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

At this moment, Qiao Mian was truly furious to the extreme.

However, a profound sense of powerlessness drained her completely.

All that's left is numbness.

His frail body swayed slightly before he leaned heavily against the door.

The sharp edges of the bank card dug deeply into the skin of my palm.

She bit her lip tightly, her voice low and trembling slightly: "Mr. Huo, does your wife know you're making deals with other women outside?"

Huo Yanbei frowned slightly.

Only a few people knew about his sham marriage with Song Man.

Before handing over Bai Rong Company to her, the matter of the sham marriage must not be exposed, lest Bai Rong be dragged into the public spotlight.

Therefore, the fewer people who know about the sham marriage, the better.

Although he wanted Qiao Mian to stay by his side, it didn't mean he trusted her.

There are too many uncertainties surrounding her.

She tricked him last time because of the video.

Furthermore, it remains to be verified whether the "Hanging Sword" who so easily sent the two young masters of the Shen and Li families to prison is her.

Qiao Mian has the appearance of an innocent, harmless little rabbit, but she also carries a certain risk...

So he concealed the fact that he was not married and replied calmly, "My family affairs are none of your business, nor are they something you should be concerned with."

Qiao Mian looked at him and smiled sadly.

I laughed so hard that tears streamed down my face.

That's exactly what Huo Yanbei did back then.

When she was with him, she lived in constant fear, lest others discover their forbidden illicit relationship.

Even though she was repeatedly beaten, scolded, and humiliated by Song Man behind her back, she could only endure it silently, without having the face or the right to speak up for herself.

Because she was a mistress who couldn't be seen in public.

And now, he has placed her in this shady position.

For the first time, she felt that meeting Huo Yanbei was a tragic fate.

"Mr. Huo..."

Qiao Mian's breathing trembled slightly. She took a deep breath and said, "Since it's a transaction, it's all about mutual consent."

As she said this, she took a step closer to him, her eyes filled with resolve: "I'll die..."

Just as the words "I'd rather die than say them" were about to escape her lips, the man suddenly lowered his head and captured her lips with his.

It felt like punishment; the bite was very forceful.

When the stinging sensation struck, Qiao Mian froze for a moment, then groaned in pain.

Before she could react, Huo Yanbei had already released her.

The man's fingertips ground heavily against the cut on her lip. "From now on, you're not allowed to mention the word 'death' in front of me, understand?"

His tone carried an unyielding command.

It was as if she had become a prisoner under his jurisdiction, with no choice but to obediently follow his orders.

Her thin, soft lips hurt from being rubbed by his rough, dry fingertips.

She winced in pain and tried to push his wrist away, but couldn't.

Helplessly, I closed my eyes, and a single tear fell—the most silent form of resistance.

The man stared at her defiant face, which seemed ready to die, and tightened his grip: "You don't want to do this?"

"Yes, I don't want to!"

Qiao Mian stared at him, her eyes red as if they were burning with flames.

Huo Yanbei released him, a disdainful smirk playing on his lips. "Whatever."

He no longer restrained her, and Qiao Mian didn't stay for even a quarter of an hour before leaving.

After wandering around the courtyard for a long time, I finally found the main gate and went out.

However, just like before, I still couldn't hail a ride-hailing car.

I stood by the roadside for a long time, and finally gave up.

Just as she was about to call Ruan Wei, a Rolls-Royce drove up from behind.

Just like last time, the man sat in the back seat, looking at her indifferently, his thin lips uttering two cold words: "Get in the car."

It was already ten o'clock.

It will take at least an hour to get Ruan Wei here.

Walking home... I'm afraid I wouldn't get home even by dawn...

Only now did she understand why he had let her leave so readily, both last time and this time.

He was simply taking advantage of her, knowing that she couldn't leave Lan Garden without him.

Qiao Mian gritted her teeth.

Not allowing her to persist, he walked to the car, opened the door, and got in.

I was still sitting by the window.

Neither of them spoke, and for a moment, the limited space in the carriage was eerily quiet.

It was as if they could only hear each other's heartbeats and the faint sound of each other's breathing.

Not long after the car drove off, Huo Yanbei suddenly rolled down the window.

A cold wind howled in, sending a chill down her spine.

I subconsciously pulled the collar of my down jacket tighter.

He had no choice but to turn his head and follow his gaze out the car window.

It was dark outside, and before we could even see what he was looking at so intently, we heard him order Chen Ke, "Stop the car."

After the car came to a smooth stop on the side of the road, Huo Yanbei opened the car door and got out. He was tall and had long legs.

Immediately afterwards, the car door on her side was opened.

A man's voice, colder than the night itself, came from above: "Get out of the car."

Qiao Mian frowned and glanced at him.

He stood tall and imposing in front of me, one arm resting against the car door, like a mountain, exuding a strong sense of oppression.

Qiao Mian couldn't resist his imposing aura and had no choice but to get out of the car.

As his feet touched the ground, Huo Yanbei took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. "Walk with me for a while."

"..."

Taking a walk in the middle of the night?

She was slightly startled, her cheeks stinging from the gusts of mountain wind.

She shivered from the cold and had to pull the men's coat over her shoulders tighter.

In contrast, Huo Yanbei gave her his coat and was only wearing a black turtleneck sweater.

Black trousers.

It was as if they couldn't feel the cold at all.

He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, flicked one out, lowered his head, gathered the blue flame from the lighter, lit it, and took a deep drag.

The swirling smoke obscured the man's deep, sculpted features, but was quickly dispersed by the night wind.

Qiao Mian wanted to ask him what he wanted to do, but the man reached out and grabbed her wrist, then walked forward.

She tried to struggle, but when she saw a ginkgo tree not far ahead, her body stiffened slightly and she stopped in her tracks.

"What's wrong?"

He turned around and looked at her with a probing gaze.

Qiao Mian pursed her lips. "I'm cold. If Mr. Huo wants to go for a walk, you can go by yourself..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the man suddenly bent down, picked her up in his arms, and strode towards the ginkgo tree.

The sudden feeling of weightlessness startled Qiao Mian, who instinctively clung to his neck with her small hands.

She tried to struggle and jump, but the man anticipated her movements, tightening his arms around her and holding her tightly.

"Are you still cold?"

The man lowered his eyes and glanced at her.

Qiao Mian shook her head sullenly.

Five or six minutes later, Huo Yanbei put her down.

He took her little hand and walked to the ginkgo tree without saying a word.

They just stood there quietly.

Qiao Mian looked at the ginkgo tree, feeling as if her old wounds were being reopened.

This place holds their most profound memories.

That day, under this tree, she wept in pain...

Afterwards, he held her tightly, saying, "Awu, don't be afraid, we'll be together forever..."

lifetime……

Ah!

Facing the past, Qiao Mian felt a dull ache in her heart. "Mr. Huo, what are we doing here?"