The moment the call connected, Gu Xiaoqi wailed, "Yinyin, you're so heartless! If I don't look for you, you won't look for me. Have you banished me to the cold palace?"
Mu Yinyin found herself both amused and exasperated. "That's quite an exaggeration. I've been a little busy lately. I think... I'll come over to see you tomorrow at noon."
"Oh! Isn't that our Boss Jiang?" Gu Xiaoqi knew Mu Yinyin was busy, and her initial teasing was habitual. However, Jiang Ling's appearance caught her eye.
Jiang Ling showing up at Mu Yinyin's villa, what did that imply!
But immediately after, Jiang Ling's gentle voice echoed from the phone, "It's me. I just happened to be nearby, and I also brought her some cherries. Did you receive the cherries?"
Gu Xiaoqi's spirits immediately sank upon hearing that Jiang Ling was only there to deliver cherries.
She had thought that the two of them...
However, she then hummed and teased Jiang Ling, "Our cherries are all same-day express deliveries, but for our Yinyin, it's personally delivered to her doorstep. It's different, isn't it!"
"The main person in charge, of course it's different," Jiang Ling effortlessly picked up Gu Xiaoqi's words, skillfully deflecting the topic.
His preference for Mu Yinyin was known to everyone.
His feelings had been clearly expressed, but he didn't want to be a burden to her.
Mu Yinyin, holding the phone, sat on the sofa. In the next second, she also changed the subject, "Xiaoqi, how have you been feeling lately?"
Mu Yinyin's words were filled with concern, and her eyes held a hint of worry.
Her physical condition was the one topic Gu Xiaoqi least wanted to discuss.
Although with Yinyin's help, her health had improved compared to before, recovery was a long process.
She had to drink three large bowls of medicine daily, undergo acupuncture, and take all sorts of tonics. Even her sleeping incense was heavily infused with medicinal scents.
However, she chose to report good news and hide bad news. "Much better than before."
Having known Gu Xiaoqi for so long, how could Mu Yinyin not understand her personality?
Mu Yinyin sighed softly, "I know you dislike the taste of the medicine and feel bored staying home alone. It can't be helped. Come over tomorrow."
"Have you seen Nan Shiqing's live stream online?" Gu Xiaoqi felt a wave of nausea recalling Nan Shiqing and He Xia's expressions of guilt and self-reproach during the broadcast.
Mu Yinyin's words were flat and cold. "No."
She hadn't watched it, nor did she want to.
However, she also knew what kind of pretense Nan Shiqing was capable of.
Gu Xiaoqi immediately sneered, "We still don't know whose design draft it is. If a designer stoops to plagiarism, what kind of designer is she! She deserves all the scolding she's getting. I just posted online, damn it, she's enraging me to death!"
Thinking of Nan Shiqing's words and expressions during the live stream, her tear-wiping gestures, Gu Xiaoqi felt goosebumps all over and her chest ached with anger.
If Li Chuan hadn't taken away her tablet, she would have continued to curse.
She had even photoshopped Nan Shiqing's obituary!
"Your health isn't good for getting agitated. Don't worry, Nan Shiqing's little tricks can't affect me," Mu Yinyin said with a slight smile, comforting Gu Xiaoqi, and not taking Nan Shiqing seriously at all.
Gu Xiaoqi knew, and replied with a huff, "I know you won't be affected, but Nan Shiqing's disgusting tactics are truly infuriating and revolting. Fu Siye is truly blinded by greed. I don't understand how he could be so foolish as to believe Nan Shiqing and protect her!"
After Nan Shiqing's live stream, a large number of netizens were attacking her. However, less than five minutes after the broadcast, the content was removed.
Even the malicious comments were no longer displayed.
Nan Shiqing certainly didn't have that kind of capability. This was definitely something Fu Siye had his people handle!
The mention of 'Fu Siye' caused Mu Yinyin's expression to darken.
She didn't want to talk about his actions anymore. "You should rest. I still have some things to finish. I'll hang up now."
"Okay," Gu Xiaoqi replied, not disturbing her further.
Jiang Ling had already placed both boxes of cherries in the refrigerator's fresh-keeping compartment. "You've been running around lately. I won't disturb your rest. Call me if you need anything."
Mu Yinyin nodded and escorted Jiang Ling to the door.
She didn't look, but in the refrigerator, Jiang Ling had divided the cherries into small portions, each portion being exactly what she could consume at once.
She had carefully reviewed the annotations on the design draft and made modifications according to them.
She wanted to meet the person behind the annotations, so she put her heart into the revisions. She was so focused that she lost track of time.
It was midnight.
She felt a slight drowsiness and glanced at the time.
Coincidentally, someone sent her a message at that moment.
—Qi Mo: [I asked for you. That person wants to see your revised design draft, and the meeting location must be in Country E.]
—Mu Yinyin: [We have finalized our cooperation. Doesn't the contract state that the new product launch must be held in Country E? When do we depart? I can give you the design draft tomorrow afternoon.]
She hadn't expected Qi Mo to message her so late, and Qi Mo hadn't expected Mu Yinyin to still be awake at such a late hour.
Qi Mo's deep eyes scanned Mu Yinyin's provided timeframe.
After about a minute, Qi Mo replied.
—Qi Mo: [Then we'll depart early the day after tomorrow.]
—Mu Yinyin: [ok.]
—Qi Mo: [Goodnight.]
However, Mu Yinyin did not reply.
Later, she brewed a cup of black coffee and continued revising the design draft.
She finished the design draft past 3 AM and sent it to Qi Mo immediately.
The next day, she was woken up by a disturbance.
It was a call from the police. Mu Yinyin raised an eyebrow and answered, "Miss Mu, Miss Nan has already livestreamed an apology as per your request. When do you have time to come and sign a mediation agreement so we can close the case?"
Disturbed, Mu Yinyin lost her drowsiness. She didn't want to sign the mediation agreement, but she also didn't want to make things difficult for the police.
"I'll be there around 10 AM."
"Alright, I'll notify them."
"Okay."
Mu Yinyin replied reflexively, and the call ended.
She glanced at the time; it was still 15 minutes before 8 AM. The person who called her was quite dedicated.
She then got up to get ready.
After hanging up, the police officer called Nan Shiqing.
At that moment, at the hospital.
Nan Shiqing was leaning against the headboard of her bed. A nurse had just finished giving her an injection.
Upon learning that she had to go to the police station around 10 AM to sign a mediation agreement, Nan Shiqing instinctively glanced at He Xia, a plan forming in her mind.
He Xia understood, furrowed her brow, and pondered.
"It's a bit risky," He Xia pursed her lips and shook her head at Nan Shiqing.