SSS-level catastrophe? That's my wife!

As he was thinking, he also stretched out his right hand.

The moment they shook hands, Tieqiao's eyes widened suddenly: "Holy crap! Holy crap!"

A layer of ice instantly enveloped his right hand, then vanished with a "whoosh," so fast it was like an illusion!

Releasing his grip, Lin Mu pushed the two bottles of baijiu (Chinese liquor) into the middle of the stone table: "I brought wine, so shouldn't you stew a free-range chicken?"

"Damn it! That woman messed things up, and you messed things up too! My chickens are completely rotten!"

He stood up and strode towards the mud house, his eyes gleaming with an almost frighteningly bright joy.

Lin Mu stared at his retreating figure, muttering in astonishment, "Even you've been influenced by women?"

A hint of confusion flashed in the woman's beautiful eyes in the bedroom.

She only heard the shovel's exclamation and didn't see the details of the handshake. Her mind was full of doubt: What just happened?

What is Fang Tieqiao shouting?

Why did you suddenly change your attitude?

What did I miss? And who is this person?

A moment later, Tiechao came out carrying a large iron pot, a憨厚 (honest and simple) smile on his face, and slammed the pot onto the stone table with a "bang": "Brother!"

"I was wondering why you suddenly wanted to cook a big meal today, but it turns out you were coming! Hahaha!"

"You don't seem too surprised?" Lin Mu smiled as he filled both glasses with wine.

"Of course!" The shovel lowered its voice considerably. "Is that... the human skin mask you were wearing before?"

"You're smarter now." Lin Mu handed over the wine glass.

The man with the shovel took the glass and laughed wildly, "Haha! I'm so happy today, let's drink until we drop!"

Changing the subject, he leaned closer and asked, "Why did you suddenly come to see me? Is there something you can't handle on your own, or are you looking for advice from your brother?"

Lin Mu shook his head helplessly: "Before I talk about myself, let me talk about you first. Was it too presumptuous of me to come here so suddenly?"

"Important? What's the impropriety?" Tieqiao asked, looking puzzled.

"Ahem... I didn't know my sister-in-law was here..."

Before Lin Mu could finish speaking, Tie Qiao's eyes widened instantly, and he interrupted with a startled cry: "Stop, stop, stop! What are you talking about, brother?"

Lin Mu glanced at the bedroom window, which was slightly ajar, and lowered his voice: "Stop pretending. The old folks at the village entrance all told me that you brought her back with you and she's been staying for months."

Iron Shovel's face darkened: "Brother! That woman was an accident! An accident, you know?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the woman in the bedroom frowned slightly, inwardly sneering: What a woman?

Fang Tieqiao, do you want to die?

"You were in an accident for a few months?" Lin Mu asked with a smile.

Tieqiao felt he couldn't explain himself clearly, and there were some things he simply couldn't say in front of that woman.

If they recognize each other, my mud house is sure to collapse!

He paused, then quickly changed the subject: "Brother, let me ask you something first, is your visit here personal or official?"

"It involves both personal matters and official business," Lin Mu said in a somber tone.

Tieqiao hesitated for a moment, then made the decision: "Alright! Then we'll only talk about personal matters at the dinner table, and not a word about business."

"Let's talk about it when we get up on the mountain after we finish eating. I also have something to tell you."

"Okay." A look of understanding flashed in Lin Mu's eyes. It seemed that Tie Qiao was wary of that woman.

Iron Shovel suddenly stopped smiling, and said solemnly, "And another thing, brother, I solemnly declare: I, Iron Shovel, will never be bound by a woman in my life!"

His expression instantly softened, and he raised his glass with a smile, saying, "Let's eat and chat. What's this personal matter?"

"To be honest, I'm quite curious."

His eyes held a probing look: "We're the same kind of people, our emotions are never disturbed by anything, but you're not acting right today, like... forcing a smile?"

"Or perhaps... utterly distraught?"

"But this shouldn't happen to you... Okay, go ahead, I'm listening."

Lin Mu's expression darkened. He looked up at him directly and said seriously, "Because of a woman."

"puff--"

Iron Shovel sprayed a mouthful of liquor straight onto Lin Mu's face!

The women in the bedroom chuckled softly, muttering, "Their conversation is quite interesting."

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!"

The shovel immediately stood up. "I'm not usually like this, you know that, but I just couldn't help it!"

He rushed into the room, grabbed a brand-new towel, and handed it to her, pressing, "Go on, was it a female subordinate who betrayed you? Or did some woman do something you didn't like?"

Lin Mu wiped his face with a dark expression, took a deep breath, and said in a serious tone, "I suspect that I might have fallen for her."

"puff--"

Another mouthful of baijiu was aimed directly at his face!

Lin Mu's face turned completely black, and she looked up at him, saying, "Aren't you done yet?"

A woman's soft laughter could be faintly heard coming from inside the earthen house.

The shock on Tieshan's face was almost palpable; he quickly waved his hands, "Sorry, sorry!"

"I really couldn't resist... wipe it again!"

Lin Mu wiped his face, while Tie Qiao looked at him incredulously: "Brother, how did you fall so low?"

"I thought we were the same kind of people, but it seems I misjudged you."

"You've finally fallen for a woman!"

His eyes lit up, his face full of excitement: "Wow, this is so intriguing!"

"Who is that woman? Do I know her?"

"How did you get involved?"

"It's only been a few months! What have you been through during this time? Tell me in detail!"

Meanwhile, inside the earthen house, the window of the woman's bedroom was quietly opened a little wider.

Lin Mu downed the two ounces of baijiu in one gulp. The moment his Adam's apple bobbed, the spicy taste of the liquor burned down his throat and into his stomach.

He took a deep breath, meeting the gossipy gaze of the man with the shovel burning with anger, his voice slightly hoarse from the alcohol: "I can't quite explain this feeling..."

"I heard rumors about her from other people tonight, and I couldn't control my anger."

"I've never felt this way before."

He paused, but still didn't mention Su Nianhe's identity: "You... don't know her."

"If you hadn't faked your death and hidden here, I wouldn't have confided these things to you."

The man slapped his thigh, immediately understanding: "Got it! I totally get it!"

"If those guys knew that their ruthless boss was actually troubled by a woman, their eyes would pop out of their sockets!"

The next second, a burst of maniacal laughter erupted in the courtyard: "Hahaha—no, no, I can't hold it in anymore!"

"You're actually getting upset over a woman? Brother, forgive me, let me have a laugh first!"

Only when he was laughing so hard he could barely breathe did Tieqiao wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and with a simple and honest look, he urged, "Brother, I promise I won't laugh anymore. You continue, and then what?"

Lin Mu glanced at him with a dark face, suddenly realizing that talking to Tiechao about this was a stupid thing to do, and that it would be better to just talk about serious matters.

Seeing his silence, Tieqiao urged again, "Don't blame me for laughing so loudly, I really didn't expect... you... you actually have anything to do with women!"

He stopped smiling and analyzed seriously: "You yourself have started to have doubts, which means this woman already holds a significant place in your heart."

"If you like it, just take the initiative!"

"But with your personality, as your brother, I really can't imagine you taking the initiative."

"How about we try more physical contact? Like touching hands? Or even bolder, how about holding hands?"