Back in his office, Xu Mu had just sat down in the boss chair when he noticed Jiang Huihui had posted a new Moments update.
Just a few words:
"Evil is evil! Evil must be punished!"
Followed by three furious emojis.
Xu Mu casually gave it a like.
Scrolling further, he found she had shared a lot of news items, each with her own commentary.
[Middle schooler kicks his mother because she won't give him pocket money.]
Her comment: "People like this deserve the death penalty!"
[Li X is sentenced after beating up a thug while rescuing a woman.]
Her comment: "On what grounds? Damn it!"
…
Going through her Moments, Xu Mu felt he basically understood her character.
One phrase: hates evil with a passion.
He figured a woman like that was worth befriending.
As he kept scrolling, there was a knock at the office door.
"Come in."
He kept browsing his phone.
Meng Wanyue pushed the door open, closed it behind her, and asked, "Mr. Xu, what did they want with you?"
"They were asking how Nine Fingers died. I said I didn't know."
Xu Mu spread his hands with a smile.
Meng Wanyue nodded. "Without evidence, denial is the best policy."
"Wanyue, what do you want for lunch?" Xu Mu asked, smiling.
Having just met the righteous Jiang Huihui, a perfect helper against Lin Yang, he felt more at ease.
"Mr. Xu, I've received word—the Dragon King's mission has ended and they've begun wrapping up. He'll be returning to the country soon," Meng Wanyue said.
"Got it."
Xu Mu's relaxed posture tightened again.
Looked like he needed to step up his power growth and not slack off.
…
After lunch, Xu Shou called Xu Mu to the office.
As always, Xu Ningbing had arrived before him.
"I almost forgot—we're going to the Wei family this evening to pay our respects to the old man on his birthday. We need his help for our push back into Yang City."
Smiling at Xu Mu, Xu Shou said, "The three of us are all going tonight."
From the "plot," Xu Mu of course knew who he meant:
Wei Jingzhi.
He'd forgotten there was such a hidden figure in Jiangbei.
Early on, Wei Jingzhi was described as a retired senior cadre of the Dragon Nation.
Every year on his birthday, plenty of people went to offer congratulations—especially certain high-ranking officials still in office.
As for other businessmen, they flocked there like sharks to blood.
Later, Wei Jingzhi got fed up. He felt his birthday had become tainted with the stink of money.
So he stopped allowing those still in office to come, and explicitly refused any gifts.
After that, the once-grand banquet shrank to fewer than ten tables, and kept shrinking year by year.
People go where profit lies; if they couldn't gain from you, they naturally drifted away.
At first, Xu Mu thought this person was just a background extra.
But later on, his true identity was fully revealed:
Wei Jingzhi was the only Senior Cleaner in all of Jiangbei.
"Dad, I'm not going," Xu Ningbing said to Xu Shou. "All these years it's just a meal and a few words—what's the point?"
She felt she'd be better off training at home.
"No. We're all going."
Xu Shou's tone brooked no argument. "It's just one dinner—it won't take long."
"…Alright."
Though swift and decisive, Xu Ningbing was a dutiful daughter.
"You're going too," Xu Shou added to Xu Mu.
"Of course," Xu Mu said with a grin.
In the original plot, by the time Wei Jingzhi's true identity came out, the villain Xu Mu's ashes had already been scattered by the Dragon King.
Since the Dragon King hadn't arrived yet, it was definitely good to meet a few more big shots.
…
After work.
Xu Mu messaged Ye Tong, then drove behind Xu Shou's Rolls-Royce toward the Xu family manor.
Xu Shou had even washed his hair and changed into a fresh suit.
The Wei estate wasn't far from the Xu manor—both were in the suburbs of Jiang City.
By the main road, it was a loop of over ten minutes by car.
But if you followed the dirt track along the riverbank, it was only about three kilometers.
Xu Mu didn't know why, but in the villain Xu Mu's memories, every time they went to the birthday banquet, Xu Shou would bring the whole family and walk there.
He only carried a red plastic bag with a single bottle of liquor inside.
Xu Mu knew it was Han-Emperor Moutai—only ten bottles had ever been produced. A few years back, Xu Shou had paid over thirty million to acquire it.
The three of them followed the river toward the Wei estate.
Along the river, they finally saw the Wei family manor.
The décor was old-school, and the grounds about the same size as the Xu manor.
When they arrived, plenty of luxury cars were already parked around.
Most plates were local to Jiang City.
As they entered the courtyard, they immediately drew attention from everyone around.
The Xu Group was the star in the sky right now.
Only a few days earlier, many thought Li Feipeng of Fengwei Foods might replace the Xu family.
Who could've predicted things would take such a sharp turn in just days?
Li Feipeng had been arrested for tax evasion and was under investigation.
And the Xu family had further cemented their No. 1 position in Jiang City.
"Boss Xu is here—congratulations, congratulations."
"Chairman Xu, I'm Zhang Shuai from Aotian Footwear—pleased to meet you."
…
Just like Li Feipeng's reception earlier, as soon as Xu Shou walked in, the surrounding businessmen converged on him.
Smiling, Xu Shou didn't chat much and headed straight inside.
Hands in his pockets, Xu Mu followed behind. He still needed to meet Wei Jingzhi.
Just then, a cold voice sounded from not far away.
"Xu Mu! What are you doing here?"
Xu Mu turned—and couldn't help widening his eyes. It was Fang Chu.
He hadn't expected to see him.
"Impudent! You disgraceful live-in son-in-law—how dare you talk to Young Master Xu in that tone?"
The permed woman beside Fang Chu shot to her feet and slapped him across the face.
"Young Master Xu…"
Fang Chu clutched his cheek. Thinking back to how Xu Mu had been walking behind Xu Shou, he finally understood—this Xu Mu was the Xu family's prodigal son.
From Xu Mu's actions, he hadn't seemed like one, so Fang Chu had never connected him to the Xu Group.
Xu Mu looked at Fang Chu's vicious glare, utterly speechless.
What are you looking at me like that for? I wasn't the one who slapped you.
"Young Master Xu, I'm sorry. I apologize on his behalf," the permed woman said, approaching with an apologetic look.
Xu Mu sized her up—black bodycon skirt, long black French waves, fair features with scarlet lips.
She was very beautiful, the type to have plenty of suitors.
But to Xu Mu, not that tempting—he was spoiled by the beauties around him.
He swept her with the Divine Eye; her info appeared at once:
Name: Guo Xiao
Identity: President of the Guo Group; heroine of The Strongest Live-In Son-in-Law.
Favorability: −10
Fate Level: 8 (max 10)
Xu Mu had heard of the Guo Group—quite a big family business.
Top twenty in Jiang City. He hadn't expected Fang Chu to have married into the Guo family.
"As expected of the Guo Group's president—truly a heroine among women. To step up and apologize for a man."
Admiration flashed in Xu Mu's eyes. "Since Miss Guo has personally spoken, let's drop it."
[Favorability +10]
Black text popped over Guo Xiao's head. She looked delighted. "Young Master Xu actually knows me—what an honor."
[Fate Power −10]
Fang Chu's face went green. He could stomach Lu Xueyao and Zhao Yingying—since there was no relation.
But this woman here was his wife—the one he'd gotten the marriage certificate with!