S City.
Xin Garden Villa. The translucent antique chandelier cast a warm, yellow light, diffusing a trace of warmth. The woolen carpet, delicate and soft.
At this moment, the atmosphere was unusually heavy, the air seemed to have solidified.
Xu Mo stood outside the carved wooden door, her right hand unconsciously gripping the hem of her dress.
The old man was standing in the middle of the living room, glaring at her angrily, the veins on the back of his hand clutching the cane were clearly visible.
"Smack!"
Something was flying at her. Xu Mo instinctively took a step back. The blue and white porcelain cup grazed her forehead and fell down, smashing beside her feet.
Fragments scattered everywhere.
"Shen Ziyan, what kind of thing did you bring back!" The old man's anger seemed to intensify, almost throwing the cane directly at her.
Being referred to as a "thing," Xu Mo lowered her gaze and rolled her eyes in her heart.
As if she really wanted to come here.
"Grandfather, you're the one who picked her." A trace of sarcasm curled Shen Ziyan's lips, his dark pupils emanating icy coldness.
He stepped into the living room with his long legs, walked several steps, then opened his mouth with a cold voice, "Come in, call him grandfather."
Xu Mo was holding the red booklet in her hand, looking at the back of him in a high-end dark-colored suit, she stepped into the room.
Shen Ziyan, 27 years old, chairman of Haomu Group, has topped the Forbes young rich list for three consecutive years.
Also, he was her newly wedded husband.
Half an hour ago, they got their marriage certificate.
What's amusing was, forty minutes ago, they met for the first time.
This divine-like man, was originally the boyfriend of her half-sister, Xu Lili.
Three days ago, the patriarch of the Shen Family, Shen Mu, proposed to hold a wedding of the century for Shen Ziyuan and Xu Lili.
Two days ago, Xu Lili suddenly disappeared and ran abroad.
One day ago, she, Xu Mo, was forcibly recognised by her ancestral lineage, stepping in for her sister to get married into the Shen Family.
"Where is Xu Lili?" The sound of Shen Mu's cane hitting the floor repeatedly echoed, his eyes were fixed on Xu Mo.
"Grandpa, hello. I am Xu Mo." Xu Mo lifted her eyes, her face held a light smile. "Xu Lili is my sister. She has gone missing."
"Presumptuous! Xu Mingli truly has some nerve, daring to pull a switcheroo!" Shen Mu scowled and turned his head. "Call Xu Mingli, tell him to get over here now!"
"Yes, Master Shen." The butler immediately retreated and hurriedly called.
Shen Mu stared at Shen Ziyuan, as if trying to see something from his grandson's expression.
After a while, he took a few deep breaths and sat down on the sofa.
Xu Mo slightly tilted her head, looking at the handsome and rugged profile of the man beside her, and the inexplicable emotions rolling in his ink-black eyes. Her heart inexplicably ached.
It was as if she was hit hard with a heavy hammer, the pain making it somewhat difficult to breathe.
"Master Shen, Mr. Xu has arrived," the butler announced in his calm, undisturbed tone.
"Send him to the drawing room," Shen Mu replied, rising to his feet with the support of his cane. His gaze, filled with complex emotions, swept over Xu Mo's face before he departed with firm steps.
The atmosphere in the drawing room lightened slightly with the departure of the old man.
Staring blankly at the direction of the door, Xu Mo touched the corner of her mouth faintly.
How did Xu Mingli come so quickly?
Oh, right, he must have anticipated this scene, waiting nearby already.
Could he persuade Old Master Shen?
Could she possibly be forced to divorce tomorrow?
"Are you worried?" Shen Ziyen's icy voice drifted into her ears, catching Xu Mo off guard, as she hadn't realized her inner thoughts had slipped out in a whisper.
"Worried about what?" She turned her head to meet his ink-black pupils, feigning an indifferent expression on her face.
Alright then.
She was indeed quite worried.
If Old Master Shen refused to acknowledge them, their marriage certificate would turn into a dissolution agreement.
Xu Mingli's agreed provision would not be upheld and to add to confusion, she would unexpectedly go from a single woman to a divorced one.
Losing both her dignity and wealth!
I've hit a jackpot!
Chen Ziyuan's eyebrows carried a cold expression, the line of his jaw was slightly harsh, and the phoenix-like eyes held an unclear meaning.
As their eyes met, Xu Mo only felt that the man's gaze was like the eye of a hurricane, gradually drawing her in, surrounding and entwining her.
"Chen Mu will not propose a divorce." Chen Ziyuan leisurely adjusted his cufflinks.
Xu Mo suddenly returned to her senses, only feeling the temperature on her cheeks rise bit by bit.
"I am not shamelessly trying to marry you." Xu Mo silently turned around and fanned her cheeks in an attempt to cool herself down.
What's wrong with me?
After only a few seconds of eye contact with him, why was her heart racing and her face blushing?
"Heh." Chen Ziyuan released a low chuckle, it seemed to roll directly from his throat, lazy and deep.
He turned and nestled into the sofa, pulling open the bottom drawer of the pear wood coffee table next to him and lit a cigar.
Within the swirling smoke, his handsome features seemed even more mysterious and unpredictable.
His long legs were elegantly crossed, a position of nobility and grace.
Watching his actions, Xu Mo silently thought to herself: "Demon, that's foul play!"
Outside the room, steady footsteps echoed, getting closer and closer.
"Xu Mo, come with me to the study." Chen Mu's voice was deep, yet there was no anger in his tone.
The old man, leaning on his walking stick, walked towards the direction of the stairs, not even giving a glance at the two youngsters who were sitting beside the couch.
"Chen Zihan, should I follow him upstairs?" Xu Mo asked, feeling a chill crawling up her back.
Rumours had it when the old Mr. Chen used to hold the reins of Hao's Group, he was a savvy and ruthless leader, his decisions clear and brutal, making his competitors tremble in their boots.
Would he, disgruntled by Xu Mingli's actions, decide to do away with her directly?
"Would your grandfather kill me without uttering a word?" Xu Mo touched her neck nervously after inhaling deeply.
"If you're slow, he'll be angrier," Chen Zihan gave her a glance, his reply nonchalant.
"Oh." Xu Mo quickly rushed to follow him upstairs.
It wasn't until her figure disappeared around the bend in the staircase that the man looked up.
His fingertips, clasping a cigar, turned white from the applied force.
Foolish!
In the quaint study room, a set of antique wooden couch embellished with intricate carvings occupied the centre.
"You wanted to see me, " Xu Mo stated, smiling gently as she stood beside the couch.
"Now that you are Zihan's wife, you have to abide by the rules. Proper etiquette still needs to be learned," Chen Mu said, steeping tea in a deliberately slow manner, his tone strict.
Xu Mo took a deep breath: "Yes, grandfather."
The old man was basically calling her an uncouth girl.
"Your father exchanged 10% of the Mingli Real Estate shares for one year of time. During this year, he will find Xu Lili, and then you can disappear without a trace," Chen Mu stated bluntly.
"Okay," Xu Mo nodded.
She hoped that Xu Mingli could find Xu Lili sooner, so she could regain her freedom.
However, Xu Mingli really went all out in order to form a marriage alliance with the Chen family.
"I hope that when the time comes, you can agree to leave as straightforwardly as you are now," Chen Mu lifted his head, sizing up the girl in front of him from head to toe.
In his eyes, a hint of undisguised disgust flickered.
