Very soon it was Christmas Eve. On twenty fourth December, Mu Liang was busy with the party arranged at the Mu Corporation. As his assistant, even Mu Lan had so much to do. However, all her jobs were taken care by the secretaries. She was with Mu Liang, greeting the guests. After the tiresome events, they went home and slept early. On the next morning, it was Christmas. Mu Lan saw her meal and she couldn't take it anymore. "Liang Liang, why is my meal quantity increasing everyday? I can't take it anymore. I will surely become ugly." She complained."You won't become ugly. On the rooftop there is a huge gym." Mu Liang coaxed her as he gave her another piece of steamed dumplings and said, "Here, eat more."Mu Lan was speechless. In the end, she was stubborn like a three year old kid and said, "I won't eat anymore. I'm full."Mu Liang's eyes darkened. He looked towards his right side where she was sitting stubbornly. He leaned closer to her left ear and said, "If you don't eat well now, you won't be able to take it when I eat you at night." His voice was husky. It made Mu Lan's body go numb.Mu Feng was sitting opposite to Mu Lan. He was eating with chopsticks. Even though, Mu Liang's voice was lower and he whispered in Mu Lan's ear, with Mu Feng's great hearing sense, he heard everything his brother said. The dumplings in between his chopsticks fell back into his soup bowl and the hot soup splashed on his face and chest. In the midst of the winter, it felt like a volcano."Hot! Hot! Hot!" Mu Feng jumped out of his seat and ran to the kitchen.Mu Lan clearly understood what just happened. Her face turned beet red. She glared at Mu Liang. Her eyes were full of complaints.'Beasty Liang Liang.' She thought in her mind.Watching Mu Lan's cute face, Mu Liang's blood started to boil. He could understand that he could not wait any longer. He took the shrimp from his bowl and stuffed it inside Mu Lan's pouty mouth. "Eat more." He said deeply.Cook Eve's cooking was excellent as always. Mu Lan couldn't help but chew all the food remaining in her bowl while Mu Liang was feeding her.Later that evening, Yan Su, Lu Feng, Qi Ying and Xue Lin came to the Mu Mansion. Except for Xue Lin, others were all seated as couples.Even Ronald, who just got discharged from the hospital was also present with Hugo. Everyone was celebrating his recovery.Ronald was talking to Hugo at the corner. Mu Feng was flirting with Qi Ying, who was flushed at the moment. Yan Su was sitting on Lu Feng's thigh and drinking wine and enjoying Lu Feng's fingers touching and moving around her naked waist. Lu Feng was talking to Mu Liang about some upcoming product. Mu Lan was in Mu Liang's right arm chatting with Xue Lin.Xue Lin gave a blind eye to them and continued chatting with Mu Lan. As her orange juice was finished, she got up from the sofa and went to the side table. She refilled her glass and glanced at the people who were sitting on the sofa.Looking at the flirty moves of the couples, she sighed and complained inwardly, 'Stupid couples.' It would seem like she was cursing those men, but her eyes had a ray of hidden gentleness which glinted in the night. Xue Lin didn't go back to the sofa. She instead went to the balcony attached to it. From the balcony, Mu Feng and Qi Ying's flower garden could be seen. The area was filled with the smell of flowers. Xue Lin took a deep breath along with the scent and smiled a little. She glanced up at the clear sky. The moon was blessing the whole area with her silver light. The mansion looked very peaceful. Xue Lin gazed at the moon for a long time and her thoughts went very far away. She was dragged back to reality when someone knocked the glass door of the balcony.Startled, Xue Lin turned around and saw Mu Liang standing in the door away. There was a cold aura around him. He was trying to read Xue Lin's thoughts."Is there something you want to talk to me?" Xue Lin asked emotionlessly. She had no interest in him at all."Sorry to disturb you at this time. I came here to give you this." Mu Liang handed her an envelope.Xue Lin took it and opened it afterwards. She found out some paper regarding the citizenship of France. She read the documents and found out that she had acquired the citizenship of France.Xue Lin blinked a few times before realizing that what she saw was indeed true. She finally got what she wanted. Her eyes carried a ray of warmth. She glanced at Mu Liang and said, "I haven't even filled up any form."Mu Liang coldly gazed at her and said nothing.Xue Lin asked no more and bowed her head saying, "Thank you very much.""What are you scheming?" Mu Liang suddenly asked. Mu Liang checked her background. He was worried about his best friend.Xue Lin was stunned at the moment and immediately her eyes turned cold. She answered, "In which way is that your business?"Mu Liang said nothing and turned to leave.Xue Lin said from behind, "Next time, I don't want to see you in the dormitory or I'll fill up complaints about you. She also has her personal space, don't cross boundaries."'Want to check up on me? Take this.' She thought.Mu Liang gritted his teeth and regretted that he even asked her the question.The rest of the party went on smoothly.Time flied away quickly. Mu Lan finished her last exam and spent her free time with her friends. She didn't have much to do at office or at home. Hence she had lots of free time.Meanwhile, Mu Liang was taking care of another matter. On New Year's Eve, he wanted to gift her a duplex house which was situated at the north side of the Mu Mansion.Behind the Mu Mansion, there was a huge lake with a fountain. If someone crossed it, they could see a beautiful duplex house with a flower garden. Mu Liang ordered Butler Leo to take care of it before the new year.

