On the sofa facing the large screen, Yun Shuneian, who had been enjoying potato chips, had long stopped, her entire attention captured by the screen in front of her.
"Brother Mu, I was immature when I was little. I hope you can be magnanimous and forgive me." Miss Yao's eyes were as endearing as a fawn's.
Mu Qi remained impassive, showing no hint of emotion.
"Miss Yao, we are not that close. It's better for you to call me President Mu."
Assistant Li, who had just entered to deliver documents, couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
Not that close?
Their President Mu was probably not close to anyone except his Madam Mu.
Miss Yao's heart turned cold, the starlight in her eyes suddenly extinguished, replaced by a dull despair.
Miss Yao's voice was very soft, a whisper as if to herself, "President Mu, we've known each other since childhood."
Only she knew the heavy hope intertwined within those words.
Miss Yao lowered her head. Receiving no response from Mu Qi, she reached out and gripped her bag.
Just then, Mu Qi's gaze suddenly shifted to Assistant Li.
"How long do you plan to eavesdrop from there?"
Miss Yao's hand trembled, and her bag fell back onto her lap.
Assistant Li was startled, and the documents in his hands scattered all over the floor.
Assistant Li hastily bent down to pick them up.
"President Mu, these are from the planning department."
Clutching the documents, Assistant Li hurried to Mu Qi.
Mu Qi pointed to the desk, and Assistant Li immediately understood. He placed the documents neatly on Mu Qi's desk, then turned and left, closing the office door.
"Miss Yao, what is it that you need? You can speak plainly." Mu Qi leaned back, frowning slightly.
"I... I want to ask you for a favor." Miss Yao seemed to find it difficult to speak.
"Miss Yao, what gave you the illusion that I'm a philanthropist?" His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of impatience.
"Then let's make a deal."
Mu Qi: "What bargaining chip do you have to trade with me?"
Mu Qi was impatient and wanted to directly dismiss her. After all, their conversation had already made it clear that he had no relationship with this woman.
"My body. If you help me, I'll be yours."
Just before Mu Qi could start to usher her out, Miss Yao blurted out anxiously.
At this moment, in Qi Yuan, Yun Shuneian suddenly stood up, dropping her potato chips on the floor.
"Madam, please don't be angry. Young Master will refuse her," Aunt Ning said, her voice filled with concern as she saw Yun Shuneian's state.
However, no matter what, Yun Shuneian couldn't calm her heart.
Yun Shuneian paced back and forth in the living room.
Mu Qi pursed his lips, his gaze towards Miss Yao shifting from impatience to disgust.
"As long as... you help me." She glanced again at the red mark on Mu Qi's neck.
She hadn't expected Mu Qi to be married and had assumed the woman beside him was merely a kept woman. If possible, she wouldn't mind becoming one of Mu Qi's many women.
Everyone said Mu Qi was extremely cold, ascetic, and didn't seem to like women.
Seeing the red mark on Mu Qi's neck, she couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. However, it unintentionally provided her with another bargaining chip.
Moreover, becoming Mu Qi's woman, even just a kept woman, did not make her, Yao Zhen, feel wronged.
Yao Zhen looked at Mu Qi's face, her thoughts stirring.
Handsome and rich...
Mu Qi frowned, "Miss Yao, I am married."
"Married?" Yao Zhen, lost in Mu Qi's good looks, slowly came back to her senses.
"It doesn't matter if you're married. I can be your woman on the side."
"Miss Yao, have some self-respect."
"I don't think I can help you. Please leave. I won't see you out." Mu Qi directly started to usher her away.
"Mu... President." Yao Zhen looked at Mu Qi, her expression desperate.
"Do you need me to find someone to escort you out?" Mu Qi's expression was stern, showing no mercy.
Yao Zhen finally seemed to feel a sense of shame, her face flushed. She picked up her bag and left.
Just then, Mu Qi's phone suddenly rang.
It was a piano piece, unlike Mu Qi's usual monotonous ringtone.
Upon hearing the sound, Mu Qi answered without hesitation.
"Baby."
Mu Qi's voice was low and magnetic, completely different from the coldness he had shown towards Yao Zhen, like a hunter luring its prey.
Hearing this, Yao Zhen felt a pang of sourness and bitterness in her heart.
Yao Zhen held back tears and walked quickly towards the door with her bag.
However, halfway there, Mu Qi called out to her.
"Wait a moment."
Yao Zhen thought she had misheard and turned back to look at Mu Qi in disbelief.
"Tell me, what is the favor you need from me?" Mu Qi returned to the sofa, placed his phone on the table, and pointed to the seat farthest from him on the opposite sofa.
Yao Zhen immediately understood and sat down in that seat.
"It's like this, Brother Mu... oh no, President Mu, the illegitimate son of the Zuo Corporation somehow managed to take indecent photos of me.
He's threatening me with them, trying to use me to secure the cooperation between Zuo Corporation and the Yao family."
As Yao Zhen spoke, tears welled up, her voice filled with indignation and shame.
What she didn't notice was that the moment she mentioned Zuo Nan's name, Mu Qi's phoenix eyes flickered almost imperceptibly.
"Why didn't you call the police?"
Suddenly, Yun Shuneian's voice came from Mu Qi's phone on the table.
Yao Zhen was startled and immediately stood up from the sofa, taking a step back.
"The one speaking is my wife. Rather than me, my wife is more curious about the difficulties you've encountered."
Mu Qi's gaze remained on the phone as he explained unhurriedly.
He wasn't worried that Yao Zhen, due to her shame, would choose to leave.
Yao Zhen felt extremely embarrassed, but thinking of Zuo Nan's threat, she had no choice but to sit back down.
"I have no evidence. Even if I report it to the police, it won't be of any use."
Indeed, Yun Shuneian fell into thought.
"Mu Qi, can you have someone take me to Mu Corporation?" Yun Shuneian's voice, laced with affectation, came through. Mu Qi immediately picked up his phone.
"Because of Zuo Nan?" Mu Qi's voice was deep, and anyone could tell how displeased he was.