Xu Mu looked at Zhao Yingying's nervous expression and smiled. "You can do anything I ask?"
"Mhm."
Zhao Yingying clenched her fists, her whole body trembling.
She was a college student—she wasn't naïve. No one helps for no reason. The moment she messaged Xu Mu, she'd already prepared for the worst.
"I want you to… master controllable nuclear fusion for the nation. Can you do that?"
Xu Mu asked, looking at her.
"Ah?"
Zhao Yingying was stunned on the spot.
But his joke made her relax a little. "Brother Mu, you really know how to tease."
"I don't need anything from you. Like I said, I'm helping because you're a good person."
He ruffled her hair. "Just pay me back later."
[Favorability +30]
"Brother Mu, I'll feel bad if I don't do something for you," Zhao Yingying said, eyes reddening.
"What could you do for me?" Xu Mu asked.
"I… I can…"
She took a deep breath. She realized that aside from offering herself, she really had nothing else to repay him with.
Xu Mu guided her to a quiet corner. "Do you think I helped you because I want you?"
She froze, then nodded slightly.
She truly couldn't think of any other reason he'd help her.
"Yingying, you underestimate me," Xu Mu said evenly. "If I wanted to play with a girl like you, I wouldn't need to spend 15,000."
Zhao Yingying blinked, taken aback.
True—she didn't know his family background, but he was clearly wealthy. If he waved his hand, plenty of women would flock to him.
And she wasn't anyone extraordinary. If she were a top star or came from a rich family, even 15,000 wouldn't matter.
"Sorry, Brother Mu. I was being shallow," she said apologetically.
[Favorability +20]
"Go back to your mom. I've got things to do, so I'll head out first."
Xu Mu waved and left.
This trip had earned him another eight or nine hundred Fate Points—not bad. With the ones from before, he could do another ten-draws.
He checked the time—already noon. He decided to return to the company and have lunch with Meng Wanyue, then message Ye Tong to get ready for tonight at the Xu family manor.
Just as he was about to drive back, his phone buzzed. Feng Yue.
Xu Mu sneered inwardly. From last night's recording, Lin Yan had been very clear: Feng Yue was his person. Her previous "invitation" had been a trap—one he hadn't fallen for.
So this time, she was likely still fishing.
He picked up anyway, curious what she'd try.
"Young Master Xu, are you free for lunch? I know you're busy, so I wouldn't dare disturb you at night," came her sultry voice. "I'm at the bar waiting."
"Just say what it is," Xu Mu replied flatly. "I'm busy at noon too."
"There's a lot. Hard to explain over the phone," she said.
"Then we'll talk when I have time."
He hung up.
What was she thinking—she was a small-time bar owner; he was the heir of River City's top group. Who was she to summon him?
Did she still think he was the old villain Xu Mu—her simpering lapdog who'd run over the moment she called?
On the other end, Feng Yue stared at her phone, frowning in thought.
Ye Yu was busy and hadn't studied properly all day.
Because she was fixated on Lu Xueyao.
At noon, she went to Class Two's door to wait for her. She wanted to probe again—if it was true that Xu Mu was keeping a high school girl, she'd report it at home tonight.
When Lu Xueyao appeared, Ye Yu hurried up to her—and noticed her hair was black again.
"Lu Xueyao, are you free at noon?"
Lu Xueyao looked at her. She'd thought about things for a long time last night and also had something to say.
She nodded lightly.
"Let's eat in the cafeteria," Ye Yu said.
"Okay."
They went to the second floor of the school cafeteria. Ye Yu ordered a small bowl of beef noodles; Lu Xueyao got tomato-and-egg over rice. They sat by the window.
Ye Yu didn't eat right away. She mulled over her words, then decided to ease in. "Yesterday your hair was blonde. Why is it black now?"
"Brother Xu Mu doesn't like it, so I dyed it back," Lu Xueyao replied.
"He talked to you yesterday?"
Ye Yu frowned.
That guy was too much. He had her contact info, but never messaged her—and yet he had time for this girl?
"No. But I can guess Brother Xu Mu wouldn't like how I was before," Lu Xueyao said, lowering her head to take a bite.
Ye Yu dropped the pretense. The way this girl said "Brother Xu Mu" every other sentence made it obvious she didn't care that Ye Yu was the "fiancée."
She'd already told her Xu Mu had someone, and she still wouldn't back off.
"I think you're forgetting something—Xu Mu has a fiancée. They're already engaged," Ye Yu reminded her.
"I know. Engagement isn't marriage. I thought about it all night. I won't give up on Brother Xu Mu," Lu Xueyao said, still eating calmly.
"I—what…"
Ye Yu was speechless. What was so great about that jerk Xu Mu?
From the looks of it, it wasn't that Xu Mu seduced her—it was that she was deeply in love with him.
Ye Yu's eyes narrowed, her tone turning cold. "Be honest. You don't like Xu Mu—you like his money, right?"
She didn't want to admit it, but Xu Mu really was tall, handsome, and—most importantly—rich.Driving a sports car around all day—deadly charm for a freshly adult girl.
Lu Xueyao shot her a chilly glance. "You don't understand us. He saved my life. He gave me a second chance."
She'd never cared whether Xu Mu had money. Even if he were penniless, she'd feel the same.
"Fine, I'll stop pretending. I'm not his fiancée," Ye Yu said after a pause. "He's my brother-in-law. Yes, you heard right—Xu Mu is already married."
Earlier she'd hidden the truth to test whether Xu Mu was secretly keeping this high school girl.
Now she'd concluded he wasn't—it was the girl who liked him.
So there was no need to lie anymore.
"What? Brother Xu Mu is married?"
Lu Xueyao's eyes went wide.
"That's right. If you don't believe me, add me as a friend. I'll send you their marriage certificate tonight," Ye Yu said coolly. "Stay away from him. Don't wreck his relationship with my sister."
Lu Xueyao kept eating in silence. She truly hadn't considered that.
Ye Yu started on her noodles, thinking the matter was resolved.
"Unless Brother Xu Mu tells me to leave, I won't," Lu Xueyao said suddenly.
"Pfft!"
Ye Yu sprayed noodles.She grabbed a tissue and wiped her mouth. "Girl, what are you thinking? You insist on being the mistress?"
"As long as Brother Xu Mu agrees, I don't mind being the fifth or sixth," Lu Xueyao replied calmly.
Ye Yu was utterly speechless. Then she said, "Here's a secret: Xu Mu's a bad guy with violent tendencies. He beats me and my sister every day."
"Then hurry up and divorce—and let Brother Xu Mu hit me. I'm willing to let him hit me," Lu Xueyao said, looking at Ye Yu.
"I—what!"
Veins popped on Ye Yu's forehead. She was out of words and could only give Lu Xueyao a thumbs-up.