Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Alone Time In The Garden
"Xiao Li, why don’t you take He Yuchen to the garden. The flowers are blooming. You both can talk there." Yun Bai suggested.
His words had barely faded before Yun Li opened her mouth to refuse.
But He Yuchen beat her to it, smiling easily. "Uncle Bai, your suggestion is perfect. I’d be honored to accompany Xiao Li."
Her jaw clenched tightly, she was being forced again. With no choice but to agree, she gave a stiff nod and rose. He followed at a leisurely pace, as though he had all the time in the world.
The spring air was light in the garden, carrying the faint fragrance of blooming peonies. Yun Li trailed her fingers over a flower absentmindedly, though her lips pressed into a thin line.
"I don’t like being forced," she muttered, not bothering to hide her irritation.
He Yuchen chuckled. "Then we’re alike. I wasn’t exactly given a choice either."
She shot him a quick, skeptical glance. "Oh? You seem to be enjoying yourself." She muttered with folded arms.
"Enjoying you bristling at every word?" His tone was teasing, but his eyes lingered on her with an intensity that made her heartbeat stumble. "Very much so."
Yun Li faltered for half a step before recovering. "Shameless." She spat.
"Honest," he corrected smoothly.
As they turned down a path lined with roses, a breeze swept past, tugging strands of her hair across her cheek. Before she could brush them away, his hand moved swiftly, and precise—tucking the stray lock behind her ear.
Yun Li froze, caught off guard. For a moment, the garden seemed to still around them.
He Yuchen’s smile curved, softer this time. "You frown too much. Someone should remind you that you’re prettier when you don’t."
Her face warmed despite herself, and she quickly turned away, pretending to admire the flowers. "Do you flirt with every woman this way?"
"Only with the one I’m about to marry." His reply was quiet, but steady, carrying a weight he didn’t even realize.
Yun Li’s hand tightened around her sleeve. She had no comeback, so she quickened her pace, forcing space between them.
He didn’t follow immediately, simply watching her with that infuriating, unreadable smile.
And for the first time, Yun Li had the unsettling feeling that no matter how fast she walked, He Yuchen would always catch up.
Huo Corporation>
After breakfast, Yue Ning and Huo Feng left the Lu residence and went to the company.
Once they arrived at the company, the employees silently discussed Yue Ning. They all knew about her real identity, and they all felt sorry for her.
She was originally a princess, but she was reduced to being a commoner. It was a good thing she was able to find her family.
However, Yue Ning was not aware of their sympathy towards her. Instead, she was having a discussion with the system.
"My rewards. I have already completed both missions, you should have given me my rewards as soon as possible." Yue Ning demanded as she and Huo Feng walked into the elevator.
’I didn’t want to disturb the warm moment between you and your family. I’m a nice system, okay?’ The system replied cheekily.
"I don’t care about your niceness. I just want to know what my rewards are for completing this mission." Yue Ning rolled her eyes as she shut back mentally.
’Host, I suggest you settle down first. I’ll show you your rewards afterwards,’ the system calmly answered.
Yue Ning frowned. She had a feeling that she was about to be scammed by this system again.
Huo Feng noticed the way her brows were furrowed, and he wondered what happened to her. He wanted to ask what was wrong, but he decided against it. Yue Ning had some certain secrets she didn’t wish to share.
They finally reached Huo Feng’s office, and he said to her. "I have a meeting soon. Would you like to be there?" He asked Yue Ning who had already taken a seat.
She was quiet for a while before nodding positively.
Huo Feng let out a sigh of relief as his eyes softened. "Thank you," he said to her, gratitude obvious in his voice.
"You do not need to thank me. I’m your wife. If I don’t do this, who else would do this?" She said playfully, her lips curling slowly. It was clear that she was in a good mood.
Huo Feng smiled before taking a seat. Seeing that he had sat down, Yue Ning resumed he’d conversation with the system.
’Are you settled now?’ The system asked.
Yue Ning replied mentally. "Of course. Do you think I’m not settled?" She scoffed at the end of her words.
The system cleared its throat, and the white holographic panel appeared. Yue Ning rubbed her hands in anticipation.
Slowly, the rewards bar lit up.
[Mission: Spend quality time with Huo Feng]
[Status: Completed]
[Reward: A sexy, red lingerie]
Yue Ning’s face twitched as she saw the reward. She was expecting points, but the system had something up its sleeves.
Suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, Yue Ning continued reading.
[Sub-mission: Acknowledge your family]
[Status: Completed]
[Reward: Facial cream]
[Benefits: Gives the host an ethereal glow, and charms the second male lead—your husband, Huo Feng]
Yue Ning’s face darkened. "System, are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?" She asked after taking a deep breath.
The system feigned ignorance. ’I don’t understand what you are talking about, Host.’ It emphasized the word, ’Host.’
"Are these just rewards for completing the mission?" Yue Ning’s brows twitched ferociously. "I was expecting points. But what did I get? Lingerie, and... facial cream. What do I do with them?" She demanded.
’Host, I am not in control of the rewards given to you. My developers are responsible for it.’ The system defended itself. ’And trust me, you’ll need them more than you think.’
Yue Ning snorted. She didn’t believe a single word it said.
"I don’t believe you. How would these rewards help me in my biggest mission?" She questioned. "At least, if you didn’t want to give me points, you could have given me some useful skills. But..."
Yue Ning trailed off. She didn’t have any words to use to describe the system’s betrayal. She knew that ever since she was bound to it, she had been constantly scammed.
’Host...’
Yue Ning cut it off without hesitation. "It is better you shut yourself down. I’m not interested in speaking with you." She wasn’t interested in listening to it defend itself.
She picked up a novel, and began reading while ignoring the system.
While Yue Ning mentally argued with the system, Huo Feng who sat across her could see the different changes in her expressions.
He placed his finger on his chin while he twirled his pen in between his fingers. He leaned back on his chair as he admired her serious expression.
The way her brows furrowed, to her pursed lips, her smile, her brows smoothening—Huo Feng took all of them in.
Yue Ning had already sensed that she was under Huo Feng’s serious scrutiny. She pretended that she couldn’t feel it while seriously reading the novel, although she was unable to make it past the first page.
Fortunately, there was a knock on the door, breaking Huo Feng’s attention on her.
Feeling his gaze move away from her, she quietly let out a sigh of relief.
"Come in," Huo Feng’s voice was cold. He blamed the person at the door.
When he saw who had walked in, his expression turned colder. It was his secretary. The secretary who had just walked in shivered while wondering why her boss’s office was cold.
She’d never have the idea that her boss despised her for ruining his moment with his wife.
"Boss, it’s time for the meeting." She informed him, regardless of the cold aura in the office.
Huo Feng closed his eyes, and answered. "We will be there."
The secretary smiled softly, giving a soft nod to Yue Ning before walking out of the office.
"You seem tired." Yue Ning commented as she rose to her feet. "Perhaps, you can consider taking a vacation." She suggested.
Huo Feng chuckled, touched by her sensitivity. "Returning home everyday to see your face is more than enough for me." He said with a faint smile in his eyes.
Yue Ning cleared her throat and gestured for him to leave the office. Although she looked nonchalant, the blush on her cheeks gave her away.
"By the way," she cleared her throat. "I haven’t seen Ah Si today. Is he busy?" She asked when she didn’t see Ah Si.
Huo Feng had a deep look in his eyes as he responded. "He is still carrying out an investigation. We need to find out who sent the assassin to kill grandmother."
Yue Ning felt silent as her heartbeat pulsated. She didn’t know why she was concerned. She kept feeling that something was coming—and she didn’t know if she was ready for it.