"What is it exactly that you need?" Huo Muchen's black carbon pen was already bent out of shape in his hand, his voice tinged with an ominous undertone, clearly indicating his foul mood.
Dan Fanxi began to speak at length, "The project's diamond ring is a matching set, and I'm playing the male lead in the ad. Where am I supposed to find a woman worthy enough to star alongside me?"
Bai Nuanxi: "…"
Would he die if he weren't so narcissistic?
Where are you supposed to find a woman worthy of you? With that kind of attitude, aren't you afraid you'll never find a girlfriend?
You've got to be kidding me!
Bai Nuanxi said, "Dan Fanxi, I just realized that your handsomeness isn't even a tenth of the thickness of your skin."
Dan Fanxi touched his face, grinning, "I think I'm incredibly handsome too."
"…You win." Bai Nuanxi rolled her eyes, not wanting to argue with someone so full of himself.
But… Dan Fanxi does have a reason to be self-absorbed. His androgynous features and baby-soft skin would make any woman envious. Seriously, how are women supposed to compete with him?
Put a wig on him, and he could easily pass for a stunning woman—apart from being flat-chested, of course!
Huo Muchen, however, showed no reaction, as if he was already accustomed to Dan Fanxi's self-obsession. "I'll find a suitable actress to partner with you. Now, if you have nothing else to say, you can leave."
"I still have—"
Huo Muchen cut him off before he could continue, "If you have anything else, then you can leave right now."
Dan Fanxi: "…"
Seeing the word "leave" clearly written in Huo Muchen's eyes, Dan Fanxi took a step back. "I do have something else. Excuse me for now." He quickly turned and dashed out, not forgetting to close the door behind him as he left.
Bai Nuanxi: "…"
Why are you running so fast? Is a dog chasing you or something?
"Didn't he still have more to say? Why did you let him leave?" Work matters are important, and the issue hadn't been fully resolved before Dan Fanxi ran off. What was that all about?
"Everything he says is just pointless chatter that wastes time. Letting him stay here would also be a waste of my time. Now, we should discuss this issue of 'impotence.'" Huo Muchen's voice grew deeper, like a sea siren's, bewitching and inviting surrender.
But Bai Nuanxi didn't have the leisure to be mesmerized!
Oh my god!
He's going to settle scores with me now!
"Huh? What impotence? What are you talking about? I don't understand." Bai Nuanxi quickly played dumb. You've got to be kidding. If I don't use my acting skills now, when will I? Wait until Huo Muchen gets angry, and I have to play dead? Unable to speak or move?
"This kind of talk shouldn't be thrown around lightly." Huo Muchen originally just wanted to scare Bai Nuanxi a bit. Seeing her act clueless, he found he couldn't bring himself to lecture her.
Seeing that Huo Muchen didn't intend to pursue the matter, Bai Nuanxi relaxed, "I know, I was just joking."
Unexpectedly, Huo Muchen raised an eyebrow and said coolly, "Now you understand? Didn't you just say you didn't get it?"
Bai Nuanxi: "…"
Careless.
There was another layer to this trap!
Big boss, you've really become sly!
Can't you just be straightforward?
Bai Nuanxi quickly clung to Huo Muchen, acting coquettish, "Sweetheart, you're not angry with me, are you?"
Huo Muchen found himself utterly defenseless against Bai Nuanxi's endearing, pitiful demeanor but still tried to keep a stern face, "Don't do this again."
Bai Nuanxi immediately saluted him and stuck out her tongue, "It won't happen again."
"Good." Huo Muchen responded softly. Just then, the phone rang.
Bai Nuanxi glanced at it, not recognizing the caller ID, and asked Huo Muchen, "Who is it?"
"Yun Qianling," he said, giving the full name to avoid confusion.
"Hello?" Answering the call, Huo Muchen asked, "What's the matter?"
Whatever was said on the other end made Huo Muchen's face suddenly darken. "Wait for me, I'm on my way."
Bai Nuanxi watched, bewildered, as Huo Muchen hung up the phone and pulled her out the door. She hurried to keep up, asking, "What happened?"
"Fanxi's been injured."
Huo Muchen's brief reply made Bai Nuanxi's eyes widen in shock, "What?!"
—————
The "In Surgery" sign dimmed, and Yun Qianling stepped out, removing his mask. "The injury is near the heart; the bullet grazed the chest cavity, causing a blood clot that compressed the heart, leading to cardiac arrest. The situation is stable now, but we can't remove the bullet until the clot is cleared."
"Have they found out who did it?" Huo Muchen's face was terrifyingly dark. Anyone would be shaken if their best friend, who was joking with them just moments ago, was now lying on a hospital bed in critical condition.
Yun Qianling shook his head. Exhausted from the long surgery, he rubbed his temples and said, "Qingwu is already investigating, but there's no news yet. Fanxi was ambushed at your company's entrance. He managed to hold on until he got to me, and then I called you."
Huo Muchen frowned deeply, "At the company's entrance? Why didn't he run inside? Why go farther away? It doesn't make sense; normally, you'd seek help nearby. Why avoid the closer option?"
"That's what puzzles me too. That's why I called you over to discuss it. I have a feeling something is off here." Yun Qianling believed there must be some motive behind the attack on Dan Fanxi; it couldn't have been random.
Moreover, Dan Fanxi was sniped but wasn't hit in the heart, leaving him barely alive, which also seemed suspicious.
Huo Muchen nodded, saying, "I'll have my secretary investigate. You focus on stabilizing Fanxi's condition. With you here, I feel more at ease."
"Alright, I'll go prepare for the next procedure. We need to get rid of the clot as soon as possible, and it requires a bit of setup." Yun Qianling had already planned to do this; his assistants had the tools ready in the operating room. Now he just needed to sterilize them again.
"Muchen, will Dan Fanxi be alright?" Bai Nuanxi asked anxiously. She genuinely liked Dan Fanxi. His personality was warm and approachable, though he could be a bit of a jerk sometimes, he never meant any harm.
Compared to the cold and distant Yun Qianling, Bai Nuanxi clearly had a softer spot for Dan Fanxi.
Huo Muchen gently patted her head, reassuring her softly, "He'll be fine. With Qianling here, whose medical skills are among the best in the world, don't worry. He won't let anything happen to Fanxi."