Tian Xin had never been scolded by Ye Wenzhao since she entered the Ye family's door; tears immediately welled up and spilled over.
"I knew you loved your son! But you don't have that fortune! This is heaven punishing you, punishing you for abandoning me and my mom back then, and that's why Ye Shu is just a girl..."
"Slap!" Before she could finish her sentence, a crisp slap rang out.
Ye Wenzhao's face was furious, and Tian Xin covered her struck cheek, her expression filled with resentment.
"You hit me?"
Ye Wenzhao's face was very grim, unlike his usual gentleness, "Don't spout nonsense at the company in the future."
Speaking in a fierce tone, he glared at Tian Xin and turned back to his office.
Lotus Yard.
Ye Shu drove into the garage and noticed that Huo Shenting's car was also there; her expression changed slightly, and after parking the car, she got out and entered the house.
Aunt Wang, the servant, immediately came forward to take the briefcase from Ye Shu's hand, "Madam, you're back. The master just got home and was asking about you."
Ye Shu paused for a moment, then walked into the house.
"There was some traffic on the way back."
As she spoke, she took off her coat and hung it on the rack. She saw Huo Shenting sitting on the sofa with a newspaper in his hand; he made no response.
Seeing that Huo Shenting didn't seem inclined to pay her any attention, Ye Shu bit her lip and stepped forward.
Huo Shenting's gaze never left the newspaper. When he reached for the teacup on the table, his hand brushed against a cold skin.
He frowned slightly and saw Ye Shu pushing the teacup closer to him within reach.
Ye Shu looked up, her eyes meeting his deep ones, her heart fluttered, and she then squeezed out a pleasing smile.
"I saw you couldn't reach it, so… I helped you a bit."
Huo Shenting put down the newspaper, his profound gaze settling on Ye Shu.
"So should I say thank you?"
Ye Shu gazed at his handsome face; his deep voice was always something that moved her.
"We're husband and wife, no need to be so polite, right, husband?"
Huo Shenting's gaze was deeply fixed on her.
"Ye Shu, you're too goal-oriented."
Ye Shu pursed her lips, noticing a subtle change in his eyes.
"You mean too 'targeted', don't you?"
Huo Shenting picked up the newspaper from the table again, "Let's talk about your target."
"You."
Ye Shu's response was natural, and her tone even contained a little smugness.
Huo Shenting looked at her cunning smile now, her slightly raised eyebrows as if she was showing off her victorious prey.
This feeling made Huo Shenting very uncomfortable; no man would want to become someone else's prey.
Especially not a man like Huo Shenting, who stood at the pinnacle of the business world.
Seeing the change in his expression, alarm bells rang in Ye Shu's heart. She had been too proud just now and had forgotten that Huo Shenting had married her because of her scheming and threats.
She gave an embarrassed laugh and got up to flee, but in the next second, Huo Shenting caught her and pinned her back on the sofa in a corner.
Seeing Huo Shenting looking down at her, leaning over her,
"Running away? Are you afraid I'll devour you?"
Ye Shu's fair face instantly turned bright red, and she didn't dare to meet his gaze.
"It's not like that..."
"Not like that? So you're not afraid I'll devour you?"
Huo Shenting looked at her flushed face, reached out to pinch her chin, and made her meet his gaze.
"In City G, no one has dared to scheme against me, Huo Shenting, like this, you're the first and the last."
Ye Shu gave a sheepish smile, "Then I'm truly honored..."
Her tiny, cherry lips, tempting as they were, and her ingratiating smile, were like the paws of a kitten, stirring Huo Shenting's heart.
Before she could finish her words, Huo Shenting bent down to seal her eloquent lips with his.
Ye Shu's body stiffened, she hesitated for a few seconds before closing her eyes, hands trembling as she embraced Huo Shenting's waist.
However, the next second, the man amusingly straightened up, looking at the little woman with her eyes closed, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
Ye Shu snapped back to reality and opened her eyes.
Her eyes, still clouded with confusion, met Huo Shenting's unfathomable gaze, instantly making her more alert.
Huo Shenting's eyes were calm and deep, revealing no emotions.
Ye Shu, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
He had been fine just a moment ago, but now he was scrutinizing her with a gaze that made her feel like a criminal.
"Nothing."
After speaking, he stood up and went upstairs, reverting to his cold demeanor.
Ye Shu, unable to fathom Huo Shenting's thoughts, had intended to follow him, but then her phone rang, stopping her in her tracks.
She took her phone out of her bag and saw it was a call from her good friend, Ji Liang; she immediately answered.
"Ji Liang, are you back in City G?"
Ji Liang's tone was as hearty and straightforward as ever, "Yeah, do you have time tonight? I've got a gathering, and it's all sons and daughters of the city's elite. I'll introduce you if you come."
"Right now?"
As she spoke, she instinctively glanced upstairs; Huo Shenting was no longer in the corridor, presumably heading to his study.
"Yeah, I'm hosting tonight and can't come to pick you up; drive yourself over, I'll send the address to your phone. Gotta hang up now."
Ji Liang was always quick to act; right after the call ended, Ye Shu immediately received the address.
In the past, she would have gone to Ji Liang's gatherings without hesitation, but now she was married...
Given the man's sudden change of attitude just now, the reason unknown, she should at least inform him before leaving, for they were husband and wife, after all.
Ye Shu pondered how to broach the subject with him, but before she could go upstairs, he came down, coat in hand.
"I have an engagement tonight and won't be dining at home."
Ye Shu stood up from the sofa, seeing him reaching the door, she immediately spoke up.
"Ji Liang just called me to meet up, so I won't be dining at home either."
Huo Shenting glanced at her, a complicated look in his eyes that Ye Shu couldn't decipher, but it was clear he was displeased. The door slammed shut loudly as he left.
Aunt Wang, busy in the kitchen, rushed out when she heard the commotion, "Madam, what's wrong?"
Ye Shu was the picture of calm, "Nothing's wrong, neither Huo Shenting nor I will be dining at home tonight. He has a business gathering, and I'm meeting a friend."
Aunt Wang paused, but without any objection, nodded.
Previously, whenever Huo Shenting came back, he would provide her with a menu to prepare dinner, menus featuring dishes she hadn't seen before, presumably the new madam's favorite cuisines.
She had just begun preparations when both announced they were heading out.
Aunt Wang had watched Huo Shenting grow up; whenever he moved from the old house to here, she followed.
Except for breakfast, which Huo Shenting would eat at home, he was hardly ever seen at other times.
It was rare for him to come back so early today and ask for dinner to be made, and now both were going out.
Newlyweds, yet if life was like this from now on, wouldn't the future be even more difficult?
Aunt Wang shook her head as she walked back into the kitchen, her face filled with regret.