Repeatedly broken branches

Xiao Mu was puzzled as to why Ci Feng wanted her to keep an eye on Ye Wanwan. Had he discovered something?

Ruan Cifeng wouldn't suddenly say that out of the blue; there must be something he's not willing to say directly. Xiao Mu then had Xiao Shao follow Ye Wanwan.

After following her for only two days, they indeed made some progress. Although Ye Wanwan was very cautious, she always went out alone wearing a veil, and it would take her half a day to come out of a house. Moreover, a lot of her makeup was ruined.

Every time she went out, she would have several more pieces of jewelry on her, making people wonder where she, as a concubine, got so much spare money to buy jewelry, given that her monthly allowance was only so much.

These days, Madam Xue allowed Zhou Tingxi to come back and stay. Firstly, she saw that Xia Yunzhi's mood had improved a lot, and secondly, she was starting to get anxious about having a grandson. Although she loved Xia Yunzhi, she couldn't let her marry into the family and live alone in an empty house.

Ye Wanwan was also there at lunchtime, and Xiao Mu agreed to have lunch with her.

Seeing that Ye Wanwan had a rose-inlaid gold hairpin in her hair, Xiao Mu deliberately asked, "Wanwan's hairpin is so pretty, can I show it to you, sister?"

Ye Wanwan hesitated for a moment, then took off the hairpin and gave it to Xiao Mu.

Xiao Mu examined it carefully for a long time before returning it to Ye Wanwan. A hairpin could not prove anything, and there was no evidence on it. It was just that a small lotus flower was engraved on the hairpin needle, which was probably just an ornament.

Zhou Tingxi asked, "If you like, I'll take you to a jewelry shop to buy some?"

Madam Xue also said, "If you need any jewelry, come to my room and pick one out. You can choose whatever you like without my permission."

Ye Wanwan was extremely jealous. She claimed that she was not feeling well and went back to rest. Neither Xue Shi nor Zhou Tingxi asked her about it, nor did they comfort or care about her because she was pregnant.

Ye Wanwan was furious, but she calmed down a lot after touching the hair ornament on her head.

Xiao Mu didn't even glance at Zhou Tingxi. Instead, she said softly to Madam Xue, "I just thought Wanwan looked good wearing it and wanted to take a closer look. I have no interest in these things, Madam."

Madam Xue looked at Xiao Mu with affection and said, "So what are you interested in? How about having a grandson to make me happy? A granddaughter is fine too, but our family prefers girls more." After saying that, she glared at Zhou Tingxi with disdain.

What's so good about boys? Besides being naughty and causing trouble, what else can they do?

She had cleaned up countless messes for Zhou Tingxi since childhood, but the most infuriating mess was Ye Wanwan's.

Xiao Mu's face flushed crimson, and the tips of her ears turned so red they looked like they were about to bleed. She was filled with shame, anger, and resentment. How could she possibly have a child with Zhou Tingxi? She wished she could kill him!

After dinner, Madam Xue sent Zhou Tingxi, who had originally wanted to rest in the study, to the Zhu Lou. She gave him an ultimatum: if he didn't get Xia Yunzhi pregnant with a grandson within a month, he shouldn't step into the Zhou family's gate!

A month?

Zhou Tingxi sat idly in Xiao Mu's room, while Xiao Mu didn't treat him like a person, lying on the couch with her eyes closed to rest.

Upon seeing Zhou Tingxi, she was consumed by rage. The thought of him killing her father filled her with hatred. However, Zhou Tingxi had taken away all her weapons that could kill, leaving her with nothing but hairpins and other sharp objects; she didn't even have a pair of scissors.

Hairpin?

If a hairpin pierces the carotid artery in the neck, it could be fatal!

Xiao Mu got off the bed, took the sharpest hairpin from the dressing table, inserted it into her hair bun, and walked step by step to Zhou Tingxi's side.

Zhou Tingxi has actually fallen asleep. Doesn't that make things easier?

Xiao Mu pulled out the hairpin, held it in her hand, and was about to stab Zhou Tingxi's neck when he suddenly opened his eyes and looked at her with eyes full of sorrow.

Xiao Mu stared at her hand, frozen in mid-air, at a loss.

Zhou Tingxi snatched the hairpin from her hand and threw it on the ground. He then pulled her into his arms and pressed her against him. Her body was so soft that he couldn't help but want to take a bite.

Xiao Mu struck him hard in the chest with her elbow, and rolled to the ground while he was in pain.

