After Gu Susu went downstairs, she saw Chen Ma had already placed fresh fruits and vegetables, along with flowers, before Xiao Yongmei's memorial portrait.
Chen Ma stood there with tears in her eyes. Gu Susu walked over gently and placed her hands on Chen Ma's shoulders.
"Chen Ma, will you come with us to the cemetery today? Tianyi and I are not busy with work."
Chen Ma held back her tears, patted Gu Susu's hand, and asked, "Did the young master come back very late last night? Did he drink?"
"He returned just before dawn. He drank quite a bit and is still asleep now." Gu Susu looked up at Xiao Yongmei's portrait and bowed silently in her heart.
Gu Susu thought that if Xiao Yongmei's spirit were in heaven, she probably wouldn't want her son to suffer so much over past events.
If she were in heaven, she would bless Qin Tianyi to overcome his inner demons soon and see the world normally.
Chen Ma shook her head sadly and said, "Young Madam, please don't blame the young master. Every year on the anniversary of Miss's death, his emotions are very low, and he can only numb himself with alcohol."
"I know, I don't blame him," Gu Susu sighed. "I wonder when he will be able to move past this?"
Chen Ma said, "Let alone him, I haven't been able to move on either. Miss's fate was truly tragic. When she had the car accident, she used her own body to shield the young master, which is how he survived. But Miss was pregnant at the time, and even though the young master was unharmed, it was a case of one life lost and two lives gone..."
"Ah." Gu Susu was shocked. "She was pregnant then? The child was..."
She intended to ask whose child it was but stopped herself immediately, afraid that such a question might displease Chen Ma.
As far as she knew, Xiao Yongmei's relationship with Qin Yangye had already deteriorated significantly. If she were carrying Qin Yangye's child at this time, it would be too tragic.
Chen Ma did not seem displeased. She sighed and said, "Of course, it was Qin Yangye's child. Miss was not a woman who would be unfaithful. At that time, she was still Qin Yangye's wife, and she would not have been with other men. However, the Qin family members at the time all suspected that the child in her womb belonged to another man. The more they suspected her, the more Miss wanted to give birth to this child to prove her innocence. Unfortunately, the unborn child went with Miss."
Gu Susu could imagine Xiao Yongmei's situation at the time. Her husband had someone else, she was pregnant, and she was still being suspected and doubted by the Qin family. It was no wonder Qin Tianyi could never get over this hurdle.
"So that's how it was. Auntie's life must have been very difficult back then."
Chen Ma immediately corrected her, "Young Madam, you should call me 'Mom,' not 'Auntie' anymore."
"Oh, okay." Gu Susu agreed verbally, but in her heart, she felt that she would soon lose the qualification to call Xiao Yongmei "Mom," so she still couldn't bring herself to say it.
She sympathized with Qin Tianyi's past experiences, but that did not mean she approved of Qin Tianyi's current actions.
No one's life is smooth sailing. Who hasn't encountered difficulties or misfortunes? There are many ways to choose how to deal with them, and Qin Tianyi chose the cruelest one.
"What are you two talking about?" Qin Tianyi suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs, wearing pajamas, his hair disheveled.
Gu Susu looked up at him. "Nothing much." She saw that his face was devoid of warmth, utterly cold.
Chen Ma patted her apron and said, "Breakfast should be ready. I'll go check the kitchen."
Qin Tianyi nodded slightly, descended the stairs, walked up to Gu Susu, and looked at her expressionlessly. "Did you tell Xiao Anjing that I wouldn't be going to the group today and asked for leave?"
"Yes, isn't today Auntie's death anniversary? We need to pay respects to Auntie, so of course, you can't go to the group."
"You're taking charge of my affairs now." Qin Tianyi's voice remained cold.
Gu Susu was taken aback. Did she do something wrong by asking for leave for him? Just as she was about to say something,
He walked past her and said, "Eat breakfast," then headed towards the dining room.
Gu Susu pouted at his retreating back. It was truly like accompanying a tiger. He really treated himself like an ancient emperor, always so unpredictable.
She had no choice but to follow him to the dining room.
The breakfast table was already laden with food. Today, Xiao Mei also brought a plate of caviar to the table, looking quite fresh.
Qin Tianyi's gaze lingered on the caviar for a few seconds. He picked up a piece of bread and spread some caviar on it.
Chen Ma quickly said, "Young master, we just received fresh caviar air-freighted from abroad yesterday. I know you like it, so I bought some more."
She then placed another plate of caviar in front of Gu Susu and said, "Young Madam, this is for you. Try some. It's good for your health."
Gu Susu didn't particularly like raw caviar, but she could eat a little normally and wouldn't resist it.
But for some reason this morning, as soon as she smelled the caviar in front of her, she felt like vomiting. She waved her hand and said, "I don't like to eat this for breakfast. Save it for Xiao Xingxing. It will make children smarter."
Qin Tianyi saw that her complexion was a bit pale and thought she hadn't slept well again last night. He glanced at her and asked, "How are the preparations for the spring women's wear launch? Are there any unresolved issues?"
Chen Ma didn't force her. She took the caviar away and signaled Xiao Mei to go to the children's room to wake Xiao Xingxing.
After the caviar was removed, Gu Susu felt much more comfortable in her stomach and replied to Qin Tianyi, "Almost done. No major issues."
"It seems that with you partnering with Chang Qingchuan for the design aspect of Mishiang Company, I can be completely at ease."
Was this considered praise? Gu Susu decided to take his words as praise for her and Chang Qingchuan. "Thank you for your compliment, Mr. Qin."
Qin Tianyi gave her a heavy look. "I hope you can live up to my trust."
Gu Susu sat up straighter and said, as if treating him as her superior at the company, "Yes."
Qin Tianyi, however, kept a stern face and continued to eat his caviar bread.
They were silent for a while until they heard Xiao Xingxing running downstairs. Qin Tianyi's facial expression softened slightly.
Gu Susu, on the other hand, smiled directly, welcoming her little darling to breakfast.
As soon as Xiao Xingxing came downstairs, he didn't run to her but instead lunged at Qin Tianyi's legs, rubbing his little face against his thigh twice. "Daddy, will you feed me?"
Qin Tianyi picked him up and was about to say yes when Gu Susu preempted him, speaking to Xiao Xingxing a little sternly, "You're old enough now. Sit properly and eat by yourself."
Xiao Xingxing pouted and said, "Mom, I want Daddy to feed me."
Gu Susu said resolutely, "No."
"What are you doing? If he wants me to feed him, let me. Don't be so harsh on the child." Qin Tianyi picked up a small bowl and began to carefully feed Xiao Xingxing breakfast.
Gu Susu stared intently at Xiao Xingxing. This was her biggest concern. Even if she and Qin Tianyi were officially divorced, how could she eliminate Xiao Xingxing's dependence on him?
Qin Tianyi's "sugar-coated bullets" were too effective at coaxing an ignorant child. How could she make Xiao Xingxing forget Qin Tianyi, this fake father?