Xu Muqing smiled and explained, "I'm just good at reading people. Although he spoke righteously just now, his eyes betrayed him. I saw a hint of guilt in his eyes, so I knew he was lying.
Moreover, his clothes are all high-quality imitations. So, it's even less likely he would spend twelve thousand yuan on a cup!"
After hearing Xu Muqing's explanation, Liu Yifeng was utterly impressed. "You're amazing! If it weren't for you today, I probably would have lost this money."
"It's not your fault that this happened today. If I hadn't brought Yaoyao here, Tongtong wouldn't have been fooling around and bumped into someone," Xu Muqing said. Just as she finished speaking, Yun Duo'er and her assistant strode over.
Liu Yifeng hadn't contacted her since she got into the car the night before last.
Seeing her today, she looked very tired, suggesting she hadn't rested well for the past couple of days.
He didn't know about yesterday, but she definitely hadn't rested well the night before last. After all, it was past two in the morning when they left the hospital. By the time they got back to the hotel, it was almost two-thirty. After getting ready, sleeping at three o'clock would have been early.
Xu Muqing also saw Liu Yifeng and the woman standing beside him. At first, she thought it was Xia Qianqian, but upon walking closer and seeing the other woman's face clearly, she realized it was someone else.
She considered herself to be among the more outstanding-looking women in the entertainment industry, but she never expected to find such a beautiful woman outside of it.
Furthermore, judging by the way they spoke, they seemed quite familiar with each other. Could this woman be Liu Yifeng's lover?
With that thought, her gaze towards Xu Muqing became somewhat hostile.
This was Xu Muqing's first time meeting Yun Duo'er. Seeing her seem hostile towards her, she found it inexplicable.
Liu Yifeng had no intention of greeting Yun Duo'er. Their best relationship was to pretend they didn't know each other and remain strangers for life.
However, Yun Duo'er stopped them herself. She looked at Tongtong, who was playing with Yaoyao, and smiled gently. "Tongtong, are you playing? Who is this little friend?" she asked Yaoyao.
This little girl is so beautiful. If she guessed correctly, she must be this woman's daughter.
This woman, clearly infatuated with Liu Yifeng, wants her son to become a stepfather to her daughter? Is this wishful thinking?
When Tongtong saw his mother, his eyes looked at her like she was a stranger. He politely replied, "Auntie Yun, this is Sister Yaoyao, and this is Auntie Xu. They came specially to play with me and Daddy!"
Whether he said this intentionally or unintentionally, Yun Duo'er felt a pang in her heart. Xia Qianqian alone was enough to give her a headache, and now another mother and daughter duo.
This Liu Yifeng is truly scummy, dating so many women simultaneously.
"Mommy, this auntie is so pretty!" Yaoyao exclaimed upon seeing Yun Duo'er.
Xu Muqing smiled slightly. "She is indeed quite beautiful!" After speaking, she looked at Liu Yifeng. "Yifeng, are you well acquainted with Miss Yun?"
She noticed that it was Yun Duo'er who had initiated the greeting with Tongtong. A big star like her wouldn't usually greet someone she wasn't close to.
Liu Yifeng immediately denied it. "Not at all. We've only met a few times. If it weren't for this competition bringing us together, we probably wouldn't have met in this lifetime!"
Seeing Liu Yifeng's overly strong reaction, Xu Muqing felt that something wasn't quite right, but she didn't say anything further.
After all, her relationship with Liu Yifeng was only that of friends; they weren't at a point where they told each other everything. It was normal for him to have his own little secrets.
However, since Yun Duo'er's presence made him so afraid of being associated with her, she decided not to grant him his wish. She smiled and said, "Mr. Liu, you really have a terrible memory. Didn't we spend time together with you and Tongtong until past two in the morning the day before yesterday?"
"That was because you hit my car, so I took you for a check-up. Be more careful when you walk next time. What if you encounter someone who mistakes the accelerator for the brake? Would you still want your life?" Liu Yifeng said expressionlessly.
