Chapter 14

She looked up at him.

At this moment, Qiao Muting's snow-white shirt was tucked into his high-end suit trousers, his figure imposing, his long legs straight.

The air of nobility emanating from within and without made him look even more cold and handsome in the twilight.

Shu Xia blinked; she had to admit that Qiao Muting's face was truly handsome.

Even more handsome than her favorite movie star.

Everyone likes to appreciate beautiful things, and she was no exception.

"Grandma has woken up, let's go, let's have dinner together," Qiao Muting said, looking at Shu Xia.

Seeing her staring at his face, with that same look many women gave him, his expression couldn't help but darken.

Could it be that she had conspired with Grandma to give him a head massage?

Was she trying to make him discover her good qualities inadvertently?

When he learned that Grandma had made him marry her, he knew she was a calculating woman.

Shu Xia stood up, "Alright, it just so happens I picked some grapes and strawberries."

She had tasted them while picking; they were very sweet, better than what she bought at the supermarket.

The servants said this year's weather was good and the sunlight was sufficient, so they were sweeter than in previous years.

Qiao Muting realized that Shu Xia was not such a simple woman; his attitude became much colder, and he only gave a faint "mm."

Shu Xia did not mind, nor did she think much of it.

Upon seeing that Qiao Nainai had woken up, Shu Xia walked over carrying the grapes and strawberries.

"Did you pick these yourself?" Qiao Nainai asked with a smile.

She had heard from Butler Qin that Muting, who always had some sleep issues, had actually fallen asleep under Shu Xia's massage!

Muting would soon know how good Xia Xia was.

Xia Xia treated people with sincerity and care; over a decade ago, when Xia Xia was just a little tot, Lao Zhong had told her that the little girl was naturally kind-hearted, and seeing that Lao Zhong was all alone and miserable, she often went to keep him company.

"Yes, I used to grow grapes and strawberries when I was in the countryside, but they were never sweet enough after ripening and would even be astringent; I only now know it was because of the seeds and the sunlight—the place I chose to plant them had little sunlight. Grandma, I'll go wash these clean first." When Shu Xia was with Qiao Nainai, she would have a lot to say.

Perhaps it was because Qiao Nainai, like Zhong Nainai, truly cared for her.

"Haha, I heard from your Zhong Nainai that you loved going to the fields when you were little, and you knew how to farm at such a young age." Qiao Nainai seemed to see that scene.

Such a tiny little child, farming like a little adult; it was both cute and heart-wrenching.

Lao Zhong said that Xia Xia had been sensible since she was small, and going to the fields was to help her foster mother and brothers share the farm work.

Watching the old woman and the young girl who had completely forgotten there was another person beside them, Qiao Muting's handsome, prominent brows twitched.

The strange feeling he had before crept into his heart again.

This woman, Shu Xia, looked pure and beautiful, but she had too many schemes.

Now she was pretending to ignore him, but she had been staring at him earlier in the vineyard.

After the meal, Qiao Nainai smilingly pushed Shu Xia and Qiao Muting to return to their room to rest.

"With both of you staying at the Laozhai to keep me company, my health will surely improve quickly! But it's late now, go back to your room to have your husband-and-wife whispers and get some rest early."

Shu Xia and Qiao Muting could only return to the room.

Seeing the large "Double Happiness" characters pasted on the door and windows in the room, Shu Xia was dumbfounded.

No need to guess, it must have been Qiao Nainai who had someone paste them.

It looked festive.

It just wasn't suitable for her and Qiao Muting.

She looked at Qiao Muting, "Who should go take a shower first?"

She had been busy all day, staying very focused while restoring the Ancient Painting, and hadn't rested at noon, so now that things had quieted down, she felt a bit tired.

Qiao Muting looked at Shu Xia with a cool gaze, "Did you forget what I said earlier? We don't love each other; we are just acting."

"Is Mr. Qiao overthinking? Don't you shower before bed? Acting is acting, but I can't accept going to sleep without showering," Shu Xia countered.

Qiao Muting was momentarily speechless.

Shu Xia went to the wardrobe to find clothes; Butler Qin said she had already prepared some clothes for both her and Qiao Muting, so it didn't matter that they hadn't gone to Xinghai Villa to get them.

The wardrobe was stocked with every variety of clothing.

Butler Qin was very attentive and had prepared everything.

She picked out a set of pajamas.

"Then I'll go wash first; don't worry, I'll be very quick."

Qiao Muting soon heard the sound of bathwater coming from the bathroom.

No woman had ever showered in front of him before; this was the first time.

Listening to the somewhat maddening sound of water, Qiao Muting darkened his eyes and was about to push the door open and walk out.

Just as he pushed the door open, he saw Butler Qin.

Butler Qin was holding a bowl of soup, "This is the tonic soup the old lady asked me to prepare for the eldest young master; she said it would be good for the eldest young master's health."

"Tonic soup?" Qiao Muting frowned, feeling very helpless.

Had Grandma been watching too many dramas lately?

What kind of tricks was she using?

To actually have the butler send him tonic soup.

"Give it to me first, I'll take it in and drink it slowly." Qiao Muting took the tonic soup from Butler Qin's hands, then slammed the door shut with a bang.

After coming back inside, the sound of water from the bathroom reached his ears again.

Qiao Muting's eyes were cold and dark.

Looking at the tonic soup before him, he suddenly felt a bit of regret for inviting the wolf into the house.

His head began to ache faintly again.

He pressed his temples, suddenly recalling how, before dinner, Shu Xia's soft hands had rested on his head, and every time she massaged his acupoints, it made him feel much better.

Just then, a WeChat message arrived on his phone.

He opened his phone to check it.

Zhang Tezhu: Qiao, may I add Miss Shu on WeChat?

Qiao Muting glanced at the bathroom and typed the word "Okay" and sent it.

Feeling it was somewhat inappropriate, he asked again: What do you want to add her for? Are you interested in her?

Zhang Tezhu looked at the two consecutive WeChat messages that had come through, his eyes widening—interested in Miss Shu?

He wouldn't dare!

Even if he knew the boss and Miss Shu were in a fake marriage, he still wouldn't dare to like the boss's nominal wife!

Zhang Tezhu quickly typed: Absolutely not!!! I wanted to ask Miss Shu to take a look for me; I've set my sights on a Yupai, but I don't know if it's a good piece. I'll only dare to buy it after Miss Shu has looked at it.

He hoped the boss would notice his three exclamation marks.

Qiao Muting replied: Mm.

Having received Qiao Muting's permission, Zhang Tezhu immediately searched for Shu Xia's phone number to add her as a friend.

He waited for ten minutes.

Seeing that the friend request still hadn't been accepted, Zhang Tezhu hesitated before sending another WeChat message to Qiao Muting: Qiao, Miss Shu hasn't accepted the friend request.

A short while later, Zhang Tezhu saw the WeChat message his boss had sent back.

——She is taking a shower.

Although it was just four very plain words.

But!

But!!!

Could it be that the boss and Miss Shu have—slept together?

Isn't it a fake marriage?

They've already slept together?

In that case, Miss Shu surely won't have the time or opportunity to accept his friend request tonight, right?

The boss usually works out; with his eight-pack abs and V-taper, his stamina is guaranteed.

So...

He would have people send him photos of various Yupai before he went to sleep, so he could pick a couple more for Miss Shu to help look at tomorrow.

Twenty minutes later, a notification popped up that the friend request had been accepted, and Zhang Tezhu rubbed his eyes.

Could he have misread it!