Over half an hour passed, and Hua Yan finally learned about her entanglements with the Li family. She glanced at Hu Li, who looked at her with affection and love. She said fiercely, "Since you said it's all an act, then you better watch your lower half."
"As your husband, I will surely remain chaste," Hu Li said, his gloom of recent days vanishing after gaining Hua Yan's forgiveness. However, he also realized that in the future, he needed to be more cautious when dealing with the Li family, especially Li Jiao Jiao. Otherwise, if Hua Yan, who was always ready to catch him slipping, found any evidence against him, he might end up lonely for life.
Occasionally, her eyes held a hint of warmth, but most of the time, they were calm and indifferent. Her cold demeanor terrified him. He could imagine that if he made her loathe him, she would treat him like a stranger.
"Has your body always been this cold?" Hua Yan asked, slightly surprised by the constant coldness emanating from Hu Li's body.
"I was normal when I was born. I can't remember when it started to be like this," Hu Li said, watching Hua Yan's expression carefully. Since she had lost her memory, he worried she might be repelled by his unusual body temperature. Fortunately, she merely smiled and snuggled closer to him, seeming quite satisfied with him as a reliable, warm cushion.
"But your hands are warm," Hua Yan remarked curiously, playing with Hu Li's hands, which were as smooth and warm as jade.
Pleased with her affectionate gesture, Hu Li raised his thumb to show off the white jade ring he wore. "It's because of this. It was the first gift you ever gave me."
Hua Yan was stunned, observing the quality of the jade and the swirling mist inside. She was sure it was no ordinary item. She found it surprising that her past self had given such a precious gift to Hu Li.
Seeing the disbelief in Hua Yan's eyes, Hu Li felt a pang of hurt and, with a trembling voice, said, "What kind of expression is that? Do you think I would lie to you? This was indeed your gift to me."
Suddenly, he remembered the moment she had mysteriously placed it on his finger, and the warmth of that moment lingered in his heart.
"I don't doubt you; I'm just amazed at how much I must have liked you back then," Hua Yan admitted frankly. She didn't mince words or pretend. Seeing the hurt in Hu Li's eyes, she felt an involuntary urge to soothe it.
"When will you remember everything?" Hu Li asked, rubbing her hand with a hint of lingering worry in his tone.
Noticing the darkness outside, Hua Yan thought of her father and the others, who were probably anxiously worrying about her again. She sat up, her tone turning cold, "Until you've dealt with the troubles around you, it's better if I don't remember my past."
At this moment, she didn't have feelings for Hu Li and tolerated his fiancée's presence. If she remembered everything, she couldn't predict what she would decide then.
Watching Hua Yan leave gracefully, Hu Li stood in front of the car, unmoving for a long time. Seeing this, Hu Er advised, "Master, you must take care of yourself to bring Miss Hua Yan true happiness. Just now, Hu Da reported that the old master has returned."
The old master had returned, and Hu Er was sure the mistress would tell him about Hua Yan hitting her. The old master, who didn't tolerate grievances and loved his wife dearly, would likely bring about a tough confrontation. Hu Li, caught between the two sides, would suffer the most.
"Let's go back," Hu Li said, regaining his composure and returning to his cold, determined demeanor as if he had everything under control.
Back at the company, Hu Li issued further plans to his trusted subordinates. His collaboration with Li Dong grew more frequent, with Li Dong's ambitions expanding. He began secretly engaging in arms deals, controlling the underworld, and even dabbling in drug trafficking, leveraging the connections Hu Li helped him establish.
However, for now, Li Dong's operations were small in scale, and each step was meticulously planned, leaving no trace. This forced Hu Li to delay his plan to capture him. He had to endure the presence of someone he didn't love by his side.
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Previously worried about how his father would handle the situation with Hua Yan, Hu Li now found himself confused. Despite his father continuing his usual lifestyle of indulgence, he said nothing about Hua Yan, making Hu Li increasingly uneasy. It felt like the calm before a storm.
In reality, it wasn't that Hu Li's father didn't want to act against Hua Yan. Before his return, he had met with a government official who made it clear that Hua Yan was under the government's special protection. The reasons for this protection were unknown, but it was emphasized that anyone who interacted with her would be closely watched by the government. If they hadn't committed any crimes, it wouldn't matter, but if they had, the government would eventually gather evidence to bring them down.
The official also held some evidence of the Hu family's crimes. Though not enough to destroy them, it contained key points in major criminal cases that could be devastating if revealed to their enemies or the government.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Hu Li's father had to swallow his pride and let go of any thoughts against Hua Yan. However, he subtly encouraged his wife to have Hu Li and Li Jiao Jiao interact more, even suggesting that it wouldn't matter if they had a child before marriage.
