Thus thinking, Shan Gong pressed harder on the accelerator.
In less than fifteen minutes, the three returned to the mansion where Yao Zhen was.
The farce from earlier had passed. Yao Zhen had called a doctor to tend to Zuo Nan's injuries.
The doctor suggested Zuo Nan be hospitalized for treatment, but Zuo Nan firmly refused.
This was understandable. He had finally gotten a chance to meet the elder Mr. Yao, so how could he bear to let it slip away?
There were still twenty minutes until noon. Yun Shunan touched her stomach, wanting a light meal to prepare for the upcoming drama with sufficient energy.
However, halfway to the food, Yao Zhen blocked her path.
"Mrs. Mu, would you like me to find another excuse for you to beat Zuo Nan again?" Yao Zhen whispered into Yun Shunan's ear.
Yun Shunan was pleased by the address "Mrs. Mu," but what was this about beating him again?
"Hmm?" Yun Shunan tilted her head slightly, looking at Yao Zhen in confusion.
"Of course, if he's beaten into the hospital, he won't be able to see my grandfather, and I won't have to suffer his threats anymore."
Yao Zhen immediately voiced her thoughts, her previously dejected expression brightening considerably.
Yun Shunan smiled and shook her head, realizing that Yao Zhen's thinking had become too linear after spending so much time abroad.
"Miss Yao, this is only a temporary solution. If Zuo Nan is beaten into the hospital, he will eventually get out. Besides, you have something he holds over you, so he can always control you."
"Then what should I do?" Miss Yao's brows furrowed again, her absentmindedness showing everyone her unease.
Seeing Yao Zhen like this, Yun Shunan felt a pang in her heart.
Although Yao Zhen had once been a potential love rival, she always felt a sense of familiarity and closeness towards her, which made Yun Shunan feel a sense of pity.
"Miss Yao, today is your birthday. Relax a little. Leave the rest to me." Yun Shunan's lips curved into a subtle smile, attempting to comfort Yao Zhen.
"Okay." Miss Yao looked at Yun Shunan for a moment, then finally agreed.
For a moment, she felt a sense of daze. This was the first time since she and Yun Shunan had met again that she felt a sense of familiarity, as if they had returned to their days of endless conversation.
Seeing Yao Zhen's expression lighten slightly, Yun Shunan also relaxed considerably.
With that, Yun Shunan took Yao Zhen's arm and led her towards the table laden with food.
After a few steps, Yun Shunan realized she was holding Yao Zhen's arm.
Yun Shunan paused, feeling a bit uncomfortable for a moment.
She was never one to engage in such intimate gestures with someone she had only met a few times.
On the other hand, Yao Zhen showed no signs of discomfort, as if they had done this a thousand times before.
Since it was already like this, Yun Shunan didn't feel it was appropriate to let go, so she shifted her gaze to the food in the distance.
However, the two seemed to have forgotten that someone was still following them.
"Miss Yao, today you are the guest of honor. I presume you still have a lot of preparations to make. I'll take Mrs. Mu to get something to eat; no need to trouble you, Miss Yao."
Mu Qi finished speaking, subtly pulling Yun Shunan closer to him. Then, without even glancing at Yao Zhen again, he led Yun Shunan towards the food.
Yao Zhen quietly watched the backs of Yun Shunan and Mu Qi as they walked away, Mu Qi's words still echoing in her mind.
They were being incredibly clingy, both of them emphasizing the term "Mrs. Mu" to her.
Yao Zhen grumbled inwardly.
However, her mood had already relaxed considerably, though it still wasn't as good as when she was with Yun Shunan.
She always possessed a kind of magic that made people feel at ease.
"Between me and Yao Zhen, who would you choose?"
Beside the dazzling array of food, Yun Shunan was assessing the calorie content when Mu Qi suddenly spoke, startling her.
"Mu baby, what are you being jealous about now?" Realizing what he meant, Yun Shunan's eyes curved into crescents as she teased Mu Qi.
"You forgot about me just now."
While Yun Shunan and Yao Zhen were talking, Mu Qi had been watching from behind her. At that moment, Yun Shunan's entire attention seemed to be focused on Yao Zhen, completely ignoring him.
That feeling was unpleasant.
"Are you jealous of women too?" Yun Shunan pouted playfully and gently tugged at Mu Qi's sleeve.
If they were in Qi Yuan, Yun Shunan would have already thrown herself into Mu Qi's arms by now.
Mu Qi's expression was serious, showing no embarrassment whatsoever. He then said indifferently,
"Aren't you also jealous of men?"
Yun Shunan's face stiffened, and she pursed her lips, remembering her past indiscretions.
Yun Shunan said, a little annoyed and with a coy tone, "Oh, that was so long ago."
Mu Qi's expression remained unchanged. "It was only about a week ago."
Yun Shunan hadn't expected Mu Qi to remember so clearly, and became even more annoyed. "Anyway, you're not allowed to remember it anymore!"
Mu Qi remained silent. When it came to Yun Shunan, Mu Qi remembered everything clearly and couldn't forget.
"Nian Nian, you still haven't answered my question. Between me and Yao Zhen, who would you choose?" Mu Qi stared intently at Yun Shunan and insisted.
Seeing Mu Qi's persistence, Yun Shunan's expression also turned serious.
"That depends on the situation."
"If both Yao Zhen and I fell into the water, who would you save?" Mu Qi asked, recalling a question from a book about romantic relationships he had read recently.
Yun Shunan was initially surprised that Mu Qi would ask such a classic question, and then began to ponder it.
She really hadn't expected Mu Qi to ask this kind of question one day, and because of another woman at that.
"I would save Yao Zhen," Yun Shunan said after a moment of silence.
Mu Qi's phoenix eyes, which had been focused on Yun Shunan, immediately dimmed.
Betrayed by the only light in his world, the implicit despair was enough to shatter the balance Mu Qi had barely maintained.
However, Mu Qi's mental imbalance did not last for more than a few seconds.