C15 Playing Dumb 

Mu Tingxiao's father?

The same man who was known as Huyang City's eligible bachelors when he was a few years younger? The very same man who had been born into a wealthy and prestigious family yet still managed to find a way to grow his already massive empire? That Mu Qingfeng? A shiver shot down her spine. Why the heck was he calling her at this hour?

Moo Nuannuan stared at her screen for a long time as she struggled to comprehend what was happening. Did he need anything from her? Was this about Mu Tingxiao? Did he know about Mu Jiachen? So many thoughts soared into her mind that it had taken her a few seconds to muster a throaty, "Hello...Sir." She cringed.

Although he was her father-in-law, she didn't think it was right to address him as 'Dad' just yet given that they weren't formally introduced.

"If you have some spare time on your hands today, you should come to my manor to have some dinner," Mu Qingfeng said easily. His voice was calm and deep, like a priest giving his daily motivations. While it carried the same firm weight that Mu Tingxiao had, there was a sense of peace carved around his words. She twisted her wrists.

Although she may not have been well-averse with any social events given that her parents had disregarded her, Moo Nuannuan understood the words between the lines. Her father-in-law wasn't merely suggesting. In his point-of-view, there was absolutely no room for her denials. She could only bow her head in response.

"I have the time."

"That's great," he responded happily. "I'll have my driver come to pick you up. See you tonight."

After that, the call ended.

From beginning to end, Mu Qingfeng's voice was calm and strong. Somehow, she could tell where Mu Jiachen's cold aura was inherited from, and she could assume that Mu Tingxiao held the same firmness. After all, she had heard plenty of things about the men in the Mu family. Although classically handsome, their cool gazes and biting words were enough to feed into her very souls.

However, this wasn't the time to unravel the family tree. With a panicked sigh, Moo Nuannuan shoved her phone into her pockets and walked out of her apartment, taking a cab to Mu Tingxiao's villa. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn't help but stare at the cityscape growing farther and farther from the trunk of the car.

Since the driver was the one picking her up, he'd most likely head to his villa first. After all, as Mu Tingxiao's wife, where else would she be?

"Thank you," she murmured quickly as she pushed the few bills she had into the cab driver's hands. Straightening her frizzy hair, she raced up the steps of the villa, leaning over one of the columns as if she had been waiting her entire life. Moo Nuannuan scanned the vicinity before sighing in relief. It was a good thing that she had gotten here earlier, else she wouldn't know how to explain herself.

The villa was built halfway up the mountains, so there weren't any people around. The white villa was the only thing any bystander could see through the dark green foliage. Its black fences stood eerily around them, looking far more like a haunted house than an elegant mansion from afar. It was enough to keep the people away, that was for sure.

She hadn't really paid any attention to the villa when she was brought over here the last time, but seeing it in all its glory at the middle of the night felt a little creepy.

A chill shot down her spine, burrowing under the soles of her feet.

The harsh wind blew against her cheeks, and she had to keep her teeth from chattering in response. Moo Nuannuan tugged her sleeves tighter against her frail body as the wintery night bloomed above her. The thickening mist wasn't helping her case either, as the air became ten times colder than it had been a few seconds ago.

She gritted her teeth, choosing to wait at the entrance. Besides, the driver should be near.

Soon enough, a long black car stopped by the entrance.

Turning her head curiously, she noticed a gentle middle-aged man stepping out of the driver's seat. He was in a typical black suit with a small cap on top of his head.

As soon as the light flashed across Moo Nuannuan's face, a tinge of surprise shot up into his eyes, but he quickly hid it. This was the first time he had met Mu Tingxiao's wife, and as soon as he had seen her floating down the staircase, he couldn't help but feel a little astonished. Although he wasn't expecting a beauty, he still wasn't expecting this! Despite this, he kept a straight face.

Standing in front of her, he respectfully tilted his head. "Madame, I'm Leng Xu," he introduced himself. "Mr. Mu sent me over here to pick you up for dinner."

Just the man she was waiting for.

"Ah...thank you." She smiled. There was something crooked about her smile, and she looked a little bit distracted as if she couldn't comprehend what was happening. Was she dull as well?

Stunned, he quickly turned away and opened the car door.

"Please get in, Madame."

Without another word, they drove away.

As the car sped down the gardens, the curtains on the second floor of the villa were pulled open. Standing inside that room were Mu Tingxiao and Shi Ye. They were too busy observing the view, and their eyebrows furrowed over in deep thought. Even up close, no one could know what they were thinking. The smoke in the clearing faded as the rattling of the engine disappeared.

It was already too far to stop them. "Boss," Shi Ye said hesitantly. "Are you really going to let your wife see Mr. Mu?"

"Obviously." His eyes had turned dark. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he slowly turned. "She's a stupid and ugly woman. He wouldn't see anything off about her."

"But Madame's acting stupid!"

"And that's exactly her talent."

The corners of his lips inched up into a smirk as he strode away.

Moo Nuannuan didn't know where she was heading, but from the looks of it, they weren't going anywhere cheap. As they sped away across the next block, she saw a restaurant not far away. Surrounding the place were luxury cars from an expensive Bentley to a yellow Lamborghini. It was obvious that everyone who had eaten there were part of the upper class. Her fingers twitched to her seemingly old clothes. Perhaps this wasn't the best way she should introduce herself to the old man.

Leng Xu opened the door for her and led her into one of the private rooms. "Mr. Mu is waiting for you inside, Madame," he said.

"All right." She smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Leng."

The middle-aged man could only watch her go in. As soon as he closed the door behind her, he slowly shook his head and returned to his place by the side of the door.

At the table was Mu Qingfeng. He didn't seem to have noticed her at first with how engrossed he was with the menu he was holding. Flipping over the pages, he hummed thoughtfully. Even if the man had sported a few wrinkles in his face, he still aged quite gracefully.

Hearing the subtle noise, he placed his menu back onto the table and looked up.

Moo Nuannuan initially thought that the man would scoff and turn away–as any person would do at the sight of her. But to her surprise, he pleasantly greeted her, "You're Nuannuan? It's nice to finally meet you."