eyes, once filled with love for him, become filled only with hatred?

“Hate? How could I dare? I, a shameless woman, how could I dare to hate the esteemed Mr. Jiang up high—”

As soon as Huo Ziyan  said these words, Jiang Mujin’s expression changed. He had anticipated that she would hate him, but he never expected it to be this intense, her eyes seeming to wish to kill him.

“Yanyan—”

“I’m sorry—”

Huo Ziyan  laughed coldly: “Mr. Jiang, a simple ‘I’m sorry’ can erase the past?”

“I didn’t—”

“This place doesn’t welcome you. Please leave—” She had replayed that humiliating scene in her dreams countless nights.

She could have a beautiful life, a decent job, but—

After that one night, it was all ruined.

“This child—”

“The child is mine alone has nothing to do with Mr. Jiang.” Huo Ziyan  said coldly.