Chapter 317: Chapter 0317: This Contrast Is Really Charming Chapter 317: Chapter 0317: This Contrast Is Really Charming The consequence of the reward was that Mu Lan woke up again in the middle of the night to find her side empty; Huo Tingxiao had gone somewhere.

Looking at herself, she had already been changed into pajamas, and Mu Lan felt bubbles of happiness welling up inside her.

Lifting the covers, Mu Lan got out of bed, shuffling in her slippers as she left the bedroom, only to see the housekeeper Li coming up the stairs.

“You’re awake.”

“Yeah.”

Mu Lan glanced at the housekeeper somewhat sheepishly.

“The young master just made dinner, he put a lot of effort into it.”

Cooking…

The thought of the kitchen disaster from before caused Mu Lan to involuntarily swallow.

“Okay.”

With a heart full of trepidation, Mu Lan walked to the dining room, where she saw Huo Tingxiao, wearing a floral apron. Having been in the hospital for a while, he had lost some weight, but it did nothing to diminish his handsomeness.

“What delicacy have you made today, chef?”

Huo Tingxiao placed the last dish of stir-fried greens on the table and turned to look at her.

“Try it and see, this time it’s definitely… not bad.”

His tone was uncertain, a stark contrast to his usual brimming confidence–it hardly seemed like Huo Tingxiao at all.

Mu Lan walked over with a smile and gave the food a good sniff, playing along.

“Hmm, it smells delicious. It must be good.”

Just as she was about to pull out a chair, Huo Tingxiao got there first, and Mu Lan gave him an exaggerated curtsy in thanks.

“Thank you.”

Huo Tingxiao returned the gesture formally, one hand behind his back and the other resting on his abdomen as he bowed slightly.

Still, the floral apron he wore was… quite out of place, adorably so.

Huo Tingxiao sat down beside Mu Lan, insisting on being close even during the meal–quite clingy of him.

Mu Lan reached out and naturally unknotted the apron strings at his waist, then took off his apron.

Their sudden closeness brought her fragrance wafting to him, a scent he knew well since he had just bathed her.

The corners of Huo Tingxiao’s mouth curled slightly, his mind inadvertently flashing to certain images, then he raised a hand to cover his mouth and coughed twice, quickly shaking off the thoughts he should not be having, pretending nothing untoward had crossed his mind.

Allowing her to have her way with him, Huo Tingxiao was obedient to a fault.

Picking up her chopsticks, Mu Lan looked at the table full of dishes. The presentation might not be the greatest, but the progress from the previous inedible lump was significant.

She tried the stir-fried vegetables first; the taste wasn’t particularly delicious, but for a beginner, especially someone like Huo Tingxiao, known as a kitchen catastrophe, it truly was a big improvement.

Huo Tingxiao watched her nervously, like a contestant awaiting his score, fearing any negative comments.

Finally, Mu Lan gave her verdict,
“Not bad.”

Well, not bad, it was a good start.

Huo Tingxiao felt reassured by her comment, but when he tried a piece himself, his entire being disagreed.

This is considered not bad? Where on earth is it not bad?

It was just edible at best.

“Try the fish soup.”

“Yeah, not bad.”

In summary, whatever she tried, it was not bad.

Was she teasing him????

“Let’s just eat.”

Seeing his discouraged expression, Mu Lan raised an eyebrow.

“What, you thought you could reach Michelin-star level? Let’s eat. It’s all made with effort and care, I think it’s quite good.”

That was the truth from her heart, she really didn’t think it was bad at all.

“You’re just saying sweet nothings with your eyes wide open.”

Mu Lan ate very happily, her heart filled with sweetness, even more delightful than the taste in her mouth.

After dinner, Huo Tingxiao cleaned up the dishes and utensils, placed them in the dishwasher, pressed the button, then sighed to Mu Lan.

“In the future, there should be robots responsible for cooking, to save someone like me, a kitchen killer, just as smart as the dishwasher.”

Seeing him so serious, Mu Lan couldn’t contain her laughter.

“Then you’ll have to invest in that, and then it will serve you.”

“So you still think the food I made isn’t tasty.”

This man really had a lot of tricks up his sleeve; within a few words, she had fallen into his trap of thinking.

“Look at you, I say you’re good and you don’t believe it, I support your invention of robots and you’re not happy, accusing me of implying something.”

“Are you intentionally picking a fight?”

Mu Lan teased him with a playful look, while Huo Tingxiao also felt that he was being rather difficult, completely clueless why he was acting so immature.

“If you say so.”

Hey, even daring to admit it on purpose, this man truly had no fear.

Ha, men.

“I don’t have the patience to bicker with you, get everything ready, and prepare the proposal, didn’t you say you want to collaborate with Feng Lin? He’s now a Huo Corporation favorite; you better be careful…”

Mu Lan didn’t finish the last two words, but Huo Tingxiao knew what she meant to express.

“You have so little confidence in me?”

Mu Lan teased him on purpose.

“It’s not a lack of confidence, it’s ‘know thyself, know thy enemy, a hundred battles will be won.’ It’s always right to steer the ship with caution for myriad years.”

Huo Tingxiao found her more worried than himself, stirring some indescribable feelings inside him.

“Wife, I think actually you would be more suited as a businessperson than me.”

Mu Lan certainly didn’t take that as a compliment.

“Are you saying I’m meddling too much?”

“No, just thinking that if we switched positions, maybe I should be the stay-at-home husband, and you take care of earning the bread.”

Huo Tingxiao’s words made Mu Lan burst into laughter.

“Stop joking, do you even have a clue whether you can be a stay-at-home husband?

And as for me, with my limited skills, I’m afraid I couldn’t support you; I’d probably starve you to death.”

Huo Tingxiao laughed too; indeed, he couldn’t be a househusband. He could do anything else, and he learned extremely fast, but when it came to culinary skills, he truly had no talent, no matter how hard he tried, the outcomes were always unsatisfactory.

“Don’t underestimate your potential.”

Mu Lan rubbed her temples, the recent Singles’ Day orders had given her a headache. To be in charge of a big company like TX, she feared it would go bankrupt in a few days.

“I do have self-awareness, Huo Tingxiao; I just realized you’re actually not very scheming. Are you holding a grudge against me? You must be talking like this to get back at me.”

Huo Tingxiao clearly knew she wasn’t really angry; she was just throwing a little tantrum, and he was willing to play along with her dramatics.

“My lady, I’m wrongly accused. I diligently honor and cherish my lady, when have I ever dared to mock you?”

Mu Lan’s laughter bubbled up; despite his stern-looking face, he insisted on playing the clown, and she found herself irresistibly charmed by the contrast.

“Act properly. You think you’re from ancient times or something? Calling me ‘my lady’.

What, you fancy having concubines?”

She deliberately picked on him, and Huo Tingxiao parried every thrust.

“My lady jests. As a son-in-law who has joined the family by marriage, how dare I?”

Mu Lan laughed until it hurt; god, a son-in-law joining the family, who could afford such a thing? It was ludicrous.

But since he was willing to play the part, Mu Lan cleared her throat and, playing along, extended a hand and hooked his chin.

“Son-in-law joining the family, do you know what the rules are?”

Huo Tingxiao swept her up in his arms.

“I know, I know, to take good care of my lady. The night is deep; let’s retire for the night…”

With that, he carried her upstairs, and they commenced the great harmony of life.