Chapter 47: Bitter Coffee Part 3

The massive investment into Chuanming Film to settle things with Mo Wei—could it be because Mo Wei had offended Miao Zhu?

—Stop! Stop! Calm down!

If Miao Zhu and Mu Shanyi had been involved for so long, why had Miao Zhu still gotten engaged to her? Mu Shanyi hadn’t objected, even showing great concern for the engagement details. That, that just didn’t add up!

Sheng Xingran was completely thrown into chaos.

The seed of suspicion had taken root in her heart, and she couldn’t simply brush the doubts from her mind.

If that was the case, if that was the case… Sheng Xingran rubbed her face vigorously and took many deep breaths. She exited the chat with Miao Zhu and, once she felt calm enough, called Mu Shanyi for a voice chat.

After a long few seconds of waiting, the call connected.

Sheng Xingran said, “Sister, I’ve been busy with house stuff lately, and Longlong’s complaining that I’m neglecting her. With the weather so cold, she wants me to take her hot spring soaking, so I thought of Carp Moon Manor. Sister, can I borrow Carp Moon Manor?”

After downing a cup of steaming longan red date ginger milk, Miao Zhu finally warmed up in the cozy room. She set down the empty cup and glanced out the window.

The window glass was covered in condensation, obscuring the outside world.

The coffee machine hummed away, the air filled with the aroma of coffee.

Gentle music played softly. Not far off, Tang Yuwen’s friends were playing “Describe the Other Person in One Phrase,” with some wildly bizarre answers. The subjects weren’t satisfied and demanded drinks as penalty.

Emma propped her chin, watching for a bit, then nudged Miao Zhu’s arm on a whim and whispered, “What do you think Mu Shanyi looks like?”

Miao Zhu looked utterly baffled.

This wasn’t really the place to discuss such things anyway. Emma cleared her throat. “Stop spacing out. Want more ginger milk? I made it specially for you knowing it’s your period.”

Miao Zhu politely declined. “I’m good.”

“I’ll have one, please. Thank you.” Tang Yuwen joined them.

“Sure!” Emma now had a very favorable impression of Tang Yuwen. She picked up the small thermos with the longan red date ginger milk and eagerly poured her a cup.

Tang Yuwen leaned against the counter, took a sip of the ginger milk, and smiled appreciatively. “The seafood porridge was delicious, and this ginger milk is too. Miss Zhuang, you’re so skilled with your hands.”

As she spoke, her gaze drifted over Miao Zhu. She had no idea what was going on between Mu Shanyi and Miao Zhu, but she knew how to keep a secret and didn’t let it show.

A gust of cold wind swept in as the door opened.

Tang Yuwen casually glanced over—it was Sheng Xingran.

Emma spotted Sheng Xingran too. Sheng Xingran held Miao Zhu’s phone in her hand, her strides huge. In the blink of an eye, she was almost upon them.

Throughout the process, Sheng Xingran stared expressionlessly at Miao Zhu’s back, her whole demeanor covered in a layer of frost. Even when someone greeted her, she ignored them. Seeing this, Emma guiltily gripped the handle of the thermos tighter and quietly reminded Miao Zhu that Sheng Xingran had arrived.

“Xingran, have some hot drink?” Tang Yuwen raised the cup in her hand and promoted the ginger milk to Sheng Xingran. “It tastes pretty good.”

Sheng Xingran fluttered her eyelashes, glanced past Emma, and fixed her gaze on Tang Yuwen’s face.

After a moment of silence.

“It’s so cold outside, my face is frozen stiff, and even Longlong’s phone shut down automatically from the cold.” As she spoke, Sheng Xingran placed Miao Zhu’s phone on the countertop, then curved her lips into a smile. The moment she smiled, it was as if a spring breeze melted the ice and snow. “Longlong, while we were watching the meteor shower, I was thinking about where we should go play this weekend. Do you have any ideas?”

Emma secretly let out a sigh of relief. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Miao Zhu shaking her head at Sheng Xingran.

“I couldn’t think of a good place either, so I asked my sister for help and had her recommend somewhere.” Sheng Xingran reached out to hold Miao Zhu’s hand, her fingertip subconsciously rubbing the base of Miao Zhu’s ring finger, where their engagement ring was supposed to be—but that ring was no longer there. Sheng Xingran continued nonchalantly, “She has a manor in the suburbs. Cloud City has been very cold since it snowed, so she suggested I take you there to soak in the hot springs.”

?

Mu Shanyi suggested that Sheng Xingran take Miao Zhu to her manor to soak in the hot springs?

Was Mu Shanyi that generous when it came to relationships?

Did Mu Shanyi really not care about Miao Zhu at all?

“…” Tang Yuwen and Emma both felt certain indescribable emotions at the same time, but Tang Yuwen reacted a step faster than everyone else. She picked up Sheng Xingran’s words: “You mean Carp Moon Manor? The natural hot springs there are really nice. I haven’t been in a long time. Xingran, count me in.”

Sheng Xingran said, “Of course. We can’t leave out Wen Jie. Longlong, what about you? Are you interested?”

“Sure.” Miao Zhu smiled and agreed, then invited Emma as well: “Do you have time? Come along.”

Emma couldn’t help but feel sorry for Miao Zhu.

Suddenly, coffee dripped from the machine’s spout. Miao Zhu heard the sound and turned to steady the coffee cup.

The dark brown coffee liquid slowly poured into the pure white ceramic cup.

The automatically shut-down phone, Sheng Xingran’s sudden change in expression… Miao Zhu tried to focus her energy on these things, but in her mind, Emma’s question from a few minutes ago echoed.

What was Mu Shanyi like?

Like what?

Like deeply roasted coffee—smelled sweet and fragrant, but only after tasting it did she realize it was bitter.