Chenchen let go of Huo Xuewen’s hand and ran out. “Aunt Xia Mian and Uncle are arguing!!”
Huo Xuewen looked at him in surprise. “Xiao Bai?”
Ning Shaobai’s expression turned indifferent. “Mr. Huo.”
A trace of helplessness flashed across Huo Xuewen’s face.
Seeing this, Aunt Wei quickly called out, “Since Xiao Bai is here, everyone has gathered. Now, let’s start eating before the dishes get cold!”
Everyone took their seats one after another. Huo Xuewen sat down beside Ning Shaoyun and placed Chenchen between them.
Chenchen looked around, his eyes curved in happiness. However, the atmosphere at the breakfast table was clearly less lively than yesterday’s dinner. Because of Huo Xuewen’s presence, Chenchen also reverted to a proper, upright little gentleman, and Xiao Feng followed his example. Xia Wenyue and her three daughters were equally very cautious.
The only ones seemingly unaffected were Ning Shaobai and Ning Shaoyun, but they always ate quietly anyway. The silence was abruptly broken by the sound of a car horn and knocking at the wooden gate.
Aunt Wei got up to open the gate, muttering, “Who could it be so early in the morning?”
In a moment, she returned with a blank expression, followed by Zhou Qianqian, whom they had seen the day before. “Assistant Zhou is here to see Mr. Huo,” Aunt Wei announced expressionlessly.
Zhou Qianqian had changed into a chic business suit today, with her hair neatly up, exuding the aura of a career woman. She walked in as if no one else existed, her eyes fixed directly on Huo Xuewen. “Mr. Huo, there’s an emergency meeting at Mr. Qi’s that you need to attend.”
Xia Mian clearly felt that the slight improvement in Ning Shaoyun’s mood this morning had vanished, and she had become distant again.
Ning Shaoyun immediately pulled Chenchen, who was clinging to Huo Xuewen, over to her. “Chenchen, come to Mom. Your dad has to go to work.”
Huo Xuewen didn’t seem to notice anything wrong, or perhaps he was used to it. He frowned as he prepared to get up. “What meeting?”
Zhou Qianqian replied, “It’s about the Chengbei project. Apparently, something went wrong, and there’s also another issue with a batch of materials.”
Seeing that Huo Xuewen was about to leave, Chenchen pouted unhappily. “Dad promised he’d spend time with me today.”
Only then did Huo Xuewen look at Ning Shaoyun, his tone cautious. “Xiao Yun, the Chengbei project is complicated. I have to go to the office. I’ll send Xiao Li to pick you up later.” He then told Chenchen, “Dad will play with you this afternoon…”
Ning Shaoyun cut him off. She didn’t even pay him a glance and said to her son, “Dad has to work. How about Mom plays with you? Didn’t you say you wanted to have a water fight with Xiao Feng? You can play all day.”
Chenchen still looked listless, but he obediently stayed quiet. With a hint of worry, Xiao Feng glanced at him.
Ning Shaoyun patted Chenchen’s head and said to Huo Xuewen, “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“Go ahead and work. You don’t need to worry about me and Chenchen. Just focus on your job,” Ning Shaoyun said again. “We’re fine staying here.”
Huo Xuewen looked helpless. “Xiao Yun, my mother already explained the matter about the painting to me. She did it for my sake. Could you please…”
Ning Shaoyun, who had been calm until now, suddenly raised her voice. “Don’t talk to me about that again!”
“That was my painting! Do you know how much effort I put into that? I worked on it for two years! What right did she have to just give it away?”
Huo Xuewen was stunned by Ning Shaoyun’s sudden outburst. He opened his mouth, but no words came out, as if he didn’t know what to say.
“This is all my fault, Madam. Please don’t blame Mr. Huo,” Zhou Qianqian suddenly interjected, her face full of nervousness and guilt. “I noticed Mr. Huo was worried about the project, so I looked into Director Luo’s preferences. I found out he liked traditional Chinese paintings, and when I mentioned it to the Old Madam…”
“The Old Madam said you paint every day and didn’t think you’d be so attached to that one.” She smiled gratefully at Ning Shaoyun. “In the end, it was thanks to your painting. Director Luo genuinely liked it, and the project’s approval went through smoothly.”
