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

Throughout the entire encounter, Meng Zhouxue's gaze remained fixed on Huo Yanbei, completely unaware of Qiao Mian's presence. He had only given her a cursory glance earlier, and it was only after Huo Yanbei's introduction that he finally focused his attention on Qiao Mian's smiling face.

Meng Zhouxue's face paled even more. He hurriedly took off his glasses, then put them back on with trembling hands. His eyes were fixed on Qiao Mian. "Chang...Qiao Mian?"

Qiao Mian felt that Meng Zhouxue was looking at her strangely, but she couldn't figure out why. She nodded slightly.

"Qiao Mian, you've arrived."

A clear, melodious voice suddenly rang out. Huo Jinyao, dressed in a dark blue uniform, strode in, his gaze passing directly over Huo Yanbei, who was standing to the outside of Qiao Mian, and landing on Qiao Mian's fair face.

"Professor Huo," Qiao Mian said with a smile.

Huo Jinyao nodded slightly, then looked at Meng Zhouxue, "Principal, this is the student I mentioned to you who graduated from the Nevada Law School. She's a promising student, and I plan to apply for her graduate studies and personally mentor her."

"Okay..." Meng Zhouxue subconsciously looked at Huo Yanbei.

Upon hearing that she could continue her studies at the graduate level, Qiao Mian's eyes lit up with excitement, and she couldn't hide the joy in her voice. "Thank you, Professor Huo. I am honored to be your student."

"Welcome." Huo Jinyao smiled and extended a hand to her.

Just as Qiao Mian was about to reach out, Huo Yanbei suddenly reached out a hand and blocked her.

Huo Yanbei glanced at his excited wife, his eyes instantly turning cold. He put his arm around her shoulder and gently squeezed Huo Jinyao's hand with his other hand. "Thank you for taking care of my wife, Professor Huo."

Qiao Mian's lips twitched.

Why does this guy flaunt his wife everywhere he goes?

Huo Yanbei noticed her gaze and naturally raised his hand to pat her head.

Huo Jinyao's hand, which had been clenched into a fist at his side, was now bulging with veins, but his face still wore a gentle smile. "Mr. Huo, you're too kind."

On the way back, Huo Yanbei had a cold, icy expression, as if someone owed him a fortune. He leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and gave off a cold and aloof look that made Qiao Mian, who was sitting next to him, feel a chill.

She didn't understand why Huo Yanbei had become such a cold and aloof person after graduating from the University of Political Science and Law. However, she was still observant and knew that he was a tiger she couldn't provoke at the moment. Perhaps it was because Huo Jinyao had promised her that she could go to the graduate law school today, and he was in a good mood. She didn't want to ruin this rare atmosphere, and she was also a little sleepy, so she tilted her head and gently leaned on his shoulder.

But in the instant she reached him, she clearly noticed that Huo Yanbei's muscles stiffened like iron blocks, as if he were in a state of high concentration. He subconsciously rejected the sudden interference from the outside world, suddenly opened his eyes, and gripped her neck tightly with great force, even with a slight tremor.

"Yanbei..." Qiao Mian called softly. Huo Yanbei's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Qiao Mian, whose hand was pressed against the glass window, for a full three seconds before letting go. He frowned and said in a low voice, "From now on, don't come near me easily when I'm sleeping."

Qiao Mian touched her still-burning neck, and seeing the dense beads of sweat that had appeared on his forehead, the small fire that had just been stirred in her heart instantly died down. She raised her hand and touched his cool forehead, "Were you dreaming?"

Huo Yanbei felt her soft, cool little hands caressing his forehead and cheeks. He grabbed her little hands and held them in his palms, then pulled her slightly, and Qiao Mian sat in his lap, leaning against him.

Huo Yanbei lifted her chin, staring intently at her. "You were dreaming."

"What did you dream about?" Qiao Mian was already used to Huo Yanbei's gentle and domineering way of getting along, so she simply obediently complied, but she still couldn't help but pout her little lips.

Looking at her slightly upturned lips, her cute yet stubborn little face, Huo Yanbei felt the layers of gloom in his heart gradually dissipate. He said in a serious tone, "Mian'er, I dreamed of a man and a woman."

"And then?" Qiao Mian asked curiously, unaware that she had fallen into a trap someone had dug.

When the partition closed silently, creating a separate, enclosed space in the back, it was too late for her to realize what he was trying to do.

Huo Yanbei's breathing was heavy. "Didn't you ask me what a man and a woman were doing?"

Qiao Mian pushed away the man's arm from her waist, her face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and anger as she glared at him: "Dreaming about sex in broad daylight... are you sick...?"

I don't even know who the female lead is...

Is it Yan'er?

The thought of that name sent a chill down her spine, and even her feigned agreement with him felt like a perfunctory act.

Finally, Huo Yanbei held her icy body, covered her back with his shirt, let her lie in his arms, smoothed Qiao Mian's hair as she pretended to be asleep, and whispered in her ear, "Silly girl, you are the leading lady."

Qiao Mian opened her eyes, not even glancing at him, and huffed in a huff, "I don't care who the heroine in your dreams is!"

"I do care," he said after a few seconds of silence.

Qiao Mian looked up, staring at his dark eyes with a puzzled expression. Outside the car window, light and shadow flickered. Inside the tinted car, there was only a small orange lamp. The soft light shone down from above his head, blurring his handsome features. She could only see his eyes sparkling like stars.

"Huo Yanbei, I can't resist your temptations. I'm very persistent. Aren't you afraid I'll fall in love with you?"

He pulled her into a tight embrace and said in a low voice, "It's only natural to fall in love with your husband."

Qiao Mian closed her eyes, gently wrapping her arms around Huo Yanbei's neck, her cheek pressed against his, against his chest, feeling a strange pang of sadness in her heart. She sniffed and said, "Huo Yanbei, you're a bad person."

Huo Yanbei looked out the window and said quietly, "Yes, I am a bad person, so don't make me angry. Don't look at other men too often in the future."

Qiao Mian is a sensitive and observant person. She could tell that Huo Yanbei seemed to be hostile towards Huo Jinyao, and that Huo Jinyao was seemingly humble and polite to Huo Yanbei, but she always felt that there was a tense atmosphere between them.

Huo Yanbei's words, though seemingly domineering, were actually a warning, immediately reminded Qiao Mian of Huo Jinyao.

She feigned mystery, intentionally trying to get information out of him, "You mean Professor Huo?"

When Huo Yanbei heard her mention Huo Jinyao, his brows immediately furrowed. Although he didn't say anything, his face, as black as the bottom of a pot, showed that he tacitly agreed.

"Professor Huo is a really nice person," she muttered under her breath.

Sure enough, the man's face darkened further, and he said in a gloomy voice, "He's not a good person."

"You two know each other?"

Qiao Mian raised her eyebrows slightly; this was exactly what she had been waiting for.