Feng Yue watched Xu Mu slip into the room, tidied her hair again, and couldn't help feeling a twinge of guilt—especially since Ye Tong treated her so well.
She took a deep breath, opened the door, and smiled.
"Mrs. Xu."
"Just call me by my name—'Mrs. Xu' feels too distant," Ye Tong said with a smile as she walked in. "Is my husband here? His car's outside."
"No, maybe he went out to buy something," Feng Yue replied, then gestured politely. "Come in and sit?"
"Alright. He's not back yet anyway," Ye Tong nodded.
Feng Yue was a little surprised—she'd only been being polite, but Ye Tong agreed right away. She turned and led her toward the living room.
"What would you like to drink?" Feng Yue asked with a smile.
"No need. Let's just sit and chat."
Ye Tong felt this was a good chance—it was time to take the initiative.
Behind the door, Xu Mu watched the two of them through the crack, his perception picking up their voices.
"Sure, I'm free anyway," Feng Yue said, sitting on the sofa. "What should we talk about?"
"Xu Mu. My husband," Ye Tong said, looking at Feng Yue. "Yeyu isn't here today. We can share some little secrets from our hearts. For example—you actually knew Xu Mu long before we 'met,' didn't you?"
Feng Yue's smile faded. "What do you mean?"
"I've long known you used to run a bar, and Xu Mu often drank there."
Ye Tong recalled how last time Xu Mu had even let her listen to a recording of Feng Yue getting beaten, and told her he'd approached Feng Yue just to find the mole in the company.
But that was from Xu Mu's point of view.
From Feng Yue's perspective, a handsome, wealthy man kept courting her favor. Ye Tong believed Feng Yue had fallen for Xu Mu a long time ago.
"So you already knew," Feng Yue murmured softly.
She had underestimated Ye Tong. She'd thought Ye Tong was a gentle, slightly silly, dutiful wife who didn't think too much. Now it seemed Ye Tong knew everything—she just didn't say it.
"At my house, when you 'met' Xu Mu for the first time, you pretended not to know him. It was too deliberate," Ye Tong said. "The more you acted unfamiliar, the more it proved you were close. You did it to hide it from me, right?"
Feng Yue panicked a little, as if someone had grabbed her by the pigtail. Behind the door, Xu Mu was also shocked. In the original "plot," Ye Tong was the gentle, virtuous type—while Ye Yu was the calculating little minx. Now it looked like Ye Tong's mind was just as meticulous.
Confronted by Ye Tong, Feng Yue suddenly didn't know how to answer.
"You like Xu Mu, don't you?" Ye Tong switched tone and suddenly smiled.
"I…"
"You like him; I like him too. By rights, that puts us on the same side," Ye Tong said, taking Feng Yue's hand as a hint.
"I only know that between women, if our paths differ, there's no point plotting together," Feng Yue chuckled.
She figured Ye Tong was trying to trick her into admitting she liked Xu Mu—maybe even recording the conversation on her phone. Feng Yue definitely couldn't admit it. Deep down, she still felt Xu Mu should be with Ye Tong. In the end, she was the third party—she couldn't wreck their relationship.
"Different paths can't conspire? Ever heard the phrase, 'different routes, same return'?" Ye Tong gently traced Feng Yue's palm.
"...?"
Feng Yue was stunned.
Good grief—how was Ye Tong's, ahem, driving skill better than hers?
Behind the door, Xu Mu was speechless. This car had just driven right over his face.
Good one, Ye Tong!
So pure in front of him, but actually a seasoned driver.
He decided she needed a proper "lesson" tonight.
"Don't pretend. I can tell you like him. Relax—I don't mind," Ye Tong said to Feng Yue. "Have you heard of hidden families?"
"I have," Feng Yue nodded.
"Then I won't explain. To be frank, the Xu family is about to develop into a hidden family."
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Feng Yue stood to answer it. "It's Ye Yu," she called back to Ye Tong.
Ye Tong sighed—terrible timing. She stood as well and headed for the door. One thing she was sure of: Feng Yue was bolder than Meng Wanyue. Meng Wanyue probably liked Xu Mu too, but she'd never agree to share a man. Feng Yue was different.
Ye Tong wasn't looking down on Feng Yue—she truly felt Feng Yue had the aptitude to be the other woman, and would likely agree to "team up" to take on Xu Mu together.
From the room, Xu Mu sensed the two women had left the living room and relaxed. He slipped out, went upstairs, hopped out a second-floor window, and circled around from the back street to the front.
The three women were chatting in the yard instead of returning to the living room. Passing by the gate, Xu Mu called out, "What are you all doing out here?"
"Brother-in-law! Where did you go?" Yeyu ran over first. "Your car's at home but you're not—thought you were here."
"I went to the gate to buy something," Xu Mu said with a smile.
Yeyu took his arm and beamed, "What'd you buy? Another gift for me?"
"College entrance exams are in a few days. After you finish, I'll buy you a gift based on your score," Xu Mu said.
"By the way, Xiao Yu, have you decided which school to apply to?" Ye Tong walked over. "With your scores, you should make it into Yanjing University, right?"
"Even if I get in, I'm not going. Too far from home," Ye Yu shook her head, then smiled at Ye Tong. "I want to go to Jiang City University."
"I remember you said Yanjing University was your dream," Ye Tong said, puzzled.
"That was before. Things have changed," Ye Yu said, sneaking a glance at Xu Mu.
[Favorability +10]
Back then she'd wanted to study far away to get away from Xu Mu. Now she didn't want to leave him. Besides, his family ran a company—she wouldn't lack for a job later.
"Alright—whatever you want," Ye Tong said. She also felt it'd be nice to keep Ye Yu nearby.
—
They went back inside, and Ye Tong started cooking.
Xu Mu sat on the sofa, thinking it over, and finally decided to call Dai Xingluo and Meng Wanyue along. He had promised them, and they were both strong.
He messaged them both.
After dinner, Xu Mu pulled Ye Tong back to their room. This woman needed a good "lesson." The way she'd driven today had left him stunned for half the day.
A seasoned driver like that, pretending in front of him…