Divorced and Determined: The CEO’s Ex-Wife Fights for Love

Chapter 76 Shen Muyan is Here! I’m Not a Three-year-old Kid Anymore—If You Have the Guts, Call Me Four!

As soon as she spoke, Lu Xiyao knew she was in trouble. She swore she had meant to say ‘mom’, but for some reason—maybe she was just too happy and excited—the words ‘the rich lady’ slipped out instead.

Hearing those words, Shen Muyan’s eyebrows shot up, and her strict-mother persona kicked in.

“What did you just call me?”

Fang Ya, after a brief moment of surprise, couldn’t hold back her laughter. She walked over and deliberately repeated, “She called you the rich lady! Didn’t you hear?”

Shen Muyan rolled her eyes at Fang Ya. The little one hadn’t expected Fang Ya to repeat her slip of the tongue, and she panicked even more.

“No, no! I called you mom!”

The little one stubbornly tried to defend herself.

Lu Qin reached out and gave her a gentle flick on the forehead.

“Owwww!”

Lu Xiyao clutched her forehead—it really hurt!

“She learned it from TV. I already set the TV to kid-safe mode, so she won’t see those kinds of shows anymore,” Lu Qin explained to Shen Muyan, worried she might think it was his doing.

Shen Muyan wouldn’t suspect Lu Qin, she knew him better than that. But honestly, kids these days really do pick things up fast—especially the bad stuff.

“Yao Yao, sweetheart, come over and let Auntie Fang Ya give you a kiss!” Fang Ya said, pinching the little one’s cheeks and holding her soft little body with delight.

Shen Muyan also wanted to hug her. She hadn’t seen the little one in ages and missed her terribly. But since she had just played the strict mother, changing her demeanor so quickly would be awkward, so she kept up her composed front.

“Have you had dinner yet?” Lu Qin asked Shen Muyan.

“No,” Shen Muyan replied, glancing at the twice-cooked pork in the pot, feeling even hungrier.

Lu Qin packed up the pork for a customer and handed it over. Then, he bent down and opened a foam box at his feet. Inside were two meals he had specially prepared for Shen Muyan and Fang Ya.

“You two go find a place to eat first, then help me watch the little one for a bit. I’ll finish up here and come find you,” Lu Qin said, handing the food to Shen Muyan.

During the handoff, their fingers accidentally brushed. Lu Qin didn’t think much of it, but Shen Muyan couldn’t help but feel something. However, her expression remained unchanged.

Fang Ya, holding the little one, saw the food and swallowed hard.

“Thanks, handsome!”

Lu Xiyao didn’t want to be separated from Lu Qin, so she said, “I want to stay with Daddy! How about we all set up the stall together? It looks so fun!”

Fang Ya pointed to the bustling cultural square, full of fun rides and many kids playing, and said, “Yao Yao, sweetheart, look over there. Isn’t it way more fun? Don’t you want to go?”

The little one turned her head and saw the lively scene—a mini amusement park with lots of kids and their parents playing. She was tempted but torn. She didn’t want to leave Lu Qin alone to run the stall. She wanted to stay and help him.

“Yao Yao, you go with Mommy and Auntie Fang Ya to play first. Daddy will finish up soon and come find you,” Lu Qin said, patting her little head.

“Alright then!”

The little one’s attention had already shifted to the amusement park.

Shen Muyan took her hand, Fang Ya carried the food, and the three of them sat down at an outdoor table in front of a Starbucks to eat first. As soon as they opened the food containers, the delicious aroma wafted out, catching the attention of nearby coffee drinkers.

“Ugh, I’m starving. Let’s eat!” Fang Ya said and broke apart her chopsticks and dug into the fried rice noodles.

There were also twice-cooked pork and imperial chicken wings, along with chilled green bean soup to drink. Fang Ya declared that no car in the world could tempt her to trade this meal. Shen Muyan started eating too.

