CHAPTER 469: 227.

When Nan Wan opened the door, Mu Jin had already heard the sound. But Pea was quietly enjoying her pacifier, showing no sign of letting go, so he couldn’t move.

His handsome brows furrowed slightly, and he glanced up at the woman, "What nonsense are you on about again?"

Nan Wan walked into the study, placed her son on the sofa, casually tossing a ball she held in her hand.

She looked at the adorable little one sticking close to the man, feeling a bit jealous.

Why couldn’t he be attached to her like that?

She kicked off her slippers, lazily nestled into the sofa, intentionally dragging her tone, "You’ve been spending time alone with An Ge ever since you got home, ignoring our Jiu Jiu who you left downstairs. Children may be young, but they’re sensitive."

How could Mu Jin Huan not see that the little woman was stirring up trouble again?

His expression remained unchanged, calm and composed.

After Pea had her fill, Mu Jin Huan stood up, moved away from the desk, placed Pea in the cradle, and at the same time, tossed the eager onlooker, Jiu Jiu, in there as well.

Then he walked over to the sofa, wrapped his arm around the woman’s shoulder, his voice calm and steady, "Why do I feel like the further I am from him, the happier he gets?"

The aloof little Mu Yan was very cooperative, not even sparing a glance at his father.

With his son showing no interest, Nan Wan of course couldn’t continue acting, lazily nestled in the man’s embrace.

Looking at the cradle where the siblings’ reactions were completely different, she sighed, "But why does Jiu Jiu look more and more like you? Not smiling is one thing, but now he has a poker face."

There’s a hint of disdain in her gentle tone.

Upon hearing this, a mysterious flame ignited in Mu Jin Huan’s calm dark eyes, his distinctly outlined fingers lifted the woman’s chin to capture all her attention.

A low and slow laugh seeped from his throat, his deep voice carrying a touch of husky seduction, "Why, shouldn’t he resemble me?"

The man’s handsome face drew closer, and his deep eyes conveyed less-than-pleasant messages, causing Nan Wan to instinctively swallow, leaning back nervously, "I-I didn’t mean that."

Heaven and earth are witnesses; she truly never wished her son wouldn’t resemble him.

The woman kept retreating, and Mu Jin Huan didn’t pull her back. Just when she thought he wouldn’t continue approaching, he reached out with his long arm to spin the cradle around, then seamlessly pushed her into the sofa.

Without Pea staring with her grape-like eyes, he could afford to be indulgent.

The faint scent of milk still hung around the little woman’s body, lingered at the tip of his nose, stirring primal urges within him.

Though his hands behaved, his voice grew even huskier, "So what does Mrs. Mu mean, huh?"

The upward lilt in his voice invited a touch of intimacy.

Pressed so close that she was completely sunk into the sofa beneath their combined weight.

Being so close, she could almost feel the synchronized beat of the man’s heart—any shift, like a touch or a brush—could potentially trigger something beyond her control.

Thus, she decided not to move.

She gazed at the crystal light on the ceiling, softly explained, "It’s just, it’s just that popular recent movie. Although the stoic-faced male lead is okay, the gentle second male lead’s becoming incredibly popular, and at this rate, Jiu Jiu might...face a bit of danger..."

Toward the end, her voice grew faint to near inaudibility.

Mu Jin Huan patiently listened to her explanation, his well-defined features unperturbed, spoke slowly, "So Mrs. Mu favors gentle men lately."

Very good.

The weight pressing down on her disappeared, and Nan Wan exhaled in relief. Fresh air barely filled her lungs before the man lifted her by the waist.

The sensation of weightlessness made her instinctively wrap her arms around the man’s neck, her heart pounding, "W-what are you going to do?"

Mu Jin Huan looked down, peering deeply into her eyes, his thin lips parting lightly, "Playing coy?"

When she entered, she hadn’t shut the door, making things convenient for Mu Jin Huan.

He stepped forward with composure, carrying the woman in his arms out of the study, toward the bedroom’s large bed.

The man’s intentions were all too obvious, and a wave of heat rushed to Nan Wan’s ears, spreading rapidly along her elegant swan-like neck.

She attempted to struggle a little, "We haven’t had dinner yet."

