Chapter 312: Chapter 0312 Patient is frail, handle with care Chapter 312: Chapter 0312 Patient is frail, handle with care Huo Tingxiao almost lost control and did something bad when he heard Mu Lan say that, but the situation didn’t allow it, so he could only covet and hug her tighter in his arms.

Mu Lan didn’t know what he was thinking but felt that he was hugging her a bit too tightly.

“Be gentle, I still have injuries on my body.”

Huo Tingxiao loosened his grip as if he had just woken up from a big dream, a flush of unnatural red spreading across his face.

“Yeah, then stop teasing me, calm down.

The patient is fragile and needs to be taken care of cautiously.”

Mu Lan glared at him without amusement–how could he still say that.

“With your current condition, you can only have some liquid food. I’ve already told Auntie Li to make some nutritious, not overly thick porridge for you.

We’ll have Dean Shen come and visit you in a bit.”

Huo Tingxiao raised an eyebrow, looking at Mu Lan.

“Dean Shen? Why are you calling him that again?”

Mu Lan pursed her lips, having seen Gu Xiaoman’s friends’ circle when she had just come back, and every time she thought about what Shen Zichu had done back then, it made her angry.

“The genuine Dean Shen, I didn’t say it wrong.”

Seeing her like this, Huo Tingxiao knew it must be related to Gu Xiaoman. Could it be that something happened to Gu Xiaoman?

“Is Gu Xiaoman…”

“It has nothing to do with Xiaoman; she’s living a very good life right now.”

Mu Lan knew it was an issue between the two, and it wasn’t proper for an outsider to comment.

But she couldn’t help feeling aggrieved for Gu Xiaoman–a girl so optimistic and cheerful, having to flee to Germany to heal her heartbreak. Just thinking about it made her feel pitiful.

“Alright, that’s good.”

Huo Tingxiao didn’t ask any more, afraid that someone else’s relationship problems would spread between them, which would be too costly.

Shen Zichu finally had a break after two consecutive meetings and came to see Huo Tingxiao.

“Old Xu said your surgery was very successful; be more careful with these things in the future.”

“Yeah.”

Huo Tingxiao felt like a giant panda; everyone who came by would give him a heads up, coming and going, they just told him to get well soon.

“Yunzhan was raring to go and said he wants to take on Huo Corporation. You should talk to him; I’m afraid he’ll act rashly.”

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Just as he mentioned it, the man pushed the door and entered.

“Huo Tingxiao, have you got Lin Daiyu inside you or what? What’s the meaning of this, suddenly getting yourself into the hospital and undergoing surgery? I heard you were vomiting blood?”

Yunzhan, a true night owl, had just turned on his phone and received the news, rushing over without stopping, his hair a mess like a bird’s nest, but still not affecting his charm.

“Why does everything change when it gets to your mouth?”

Shen Zichu gave him a sidelong glance, asking coolly.

Yunzhan let out a heh-heh laugh, slinging his arm over Shen Zichu’s shoulder.

“I’m just speaking the truth here; vomiting blood isn’t a good sign, but I also asked the doctors. They said the surgery was very successful. It means our Tingxiao must have good fortune ahead.”

He didn’t say the first part about a great misfortune leading to good fortune, but even a fool would have heard the implication.

Mu Lan fixed her gaze on Yunzhan without the slightest hint of amusement in her eyes, causing Yunzhan to immediately drop the joking attitude and apologize:
“Sister-in-law, I was wrong; I just can’t keep my mouth shut. I really didn’t mean to curse him. You’re magnanimous, please don’t take it the wrong way with me, ok?”

The tail end of his plea showed a strong desire to survive, but Mu Lan was not buying it at all.

“I don’t care how you guys used to mess around, but from now on, speak more auspicious words.”

Yunzhan nodded repeatedly.

“Yes, yes, what sister-in-law says is a decree; I will definitely listen.”

Mu Lan was amused by Yunzhan’s way with words, and then she thought of the young girl Jing Rong, not knowing what such a genius girl saw in him. He spouted nonsense so easily, completely unreliable, certainly not a good destination.

“Shen Zichu just said you’re planning to deal with the Huo Family?”

As soon as Huo Tingxiao spoke up, he had sold out Shen Zichu. The two men exchanged glances, with Yunzhan’s eyes full of reproach–“How could a brother backstab like this?”

Shen Zichu pretended not to notice that look and said as a matter of course:
“I was worried you’d act rashly and screw things up, how to deal with it still needs to be decided by Huo Tingxiao.”

Yunzhan rolled his eyes at Shen Zichu.

“Give me a break, I was just putting on an act, spouting a few words without even a plan. If I were to go and directly confront them, wouldn’t I be crazy?

Do you know what kind of person Huo Tingxiao’s father was back in the day? He weathered the economic crisis thirty years ago–it was all thanks to his dad.

Against someone like him, what kind of moves would I need to go head-to-head? Do you think I’ve lived long enough?”

Shen Zichu raised an eyebrow because, in his memory, everyone referred to Huo Qidong as a prodigal son who didn’t take the family business seriously at all. How had he become such an influential figure?

“Huh? You couldn’t possibly be unaware of how badass his dad was back then, right? That financial storm was brutal, a bloodbath. Many people fell from heaven to hell overnight, but the Huo Family stood firm because of his dad’s decisive and ruthless actions, sacrificing part for the greater good. The preserved green mountains were their source of renewal.

But for some reason I don’t know, Huo Family wasn’t under his control anymore. This is what I’ve heard from others. For the specifics, let’s let the person involved explain.”

Huo Tingxiao lifted his eyelids slightly.

“The person involved doesn’t know either.”

Yunzhan blinked. What was it with this father and son–did they have deep-seated hatred for each other? With such an impressive story, isn’t it usual for a father to keep lecturing his son about the past?

Scratching his chin, Yunzhan sighed.

“To be honest, I don’t understand what your family’s old man was thinking. Leaving you the Huo Family mansion, isn’t that a symbol of the heir?

Then leaving the shares to your dad… I’m totally confused. Is he setting you two up to fight in the nest, to see who wins and becomes the heir?”

The words were rough, but the logic was sound; the old man probably meant just that.

At least, that’s what Huo Tingxiao thought.

Mu Lan could tell from the impatience on Huo Tingxiao’s face that he was not as laid-back as he had been earlier and that he didn’t want to continue the conversation on this topic.

“Alright, don’t start discussing these annoying topics as soon as you come, he’s a patient.

Director Shen, aren’t you somewhat neglecting your duties?”

This ‘Director Shen’ somehow made Shen Zichu feel rather eerie.

“It’s our fault, we won’t talk about it anymore.”

Awkwardly raising his hand to cover his mouth and clearing his throat softly, Shen Zichu noticed that Mu Lan was actually trying hard not to ask how Gu Xiaoman was recently, but couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Watching him struggle to speak, Mu Lan looked at him, her face half-smiling.

“What is it, Director Shen, do you have something to say to me?”

Sure enough, there was a tinge of sarcasm in this ‘Director Shen’.

Shen Zichu opened his mouth, stubbornly saying:
“Nope, what could I possibly have to say?”

Mu Lan thought to herself, just keep pretending.

“Oh, that’s too bad, because I have something to say to you.”

With that, Mu Lan walked out of the hospital room in her high heels.

Huo Tingxiao instantly gave Shen Zichu a look that meant, ‘you’re on your own’.

In the hospital corridor, Shen Zichu stood nervously across from Mu Lan, trying to appear nonchalant. His mind was full of thoughts, all about Gu Xiaoman.

“What did you want to say to me?”

Mu Lan looked at him and countered:
“What do you think?”