His wife's pregnancy bump disappeared, and Mr. Huo was going crazy missing her.

Past memories gradually faded from my mind.

Qiao Mian remained silent ever since she sat down in the restaurant.

He Mei didn't press the matter further.

As he picked up his plate to get his food, he clicked his tongue at Meng Bai and asked, "Who's that woman next to President Huo just now?"

Meng Bai placed a piece of cake on her plate. "It seems to be President Huo's wife, a famous pianist, very well-known."

He Mei clicked her tongue. "Then why did she glare at Xiao Qiao? Xiao Qiao didn't do anything to provoke her!"

"Don't you understand? What wife wants her husband to have beautiful women around her? Don't forget, Attorney Qiao was harassed by Director Han precisely because she was too beautiful."

"It's a crime that Xiao Qiao is prettier than her? Humph! A piano artist? Pah!"

After grumbling and complaining for a while, He Mei went back to sit down and placed a plate of delicious food in front of Qiao Mian: "Qiao, are you alright?"

"fine……"

Looking at the sweet and sticky cake on the plate, Qiao Mian picked it up with her hand and stuffed it into her mouth.

He Mei was startled.

At this moment, Meng Bai returned.

There were a few strawberry mini cakes piled on the plate. As soon as they were put down, Qiao Mian grabbed one and stuffed it into her mouth.

Meng Bai was also taken aback and joked, "Attorney Qiao, you love cake so much?"

"So what?"

He Mei rolled her eyes at him: "It's rare that Xiao Qiao has such a good appetite, go and get some more."

At this moment, Huo Yanbei stood outside the glass window of the buffet restaurant and frowned slightly when he saw Qiao Mian eating cake.

She clearly loves eating cake.

But his WeChat name is "Salted Fish Who Doesn't Like Cake"?

"Yan Bei?"

Song Man, who was walking ahead, saw Huo Yanbei suddenly stop and look at something. Just as she was about to turn back, Huo Yanbei withdrew his gaze and walked towards her.

The two entered a garden-style Western restaurant.

After sitting down, Song Man finally let out the questions she had been holding back all the way.

"Yanbei, why did you let Qiao Mian into Huo's? I heard from Achen that she went undercover in his bar to secretly film videos as evidence, all for the case of that mute girl."

"Fortunately, the mute girl case was suppressed. Otherwise, if Ah Chen's involvement in contraband were exposed, not only would our Song family be caught in the media storm, but it would also affect the Huo family's reputation and stock market."

"That woman almost ruined both our families."

"Ah Chen was detained in the detention center for several days because of her."

"Thinking about it now, it's still terrifying. That Weibo account, 'Suspended Sword,' which went viral, sent those two young masters from the Shen and Li families straight to jail. I suspect 'Suspended Sword' is Qiao Mian. Do you think she might target Song Chen one day?"

Song Man was full of resentment and spoke a lot of words with a sense of righteous indignation.

Upon hearing this, Huo Yanbei's eyes gradually turned cold.

"Instead of looking for reasons in others, we should manage Ah Chen properly. If it happens again, no one can save him."

"I……"

Song Man choked for a moment, speechless.

She knew her brother always acted recklessly, and this time, involving contraband, he almost got into big trouble.

but--

Even if it's to avenge her younger brother, she can't accept Qiao Mian staying with the Huo family.

Besides, Qiao Mian's face is truly beautiful.

She wouldn't allow a woman with such a beautiful appearance to linger under Huo Yanbei's nose.

The key point is that the woman's eyes look so much like Huo Wu's...

Seeing Huo Yanbei's face darken.

Song Man grasped his hand, her tone softening: "I'm sorry, Yan Bei, this time, it was my brother who caused you trouble."

"He was spoiled since childhood. He went abroad when he was a teenager and lacked discipline. After my parents passed away, I still couldn't control him."

"From now on, I will definitely discipline him more strictly. Please don't be angry anymore, okay?"

Her sincere apology finally eased Huo Yanbei's slightly somber expression.

He withdrew his hand, poured himself a glass of red wine, took a sip, and said, "The fact that we were able to suppress the mute girl case and obtain the original video is a result of our cooperation with Ronghua Law Firm. Qiao Mian came to Huo's purely for work."

This explanation is reasonable.

but--

Song Man pursed her lips: "With so many lawyers at Ronghua Law Firm, why did they specifically assign Qiao Mian to Huo's?"

Huo Yanbei: "She might have other evidence against Achen. Only by keeping her in Huo's company will she be safe."

"I see……"

Although this reason is also valid.

Song Man still felt that Huo Yanbei kept Qiao Mian under his nose probably because Qiao Mian resembled Huo Wu.

Over the years, she was well aware that Huo Yanbei had been searching for girls who resembled Huo Wu.

She didn't care because none of those girls could be Huo Wu.

Because Huo Wu is deaf and mute.

No matter how hard he searched, he couldn't find a woman who looked exactly like Huo Wu.

However, Qiao Mian is different.

Her eyes look so much like Huo Wu's.

If Qiao Mian stays at the company, what if Huo Yanbei develops feelings for her one day?

She absolutely had to find a way to get Qiao Mian out of the company!

……

Six p.m.

Qiao Mian and He Mei left the company together.

A light rain was falling outside, mixed with a few snowflakes.

The damp, cold air seeped through the coat, making me shiver.

He Mei took out her car keys from her bag. "Xiao Qiao, it's raining. How about I take you home?"

Although He Mei's family is not a wealthy family, they are still considered middle-class.

I own my own car.

Qiao Mian smiled and said, "Thank you. The roads are congested during rush hour, so the subway is faster. Besides, it's not on my way. By the time you take me home and then go back, it will be nine or ten o'clock."

"Okay, I'll be going now."

"Okay, bye-bye."

After He Mei left, Qiao Mian rubbed her hands together, put them in her pockets, and jogged towards the subway entrance.

She hadn't gone far when a conspicuous white Maserati screeched to a halt beside her.

The tires kicked up mud and water, which splashed over.

Qiao Mian was wearing a beige coat, with stains that were as noticeable as ink splattered on white paper.

She frowned and looked over, about to argue with the other person.

But then she saw Gu Huainian stick his head out of the driver's seat, smiling and waving at her: "Attorney Qiao, sorry, I braked a little too suddenly."

Unexpectedly running into Gu Huainian, Qiao Mian was slightly surprised but ignored him.

He reached out and brushed the mud off his clothes.

Finding that it couldn't be rubbed off, he simply gave up and walked straight ahead.

The Maserati slowly drove alongside her.

Gu Huai's youthful and flirtatious voice came through, "Attorney Qiao, I got your clothes dirty. How about I buy you a new one? Take my car to the mall up ahead, pick whatever you like, I'll pay."

Qiao Mian didn't look at him and continued walking forward, saying, "No need."

"Don't be so cold, Miss Qiao. I'm sincerely apologizing to you. Are you still holding a grudge against me for making you sign the settlement agreement that day?"

Qiao Mian quickened her pace, pretending not to hear.

Undeterred, Gu Huainian honked the horn, "Miss Qiao, the other day, I sent you that bouquet of flowers as an apology..."

"Attorney Gu."

Qiao Mian closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again.

She stopped, turned around, and looked at him. "Regarding what happened last time, we each had our own perspectives. I don't hold a grudge, so you don't need to apologize to me. I'm in a hurry to catch the subway, so please don't follow me anymore."