Chapter 48: Jealous and Unaware Leader

Huo Tingxiao's uncontrolled outburst that night, followed by his injured departure, was like a terrifying storm, leaving an indelible mark on Su Wanqing's heart. She sat alone on the cold living room floor for a long time, until her emotions had completely calmed down. Then, trembling, she stood up and wiped the blood off the floor with a wet cloth. She then fetched a toolbox and tried to repair the dented cabinet door—although the effect was minimal.

That punch seemed to not only strike the cabinet door, but also shatter certain preconceived notions within her mind. For the first time, she clearly saw the surging, almost all-destroying dark tide beneath the iceberg. It was also the first time she vaguely felt the concern hidden beneath that cold, hard shell, a concern he himself hadn't even noticed...

This realization left her feeling shattered, a mixture of indescribable heartache and shock, mixed with a subtle unease and confusion. What was he really thinking? What did his words, "You're my wife! Now! And forever!", really mean? Was it responsibility? Possession? Or... something else?

She didn't dare to think deeply, nor could she think deeply.

The next day, Huo Tingxiao left home early again, as if the stormy situation the previous night had never happened. But Su Wanqing noticed that when he left, his right hand was casually wrapped in gauze, and his movements seemed a little stiff.

Over the next few days, the atmosphere between the two became extremely tense. Huo Tingxiao remained silent, even colder than before, exuding a depressing aura that kept people away. However, his return home seemed more regular, no longer staying out all night or returning late at night like before.

Su Wanqing was even more cautious, trying to avoid any communication with him that might cause a conflict. However, when taking care of his daily life, she couldn't help but be more meticulous, especially for his injured hand, for which she would always silently prepare dressing items and warm water.

There was almost no dialogue between the two, but a silent, tense understanding seemed to be quietly forming. He acquiesced to her care, and she kept a silent distance.

That afternoon, the Women's Federation of the compound organized a performance to express their gratitude, inviting actors from various art troupes to perform and asking family members to attend as much as possible. Su Wanqing hadn't wanted to go, but Assistant Chen called to remind her, saying that Mr. Huo was also interested in the event. She had no choice but to pack up and head to the compound auditorium.

The auditorium was already quite crowded, and the atmosphere was lively. Su Wanqing found a seat near the back, trying to minimize her presence. After the performance began, she watched quietly, her mind wandering, constantly thinking of Huo Tingxiao's bandaged hands and his crimson eyes.

Halfway through the performance, there was a duet dance. The male actor was handsome and tall, and the female actor was gentle and charming. The two cooperated well and danced gracefully, which drew applause from the audience.

Su Wanqing was lost in thought when someone suddenly took the empty seat next to her. She subconsciously turned her head and froze—it was Huo Tingxiao!

He was wearing casual clothes, his face was stern, and his eyes were fixed on the stage, as if he just happened to pass by and took a look, without even looking at her.

Su Wanqing's heart skipped a beat, and she instantly became nervous, not knowing where to put her hands and feet. Why would he come? Didn't he hate such noisy occasions the most?

She sat stiffly, but out of the corner of her eye she could clearly sense the immense pressure of his presence. The air around them seemed to have grown thinner and colder because of him.

The duet dance on the stage entered its climax. The male actor made a lifting motion, and the female actor spun lightly with her skirt flying. The two smiled at each other, and their eyes were full of emotion and tacit understanding.

There was even more enthusiastic applause from the audience.

At this moment, Su Wanqing clearly heard a very light, but extremely clear, cold snort with undisguised disgust coming from beside her.

She subconsciously turned her head to look.

Huo Tingxiao's brows were furrowed, the corners of his mouth were turned down, and his eyes were coldly staring at the pair of dancers on the stage who were working in perfect harmony. That expression... was as if he was looking at something annoying!

Su Wanqing was stunned. What was wrong with him? Was the show not good?

Before she could think about it, Huo Tingxiao suddenly turned his head, glanced at her sharply, and asked in a low, cold voice, "Do you know that man?"

"Huh?" Su Wanqing was completely confused and didn't react for a moment. "Which man?"

"The one on the stage." Huo Tingxiao's jawline was tense, his eyes sharper, with a scrutinizing look.

Su Wanqing was even more confused. She subconsciously looked at the handsome actor on the stage and shook her head blankly: "No, I don't know him."

Huo Tingxiao stared at her for a few seconds, as if trying to determine the truth of her words. Then, with a barely perceptible frown, he turned back to the stage, but the chill that enveloped him seemed to grow even stronger. His hands on his knees unconsciously clenched, and the bandage around them bulged slightly.

Su Wanqing was confused by his inexplicable questions and reactions. She felt a little uneasy and didn't dare to ask any more questions. She had to turn back and pretend to watch the show seriously, but she felt very uncomfortable.

