Yang Yi had no idea that while he was worrying about Murphy, she was also feeling anxious and uncertain.
On the first day Murphy brought Xixi home, she had dinner and a heart-to-heart talk with Sister Ling, keeping her up until late at night before she finally returned. Naturally, she forgot to call Yang Yi. But when she remembered the next day, she got annoyed.
She hadn’t called him, and he couldn’t be bothered to call her? She had taken their daughter home—shouldn’t he care whether they made it back safely or if there were any issues? So, out of spite, Murphy didn’t contact Yang Yi the next day either.
And sure enough, Yang Yi completely ignored her!
Murphy felt both hurt and bitter. In a fit of pique, she deleted Yang Yi’s number from her phone contacts... Though it didn’t really matter—she didn’t need to memorize his number because she had bought both his phone and SIM card, getting two consecutive numbers: one for him, one for her.
With the release date of her new album looming, Murphy didn’t have much energy to dwell on romantic entanglements. She set the matter aside and focused all her attention on work.
Until that day...
Murphy stole a rare moment of leisure and took her daughter out for Western food. She chose a French restaurant that had earned three stars from the International Food Association.
The International Food Association was renowned for its objective and stringent evaluations, much like the Michelin Guide in Yang Yi’s past life. Their food critics operated in secret, making their visits completely undetectable.
Ordinary restaurants couldn’t even make it onto their rating list, and those that did—whether one-star or the highest five-star—took immense pride in it, attracting attention and admiration from high society. In a city like Jiangcheng, a three-star restaurant was already top-tier! Naturally, their service was impeccable. Murphy could dine there with her daughter without worrying about paparazzi.
During the meal, Murphy displayed her excellent upbringing. She elegantly wielded her knife and fork, cutting up the veal for Xixi.
Of course, what Xixi loved most were the macarons from this restaurant, so Murphy had the waiter bring out the dessert early.
But Xixi only took two bites before putting down her fork.
“Why don’t you seem to have an appetite today?” Murphy asked, surprised.
“It’s not as good as Daddy’s,” Xixi pouted, looking glum. “Xixi misses Daddy.”
“No way? Does your dad even know how to cook Western food?” Murphy asked, amused.
“Why wouldn’t he?” Xixi retorted defiantly. “Daddy’s amazing! He makes it so delicious!”
Murphy was taken aback. “What Western food does he make? Tell Mommy about it.”
“Lots! Like this, and this—Daddy’s made them before, and they’re super tasty!”
Xixi couldn’t name the dishes, but Murphy saw her pointing at the French onion soup and rosemary roasted lamb chops in front of her. Murphy found that even harder to believe!
She had no idea how to make those dishes, but they were clearly complicated and completely different from Chinese cuisine. She could believe Yang Yi, that stubborn guy, could cook Chinese food, but learning Western food—especially such intricate French dishes?
Murphy thought the chances were zero.
“But could he have learned it just for me?” A sudden thought popped into Murphy’s mind, startling even herself.
How could that be?
What if it were true...
No way, right? He’d never shown any sign of it before.
But if not for her, why would he learn Western food? Who else liked it enough to make him change?
Murphy’s mind was a mess of wild thoughts, leaving her flustered. It wasn’t until the waiter came to serve the next course that she managed to pull herself together.
“You stayed at Daddy’s for two weeks—was there anything fun you did? Share it with Mommy!” Murphy changed the subject.
Xixi’s spirits lifted again. She happily said, “Yes! Daddy took Xixi to see flowers! And we took lots of photos!”
Murphy nodded. Yang Yi had sent her two selected photos, with a beautiful sea of flowers behind Xixi. It was so stunning that she couldn’t stop staring, feeling like the glimpses in the photos weren’t enough.
Actually, she felt a little jealous. Yang Yi hadn’t taken her! He was always going places with their daughter, never thinking to invite her...
“Daddy did Xixi’s hair really nicely and bought lots of pretty clothes,” Xixi pouted. “But Mommy didn’t bring them back.”
“Those clothes are at your dad’s place. In a few days, when Mommy goes on a business trip and you stay with Daddy, you can still wear them,” Murphy said. “And you mention the hair—if Mommy hadn’t asked Daddy to learn how to do it, he wouldn’t have! The way he used to do your hair was awful!”
Xixi remembered something and giggled, her bright eyes curving into crescent moons. “Daddy, he couldn’t learn it. Little Kai’s mommy taught him, and then Daddy finally got it!”
“Little Kai’s mommy?” Murphy’s expression stiffened, and she narrowed her eyes slightly. “Who is she?”
A woman appearing by Yang Yi’s side—Murphy grew wary.
“She’s Little Kai’s mommy!” Xixi said vaguely. “Daddy said she sells flowers.”
Murphy’s face instantly turned cold, though her voice didn’t harden as she spoke to her daughter. “Is that so? How did your dad meet her?”
“One day, it was raining really, really hard!” Xixi gestured with her little hands, her memory sharp. “I was drawing downstairs with Daddy. I drew a really pretty elephant, and Daddy said it was good...”
Murphy held back, resisting the urge to rush her.
“Then Little Kai and his mommy came to take shelter from the rain, but Little Kai’s mommy got her feet dirty, so Daddy asked her to come upstairs to wash them.”
Murphy’s grip on her fork tightened.
Xixi didn’t notice and started to ramble. “Daddy told me to get my toys to play with Little Kai, but Little Kai ignored me at first! He was grumpy!”
Great, so he even sent their daughter away!
“Then, Little Kai’s mommy’s clothes got wet, so Daddy gave her one of his to wear,” Xixi said innocently. “But don’t worry, Mommy, she gave it back the next day.”
Clothes got wet!
Giving someone else clothes to wear!
Returned the next day...
Murphy felt her heart turn icy cold. She could only sneer inwardly.
So that’s how it was. No wonder he was so indifferent, so unconcerned...
“Mommy, Mommy, what’s wrong?” Xixi’s voice pulled Murphy back from the clouds.
Murphy forced a faint smile. “Nothing, Mommy’s fine.”
But her mood was terrible. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
To hide it, Murphy picked up her glass and took a big gulp of white wine, using the alcohol to suppress her churning emotions.
“Xixi!” Murphy reached across the table and took her daughter’s little hand in hers. She smiled with a hint of determination. “From now on, no matter what, let’s never be apart, okay?”
“Mm-hmm! And Daddy too!” Xixi said innocently.
Murphy could only let out a hollow laugh...