Mu Ci’s grinning mouth immediately snapped shut.
What a massive social disaster!
Damn!
Qin Yan walked to the bedside, leaned down, and glanced at her fresh, makeup-free face in the morning. “Did you tell Qin Qiqi that I hit you yesterday?”
Mu Ci’s eyes darted around, avoiding the question. “Why are you in my bathroom?”
“To replace the electric toothbrush head.”
After answering, Qin Yan fixed his cold gaze on her, not letting her change the subject.
“Do you know what would happen to me if Grandpa found out you said something like that to Qin Qiqi?”
Mu Ci didn’t really want to know. “…”
“Grandpa has always doted on his wife. If he found out, I’d definitely get a whipping.”
“…”
That serious?
Mu Ci hadn’t expected the consequences to be so severe. She averted her gaze, feeling a bit guilty.
She considered confessing to Qin Qiqi, but the thought was immediately dismissed.
Because she really, really wanted that painting—it was a rare chance to extort something.
She slightly raised her upper body, wrapped her arms around the man’s neck, and said softly:
“You just gave away a car worth eight figures. I felt bad for you, so I wanted to help you get something back.”
Mu Ci’s voice usually sounded cool and detached, but when she softened her tone with a hint of coquettishness, it felt as sweet as spun sugar, making it impossible for anyone to stay angry.
Qin Yan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Really?”
“Of course. You’re my husband, and every penny you spend has half of it belonging to me. How could I not feel bad?”
Mu Ci spoke with genuine sincerity.
The man chuckled softly. The next second, he lifted her chin, leaned in close, and pressed his forehead against hers.
His voice was low and magnetic. “I’ll believe you if you kiss me.”
“…”
This dog of a man, pushing his luck.
Mu Ci tilted her head back to avoid him, her graceful neck arching beautifully. “I haven’t brushed my teeth.”
“Then let’s change the way—”
Before Mu Ci could process what he meant, she saw the man lower his head, and then, a warm touch landed on her neck.
His slightly heavy breath brushed against her neck, sending a tingling sensation deep into her bones. “I’ll kiss you instead.”
“…”
Early in the morning, before her body had even fully woken up, she received such an intensely flirtatious kiss.
Mu Ci’s heart instantly raced. She pushed him away and got out of bed, her movements as she slipped on her slippers betraying her unease. “I’m going to wash up.”
Qin Yan watched the flustered figure of the young woman, his eyes brimming with amusement.
_
In this world, joy and sorrow often go hand in hand.
While Mu Ci gleefully obtained the painting, Qin Qiqi wore a troubled expression, sighing repeatedly.
“Qiqi, it’s not that serious, is it? It’s just a painting. If you’re really that reluctant… I can give it back to you.”
After saying this, Mu Ci hugged the painting even tighter.
She was just being polite—even if asked to return it, she wouldn’t.
Qin Qiqi waved her hand. “Forget it. A gift is a gift. I, Qin Qiqi, am not that petty.”
Mu Ci loosened her grip on the painting slightly. “Then what’s bothering you?”
“The project, of course.”
Qin Qiqi had never held a proper job before. As soon as she joined the Qin Corporation, Qin Yan had made it clear that she wouldn’t receive any special treatment.
Under the guise of “training her.”
But who would have thought that the very first project she was assigned to train on would involve that bitch Shi Na?
Although her relationship with Ku Nan was established, Ku Nan generally only handled design and often traveled to overseas studios, so his work focus wasn’t in the country.
In the end, the person she had to deal with became Shi Na, who was under him.
Mu Ci asked, “Is that Shi woman giving you trouble again?”
“I’m not sure if it counts,” Qin Qiqi said gloomily. “There are bound to be conflicts in project collaborations, and many things aren’t simply black or white.”
Mu Ci understood.
The workplace was full of twists and turns. If someone wanted to make things difficult for you, there were plenty of ways to do it—ways that couldn’t even be brought up openly.
“If you can’t tell Ku Nan, tell me. Maybe I can help.”
Qin Qiqi paused, her gaze lingering on Mu Ci for a moment. “Hey, you just reminded me. Isn’t that bitch Shi Na most afraid of you?”
“…”
Mu Ci found herself dragged by Qin Qiqi to Ku Nan’s brand studio in a daze.
After being ignored by the receptionist for three minutes, Qin Qiqi tapped the front desk impatiently. “Hello, we’re from Qin Corporation to discuss project matters.”
The woman was playing a game and looked up irritably. “Qin Corporation, right? The person in charge isn’t available right now. You can wait in the lobby.”
She didn’t even make a phone call before telling them to wait?
Mu Ci gave the receptionist a deep look.
Qin Qiqi pulled Mu Ci to sit on the sofa in the lobby. “See? It’s always like this. Every time I come, they give me a hard time.”
“Why not tell Ku Nan?”
Qin Qiqi flicked the folder with her fingers. “How can I? Ku Nan doesn’t really care much about this domestic studio. He gave me the project as a favor to a friend. If I keep bothering him with these trivial matters, wouldn’t that be embarrassing for you?”
Mu Ci patted Qin Qiqi’s head affectionately. “My dear Qiqi has grown up.”
The workplace had tempered her. In just half a month, Qin Qiqi had learned to control her temper and become much more composed.
The two of them waited. During that time, two other groups arrived, likely also there for work discussions, and the receptionist ushered them inside.
The deliberate targeting was obvious.
Without instructions from someone higher up, a mere receptionist wouldn’t dare act so arrogantly.
Qin Qiqi didn’t mind waiting herself, but the thought of Mu Ci, who was pregnant, waiting with her for a whole hour made her blood boil.
She stood up abruptly, walked over, and slapped the front desk. “How much longer will Shi Na be busy?”
The receptionist examined her newly done nails without even glancing at the time. “About an hour.”
“Another hour!”
Qin Qiqi exploded. “If you scheduled a time, why keep making us wait? I think you’re doing this on purpose!”
“So what if we are?”
The woman looked at Qin Qiqi disdainfully. “Every designer in our studio is top-tier in the country. They’re busy—it’s normal. If you can’t wait, go find another studio to work with!”
A receptionist acting all high and mighty.
“Your mouth is so foul—you should wash it out!”
Qin Qiqi grabbed a water cup from the desk and splashed it directly onto the woman’s heavily made-up face.