The commercial shoot went very smoothly—the storyline was simple and easy to follow.
First, they brought in several overweight actors while Shen Wanning played the music.
Midway, the ad cut in and the music shifted.
Finally, a few younger actors appeared to show that the slimming pills had helped them lose weight successfully.
Once the principal footage was done, their job here was finished; the rest would be handed off to the VFX team.
After the shoot, Shen Wanning prepared to return to Yang City.
Xu Mu made a token attempt to keep her. "Miss Shen, won't you stay for dinner?"
"No need. It's only a two or three-hour drive anyway."
Shen Wanning wasn't about to give Xu Mu any chance—who knew what tricks he might try?
For all she knew, he'd get her drunk over dinner and then… do who knew what.
"In that case, I won't insist."
Xu Mu smiled faintly. Not staying was fine by him—he didn't feel like playing host anyway.
—
He'd been so busy these past few days that his life was basically just work and home.
As for accumulating Favorability Points, besides Ye Tong every night, there was also Meng Wanyue.
Even Xu Ningbing's attitude had improved a little, though she was still in the negatives, so the gains weren't much.
After wrapping the ad today, Xu Mu sat for a bit in his office, then got ready to head home.
He'd saved up another thousand Fate Points and planned to do a ten-pull tonight.
He had just gotten into his car when his phone rang. It was Zhao Yingying.
Once he picked up, her delighted voice burst through.
"Brother Xu! We went for Mom's follow-up today—the illness is gone, completely gone! The doctors were stunned!"
She sounded thrilled. "They couldn't believe it. They even said the earlier diagnosis might have been a mistake."
Xu Mu smiled and nodded. "That's good."
"Brother Xu, are you free tonight? We want to treat you to dinner."
After the initial excitement, her tone settled.
"We?" Xu Mu asked.
"Besides you, we'd like to invite Brother Fang Chu as well. While Mom was hospitalized, he helped a lot too. It wouldn't be right not to invite him."
She paused, then added, "There might be some misunderstanding between you two. If you're not comfortable, we'll just invite you tonight and ask him another time."
"Invite us together. That way you'll spend less," Xu Mu said.
He wanted to see if he could harvest a bit more Fate Power and keep pushing Xu Shou's realm upward.
"Okay, Brother Xu. I'll send the address in a bit," Zhao Yingying replied cheerfully.
Xu Mu first messaged Ye Tong that he'd be late coming home.
Ye Tong replied that she'd be working late too—she wanted to finish the experiment at hand.
She had already started her job these past few days, officially joining the Xu Group's pharmaceutical company.
Xu Mu waited in the underground garage for about half an hour until Zhao Yingying sent the address and said they had arrived.
It turned out to be a hotpot place.
He drove over.
She had already sent the private room number; Xu Mu headed straight to the second floor and pushed the door open.
Inside, Li Yun and Zhao Yingying were sitting together.
"Xiao Xu, you're here."
Li Yun stood up at once when she saw him.
One look at Li Yun's outfit and Xu Mu had to marvel inwardly.
Shoulder-length short hair, a healthy flush in her cheeks, mature eyes with a hint of depth and a trace of a smile.
Jeans below, a purple sweater on top.
Purple truly had its charm.
That proud curve combined with her full figure was simply overwhelming.
Xu Mu realized that true beauty rarely needed to be shown off.
Li Yun was wearing a high-neck sweater—far classier than those who deliberately squeeze themselves into a deep V.
Beside Li Yun, the fresh, girl-next-door Zhao Yingying naturally became the foil.
"Brother Xu," Zhao Yingying said, smiling sweetly.
"Everyone, have a seat." Xu Mu turned to Li Yun with a smile. "Auntie, congratulations on your full recovery."
[Favorability +20]
"Thanks to you—you saved my life. I'll pay back the money," Li Yun said with a smile.
"No rush. A little at a time. Just don't overwork yourself," Xu Mu waved it off.
Just then, the door opened again.
Fang Chu walked in—and behind him was a cool, aloof-looking young woman.
She wore a baseball cap, but her fine features were visible.
Lu Xueyao?
Xu Mu was surprised—Lu Xueyao had come too?
Logically, Lu Xueyao and Zhao Yingying shouldn't know each other.
Lu Xueyao was in high school; Zhao Yingying was already in college.
"Brother Xu Mu! You're really here!"
The chill on Lu Xueyao's face melted the moment she saw him; she rushed over with a bright smile.
Then she sat right beside him and took his arm.
Fang Chu's face didn't show much, but inside he was delighted.
He'd invited Lu Xueyao here. He'd spammed her with messages before and she never replied.
But when he called and said they were eating with Xu Mu tonight, she agreed immediately.
That annoyed him—how had Xu Mu "stolen" her so easily?
Still, he knew how to weigh pros and cons.
Two is certainly greater than one.
Li Yun and Zhao Yingying together were far better targets than Lu Xueyao alone.
Especially Li Yun—he'd only just seen her and already felt… a reaction.
His plan was simple: with Lu Xueyao here getting close to Xu Mu, what would the slightly introverted Zhao Yingying do?
She'd surely retreat, not daring to compete.
With Xu Mu out of the picture, wouldn't Zhao Yingying be his?
And if Zhao Yingying became his woman, then with Li Yun as her only family… well, the rest would follow naturally.
"What are you doing here?" Xu Mu asked Lu Xueyao with a smile.
"Brother Fang told me. I live nearby, so I came over," Lu Xueyao said, then looked at Li Yun and Zhao Yingying.
In the end, her gaze settled on Zhao Yingying.
As for Ye Tong, Xu Mu's legal wife—she wouldn't dare compete for that spot.
But slots like "third" or "fourth"? Those, she could fight for.
Noticing the hint of rivalry in Lu Xueyao's eyes, Zhao Yingying hurriedly looked away.
The corner of Fang Chu's mouth curled—it was just as he'd planned. Looked like the scheme was working.
"Xiao Xu, didn't you say you were married? Is this your wife?" Li Yun asked curiously.
Lu Xueyao looked so young—seemingly even a year or two younger than her daughter.
"No. She's my little sister, Lu Xueyao," Xu Mu said, then tapped Xueyao lightly on the forehead.
"I told you before—don't trust random people. If a bad guy uses my name to trick you out, you'll end up in trouble."
Bad guy?
The corner of Fang Chu's mouth twitched—so in Xu Mu's mouth, he was the bad guy now.
[Fate Power -10]
Lu Xueyao covered her forehead and pouted slightly. "I know, Brother Xu Mu."
Despite the pout, Favorability values floated above her head.
[Favorability +20]
Fang Chu wasn't going to let Xu Mu steer the conversation.
With a look of curiosity, he said, "Xu Mu, Lu Xueyao isn't a relative, right? Since you're married, isn't it inappropriate to keep things ambiguous with other women?"
Hearing that, a faint smile appeared on Xu Mu's lips.
It seemed Fang Chu had come prepared this time.