She realized she had let slip something she shouldn't have, and immediately stopped.
Huo Jin asked, not understanding, "You'll deal with her? How do you plan to deal with her?"
Shu Yan said evasively, "It's nothing. I originally planned to have someone warn her, but who knew that Yang would be inseparable from her, and I couldn't find an opportunity."
Huo Jin enlightened her, saying, "You can't blame Gu Susu entirely for this. I heard from Qingchuan that Yang grew up with Susu in an orphanage, so there's some old sentiment between them."
"So they're old flames. No wonder Yang protects her at every turn and opposes me."
"Alright, let's not meddle in other people's affairs anymore." Huo Jin patted her shoulder and said, "Shouldn't you get back on your feet? How long do you plan to keep yourself locked in your room?"
Shu Yan still couldn't muster any energy. She lay back down, hugging a large stuffed toy on the bed, "I don't want to go out. I'm afraid of the mocking stares, afraid of becoming a laughingstock among those socialites. Don't worry about me, let me sleep day and night. Only when I'm asleep will all my troubles disappear."
"Stop hanging out with those socialites," Huo Jin suggested. "My dad wants me to try managing a luxury goods store. Why don't you come help? We'll do something to keep ourselves busy, and then we won't dwell on what's already passed."
Shu Yan, still lying down, said, "When did you become so ambitious? Has Chang Qingchuan influenced you?"
Huo Jin shook her, "Don't you want to beat your brothers and sisters? Why not do something with me, so your father can see your capabilities? He'll naturally entrust you with important matters in the group, and then you won't have to rely on your husband in the future."
"It's not that easy. My brothers and sisters are all so capable, and my father thinks they're all useless, let alone me."
"I'm sincerely inviting you. Are you going to help me run the luxury goods boutique or not?" Huo Jin asked, pulling her hand.
Shu Yan finally showed a smile on her face and said, "Alright, alright, but I still want to mourn for a few more days at home."
"Then I'll consider it a yes. I'll be waiting for your investment to partner with me." Huo Jin lay down beside her, talking to her as they used to when they were students, lying on the same bed.
Shu Yan turned her face to look at her and smiled, "So after all that, you're still counting on me to provide the money."
Huo Jin said indifferently, "If you don't invest, you can work for me. It's up to you whether you want to be an employee or a co-owner. You choose."
Shu Yan pinched her waist, "Okay, Jin, you haven't even started running the store yet, and you're already acting like a boss."
Huo Jin grabbed her hand and dodged, "Don't tickle me, I'm ticklish."
The two of them talked and laughed, becoming as close as they had been in the past.
...
Gu Susu's life had returned to normal. Qin Tianyi's broken engagement was not widely publicized on the internet or in the media.
After all, it involved the Shu family's reputation. Even if someone wanted to post it online, it was likely thoroughly suppressed by the Shu family.
She didn't know if Qin Tianyi had gone to apologize to Shu Zhongze or to salvage the situation, as there was no news about the current situation of the Xiangao Group online.
After work today, she didn't go directly to Yang Sijie's villa. Instead, she contacted Aunt Chen and went to the kindergarten entrance to pick up Xiao Xingxing from school.
Last night, when Aunt Chen had a video call with Xiao Xingxing, she had quietly told her that Qin Tianyi had been very busy lately and had been staying at the group for several days, so she could rest assured and pick up Xiao Xingxing to play with him.
She arrived at the kindergarten entrance early, stretching her neck to look inside, just like other parents.
After a while, the doors of the classrooms opened one by one, and teachers led the children out in order.
When Xiao Xingxing saw Gu Susu as he walked out, he immediately ran over and threw himself into her arms, shouting, "Mommy! I want to eat steamed buns, hurry and take me to eat them."
Gu Susu was pulled along by him, running and running, and asked strangely, "Slow down, didn't you eat enough at kindergarten?"
"No, I just really want to eat steamed buns, but Daddy won't buy them for me." Xiao Xingxing led her to an alley not far from the kindergarten.
"Why?"
"He said things by the roadside aren't hygienic and shouldn't be eaten casually." Xiao Xingxing had already led her to a vendor surrounded by many children. "But you often take me to eat these steamed buns."
The steamed bun vendor was a middle-aged man with messy, greasy hair. The nail beds of his fingers were all black, and he didn't wear disposable food gloves when making the steamed buns.
Gu Susu stopped Xiao Xingxing and said, "Daddy is right, these steamed buns can't be eaten. How about Mommy takes you to a small dessert shop that makes delicious desserts?"
Xiao Xingxing looked at the steamed buns that had just come out of the steamer, his mouth watering, and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
"Then let's go. I definitely won't disappoint you, little guy."
Gu Susu took him to Allen's dessert shop. To her surprise, the shop was packed at this hour, with people filling the place and a line outside.
She hadn't expected Allen's dessert shop to be in such a remote location, yet its business was so good. It truly was a case of good wine needing no bush.
As Allen was busy handing out queue numbers to the waiting customers, he saw Gu Susu and a little one in line and quickly called them into the back kitchen.
He had them sit at the small table for staff meals in the back kitchen and said with a smile, "Miss Gu, it's an honor to have you visit. Why didn't you inform me in advance? And you've brought such a little cutie."
Before Gu Susu could tell Xiao Xingxing to greet him, Xiao Xingxing proactively said, "Hello, Uncle."
"What a polite young man. Just say what you want to eat." Allen smiled and tapped his nose.
Xiao Xingxing quickly said, "Mommy said your shop's things are delicious. Do you have steamed buns? I want to eat steamed buns."
"Steamed buns, yes, yes. Please wait a moment, they'll be ready soon." Allen solemnly wrote down what Xiao Xingxing ordered in his notebook.
Gu Susu said apologetically, "It's okay, you're busy. We're not in a hurry. Just having a place to sit is great."
Allen smiled and first brought a plate of ready-made water chestnut cake, placing it in front of Xiao Xingxing for him to eat first, then went back to his work.
Xiao Xingxing was a little disappointed at first that it wasn't the steamed buns he wanted, but after taking a bite, he couldn't stop. He finished it in a few bites.
Gu Susu wiped his mouth for him and said with a smile, "Didn't I tell you? This uncle makes delicious pastries."
Xiao Xingxing looked at the empty plate and then looked up, asking, "Mommy, you're finally back from your business trip, but will you leave again?"
Gu Susu didn't know how to explain to the child, saying, "I still have to leave. I'll be stationed in another place, and I can only accompany you for a few hours before I have to... have to go away again."