  Chapters 311: HAPPY NEW YEAR

  [Before you start reading Chapters 311 & 312, the Author kindly requests you all to hear the *orchestra of Beauty and the Beast*. On discord channel in #general Author has already sent the music. Those who are not on Discord can download it by searching for Beauty and the Beast music. To make your reading experience more enjoyable, the Author suggests that while reading the Chapters, play the music in the background in a favorable volume and keep hearing the music repeatedly till you complete reading them . Hope you guys enjoy reading both the Chapters.]It was New Year's Eve. The last day of the year. From the next day onwards a brand new year would begin. In the evening, after the dinner, Mu Lan wore a red party low cut dress. It showed all her curves perfectly. Her lips were red and she wore only a ruby locket with earrings. On her left ring finger was the engagement ring. Her hair was tied up in a bun. She looked gorgeous.Somehow, she was nervous. She had been noticing Mu Liang's wolfish gaze from the past few days. In her heart, she was feeling that something was going to happen tonight.Mu Lan came downstairs and saw that Mu Liang was waiting for her at the end of the stairs. He was wearing a white shirt, black pants, red tuxedo and a red bow tie. His dark brown hair was brushed onto the right side. His ocean blue eyes glittered in the light. He looked so dashing that Mu Lan halted in her tracks for a second.Mu Liang gazed at his lovely wife and his heart skipped a beat. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Noticing his stare, Mu Lan blushed slightly. She came down and nudged Mu Liang, "What are you looking at?" Her voice was soft as if she was shy.Mu Liang gulped his saliva and deeply said, "Let's go." He took her left hand walked out of the mansion. They went to the north side of the area and stopped at the dock of the lake.Mu Lan who didn't know Mu Liang's plan was stunned as she looked at the boat decorated with exquisitely delicate flowers. She didn't ask anything. Mu Liang said that he was going to give her a surprise so she waited for it. Mu Liang first got onto the boat and then took her in. He took off his tuxedo and wrapped it around Mu Lan whose naked hands and neck were cold due to the chilling weather. Then, he helped her sit on the wooden bench. Afterwards, he took the paddle and began to row.It was a quiet night. The lake was calm. The sky was clear and lots of stars were twinkling. The stars were reflecting on the clear water of the lake. It had been seven days since the snow fall stopped. It was unusual, but, a blessing for them.Mu Liang wasn't walking. There was only the sounds of water splashing as he was rowing. In the quiet night, it felt like music to Mu Lan's ear. The environment was so serene. Mu Lan didn't make a single sound and was just absorbing the quietness of the moment.Mu Lan thought that Mu Liang wanted to take her to the middle of the lake to enjoy the beautiful night. However, to her surprise, they went to the other side of the lake and there, a duplex wooden house came into her view. The whole building was lightened up. The path, from the dock to the door, was decorated with colorful light bulbs. The garden was decorated with low power green lights, making it more breathtaking. The whole place seemed like a fantasy land.Before Mu Lan could absorb the beauty of the place, Mu Liang rowed the boat and they had reached the dock. He tied the rope of the boat to the wooden railing and turned to Mu Lan.Mu Lan's stood up to debark the boat. However, unexpectedly, Mu Liang took her in his arms and got up.Mu Lan gasped in surprise. She subconsciously, encircled her arms around Mu Liang's neck. Mu Liang looked down at her. He wanted a moment to talk to her. But he was too nervous to talk at the moment. The lovely woman who was in his arms right now, was the one he loved so much. Her softness and vanilla scent were tickling his heart. His tongue was tied. He could feel his racing heart.Mu Lan discovered Mu Liang's unusual change and racing heart. Like a strange connection, her heart began to race at the same tempo. She held Mu Liang even more tightly.Mu Liang walked along the path to the duplex house carrying Mu Lan in his arms . There was a mesmerizing smell of wild flowers. It was a picture perfect vision. There was still ten minutes remaining for the new year to come.The door was already unlocked and opened for them to enter.Mu Liang didn't put down Mu Lan at the door way. He took her straightly to the second floor, to the bed room.Mu Lan immediately understood what was going to happen tonight. She suddenly felt a little nervous.Feeling her body tighten around him, Mu Liang halted for a second and then moved to the large wooden balcony. After that, he put her down.The balcony was facing the beautiful lake. From here, the lake, the fountain could be seen. The ripple sounds of water could be heard clearly. The mansion looked tiny, but still fairly visible.Mu Liang hugged Mu Lan's stiff body from behind. He nuzzled his nose on her nape. He asked in a deep voice, "Nervous?"Mu Lan felt his warm breaths in her right ear and right cheek. Her ears turned red as she shivered. She softly replied, "Mm.""Me too." Mu Liang tried to lighten the awkward moment. Then he deeply said, "Don't worry. I won't do anything if you don't want to."Mu Lan's heart flattered on hearing his words. To change the topic, he asked, "Do you like this house?""I like the environment. It's just perfect." Mu Lan said. She got back a little of her courage.Mu Liang smiled slightly. He said, "From tonight, we will stay here."Mu Lan turned around to him with surprise, "For real? Why? Didn't we already remodel your bedroom for us to use?"Mu Liang nonchalantly said, "We are in a mutual relationship. I don't want others to disturb our private space."Mu Lan found it reasonable. Whenever they were in the study room, bed room, dining room or drawing room, there was at least one maid or butler to disturb them. Mu Liang or Mu Lan couldn't complain because the servants were just doing their jobs.Mu Lan smiled and touched Mu Liang's left hand. She noticed that it was cold. She felt guilty and hurriedly took off the tuxedo. "Wear it. I am already warmed by you." She smiled sweetly.Mu Liang's heart tightened. He wore his red tuxedo without objection and then lightly kissed her forehead while taking her in his embrace again. Just then they heard a sound.Both of them glanced at the lake and saw beautiful fireworks. Butler Leo, Cook Eve, Ronald, Hugo, Anne and other servants were doing it to welcome the new year."Happy new year." Mu Liang huskily said to Mu Lan's right ear."Happy new year-" Mu Lan shivered as she said.Before she could finish, her lips were taken by Mu Liang. It was a passionate kiss.