Murphy didn't see the email until she returned to Jiang City, and of course, it was an ecstatic Mo Xiaojuan who brought it to her!
"The misunderstanding is cleared up, sis. You can use these songs without worry now!" Mo Xiaojuan said happily. "Mu Zi'ang is a pretty decent guy—talented, knows romance, and wrote such beautiful songs for the person he loves. It's just a shame he already has someone he likes..."
As she spoke, Mo Xiaojuan started feeling sorry for herself, as if she'd pursue him if "Mu Zi'ang" hadn't made it clear he had a deep love.
But Murphy wasn't as thrilled as expected. Looking a bit weary, she read the reply and furrowed her brows slightly.
Clearing up the misunderstanding was good, but for some reason, Murphy felt something was off. The reply gave her a strange feeling, though she couldn't pinpoint why.
"Maybe I'm overthinking it?" Murphy's expression was cool, but her mind was unsettled.
Mo Xiaojuan poked Murphy and asked excitedly, "Sis, can we tell Ling now? We've got all twelve songs together, so we can ask Ling to arrange a new album!"
Mo Xiaojuan had long been fed up with those snobbish attitudes, and now she was itching to wipe the smug looks off their faces!
Hmph, didn't they look down on us sisters? Didn't they mock us for not being able to gather twelve songs on our own? Didn't they think we'd come crawling back begging for help?
Look, we don't need you, and we can do just fine!
Mo Xiaojuan was already daydreaming about the scene where everyone stared at her in shock and admiration, but Murphy wasn't as worked up. She said calmly, "Not yet."
"Huh?" Mo Xiaojuan didn't catch on.
"I've already asked Ling for two weeks off. The main thing during this time is finding a suitable kindergarten for Xixi," Murphy said, feeling mentally drained. She waved her hand and explained lightly, "So let's put the album on hold for now. We'll talk about it when I get back."
"Fine..." Mo Xiaojuan pouted reluctantly.
...
Yang Yi learned about Murphy's upcoming visit from Xixi. The little girl had talked to her mom on the phone for quite a while!
"Mommy says she's coming to live with Daddy and Xixi!" Xixi bounced excitedly around her dad, her thin little legs looking like they might snap.
"Really?" Yang Yi took out some fresh fruit he'd bought that morning from the fridge to make a fruit salad. Xixi had gotten picky lately—she wouldn't eat plain fruit; it had to be mixed and colorful for her to like it.
"Really! And, and I even know why Mommy's coming!" Xixi puffed out her little chest and lifted her head to tell her dad, her eager eyes practically saying: Wanna know? Then ask Xixi!
"Oh? Why's that?" Yang Yi asked with a smile.
He already knew why Murphy was coming—she'd told him. But since Xixi was so eager to share, Yang Yi went along to indulge the little one.
However, Xixi seemed to remember something. She hesitated, then said, "Uh... no, I can't tell Daddy. I can't say it!"
This left Yang Yi, who had only been teasing his daughter, feeling baffled.
"Huh? You can't say it?" Yang Yi asked in surprise.
But Xixi just covered her little mouth and scampered off, as if afraid her dad would press her further.
Yang Yi stood there, utterly confused and clueless.
He had no idea that Xixi's so-called "knowing why" was entirely her own imagination. The little girl had made a birthday wish for Mommy and Daddy to stay together with Xixi forever!
And now Mommy was saying she'd come live with them—Xixi didn't know Murphy was only visiting for a few days—so the little girl was overjoyed, thinking her wish had come true!
Just as Xixi was about to proudly tell her dad, her mom's earlier words popped into her head: "Wishes don't come true if you say them out loud!"
So Xixi decided not to say it. The innocent little girl truly hoped this wish would keep coming true!
But Yang Yi, even if he were reborn a hundred times, could never figure out Xixi's train of thought!
...
After packing her things, Murphy was dropped off by Mo Xiaojuan, but she looked tired and low on energy. Yang Yi took her luggage as soon as he saw her.
"Mr... ahem, brother-in-law, I'm leaving my sister in your care!" Mo Xiaojuan finally changed her address and said to Yang Yi.
Murphy felt a bit uncomfortable hearing Mo Xiaojuan call Yang Yi that. She shot her a glare, but her head was dizzy, and she didn't have the energy to speak.
Mo Xiaojuan stuck out her tongue and drove off.
"Come on, let's head up," Yang Yi said softly, snapping Murphy out of her daze.
Murphy hummed in response and silently followed behind Yang Yi.
Why was she so cold today? Yang Yi found it strange, as if they were back to their old hostile relationship.
But Yang Yi was never one to push. Since Murphy was quiet, he didn't pry. Just like when Xixi didn't want to say something, he didn't press her.
Because Murphy was coming, Yang Yi had carefully prepared tonight's dinner.
It wasn't Western food, of course. He knew Murphy often ate at Western restaurants, and those dishes were all the same—boring after a while. So he cooked Chinese food at home, making it both delicious and visually appealing.
"This is winter melon and shrimp soup. The shrimp are fresh, peeled, marinated with lemon juice and a bit of ginger and scallion, and coated in egg white before cooking to keep them tender and flavorful. Besides winter melon, there's goji berry in the soup. It cools you down, boosts blood, and beautifies the skin," Yang Yi explained as he ladled out the soup.
"I love shrimp!" Xixi said, raising her little chopsticks. "Daddy, give me more shrimp, no winter melon."
"Here, have Mommy's." Before even tasting it, Murphy gave her portion to her daughter.
"There's plenty more. Give it a try," Yang Yi said with a smile, scooping out more shrimp for them.
The main dishes were even more lavish: a three-pot braised stew with chicken wings, ribs, potatoes, and various seasonings in a thick sauce; Xixi's favorite sweet-and-sour pineapple pork; and a lighter seaweed and tofu hotpot!
On top of that, Yang Yi had prepared a dessert—papaya, longan, and snow fungus stew!
But while Xixi ate heartily, soon stuffing her little belly round, Murphy seemed to have no appetite. She avoided the heavy-flavored stew and only picked at her rice with the light seaweed and tofu.
"What's wrong? Not to your taste?" Yang Yi finally couldn't help asking.
Murphy shook her head. Her voice was low as she said, "No, I just don't have much of an appetite. Sorry."
What's going on?
Yang Yi frowned. He noticed something—compared to when she first arrived, Murphy's face had turned much rosier.