Mr. Zhang felt a prickle of unease under Yun Shudian's gaze, only breathing a sigh of relief when Mu Qi forcefully turned Yun Shudian's attention to himself.
"What are you looking at him for? Want him to give himself to you?"
Mu Qi stared into Yun Shudian's eyes, his gaze inscrutable, yet his tone utterly calm.
That wasn't entirely out of the question.
Mr. Zhang, who had just begun to relax, found his breath catching in his throat at Mu Qi's words.
He really hadn't expected to end up as the unwitting fool yet again.
Hearing Mu Qi's remark, Yun Shudian's crescent eyes lit up and she started to turn towards Mr. Zhang again, only to be forcefully steered back by Mu Qi.
"Niannian, there's no such thing as a free lunch." Mu Qi moved even closer to Yun Shudian after turning her head back this time.
Mu Qi's enlarged handsome face was before her, and Mu Qi's warm hand was at her back.
Mu Qi's warm breath lightly fanned Yun Shudian's nose, making every hair on her body seem to quiver.
"Oh." After a long pause, Yun Shudian finally responded.
"You want this property?"
Mu Qi continued, his words laced with a subtle allure, as if coaxing Yun Shudian to reveal the answer he desired.
"Mhm." Yun Shudian nodded. The close proximity had shattered her rationality.
"So if I buy it, what reward will Niannian give me?"
Mu Qi's forehead touched Yun Shudian's, sending a jolt through her soul. Yun Shudian instinctively pushed Mu Qi away.
Yun Shudian's gaze inadvertently fell upon Mr. Zhang, who was vigorously rubbing his shiny bald head. A wave of shame washed over her.
This was too much. There were other people present! Mu Qi was being far too forward!
Mu Qi's hand suddenly lost the warmth of Yun Shudian, and feeling the distance between them, his heart instantly grew cold.
Could he not ask for a reward?
The book said it was acceptable.
Ever since their wedding night, Mu Qi had been reading many books on interpersonal relationships, and this was one of his rare attempts to apply their advice.
The book said this could strengthen their bond, but Niannian was now even further away from him!
Mu Qi's phoenix eyes narrowed, and an icy chill began to rapidly freeze the space around him.
Who wrote that book?
Zhou Yuan, he'd remember that name!
Both Mr. Zhang and Shan Gong felt Mu Qi's displeasure.
Shan Gong's poker face seemed even more stern, while beads of sweat reappeared on Mr. Zhang's warm head.
Who on earth had advised Mu Qi? He was actually asking for rewards now.
Yun Shudian wondered silently in her heart, her expression unreadable.
"Boo hoo~ Mu Qi, you've changed. You never used to be like this. Now all you do is bully me."
Yun Shudian said this while wiping away nonexistent tears, looking far from pitiable.
The sweat on Mr. Zhang's head seemed to freeze in shock, ceasing its flow for a moment.
This Madam Mu's acting was truly something else!
"I... I didn't." Mu Qi stammered, offering a dry explanation.
"Didn't what? You don't even say we're separate anymore, and you claim you're not bullying me!" Yun Shudian turned her head away.
Yun Shudian continued to wipe her nonexistent tears.
Shan Gong watched Yun Shudian's busy hands and suspected that she wasn't crying with her eyes, but with her hands.
The icy aura around Mu Qi shattered. He stood up, wrapped his arms around Yun Shudian's shoulders, and his demeanor shifted from coldness to anxiety and helplessness.
"My card is with you. You can buy it, buy as much as you want."
Hearing Mu Qi say this, Yun Shudian's expression instantly changed. She cupped both of Mu Qi's cheeks in her hands and planted a wet kiss on him.
"Darling, you're so good."
At this moment, Shan Gong and Mr. Zhang watched Yun Shudian's rapidly changing face, feeling a sense of overwhelming absurdity.
Her acting was too exaggerated, too perfunctory!
Yet, the sharpest man in the capital, Mu Qi, was completely deceived by his wife.
"Ahem, Mu Qi, we have guests. Let go." Yun Shudian patted Mu Qi's hand. Mu Qi took a deep inhale of Yun Shudian's unique scent before finally releasing her.
"Yes, Niannian thinks I'm too clingy."
Mu Qi sat back in his seat and looked at his hands. His face showed little emotion, but the disappointment in his eyes was undeniable.
"Then Mr. Zhang, if there are no other issues, shall we sign the contract?"
Yun Shudian's eyes curved upwards as she addressed Mr. Zhang, who was still stunned by the exchange.
"Ah? Ah, yes, Madam Mu." Mr. Zhang hadn't expected to actually sell the property, and the current atmosphere seemed manageable, didn't it?
With that thought, Mr. Zhang glanced surreptitiously at Mu Qi, but instinctively averted his gaze before he could discern anything.
"Then Madam Mu, please wait a moment. I will have our company's legal department liaise with your company's legal department to negotiate the contract, and then someone will deliver it."
Mr. Zhang had never imagined selling the property, so he hadn't prepared a contract in advance.
"Alright, Mu Qi and I will return to your company with you. Once the contract is ready, we can sign it directly." Yun Shudian smiled and stood up, ready to leave with the stout Mr. Zhang.
"Oh my, Madam Mu, how can this be..."
"Mr. Zhang, let's go." Mr. Zhang repeatedly declined, but Yun Shudian interrupted him.
"Alright, alright, Madam, please." Mr. Zhang made a gesture of invitation and then signaled his subordinates to follow.
Yun Shudian eagerly stood up and headed for the door, but stopped before reaching it. She quickly turned back to grab Mu Qi's hand.
"Mu darling, let's go." Yun Shudian lowered her voice, speaking into Mu Qi's ear with a gentle, coaxing tone.
Yun Shudian cherished Mu Qi above all else. She could clearly see his current low spirits and distracted state.
The moment she turned around and saw Mu Qi's lowered eyelashes, her heart softened, making her feel like a heinous sinner.
But thankfully, whether sad or happy, Mu Qi's mood would always shift with a word or a gesture from Yun Shudian.
Now, as Mu Qi looked at the hand Yun Shudian was holding, his phoenix eyes began to gather shimmering specks of light.