Chapter 154 Do You Despise Me That Much

Along the way, Jiang Mohe drove in silence, while A Si in the passenger seat sat on pins and needles.

Because Nangong Ao's gaze in the rearview mirror was fixed straight ahead on them, deep in thought.

Suddenly, Nangong Ao broke the silence and asked, "If someone were to grab hold of your weakness, what would you do?"

A Si's heart skipped a beat. *You've got to be kidding me, Boss? Is this a loyalty test right now?*

"Boss, you are our weakness!" A Si gave what he felt was the most self-preservation-minded answer possible.

However, Nangong Ao only kept his eyes on Jiang Mohe.

Jiang Mohe seemed wholly absorbed in driving, pretending not to hear. A Si gently reminded him, "Brother He, the Boss is asking you a question."

Jiang Mohe's expression remained unchanged as he replied, "There are no 'ifs'."

In Jiang Mohe's dictionary, hypothetical questions like "what if" simply did not exist. When something happened, one faced it with full force!

A Si was slightly stunned and glanced at his boss through the rearview mirror.

*Huh? Is that look one of approval or disapproval?*

In truth, Nangong Ao had no answer to his own question either.

Because, as Jiang Mohe had said, there were no "ifs"! Until something actually happened, he had no idea how he would act.

For Nangong Ao, was his weakness Xiao Zhiyun, or the Nangong family? Only when the final choice confronted him would he know the answer.

The car arrived at the Zhai family estate, where Zhai Muli had been waiting for a long time.

He had returned to the country early this morning, by which time Zhai Yan'er had already been sent back. According to their prior agreement, he was supposed to return Bai Luomei.

Yet what kind of person was he? The nickname "Jade-Faced Fox" was not earned through empty flattery; how could he possibly fulfill an agreement so easily?

Nangong Ao was well aware of this, which was why he had come to negotiate with him in person.

Butler Shen led them into the Zhai residence, and Zhai Muli stood up to shake hands with Nangong Ao.

Nangong Ao did not hesitate in the slightest. After shaking hands, they sat down opposite each other, while A Si and Jiang Mohe stood guard behind him on either side.

Zhai Muli let out a light chuckle. "Does Eldest Young Master Nangong always travel with such a grand entourage?"

Nangong Ao didn't bother beating around the bush. "Where is she?"

"Upstairs."

Nangong Ao frowned slightly. "Does the Eldest Young Master Zhai intend to break his word?"

"How could that be!" Zhai Muli calmly picked up his coffee cup and took a sip. "My sister was hypnotized and hasn't fully recovered yet, so I had Divine Doctor Bai look her over."

***

Bai Luomei possessed the ability to heal, but every time she used her healing powers on others, it drained a tremendous amount of energy.

Nangong Ao had no wish to argue with Zhai Muli at this moment and merely stated, "I'll be taking her with me shortly."

"Very well," Zhai Muli agreed readily.

Instead, this made Nangong Ao feel somewhat uneasy. "Why are you so fixated on Bai Luomei?"

Zhai Muli paused slightly as he set down his coffee, the corners of his lips curling upward. "Because she's your capable right-hand woman! By robbing you of such a fine helper, won't it be that much easier for me to scheme against you?"

Nangong Ao felt that Zhai Muli's motives couldn't possibly be that simple, yet he couldn't put his finger on why.

Based on his understanding of Zhai Muli, someone as calculating as him would never think much of a mere subordinate.

If it were merely to annoy him, that might make some sense. But there was no need to keep such a tight grip on Bai Luomei!

Just as Nangong Ao was pondering this, a young maid hurried downstairs and whispered a few words into Butler Shen's ear.

Upon hearing them, Butler Shen's expression shifted.

Zhai Muli asked, "What is it?"

"Eldest Young Master..." Butler Shen hesitated, wearing a look of reluctance to speak.

Zhai Muli's expression turned impatient. "Out with it! What's happened?"

The young maid blurted out, "Miss Bai has fainted!"

