Divorced and Determined: The CEO's Ex-Wife Fights for Love - Chapter 25

Chapter 25 Getting Used to Shen Muyan’s Busy Schedule! Sister, You Don’t Understand!

At the top floor of the O’Rei Hotel, in the CEO’s office, Lu Xiyao sat obediently on a high stool, watching cartoons on her tablet at the tea bar.

Shen Muyan’s assistant, Song Xuanxuan, sat next to her, keeping her company. Shen Muyan wasn’t there.

Recently, the hotel’s room service had been slacking, and President Shen had gone to give a morning briefing. Lu Xiyao had gotten used to her mother’s busy schedule. Spending weekends with her mom was bound to be boring. If it weren’t for waiting to see her grandparents, she wouldn’t have wanted to come.

Once her grandparents arrived, Lu Xiyao was going to the amusement park. Although the little girl wanted her dad to take her, she knew he had to work hard to earn money. She didn’t want to tire Lu Qin out, plus, going to the amusement park cost money. Her grandparents, on the other hand, were quite wealthy.

After watching Frozen for about ten minutes, Shen Muyan pushed open the door and entered the office, followed by four middle-aged men, likely department managers.

In a rush, Shen Muyan walked over to Lu Xiyao, patted her on the head, and apologized,

“Xiyao, Mommy has a bit more work to do. I’ll come with you later. Be a good girl and keep watching your cartoons. If you need anything, just ask Sister Song.”

“Got it,” Lu Xiyao nodded mechanically.

“Song Xuanxuan, stay with Xiyao.”

“Understood,” Song Xuanxuan also nodded mechanically.

Shen Muyan quickly headed to her desk, and the department managers followed closely behind.

Lu Xiyao rested her chin in her hand and said to Song Xuanxuan, “Sigh, I’m already used to this.”

Song Xuanxuan pinched her soft little cheek and said helplessly, “I’m used to it too.”

The two shared a small smile.

“Xiyao, don’t just watch cartoons. There’s plenty to eat here, let’s eat while we watch.”

On the bar, there were many snacks, fruits, and pastries—macarons, cupcake desserts, chocolates, dried plums, and all kinds of fruits.

Song Xuanxuan picked up a green macaron and handed it to Xiyao.

“Our hotel’s pastry chef made this. It’s really delicious. Try it.”

“Sister Song, I don’t want it,” the little girl shook her head.

She had eaten these kinds of treats before and used to enjoy them, but perhaps her taste had become more refined after eating her dad’s cooking. She wasn’t particularly interested.

Song Xuanxuan, a true foodie, couldn’t resist taking a bite herself.

“It’s really good, Xiyao. Are you sure you don’t want to try it?”

“Not interested,” Xiyao shook her head again.

“Then how about this strawberry cupcake? Here!”

Song Xuanxuan tried offering something else.

“Still not interested.”

“Huh? A strawberry cupcake, and you’re not interested?”

Song Xuanxuan was puzzled. Usually, these fancy Western pastries were irresistible to kids.

Even as an adult, she couldn’t resist.

“Are kids these days really this picky?”

Song Xuanxuan was a bit speechless. She took a spoonful of the strawberry cake and popped it into her mouth.

“If you don’t want it, Sister Song will eat it. Look, it’s really good.”

She exaggerated her enjoyment, chewing with delight in front of Lu Xiyao.

It truly was delicious, as the hotel’s pastry chef was hired from Italy and had exceptional skills.

The little girl glanced at her and sighed,

“Sister, you don’t understand.”

“What?”

Song Xuanxuan was stunned.

What didn’t she understand?

Well, she hadn’t tasted Lu Qin’s cooking, so it wasn’t really her fault.

Then, Lu Xiyao remembered the boxes of ice crystal cakes she had brought along.

She immediately perked up.

“Sister, where are the boxes I brought?”

“Oh, you mean those boxes of sugar cakes? They’re in my drawer,” Song Xuanxuan said, digging out the strawberries from the cupcake and eating them.

“Could you bring them to me, please?”

“Xiyao, those probably don’t taste good. There are so many delicious treats here, just eat these.”