"You..." Yun Duo'er was momentarily speechless.
At this point, her assistant reminded her, "Sister Duo'er, the show starts in a little over ten minutes. We should hurry and get our makeup done, or we'll be late."
Yun Duo'er was already in a bad mood, and her assistant's words hit a nerve. "Do you think I don't know that? Stop saying such useless things to me from now on!"
With that, she gave Xu Muqing a meaningful glance before proudly walking away.
"Yifeng, are you really not familiar with her?" As soon as she left, Xu Muqing asked eagerly.
Liu Yifeng nodded affirmatively. "That's right, not familiar. Once this recording is over, we'll be strangers living in the same global village."
He didn't want any further interaction with Yun Duo'er. To this day, he still remembered how heartbroken Tongtong had cried upon seeing her when they first arrived at the television station.
For that reason alone, this woman was no longer fit to be Tongtong's mother!
What normal woman would be so calm and treat her own son like a stranger?
Even now, she dared not acknowledge Tongtong's identity. Therefore, there would be no need to acknowledge it in the future.
Xu Muqing listened to his firm reply, half-believing and half-doubting. "Really? I felt a strong sense of hostility from her, and this is my first time meeting her today. She shouldn't be hostile towards me unless it's because of you and Tongtong!"
Liu Yifeng hadn't expected her to be so perceptive. If she continued to guess, she might figure out that Tongtong was her child sooner rather than later.
He quickly found an excuse to deflect. "Perhaps she felt threatened because you're beautiful, so she became hostile towards you."
"I still feel like it's not that simple. I'm not in the entertainment industry, and I don't pose any threat to her status. There's no reason for her to be so hostile towards me just because I'm pretty!"
Seeing Xu Muqing still dwelling on the matter, Liu Yifeng was thinking of changing the subject when a television station staff member approached.
"Hello, Mr. Liu. I'm Director Wang's colleague and the person in charge of logistics for 'The Brain'. Director Wang mentioned that you have two friends who wish to watch today's recording."
Liu Yifeng nodded repeatedly. "Yes, that's right, her and her daughter. Is there any arrangement for seats?"
"Yes, there are. However, you'll need to sit with our work crew. The seating conditions might be a bit less ideal compared to other seats, but you'll still be able to see the entire stage." the person in charge said.
Xu Muqing, who was standing nearby, repeatedly expressed her thanks. "It's fine. I'm already very grateful to have seats. Thank you, and thank you to Director Wang!"
"You're welcome. When we get to the recording hall later, please come directly to me at the work crew area. I'll be there the whole time, and I'll arrange your seats," the staff member replied.
Xu Muqing nodded. "Okay, thank you!"
"Thank you!" Liu Yifeng also chimed in with his thanks. It was good to know people, otherwise, it would have been difficult to arrange seats for Xu Muqing and her daughter so easily.
The logistics person waved his hand. "No need to be polite. You two chat; I'll get back to work. See you later!" With that, he turned and left.
Liu Yifeng glanced at the time. The recording was about to start in ten minutes. "It's getting late. Let's go to the dressing room to see if Qianqian has finished her makeup!"
After the recent incident, Xu Muqing completely forgot about Yun Duo'er.
In the dressing room, Xia Qianqian's appearance had become much more refined after her makeup was done.
After a week of competition, the number of contestants had dwindled from thirty-two to sixteen. The once crowded dressing room now seemed much emptier.
At this moment, the director walked in and briefly explained the rules and schedule for today's competition.
"Yesterday you all had a day off. I hope you used it to recharge your energy and didn't just relax. The show is about to begin, and the specific rules will be explained by the host on stage.
Everyone get ready; I need to get back to work!" the director said before leaving the backstage area.
Many contestants were feeling nervous. Two more contestants would be eliminated today, and no one wanted to be one of them.
Only Tongtong seemed unaffected, like an outsider, not nervous at all, still laughing and playing with Yaoyao.