Chapter 76: Chapter 0076: You Have a Good Impression of Him?
Yunzhan was so startled by his words that his jaw almost dropped. Was this still the Huo Tingxiao he knew? Had he not heard it with his own ears, he would’ve never believed such words could come from Huo Tingxiao’s mouth, spoken with such a natural tone!
“Huo Tingxiao, you’ve really opened my eyes, you’ve indeed changed.”
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“Where have I changed?”
“You’ve become flirtatious, spouting smooth talk one after another.”
Huo Tingxiao watched Yunzhan with a cold gaze, speechless and choked up.
“…”
...
“Pfft…”
Mu Lan couldn’t hold back her laughter. She had to reconsider her first impression; Yunzhan was too adorable, an interesting soul beneath his beautiful exterior.
Especially seeing Huo Tingxiao’s face as dark as ink, she almost couldn’t help but ship this socialist brotherhood CP.
Huo Tingxiao narrowed his eyes, his voice cold as a death knell.
“Yunzhan!”
“Oh come on, I’m just speaking the truth, and now I’m wrong? I’m happy for you, like an old tree blooming again, buddy.”
“If you say another useless word, roll back to Shen City.”
Though Huo Tingxiao looked like an enraged lion, Mu Lan found him particularly cute, the kind of cute that made her inadvertently let out an auntie’s chuckle.
“An old tree blooming? Mr. Yun, you have used such a fresh and refined idiom.”
Feeling encouraged, Yunzhan immediately nodded as if he’d found an ally.
“Sister-in-law, you don’t know, these years, I just…”
Huo Tingxiao’s glare was more effective than words, instantly silencing Yunzhan.
Wow, he was truly angry, and then Huo Tingxiao added another jab.
“Even food can’t shut your mouth.”
“Fine, I won’t speak then.”
Mu Lan was amused to no end, completely at ease.
She thought to herself, with Yunzhan’s smooth talk, he could easily make any girl bloom with joy, and his attractive looks surely meant many girls couldn’t escape his grasp.
Seeing that Huo Tingxiao didn’t seem eager to continue the topic, she thoughtfully shifted the conversation.
“Actually, rather than Tingxiao’s old tree blooming, I’m more interested in Mr. Yun.”
But, to her surprise, the moment she finished speaking, both men looked at her with profound meanings in their gazes.
Yunzhan wore a look of “holy crap, you’re gonna get me killed!”
Huo Tingxiao’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.
Mu Lan felt innocent, wondering what she had said wrong this time.
“His flowers could blossom all the way from Shen City to Sea City, are you interested in hearing that?”
Mu Lan quickly waved her hands at the sardonic tone.
“No, no, my apologies for disturbing. So, did you guys meet while serving in the military? Tingxiao mentioned you were his comrade-in-arms.”
Yunzhan glanced at Huo Tingxiao, then spoke cautiously.
“Yeah, indeed we met in the military. Back then, Tingxiao was the model soldier of the entire troop. They wanted to keep him for the special forces team, but you know how it is with us, just two years of toughening up and that’s it.
*Sigh*, if it wasn’t for the fact that the military life introduced me to him, I’d really rather not reminisce about that time.”
Not wanting to reminisce… Mu Lan suddenly thought of the friend Huo Tingxiao had mentioned who joined the army for someone else, but the two ended up falling out.
“You don’t quite look like someone who’s been in the military.”
After Mu Lan’s blunt statement, Yunzhan blinked, leaned casually on the chair, and began to recount the past.
“Huo Tingxiao called me a idler and warned me never to admit to being a soldier, fearing I’d bring shame to the troops. If it wasn’t for our old man insisting I go to that place, I wouldn’t have bothered even if they paid me. Living like a monk, who would prefer that over this dazzling, lovable world outside?”
Indeed, her instincts were right, this Yunzhan was truly a restless one.
Suddenly, for a moment, Mu Lan wondered how she could have spent so many years with such a person without being influenced by him. Even Tingxiao was a marvel in his own right.
“Too bad, I’m a homebody and can’t offer much as a host, Mr. Yun—”
“No need to be so formal, just call me Azhan.”
Mu Lan subconsciously glanced at Huo Tingxiao, and upon seeing him nod, she corrected herself.
“Alright, Azhan.”
Seeing this, Yunzhan couldn’t help but tease.
“Wow, even that needs a little flirting with the eyes.”
Huo Tingxiao hummed a sound of disapproval, coolly warning.
“Don’t bring all your Shen City antics to Sea City; I’m concerned you might go too far in your fun, and I’ll have to waste effort cleaning up your mess.”
“Relax, I know my limits. I guarantee not to touch a good family lady or a minor.”
Fearing that Huo Tingxiao wasn’t reassured, Yunzhan even raised three fingers, as if taking an oath.
Mu Lan felt she was about to be amused to death by this man. Shen Zichu was at most more outgoing, but Yunzhan was a complete rogue.
The whole dinner was dominated by Yunzhan, who didn’t consider himself an outsider at all. Tingxiao occasionally chimed in, mostly with threats, of course.
She felt an indescribable sensation within her heart. Why did Tingxiao invite her to meet his fellow comrades and good brothers? What did it mean?
In her heart, she already had a vague answer, but she didn’t dare to be certain, worried that she might be overthinking it.
Of course, what made her even more melancholic was, if it really was as she thought, how should she confront this matter?
Huo Tingxiao, him liking her, could it be possible?
On the way home from the dinner, Mu Lan was spacing out, ideas popping in her head and then being suppressed.
She really couldn’t figure out what Huo Tingxiao meant.
“Grandfather’s birthday is coming up, and I might be busy with company stuff these next few days. Since you’re good at choosing gifts for elders, I’ll leave it to you.”
Huo Tingxiao’s words pulled Mu Lan back to reality.
“Hm, what?”
Mu Lan looked at him with a blank face, obviously not having heard what he had said.
“What has you so engrossed in thought?”
His eyes fixed on her, Mu Lan nervously pursed her lips, hardly daring to admit she’d been wondering whether he liked her.
“Nothing much, just found Yunzhan quite funny, quite different from your personality.”
She was thinking about Yunzhan? Huo Tingxiao raised his eyebrows slightly.
Yunzhan had always been quite popular with women. Those peach-blossom eyes of his must have enchanted many, and his eloquence and high EQ could easily make a woman feel like she’s in heaven, believing she’s a one-of-a-kind fairy.
The saying goes: A bad boy is loved by women. Yunzhan was the one who walked through thousands of flowers without a single one sticking. In this regard, Huo Tingxiao silently admitted he couldn’t compete with Yunzhan, so he couldn’t help wondering if all women were charmed by Yunzhan’s antics, including Mu Lan.
“He’s never serious. Tiresome, really, how he has so many women around and still enjoys it.”
Mu Lan felt surprised. Huh? She wasn’t sure if it was just her impression, but Tingxiao’s remark seemed a tad like throwing his friend under the bus.
“Oh, really? But he seems to have his principles, didn’t he say he won’t touch good family women or minors.”
Huo Tingxiao paused, a subtle turmoil stirring in his eyes. He began to speak, his tone as calm as ever, as if merely asking in passing:
“You seem to have quite a good impression of him.”