Mu Jin Huan didn’t slow his pace, nudged the bedroom door open, tossed the unsettled woman onto the bed, and calmly said, "Feed you first, then dinner."

The man’s actions weren’t gentle, perhaps even a bit rough, causing Nan Wan’s body to bounce slightly with the bed’s movements.

Her mind buzzed incessantly.

Once she regained her composure, preparing to climb down the bed, Mu Jin Huan had already returned from instructing the servants to look after the siblings in the study and ensuring they wouldn’t venture upstairs for the next three hours.

...

Outside the gauzy curtains, the sky had donned a deep dark hue, a crescent moon peeking through the clouds, its bright light adding a touch of warmth to the night.

Mu Jin Huan carried the soft little woman to the bathroom for a full bath, dried her long hair until partially dry, then held her back to the bed.

"Do you want to go downstairs for dinner, or should I bring it up?"

A weary Nan Wan found even breathing taxing.

The man’s gaze burned into her.

Nan Wan’s heartbeat surged out of control, "W-why are you looking at me like that?"

The man still didn’t speak.

Her pretty brows furrowed slightly, "If you won’t pour the water, can you at least say something?"

She was genuinely thirsty...

Seeing the woman’s seemingly annoyed expression, Mu Jin Huan leisurely raised an eyebrow and slowly countered, "Weren’t you asking me to be quiet?"

Half a minute later, Nan Wan picked up a pillow and threw it at him.

She turned around, presenting her back to him, pulled up the thin blanket to cover her head.

The man she chose, even if it were to suffocate her with anger, she had to bear it, right...

------

After a long day, Nan Wan returned home without bothering to drink a sip of water. The aroma of food tickled her nose, and her hungry stomach was difficult to control.

So, Mrs. Mu decided to put aside previous grievances, gently let the man dig her out of the covers and transport her to sit on the sofa.

Mu Jin Huan handed her a glass, his voice deep and soothing, "The temperature is just right, you can drink it directly."

Concerned that she might not have much appetite after drinking, he poured only half a glass.

Even though it’s summer, with the air conditioner running, the room was a bit chilly.

But the woman was afraid of heat and didn’t like him lowering the speed.

Dressed in just a nightdress, Mu Jin Huan found a silk long sleeve cardigan in the wardrobe for her to wear.

Only then did he sit down on the sofa, picking up chopsticks to serve her food.

The moonlight outside was beautiful, so he pulled the curtains open, revealing a whole wall of French windows that now resembled a static projector, displaying the hazy, water-like night of early summer.

Nan Wan drank the plain water from the cup, glanced at the man opposite, casually asking, "What did you and Third Brother keep from me?"

Mu Jin Huan’s gaze remained unmoved, his deep eyes had shed the warmth only found in close intimacy, returning to their habitual calmness. Even when wearing comfortable, casual loungewear instead of a well-tailored suit shirt, he exuded a natural nobility and elegance.

A trait innate.

He calmly replied, "What did we hide?"

Oh, someone was dodging again.

After finishing the water, Nan Wan placed the cup aside, seeming unfazed, picking up her chopsticks to start eating.

"Yesterday afternoon I didn’t see wrong; Bai Ruoshu indeed returned to Qing City. This morning she even visited Zhi Mei at the hospital, but unlucky for her, Zhi Mei was on leave, leaving Bai Ruoshu to settle for visiting me."

Upon hearing this, Mu Jin Huan’s hand stalled mid-motion, lifting his gaze to the lazy woman swiping grains of rice.

His sharply etched features remained composed, only the deep voice carried subtle currents unnoticed by others, "What did she tell you?"

Just one day of not keeping an eye, and something crops up.

The man’s chopsticks froze in the air, so Nan Wan helped him by adding some bamboo slices to his bowl.

Then she looked up and met his gaze, her voice soft, "Nothing much, just mentioned Nan Huaiyu got into a car accident, and is lying in the hospital in critical condition, caused deliberately but the police found no useful evidence."

Upon closer inspection, there was an undertone of indistinct emotion in her voice.

"Such a feat, wonder which master accomplished it, oh..."

Like discussing a story in a book, completely detached from her, merely curious, casually brought up.