Upon hearing this, Nangong Ao stood up instantly. But Zhai Muli was already a step ahead of him, heading up the stairs, looking even more anxious than Nangong Ao himself.

Butler Shen blocked Nangong Ao from following, prompting A Si to demand angrily, "What on earth have you done to Sister Bai?"

Butler Shen hurriedly explained, "Miss Bai was perfectly fine earlier, but perhaps she didn't rest properly catching a flight last night, and then taking care of our young lady on top of that..."

"In that case, I will take her back to the hospital," Nangong Ao said.

Butler Shen advised with a troubled expression, "Young Master Nangong, upstairs is our young lady's bedchamber; it wouldn't be appropriate for you to go up. Once our young master comes down, he can give you an answer, all right?"

Nangong Ao did not insist on going up further and simply stood there waiting with a dark expression.

After going upstairs, Zhai Muli saw that the maids had already helped the unconscious Bai Luomei onto a nearby sofa and were massaging her temples.

Zhai Muli waved a hand to dismiss the maids and pressed hard on the philtrum beneath Bai Luomei's nose. Seeing no reaction, he slipped his hand behind her back, unclasped her bra, and then firmly pressed the acupoint between her thumb and index finger.

"Mmh..." Bai Luomei let out a soft moan and slowly let out a breath.

The young maid hurriedly brought over a glass of water.

Zhai Muli propped her up slightly, sitting behind her so she could lean against him. One arm wrapped around her waist while the other took the glass, holding it to her lips to feed her a small sip.

***

After swallowing the water, Bai Luomei's eyelids fluttered gently before she slowly opened them.

The young maid cried out happily, "Miss Bai, you're awake! Are you alright?"

"What's all the noise!" Zhai Muli barked a reprimand, and the maid promptly shut her mouth.

Only then did Bai Luomei realize she was resting directly in Zhai Muli's embrace.

She struggled to sit up, but Zhai Muli held her down. "Don't move! Do you want to faint again?"

His tone was deeply displeased, carrying a strong implication that he would beat her if she didn't obey.

The maid nearby knew better and quickly dragged the younger maid out of the room.

"Let go of me, I'm fine now." Bai Luomei continued to avoid his gaze.

Seeing this, Zhai Muli couldn't help feeling a surge of irritation. "Do you despise me that much?"

Bai Luomei: "..."

She simply didn't want his injuries to worsen.

The day before yesterday, Zhai Muli had brought her to Country F to handle business matters for the company there.

The Nangong family's enterprises in Country F had deep roots, and they enjoyed friendly relations with the local gentry. However, the Zhai family's NK Group had just arrived to develop the market there, and some senior executives unfamiliar with local customs inevitably faced ostracism in their work.

Thus, Zhai Muli had brought her along hoping she could help resolve the company's issues. To their surprise, while out on an inspection tour, they encountered a mob of locals stirring up trouble.

Those people threw homemade smoke bombs and tear gas everywhere, brandishing clubs and striking anyone in sight. In the chaos, Zhai Muli had blocked a blow with a club intended for Bai Luomei.

When the local police finally arrived to quell the disturbance and they had returned to the hotel, Bai Luomei discovered that his entire left shoulder blade was swollen to the point where he couldn't raise his arm.

"You... why did you block that blow for me?" Bai Luomei's emotions had been extremely complicated at the time.

"You belong to me now; if I don't block it, who should?"

When Zhai Muli said those words, both of them had been momentarily stunned.

Bai Luomei had been forced to accompany him purely against her will, and she had expected Zhai Muli to subject her to all sorts of harsh treatments. Yet over the past few days of living together, Zhai Muli had only brought her along to handle work affairs, hardly making things difficult for her at all.

Bai Luomei was someone who clearly distinguished between gratitude and grudges, so she had offered to treat Zhai Muli's injury. However, Zhai Muli had refused, allowing only his assistant to apply a medicated ointment for bruising.

Later, when the crisis with Zhai Yan'er arose, Zhai Muli had rushed back regardless of his own injury.