Chapter 469 Are you so afraid of me finding out where you live?
Cui Xiao was so angry that she was trembling all over.
The moment she was pushed into the passenger seat, she gripped the door frame tightly and stared into Zhou Mubin's eyes.
Zhou Mubin didn't say anything, but bent down to help her fasten her seatbelt. His fingertips accidentally touched her wrist, and he felt the slight coolness of her skin. He paused for a moment, then straightened up and closed the car door.
The moment the engine started, the car fell into dead silence, with only the occasional faint sound of air from the air conditioning vents.
Cui Xiao turned her head to look out the window, not daring to look at Zhou Mubin in the driver's seat, but she could clearly feel his gaze, like fine needles, making her feel uncomfortable all over.
As the car entered the familiar neighborhood, Cui Xiao immediately said, "Just stop here, I'll walk in at the next intersection myself."
Zhou Mubin acted as if he hadn't heard him and continued driving forward until he was almost at the bottom of the building before he slowly braked.
Cui Xiao's heart jumped into her throat. She hurriedly unbuckled her seatbelt and was about to get out of the car when Zhou Mubin grabbed her wrist.
His voice carried a hint of barely perceptible grievance, "Are you that afraid of me finding out where you live?"
Zhou Mubin said coldly, "I want to know if you're doing well."
Cui Xiao abruptly pulled her hand back, pushed open the car door quickly and urgently, and said without turning her head, "I'm doing very well, you don't need to worry about me. Don't contact me again, this is the end of us."
She practically ran into the building entrance, and only after pressing the elevator button did she lean against the elevator wall, panting heavily.
The red marks on my wrist still throbbed faintly, but compared to the panic in my heart, this pain was nothing.
Unbeknownst to her, Zhou Mubin did not leave. Instead, he sat in his car, his eyes swirling with complex emotions, and remained motionless for a long time without starting the engine.
As she took out her keys to open the door, Cui Xiao took two deep breaths, rubbed her reddened eyes, and tried to force a gentle smile.
The door was pushed open a crack, and a small figure rushed over, carrying a faint scent of milk, "Mommy, you're finally back!"
My daughter was wearing pink bear pajamas and holding a faded rabbit doll in her arms. Her little face was all scrunched up, clearly she was getting impatient.
Cui Xiao quickly squatted down to catch her daughter, her nose brushing against the top of her soft hair, and the anxiety in her heart was instantly soothed. "I'm sorry, baby, Mommy had something to do today."
As she changed her shoes, she spoke softly, reaching out to straighten her daughter's askew pajamas collar.
Little Nuomi tilted her head back, her chubby little hand gently touching the corner of her eye, her little brows furrowing into a deep frown. "Mommy, your eyes are red. Did someone bully you?"
The child's voice was soft and sweet, yet it carried an unusually keen sense of perception, causing Cui Xiao's heart to skip a beat.
She quickly hugged her daughter tightly, resting her chin on her hair, and softened her voice, "No, Mommy's eyes just got a little dry from the wind while we were walking."
She gently patted her daughter's back, her fingertips unconsciously tightening their grip on the hem of her pajamas. "Look, Mommy's perfectly fine, isn't she? Come on, Mommy'll go heat up some milk for you, and then I'll tell you the story of 'The Little Prince,' okay?"
Little Nuomi nestled in her arms with a hint of doubt, her little arms tightly wrapped around her neck, and said in a muffled voice, "If Mommy gets bullied, you must tell Little Nuomi, and I will protect Mommy."
Cui Xiao couldn't help but laugh out loud and kissed her daughter's cheek. "Good, our little Nuomi is the bravest."
——
That evening, after returning to his hotel, Zhou Mubin called Xiao Hong and asked, "Ms. Xiao, would it be convenient for us to meet again tomorrow?"
He spoke at a steady pace, yet with an undeniable air of authority.
Before Xiao Hong could answer, he changed the subject, saying, "However, I hope Vice President Cui can participate in the communication regarding these details. If she is there, it might be of great help to you."
Xiao Hong's heart skipped a beat.
Yesterday, Cui Xiaoming clearly stated that she and Zhou Mubin were enemies, but the familiarity in Zhou Mubin's words made it sound like they were longtime friends.
She instantly understood.
The next morning, the first thing Xiao Hong did upon arriving at the company was to go to Cui Xiao's office.
"Vice President Cui, please help me." Xiao Hong's eyes reddened as soon as she entered the room. She quickly walked to Cui Xiao's desk. "Attorney Zhou said he hopes you can participate. I know this is difficult for you, but my daughter is only four years old..."
Before she could finish speaking, she bent her knees and was about to kneel down.
Startled, Cui Xiao quickly stood up to help her, her brows furrowed. "Get up, I can't possibly agree to that."
They haven't been related for a long time. Going to see him now would be like walking into a trap.
Xiao Hong couldn't get up, and choked up as she said, "Vice President Cui, I beg you, for the sake of our past as colleagues, for the sake of us both being mothers, please help me, and only you can help me."
Zhou Mubin is not one to give up easily; even if he fails this time, he will look for other opportunities.
Looking at Xiao Hong's red, swollen eyes, Cui Xiao thought of her daughter and finally sighed, "Okay, I promise you."
Xiao Hong was extremely grateful. "Thank you, Vice President Cui."
In the agreed-upon Western restaurant, warm yellow light shone on the white tablecloth.
When Cui Xiao followed Xiao Hong in, she immediately spotted Zhou Mubin in the corner.
He changed into a beige casual suit, without a tie, and with two buttons undone at the collar, giving him a more relaxed and dignified air, rather than the sharpness of a typical professional.
The glass of water in front of him was already filled with warm water, and water droplets were slowly sliding down the glass.
"They're here."
Zhou Mubin stood up, his gaze passing over Xiao Hong and locking firmly on Cui Xiao. His eyes held a suppressed ecstasy, as well as a hint of barely perceptible tension.
Cui Xiao looked away and sat down opposite him. Just as she was about to speak, she heard him say to the waiter, "One Wellington steak, medium-rare, with black truffle sauce, and a pumpkin soup, no cream."
Xiao Hong sat beside them, quietly observing the two of them.
Cui Xiao tightened her grip on the water glass; it was the same flavor she had used five years ago, and she hadn't expected him to still remember it.
Zhou Mubin pushed the menu in front of Xiao Hong, but his gaze never left Cui Xiao. "Your stomach has always been weak, have some soup first."
Cui Xiao raised her eyes and glared at him, but when she met the tenderness in his eyes, she quietly deflated.
Zhou Mubin finally looked away, took out a folder and placed it on the table, but glanced at Cui Xiao again before opening it. "Ms. Xiao, I'm here to say the same thing today. Transferring assets and fabricating debts will be very detrimental to you. Don't end up losing custody of the child and getting yourself into trouble too."
His tone was flat, yet it felt like an icicle piercing someone's heart.
Xiao Hong's face turned deathly pale. She instinctively grabbed Cui Xiao's wrist, her voice trembling, "Vice President Cui, what should we do?"
Cui Xiao patted the back of her hand to comfort her, and when she looked up, there was no trace of panic in her eyes.
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