Coincidentally, Han Muzi had the measuring tape around his waist when she heard his question. She paused momentarily. She cackled mirthlessly in her heart while tightening the measuring tape. Hate? What makes him think that I would hate him? Is he worth it?
“Mr. Ye, you must be joking. You are my client; how could I possibly hate you?” Han Muzi acted as though she was oblivious to what he meant, trying to dismiss him casually.
However, Ye Moxuan’s frown deepened. “Is that so?” His voice was calm as if he was void of emotions. “In that case, can you be slightly gentler?”
Han Muzi realized with a start that she was tightening her measuring tape excessively. The measuring tape was squeezing around his waist so tightly that his waist almost looked deformed.
“I’m so sorry!” she apologized in shock. She removed her hands abruptly, and a sheen of cold sweat appeared across her fair forehead. She then lowered her eyes and bit her lower lip in annoyance. Why am I so disoriented right now?
The atmosphere took an awkward turn. Han Muzi memorized the measurements, kept the measuring tape, and then took a step back. She started jotting down the measurements on her notebook so that she wouldn’t forget them.
Ye Moxuan was standing behind her, gazing at her tiny figure squatting on the floor. “Why are you treating me like a stranger if you don’t hate me?”
Han Muzi almost lost the grip around her pen. She did not answer him; instead, she continued noting down his measurements in her notebook. When she was done, she kept her notebook and stood up to face Ye Moxuan.
“My work here is complete, Mr. Ye. Thank you for your cooperation today; I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.” With that, Han Muzi turned around to leave the place.
However, she felt something clasped around her wrist, and Han Muzi stood rooted to the spot immediately. What is he doing?
“Do you hate me so much that you can’t even bear to stay with me for a moment?”
Somehow, Han Muzi heard the pain and self-deprecating tone in his voice. Did I hear that correctly? “Mr. Ye, that’s not it. It’s a holiday today; I honestly have other matters to attend to.” Subtly, she tried struggling to release her arm from his grip.
However, Ye Moxuan tightened his grip around her wrist. His grip was so painful that Han Muzi frowned and turned to face him. “If it wasn’t a holiday, and if you don’t have other matters to attend to, would you be willing to stay with me for a moment longer?”
Han Muzi was at a loss for words. What is he trying to do? He told me that he is already married, so why is he acting so somber right now? Is he trying to lure me in and fool me? Does he want to hurt and abandon me after having me, like before?
When she considered this possibility, Han Muzi’s gaze turned dull and calm. She wanted to pull her hand back, but Ye Moxuan was holding onto her with an iron grip. Hence, she had no choice but to speak to him calmly, “Mr. Ye, I honestly have other matters to attend to. Can you please let me go?”
“I refuse to.” For the first time, Ye Moxuan was throwing a tantrum like a child. He looked at her with a hurt expression. “Are you willing to listen to my explanation?”
What? Han Muzi was stunned to silence for a while. Listen to his explanation? What is there to explain? Is he referring to what happened five years ago? Her beautiful face turned slightly pale, but after a few moments, Han Muzi smiled in embarrassment. “Mr. Ye, I don’t think that… there’s anything for you to explain to me.”
Is that so? Ye Moxuan chuckled. His laughter was bitter and it sounded self-deprecatory. “It seems like you don’t want to listen to my explanation. But I don’t feel like letting you go so easily. What should we do then?”
Han Muzi was rendered speechless. She tried struggling again and glared at Ye Moxuan in annoyance. Ye Moxuan’s eyes had a certain depth to them, and she felt as if her soul was drowning in them. She didn’t dare to look into his eyes, and so she did all she could to retreat.
Ye Moxuan must have lost his cool amidst the struggle because he yanked her hard and pressed her against the soft couch behind him.
“Ah!” Han Muzi cried out in surprise when he pinned her underneath him. Ye Moxuan then lowered his face to hers swiftly.
Smack! Han Muzi slapped him across his face without a second thought. Her hand struck right against his cheek. She didn’t hesitate at all when she saw his lips moving toward hers for a kiss. The first thing that flashed across her mind was the fact that he was supposedly a married man. Consequently, she swung her arm reflexively.
There was an awful stillness in the air for several seconds, and Ye Moxuan was motionless for several moments. He stared unblinkingly at Han Muzi, and his pursed, thin lips were especially pale. It was most probably due to his anger—or maybe due to his excitement—because his chest was rising and falling rapidly.
“Ye Moxuan, I didn’t want to state the obvious. However, do you still remember what you said yesterday? Don’t you have a guilty conscience when you are acting like this with me? For you to do this, do you think you are being fair to her? Do you think it’s fair to me?”
Ye Moxuan asked in confusion, ‘What?” What did I say yesterday? Ye Moxuan’s gaze was slightly confused, and he stared at her in bewilderment.
Han Muzi smirked. “You are married! Since you are married, you should know your boundaries. Don’t be indecent with me!”
Ye Moxuan was astounded when he heard that; but soon enough, he burst out laughing. “Is that what you mean? So… since I’m married, I can’t touch you?”
Han Muzi retorted, “How dare you?!” Since when has he become so shameless?
“Or are you jealous?” Ye Moxuan teased her before she could complete her next sentence.
Han Muzi asked him incredulously, “Jealous? Mr. Ye, please don’t flatter yourself!”
She shoved hard against him and got up from the couch. After straightening her clothes, she stated coldly, “I hope that this is the last time something like this happens, Mr. Ye. If you disrespect me again in the future, I’d rather violate the contract than continue collaborating with you.” This time, Han Muzi did not wait for his response; instead, she grabbed her bag and left immediately.
Ye Moxuan seemed to be in deep thoughts while he stared at her silhouette. He recalled what she said earlier and slowly digested what she meant. Ha! What a silly woman. Did she assume that what I meant when I said I was married, was to another woman? Is that why she had such a huge reaction?
When that crossed his mind, Ye Moxuan reached out to touch his cheek where she slapped him. That slap hurts quite a bit. She didn’t hold back at all. In any case… she’s mad at me.
Ye Moxuan decided to just assume that she was jealous, and that was why she acted out so aggressively. He swiftly thought of something else and narrowed his eyes. Does that woman not know that we aren’t divorced? We are still husband and wife according to the records in the Civil Affairs Bureau. I assumed she knew all along from the time we met up again until now. However… from her reaction today, she most probably had no idea about this. Who kept this from her?
Han Muzi exited the villa after half an hour. The group of staff guarding the exterior of the villa compound treated her particularly well.
“Miss Shelly, take care! You are welcome to come back anytime.”
“Miss Shelly, please have a safe trip!”
Han Muzi, who was in high heels, paused in her tracks and rolled her eyes in exasperation.
