Hearing that, Dai Xingluo visibly froze for a moment.
Then the peach-blush on her cheeks returned with a smile.
"Six wives? Add little sister and Brother to that, and we've got eight—just enough for two mahjong tables."
She covered her mouth and giggled.
"Don't force yourself. The moment you see me get a little close to any other woman, you go for the kill. Would you really be willing to join our big family?" Xu Mu waved her off lightly.
"Of course I would. People age and die. Who knows—by the time I move in, the others might all be gone, and it'll just be me and Brother."
With no outsiders around, Dai Xingluo didn't bother to hide her nature or keep acting cute.
After all, Xu Mu had personally seen her strike to kill outside the city.
Being her real self in front of him wasn't so bad.
"Sorry, I like gentle women," Xu Mu said, not wanting to waste more words, and headed for the car.
"Xu Mu, I've already found out where your family is—Jiang City's Xu Group," Dai Xingluo said, her smile only growing sweeter.
At that, Xu Mu halted. "Here's some advice: don't do anything reckless."
He opened the door and got in.
Watching the car pull away, text flickered above Dai Xingluo's head:
[Favorability +5]
"Good Brother—after all that, you still won't use your strength to threaten me."
She remembered how he'd stayed his hand against her outside the city, too.
He really is gentle…
Meng Wanyue drove off, still holding a cotton candy in one hand—awkwardly.
Xu Mu smiled and took it. "Want me to take care of that for you?"
"Y-yes… okay."
She snuck a glance at him, then snapped her eyes back to the road.
She'd already eaten half.
Realizing Xu Mu didn't mind sharing what she'd bitten from, her cheeks grew even redder.
When they reached the branch office, Xu Mu had her stop before pulling in.
He'd spotted a familiar Aston Martin. Extending his senses, he confirmed it—Feng Jian was inside.
"Wanyue, park behind that car," Xu Mu said, pointing.
"Okay."
Xu Mu got out, walked up, and tapped on the window.
Feng Jian, who'd been looking at his phone, looked up, saw Xu Mu, and hurriedly stepped out.
"Brother Xu. Sister-in-law."
He bowed to each like a junior.
Once, he'd never have done that.
But the past few days had been torture—pure agony.
It wasn't like the eunuchs of old; everything still worked—the urges were there—but he was ruined all the same.
Worst was when desire hit—death would've been kinder.
Hearing herself called "sister-in-law," Meng Wanyue flustered.
She stole a look at Xu Mu and, seeing he didn't correct it, her heart fluttered.
[Favorability +10]
He didn't deny it… does that mean…?
She shook her head. What am I even thinking?
"What are you doing at our company?" Xu Mu asked.
"I'm waiting for Zhang Shuaikai. But really, I wanted to see you."
Feng Jian scratched his head, embarrassed. "Brother Xu, that medicine…"
"No. Your mom hasn't done what she promised. I've no reason to give you the pill."
"What do you want my mom to do exactly? I can help!"
"You can't." Xu Mu patted his shoulder. "No offense, but you're too far from the Feng family's core."
Only three truly controlled the Feng family's lifeline:
his parents, and his elder brother Feng Ruili.
As for Feng Jian—he knew fewer secrets than senior company execs.
Feng Jian exhaled hard. He understood.
Am I doomed to be a cripple for life?
Without women, I might as well be dead…
Just as he moved to get back in his car, his phone rang—his mother.
"Mom."
He answered and sat inside to talk.
Xu Mu and Meng Wanyue turned to head into the building, but after ten steps:
"Brother Xu! Sister-in-law! Wait!"
Feng Jian tumbled out of the car, ecstatic. "My mom wants to treat you to dinner tonight."
"Treat me?"
Xu Mu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yeah! If she's inviting you, maybe she's already done what you asked.
So… about that medicine?"
"Let's see after tonight."
Xu Mu sneered inwardly. No way did he believe Chen Cai would hand over dirt on Feng Kang.
Judging by her talk with Dai Xiao today, this reeked of a Hongmen Banquet—an ambush in banquet form.
They'd failed once; now they'd try again.
"Great! She said eight o'clock at Imperial Feast Pavilion. She'll host you there."
"Got it."
Xu Mu smiled faintly. He wanted to see exactly what Chen Cai was planning.
After Feng Jian left, Xu Mu and Meng Wanyue went inside.
Along the way, she opened her mouth, then swallowed her words.
Xu Mu noticed. "Wanyue, what is it?"
"I feel like I was meddling."
"What's our relationship? If something's on your mind, say it."
"That woman just now… she didn't seem like a good person. I think Manager Xu should stay away from her."
She lowered her head. "But it's your private matter. I don't really have the right to—"
"You do have the right." Xu Mu cut in, gripping her shoulders. "Of course I know she's no good."
[Favorability +20]
Caught in his hands, Meng Wanyue didn't dare meet his eyes. "I knew Manager Xu could tell."
"Wanyue, just say it next time. I make mistakes too."
She nodded softly.
She didn't even understand herself: if another woman approached the Dragon King, she wouldn't care.
But Xu Mu was… different.
They killed time at the branch.
Li Yun showed them around the factory out back; production was already underway.
Dusk fell without their noticing.
After saying goodbye to Li Yun, they sat in the car together.
Xu Mu pulled out his phone, searched Imperial Feast Pavilion, and snorted.
"What is it, Manager Xu?" Meng Wanyue asked.
"Look—she picked a place on Yang City's outskirts. And guess what? It's Feng family turf."
"Then they'll have a net laid over it. Let's not go," she said, frowning.
"We're going. I want to see what tricks she's got."
He had his own plan—if needed, he could release the video publicly,
at worst making Feng Kang wear a prairie on his head.
If Feng chose to endure it, the Fengs would survive—
and the Xus would remain a thorn in their side.
They'd strike sooner or later anyway.
Xu Mu wanted the Fengs finished for good.
So he would attend Chen Cai's Hongmen Banquet and see it through.
—
Imperial Feast Pavilion, in the east of Yang City.
By the time Xu Mu arrived, it was already 7:30 p.m.