Mu Qianqian, however, mistook Mu Qingxuan’s silence for sadness. She flaunted her wrist even more aggressively, showing off, "Well? Isn't it beautiful?"
She stroked the bracelet with a look of immense satisfaction.
Mu Qingxuan’s expression was complex. She had never seen this bracelet in her previous life, and judging by the quality, it was quite ordinary; the glossy luster on the surface was merely wax, and the base material was far from high-quality jade. With Mu Qingxuan’s discerning eye, she estimated the bracelet was worth no more than a dollar.
Furthermore, people usually wore bracelets in pairs—either one on each wrist or two on the same one—to signify good fortune and auspiciousness. Yet, Mu Qianqian only had one on her wrist. Mu Qingxuan was almost certain that Shi Feihua had picked it up from some obscure corner on a whim to coax Mu Qianqian. It was laughable that someone so shallow would actually bring it before her to gloat.
They had both lived through one life already. How could Mu Qianqian still be so tacky?
Mu Qingxuan rolled her eyes, speechless, and said bluntly, "It’s ugly."
"Hmph, you’re just saying that because you’re jealous."
Whenever Mu Qianqian thought of Mu Qingxuan’s previous engagement to Shi Feihua, her teeth itched with resentment. She curled her lips in contempt: "I know you’re envious, but it’s no use. Feihua has promised to treat me well for the rest of my life."
"Let me tell you, Feihua has the potential to become the richest man in the country! Never mind a mere bracelet; even if it were something better, more expensive, or even priceless, he would buy it for me as long as I wanted it!"
Mu Qingxuan impatiently dug at her ear. That mediocre fool Shi Feihua? Without her help, he wanted to be the richest man? Dream on!
"As for you..." Mu Qianqian glared viciously at Mu Qingxuan’s overly beautiful face, her jaw tightened, "You probably don't know this yet, but Huo Changfeng is going to die soon, and you’ll be a widow for the rest of your life!"
Mu Qingxuan raised her eyebrows in surprise. It seemed Mu Qianqian’s life in the Huo family in their previous life had been even more miserable than she imagined, to the point where she still gnashed her teeth in hatred for the Huo family whenever Huo Changfeng was mentioned.
But Mu Qingxuan was not Mu Qianqian. She would not fall into that trap.
"Mu Qianqian, allow me to remind you that the research Huo Changfeng leads has made significant contributions to the country’s development; he is an outstanding talent of our nation."
"Besides, you are currently standing on Huo family property, and yet you keep cursing him to die. Don't you think that’s a bit inappropriate?"
Mu Qingxuan watched Mu Qianqian with a faint, inscrutable smile.
"What curse? He *is* going to die!" Mu Qianqian’s eyes were filled with malice; she hated the Huo family and Huo Changfeng to the core. In her past life, Huo Changfeng had died shortly after they married, and the Huo family had blamed her, calling her a jinx and a cursed star, using that as an excuse to torment her for decades. But then, a thought crossed her mind: the suffering she endured in her previous life could finally be inflicted upon Mu Qingxuan in this one. Her gloomy mood suddenly turned delightful.
Mu Qianqian’s lips curled back into a perfectly measured arc. She glanced meaningfully at the silver needles in the box and said with hidden intent: "Mu Qingxuan, you’d better pray that your medical skills can cure Huo Changfeng when the time comes, otherwise..." She wore a look of gloating.
"Whether I can cure Huo Changfeng or not seems to have nothing to do with you," Mu Qingxuan said, lazily lifting her eyelids. "As for you, what’s the difference between marrying a man like Shi Feihua, who has a weak constitution, and being a widow for the rest of your life?"
Mu Qianqian froze, then flushed a deep, explosive red. "Mu Qingxuan, you truly are shameless! Talking about such things so openly—you slut!"
"And how do you know that?" Mu Qianqian suddenly became guarded. "Did you sleep with him? Mu Qingxuan, you wretched hussy, Feihua is my husband!"
"Before I lose my temper and slap you, you’d better shut your filthy mouth!"
Mu Qingxuan’s eyes turned cold as she glanced mockingly at the marks on Mu Qianqian’s neck. "Whether Shi Feihua is weak or not, you know better than I do. A man who can’t even last two minutes... only you would treat him like a treasure."
Mu Qianqian’s face turned from blue to red, as if touched on a secret, looking both startled and humiliated.
"So what? It’s still better than Huo Changfeng, who can’t perform at all!" Mu Qianqian thought of her previous life—from the moment she married Huo Changfeng until he passed away, she hadn't even touched his finger. If Huo Changfeng wasn't impotent, how could a hot-blooded man be so indifferent to his own wife? Mu Qianqian stiffened her neck and sneered, "Mu Qingxuan, you really are pathetic."
She desperately wished for Huo Changfeng to die immediately so she could watch Mu Qingxuan taste the same bitterness she had endured in her past life. With that, she turned and left.
Mu Qingxuan watched her back, feeling baffled. Huo Changfeng couldn't perform? Where did Mu Qianqian get that rumor? Huo Changfeng had a strong, athletic build and well-proportioned features; just looking at his face and physique, it was impossible for him to be "impotent"!
"Ahem."
A low cough sounded from behind her. Mu Qingxuan turned around and realized Huo Changfeng had been standing there, she didn't know for how long. His gaze was very complicated. "You’re very concerned about whether I can perform?"
It was almost lunchtime, and seeing that Mu Qingxuan had been cooped up in her room, Huo Changfeng had come specifically to call her. But before he even got close, he heard Mu Qingxuan muttering those blushing words to herself.
Mu Qingxuan froze, and a red cloud immediately drifted onto her cheeks. She looked at him with charming, shy eyes, bit her lip, and went on the offensive: "Let me take your pulse, and I’ll pretend you didn't hear that."
Huo Changfeng: ?
Mu Qingxuan moved quickly. As she spoke, her delicate, scallion-like fingertips were already resting on Huo Changfeng’s wrist. The warm touch instantly pulled Huo Changfeng’s thoughts back to the previous night—the soft, fragrant body in his arms, a fire seemingly burning within him. He frowned, took a sharp step back, and shook off her hand.
"Go down to eat," Huo Changfeng said, his voice grave. As he turned, he inadvertently revealed earlobes that were red enough to bleed.
Mu Qingxuan didn't have as many romantic notions. Recalling the pulse she had just felt, she confirmed once more: Mu Qianqian was talking nonsense!
In the dining room, Old Madam Huo sat at the head of the table, while Mu Qianqian and Shi Feihua sat on one side. Seeing the couple arrive late, Old Madam Huo huffed in dissatisfaction: "It’s one thing to sleep until midday on your first day as a daughter-in-law, but you didn't even cook."
"Did our family marry a wife, or did we bring home a bodhisattva who needs to be served by everyone?"
Mu Qianqian gloated and put on a show of smoothing things over: "Grandma, don't be too hard on my sister. Mom and Dad always spoiled her; they were afraid the kitchen fumes would dirty her, so they never let her step foot in the kitchen."
"What? Qianqian, do you mean she doesn't even know how to cook?" Old Madam Huo was shocked. How could a woman not know how to cook?! She became even more displeased: "How did the Huo family end up with a granddaughter-in-law like you? It’s truly shameful, a misfortune to our household!"