Xu Mu also noticed the Fate Power rising above Fang Chu's head—he was truly innocent here.
Was this guy too sensitive or what?
He hadn't even done anything—just exchanged a few polite words—yet Fang Chu was acting as if he'd been personally betrayed.
Still, judging from Guo Xiao's Fate Level, even if she didn't treat Fang Chu like a human at first, she'd end up being subdued by him in the end.
"Miss Guo, you're far too modest. Everyone knows the Guo Group," Xu Mu said with polite warmth.
He continued smoothly, "After Elder Guo passed away, the family business didn't decline in the slightest. I'd say that's all thanks to you."
[Favorability +20]
Guo Xiao's eyes reddened a little—she was almost moved to tears.
Finally, someone understood her struggles.
In all the years since Fang Chu married into her family, he hadn't lifted a finger to help. The company had relied entirely on her and her mother's shoulders.
As the only daughter of the Guo family, with her father gone, she was often looked down upon in business negotiations.
And she had endured all that alone.
Xu Mu was slightly surprised—just one compliment, and Guo Xiao's Favorability had turned positive; one more, and he'd earned over a hundred Fate Points.
Clearly, she'd been holding in a lot of pent-up resentment.
Fang Chu couldn't take it anymore. Xu Mu was going too far—flirting right in front of him, stealing his wife's attention!
How could he stand for that?
"Xu Mu, so the infamous wastrel everyone talks about is you," Fang Chu said coldly as he walked closer.
"Presumptuous!"
Guo Xiao flared up instantly. Even if she hadn't been touched just now, she'd still be furious—how dare he speak to Xu Mu like that, and in public no less?
She raised her hand to slap him again, but Xu Mu caught her wrist, then immediately let go.
"Miss Guo, there are so many people watching. Let's save him some face. Besides, my reputation as a wastrel is well known."
Then his tone changed slightly. "But speaking to me like that in front of everyone is a bit disrespectful."
"Fang Chu! Apologize to Young Master Xu!" Guo Xiao snapped.
"…Sorry, Young Master Xu. I shouldn't have said that."
Endure.
Fang Chu had to endure!
He already had a plan—to spread the word to Li Yun, Zhao Yingying, and Lu Xueyao, so they'd know that this so-called gentleman was actually a notorious scoundrel.
"It's fine. Since Miss Guo asked, I'll forgive you," Xu Mu said lightly and turned to leave.
But Guo Xiao wasn't about to let this opportunity slip.
If she could get close to the Xu family's "ship," the Guo Group would soar.
She immediately asked, "Young Master Xu, do you know Fang Chu?"
"I've met him. I know two younger girls—they're still students. Fang Chu seems to have a rather close relationship with them," Xu Mu replied, glancing at Fang Chu.
Fang Chu's expression changed instantly. Before he could explain, smack!—Guo Xiao's palm struck his cheek again.
"Fang Chu! You bastard! No wonder you never want to stay home and keep finding excuses to live outside—you've been out chasing women?"
She trembled with fury. "The Guo family hasn't treated you badly. You don't work, you do nothing—who do you think's been supporting you all this time?"
[Fate Power −20]
Fang Chu held his cheek, his pride being shredded bit by bit.
He had to endure.
He'd been busy recovering his body for years—how could he have time for anything else?
But seeing the onlookers' mocking stares, his hatred toward Xu Mu only grew stronger.
It was all this guy's fault he was humiliated!
"What's all this commotion?"
Just then, an old man's voice came from the distance.
Everyone turned toward it—and there stood Wei Jingzhi.
"Elder Wei!"
"Happy birthday, Elder Wei!"
The crowd immediately stepped forward to pay respects.
Xu Mu's gaze also fell on Wei Jingzhi—a bald old man wearing reading glasses.
Judging from the wrinkles on his face, he was around seventy or eighty years old.
He wore loose, casual elder's clothes and held a thermos cup with wolfberries floating inside.
Xu Mu activated the Divine Eye to inspect his information:
Name: Wei Jingzhi
Identity: Grand Elder of Xuantian Sect; Cleaner
Favorability: −10
Fate Level: 5 (max 10)
What the—!
Xu Mu's mind reeled. As expected of a senior Cleaner—he was actually the Grand Elder of the Xuantian Sect!
That meant he outranked the sect master himself!
But Xu Mu remembered—in The Dragon King's Descent, there was no mention of any Xuantian Sect.
It must have been the fusion of worlds that altered Wei Jingzhi's identity.
"Elder Wei, sorry to make a scene," Guo Xiao said quickly, lowering her head.
"Haha, married couples need time to adjust. A little quarrel is normal," Wei Jingzhi said with a hearty laugh.
Then he turned to Xu Shou beside him. "Funny thing—I almost forgot it was my birthday today, yet you remembered."
"Don't say that, Elder Wei. You're my benefactor," Xu Shou said with a smile, lifting the red plastic bag. "I came today just to pay my respects."
"Little Xu, I told you before—I don't accept gifts."
Wei Jingzhi unscrewed his thermos and sipped his goji tea.
"This isn't a gift. I just brought a bottle to share a few drinks with you—does that count as giving a present?" Xu Shou said, grinning.
"Haha! No, no, that doesn't count," Wei Jingzhi chuckled.
"Old Wei, happy birthday!"
Suddenly, a long-haired woman came zipping in on an electric scooter.
She wore black casual clothes, the breeze lifting her hair to reveal a sharp, heroic face.
Without stopping, she rode straight up to Wei Jingzhi.
"Huihui? You little rascal, you actually remembered my birthday?"
Wei Jingzhi beamed with joy at the sight of her.
Everyone around exchanged glances—who was this woman, that Elder Wei seemed so close to her?
"Jiang Huihui?"
Xu Mu furrowed his brows slightly, but then relaxed.
They were both Cleaners—of course they'd know each other.
"Xu Mu? You're here too?"
Jiang Huihui turned and looked at him, clearly surprised.
Standing beside Xu Shou, Xu Ningbing narrowed her eyes slightly—just how many women did this Xu Mu know?
"It's Elder Wei's birthday. My father and I came to celebrate," Xu Mu said with a smile.
"Oh."
Jiang Huihui nodded simply, then took a long tube from her back, pulling out a rolled-up painting and handing it to Wei Jingzhi.
"What's this?"
Wei Jingzhi unrolled it with a delighted smile.
"I'm just a delivery girl today—I stole one of my grandfather's paintings for your birthday," Jiang Huihui said playfully.
"What? Old Jiang's painting?"
Wei Jingzhi's eyes lit up. He quickly laid it open on a nearby table.
It was a landscape painting—on the cliff's edge stood an old man in a long robe, hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance.
"What a painting! Magnificent!"
At that moment, Fang Chu squeezed through the crowd, exclaiming, "The inkwork here is incredible! The use of thickness and moisture, the contrast of tone—astonishing! The depth and spatial layering are masterful!"
"Oh? And who are you? You actually understand painting?" Wei Jingzhi asked in surprise.
Guo Xiao, too, looked shocked—she hadn't expected Fang Chu to have such talent.
Xu Mu smirked inwardly. The protagonist was starting to show off.
Unfortunately, he was showing off in the wrong place.
Painting?
As a master-level artist himself, Xu Mu knew a thing or two about that.