"I didn't expect you to still remember me."
Lin Yize's gentle and elegant face wore a smile, and his eyes looking at Mu Lan were so tender they practically dripped with softness.
Huo Tingxiao coldly watched the two of them.
"I didn't expect Mr. Lin to know my wife."
"Wife?"
Lin Yize's smile became inscrutable.
Mu Lan glanced at Huo Tingxiao, feeling that his tone just then was somewhat sardonic.
"It seems Mr. Lin hasn't been in contact with my wife for a long time; we've been married for seven years."
"..."
Damn, had this man taken the wrong medicine today?
"Seven years…"
The seven years in a marriage signify itching, Lin Yize's eyes brimmed with a deeper amusement.
"How old are your treasures this year?"
That was truly a stab to the heart.
This Lin Yize, why was he so annoying? Was it any of his business whether they had children or not?
"It appears Mr. Lin enjoys gossiping about domestic matters."
Huo Tingxiao's tone was indifferent, but his entire presence emitted an overwhelming pressure.
Lin Yize seemed oblivious to the implicit meaning in his words.
"Is President Huo upset? Sorry, I shouldn't have discussed private matters in this setting."
Mu Lan couldn't help but glared at Huo Tingxiao; it was just a few casual questions, who was he putting on a face for?
"Senior, he didn't mean that, don't misunderstand."
This excessive clarification made Huo Tingxiao's gaze turn even colder, did she not know her place?!
Was she really naive, or just pretending to be? Could she not see that this Mr. Lin was doing it on purpose?
"No, no, it's good that President Huo didn't mind what I just said."
After this small episode, they finally started discussing serious matters.
It was only then that Mu Lan understood that the project Lin Yize was responsible for had previously cooperated with Mu Huaifeng.
He was the representative of Jiancheng!
Looking at Huo Tingxiao, Mu Lan's heart hung in suspense because she could not figure out what calculations this man had in his mind.
Lin Yize seemed gentle, but during the negotiations, he was absolutely unyielding.
If Huo Tingxiao was fire, then Lin Yize was water, the two were incompatible, subtly and openly rivaling each other.
In the end, Huo Tingxiao came out slightly more adept, forcing Lin Yize to give up five percentage points.
After all, Huo Tingxiao had the world's top team in his hands, resources worth the five percentage points.
After the meal, Mu Lan was like an eggplant beaten by frost.
Yet Huo Tingxiao, who was still angry, thought her demeanor was because of Lin Yize.
"Just separated and already sporting a sour face? If you can't bear to leave him, you don't have to come home with me."
"Why do you have to speak in such a veiled, accusatory way?
It was just a few polite words, do you really have to be so petty? The senior has helped me a lot before, should I ignore him entirely?"
Mu Lan staying quiet might have been better; saying this, Huo Tingxiao's gaze practically turned murderous.
"I see I've struck a nerve."
Staring at Huo Tingxiao for a long while, Mu Lan suddenly laughed.
"You know, are you possibly… jealous?"
Huo Tingxiao was taken aback.
"Jealous? Him? I'm just reminding you that you are still my wife, Huo Tingxiao's wife, and you should know your boundaries."
"You sound like you caught someone cheating on the spot."
Mu Lan muttered under her breath.
"What did you say?"
"I said you're right, I'll reflect on myself properly."
She immediately admitted her fault with a smile ; this little fox really knew when to bow and when to stand tall.
"Hmm, about the cooperation with Jiancheng, I'm thinking should we consider getting some external help?"
Huo Tingxiao raised his eyebrows, knowing something was off when she admitted her fault so suddenly ; indeed, she turned around hoping to gain advantages from him.
For her brother Mu Huaifeng, she really spared no effort.
"What, you think this will help your brother get out of trouble?"
"At least after this cooperation, the board will have more confidence in my brother.
The shareholders' meeting is going to be held soon; Huo Tingxiao, you promised me you would help him."
Mu Lan, excited, clutched Huo Tingxiao's arm, her face pleading for help.
"Is it that whoever can help your brother, you'll beg them with such a pitiful look?
Now that you know Lin Yize is in charge of Jiancheng, haven't you thought about asking him directly?"
Huo Tingxiao didn't know why he felt so uncomfortable the moment he opened his mouth.
"What do you take me for? Bringing up my senior out of nowhere.
We were just in the same student council in high school.
Back then, he was a popular figure; many girls liked him. How could he notice me?"
The more she said, the more Huo Tingxiao's pacified anger was triggered.
"You remember something from seven years ago so clearly?"
"Hey, can't you be reasonable? I had amnesia, hey, to me, it's only been a year, why can't I remember clearly?
Forget it, there's no point in talking, you won't believe anything I say anyway."
The atmosphere in the car dropped to freezing point in an instant; the more Mu Lan thought about it, the angrier she got, and she directly asked to get off the car.
Huo Tingxiao was even more stubborn; she wouldn't get her way with him by being defiant.
In the middle of the night, Mu Lan was left on the street side.
She had just wanted to scare Huo Tingxiao a bit; who expected that this stubborn man wouldn't speak softly at all and actually left her there.
Though not in a remote wilderness, annoyingly, the area was close to a bar street, frequently passed by drunkards.
Seeing her alone and so attractive, they approached to flirt.
Mu Lan glanced around, looking for a taxi but, as if fate was against her, she directly ran into He Mingxu, who was out drinking with his buddies.
"Ah, look who we have here? You wretch, you messed up my good deed last time."
As soon as Mu Lan saw him, she turned to run, but he grabbed her.
"Thinking of running? Damn, you're unlucky to run into me today.
I'll let you mess up again, my mom scolded me because of you last time.
Guys, today's your lucky day, don't miss out on the fun."
Upon hearing He Mingxu's words, Mu Lan's legs began to shake.
"He Mingxu, you bastard, I'm your sister-in-law! If these guys dare to touch a single hair on my head, see if Huo Tingxiao will let you off."
In desperation, she could only mention Huo Tingxiao to intimidate them, hoping to escape the ordeal.
Unfortunately, He Mingxu wasn't scared at all, but rather became even more arrogant.
"Who at home doesn't know Huo Tingxiao is fed up with you? If he knows how many men have been with you, he might even thank me; it gives him an excuse to divorce you.
I advise you to just behave, otherwise my buddies here don't know how to be gentle."
A few thugs with lewd smiles sized up Mu Lan's legs exposed outside her suit skirt.
"Hey, these legs, really strong, let's find a hotel, I can't wait anymore."
Seeing her intimidation fail, Mu Lan hastily screamed for help.
"Help! Someone—"
She had just shouted once when someone covered her mouth, and Mu Lan struggled frantically.
If only she hadn't been stubborn earlier; what was a few sarcastic remarks from Huo Tingxiao compared to this? Now she was in trouble with this gang of vermin!