Volume 1, Chapter 29: Thank You, Husband

"Borrow your husband for a bit?"

What on earth? Listen to that—what kind of scandalous talk is this? Is he something you can just borrow? Isn't that illegal?

As soon as those words left her lips, everyone present widened their eyes in shock, including Fang Mo himself, who was left completely bewildered. Why was their business discussion suddenly veering toward him?

Ning Yuelan’s expression darkened in an instant. Her peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly, her long lashes drooping as she glared. Anyone who knew her could tell the woman was furious.

"Miss He, please mind your language."

"I am minding my language!" He Xiwan glanced at Ning Yuelan with a playful smile before turning to Fang Mo, whose face was flushed red. "I think Young Master Fang is a wonderful person. Although I haven't had much contact with President Ning, I am certain she must have valued his character, which is why she chose to be with him."

"Likewise, I am also..."

"It’s just that I started too late; President Ning and Young Master Fang have already tied the knot. But I don’t want to give up on the only man who has ever made my heart flutter, so I’d like to compete fairly with President Ning."

*Boom.*

The two women stood in a standoff. One possessed an icy, domineering aura, her furrowed brow radiating an indescribable pressure. The other was gentle and charming; though she lacked the former’s aggression, she didn't retreat a single step when faced with Ning Yuelan’s cold gaze.

"My god, am I really allowed to watch this for free?"

"Damn, this is intense. He Xiwan actually likes President Ning’s man."

"Did Fang Mo save the galaxy in his past life? Why do so many outstanding women fall for him?"

The last comment came from Li Haowen, who was green with envy. Having forgotten his earlier troubles, seeing Fang Mo become the prize in a tug-of-war between two women made Li Haowen want to cry. Why? Why wasn't he the one being fought over? Even just once would be enough!

"Miss He is a lady from a prominent and prestigious family; isn't it a bit inappropriate to covet what belongs to another?" The expression on Ning Yuelan’s face turned increasingly dangerous.

He Xiwan crossed her arms. "Then how about you lend him to me for three days? Let me experience what it’s like to be Young Master Fang’s woman. President Ning may be supreme in Jiangcheng, but looking at the whole of China, your resources are lacking. There is a wider world outside Jiangcheng, and I think Young Master Fang has the right to make his own choices."

*Don't start!* I have the right, but I don't want to! Fang Mo stepped back in a panic. Besides, I’m not an object—since when do people get borrowed back and forth?

Noticing that Ning Yuelan was trembling with rage, Fang Mo felt a pang of heartache. He reached out and hooked his fingers around her soft, cool hand.

"Um... Miss He, I’m sorry, but I am married. I love Sister Yuelan. We are mutually in love, which is why we are together." Fang Mo braced himself to stand up; he couldn't let Sister Yuelan face this storm alone. "Miss He and I have had no prior contact. Perhaps you only developed a slight interest in me because I stepped up that day, but that doesn't count as liking me, let alone love. I’m sorry, Miss He."

Fang Mo kept his tone as calm and polite as possible. Hearing this, a flicker of disappointment crossed He Xiwan’s eyes. Conversely, a touch of deep affection appeared in Ning Yuelan’s eyes; she seemed genuinely moved by Fang Mo’s rare confession.

"Are you really not going to consider it?" He Xiwan pouted her red lips with regret.

Fang Mo coughed and glanced shyly at the tall woman beside him. "Loving someone means loving everything about them, not just money, power, or wealth. Likewise, loving someone should be just about the person, without being influenced by such things. If you love everyone you meet, it will be like the story of 'The Biggest Ear of Corn' in primary school textbooks—in the end, you’ll end up with nothing."

"Life doesn't stop at the present, but my love—the moment I say 'I love you,' it means I want to love you for a lifetime. That is where my love reaches its destination."

Hearing this, the sadness in He Xiwan’s eyes vanished in a flash. "I understand. It seems Young Master Fang and President Ning are very happy together. President Ning, it was my presumption earlier; please accept my apology. Young Master Fang is a lifesaver to my grandfather, and our He family owes him a significant debt. Logically and emotionally, I have no reason to refuse your request."

"So, please, come with me! My grandfather is here today to visit my grandmother’s grave. He is at the cemetery, and I will take you to see him."

With that, He Xiwan seemed unwilling to linger, fearing the embarrassment of her rejection. Watching her lead the way, Fang Mo looked at Ning Yuelan. "Sister Yuelan, you go ahead. Li Haowen and I still need to pay respects to his brother."

