Wan Wanwan walked over and sat down beside him, her gaze falling on the gift in his hands. "Do you need any help?"
"No need, Aunt Wan, I can do it myself."
Wan Wanwan watched as Mu Hehe skillfully unwrapped the gift. After a few seconds of silence, she slowly asked, "Did your uncle buy this for you?"
Hearing this, Mu Hehe paused his movements, looked up at her, then nodded before shaking his head again.
Unable to determine his meaning, Wan Wanwan pressed her lips together as she watched the boy play with the toy before continuing, "Has your uncle... said anything to your mother recently..."
Seeming to struggle with phrasing her question, Wan Wanwan hesitated under the child's clear gaze before slowly speaking.
"About... matters of the heart."
Actually, before coming here, Wan Wanwan had already told Yu Jiao about Bo Jingmo having a girlfriend.
Wan Wanwan hadn't anticipated this reaction. Stunned, she asked, "You... knew all along?"
"Not exactly." Yu Jiao flipped through some documents, her tone calm. "Someone told me not long ago."
Seeing Yu Jiao's indifferent expression, Wan Wanwan stood frozen in place.
Aren't you angry? Aren't you going to do anything?
Wan Wanwan wanted to ask, but her throat felt choked with gravel, preventing her from forming complete sentences.
Noticing something amiss, Yu Jiao looked up. "Me what?"
Meeting the woman's puzzled gaze, Wan Wanwan clenched her fists as an indescribable emotion welled up inside her.
All these years she'd feared disappointing her aunt... Yet now, this reaction made all her efforts seem like nothing but a joke.
Then why had it been made to seem so urgent, so important back then?
Wan Wanwan gritted her teeth, her body trembling uncontrollably. Taking a deep breath, she lowered her eyes and whispered, "...It's nothing."
Yu Jiao studied her for several seconds before setting down the documents.
But seeing the young woman standing there with bowed head, Yu Jiao hesitated, unsure how to continue.
When no further words came, Wan Wanwan's eyes darkened. Biting hard on the soft flesh inside her cheek, she said in an unsteady voice, "Aunt... I still need to attend Aunt Bo's birthday party tonight, so I'll go change now."
After a long silence filled with complex emotions, Yu Jiao finally nodded slowly.
The moment the word left her lips, Wan Wanwan turned and left.
Her eyes reddened at the corners as her nails dug into her palms. She remained convinced her aunt must be disappointed in her, hence this indifferent reaction.
Perhaps Yu Jiao had never held any hopes for her from the beginning, believing Bo Jingmo could never like her.
Her aching heart felt like a balloon about to burst, yet filled with thick resentment.
Was this matter really so certain? Maybe Bo Jingmo didn't truly like that woman? He hadn't even brought Yu Li home yet.
This was precisely why Wan Wanwan had come here - to confirm this matter.
Yet she still hadn't dared ask Mrs. Bo directly. Perhaps... she feared hearing that definitive answer.
So as a compromise, Wan Wanwan chose to probe indirectly through Mu Hehe.
When the boy heard her question, his bright eyes widened as he recalled last night's conversation between his mother and grandfather.
"Aunt Wan, do you like Uncle?"
Wan Wanwan froze, lowering her eyes and pressing her lips together without answering.
Noticing the woman's reddening eyes, Mu Hehe paused thoughtfully before setting down his toy.
Digging a candy from his pocket, he moved closer and placed it in Wan Wanwan's palm, whispering secretly:
"Aunt Wan, don't be sad. The world has many wonderful things. Just like how I love Mommy and this candy. I'm giving you my favorite candy now, so later you can stop liking Uncle and like candy instead."
The innocent child's voice struck Wan Wanwan's heart like a heavy mallet. Staring blankly at the candy in her palm, she looked up at Mu Hehe.
The little boy hugged his toy, smiling at her with crinkled eyes.
"Aunt Wan, I'll only tell you this - actually, this toy wasn't bought by Uncle either."
These words left Wan Wanwan momentarily stunned. After a long pause, she slowly curved her lips into a smile, red-eyed as she clenched the candy in her palm.
"Okay, Auntie understands."
She reached out to hug the boy before her. "Thank you, Hehe."
With that, she stood and walked out. The birthday gift for Mrs. Bo had been delivered, her blessings conveyed.
There was no reason for her to stay any longer.
Her phone chimed. Looking down, she saw a message from a friend.
[Wanwan, want to hang out? There's a new bar that just opened - pretty lively. Hehe, heard the waiters are cute too.]
Wiping the tears from her eyes, she typed back a single character.
At 10:30 that night, Yu Li arrived at the bar with two roommates.
Standing at the entrance, Le Yi was messaging Jiang Xi.
Yu Li glanced at the bar's name, as if remembering something.
She took out her phone to look up the bar's name online.
Finding the answer, Yu Li's lips curled slightly.
Nearby, Le Yi exclaimed excitedly: "Senior says she's already gotten us a booth - we can go straight in!"
Though not yet peak hours, the bar was already crowded. A waiter approached immediately upon their entry.
After giving their location, they followed the waiter to their booth.
Meanwhile, at a booth inside, Jiang Xi set down her phone and announced to the group: "My junior's almost here - heard she's bringing two roommates too."
Cen Xiu nodded. "Got it."
Then he glanced at Guangran, who sat silently drowning his sorrows in alcohol, opening his mouth before closing it again wordlessly.
Exchanging a look with Jiang Xi, both wore expressions of helplessness.
Ever since hearing about Qi Mai's death, Guangran had been depressed.
The new bar's opening provided the perfect excuse to bring him out to relax.
Just then, a cheerful female voice called from behind: