Xu Kaifeng stepped out of the elevator as soon as it opened, letting out a sigh of relief. He pressed the doorbell, and the door was quickly answered by Mo Huai.
"Mr. Mo, here's the grilled tofu you requested," Xu Kaifeng said, handing over the food with a hint of anxiety, mindful of Mo Huai's usual emphasis on punctuality and efficiency.
Mo Huai took the takeaway with a calm demeanor, glancing at his watch. "Good job, it arrived quickly," he said, which made Xu Kaifeng relax visibly.
At that moment, Luo Wei peeked out from behind the door, realizing that Mo Huai had called in his special assistant for the errand. "Ms. Luo," Xu Kaifeng nodded in acknowledgment.
"Hello, Assistant Xu," Luo Wei responded politely, smiling at the unexpected visitor.
Luo Wei glanced at the takeaway in Mo Huai's hand and couldn't help but feel a little nervous. "Thank you, Special Assistant Xu," she said with a grateful smile.
"You're welcome," Xu Kaifeng replied.
"Would you like to come in?" Luo Wei offered, trying to be polite.
Xu Kaifeng hesitated, glancing nervously at Mo Huai. Seeing no objection from Mo Huai, he quickly made his decision. "No, Miss Luo, I should be going. Have a good evening."
With a polite nod to both Mo Huai and Luo Wei, Xu Kaifeng left the Supreme Mansion.
Mo Huai opened the takeaway box and picked up a piece of tofu with a fork, offering it to Luo Wei. She smiled and took a bite, her face lighting up with delight as she finally tasted the food she had been craving. As she enjoyed the tofu, she couldn't help but sway happily from side to side, savoring the moment.
Seeing the girl in a good mood, Mo Huai gently caressed the top of her head with a loving touch. "Another piece?" he asked, smiling.
Luo Wei nodded eagerly, and Mo Huai picked up another piece of tofu, offering it to her. She savored it, then asked for more. "More," she said, her eyebrows curved with satisfaction.
Mo Huai obliged again, but when she asked for more a third time, he paused. "That's enough," he said firmly. "You shouldn't eat too much junk food. Let's just stop with these for today."
Luo Wei's shoulders slumped slightly, and she pouted in disappointment. "Okay," she murmured.
Mo Huai took the remaining tofu and the packaging bag and threw them into the trash can. Luo Wei couldn't help but feel troubled by the waste, and she stammered, "It's not good to waste food." Her gaze lingered on the trash can, her expression conflicted.
Luo Wei felt a pang of disappointment as the grilled tofu was thrown away before she could eat her fill. The warm feelings she had for Mo Huai were momentarily overshadowed by her frustration.
Noticing her reaction, Mo Huai leaned in and gently held her hand. "I know it's not good to waste food," he explained patiently, "but I care more about your health than about wasting a little food."
Luo Wei looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity in his expression. Her earlier frustration melted away, replaced by a warm feeling. "Okay," she said, curling her lips into a smile and nodding.
Mo Huai's eyes sparkled with affection. "That's good," he said, relieved and happy to see her smile again.
——
At a bustling business banquet, Chi Yu attended with his college classmate Dazao, who had been his best friend during their university days.
"Brother, President Mo of the Mo Group will be attending the event later. I promised you last time that I would introduce you two," Dazao said, glancing around the room. He had done business with Mo Huai before and considered him a friend.
"Okay, thanks, brother," Chi Yu replied, raising his glass of red wine and taking a sip as he surveyed the crowd.
Suddenly, Dazao raised his hand and pointed towards a figure in the distance. "Boss Mo is over there; let's go and meet him," he said enthusiastically.
The two approached Mo Huai, with Chi Yu's eyes locked on him. As a prominent figure in Yanjing City, Mo Huai was a valuable connection, and Chi Yu was eager to make his acquaintance. He hoped that a relationship with Mo Huai could greatly benefit the Chi Group.
"Boss Mo," Dazao called out softly.
Mo Huai turned at the sound of his name and looked at the man standing next to Dazao.
