"It's about the car," Old Man Yu paused. "The car's brakes were faulty..."
Mu Yuting looked up abruptly. Since they knew it was the car's issue, why hadn't they investigated thoroughly?
Those involved may not be confused; it's the onlookers who think they see clearly.
Old Man Yu's expression was pained as he tightened his grip on the glass of soy milk, as if drawing the last bit of warmth from the hot drink.
He had asked his wife to take the child out to play. Only after watching the child leave and the door close did he speak: "We looked into it carefully. There's no evidence to prove it was him."
Of course they would investigate—this was his only daughter. After her unexpected death, he would have turned every stone.
But with no evidence found, it could only be treated as an accident.
As for custody and guardianship of the child, it wasn't that he didn't want to fight for it, but... he and his wife were too old. If they fought for custody but passed away before raising the child, the child would ultimately end up in Wu Zhengcai's hands.
After much consideration, the elderly couple chose to relent repeatedly. They kept thinking, even a vicious tiger doesn't eat its own cub. They could only hope Wu Zhengcai would treat his own flesh and blood well.
Now it seemed that yielding was useless. For the child's future, they had to "put up a fight." These old bones needed to strive to live a few more years, at least until the child came of age.
Insurance salesman Wu Zhengcai. Mu Yuting silently repeated the title—insurance salesman!
"Did Wu Zhengcai buy insurance for Yu Jiajia?"
Old Man Yu's eyes suddenly lit up: "I heard from Jiajia that he bought a policy worth 100,000 yuan. Wu used Jiajia's money to buy it, saying he was short on a business target and needed family to help out."
"When was the insurance bought? When was it paid out? Report it to the insurance company for investigation. If he committed insurance fraud, the company will settle accounts with him." Mu Yuting's move was what she called "using strength to counter strength."
The elderly investigating on their own might miss details, but letting the insurance company handle it would surely uncover the full truth.
Old Man Yu nodded, making a mental note.
They discussed several more issues, with Mu Yuting consistently noticing details and offering constructive suggestions.
Old Man Yu couldn't help but marvel—as someone who wrote about modern warfare, his thinking was rigid, and sometimes he wasn't as flexible and versatile in problem-solving as this young woman.
Having heard so much, Teacher Wang also grew impressed with Mu Yuting. Despite her youth and innocent appearance, she knew so much about legal matters and handled situations with such maturity and composure, without arrogance or impatience.
By the time Wu Yin returned, they had moved on to safer topics, discussing how Old Man Yu's works were published and adapted for screen.
"Our city's writers' association has close ties with many publishers, making it very convenient to publish works. After publication, we can pitch the book to relevant film companies. If they're interested, they'll buy the screen rights. Some companies also commission scripts for specific themes."
Learning that Mu Yuting was a Chinese literature graduate, Old Man Yu asked her, "Do you have any literary works? Would you like to try writing a commissioned script?"
"What kinds of themes are commissioned?" Mu Yuting asked curiously.
"Currently, modern anti-Japanese war and contemporary urban workplace romance are the mainstream for TV scripts. Horror, suspense, spy warfare, and detective genres are staples for film scripts. If you're interested in any, I can help connect you later."
These themes really are the evergreen trees of film and television, unchanging for decades, Mu Yuting mused inwardly.
She nodded and said, "I can give it a try. Thank you, Teacher Yu!"
Customizing screenplays didn’t conflict with her writing for Green River; she could work on both simultaneously, and it would also serve as good practice.
Teacher Yu took the initiative to pull out his phone and exchanged contact information with Mu Yuting.
As it was getting late, the group exchanged a few polite words before heading their separate ways. Teacher Yu and his wife had to take care of their child, so they couldn’t stay long.
Teacher Wang lifted the hem of her ancient costume dress and said, "Let’s go. We’ll head back to the music studio to change first, then I’ll drive you home. It’s too late for you to go back alone—it’s not safe."
Knowing that Teacher Wang had a car, Mu Yuting didn’t refuse the kind offer and simply expressed her thanks.
After a short walk back to the music studio to change, Teacher Wang drove her home.
Mu Yuting knew Teacher Wang had a car, but she hadn’t expected it to be such an understated yet luxurious vehicle. When she saw it, she couldn’t help but marvel for a moment.
Thinking back, it made sense—the exquisite ancient costumes and matching accessories filling the wardrobe at Yueyin Music Studio, along with the classically elegant decor—how could an ordinary person afford all that?
