Xu Mu looked at Meng Wanyue and smiled. "You needed me for something?"
"These are today's compiled documents." She held out a folder as she spoke.
She kept her head down, not daring to meet his eyes—yesterday had been far too embarrassing. Especially after he'd seen her underwear; just thinking of it made her cheeks burn.
"Okay, just leave them in my office. I'm heading upstairs first." Xu Mu patted her shoulder and walked toward the distant elevator.
Meng Wanyue glanced back at him. She'd admitted to monitoring him and even said she worked for the Dragon King—yet he still trusted her enough to let her enter his office alone? She suddenly felt a bit envious of Ye Tong. Living with a man like this must be happiness.
Xu Mu took the elevator to the president's office.
He was about to knock when a uniformed woman approached with a smile. "General Manager Xu, the president isn't here—likely with the chairman."
"Got it."He nodded and turned away.
All the better if they were together—this was important enough to tell his dad directly.
He went to the top-floor chairman's office and knocked.
After a voice from inside answered, he pushed the door open.
Xu Shou was seated behind the desk; Xu Ningbing stood opposite him.
"Xiao Mu, what brings you here?" Xu Shou asked with a smile.
Xu Mu sat on the sofa, crossed one leg over the other, and sighed. "Without me, this company would go bankrupt."
"You're drunk. Go home and sleep it off!" Xu Ningbing shot him a cold glare. She was already overwhelmed with company matters, and here he was making snide remarks.
"Heh. Big talk for my defeated opponent," Xu Mu said flatly. "I'm here to tell you who the traitor is."
"You know?" Xu Shou sprang to his feet.
"Don't tell me it's that Meng Wanyue?" Xu Ningbing frowned; after all, yesterday Xu Mu had said he would tail and investigate her.
"Like hell it is! I don't even know the formula—how would a newcomer?" Xu Mu rolled his eyes. "It's Qian Gang."
"Impossible!" At that name, father and daughter spoke in unison and shook their heads.
"Xiao Mu, Old Qian was with me from the start," Xu Shou said softly. "Back when we only had two storefronts and couldn't even pay wages, he still stuck by me. It can't be him."
"People change. From different heights, the heart changes too." Xu Mu looked at his father. "A man who used to be poor and insecure suddenly gets a lot of money—do you think he stays insecure?"
"Xu Mu! Do you have proof?" Xu Ningbing demanded.
"Why would I be so sure without proof?" Xu Mu smiled.
Hearing that, the color drained from Xu Shou's face. Could it really be true?
Xu Mu sent an audio file to his father's phone.
Xu Shou glanced down and hit play.
Even though the recorder distorted the voice, he recognized it instantly. It was Qian Gang.
When the audio ended, father and daughter stared at each other. They had never suspected Qian Gang.
"Who's this Feng Yue?" Xu Shou asked.
"I know—she's the owner of Moonlight Bar, a well-known socialite in River City. Someone used to show up at her bar almost every day," Xu Ningbing said with a mocking glance at Xu Mu.
Hearing that, Xu Shou nodded inwardly—he'd heard those rumors too. Every time Xu Mu went, he'd buy out the whole place.
"And what do you think I was going there for?" Xu Mu laced his fingers behind his head and leaned back on the sofa.
Both Xu Shou and Xu Ningbing froze. Could Xu Mu have already discovered the connection between Feng Yue and Qian Gang and gone to investigate?
Xu Mu rubbed his nose, a little embarrassed—he'd accidentally acted cool. Still, that explanation did conveniently clean up his reputation.
"Kid! I underestimated you!" Xu Shou's expression turned serious. He hadn't expected his son to be this capable. Truly, great wisdom hiding behind simplicity.
Xu Ningbing was stunned. In just a few days, Xu Mu had completely overturned her impression of him. She had once thought him a good-for-nothing playboy. But now—master pianist, skilled fighter, and the one who exposed their traitor.
Each skill took years to hone.
She gazed at Xu Mu deeply. Something about him felt different.
[Favorability +10]
"There are three people involved, right?" Xu Shou asked. "Besides Qian Gang and Feng Yue's connection, there's Li Feipeng from Fengwei Foods. Who's the third?"
"Lin Yan. He's not simple," Xu Mu said, his tone growing solemn. "Not to brag, but I don't think you and Sis can handle him."
"If you trust me, I want a say in the decision-making for this incident."
"Of course," Xu Shou agreed without a moment's hesitation. His son had surprised him—he'd misjudged him badly. To remain unmoved while so many mocked him as a wastrel—such composure isn't ordinary.
"How do you want to proceed?" Xu Ningbing came to stand beside Xu Mu.
"Lin Yan threatened Qian Gang to deliver the ingredient ratios and processing method within seven days. He'll act soon." Xu Mu's lips curved. "How many people know the ratios and process?"
"Not many. Besides Dad and me, just one senior executive and one pharmaceutical chemist we brought over from the Ye family," Xu Ningbing explained.
"My plan is simple: feed Qian Gang the wrong ratios and process." Xu Mu spread his hands. "Then let them go all-in and invest big—bleed them dry."
"Good!" Xu Shou clapped hard. "Tonight, I'll secretly invite those two to our home. You two be sure to come."
Xu Mu and Xu Ningbing both nodded.
"Then I'll head back. I'll bring Ye Tong tonight—since one of them is an old hand from the Ye family."
With that, Xu Mu turned and left first.
Father and daughter watched his back in a daze.
"Ningbing, did you misjudge him?" Xu Shou asked with a broad smile.
After a long moment, she said coolly, "We'll see. I'm heading down too."
Watching her go, Xu Shou sighed helplessly. "Ah… we married Xiao Mu off too early." Had he known his son was this outstanding, he would've tried to match Xu Ningbing with Xu Mu. Compared to Ye Tong, he actually preferred Ningbing as a daughter-in-law—Not that Ye Tong wasn't excellent, but Ningbing was the one he'd watched grow up.
When Xu Mu got back to his office, a message popped up on his phone—from Zhao Yingying. She sent: "Are you there?"
He remembered her—the saleswoman who bought clothes for Ye Yu back then. She was the heroine of The Strongest Son-in-Law.
Xu Mu judged people by their eyes, and Zhao Yingying's tenacious gaze had left a deep impression.
"What's she messaging me for?" he murmured, then replied: "Yes?"