Slow to mature after marriage

In the afternoon, Xu Ruolin arrived.

Mu Siwan sat on the sofa, while Grace, who was beside her, had long since been moved to the study by Bo Yan. On the coffee table were sliced ​​fruit prepared by Aunt Chen, and the tea was hot.

As soon as Xu Ruolin entered the room, her eyes reddened.

"Siwan." She walked over quickly, sat down on the sofa, and took Mu Siwan's hand in hers. "How did you get hurt like this? Your mother is heartbroken."

Mu Siwan looked at her.

Well-maintained hands, with neatly manicured nails, and a jade ring gleaming warmly under the light.

"Nothing serious."

"What do you mean it's not serious? It's in a cast." Xu Ruolin looked down at her foot, her eyes reddening again. "Does it hurt? How are you eating? Have you been taking good care of it?"

A series of questions, just like any mother who cares about her daughter.

Bo Yan came out of the study with a glass of water in his hand. When he saw this scene, he paused.

Xu Ruolin looked up at him and greeted him with a smile.

"Xiao Yan is here too, perfect timing! I was just thinking of seeing you later."

Bo Yan nodded without saying much, placed the water glass next to Mu Siwan, and went into the study.

The door closed.

The living room was quiet for a few seconds.

Xu Ruolin held Mu Siwan's hand and sighed.

"Siwan, Mom came this time for two reasons: first, to see you, and second..." She paused, "...there's something I want to discuss with you."

Xu Ruolin rolled up her sleeves, revealing a section of her arm.

The purplish-blue marks spread upwards from the wrist, a shocking sight.

"Your dad's been under a lot of pressure lately." She lowered her sleeves, her eyes reddening again. "You know about the company. Real estate hasn't been doing well these past few years. Banks are pressing for loan approvals, and several projects are just sitting there unfinished. He's out socializing every day, and when he comes home drunk..."

She didn't continue.

Mu Siwan stared at the arm covered by the sleeve, remaining silent for a long time.

"Did he hit you too?"

Xu Ruolin shook her head, then nodded, and finally sighed.

"It's not his fault, he's under too much pressure. The other day, those people came to collect debts and almost smashed up the company door. Half of your dad's hair has turned white."

She looked up at Xiang Musiwan, her eyes filled with tears.

"Siwan, Mom knows you've had a hard time and doesn't want to trouble you. But right now, I'm really... at my wit's end."

She gripped Mu Siwan's hand tightly.

"The Bo family's AI technology is world-leading. Your father wants to talk to Bo Yan about cooperation, even if it's just to get a piece of the pie, it's better than waiting to die like this."

Mu Siwan slowly withdrew her hand.

"Mom, between Bo Yan and me—"

"Mom knows it's an arranged marriage, there's not much affection between you two," Xu Ruolin interrupted her. "But you are, after all, Mrs. Bo, so your words carry more weight than those of outsiders. Just tell him to let him meet your father. Whether it works out or not is another matter, but at least give us a way out."

Mu Siwan was about to refuse—

"Okay."

A lazy voice came from behind.

Bo Yan emerged from the study at some point, walked to the sofa, and sat down next to Mu Siwan. He had a slight smile on his lips, but his eyes were devoid of warmth.

Xu Ruolin's eyes lit up.

"Mr. Bo, you've agreed?"

"I wouldn't say I've agreed." He leaned back on the sofa, his long legs crossed, his posture casual. "Have your father-in-law come to my company tomorrow to talk. I'll give him a chance and see if he can persuade me."

Xu Ruolin nodded repeatedly.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell him when I get back—"

"However, I have one condition."

Xu Ruolin's smile paused for a moment.

Bo Yan looked up at her, speaking slowly.

"Next time something like this happens, talk to me directly. Don't bother my wife, and—"

Bo Yan's gaze fell on her arm, which she had just lowered her sleeve.

"My wife won't help with your injury. She's a forensic pathologist, not a doctor."

He smiled.

"If you are a victim of domestic violence and choose not to call the police, but instead choose to bother my wife, what if one day your father-in-law accidentally..." he said casually, "she should be able to find out the cause of death."

The living room fell silent.

The color drained from Xu Ruolin's face.

Bo Yan withdrew his gaze, picked up the cup of cold tea on the coffee table, and took a sip.

"Aunt Chen, see the guest out."

-

After Xu Ruolin left, the living room became quiet.

Mu Siwan sat on the sofa, thought for a few seconds, and then said, "Actually, I could have handled it myself."

Bo Yan turned his head and stared at her quiet profile.

But a sentence suddenly popped into my mind—what Xu Ruolin had just said.

"Mom knows that your marriage is an arranged one, and there's not much affection between you."

She did not refute it.

He didn't refute a single word from beginning to end.

Bo Yan lowered his eyes, concealing the emotions hidden within them.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "You think I'm meddling?"

Mu Siwan shook her head.

"No. I appreciate your protection." She paused, "but I'm afraid that if Mu Cheng benefits from this, he'll bother you even more."

The reasons are sufficient and the logic is clear.

They acted as if it were business and they were looking out for his best interests.

But Bo Yan understood.

The core reason is simple—I don't want to bother him.

He should be thanking his God for marrying such an understanding wife.

But I still felt uneasy.

After a long pause, he twitched the corner of his mouth.

"Don't worry." He leaned back on the sofa, his tone indifferent. "If he wants to get something out of me, he'll have to see if he has the ability."

-

Mu Cheng arrived early the next morning.

Bo Yan met him in the reception room. Tea was served, and after a few pleasantries, the topic quickly turned to the project.

After talking for more than an hour and going through the contract terms, Mu Cheng's hand was shaking when he picked up the pen to sign.

After signing, he stood up and extended his hand to Bo Yan.

"Son-in-law, it's a pleasure to cooperate with you." He smiled broadly. "With the Bo and Mu families joining forces, we can complement each other's strengths and surely get a share of the big pie in artificial intelligence."

Bo Yan reached out and shook his hand.

"It's a pleasure working with you."

Mu Cheng exchanged a few more polite words, then left with a beaming smile. The door closed, and the sound of his footsteps faded into the distance.

Bo Yan stood still, looking down at the hand he had just shaken.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Bo Yan suddenly realized that apart from knowing that his wife became a forensic doctor the year she graduated from university and married him, he knew nothing about her past.

When she married into the Bo family, they investigated her past experiences, and it turned out that her life before attending university was completely blank.

The knocking interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in."

Wang Jin pushed open the door and came in, carrying a stack of documents.

"Mr. Bo, about that project earlier..." He paused, "Are you really going to entrust the entire artificial intelligence project to the Mu Group?"

"Um."

Wang Jin hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Our team calculated in advance that Mu's current cash flow simply cannot support this. They have less than 20 million in liquid funds on hand, while the initial investment for the artificial intelligence project is at least 300 million. Even if we advance the funds first, they will not be able to withstand the subsequent operating costs."

He took two steps forward and spread out the data in his hand.

"You see, their existing team has absolutely no relevant experience, and their technical reserves are practically zero. Taking over this project rashly would not only be too much for them, but they might also be harmed by the contract terms. If the project falls apart, we'll be the ones who suffer the losses."

"President Bo, I don't doubt your decision. It's just... the Mu Group is really too small a pie."

The office fell silent.

Bo Yan looked out the window at the sky for a long time before speaking.

"I know, just do as I say."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"My dear father-in-law, since he wants to eat this cake, let him eat until he's stuffed, until he dies."

A look of realization flashed across Wang Jin's eyes: "...Yes."