Clearly, Teacher Wang was wealthy!
Once she earned enough money, she would also buy a car for convenience.
In her previous life, she had owned a second-hand car and knew how to drive. She never bought a new one because all her money went toward raising her child—she spent her later years nurturing and supporting her child, living very frugally herself.
But not in this life. Life was short. Unmarried and child-free, she would work hard to earn money for herself and treat herself well.
On the road, the two chatted casually. As they grew more familiar, Teacher Wang seemed less aloof.
"Ah Ting, your place is in a pretty good location—quite bustling and close to the city center," Teacher Wang remarked, steadily holding the steering wheel amid the traffic, maintaining a smooth speed without any jolts or scrapes.
Who said women couldn’t drive well? With dedication and care, women could do things just as well as men, if not better.
Holding the steering wheel in her own hands felt reassuring—just like holding her destiny in her own hands.
"Where do you live, Teacher Wang?" Mu Yuting recalled that housing prices in the city had just started rising, from two thousand to nearly four thousand per square meter. In the next five years, they would climb to eight or nine thousand before stagnating for several years.
After all, this was only a third or fourth-tier city—not economically developed nor a tourist destination.
"Jade Mansion."
As expected, the wealthy lived among the wealthy. Teacher Wang and Teacher Yu were neighbors, both residing in the city’s most expensive residential area.
A couple of days ago, Mu Yuting had seen advertisements for Jade Mansion—all waterfront villas, already priced at ten thousand per square meter. In this city, that was astronomical.
"It wasn’t that expensive when I bought it—only seven or eight thousand per square meter before the prices shot up," Teacher Wang added.
Mu Yuting thought about the new apartment her family had bought this year at thirty-eight hundred per square meter and did a quick mental calculation. Even buying two of their apartments would barely match the price of one of Teacher Wang’s.
She really needed to work harder to earn more money!
When they arrived at the entrance of her residential complex, Mu Yuting thanked her and got out of the car.
Teacher Wang proactively rolled down the window, leaned out, and called to her, "Ah Ting, get some rest early when you get home!"
Turning back, Mu Yuting noticed a few familiar local shopkeepers peeking curiously near the gate and immediately understood.
She had been dropped off by a luxury car late at night, and Teacher Wang, worried that gossip might harm her reputation, had intentionally shown her face to clarify things.
"Thank you, Teacher Wang. You should rest early too," Mu Yuting replied with a smile.
Sure enough, the familiar neighbors who had hoped for some gossip, having seen the people and heard the voices, realized there was no drama to watch and gradually dispersed.
After watching Mu Yuting enter the residential complex, Teacher Wang drove home. She recalled a question Mu Yuting had asked in the car earlier: "Are you a Virgo?"
"I am," she remembered her own reply.
"What a coincidence, so am I."
By the time Mu Yuting got home, it was almost 9:30 p.m. Her mother, Mu Yaojia, was still awake, waiting for her under the lamplight while working on a cross-stitch piece.
The cross-stitch was about 1.8 meters long, depicting a vast red maple forest with an auspicious meaning—"Fortune at the Top." Mu Yaojia had been stitching it for over half a year, nearly straining her eyes, and was finally finishing up. She planned to wash it, have it framed, and hang it on the wall of their new living room for luck and joy.
"Tingting, your grandparents called and invited us over for dinner this weekend. They’ll probably ask about the called-off engagement," Mu Yaojia said as she put away the cross-stitch, her face clouded with worry. She had always preferred sharing good news rather than bad, not wanting to trouble the elders. But this time, her child’s marriage matters had still ended up disturbing them.
"Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll handle the questions. You just focus on enjoying the meal," Mu Yuting reassured her. She believed in solving her own problems and walking her own path.
"How was your first guzheng lesson today?" Mu Yaojia asked.
"Pretty good," Mu Yuting replied, then added unexpectedly, "Teacher Wang… she’s really nice too."
"Oh? How so?" Mu Yaojia had always been attentive to everyone in her daughter’s life.
A light sparkled in Mu Yuting’s eyes as she smiled and said, "I want to be like her—an independent, single, strong woman who doesn’t marry or have children. Someone with light in her eyes and warmth in her heart."
To seriously pursue a career she loved, to live life freely as she desired. To live with unrestrained freedom, yet never hesitate to share her light and warmth, illuminating and comforting others.
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