Ouch! Her forehead hit the corner of the table. It hurt so much. Why was she so useless? Why didn't she know any martial arts? Why?

Zhou Tingxi stood up, lowered his eyes, and looked at her with eyes full of disappointment. "I never thought you would want to kill me so badly. Whenever we were alone, you must have gone to great lengths to kill me, right?"

Xiao Mu's eyes were filled with hatred. She sneered, "I not only want to kill you, I also want to drink your blood, and I want to tear you to pieces, the more gruesome the better!"

Zhou Tingxi bit his lip tightly, his heart burning as if being gnawed by a worm. He said in a hoarse voice, "Even if you hate me so much, I will not let you go. It seems I have been too lenient with you. Apart from the doctor coming to prepare your medicine every day, you are not allowed to go out or see any outsiders. I will wait for you to beg me for mercy!"

Xiao Mu said dejectedly, "Whatever. It's impossible for me to beg you. I just want to know what your weakness is. You killed my father, and you still want me to submit to you? You're far too confident. You're a beast. Although I'm powerless now, as long as I have the strength, don't give me another chance. You'd better be careful, because I might stab you in the back anytime!"

Zhou Tingxi laughed maniacally, "I'm waiting for you to come and kill me," then his eyes dimmed, and he said as if talking to himself, "If I said I didn't kill your father, would you believe me?"

Xiao Mu coldly said, "I don't believe you, because you're a beast. I believe you would do such a thing. Didn't you also get together with my best friend? What wouldn't you do? We're not even married yet, and you've already had a child with my best friend. My father not only didn't pursue the matter but also granted your wish. Is your heart made of stone? Even a beast would know how to be grateful!"

She tried every means to provoke Zhou Tingxi, but Zhou Tingxi remained unmoved. Instead, he became interested and sat there quietly watching her scold him. The harsher her scolding, the louder he laughed.

Xiao Mu was exhausted from cursing and collapsed to the ground. Zhou Tingxi called his personal physician to treat the wound on her forehead.

He whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, my doctor is very good. He won't leave any scars on your face. You don't need to worry."

Xiao Mu pushed him away, muttering sarcastically, "Oh, no wonder you didn't die when I stabbed you that day. So that's why. You're really lucky. What are you going to do? Even the King of Hell wouldn't want to take you."

Zhou Tingxi remained unperturbed, finding her rather amusing. A doting smile played on his lips. "How can my wife be so adorable? Keep scolding me, I'm going to take a nap. My mother will definitely come to inspect the results later, and then we'll see what you do."

After saying that, Zhou Tingxi lay down on her couch, closed his eyes, and prepared to sleep!

Xiao Mu, enraged, grabbed a pillow from the side and threw it at him. But just as the pillow was about to hit his face, he opened his eyes, steadily reached out and caught it. He grinned mischievously, "Don't even think about shooting me in the dark. Don't forget that your husband comes from a military background."

"Whose husband are you? Don't talk nonsense, you beast, bastard, son of a bitch, heartless scoundrel!"

Zhou Tingxi went to sleep on his own.

I'll let you sleep, I'll let you sleep!

Xiao Mu picked up the teapot and was about to splash it on his face. The teapot was filled with boiling water. Even if you don't die, you'll be disfigured!

Unexpectedly, Zhou Tingxi dodged it again!

"Since you're so disobedient, I'm punishing you by making you sleep with me!" After saying that, Zhou Tingxi hugged her tightly, turned over, and pinned her down.

Xiao Mu was disgusted and tried desperately to break free, but he was so strong that he held her down tightly.

Xiao Mu sneered, "If you dare to do anything to me, I'll smash my head against the wall and die right here."

Zhou Tingxi touched her luscious red lips, his brows furrowing slightly. "I won't do anything to you. I said sleep, just sleep."

After saying that, Zhou Tingxi got off her, turned to his side, grabbed a corner of the blanket and covered himself up without making a sound; he was probably asleep.

Xiao Mu was too tired to move around anymore, so she got out of bed and fell asleep leaning against the edge of the bed.

As darkness fell, Xiao Mu woke up to find that Zhou Tingxi was no longer in bed; he had finally rolled over. She herself was lying in bed, covered with a blanket, and wearing the same clothes as before, untouched.

"That beast! Who gave him permission to lift me up there?" Xiao Mu shuddered.

She quickly took a shower, washing herself thoroughly several times from head to toe, but still felt incredibly dirty. Her fair skin was already red from scrubbing.