Huo Shiqing glanced at her. "Aside from Grandma, you don't need to pay attention to anyone else."
Mu Beiyin caught the impatience in his eyes and clicked her tongue. Clearly, this visit home wasn't going to be simple. Then again, when has a big family ever been simple?
…
The villa was located in the west of the city.
After parking, Mu Beiyin saw an extremely luxurious villa and silently began speculating about who Huo Shiqing's mother really was.
Just then, Huo Shiqing raised an eyebrow. "With this much distance between us, are you sure we look like a loving couple?"
Mu Beiyin looked at how close they were and her expression stiffened. "…"
They were practically glued together—he called that "distance"?
The next moment, Huo Shiqing spoke. "Give me your hand."
Give him her hand… did that mean he wanted to hold hands?
Mu Beiyin swallowed nervously and took a step back. "No need, really. I can convince everyone we're in love just fine—no need to hold hands…"
Without giving her a choice, Huo Shiqing took her hand.
Mu Beiyin was momentarily speechless.
The man said calmly, "It's fine if your acting slips in front of others, but you can't let Grandma see through it."
Mu Beiyin mentally translated his words: It doesn't matter in front of others—because Huo Shiqing doesn't care.
It seemed the relationship between Huo Shiqing and his mother's side of the family wasn't great. If not for his grandmother, he probably wouldn't have come back at all.
The sitting room was full of people. Mu Beiyin did a quick count and clicked her tongue inwardly—so many family members.
Sitting in the center was a middle-aged woman with a sour expression who gave her a fierce glare. Mu Beiyin immediately understood.
Oh… so Mrs. Huo wasn't exactly welcome here.
Huo Shiqing gave a cool glance around and, still holding Mu Beiyin's hand, turned to leave. "I'll take you to see Grandma."
Mu Beiyin nodded.
But just then, someone stepped in their way.
The middle-aged woman leading the group instantly put on a fawning smile. "Mother is still napping. Shiqing, it's rare for you to be back—don't rush off so quickly."
Then she signaled to a younger woman beside her. "Shishi, go make tea for Shiqing."
Only then did Mu Beiyin notice the young woman standing beside the middle-aged lady. She was pretty and blushing shyly.
The woman beamed. "Shiqing, Shishi is my adopted daughter. Her family fell on hard times and she was left all alone. I pitied her and took her in. I even gave her my surname—she's now Yuan Shishi."
At the mention of "adopted daughter," a deep disgust flashed in Huo Shiqing's eyes.
Unfortunately, the woman didn't notice. She kept gushing, "Shishi graduated from a university overseas. She speaks fluent English—she'd make a perfect assistant for you. Shiqing, you should take her home later!"
Another man chimed in, "That's right, Shiqing. You don't have anyone close by to look after you. Let Shishi take care of you—we'd feel much more at ease."
The woman cast a smug glance at Mu Beiyin and added in a mockingly playful tone, "We even joke that Shishi is like a 'flower of understanding.' She's gentle and considerate—so much better than some impolite woman."
Mu Beiyin: "…"
A "flower of understanding"? "Confidante"? Isn't that the kind of term used for a mistress?
Huo Shiqing was already married, yet they were still trying to push a "confidante" onto him?
Mu Beiyin immediately saw through the couple's scheme—they were clearly trying to shove a woman into Huo Shiqing's life.
And they were doing it right in front of Mrs. Huo. Did they think she was dead?
At that moment, Yuan Shishi returned to the living room holding a cup of tea, cheeks flushed and biting her lip like a helpless bunny who had wandered into a den of wolves. "Brother Shiqing, please have some tea."
Mu Beiyin sneered coldly at that "Brother Shiqing."
Why did everyone insist on calling Huo Shiqing "brother," giggling like chickens laying eggs?
The middle-aged woman gasped theatrically, "Shishi, what are you so shy for? Shiqing is your brother!"
Then she turned to Huo Shiqing. "Our Shishi just blushes easily. She's young and innocent. After she moves in, you'll need to take extra care of her—or someone might take the chance to bully her!"
Yuan Shishi timidly peeked at Mu Beiyin, bit her lip, and shrank behind the woman.
Mu Beiyin nearly laughed out of sheer frustration.
She hadn't said a word since entering, but had already been mocked overtly and covertly a dozen times. Did they think she was some clay Buddha?
Crossing her arms, she said, "Huo Shiqing hasn't agreed yet—so why is Miss Yuan already rushing over to be his 'assistant'?"
Yuan Shishi's face turned pale, eyes filling with tears like she had been grievously wronged.
The middle-aged man immediately burst out, furious. "Shut your mouth! Who gave you the right to speak on family matters?!"
Mu Beiyin blinked innocently. "I'm just curious. Those who know the situation might say you're kindly arranging an assistant for Huo Shiqing. But those who don't… might think the Huo Group answers to you, that even who Shiqing keeps by his side is up to you."
"You, you—" the man stammered, panicking. "That's not what I meant! Shiqing, don't listen to her!"
Huo Shiqing's face visibly darkened.
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances, growing restless.
Only the middle-aged woman held her composure. She took a step forward, sneering as she changed the subject. "Mu Beiyin, is this your attitude? You see your elders and don't even greet them?"
Mu Beiyin raised an eyebrow. "And you are?"
The woman had originally wanted to find fault, but hearing this question made her rage spike instantly.
"I'm Shiqing's aunt! You see your uncle and aunt and still don't greet us?!"
Mu Beiyin feigned realization. "Oh, so you're Shiqing's aunt? My apologies."
Madam Yuan's expression improved slightly—only to hear Mu Beiyin sincerely add:
"With how you're acting, I thought you were a madam from a brothel, desperately trying to introduce women to Huo Shiqing."
…
The room fell dead silent.
Huo Shiqing suddenly glanced at her. Bai Ji froze, then almost burst out laughing.
The middle-aged couple turned bright red, pointing at Mu Beiyin and shouting, "What did you just call us?!"
"Shiqing, look at Mu Beiyin—how uncultured! Our sweet Shishi is so well-behaved, and she's being slandered like this!"
Mu Beiyin wasn't sure where the anger came from—but watching them try to manipulate Huo Shiqing made her furious.
Huo Shiqing had said it himself: aside from Grandma, no one else mattered. His attitude was obvious—he clearly despised this so-called aunt and uncle.
Yet they still tried to shove this white lotus girl on him. Their motives were as plain as day.
Mu Beiyin sighed and said in a deliberately "sweet" voice:
"Auntie, Uncle, I can't be blamed for misunderstanding. It's just… I've never met elders like you before. I didn't know how to react."
"After all, Shiqing already has Bai Ji as an assistant. Is Miss Yuan more competent than Bai Ji? Or more capable of working independently? She has none of that, yet you insist on forcing her on Shiqing. So… if I misunderstood, can you really blame me?"
Huo Shiqing's lips curled into a faint smile.