“Yunxi has taken such a step because of you. She did that because you have made her so. You could not forget about Manman. Since Manman has married another man, you better treat Yunxi nicely and forget all about Manman. She did all of that because she loves you deeply.” Madam Mu was a spoiled girl once. She understood exactly why Wang Yunxi had taken such a step.

 Moreover, Lu Man was another man’s wife. Wang Yunxi was her daughter-in-law now. She could even provide her with a luxurious life. Surely, she should side with her daughter-in-law!

 “Mom, how could you say that?” Mu Yunhai looked at his mother in disbelief.

 “Why can’t I? Am I not speaking the truth?”

 “Manman has treated you nicely before. She was framed by Yunxi. Why are you on Yunxi’s side?”

 “Manman belongs to another family now no matter how nice she once was. Now, only Yunxi could give you what you want!” Lu Man was indeed a good woman. Madam Mu adored her. But, she had never wanted Lu Man as her daughter-in-law because she believed that her son deserved someone better. She wanted her son to help rebuild the Mu family’s reputation and wealth!

 Mu Yunhai clenched his fists and remained quiet.

 “Son, I know that you’re still in love with Manman. But, you need to accept the truth! Moreover, you know very well how Manman hates to be cheated on. She will never forgive you. You better give her up!” Madam Mu understood the situation clearly while Mu Yunhai was still reluctant to accept it.

 “That’s enough!” Mu Yunhai shouted clearly. He did not want to listen to that cruel fact.

 “Son…”

 “I still have some business to deal to. I’ll leave now.” Mu Yunhai got up and left.

 The early morning sunlight poured in. The sky was blue with white clouds. It was a beautiful day.

 They had their breakfast. Suddenly, Lu Man recalled something when they were getting ready to get to work.

 “What’s wrong?”

 “We attended a wedding yesterday as a married couple. Then, isn’t my identity revealed now?” How could she face her colleagues today?

 “Is my identity as your husband embarrassing for you? Pei Xiuyuan raised his eyebrow.

 “That’s not so. I have joined your company at first with that kind of status. Now… I don’t know how to face my colleagues.”

 “They will know about it sooner or later. We cannot hide it from them forever.”

 Lu Man was speechless.

 At last, she understood that lying would only bring about more lies in the long run.

 But, she could not accept her marriage with him before. Now, it was revealed to the public and everybody would know about it. How could she go to work like that? She could only stay at home and enjoy her life as his rich wife instead.

 “Then, I don’t have to go to work anymore…” Lu Man was sad.

 “Let’s go. I was just joking with you. Your identity is not revealed.”

 “How is it not revealed given that there were a lot of people there at the wedding?” How was it not revealed yet?

 “Your husband stopped it. Who would dare to reveal the news?”

 Lu Man’s eyes brightened. That was true! Pei Xiuyuan was the boss of Haicheng. If it was a secret, no one would dare to reveal it for sure!

 “Did you hear the latest news? I heard that our CEO brought along a woman to attend his younger sister’s wedding yesterday!”

 Lu Man overheard the gossip the minute she stepped into the office. She soon became nervous.

 “I heard that too. But, we don’t know who that woman is!”

 “Even the top managers who have attended the wedding are unaware of it. It seems that our CEO protects her well!”

 “Who said that it’s protection? Maybe our CEO hates gossip! He’s a clean slate and he’s a loyal man too!” Wang Nan made her own assumptions.

 “How do you know?” The crowd were all ears when they received that news. Lu Man was listening to it attentively too.

 “Before you joined our company, our CEO was still a deputy general manager. He has fallen in love with a woman. He loved her deeply.”

 “What happened after? Why did they break up with each other?”

 “I don’t know about that. I just know that our CEO suddenly became very dark and cold one day. That beautiful girl never showed up again. Since then, our CEO never had anything with any woman. That’s why the outsiders thought that he is gay!”

 “When did that happen?”

 “Seven years ago!”

 “Wow! Seven years ago! Our CEO is indeed a loyal and passionate man!”

 “Yes, that’s true!”

 He loved someone deeply before…

 Lu Man had mixed feelings when she heard that news. It was not pain.

 She just never realized that he had that kind of past too. She was just a little curious. Why did they break up with each other given his social background and gentleness?

 She stared at him on the way home out of curiosity. She scanned him from top to bottom.

 “What’s wrong? Why are you staring at me?” Clearly, she was sizing him up. Pei Xiuyuan felt that clearly.

 “It’s nothing.” Lu Man stopped staring at him.

 “If it’s nothing, why did you stare at me?” Pei Xiuyuan retorted.

 “It suddenly dawned on me that you’re quite handsome. That’s why I was staring at you! Can’t I do that?” Lu Man raised her eyebrow.

 “Surely you can! But, you need to pay if you want to stare at the handsome man.”

 “Pay?”

 “Yes.”

 “How do you want your payment?”

 “If you stare at me once, you need to make a payment. It’s fair and square.” She had stared at him around seven times just now.

 “What does it mean? A payment per stare?”

 “If you stare at me once, you need to take the initiative once.”

 Lu Man blushed deeply when she finally understood what he meant. How could he talk dirty in front of her so directly?

 Pei Xiuyuan smiled when he saw how embarrassed she had become.

 He felt that the happiest moment in his life was messing with his wife.

 ***

 Wang Yunxi came home and called Mu Yunhai. But, he did not pick up the phone. She was so angry that she had destroyed everything in her room. After a while, she calmed herself down.

 She called Mu Yunhai again. She promised herself that it would be all over between them if Mu Yunhai still refused to pick up the phone that time.

 But, Mu Yunhai picked it up this time.

 Mu Yunhai had always acted that way with her. He always gave her hope whenever she wanted to give him up. He would ensure that she would always love her.

 “Don’t you want to come back?”

 “I’m home. I’m just at the entrance of the manor.”

 His reply gave a sense of satisfaction to her. She sneered and hung up the phone. Then, she ordered the servants to clean her room up.

They were living at Pei Old Manor. It was a ten-minutes ride from the entrance to the manor.

 She became less angry when she saw Mu Yunhai come in with a bouquet of roses. But, she still kept a cold face. “You still know that you need to come back!”

 “It’s my home. My wife is here. Why can’t I come back here?” Mu Yunhai said something nice to her out of the blue.

 He rarely spoke like that to her. Wang Yunxi was no longer angry at him.

 But, she still kept a cold facial expression.

 “There, there. Don’t be angry anymore. We need to settle the press conference now.” Mu Yunhai approached her and hugged her waist.

 Wang Yunxi changed the topic immediately. “God damn it! That Lu Man!”

 “It’s not the time to scold her. If your elder brother forces us to hold a press conference, how would we face the public in the future?”