Chapter 76: Sending a Message to the Wrong Person

Lin Jingshu said expressionlessly, "Come home with me after you finish eating."

Qin Shu was about to divorce Gu Tingyan, so during this time, Lin Jingshu did not want to have any unpleasantness with Qin Shu that might affect the progress of their divorce.

Gu Yichen received permission, looked up at Qin Shu, rose from his chair, and politely greeted Chu Sheng: "Auntie, enjoy your meal."

Chu Sheng smiled, patted his head, and reached out to hand him a piece of candy: "Go on."

Qin Shu took Gu Yichen by the hand and went to another private room.

Qin Shu handed the menu to her son: "Whatever you want to eat, you can order it."

"Mommy got paid, so I'm treating you, baby."

Gu Yichen took the menu and pointed his finger at the braised pork: "Mommy, I want to eat this."

Qin Shu smiled: "Mommy loves this the most, too."

Qin Shu ordered a few more dishes that Gu Yichen liked, and after Su Tuantuan finished ordering, they waited for the food to be served.

Once the food was served, Qin Shu placed a piece of braised pork into Gu Yichen's bowl and poured him a glass of fruit juice.

Gu Yichen picked up the juice and took small sips; he ate in a refined and well-mannered way, looking every bit like a young master raised by an aristocratic family.

Su Tuantuan pinched the little guy's cheek, looking at the cold, small face that was exactly like Gu Tingyan's: "Little Gu, how did your grandma bring you out to eat?"

Gu Yichen lowered his eyes, his fingers unconsciously tapping, and he looked up at Qin Shu: "Mommy, are you going to leave?"

Qin Shu shook her head: "No, Mommy will be with you forever."

Gu Yichen said in a low voice: "Then will you not want me anymore?"

Qin Shu said firmly: "No."

She patted Gu Yichen's head: "Did Grandma say something to you?"

"Don't listen to everything she says."

"If Mommy leaves, I will take you with me."

Gu Yichen threw himself into her arms, his small hands clutching her waist tightly, and whispered: "You must keep your word."

"Whoever goes back on their word is a puppy."

He raised his pinky finger: "Pinky swear."

Qin Shu chuckled, raised her hand to hook his pinky: "Okay."

"Pinky swear, hang for a hundred years, no changing allowed; whoever changes is a puppy."

Gu Yichen looked at their hooked hands, his lips curling slightly, and the cold expression on his face gained a few more smiles.

Halfway through the meal, Lin Jingshu arrived; she pushed the door open and entered, her gaze landing on Gu Yichen: "Chenchen, are you finished?"

Gu Yichen's body stiffened slightly; he looked down at the piece of braised pork in his bowl that he hadn't had time to eat yet, his eyes darkening.

Qin Shu looked at Lin Jingshu and Chu Sheng standing at the door, frowned, and said indifferently: "We've only eaten half our meal."

"Mommy, actually, I'm already full."

Gu Yichen reached out his small hand to pull a tissue, and with slow, refined, and elegant movements, he wiped the corners of his lips.

Gu Yichen jumped off the chair: "Grandma, I'm done eating."

He lifted his feet and walked toward the door: "Goodbye, Mommy."

Qin Shu's hand holding the chopsticks tightened, but she ultimately revealed a gentle smile: "Mm, goodbye, baby."

Chu Sheng looked at the half-eaten meal in the private room; she smiled, reached out to wrap her arm around Gu Yichen's shoulder, and held him in a close, half-embrace.

"Chenchen is so good, so obedient."

She looked at Qin Shu, who was sitting inside, with a beaming smile: "Qin Shu, I will take good care of your son for you."

After Qin Shu watched them leave, she suddenly had no appetite at all.

Su Tuantuan sighed and placed a piece of braised pork into her bowl: "Don't be angry."

"Once the divorce is finalized, get custody of the child, and she won't be able to disgust you anymore."

"Eat up, you paid for it."

"If others get angry, don't you get angry; if you get sick from anger, no one will take your place."

Hearing this, Qin Shu smiled: "That makes a lot of sense."

She picked up her chopsticks, lifted that piece of braised pork, put it into her mouth, and laughed: "How did you suddenly become so insightful?"

Su Tuantuan bit down hard on a piece of spare rib: "Maybe it's just my age."

"I suddenly figured life out."

Qin Shu raised an eyebrow, noncommittal.

Su Tuantuan's personality had always been fiery; she could keep her temper in check regarding serious matters, but in private, she was very close to Qin Shu and could say anything to her.

After finishing the meal, the two went home separately.

Su Tuantuan dropped her off downstairs before driving away; Qin Shu returned to her own residence, took her keys out of her bag, and walked into the hallway, but her body suddenly paused, and Qin Shu looked back.

Aside from the parked cars, the entrance was empty and there was no one there.

Qin Shu inexplicably felt as if someone was following her behind her back.

Thinking of Lu Ziqian's words, she quickened her pace into the elevator and pressed two floor buttons, neither of which was her own floor.

Once the elevator door opened, Qin Shu stepped out, turned on her phone's flashlight, and walked up the dark stairwell; she had to climb three floors to reach her rental apartment.

Qin Shu took out her key, opened the room door, and locked it from the inside.

She sent a message to Su Tuantuan: "Tuanzi, I keep feeling like someone is behind me."

"But when I look back, there's no one there."

Qin Shu placed her keys on the table, went to the bathroom to wash up, and when she came out, she opened WeChat on her phone and saw a message from Ji Yanli, only then realizing she had sent the message to the wrong person.

Ji Yanli: "Xiao Hua, where are you?"

He had called three times, but Qin Shu's phone was on silent, so she hadn't answered.

Qin Shu hurriedly sent a message back to him: "I'm at home, nothing is wrong, don't worry."

She patted her forehead in annoyance: "I sent it to the wrong person."

"Xiao Hua, what floor do you live on?"

"I am downstairs at your place."

"I live on the seventh floor."

Qin Shu was stunned for a moment: "How did you know my home address?"

"Last time you were drunk, I brought you and Su Tuantuan back."

Qin Shu had absolutely no memory of it.

Before long, the doorbell rang; Qin Shu gripped her phone and looked out through the peephole, and only after seeing that the person outside was Ji Yanli did she open the door.

Ji Yanli was still carrying some fruit that Qin Shu liked to eat, and he smiled: "These are all things you love to eat."

Qin Shu saw the sliced and plated watermelon, cantaloupe, and the washed grapes and strawberries: "You still remember."

Qin Shu stepped aside to let him pass, and Ji Yanli entered the door; Qin Shu got him a pair of unopened men's slippers, and she explained: "Gu Tingyan bought these and left them here."

"They haven't been worn."

Ji Yanli changed into the shoes and entered: "Does he come here often?"

"Very rarely."

Qin Shu went to the refrigerator to get him an iced drink; Ji Yanli placed the items on the table and sat on the sofa, scanning her rented apartment—the room was neither big nor small, but it was decorated very warmly and had the feeling of a home.

Ji Yanli asked: "When did you start feeling like there was someone behind you?"

Qin Shu said: "Entering the apartment building's hallway."

"I happen to be free lately, so I'll come by to check on you when I have nothing to do."

Ji Yanli took out a document and handed it to Qin Shu: "As it happens, I have something to discuss with you."

Qin Shu took it from his hand and flipped through the document: "You are the founder of Xinrui Technology?"

"Xiao Hua, do you want to join us?"