After finally waiting until the performance ended, everyone started to leave. Su Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief and was about to get up and leave when she heard the excited chatter of several young women nearby.

"That lead dancer was so handsome! His name is Qin Lang, right? I heard he's a top student at the dance academy!"

"Yeah, yeah! He's a great dancer and looks so energetic! He just smiled at us and my heart almost stopped!"

"I wonder if he has a girlfriend? I really want to meet her..."

Several girls were chattering and laughing.

Su Wanqing didn't care, but just glanced over there subconsciously.

However, the moment she turned her head, Huo Tingxiao beside her suddenly stood up! His movement was so big that he almost knocked over the chair!

Su Wanqing was startled and looked up at him in surprise.

Huo Tingxiao's face was terribly gloomy. His cold eyes swept over the chatting and laughing women, and finally fell heavily on Su Wanqing's face. There was a kind of almost violent anger and displeasure in his eyes that she could not understand at all!

"Let's go!" He practically gritted his teeth as he spat out the two words, his voice so cold it could freeze someone to death. Then, without waiting for her to react, he turned and strode out of the auditorium at a brisk pace, his back stiff and carrying a terrifying sense of low pressure.

Su Wanqing was completely bewildered by his reaction, her heart pounding. Without giving it any thought, she quickly stood up and followed him. She could feel the curious and probing gazes of many people around her, and her face flushed.

Huo Tingxiao walked incredibly fast, his strides so long and fast that Su Wanqing practically had to jog to keep up. He remained silent the entire time, his jawline tense, his whole body emitting a strong "don't mess with me" signal.

It wasn't until he got into the car and closed the door that his suppressed, cold anger became more obvious in the small space, almost suffocating.

Su Wanqing fastened her seatbelt, stole a cautious glance at him, and tentatively asked in a low voice, "Commander...what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"

Huo Tingxiao turned his head abruptly, his deep gaze shooting at her like a sharp arrow, surging with a complex anger she had never seen before and... a hint of extremely awkward irritation?

"That dancer is very beautiful?" He suddenly asked again without thinking, his voice hoarse and tense, with an almost questioning tone.

Su Wanqing was completely stunned, her brain unable to process for a moment. Why was he asking this again? What did this have to do with his sudden temper?

She blinked blankly and answered honestly, "It's, it's okay... I dance pretty well..."

"Hmph!" Huo Tingxiao snorted coldly, interrupting her. His expression became even uglier, and his eyes were so sharp that they seemed to want to poke holes in her body. "You're dressed so gaudy and twisting around like that! What's so good about that?"

His tone was filled with undisguised contempt and...sourness?

Su Wanqing suddenly opened her eyes wide and looked at him in disbelief.

Fancy? Twisting and wiggling? Was he... commenting on the actor? But why did his tone sound so... awkward? So... wrong?

An absurd, almost impossible thought flashed through her mind like lightning - could he be... jealous? !

Just because of that actor? Just because she watched a few dances? Just because others praised that actor for being handsome?

How is this possible?! He's Huo Tingxiao! Chief Huo, the cold-hearted, expressionless leader! How could he be jealous over such a trivial matter?! And for no reason at all?!

Su Wanqing was frightened by her own bold guess. Her heartbeat suddenly stopped, and her cheeks flushed uncontrollably. She secretly looked at his tense profile and tightly pursed lips. The more she thought about it, the more she felt... like him!

His inexplicable questions, his snorts of disgust, his sudden anger, his awkward criticisms...it seemed that all his abnormal behaviors could only be explained by the reason of "jealousy"!

This discovery made Su Wanqing's heart feel like it was being violently clenched, then suddenly released, and an indescribable warmth, sour yet with a hint of strange sweetness, surged up. She hurriedly lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting together, her heart beating so fast that it almost jumped out of her chest.

The car fell into an extremely strange silence.

Huo Tingxiao seemed to realize his own gaffe and the strangeness of his words. He pursed his lips, his face becoming even stiffer, and a faint, suspicious blush seemed to appear at the base of his ears. He suddenly started the car, the engine roaring dully, and the car rushed out like an arrow from a bow.

No conversation along the way.

Until the car drove back downstairs and stopped.

Huo Tingxiao got out of the car first and strode towards the building door without looking back.

Su Wanqing followed behind him, looking at his still tense yet somewhat embarrassed back, and recalling his abnormal actions just now, the corners of her lips involuntarily and extremely slowly curved into a very shallow but very real arc.

Are you jealous?

An unconscious leader.

It turns out that beneath that iceberg, there really is such a... cute and awkward side.

Although he may not even realize it.

But this discovery was like a ray of warm sunshine, quietly shining into Su Wanqing's heart, dispelling the haze and uneasiness of many days.

Perhaps, the road ahead is not all bleak.

Perhaps, beneath the ice, there really is a warm current flowing.