His Beloved Treasure

Chapter 2203: Chapter 641: One Year Later (18) Today of That Year (Second Update)

Qin Mu drove the two little ones back to their place first, and those two went to the hotel.

On the way, Chengcheng and Huanhuan clapped along happily and sang the Christmas song they’d been hearing everywhere lately. Qin Mu saw their two delighted faces in the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but smile too.

”Mom, did you move again?”

After getting out of the car, Huanhuan looked up at the big house and couldn’t help asking curiously.

”Yup! Weren’t you always嫌弃 the old house for being too small? Last year Mom earned a bit of money, so I switched to a bigger one. Come on, go in and take a look!”

Qin Mu lifted Chengcheng out of the car and explained to them.

The siblings clearly liked it a lot. They always had that urge to explore anything new, so they immediately ran inside.

Qin Mu, in high heels, picked up her pace to follow, carrying their not‑so‑big suitcases in her hands.

It was just that her face wasn’t entirely free of melancholy.

Nor were her eyes entirely free of sadness.

Only, the moment she stepped into the house, that shadow on her expression—visible just now when the kids weren’t looking—was instantly tucked away.

Qin Mu had already prepared fruit and snacks on the table, afraid they wouldn’t be used to airplane food and would end up hungry. But the two of them didn’t seem all that hungry; they were just busy running all over the place.

It was a little two‑story villa of over 500 square meters, more than enough for them to rummage around in for a long time.

Qin Mu had set up rooms for them. Once the siblings found their own rooms, Qin Mu could hear their excited shouts even from downstairs, and they were even yelling, ”Mommy, I love you!”

It had been a long time since Huanhuan called her ”Mommy.” It really must be ”when in Rome,” and they were truly over the moon.

A little after seven in the evening, Qin Mu was going to take them out. She’d booked a restaurant a few days earlier—after they ate, they could play outside for a while, and then come back to rest once they were tired.

But she had just put on her coat and hadn’t even made it out the door when her phone started ringing.

She heard the sound but couldn’t find the phone by touch. When she turned her head, Chengcheng was already holding it up to her: ”Mom, it’s Dad’s number!”

Qin Mu lowered her eyes and looked at Chengcheng’s excited little face, thinking, Your dad’s busy keeping Chen Xiaoyi company right now. Getting this excited is probably just setting yourself up for disappointment. Still, she answered the call and, looking outside, had already said hello: ”Hello?”

”You moved again?”

Mu Yichen’s displeased voice came through the receiver.

”Oh! Yeah! You... went there?”

Qin Mu tried to guess, yet felt she really shouldn’t. Since he was going to stay in a hotel with Chen Xiaoyi, a day like this was perfect for some quality couple time. Why would he think of going to her place?

”Address.”

Mu Yichen stood in front of her old place and, forcing down his impatience, asked again.

Qin Mu was sure he was there now, but suddenly she didn’t feel like giving him the address.

”President Mu shouldn’t you be on a date with your beauty tonight? You still planning to accompany us orphans and widows?”

Qin Mu’s voice sounded a little sour, though she didn’t notice it herself and only thought she was joking.

”Cut the crap. Address.”

Mu Yichen knew she was upset, but he didn’t explain. He just asked her again.

But his temper—Qin Mu really couldn’t take it. She said nothing more, hung up, shoved the phone straight into her pocket, then slung on her bag and tugged the kids along: ”Let’s go!”

The siblings walked out with her, asking at the same time, ”Mom, isn’t Dad coming with us?”

”He has to keep Chen Xiaoyi company tonight. Don’t overthink it, you two. Or are you not happy just being with Mom?”

Qin Mu pretended to be hurt.

Huanhuan didn’t say anything else, but Chengcheng suddenly piped up, ”But Dad said he was going to spend tonight with us.”

Qin Mu lowered her gaze to look at her son, stunned for a moment. Then she thought it over again and decided it wasn’t worth it. She settled the kids in the car, got into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and drove away from home.

Mu Yichen called her again later, but she didn’t pick up. After that, there was no more movement.

Chengcheng and Huanhuan sat in the back, exchanging a glance, then Chengcheng pulled a phone out of the pocket of his down jacket.

The two of them stayed quiet, fiddling with it secretly in the back.

Qin Mu just thought they were whispering to each other. Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the restaurant she’d reserved. It was already a bit crowded inside, but luckily she’d booked early—the window seat was still waiting for them.

”What were you two whispering about in the car just now?”

Qin Mu took off her coat, sat down, and asked them.

The two little ones took off their coats and handed them to the staff, then looked up at Qin Mu again, both with a bit of wariness in their eyes.

Qin Mu frowned slightly. ”You two are keeping something from me, huh?”