C28 Her Ability to Seduce Men 

Mu Tingxiao tilted his head in her direction, and the expression on his face remained unresponsive to her glare. "I'm here to pick you up. What do you think?" He cocked up his eyebrow, explaining it to her as if he was talking to a three-year-old. "Do you think I just happened to be here and suddenly decide to visit the Moo Estate to play your driver?"

Despite his cold words, Moo Nuannuan remained unfazed. She scrutinized his expression, looking as if she was interrogating a thief rather than one of the most eligible bachelors in Huyang City. "Don't mess around," she snapped.

"Look, you can think whatever you want if you don't believe me." He shrugged.

Truthfully, Mu Tingxiao had no intention of picking her up. That was actually just a by-product of what he came here to do.

He just wanted to meet the other members of the Moo family. Although he had married their daughter, he had never personally met them. And the scandal about their family had gotten quite popular. It may not affect him at this time, but it affected his wife. It was just far too troublesome.

Moo Nuannuan had already proven herself as a woman with her own strengths and capabilities. And she had also proven to him that she could hold herself on her own. But if the other members were to get even more troublesome, he wouldn't mind taking care of them himself.

Just as she was about to say something in response, Xiao Chuhee and Moo Liyan came down the stairs. They were later followed by Moo Wanqi.

Although she had no idea what they were talking about, she could tell it wasn't anything good. They gazed at her as if she had just terrorized their most prized possession. Digging her fingernails into her palm, she simply steadied herself for what's to come.

"Wanqi, why don't you entertain Young Master Mu for a while?" As soon as Moo Liyan finished speaking, he beckoned for her to follow him. "Nuannuan, I have something to say to you. Come with me for a second. We'll be back right in time for dinner."

"All right, Dad." She followed him.

Moo Wanqi was about to take Nuannuan's place by Mu Tingxiao's side, but just as she was about to do so, he moved away. He stared at her like she was nothing more than a speck of dirt in his windshield. "Stay away from me." He scrunched his nose in emphasis.

She froze, flashing back to the time she had first seen this man outside their gate. It was the first time she had taken the initiative to invite a man into their villa, yet instead of appreciating her forwardness, he simply drove away.

He was being far too unreasonable!

What the hell did that man see in Moo Nuannuan? What the heck was so good about her? Why was such a handsome and powerful man so willing to come all this way from the mountains just to fetch her? So many thoughts ran through her mind, but even she couldn't answer them.

On the other side of the villa, Moo Nuannuan followed her father into the study. Her head was bowed this entire time. As they went deeper and deeper into the corridors, the atmosphere radiating around them became darker and colder. She resisted the urge to shiver as he closed the door behind her.

The kindness and understanding slipped from his features almost immediately. "What's your relationship with Mu Jiachen?"

"Nothing. I have nothing to do with him." She feigned innocence.

"The last time you've gone to the Estate, your mother and Wanqi saw what you did in the car!" Moo Liyan yelled through gritted teeth, slamming the palm of his hand onto the desk. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were flashing with unrestrained anger. "Don't you dare lie to me! Tell me, what the hell is your relationship with that man?"

At the loud sound, Moo Nuannuan shrank back in fear.

"You married Mu Tingxiao–remember that!" Moo Liyan's jaw clenched, wagging his finger in reminder. "There's no need for you to hook up with his cousin! Not only would this damage our reputation, but this would also destroy you!"

Ha! As if her father was so concerned for her. The only reason he had brought the topic up was that it could implicate their entire family. It seemed that everything with them was like a business transaction. She sneered in her heart.

As she looked up, she shook her head innocently. "We–I would never do such a thing!"

Moo Liyan stared at his daughter for a long time, sighing in disdain.

It was no secret that he and Xiao Chuhee were a beautiful couple. With his outstanding and defined looks and Xiao Chuhee's soft features, he thought that Nuannuan would've been a beauty meant to be reckoned with. How could they have such an ugly daughter like her?

If not for the DNA test, he would've suspected that the young girl wasn't his biological daughter.

There was no way she had the gall to hook up with these types of men, and even if she did, there was no way Mu Jiachen would even agree to it. The man would've slapped her senseless even if she had the courage to offer herself.

However, he naturally held those thoughts close to his heart. After all, the girl was still useful to him!

"That's good." He heaved a sigh of relief. "When you have the time, why don't you bring your sister to the Mu estate? Introduce her to him–help her make friends. Mu Tingxiao's cousin isn't that bad, so I'm sure they'll make a good match."

A good match? Frowning, she shot him a confused look. "Doesn't she already have a batch? Shen Chuhan?"

"What do you know?" Snorting, Moo Liyan turned away. "We're done here."

"Yes, Dad."

Moo Nuannuan lowered her head and paid attention to her shoes instead. This was usually how it went in this household. If her father or mother ever scolded her, she'd put her tail in between her legs and say nothing. In this house, she was defenseless. A ghost could speak louder than her.