The few boxes of sugar cakes were in a plain white plastic bag, like something you’d buy from a street vendor. They didn’t look promising, to say the least. Apparently, the little girl’s dad had made them for her grandparents, the chairman and his wife.

But street-bought sugar cakes…

It felt a bit shabby.

After thinking for a moment, Song Xuanxuan finally understood.

It seemed like Shen’s ex-husband had left with nothing, and now he was probably struggling financially, unable to afford anything fancy. So, he had sent the little girl over with just some casual snacks.

Sigh…

Song Xuanxuan thought that when the chairman and his wife arrived, it might be better not to bring out those boxes, to save the ex-husband some dignity.

“Sister, you don’t understand. Please bring them over for me.”

Song Xuanxuan was speechless. This little girl, talking like an adult—what was there not to understand?

Even though she thought that, Song Xuanxuan still fetched the boxes.

The little girl, full of joy and excitement, took them with both hands and placed them on the table.

“One of these is mine. I’ll eat it first.”

The clever little girl knew her grandpa might not be satisfied with just one box and would come to snatch hers. Grandpa often stole her snacks!

She opened the box, and upon seeing the delicate, translucent square cakes inside, she couldn’t help but exclaim,

“Wow~! So beautiful~!”

Song Xuanxuan, who was just scraping the last bit of strawberry cake from her cup and licking the cream off her lips, heard the little one’s voice.

Turning her head, she saw exquisite, crystal-clear cakes lying in the simple plastic box.

This… wasn’t just some sugar cake. It actually looked pretty good.

“Xiyao, what is this?”

Song Xuanxuan leaned over curiously.

As she got closer, a rich, fragrant aroma wafted into her nose.

It smelled wonderful.

“Daddy says it’s called ice crystal cake.”

“Ice crystal cake? Never heard of it. Is it tasty?”

“Of course, it’s delicious~! Everything my daddy makes is super tasty.”

Her ex-husband made it?

Not something bought from a street vendor?

She had misunderstood.

Song Xuanxuan, being a foodie, swallowed her saliva. This ice crystal cake did look quite good, and she wanted to try it. But she had just said it probably wouldn’t taste good, so now it was a bit awkward to ask.

Besides, it was the child’s snack. Would an adult really feel right asking for it?

Lu Xiyao picked up a piece and took a bite. It was soft and chewy, with the smoothness of jelly and the fine texture of sugar cake. This unbeatable texture and flavor were even more appealing to a child.

As she chewed the ice crystal cake, Xiyao said nothing, simply enjoying the deliciousness. Her big, grape-like eyes narrowed into happy crescents.

“So tasty~!”

Xiyao quickly finished one piece, then licked her fingers.

Song Xuanxuan pursed her lips.

Was it really that good?

Kids don’t lie.

But what could she do? She really wanted to try it.

How could she ask?

Xiyao picked up another piece and eagerly stuffed it into her mouth, chewing noisily and enjoying every bite.

Finally, Song Xuanxuan couldn’t resist any longer.

“Um… Xiyao, could you let Sister try a little bit?”

“Sister, didn’t you just say this isn’t as good as those cakes~?”

The little girl had a good memory. Sister had just said that Daddy’s food wasn’t tasty, so why give her any now?

Song Xuanxuan quickly smiled apologetically,

“Sorry, Xiyao. Sister didn’t know what she was talking about. Your daddy’s ice crystal cake must be delicious.”

“Just looking at it is making my mouth water~!”

Hearing Song Xuanxuan plead and praise, Xiyao finally nodded.

“Alright, but you can only have half a piece. Just a taste is enough.”

“Half a piece is fine. Hehe, thank you, Xiyao.”

Xiyao used a fork to cut off half a piece and handed it to Song Xuanxuan.

Song Xuanxuan popped it into her mouth. Soft, sweet but not too rich, with a strong fragrance of rice and osmanthus.

Some flavors are impossible to describe with words.

Now Song Xuanxuan understood why the little girl had said she didn’t understand. Because she really hadn’t understood.

How could something be this delicious?