Chapter 447 Why did you suddenly agree to get married?

Seeing that Cui Xiao remained silent, Zhou Mubin completely lost his temper. "Any amount of money is fine?"

Cui Xiao looked at him and said, "Tell me about it."

Zhou Mubin smiled enigmatically, "With my looks, my physique, and my status, I wouldn't be losing out by taking a hundred million from you, would I?"

Cui Xiao frowned.

One hundred million? How could he even say that?

Zhou Mubin kissed her on the cheek when she wasn't looking, and Cui Xiao glared at him, saying, "What a rip-off!"

Zhou Mubin persisted shamelessly, "Fine, if you don't want to pay, then take responsibility. Otherwise, I'll go to your company and ask your CEO Hou to judge. How can someone deny everything after getting a skirt? Let them see what kind of heartless and ungrateful woman Vice President Cui really is."

A bunch of fallacies.

Cui Xiao couldn't argue with him.

Trying to get the better of a top lawyer is simply wishful thinking.

Even as the sun set, Zhou Mubin hadn't left.

He busied himself in the kitchen again, his tall figure appearing somewhat heavier than during the day, yet he deliberately kept his footsteps extremely light, as if afraid of shattering the fragile silence in the bedroom.

Open the refrigerator, and you'll find fresh ribs still covered in ice, and tender yellow corn wrapped in plastic wrap.

He rolled up his sleeves, soaked the ribs in water to remove the blood foam, cut the corn into even small pieces, carefully skimmed off the scum while blanching, then poured them into a clay pot, added enough warm water, and simmered them over low heat.

The broth in the casserole was bubbling away, simmering and blending the savory aroma of the ribs with the sweetness of the corn. He stood by the stove, stirring it occasionally with a spoon, as if trying to pour all his pent-up frustrations into the thick soup.

At dinner, Zhou Mubin brought over a bowl of warm pork rib soup, along with stir-fried seasonal vegetables and a bowl of mixed grain rice.

He sat opposite her, watching Cui Xiao sip her soup, occasionally putting a piece of food on her plate, and speaking in a gentle tone, "Drink more soup to nourish your body."

Cui Xiao didn't refuse, but ate quietly. There was no extra conversation between the two, but the tension from before was gone.

After the meal, Zhou Mubin took the initiative to clear the dishes and take them into the kitchen to wash them carefully. The water flowed and the dishes clattered together, adding a touch of lively warmth to the empty apartment and dispelling the chill.

He stayed until after 9 p.m., and when he saw Cui Xiao leaning against the sofa looking sleepy, he got up to leave.

He squatted down in front of Cui Xiao and pulled the blanket up for her. His fingertips accidentally touched her wrist, and he felt the slightly cool temperature before quietly pulling them back.

He stayed up until after nine o'clock at night. The night outside the window was so dark that it was impossible to see through. Only a warm yellow floor lamp was on in the living room, which made Cui Xiao's figure leaning against the sofa somewhat blurry.

Seeing that her eyes were glazed over and her head was starting to droop, he quietly got up to leave.

He took a thick cashmere blanket from the bedroom closet, squatted down in front of Cui Xiao, and carefully covered her legs with it. His fingers accidentally touched her exposed wrist, and the cool temperature pricked him like a needle. He quickly and quietly withdrew his hand, afraid of disturbing her.

"Call me if you need anything. My phone is on 24/7, and I can come over no matter how late it is." He paused, then added, "I keep the soup in the refrigerator warm in the insulation layer. I set it to a constant temperature. If you get hungry in the middle of the night, just heat it up. Don't eat anything cold; it's bad for your stomach."

As he spoke, he dimmed the living room lights, leaving only the floor lamp on so she could have light when she got up.

Cui Xiao closed her eyes and hummed in response, her voice as soft as a feather, yet it reached Zhou Mubin's ears clearly.

She didn't open her eyes until she heard the soft click of the door lock in the entryway, followed by silence. Only then did she slowly open her eyes, her gaze fixed on the doorway, lingering there for a long time.

Her fingertips unconsciously curled up, clutching the soft blanket on her legs, which still carried the faint scent of cedar from Zhou Mubin.

The lingering aroma of pork rib soup filled the air, its sweet fragrance carrying a sense of warmth, filling the once empty and desolate apartment to the brim.

That long-lost sense of security stirred up a complex mix of emotions within her. There was resistance, dependence, and a flutter of excitement that she herself was unwilling to admit.

Zhou Mubin walked out of the apartment building and got into the black car parked downstairs, but did not start the engine immediately.

He leaned back in his chair, raised his hand to rub his temples, and the image of Cui Xiao's indifferent expression when she said "it was just an accident" kept replaying in his mind. His heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by a hand, and he felt a dull pain.

After a full five minutes of silence, he took out his phone, scrolled to the contact list, found the name "Nanzhi," and dialed the number.

"Nanzhi, are you free now? Call Xibei, let's meet at our usual spot, I need your help with something important."

Hearing Xie Nanzhi blow-drying her hair on the other end of the phone, and sensing his serious tone, she immediately perked up and readily agreed, "Okay, we'll be there in twenty minutes."

Half an hour later, warm yellow light shone through the frosted glass onto the wooden tabletop, and soothing jazz music flowed in the air.

Zhou Mubin sat in his usual spot by the window, a glass of iced soda water in front of him. Fine droplets of water condensed on the glass, but he didn't touch it.

Xi Bei and Xie Nanzhi pushed open the door and came in. The two were dressed casually in hoodies and jeans, and waved in his direction as soon as they entered.

Xi Bei plopped down, picked up the menu and flipped through it, chuckling as she joked, "Wow, Lao Zhou, you actually have time to invite the two of us out. Did you catch up with Cui Xiao and are you treating us to a big meal to celebrate?"

Xie Nanzhi sat down as well, her gaze sweeping over Zhou Mubin's tense jawline and furrowed brows. She quietly nudged Xibei's arm, signaling her to stop joking.

Xie Nanzhi sat down as well, observing Zhou Mubin's expression. She noticed a hint of seriousness in his eyes, which didn't seem like a simple celebration. She asked, "Judging from your expression, it doesn't seem like you're just announcing good news. Just say what's on your mind."

She knew Zhou Mubin too well. He always seemed to be in complete control, but he would only show this tense and helpless expression when it came to things related to Cui Xiao.

Zhou Mubin gently rubbed his fingertips against the cup, the cool touch clearing his muddled mind. He looked up at the two of them, his eyes filled with unwavering seriousness.

Zhou Mubin picked up the ice water and took a sip. The icy liquid slid down his throat before he slowly spoke, "I'd like to ask you guys for some ideas on how to plan the wedding."

He spoke calmly, yet it was like a thunderclap that exploded in their ears.

Xi Bei's hand, which was about to order a mojito, suddenly froze in mid-air. Her eyes widened, and she raised her voice, "A wedding?"

She leaned closer to Zhou Mubin and lowered her voice to confirm, "You're not kidding, are you? Cui Xiao... Cui Xiao agreed to marry you? I remember she was quite cold towards you, how come she suddenly agreed to marry you?"

Xie Nanzhi also found it unbelievable.

Zhou Mubin leaned back in his chair, sinking into the soft cushion, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the cool glass, his voice tinged with a muffled tone, "No."