The little one had already eaten dinner earlier and had some green bean soup and fruit afterward. Shen Muyan fed her two bites of the noodles, but she really couldn’t eat any more. Still, the little one couldn’t help but drool, though her tiny stomach couldn’t handle much.

A girl at the next table couldn’t resist anymore. She lost interest in her coffee and red bean oat muffin as she stared at the twice-cooked pork and chicken wings on Shen Muyan’s table, swallowing hard.

“Excuse me, where did you get this food?” She asked.

Fang Ya, chewing on a piece of the tender, flavorful pork, pointed in a direction and said, “Over there. The stall with the long line. Look for the handsome guy running it.”

Then she went back to her food.

The girl at the next table left her coffee and hurried off. Soon, others around them got up and started heading towards Lu Qin’s food stall.

Within seconds, the outdoor seating area was empty, leaving only Shen Muyan’s table. The Starbucks staff inside looked out through the glass, puzzled by the scene.

After finishing the meal, Shen Muyan and Fang Ya both let out unladylike burps. The food was all gone, and the green bean soup was finished.

“Ugh, it was so good! I always eat too much!” Fang Ya exclaimed.

Fang Ya rubbed her belly, a look of pure satisfaction on her face. Shen Muyan was equally pleased.

“Mommy, I want to play!”

Lu Xiyao pointed to the vibrant array of attractions in the center of the cultural square.

“Alright,” Shen Muyan said, taking the little one’s hand and walking towards the area.

“I’m so stuffed, I just want to sleep,” Fang Ya groaned reluctantly as she got up to follow them.

For once, Shen Muyan decided to join the little one in playing. She pointed at a miniature train weaving through the crowd and asked, “Yao Yao, do you want to ride this train?”

The train cars were filled with parents and kids, and everyone seemed to be having a great time.

Lu Xiyao blinked her big eyes and replied in a tone far too mature for her age, “Mommy, I’m not three anymore. This is way too childish.”

Fang Ya chimed in from behind, “Exactly! Our Yao Yao is no longer a three-year-old. Shen, let’s see if you can make her act like a four-year-old instead.”

Shen Muyan’s lips curved into a slight smile. She pinched the little one’s soft cheek and asked, “What about the bouncy castle? You can swim in the ball pit and go down the slides.”

Lu Xiyao waved a small finger dismissively, looking very much like a grown-up.

“Not that interesting~!”

Fang Ya burst out laughing at the little one’s antics, ruffling her hair.

Shen Muyan handed over the decision to the child and asked, “Then what do you want to do?”

“How about that one?” Lu Xiyao pointed upward, her big eyes sparkling with excitement.

Shen Muyan followed her gaze and frowned slightly.

“You want to ride the pirate ship?”

It was a small dragon-headed pirate ship for kids. The swings weren’t too intense, and a few parents were accompanying their children onboard, with occasional squeals of excitement coming from the ride. The pirate ship required a parent to ride along with the child, and Lu Xiyao looked eager to try it.

“How about the carousel instead? Look how pretty it is,” Shen Muyan suggested.

“I want to ride the pirate ship. It’s been so long since I’ve been on one,” Lu Xiyao insisted.

“If Yao Yao wants to ride the pirate ship, then let’s ride the pirate ship. What’s wrong, Shen Muyan—don’t tell me you’re scared?” Fang Ya said and teased, her eyes glinting mischievously.

“Scared? Ha!” Shen Muyan said and let out a small laugh. “Fine, let’s do it.”

She headed off to buy tickets.

“Just get two tickets. I’ll grab some ice cream and use the restroom. Yao Yao, what flavor do you want?” Fang Ya asked.

“Vanilla!” The little one replied.

“Okay!”

Fang Ya made her escape, using the restroom as an excuse—she had no intention of getting on the ride after stuffing herself.

Shen Muyan watched Fang Ya’s retreating figure, gritting her teeth as she purchased two tickets.