Warm Marriage in a Rich Family: Mr. Huo's Spoiled Wife Will Turn the World Upside Down - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Lifting a Stone to Smash One’s Own Foot

Her foolish question made Huo Ya frown again; he was even too stingy to give her a glance. From Zhou Lai’s diagonal perspective, his speechless expression seemed to say: What else could one do in front of a computer besides work?

Watching Zhou Lai’s panicked, almost tearful expression, Huo Ya ultimately restrained himself.

“I’m turning off the computer. It’s late, time to sleep.”

No reaction. So, he probably didn’t see anything he shouldn’t have, right? She must have closed the page casually, right?

Ah, she couldn’t remember whether she had closed the page or not. She desperately wanted to find a place to lie down. With a crestfallen face, she forced a smile and obediently nodded: “Okay, good night, Brother Huo Ya.”

Then she closed her eyes and lay down. The edge of the bed beside her sank, Huo Ya had sat down. Zhou Lai kept her eyes tightly shut, feeling so guilty that even the light seemed glaring. She quietly opened her eyes and suddenly found Huo Ya’s magnified face right in front of her, staring at her with an intense gaze.

This action terrified Zhou Lai. She sprang up from the bed, terrified that he had seen her search page and was planning to confront her.

How could someone with such strong self-esteem tolerate others doubting his capabilities?

“…Brother Huo Ya, aren’t you tired?” She patted her chest, still shaken.

Huo Ya grabbed her collar and lifted her up, but contrary to her fears, he didn’t confront her about anything. Instead, he continued watching her with that unfathomable gaze.

Zhou Lai turned her head away, still feeling Huo Ya’s eyes lingering on her face.

Huo Ya sighed helplessly, shaking his head as he asked weakly: “Zhou Lai, can’t you stop acting like this in front of me? Aren’t you tired?”

Zhou Lai’s inner turmoil was about to explode, but she maintained her calm demeanor. After thinking for a moment, she answered evasively: “I’m not tired. We went out to eat today, and it’s rare for both families to gather. I’m very happy.”

After hearing her response, Huo Ya immediately released his grip. Zhou Lai collapsed softly onto the bed.

Zhou Lai: “…”

Huo Ya was angry, but the consequences weren’t serious. Although she felt upset about being treated this way, her own guilt made her swallow hard. Putting on a brave face, she said: “I need to go out with Brother Huo Ya tomorrow, so I should get my beauty sleep now.”

After saying this, she burrowed completely under the covers, hiding her head and pretending to sleep. Beneath the blanket, she felt the person beside her get up and leave, hearing the door opening and closing.

This wasn’t the time to provoke him. One must know when to yield and when to stand firm, who knows whether he has seen the page content or not…

She slept very comfortably that night, dreaming that Huo Ya had returned to France. She woke up grinning foolishly to find herself lying diagonally across the center of the bed. Huo Ya hadn’t returned to the room to sleep last night.

Hmph, it would be even better if he never came back. With so many rooms in the house, she could have a big bed all to herself and sleep peacefully every night. Although her current mission was to please him, she still needed to give herself some relaxing personal space occasionally she absolutely shouldn’t force herself to endure discomfort.

Humming a tune, she got up and went downstairs where she saw Li Jie preparing breakfast. She happily scampered over and hugged the kind-hearted Li Jie, showering her with affection.

“Li Jie, you’re back! I missed you so much after just one day apart.” With Li Jie back, it wouldn’t be just her and Huo Ya alone in the house anymore.

“I came back last night but didn’t dare bother you and the young master.”

Li Jie patted her hand, teasingly.

“Not at all, Li Jie! I’d be heartbroken if you didn’t come find me.” She wished Li Jie would visit her often better yet always stay within her sight. That would be preferable to facing that perpetually sour expression as if someone owed him millions.

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder I understand completely.” The honest, middle-aged woman smiled with suggestive knowing.

Zhou Lai’s mouth twitched, genuinely puzzled about what could have given Li Jie such a mistaken impression.

Huo Ya had gone to the company early in the morning and didn’t return until noon. They ate the carefully prepared lunch Li Jie had made at home.

He had originally wanted to take her out to eat, but Zhou Lai insisted that since Li Jie had already cooked, they absolutely mustn’t waste it, waste was shameful!

In truth, she just didn’t want to go out to eat with him.

Huo Ya didn’t specify where they were going, and she couldn’t be bothered to ask. Mechanically, she applied various creams and potions to her face a refined girl like her couldn’t just head out casually.

Through the mirror’s reflection, Zhou Lai watched the person leaning against the doorframe. He had suddenly left last night, yet today he appeared as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t been the one dragging her around yesterday. It was utterly baffling.

Xiao Fei drove them to the entrance of the art center. Standing at the door, Zhou Lai immediately wanted to turn and leave, but she didn’t dare. She stiffly turned her head to look at Huo Ya, unable to comprehend why he was bringing her here for no reason.

“Since I came back early and you missed Qian Ruizhen’s concert, I have a friend who knows her and specially asked her to hold another performance. Consider making it up to you.” He said it as casually as if commenting on the nice weather, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Zhou Lai was practically moved… or more accurately, she was barely holding back a stream of curses.

“Hehe, Brother Huo Ya, what a surprise. You’re really… so thoughtful.”

Zhou Lai took a deep breath, turned her head to wipe the corner of her eye, and struggled to suppress the urge to roll her eyes.

A casual remark she’d made had coincidentally been overheard by him, which she had truly brought this upon herself. She had no desire to listen to Qian Ruizhen’s singing; she lacked artistic sensibility and couldn’t appreciate such profound theories. Once, to humor Lin Jing, she had forced herself to attend a performance and ended up falling asleep within five minutes.

If she fell asleep around Lin Jing, she’d at most get scolded. But if she accidentally dozed off near Huo Ya, wouldn’t her true feelings be exposed?

Besides, when she slept sitting up, she had a habit of snoring!

Zhou Lai was nearly going crazy. Could she leave now? The answer was no, because a professor from the art center had personally come out to greet them.

It was just two hours, no big deal. She’d tough it out; she could endure it.

But she had overestimated herself. The magnificent singing failed to capture her attention, and she grew drowsy. In a moment of carelessness, her head, propped up by her hand, drooped down.

“What’s wrong?” Huo Ya’s voice came from beside her.

“Nothing, my hand slipped.” She straightened up, forcing herself to stay alert, but soon her head began swaying again. To her, the bel canto was like a lullaby. Eventually, she rested her forehead in her hand and fell asleep.

The people around her stopped moving and grew quiet. Huo Ya watched her; her posture didn’t look comfortable, as she wasn’t sleeping soundly, her elbows kept slipping down.

Yet Zhou Lai remained fast asleep, showing no signs of waking up at all.