Chapter 231: Chapter 0231: He Has Ulterior Motives Towards You Chapter 231: Chapter 0231: He Has Ulterior Motives Towards You Mu Lan looked at him, and her heart thudded. She was terrified he’d say sothing that would make her uncomfortable.
“Your foot injury…”
Huo Tingxiao was afraid that in his drunken state he might have gone crazy, considering Mu Lan’s foot was still not healed. She couldn’t withstand the force of a grown man, and any stretch would be adding injury to injury.
“It’s nothing. I used the wheelchair yesterday just to make it easier to travel to the studio. The house isn’t that big; I can walk around slowly on my own.”
Mu Lan’s tone was even, making Tingxiao think she didn’t want to dwell on yesterday, and his eyes darkened.
“About yesterday, I’m truly sorry.”
“I’m not taking it to heart.”
Mu Lan looked away, insincere.
He kept calling her “wife” yesterday, which was confusing and annoying.
She really had no dignity, still hung up on drunken ramblings.
Another silence fell. Mu Lan thought that after breakfast, Tingxiao would leave, but today he unexpectedly stayed at ho.
Instead of his usual suits, Huo Tingxiao wore a beige thin shirt with its sleeves carelessly rolled up twice to reveal his sturdy forearms, and matching casual trousers. His hair was neatly combed for once, making him appear clean, refreshed, and sowhat boyish.
Seeing him sitting on the living room sofa working, Mu Lan quietly left for the garden.
In the early autumn, the Maple Forest Garden was on its last bustling bloom. Mu Lan sat in the vine chair under the tree in the garden, and the sun made her feel warm and cozy.
Leaning back against the chair, she closed her eyes for a nap, soon feeling sleepy.
Huo Tingxiao, holding a thin blanket, approached Mu Lan quietly and covered her with it. But before he could straighten up, Mu Lan had already opened her eyes.
They made eye contact, neither of them speaking, just staring at each other blankly.
Mu Lan’s eyes were as clear as water, staring into Tingxiao’s deep, ink-black eyes, which seed like they could draw soone in at any mont.
It was Tingxiao who ca back to his senses first.
“I noticed you weren’t wearing much and was afraid you’d catch a cold,” he said, unable to hide his concern.
Mu Lan tried to sit up, but Tingxiao was too close; she barely dared to move.
“Aren’t you going to the company?”
“Drank too much yesterday, not feeling so well.”
“Oh.”
Another silence…
Tingxiao stood up, creating so distance between them.
Mu Lan pulled the blanket off herself and carefully stood up. Seeing her unsteady, Tingxiao almost instinctively reached out to support her.
“Be careful.”
Mu Lan lost her balance for a mont, tumbling into Tingxiao’s arms.
She frantically tried to stand properly, but the more anxious she beca, the more chaotic her movents were.
Tingxiao frowned and, not caring whether Mu Lan would mind, just lifted her horizontally into his arms.
Mu Lan’s heart raced, and her face flushed. Tingxiao’s strong arms supported her back and the bend of her legs.
She’d been carried by him several tis before, but after the drunken incident yesterday, she couldn’t get the image of his completely different deanor out of her mind.
It wasn’t until she was settled on the sofa in the living room that Mu Lan ca to her senses, mumbling her thanks.
“Thank you.”
Tingxiao didn’t know what was on Mu Lan’s mind, but her polite thanks left his heart feeling half cold.
“You’re welco.”
After speaking, he withdrew his hand and sat on the other side of the sofa. Clearly, they were to share the space.
Mu Lan felt awkward. It was sowhat okay to walk, but to stay felt…
Just as she was wondering what to do, her phone rang, coming to the rescue.
“Hello?”
“It’s , Pei Zhao.”
“Oh, Mr. Pei.”
The mont Mu Lan heard this, Huo Tingxiao’s ears perked up, and he beca wholly on guard. What’s going on with this guy, didn’t they make it clear before, and yet he’s still calling?
“I’ve thought about it, and I want to invest in your studio,” he said.
Mu Lan frowned.
“Discuss investnt with ?”
She glanced at Huo Tingxiao subconsciously. The man seed not to hear, focusing on his phone with a blank screen as if putting on an act.
However… he hadn’t realized that he was holding his phone upside down.
“Yes, I want to invest in your studio. Since you don’t want to talk about personal matters, let’s talk business, that should be okay, right?”
Pei Zhao’s words made Mu Lan think it over; she did need a skilled business operator as a partner.
“Mr. Pei, your industry doesn’t involve the fashion business. I don’t think it’s suitable for you to invest in my studio, my brand.”
Hearing Mu Lan’s words, Huo Tingxiao felt a little relief.
“But I have shopping mall resources. I have investnts in many large malls overseas, which can allow your brand to be featured. Surely you’re not solely focused on the dostic market?
Moreover, you were insistent on showing gratitude before. I’ve finally thought of a way for you to repay the favor. Are you still going to refuse ?
It’s such a mutually beneficial way to repay the favor.”
Pei Zhao was being polite before playing his trump card. If need be, he was ready to bring up the favor.
Mu Lan was sowhat persuaded.
Huo Tingxiao thought she could stand firm, but one look at her expression told him she was no match for Pei Zhao.
Probably, she was being blackmailed with the grace of saving a life.
He snatched the phone from Mu Lan’s hand with a tone both deep and cold, laced with warning.
“Her brand has nothing to do with you, and even if it did, it wouldn’t be your turn to invest. Just give up on that thought!”
After he spoke, Huo Tingxiao ended the call without waiting for Pei Zhao’s response.
“Huo Tingxiao, what are you doing?”
Mu Lan was dumbfounded looking at Huo Tingxiao, hardly believing he could do sothing so childish and overbearing.
Far from feeling he had done anything wrong, Huo Tingxiao appeared to believe he was entirely justified.
“He doesn’t have good intentions toward you. What investnt? It’s just an excuse to get close to you.
There are many ways to repay a favor. Whatever amount of money he wants, I’ll give it to him, just to get him out of our way!”
Mu Lan stared at his domineering deanor.
“If anyone’s giving money, it should be . What’s it got to do with you?”
Huo Tingxiao was taken aback by her retort, and then shalessly replied:
“I am your husband, how can it not concern ?”
Mu Lan glared at him, feeling a surge of anger rising within.
Just yesterday, he was all clingy and apologetic, saying he was wrong and would listen to her. Now that he’s sober, he’s turned his back on his words and is making decisions for her without her consent.
She hadn’t intended to cooperate with Pei Zhao, but Huo Tingxiao’s interference suddenly ignited a rebellious streak in her.
“I think Mr. Pei is a decent business partner, and I will seriously consider his proposal.
As for you, you should get rid of the idea. Huo Tingxiao, don’t get drunk in front of and play nice, only to turn hostile the next mont. What do you take for?
Do you think you can do whatever you want? Do you still think I’m the old Mu Lan who would just take it lying down?
Or do you think I’m still like before, always putting you first, unconditionally obeying you?
If you still harbor such illusions, then let tell you now, get it out of your head because I won’t be like that anymore.
From beginning to end, you have never respected !”
Mu Lan’s tone grew cold as she spoke each word, aiming straight for Huo Tingxiao’s heart.
Huo Tingxiao struggled to control his temper, countering:
“You say I haven’t respected you? This is what disrespect looks like!”
With that, he suddenly pounced like a tiger and pinned her to the couch.
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