"Mr. Mo, this is my college friend and the president of Chi Group, Chi Yu," Dazao introduced, his eyes gleaming with expectation.
Mo Huai smiled, the corners of his mouth curling up. He hadn't sought out Chi Yu, but it seemed Chi Yu had taken the initiative to approach him.
Mo Huai glanced at Chi Yu with a playful smile, "Chi Yu."
Chi Yu nodded politely, greeting him, "Hello, Mr. Mo. Please take care of me."
Mo Huai's expression darkened slightly at the phrase. "Take care of him?" He thought. He had already placed the Chi family in a crisis before, and it seemed that wasn't enough.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Chi Yu's eyes caught sight of a valuable ring on Mo Huai's finger. Curious, he asked, "Mr. Mo, you're married?"
"Yeah," Mo Huai responded indifferently, his face expressionless.
"Congratulations," Chi Yu said, trying to ease the tension. "Your wife must be very outstanding. She is very lucky to be your wife."
Mo Huai was silent for a few seconds before speaking, "I was able to marry her thanks to her previous fiancé breaking off the engagement, which gave me the chance to meet her. She may not be outstanding in the conventional sense, but I love her very much."
The colonel looked at Mo Huai, surprised by the unexpected vulnerability in his words. His eyes sparkled as he said, "Mr. Mo, you and your wife must share a deep love. I really envy you two."
"Yeah," Chi Yu chimed in, agreeing with the sentiment.
Mo Huai glanced at his watch, then said, "I have to go. My wife is waiting for me at home." With that, he walked away from the banquet with his long strides.
As Mo Huai drove back to the Supreme Mansion, he noticed that the house was quiet, with no signs of movement inside.
Mo Huai frowned slightly as he entered the house. His eyes landed on Luo Wei, who was asleep on the sofa. He carefully leaned over, intending to carry her back to their room.
As he moved closer, Luo Wei stirred and spoke drowsily, "You're back."
"Did I wake you up?" Mo Huai asked gently. He knew that pregnant women often felt tired and guessed that she had been waiting for him and accidentally fell asleep on the sofa.
"No," Luo Wei replied softly, her voice sweet and warm from just waking up. Mo Huai felt his Adam's apple move involuntarily, and he instinctively put a bit of distance between them, trying to maintain composure.
"Are you hungry?" he asked, attempting to divert his thoughts.
Luo Wei slowly woke up, her relaxed expression gradually returning to full awareness. "I'm not hungry," she said, her lips forming a slight smile as she looked at him.
At that moment, a WeChat video call popped up on Mo Huai's phone. He hesitated for a moment before pressing the green button. The kind and gentle faces of Mr. and Mrs. Mo appeared on the screen.
Luo Wei quickly sat up straight and adjusted her hair, feeling a sudden wave of nerves.
"Weiwei, my dear daughter-in-law, how are you doing? We miss you so much," Mrs. Mo said warmly, her smile radiating kindness.
"I'm fine. I miss you both, too," Luo Wei replied a bit nervously. She had only spoken to them over the phone before, and meeting them face-to-face, even through a screen, made her anxious.
Noticing her discomfort, Mo Huai gently squeezed her hand, his warmth providing reassurance and helping to calm her nerves.
Mr. Mo, with a more serious expression, spoke up, "You two need to plan your wedding soon. We can't let Weiwei be without proper status, and she deserves to be treated with respect. She shouldn't have to suffer any indignities."
Mo Huai cleared his throat, feeling the weight of his father's words. He genuinely wanted to marry Luo Wei, but he respected her feelings and wanted to ensure she was comfortable with everything. "I will," Mo Huai responded sincerely, his gaze steady.
Luo Wei, still a bit taken aback by Father Mo's sternness, quickly interjected, "Uncle Mo, Mo Huai has been very good to me." Her voice was soft, trying to reassure them.
Father Mo's stern expression softened into a kinder one. "Weiwei, you're still calling me 'uncle'?" he said with a gentle tone, clearly hinting that she should address him more familiarly.