At the dinner table, it was like everything had gone back to normal. Moo Liyan kept asking Mu Tingxiao about his position in the company, wanting to dig information on his strong background. After all, his parents were part of the Mu family. He was surely prestigious.

"I haven't seen you in Huyang City before," he commented. "Have you just returned from overseas?"

"Yes," he slowly said. "I just came back and found a position in the Mu Corporation."

"Ah." Moo Liyan's eyes lit up. "What about your parents? Are they still working overseas?"

Not bothering to talk with him anymore, he passed his bowl to Moo Nuannuan. "Sister-in-law, help me get some soup." The last thing he wanted was to talk to a bunch of social climbers. The reason why he was so intrigued with the woman beside him was that he was different from all of them–always blunt and honest. She never hid anything from him.

Moo Nuannuan stared at the bowl in front of her.

His fingers were long and slender, and they looked great posed around the edges of the porcelain bowl.

It was only then when it struck her. This wasn't just some rich man she had seen from across the street–he was Mu Jiachen. He was dressed like a young master, decked in designer from head to toe. He was practically the epitome of grace and viciousness combined.

Taking the bowl, she glanced up to see that his ink-like eyes glinted with impatience.

She didn't say a word. Instead, she got up and poured a bowl of soup for him before placing it right beside his plate. "Here."

"Thank you." The corners of his lips inched up into a subtle smile.

"You're welcome."

The man was good at acting, she had to give him that.

Moo Liyan was left ignored, and his expression soured almost immediately. Although he wasn't as rich as the Mu's, he certainly wasn't poor. Not only that, but he was actually quite well-known around the upper class himself. To be disregarded so casually was enough to make him grit his teeth, but he didn't say a word.

He observed the way the two interact. It was obvious that Mu Jiachen seemed a little familiar with Moo Nuannuan, so it was only right that she was the one who could introduce Moo Wanqi to him. He drummed his fingers on the table in anticipation.

As for Shen Chuhan, the man was nothing but a spare tire!

Thinking about it, he opened his mouth to speak.

However, before he can, Mu Tingxiao placed his utensils on top of his empty plate. "I'm full," he said lowly. "We should go."

Not bothering to give any of them a time to reply, he stood up and nodded at them in acknowledgment. "Thank you for your hospitality."

Although he was giving thanks, it sounded more like he was giving orders.

The atmosphere around them had reverted to its icy self, and everyone found themselves freezing in response. If they could jump up and run for the heels, they would've already done it given his intimidating gaze. Even Moo Liyan found himself at a loss for words.

For them, Mu Jiachen was the most arrogant man they had ever come across.

However, even Moo Nuannuan had to admit, that his personality and appearance were quite charming.

'What the hell am I thinking?' She blinked, snapping out of her reverie. Her fingers trailed across her swollen cheek where Moo Wanqi had slapped her. The woman must've slapped her dumb to find this overgrown playboy charming.

"If that's all, I'll be taking my leave." Moo Nuannuan bowed begrudgingly. Although she had wanted to leave hours ago, she still had to put up an act.

Moo Liyan gritted his teeth.

"Just go!" He shot her a glare.

Moo Nuannuan didn't seem bothered by her father's snap as she grabbed her bag and hung it over her shoulders. Hopefully, this would be the last time she was ever invited to this hellhole. However, after what had happened today, she greatly doubted it.

Moo Liyan and the others came out to see them off. They all had wide smiles on their faces, and it was obvious that they were fake as hell. They surely wouldn't be winning any Oscars with those expressions, she thought, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes.

Even if Mu Jiachen didn't give the old man any face by ignoring him, Moo Liyan still bit back his pride. Instead, he still greeted him with a smile, waving his hand up in the air. It was as if the entire incident hadn't happened at all.

"Young Master Mu, please come again next time," they called out.

Mu Tingxiao simply gazed at them quietly. The smile on his face had faded, and the amiability in his actions was long gone. The respect he had for this family, if any, was already flushed down the drain. He glanced at Moo Nuannuan, who was still standing in front of the car. "Are you still not going in?"

"I...Right." Snapping out of her reverie, she pulled the door at the backseat only to see that it was locked.

"I...it's locked."

"Obviously." He snorted in impatience. "Do you think I'm your driver or something? Get in the front."

Of course, she didn't. In reality, Moo Nuannuan didn't want to sit next to him, afraid of what else he'd try to her. However, not wanting to piss him off any further, she didn't have any other choice.

Opening the passenger door, she got in, and they drove off.

The entire car ride was silent.

Moo Nuannuan couldn't help but feel that Mu Jiachen had come to the estate with no reason at all. Given that she had ended things on bad terms with Mu Tingxiao, it was impossible that he had asked his own cousin to pick her up. But then again...it wasn't as if he'd come here just to have a good laugh with her either. Her fingers played around the fabric of her dress, suddenly feeling uneasy.

"Mu Tingxiao really asked you to pick me up?" She finally asked after a minute of hesitation.

He didn't even look at her as he responded, "What else? Do you think I want to come?"

"Ah..." Well, that's a relief.