Wang Teng was already stunned, but he didn't dare disobey. He had a contract with his influencer company.
If he refused to cooperate or tried to go solo, the penalty would be at least over a hundred million.
Where would he get that kind of money?
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
He apologized to everyone there one by one, then slunk off, tail between his legs.
Xu Mu glanced around and noticed faint +1s and +2s of Favorability popping up over many people's heads.
He opened his system panel: his Fate Points were now close to two thousand—
though most of it came from Ye Tong, Ye Yu, and Meng Wanyue.
The four of them continued strolling. Whenever they bought snacks, Xu Mu bought three portions each time—
for Ye Tong, Ye Yu, and Meng Wanyue.
After making a full loop, they finally left the old town.
Meng Wanyue took the driver's seat again. She couldn't explain it, but her previously gloomy mood had suddenly cleared.
Maybe it was just getting out with Xu Mu. She was "just a bodyguard," yet whatever he did, he never forgot about her.
"Alright, where to next?"
Xu Mu looked back at the sisters.
Ye Tong and Ye Yu exchanged a look; they had no destination in mind.
They'd come mainly to visit their old home, but the Ye family manor had already been torn down.
"Sister, if you don't have a place in mind, I've got somewhere I want to go," Ye Yu said with a smile.
"Hehe, go on," Ye Tong replied, smiling.
"I want to check out a bar. I've never been to one in my whole life." Ye Yu clung to Ye Tong's arm.
"No way!"
Ye Tong's face changed at once. "That's not a good place. What would you do in a bar?"
"I just want to see what it's like."
Ye Yu held up three fingers. "Sis, I promise I'll only go once. I won't go again."
"I said no!"
Her tone left no room for argument.
Xu Mu watched Ye Tong—her willow brows knit in a slight frown. Somehow, her annoyed look was… kind of cute.
"Brother-in-law~"
Ye Yu pouted and shot Xu Mu a pleading look.
"Your sister's right. Alcohol leads to trouble. You two are so pretty—what if some drunk guys try to take advantage of you?" Xu Mu chimed in.
[Favorability +10]
Ye Tong glanced at Xu Mu. As expected of her husband—standing firmly on her side.
Right after speaking, Xu Mu typed out a message to Ye Yu: "We'll sneak out sometime when there's a chance."
"Fine…" Ye Yu mumbled, lips pursed.
Suddenly her phone buzzed. She glanced at it, and the adorable dimples on her cheeks appeared at once.
[Favorability +10]
Ye Yu secretly winked at Xu Mu. As expected of her brother-in-law.
Xu Mu chuckled to himself. Two birds with one stone—not bad.
In the end, Ye Tong set the plan for the day: the zoo, then a memorial hall—wholesome attractions all around.
Xu Mu checked his phone—he'd already taken over thirty thousand steps today.
Before they knew it, night had fallen.
Ye Tong originally wanted to head back, but Ye Yu proposed going to the seaside tomorrow and staying one night in Yang City.
This time Xu Mu sided with Ye Yu—Sunday was tomorrow anyway; an extra day out wouldn't hurt.
They booked two rooms: Xu Mu with Ye Tong; Ye Yu with Meng Wanyue.
At some point, Ye Yu found an excuse to "go buy something" with Xu Mu.
Xu Mu told Meng Wanyue to stay with Ye Tong so the two could chat.
Once they slipped out of the hotel, Ye Yu immediately linked arms with Xu Mu. "Brother-in-law, you're the best."
"There's no one else here," Xu Mu said mildly. "Be honest—why do you want to go to that kind of place?"
"I like the unknown," Ye Yu said, tilting her head up at the moon, its glow dim under the city's neon. "I want to see the world in full."
Xu Mu thought of her personality—later on she'd become a little devil, tricking people and handing any treasures she got to the Dragon King.
"Here are the rules," he said, ruffling her hair. "Only low-alcohol cocktails or red wine. One hour max."
"Okay." Ye Yu nodded.
Xu Mu pulled out his phone, checked the map, and found a nearby bar—
"Dark Moon."
Not far. They'd go there.
They walked along the sidewalk through the traffic and lights.
After ten-plus minutes, they reached the bar's entrance.
Xu Mu looked up at the sign—seemed newly renovated.
"Come on."
This time he took the initiative and led Ye Yu inside.
Once in, Ye Yu saw it was a lot like a restaurant—friends sitting in twos and threes, drinking and chatting.
Deeper in was a stage, lights flashing.
Men and women stood together, swaying and shouting along with the music.
Ye Yu studied the crowd carefully.
Suddenly, she pointed up to the second floor. "Brother-in-law, what's upstairs?"
"No idea."
Xu Mu gave a small shake of his head. He swept his perception across the area, then said, "If I had to guess, it's probably—"
He froze. A woman had entered his sensory range.
A woman in a form-fitting black dress, seated in a retro-styled private room.
Besides her, there were three men in the room.
The woman was Feng Yue.
Xu Mu could hardly believe it—running into her again so soon.
So she'd opened a bar on the outskirts of Yang City.
She was smiling seductively as she chatted with the men.
Beside her sat a buzz-cut man of about thirty-five.
Xu Mu knew him—Chai Xiongtāo, the eldest son of the Chai Group's head.
The Chai family was powerful in Yang City—holding sway over more than ninety percent of the city's entertainment industry.
They had once trailed just behind the Xu and Feng families; later the Xu family fell out of the top ten.
Currently the Chai and Feng families were competing for a top-five spot.
Chai Xiongtāo held a wine glass in one hand, testing the waters with the other—
and finally rested that hand on Feng Yue's shoulder.
Feng Yue's smile grew even more alluring, practically bedroom eyes.
"Brother-in-law?"
Ye Yu's voice pulled Xu Mu back.
"Huh? What is it?" He looked down at her.
"I called you several times—what were you thinking about?"
She shook his arm. "You were saying, what's upstairs?"
"Probably private rooms," Xu Mu said with an easy smile.
"In that case, let's not go up. We'll just sit at the bar and have a drink."
Ye Yu had come mainly to people-watch; if it was private rooms, she'd rather drink at home with her brother-in-law.
Xu Mu nodded and led her to the bar, ordering two low-alcohol drinks for her.
Then he fell into thought.
Everyone had their own way of living.
He and Feng Yue had nothing to do with each other now; whatever she did was her freedom.
And yet… he couldn't help sweeping the second floor again with his perception.
He didn't know why, but he felt a faint sense of being "cheated on."
Just then, in Feng Yue's private room, the other two men stood up with a laugh and left—
leaving only Feng Yue and Chai Xiongtāo inside.