The relationship between the younger brother and sister-in-law was considered a beautiful tale. Such unconnected remarks felt stiff and awkward.
“Mr. Mu, it’s getting late, let’s start,” Manager Li said, his tone lowered, fearing Mu Qi would say something else to embarrass him further.
“No need to rush, you are getting on in years.
Might as well take advantage of this meeting to contribute a bit more time to the company’s future, lest you spend your days daydreaming in bed.”
Silence fell over the conference room after Mu Qi finished speaking.
Manager Li’s face turned bright red, and he wiped away more and more sweat.
The nail that sticks out gets hammered. Manager Li now deeply regretted his haste.
In fact, besides the obvious target, everyone present had been subtly addressed by Mu Qi.
“Manager Zhang, I heard you’ve been inquiring about me everywhere?”
“Yes, it’s been a while since I last saw Mr. Mu, I was worried about Mr. Mu…” Suddenly called upon by Mu Qi, Manager Zhang instinctively touched his bald head.
Without waiting for Manager Zhang’s insincere excuse, Mu Qi turned his attention to someone else.
“Manager Yang, I heard your son just returned with first-class honors in finance from Country A this year. I see you’re eager for him to showcase his talents. What are your thoughts on Mu Corporation, does your son find it appealing?”
Mu Qi’s tone was icy, and Manager Yang could no longer remain seated.
“Mr. Mu, this is all baseless gossip, pure nonsense.”
“Manager Xu, your daughter is of marriageable age, and I hear she’s preparing to tie the knot with Manager Yang’s son? Congratulations indeed.”
“Not at all, not at all,” Manager Xu waved his hands repeatedly.
…
And so, like students being reprimanded by a teacher, all the general managers in the conference room lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.
“That’s all for today, meeting adjourned.” After putting these few individuals in their place, Mu Qi stood up without looking back, carrying the drowsy Yun Shuzhuan out.
“What a mess this is!”
Once Mu Qi was gone, the conference room erupted in chatter.
“Mu Qi, can we go home now?” Yun Shuzhuan’s hands hooked around Mu Qi’s neck, her legs clasped around his strong waist, her entire body clinging to him.
“Mhmm,” Mu Qi responded, standing at the door of the CEO’s office, instructing Shan Gong to pack their things.
Yun Shuzhuan yawned lazily, burrowing deeper into Mu Qi’s embrace.
Mu Qi held Yun Shuzhuan with one arm, patting her back with the other.
After Shan Gong had finished packing, Mu Qi wrapped Yun Shuzhuan in another coat before they took the elevator downstairs.
“Mu Qi.”
As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, a woman’s voice with an upward inflection called out. Yun Shuzhuan’s slightly closed eyes instantly snapped open. She turned her head and saw a familiar face.
It was Ling Xue.
As Ling Xue approached, the scent in Yun Shuzhuan’s nostrils grew stronger.
She had smelled this scent many times before, the most vivid memory being the time Zhao Xue plunged a dagger into her heart.
Yun Shuzhuan’s hands, which had been around Mu Qi’s neck, moved to his shoulders. After a few struggles, she slid down from his embrace.
“Ling Xue, your fox spirit scent is a bit overpowering.” Yun Shuzhuan stood in front of Mu Qi, her crescent eyes glinting with a hint of hostility.
Seeing Yun Shuzhuan’s undisguised hostility, Ling Xue couldn’t help but frown. However, her brow soon relaxed, and she turned her gaze to Mu Qi.
“Mu Qi, has she misunderstood something?”
The title “Mr. Mu” was perhaps used by Ling Xue on certain occasions.
However, the title “Mrs. Mu” was likely something Ling Xue would never use to address Yun Shuzhuan in her lifetime.
Mu Qi’s hands moved from Yun Shuzhuan’s shoulders to help her adjust her coat. “Miss Ling, is there something you need?”
“Of course,” Ling Xue replied instinctively. Before she could even come up with a good reason, her attention was drawn to Yun Shuzhuan.
Yun Shuzhuan, seemingly indifferent to Mu Qi’s gesture of adjusting her coat, turned and placed Mu Qi’s hands into the pockets on either side of his coat.
Mu Qi was puzzled but did not resist.
Ling Xue, however, understood Yun Shuzhuan’s intention.
Yun Shuzhuan didn’t even want her to see Mu Qi’s hands.
But what was the point of holding on so tightly?
The tighter you grip the sand, the faster it slips away.
“It seems Miss Ling has nothing important,” Mu Qi said, withdrawing one hand from his pocket, taking Yun Shuzhuan’s hand, and then placing both their hands into his pocket.
“Hey, no, that’s not it,” Ling Xue said, stomping her feet twice as she watched their retreating backs.
Only when Mu Qi’s figure was far away did Ling Xue withdraw her gaze and turn to walk back.
“Sister, are you happy to see him?”
In the car, Yu Sheng glanced at Ling Xue, who was in the passenger seat, then quickly averted his gaze.
If he looked for another second, Yu Sheng feared his intense resentment would be perceived as distasteful by Ling Xue.
After Yu Sheng spoke, Ling Xue paused, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion.
She supposed she was happy.
More than happiness, it was a familiar yearning to be close.
***
“Mu Qi.”
In the car, Yun Shuzhuan raised the partition between them. She then cupped Mu Qi’s face in her hands, called his name, and then hesitated, as if wanting to say something more.
“Mhmm?”
Yun Shuzhuan lowered her head, and Mu Qi likewise lowered his, his gaze fixed on Yun Shuzhuan’s fluffy little head.
Soon, Yun Shuzhuan seemed to make up her mind and abruptly looked up at Mu Qi.
However, lost in thought, Yun Shuzhuan carelessly bumped her forehead against Mu Qi’s chin.
“Niannian,” Mu Qi sighed helplessly, raising a hand to rub Yun Shuzhuan’s forehead.
Yun Shuzhuan, in turn, reached out a small hand to rub Mu Qi’s chin.
“Niannian, what did you want to say?”
After Mu Qi spoke, a moment later, Yun Shuzhuan spoke with difficulty again. “Mu Qi, if I say Ling Xue is a fox spirit, are you angry?”
Mu Qi replied without hesitation, “I’m not angry.”
After Mu Qi spoke, the displeasure on Yun Shuzhuan’s face did not dissipate.
Mu Qi couldn’t bear to see Yun Shuzhuan looking like this. He picked her up and kissed her to distract her.
Yun Shuzhuan, unable to resist, soon had her crescent eyes clouded with a hazy mist.
After an unknown amount of time, Mu Qi and Yun Shuzhuan’s foreheads touched, both breathing heavily.
“If you don’t like Ling Xue, I’ll have her sent somewhere else.”