Maple Grove Villa, study room.
Huo Tingxiao saw a message on his private phone from an unsaved number, simply a string of digits.
"Mr. Huo, I'm truly sorry for disturbing you during your personal time again. I just happened to bump into Mrs. Huo at Starlight Mall and we chatted briefly. Perhaps I said something that upset her.
If I've caused any misunderstanding between Mrs. Huo and you, I'm sincerely very sorry. Please don't argue because of this."
The message was signed by Mi Xue.
"It seems, I too can be mistaken."
Huo Tingxiao spoke in a light tone, yet He, the assistant standing beside him, sensed something unusual.
"Inform HR that we need a new secretary in the secretarial office."
"Mr. Huo, is there an issue with someone from... "
The assistant almost said "offended," but considering the term was too subjective, quickly replaced it with another phrase.
"Is it about their work capabilities not meeting your expectations?"
"Mi Xue just sent a text to my personal number."
The calm tone made He, the assistant, inhale sharply.
"Okay, Mr. Huo, I know what to do."
After He, the assistant left, Huo Tingxiao felt somewhat heavy-hearted.
Especially recalling the recent conflict with Mu Lan over Mi Xue, at that time he had thought Mu Lan's behavior was unreasonable.
However, the wording of today's text clearly wasn't the first incident.
What's odd is, why was this the first time he saw it?
So... did Mu Lan delete all the previous texts?
If his guess was right, how many similar incidents had occurred over the past seven years?
His gaze fell on the divorce agreement, and Huo Tingxiao became even more perplexed about what drove Mu Lan to decide on divorce.
------------
When Mu Lan returned, it was already nine in the evening. She had assumed that by this time, Huo Tingxiao would have already gone to a social function or to work.
But she didn't expect that Huo Tingxiao would still be at home.
"You're actually at home?"
"Should I not be?"
Huo Tingxiao looked at her, his voice cool.
"Heh heh... No, not at all, this is your house, you can be here whenever you want."
Now this was awkward. If she had known he was at home, she definitely would have continued to rely on Gu Xiaoman instead.
"Bought some clothes?"
His gaze fell on the shopping bags, and Huo Tingxiao's tone was casual.
Mu Lan wasn't pretentious either, she put the bags of men's clothing on the coffee table.
"The salesperson said it was something I had ordered for you before. I'm not sure if it's true or false, but it would've been rude to say I forgot, so I just picked a few items.
Try them on. If you don't like them, act as if they don't exist."
Huo Tingxiao raised his eyes to look at her, his gaze somewhat intense.
"Did I... say something wrong?"
"Just clothes?"
Mu Lan raised an eyebrow, quickly understanding the implication of his words.
"Oh, I also ran into one of your secretaries, named Mi Lu, right? She took the initiative to greet me, so we chatted for a bit."
Such a forthright look caused a fleeting, unusual emotion to pass through Huo Tingxiao's eyes.
"I just asked who she was, and the girl seemed not too happy.
The way she spoke was also quite strange, saying how she envied me being a housewife and not having to be by your side to help out every day and the like.
It made me feel quite confused. Working isn't that bad...
Halfway through her words, Mu Lan had a sudden realization.
"Ah! Is she your mistress?"
Huo Tingxiao frowned, and this expression deepened Mu Lan's misunderstanding.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm really sorry.
It was my fault, I felt her tone was weird, and I deliberately poked her a couple of times.
I wondered why she was so hostile towards me, turns out it's because...
Oh no, you guys didn't start bickering over this, did you?
Otherwise, let me explain to her, say I lost my memory, and I wasn't aware of your relationship, we're about to divorce anyway..."
"Enough!"
Huo Tingxiao was getting very angry as she continued with her nonsensical talk.
He didn't even know what exactly was making him so furious.
The very same words, when spoken by Mi Xue, only made Huo Tingxiao think she was manipulative, intentionally trying to create conflict.
But when it came to Mu Lan in front of him, he couldn't believe how this woman could be so heartless! Not only was she not jealous that her husband was being watched, but she also thought about apologizing?
Did she mean she wanted to actively push him out into the market now?
No matter who it was on the other end, just shove him their way?
Huo Tingxiao felt a fire in his chest that could erupt at any moment, he was about to explode!
"Come here."
Mu Lan pursed her lips, and although she was reluctant, she still walked over.
Her wrist suddenly tightened, and Huo Tingxiao pulled her into his arms, giving Mu Lan a start.
Those dark eyes locked onto her, his voice deep and seductive, making Mu Lan sense a hint of danger.
"Do you want me to help Mu Huaifeng?"
Mu Lan dared not even breathe, swallowing before she finally spoke.
"Yes!"
"Hm, then from now on, I don't want to hear you talk about divorce anymore."
Huo Tingxiao's tone was casual, as if he was talking about the weather, simple and natural.
But Mu Lan was stunned by his words.
What does he mean by not talking about divorce anymore?
Big brother, are you okay?
Didn't we agree this morning to go through with the formalities and then get a divorce?
Changing commands overnight, what kind of problem is this???
"Are you drunk? Didn't we agree this morning you would help my brother, and then we'd divorce..."
"I didn't agree."
Huo Tingxiao's categorical tone left Mu Lan wanting to cry.
How could such a grown man not keep his word?
"Also, I have a demand. Because of you, Mi Xue resigned.
Now, I'm short a secretary. Report to my company tomorrow."
This succession of crazy moves left Mu Lan dumbfounded.
"Hold on, your secretary resigned, what's that got to do with me?
Can't you just clear up the misunderstanding? I already said I'd be your shield. Do you have to be so thin-skinned? I... mmm mmm mmm"
Huo Tingxiao put his hand behind her head and kissed her fiercely.
After losing her memory, her mouth really was noisy, always babbling on, annoying him.
Mu Lan genuinely felt the warmth from her lips, a numbness that seemed to electrify her whole body.
Her head spinning, she closed her eyes, and within that kiss, she gradually softened from a rigid stick into dough.
Her very green reactions made Huo Tingxiao's eyes darken a few shades, intensifying the kiss, nearly causing Mu Lan to drown in it.
Just when she thought she was going to suffocate, Huo Tingxiao suddenly kissed her earlobe, his husky and sexy voice resonating softly.
"I want you."
These three words exploded in Mu Lan's head like intense fireworks, causing her eyes to pop open.
In the moment their eyes met, Mu Lan clearly saw a certain signal within his dark pupils.
Her mouth went dry, and she licked her lips instinctively, only for Huo Tingxiao to sweep her up in his arms and head towards the stairs to the second floor.