CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77: CALL ME BY MY NAME, BROTHER CHENG

As soon as Chen Song finished handling the newcomer’s matters, she received a phone call from her mother, saying that Chengcheng was missing.

At that moment, her hair stood on end as she hurriedly instructed Assistant Wen to turn around, but couldn’t fathom where Chengcheng might be, stuck there without knowing where to direct Assistant Wen to drive.

Fortunately, before long, Cheng Zhirang called to say the child was at Mu Qiu’s house.

Chen Song finally breathed a sigh of relief, wearily thanking Cheng Zhirang and instructing Assistant Wen to head towards her home.

Assistant Wen’s feelings were a bit complicated, as just an hour ago, Brother Cheng had called Shu Ran, and now, somehow he knew Chengcheng was at Mu Qiu’s house?

Presumably, there were other ways to contact, even without a phone call.

This wholesale distribution of contact methods was something he had never seen with Cheng Zhirang before.

He felt that something unpredictable had happened with Cheng Zhirang.

As soon as they rushed to the residential area, Chen Song slammed the car door and hurried upstairs, with Assistant Wen nearly unable to keep up with this woman in high heels, almost missing the elevator with her.

On their way up, Chen Song paused at Mu Qiu’s door, taking a moment to calm her emotions and breathing, tidying her hair before knocking politely.

She knocked three times in succession, but there was no response, causing her worries to resurface, and her knocking became more urgent.

"Miss Mu?"

"Miss Mu?!"

The room was silent.

Mu Qiu had already had a long day on the program and was already quite exhausted. Shortly after sending a message to Cheng Zhirang, she sat on the sofa with Chengcheng, accompanying him to watch cartoons.

But after just a few minutes, the two of them dozed off leaning against the sofa. Chengcheng’s little head slid down to rest on Mu Qiu, who frowning in her sleep instinctively extended a hand to hold him. They slept deeply, not waking up to several knocks on the door.

It wasn’t until the knocking and the phone ringing together broke the room’s quietness.

Mu Qiu squinted, shielding Chengcheng’s ears with hands, filled with the irritation of having her sleep interrupted.

She answered the phone, not waiting for the other side to speak, directly saying: "Please stay quiet for a moment, I’ll be right there."

Just waking up, her voice was not clear, tender yet low, giving off a cold and indifferent feeling.

On the other end, Cheng Zhirang, who was buttoning up a white shirt, paused, inexplicably attacked by her tone.

Every time they called, every time he saw her, she seemed to change, always surprising him.

He only hesitated a moment, elegantly resuming buttoning up his shirt with his right hand, while picking up the phone with his left, replying courteously: "Alright, then Miss Mu, please."

Cheng Zhirang’s voice.

Mu Qiu, roused by this clear voice, changed her instinct to hang up into standing up to walk to the door, saying another sentence along the way.

"Sorry, Brother Cheng, I just woke up, my tone wasn’t great."

"No worries," his voice remained the same, "it’s just that Chengcheng’s mother is anxiously waiting outside, I should apologize for disturbing you."

"Disturbed who?"

Cheng Zhirang lightly furrowed his brow: "Miss Mu?"

His perplexed tone was meant to inquire about her meaning.

However, Mu Qiu’s response indicated she misunderstood.

Mu Qiu: "I’m not some Miss Mu, Brother Cheng, after all, we’ve collaborated on two programs, isn’t it okay to just call me by my name?"

The woman’s voice was soft and languid, the last few words drawn out long and slow, making Cheng Zhirang unaccustomed to this tone in calls, deciding to avoid reasons, directly and simply saying: "Alright, Mu Qiu."

"......" Don’t hang out with Shi Yuhuai in the next episode!

After hanging up, Mu Qiu rubbed her eyes, opened the door, and outside stood Chen Song and Assistant Wen, who were reassured by Cheng Zhirang’s message, their tightly furrowed brows expressing worry and slight dissatisfaction.

She cast a glance and didn’t pay much heed, standing aside to let Chen Song in.

"He’s asleep."

"Thank you, Miss Mu."

Chen Song hurried inside, the sound of her high heels clicking loudly, quickly waking Chengcheng on the sofa.

Chengcheng rubbed his eyes, saw Chen Song, and pouted, calling out sadly, "Mommy."

Chen Song scooped him up immediately, holding him tightly and panting, "Why did you go out without telling Grandma? Mommy and Grandma were worried sick."

Chengcheng’s hand holding her clothes moved slightly, but he said nothing.

Mu Qiu’s expression was indifferent, speaking: "Sister Chen, Brother Cheng should have told you, Chengcheng came out this time to find his dad."

Chengcheng looked up at Chen Song, nodded, and repeated her words: "To find Dad."

Chen Song smiled awkwardly at Mu Qiu: "Children don’t know better, Miss Mu can probably guess my situation."

"I can’t guess."

Chen Song and Assistant Wen looked at her in surprise.

This kind of family issue leaves people feeling troubled, Mu Qiu shifted her gaze: "Either tell them clearly, or find a reason for them to understand the situation. Children aren’t toys, they don’t like being excluded by family."

Assistant Wen couldn’t help saying: "But Chengcheng is still young."

"Being young doesn’t mean he doesn’t think? If parents aren’t around, he’ll only think more and more. Today he runs out looking for Dad, next he’ll think about his parents being together and run out again, what if something happens? Do you need to station a bodyguard at home to watch over him? Also, he said there’s an aunt at home saying his dad doesn’t want him anymore, and the parents are completely unaware; what happens if he grows up with psychological shadows?"

She spoke a lot, her tone heavy, like someone who has become a teacher scolding students for not being able to solve problems.

Disregarding her tone, the mention of that aunt made Chen Song feel a pang, nearly bringing tears to the strong woman’s eyes as she held Chengcheng.

And Assistant Wen, purely shocked by Mu Qiu’s outburst, felt this person’s thinking was somewhat problematic.

It gave him a sense of being rational to the extreme.

"He’s just, he’s just a few years old, even if you tell him he doesn’t understand anyway. Besides, voicing it is what creates a shadow, isn’t it?"

"If your girlfriend cheated and I didn’t want you to develop a shadow against women, should I hide it as long as possible?"

Assistant Wen: "?"

No wonder she writes novels, coming up with such melodramatic stories off the cuff. But, he doesn’t even have a girlfriend!

He suddenly found himself in a dilemma, agreeing felt too extreme, disagreeing yet unable to find a reason to rebut her analogy.

Forget it, Assistant Wen decided to keep quiet.

With no one speaking contradictorily, Mu Qiu also had no intention to continue, upon reflection knowing she was too agitated just now.

It’s other people’s business, she shouldn’t interfere. Moreover, everyone thinks differently, her personal views might not suit others.

Upon realizing this, her calm and rational demeanor returned, exhaling sharply, she said to Assistant Wen and Chen Song: "I’m sorry, my attitude wasn’t very good just now. Your family’s matters still need your own decisions."

Chen Song’s eyes were slightly red, holding Chengcheng she stood up, the little bundle leaning on her, secretly glancing at Mu Qiu.

"It’s alright, you’re just concerned about Chengcheng. We won’t disturb you any longer, I’ll take Chengcheng back first."

Mu Qiu nodded.

Assistant Wen walked behind, glancing back at her, hesitating to speak.