At the same time, 8:15 a.m., Xiao Ming arrived at Maohe Real Estate in the car driven by Jiang Xue.
"By the way, the car you bought is quite high-maintenance."
As Jiang Xue unbuckled her seat belt, she habitually complained to her husband, "I've been reading the manual these past few days, only to find out it actually recommends using 98 octane fuel, and at the very least 95."
"It's an import, so it's not surprising it has trouble adapting," Xiao Ming replied offhandedly, "I've been using 98. From now on, you should too. We're not short on gas money."
"You! Always so extravagant."
After getting out of the car, Jiang Xue gave her husband a look, but her arm slipped into his without any hesitation.
When the relationship between a woman and a man becomes intimate, their expressions of love and affection often turn into nagging, and sometimes they might even deliberately act disdainful.
It's their way of declaring sovereignty, falling within the realm of flirtation. Daily arguments can actually enhance the relationship.
Only dumb men would take it seriously.
Of course, some daft women can't distinguish between being playful and being critical, and might even compare their man unfavorably with other men.
In those cases, it's best to say goodbye early. Unhappiness is something those women bring upon themselves by nature.
Once in the elevator and seeing that Xiao Ming wasn't speaking, Jiang Xue thought he might be upset and asked, "What's wrong, lost in thought?"
Xiao Ming stroked his chin, "I'm considering whether I should have Hanqing move the company to the Ruiye building. That way, I could see you twenty-four hours a day."
Jiang Xue immediately blossomed with joy, but retorted, "I definitely don't want to see you twenty-four hours a day. It would be utterly annoying."
"Oh! How dare you scorn your husband. Have you no sense of wifely virtue? You must be disciplined," he teased.
Saying so, Xiao Ming started to get handsy, and before Jiang Xue could fend him off, he caught her lips with his, and she melted into his embrace.
Ding!
The elevator quickly reached the fifth floor. The receptionist was just offering a formulaic smile when her eyes bulged in shock.
She saw Designer Jiang forcefully pushing against Mr. Xiao, while Mr. Xiao held her tight, kissing her passionately.
A moment later, as the elevator doors were about to close, Xiao Ming released his wife and stretched out an arm to stop the doors.
"Hehe, after you, my dear wife."
"Stop it! I'm ignoring you."
Jiang Xue quickly tidied her hair and clothes, her face flushed red as she hurried into the office, not daring to glance at the receptionist.
Thick-skinned, Xiao Ming proudly winked at the receptionist, "Let it slide this time. Next time you look, you pay!"
The receptionist giggled, "Good morning, Mr. Xiao! The love between you and Designer Jiang is truly enviable."
"I like hearing that. Next time it's free for you too."
With a casual wave, Xiao Ming swaggered into the office headed straight for Yang Hanqing's office.𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
"Why are you here?"
As soon as he entered, Yang Hanqing immediately rose from her desk to greet him, her smile blooming like a flower.
But Xiao Ming's face was serious, "I need to tell you something. Stay calm and don't be afraid, understand?"
Yang Hanqing suddenly became tense, "Wh-What is it?"
Xiao Ming checked his watch and said, "In less than ten minutes, there will be an earthquake."
"What?"
Yang Hanqing's heart jolted, and her legs softened as she leaned into his embrace, trembling, "Then... what should we do?"
Xiao Ming's brows furrowed, "Don't you understand what it means to stay calm and not be afraid?"
"This sort of thing, how can you expect someone not to be scared!"
Yang Hanqing lowered her head, speaking with a sense of grievance, but her eyes glinted with sly mischief, and she could not help but curl her lips into a smile.
"It's just a minor earthquake, nothing serious. Actually, it doesn't matter whether I remind you or not."
Xiao Ming pushed her away and turned to leave, "Don't panic later; don't run around aimlessly, and don't stand under a chandelier. If you're really scared, hide under a desk."
"Where are you going?"
Xiao Ming had already walked out the door and did not answer.
But Yang Hanqing didn't need an answer. It was obvious that Xiao Ming had come to give her a heads-up so that she could be mentally prepared, while Jiang Xue didn't need to prepare because he would protect her personally.
With a sigh of loss, Yang Hanqing straightened out her appearance a bit, then lifted her head and walked out of the office with confidence, casually beginning to walk around and inspect the company.
Her vulnerable side was something only Xiao Ming was privy to, and as the president of Maohe Real Estate, she knew very well she needed to soothe the employees and stabilize the situation during the impending chaos.
As for the matter mentioned by Xiao Ming, she didn't doubt it at all.
Jiang Xue's face had just cooled from a blush when she saw her husband appear before her, and she couldn't help but pout and complain, "Why are you here again? Did you finish talking with Qing that quickly?"
Xiao Ming sat on the edge of her desk with a playful smile, "Hanqing did her makeup quite prettily today, and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to restrain myself if I stayed with her too long. So I specifically came to seek help from a Bodhisattva to save and enlighten me."
Coldness flickered in Jiang Xue's eyes as her small hand rested on his thigh, grabbing a soft piece of flesh, half-smiling, "Since you're about to lose restraint, then Qing must be very powerful today.
Ordinary enlightenment probably won't work; physical ascension is necessary."
"Good Xue'er, spare me!" Xiao Ming pleaded pitifully as he grabbed his wife's hand, "Let's save it for when we are home, okay?
There are so many colleagues watching, at least leave some face for me as the chairman of the headquarters!"
"All you know is how to talk!"
Jiang Xue shook him off and stealthily glanced around, noticing indeed many colleagues were looking their way. Her pretty face couldn't help but heat up again.
"Do you have anything else? If not, hurry up and go, don't disturb my work. If you have time at noon, let's have lunch together."
Xiao Ming shook his head, "I don't know why, but I'm feeling especially in love with you today. From the moment I got up, I haven't wanted to be apart from you for even a second. The moment I can't see you, my heart starts to panic terribly.
My good wife, please have pity on me and let me stay with you!"
Jiang Xue never expected him to suddenly say something so cheesy, and even though she knew others couldn't hear, she still felt a fluttering excitement mixed with an instinctive embarrassment.
"You... you're always so shameless. What exactly do you want to do!"
"I..."
Boom!
The earthquake began, and before Jiang Xue could even react, she was enveloped in a pair of strong arms, with her husband's tender yet firm voice in her ear, "Don't be afraid! I'm here, nothing will happen."
Then, Xiao Ming looked around and shouted loudly, "Everybody! Don't panic, don't move around, take cover in a corner or under a desk! The tremor is not strong; it will pass quickly..."
Listening to her husband repeat his instructions over and over, despite feeling dizzy and nauseated from the shaking, Jiang Xue didn't feel the slightest panic, but rather, she was extremely calm, and even managed to turn her face to observe the surroundings from her husband's embrace.
That's when she saw Yang Hanqing standing alone against a wall not far away, her face showing no fear or terror, only full of envy and loneliness.
She was watching them, Xiao Ming and herself.