"Who knows if your brother's diploma is a fake? There's nothing to brag about."
He Mingxu, who had been silent, opened his mouth with a remark that nearly made Mu Lan laugh out loud.
"My point isn't really about the diploma at all. Sure, it's just Harvard Business School, and he doesn't even take it seriously, so there's nothing to boast about.
But... my brother is the successor of Mu Corp., and he doesn't have the entitlement to parachute into the company.
Just like Tingxiao, as another Huo family heir, has never done anything like parachuting into a position…
Of course, I'm just making a comparison, aunt and cousin, don't take it personally."
She would have been better off not saying anything, as her words turned Huo Qitang's face from green to white.
Don't take it personally? This clearly meant that He Mingxu's status and right as an heir couldn't compare, what right did he have to parachute into a director position at the company?
"You… Tingxiao, you just watch her talk to your aunt like this and do nothing about it?
Does this family still bear the Huo name?"
Huo Qitang was trembling with anger, hoping his nephew would put Mu Lan in her place.
However, to her surprise, Huo Tingxiao not only didn't support her but also backed Mu Lan.
"Aunt, I think what Mu Lan said is reasonable.
If Mingxu has the education and the capability, with his own ability, he should be able to rise to the director position quickly.
Or are you saying, aunt, that you don't even have confidence in your own son?"
Huo Tingxiao's thin lips curled slightly, his impeccable words leaving Huo Qitang and her son with no room to retort.
And He Mingxu, usually so muddled, was nothing but a paper tiger in front of Huo Tingxiao's powerful aura.
With everything laid out like this, if they continued to argue, the only ones who would lose face would be this mother and son.
"Mom… perhaps, let's just drop this matter for now, shall we…"
The moment Huo Qitang heard this, she was furious. How did she end up with such a spineless son! Even after all that had been said, he was thinking of backing down?
"How can we just drop it? Today I set aside my dignity as an elder to come to you, and you all brush me off. Do you still regard me as an elder?
Huo Tingxiao, I am your father's own sister, and you dare treat your own aunt like this for that woman?
Do you have a conscience? Aren't you afraid I'll go to grandpa and tell him everything, I…"
The moment Huo Qitang threatened to bother old Mr. Huo, Huo Tingxiao's expression immediately darkened, and when he spoke, his voice was as cold as the deep winter frost.
"I call you aunt out of respect.
If you want to make a fuss about such a trivial matter to the extent of disturbing grandpa's peace, don't blame me for not acting like a junior should.
Also, Mu Lan is my wife, please respect her."
Huo Tingxiao always appeared calm and composed, expressionless as standard, making it difficult to guess what he was thinking, yet his presence often felt overwhelmingly oppressive.
Like beneath the calm waters, there lay a storm capable of devastating destruction!
The entire space became chillingly cold because of his frosty tone, causing Huo Qitang to feel an icy shiver travel all the way from her feet to her head, rendering her immobile.
Mu Lan, watching the man before her, felt her heartbeat quicken involuntarily.
The last sentence, where he stated she was his wife and demanded that Huo Qitang respect her, resonated with firm protectiveness.
My goodness, it was just a sentence, but it had her feeling quite dizzy.
Even… even making her find this stoic man a lot more appealing.
"Fine, fine, you…"
Huo Qitang, overcome with anger, could barely get her words out coherently.
"Sister Li, aren't you seeing the guests out?"
Receiving Huo Tingxiao's indication, Sister Li sternly ushered the mother and son out.
"No need to pull, I can walk myself.
Hmph, a woman who can't even have children, let's see how long your love lasts. I'll be waiting for the day you two divorce!"
As Huo Qitang cursed vehemently, He Mingxu, who was trailing behind, looked at Mu Lan with a venomous gaze.
This clueless woman, once I get the opportunity, I definitely won't let her off!
------------
Phew...finally, some peace.
Mu Lan came back to her senses and couldn't help but laugh when she remembered what Huo Qitang had said before he left.
"Hahahaha... Your aunt is so funny.
She actually cursed us to get a divorce soon, as if we needed her curse to do that!"
Huo Tingxiao watched her laughing so hard she couldn't straighten up, his handsome brows raised.
"That funny?"
"Funny indeed, very funny.
You didn't see her face; it was like a chemistry lab PH test strip, changing colors by the minute."
Seeing her so joyful, Huo Tingxiao coolly responded.
"That's because you never dared to talk back to her like you did just now, instead, you would act as her mediator and come back to influence me."
Mu Lan's smile suddenly froze on her face, and she touched her nose somewhat sheepishly.
Cough cough, so I was such a coward before, even doing these thankless tasks.
Tsk tsk, embarrassing.
"Anyway, I have amnesia now, so whatever you say goes."
Amnesia is like a brick, move it wherever needed.
"..."
He wasn't trying to dredge up the past, yet she quickly shifted the blame.
"I had no idea you even knew about the company's HR processes."
It was hard to tell if his tone was sarcastic or something else. After all, in his eyes, the former Mu Lan was nothing more than a rich girl who knew nothing but how to spend money.
Like those high-society ladies, she was just a beautiful, expensive decoration, completely devoid of substance.
But just then, Huo Tingxiao suddenly discovered that this decoration had unexpectedly begun to radiate charm.
For a moment, his gaze was spell-bound, unable to look away.
"What's so strange about knowing such a simple thing?
Originally, I also wanted to apply to Harvard Business School, but my brother thought it would make my dad too lonely if I went abroad, so I ended up taking the national college entrance exam instead.
Unfortunately, I've completely forgotten everything I studied back home now."
As she spoke, a sense of loss appeared in her eyes as she remembered her deceased father, and her bright face lost all its mirth.
The Mu Lan with amnesia was not hysterical or annoyingly infatuated; she argued with reason, spoke very logically, and knew how to use her cleverness.
In just one short day, she was about to overturn the image Huo Tingxiao had of her for seven years.
It even made Huo Tingxiao start to reflect, wondering if the Mu Lan he had known before was just an illusion.
The person before him, that was the real her.
As this thought flashed through Huo Tingxiao's mind, he pursed his lips.
He had been bewitched by this woman.
He had seen many capable and cunning women; how could he possibly be impressed by her childish tricks?
At most...
He was just a bit startled by this reversal.
Right, right, that's it.
Huo Tingxiao made up enough excuses for himself, determined not to admit that the amnesiac Mu Lan indeed had some kind of allure for him.
Distracted by his own excuses, Huo Tingxiao was suddenly brought back to reality by the ringing of his phone; it was a call from Assistant He.