Married with the Silent Wolf

Chapter 15: Crushing Her Intelligence

With a heart full of delight, Mu Tianxing wandered once more through Ling Lie’s residence, sincerely feeling that this was the style she adored most. As she prepared to leave, she turned to Zhuo Ran and commanded, “Open the door quickly!”

Zhuo Ran stood still, not moving, while she looked on eagerly, silently hoping someone would enlighten her.

Faced with such a complex lock, she knew she had to memorize the opening method thoroughly to avoid future inconvenience when living here.

Unexpectedly, Zhuo Xi stifled a chuckle, successfully drawing Mu Tianxing’s attention. He then pulled out his phone, tapped twice on the screen, and with a click, the gate automatically swung open.

Mu Tianxing’s mouth formed a perfect “O.” Just as she was about to inquire, Zhuo Ran approached and gently lifted the intricate lock, which quietly rested in his palm.

“Miss Mu, this is an electronic door controlled remotely via the phone’s infrared system,” Zhuo Ran explained, shaking the lock in his hand. That was my son’s toy. He often leaves things scattered about and forgets to tidy up afterward, which understandably led to your misunderstanding that it was the main gate lock. I apologize for the confusion. ”

Mu Tianxing was left speechless.

Meanwhile, Ling Lie sat in his wheelchair, resting his chin on one hand, his head tilted slightly, exuding a languid yet aristocratic air. His gaze drifted softly toward her, those unfathomable eyes shadowed by ambiguous emotions—neither tender nor mocking.

Were these three—master and servants—deliberately outwitting her intellect?

Frustrated, she clenched her petite handbag and strode briskly toward the courtyard exit, with Zhuo Ran expressionlessly following as the chauffeur.

Once seated in the car, seeing Ling Lie made no move to follow, she finally exhaled, her rosy lips whispering, “At least the mission for today is accomplished.”

Knock, knock.

Two sharp taps sounded against the window; the rear door swung open abruptly. Under Mu Tianxing’s astonished gaze, Zhuo Xi smiled courteously and extended a pristine sticky note, upon which was inscribed a single, fluid, and arrogantly stylish character:

“Nian.”

Study? Recite the news? Attend university?

Read novels? Scripts? Poetry?

Her lips twitched awkwardly as she stared at Zhuo Xi, bewildered. “What does this mean?”

Her large, confused eyes brimmed with eager curiosity, her delicate, adorable demeanor reminiscent of a porcelain doll from a fairy tale.

Zhuo Xi’s ears flushed slightly as he gently replied, “Miss Mu, you are intelligent beyond compare and surely grasp the Fourth Young Master’s meaning.”

With that, he politely closed the car door and stepped back, adopting a posture of solemn farewell.

“Nian?”

What on earth?

Mu Tianxing scrutinized the note repeatedly before finally tearing it apart, crumpling and squeezing it in frustration.

Meanwhile, the man in the wheelchair fixed his blazing gaze on the LCD screen before him, observing her furious and exaggerated gestures as she ravaged the note’s remains, even opening her mouth to seemingly swallow its remnants!

Apparently not satisfied, she dug into her own bag, retrieved a pen and a small pink sticky note, hastily scribbled on it, then decisively tore it off and affixed it to Ling Lie’s designated spot!

Amused by her own antics, she laughed heartily, her carefree innocence piquing the curiosity of the man in the wheelchair.

He manipulated the remote control, toggling a few buttons, and the screen shifted to display the pink note.

There, a shrimp was tied to a string, beneath which hung an egg.

This was the entirety of the message—a whimsical, nonsensical doodle.

Zhuo Xi could not help but chuckle softly, “Miss Mu is truly adorable.”

The man in the wheelchair remained expressionless; the more silent he was, the deeper and more captivating his eyes appeared.

After a brief weekend, Mu Tianxing returned to school.

With a playful grin, she made a face at the sky, radiating a languid yet fresh aura amidst the tense atmosphere of final exam preparations—like a dewdrop shimmering on a midsummer morning.

Throughout the week, she often found herself clutching a stack of study materials, spending solitary hours in the library.

Morning and evening, the family driver chauffeured her; at noon, she either dined alone in the cafeteria or sought out a quaint restaurant by a window, enjoying simple meals in solitude.

Her daily routine of early departures and late returns only widened the distance between her and her classmates.

Moreover, as a freshman from various corners of the country, few knew one another well, and without sharing a dormitory, forming deep bonds was nearly impossible.

Lonely?

Never.

She was blessed with a warm, complete family who cherished her deeply.

She also had a close childhood friend, Meng Xiaoyu, who lived in Qingcheng.

Meng Xiaoyu had an older brother, Meng Xiaolong, who was Mu Tianxing’s childhood sweetheart—though perhaps more aptly described as a one-sided affection.

This tender, hazy feeling had nestled quietly in Mu Tianxing’s heart for years, yet she had never confessed.

In her idle moments, she would discreetly inquire with Meng Xiaoyu about Meng Xiaolong—whether he had a girlfriend, his preferences, his plans for marriage, and how many children he hoped to have.

Thanks to their enduring friendship and countless such conversations, Meng Xiaoyu was well aware of Mu Tianxing’s feelings and had long regarded her as the family’s future sister-in-law.

When Mu Yize informed his daughter of the impending arranged marriage, for a fleeting moment, a pang of pain struck Mu Tianxing’s heart, and her thoughts turned to Meng Xiaolong.

What could she say? This hardly qualified as love.

It was the innocent, nascent crush of youth—an emotion everyone encounters on their journey to adulthood. Yet this pure and unblemished affection had filled the void in Mu Tianxing’s heart for many years. Thus, whenever she thought of Meng Xiaolong, she felt yearning, regret, nostalgia, and heartfelt blessings all at once.

On Friday afternoon, after her final exam, her freshman summer break was about to begin.

Just before the exams, Mu Tianxing received a call from Meng Xiaolong.

He told her that summer vacation had started but, due to the peak travel season, he couldn’t secure a plane ticket, and train tickets back home were nearly impossible to find. After much effort, he managed to grab a hard-seat ticket and would only arrive in M City at 1 a.m.

With no friends in M City, he asked Mu Tianxing to help book a room for him so he could rest for a night before returning to Qingcheng the next day.

A childhood friend’s request—how could Mu Tianxing refuse?

Because of this, she spent the entire afternoon giggling like an infatuated schoolgirl. Though she knew she might never marry Meng Xiaolong, becoming someone he trusted and relied on, a genuine friend—like gaining an older brother—felt like one of life’s greatest blessings.