"We didn't get a chance to light the incense before we ran into Gao Zijie. We should let Li Haowen say a few words to his brother before we leave, otherwise, it would be quite impolite."

Ning Yuelan nodded, her beautiful eyes filled with tenderness. "I didn't expect to benefit from your favor this time."

Under normal circumstances, even if Ning Yuelan used her connections to reach Elder He, he might not have necessarily chosen to extend a helping hand. But with He Xiwan calling him a "lifesaver," Ning Yuelan was certain the funding turnover issue was as good as settled. After all, the He family never liked owing favors.

"Tell me later how you became the object of Miss He’s affection..." With a radiant smile, Ning Yuelan leaned in and kissed Fang Mo on the cheek.

The kiss was so natural that Fang Mo didn't even realize it until the cool touch left his skin, his ears turning bright red. Ning Yuelan leaned close to his ear and whispered in a sweet, coquettish voice, "Thank you, husband."

*Hiss!*

An electric, tingling sensation surged through his entire body. Fang Mo couldn't help but gasp, hunching over and smiling bitterly. "Sister Yuelan, you should go. Miss He is waiting for you."

With that, Ning Yuelan laughed and walked toward another part of the cemetery. The dozen or so bodyguards left behind—men she had temporarily hired from a nearby mall to hold the line—were stunned. They knew Ning Yuelan’s efficient, ruthless style, so they had come fully prepared. They never expected the conflict to end without them having to lift a finger. What shocked them even more was the intimate contact between the President and the young man.

"President Ning is actually married?"

"My god, what kind of deity is that young brother? He’s actually won the favor of both President Ning and Miss He."

"Tsk, tsk. President Ning is sexy and alluring, while Miss He is vibrant and energetic. It would be hard to choose."

"Wake up, brother. Nobody is asking you to choose."

...

Li Haowen patted Fang Mo’s shoulder gratefully. "You helped me out again, kid."

"Let’s pay our respects." Fang Mo didn't dwell on his accomplishment, as the image of Ning Yuelan’s face leaning in to kiss him was still stuck in his mind. To have a high-and-mighty, cold-blooded goddess kiss him in front of so many people—Fang Mo felt like he was floating. It was his masculine vanity at work.

"Um, could I have a stick of incense?"

Just then, a somewhat lonely voice sounded behind Li Haowen. Fang Mo and Li Haowen turned around in surprise. A plump, beautiful woman in a purple robe was looking at them with reddened eyes. She was accompanied by two other beauties, though their attention was fixed entirely on Fang Mo. They were, of course, Ning Yuelan’s three close friends.

This was the first time the three women had seen Fang Mo. Looking closely, they didn't see anything particularly outstanding about his appearance. However, they were not the type to judge a book by its cover.

Li Haowen was stunned for a moment before asking tentatively, "Are you... Miss Wu Jiabei?"

"I’ve heard my brother mention you. The night he passed away, he had an appointment to have dinner with you. He wanted to introduce me to my future sister-in-law..."

Hearing this, Wu Jiabei completely broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Thinking of the bloody, mangled state she had seen Li Wenhan in at the morgue, her heart ached.

Li Haowen panicked and quickly handed her a pack of tissues. "Sister-in-law, don't cry. Life goes on; you have to look forward."

Wu Jiabei wiped her damp eyes, lit a stick of incense, and cried toward the tombstone. "Li Wenhan, do you know? The moment I saw you lying in that cold morgue, my heart stopped. That missed beat seems to have just made up for the flutter I felt when we first met."

The next moment, Wu Jiabei stared at Li Haowen’s face, which bore a resemblance to Li Wenhan’s, and bit her red lip hard. "Since we have both lost the person most important to us, let me take your brother’s place in taking care of you."

"What!?"

The script had flipped too fast. Li Haowen hadn't even processed what was happening. What the hell? Sister-in-law taking my brother’s place to take care of me?

Fang Mo, standing to the side, was dumbfounded, nearly choking on his own spit.

*[Seduction of the Sister-in-Law?]*

Song Yu and Zheng Ronghe slapped their foreheads, speechless. This woman was truly something—one second she was playing the part of the devoted lover, and the next, she had already shifted her affections. "What do you mean 'take your brother's place'? It’s clearly just you, you naughty girl, falling for his looks. Still, it’s a good thing Wu Jiabei has finally found someone else to care for..."