Damn, no wonder the usually good-tempered Ning Shaoyun was forced to leave home. This is just too much! Xia Mian widened her eyes as she looked at Huo Xuewen. This dog man still had the audacity to look confused, as if he couldn’t understand why it was a big deal! “Xiao Yun, I’ll get someone to help you find another one…”
“Mr. Huo,” Zhou Qianqian interrupted him once more, with an urging tone, “Pardon me, but the meeting at nine is about to start. We’re running late.”
Huo Xuewen looked at Ning Shaoyun’s cold face, sighed, and said, “Let’s talk again when I get back.” Then he turned to Zhou Qianqian, “Let’s go.”
As he stepped out of the door, Xia Mian plainly saw Zhou Qianqian turn her head back, a smug smile on her face, full of arrogance. The bi*ch dares to flaunt herself right in front of this Xia Mian!
Heh, seems like someone’s itching for a beating!
“Assistant Zhou—” Xia Mian put down her chopsticks and called out with an icy tone, “Please wait.”
Huo Xuewen, who was about to step out, paused and turned back politely. “Xia Mian, what’s the matter?”
“Mr. Huo, I’m not talking to you,” Xia Mian said, staring directly at Zhou Qianqian. “I’m talking to her!”
Zhou Qianqian put on an innocent face. “What’s wrong?”
“Why were you gloating at Sister Ning just now?”
Huo Xuewen looked at Zhou Qianqian, puzzled.
Zhou Qianqian furrowed her brows in confusion as if she had been wronged, “Excuse me, but I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“Stop pretending.” Xia Mian gestured with two fingers in front of her eyes, “I saw it with my own eyes. You were provoking Sister Ning with a smug smile.”
Zhou Qianqian turned to Huo Xuewen. “Mr. Huo, I didn’t do anything like that.”
Xia Mian retorted, “There are so many people here. Why are you only explaining to Mr. Huo? Do you think as long as he believes you, you’ve won?”
“Mr. Huo,” Xia Mian sneered at Huo Xuewen, “I heard you had time to help this Assistant Zhou move, but no time to pick up your wife and child?”
Huo Xuewen was stunned for a moment, frowning, “I didn’t… I’ve been busy with the project yesterday.” He looked at Zhou Qianqian again. “Did you move?”
Oh my, Xia Mian used to think calling someone a ‘straight-laced man’ was just a metaphor. Now she thought it was an insult—here existed a man so straight-laced he shouldn’t have a wife!!!
Zhou Qianqian didn’t look flustered in the slightest, even when her lie was exposed. After all, her purpose was just to make things harder for Ning Shaoyun, and she even turned the tables. “I did just move across the street,” Zhou Qianqian said. “As you know, Mr. Huo, I bought a house in Jinghua Garden to make my commute more convenient, but it’s currently under renovation. When Auntie found out, she suggested I stay in the family’s courtyard across the street temporarily.”
“Yesterday, they happened to see me going home when they arrived. Seeing that I was living in the courtyard opposite, I guess Madam might have overthought it, especially since Mr. Huo didn’t personally come to pick her and the young master.” She smiled at Ning Shaoyun. “No wonder you weren’t happy to see me yesterday, Madam. I was quite baffled by your sudden sarcastic remarks, too. I guess it was a misunderstanding about Mr. Huo?”
“Mr. Huo has indeed been very busy. The Chengbei project suddenly encountered big problems, and I’ve been working overtime with Mr. Huo almost every night.”
Huo Xuewen sighed helplessly, “Xiao Yun, I’m sorry, I…”
“No way, Mr. Huo,” Xia Mian interjected. “Sister Ning hasn’t said a word from start to finish, and you already believe her?”
“What’s so special about this Assistant Zhou? Do you believe whatever she says? Aren’t you going to listen to what your wife has to say?”
Huo Xuewen’s bewildered expression made it clear to everyone that he was lost in this situation. 1
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- Green Tea Woman is a Chinese slang that means someone whose outward behavior is a facade, masking their true, often selfish intentions. This slang is often used in a derogatory way to criticize someone perceived as two-faced, who pretends to be kind or virtuous while secretly engaging in manipulative or self-serving actions.
Thanks for the chapter!!!!
I already give up. This man is an idiot
Drag him Xiao Mian !
And thank you for the chapter 😊
I await to see the dragging for BOTH!