Hu family's villa, living room...
Hu Fu and Hu Mu sat on one side, while Hu Li and Li Jiao Jiao sat on the other side of the sofa.
Li Jiao Jiao, with a sweet mouth, flattered Hu Mu, “Auntie, your taste in people is excellent. Every time I eat Mrs. Wu’s cooking, it’s so delicious I want to swallow my tongue.”
Hu Mu smiled kindly and beautifully, “If you like it, Jiao Jiao, you should come over often. Hu Li never comes to see us if you don’t come.”
Hu Mu’s face had returned to normal. Although Hua’s father had told her it was not the right time to have a falling out with Hua Yan, the anger in her heart wouldn’t dissipate. She didn’t expect to be hit, and while Hu Li was worried and concerned about her, he didn’t hold any resentment towards that woman. Even in her rage, he indirectly pleaded for her.
This was a huge provocation and blow to a mother, and her hatred for Hua Yan was beyond common understanding.
At this moment, Li Jiao Jiao secretly glanced at Hu Li, shyly lowering her head with a delicate, girlish demeanor. Hu Fu nodded approvingly, but Hu Li didn’t even lift his eyelids, his thoughts already flying to Muyun Pavilion.
“It’s late today, Jiao Jiao. You should stay the night.”
“No, it’s not too late. I should go back...” Li Jiao Jiao felt flustered at the suggestion of staying over. She had only recently started interacting with the Hu family and worried that staying overnight might make them look down on her.
Hu Mu smiled knowingly, patting her fair hand, “Don’t worry. I don’t feel safe letting you travel so late. If something happened to you, I couldn’t explain it to your parents. We don’t have old-fashioned rules here, so just stay and relax. I’ll bring you some hot milk.”
Hu Li wanted to leave and return to his villa, but a stern look from Hu Fu discouraged him.
The milk was freshly delivered from a dairy farm in the suburbs and heated until its rich aroma wafted up with the steam, making it very appetizing. Under Hu Mu’s enthusiastic persuasion, both Li Jiao Jiao and Hu Li drank two cups. Unable to withstand Hu Mu’s hospitality any longer, Hu Li fled to the second-floor bedroom and didn’t dare come out again.
Half-asleep, Hu Li suddenly felt a hand wandering over his body, and a surge of heat inside him. With previous experience of being drugged by Cai Cai at the entertainment club, he immediately knew he had been drugged again.
In the moonlight filtering through the sheer curtains, he saw Li Jiao Jiao kneeling on the bed in revealing pajamas, her face full of intoxication. Her breathing was rapid, and occasionally, there were moans of discomfort that were undeniably seductive. Hu Li shuddered, rolled over, and with a shaky, weak body, wrapped himself in the bedsheet and got off the bed.
Li Jiao Jiao, unable to feel Hu Li’s cold body, whimpered and moaned, “Hu Li, I feel awful, so hot and uncomfortable... Hu Li...” She collapsed onto the bed, rubbing against the blanket to ease her discomfort.
With the last bit of clarity left in his mind, Hu Li remembered Hu Mu telling her that the milk contained a drug that would make her lose control and asking if she was willing to sleep with Hu Li. She also mentioned that if Li Jiao Jiao was unwilling, she would immediately provide the antidote.
Overcoming her shock, Li Jiao Jiao, seeing Hu Mu’s hopeful expression, gritted her teeth and decided to seize the opportunity. Before entering the room, she worriedly asked Hu Mu what to do if Hu Li was awake. Hu Mu confidently assured her that the drug in Hu Li’s drink was stronger and even a deity wouldn’t resist its effects.
So, she took the key Hu Mu gave her and entered Hu Li’s bedroom. Under the moonlight, she felt her decision was right. Her body, already unusually sensitive and further affected by her attraction to him, quickly became entranced. She climbed into bed, touching Hu Li’s body.
But what was happening now? Those cold, clear eyes looked at her indifferently. Under his gaze, she felt both shame and a tingling sensation, moaning uncontrollably.
Hu Li, filled with disgust, quickly dressed and left the room. Hu Fu and Hu Mu, monitoring the situation upstairs, were startled. Could it be that the drug didn’t affect Hu Li?
Due to his status, Hu Fu couldn’t go upstairs to check and signaled Hu Mu to see what was going on.
In Hu Li’s bedroom, one voice cried in sorrow, while another gently consoled. Meanwhile, Hu Li drove to Muyun Pavilion, feeling less agitated and strangely at peace as he gazed at the dark windows.
It was already two in the morning when Hua Yan returned from the bathroom and saw a familiar luxury car parked under the dim streetlight. Inside, she could see Hu Li, staring in her direction with a look of fatigue and melancholy.