Wang Weiliang was speaking with such emotion that he looked ready to cry.
His wife is more than ten years younger than he is; back then, Wang was even her advisor.
Later he joined the Ye family and worked hard there for ten years.
By coincidence, his wife also joined the Ye family.
Thanks to that connection, they married, and their relationship was always good—
until Wang grew old and frail while his wife happened to be at her most voracious stage.
That's when problems began.
He knew the reason, of course—but he was old, willing yet unable.
The medicine from last night let him stand tall again.
He had examined every herb in Xu Mu's prescription; each was a traditional ingredient with no side effects.
And yet, through a special production process, it produced such powerful effects.
A genius!
The young man before him—Xu Mu—was absolutely a genius!
"Mr. Wang, these years must've been hard," Xu Mu said, concern on his face.
"Mm! Mm!"
Wang nodded vigorously. Why did he spend all day in the lab? Because he was afraid to go home.
Thirty like a wolf, forty like a tiger, fifty can suck the dust right off the floor—
his wife was exactly at the dust-sucking age.
"Alright, Old Wang," Xu Shou chuckled from behind his desk. "Even if it works, we still need a trial period. Better safe than sorry."
"I understand, Chairman."
Wang turned to him. "If there's nothing else, I'll head back to the lab."
"Go ahead," Xu Shou nodded.
After Wang left, only the three members of the Xu family remained.
Slumping onto the sofa, Xu Mu asked suddenly, "Is Ye Tong going to tonight's banquet?"
"No. The Ye family was destroyed precisely because of the hidden clans. For now, it's best not to draw attention—
we might get dragged in," Xu Shou said, stroking his stubble.
Xu Mu nodded lightly. That made sense.
Enemies had to be dealt with one at a time, and the hidden clan tied to the Ye family wasn't based in Yang City anyway.
The best approach now was to avoid crossing paths with them.
"I sent out the invitations last night. Let's get ready shortly and head straight to Yang City," Xu Shou said, looking at Xu Mu. "I've got a tough assignment for you."
"What is it?" Xu Mu scratched his head.
"Invite Old Wei."
"With him present at tonight's banquet," Xu Shou smiled, "the two hidden families in Yang City will think twice before moving against us."
Arms folded, Xu Mu thought: of course.
A dignified senior janitor—what are a couple of hidden families compared to that?
Still, he wasn't confident he could invite him.
From what he knew of the story, ordinary people couldn't budge Wei Jingzhi.
"I probably can't get him to come," Xu Mu said with a shrug.
"I know," Xu Shou replied. "Whether he comes or not, we have to invite him. It's etiquette."
"I'll go around ten. It's a bit early now."
Xu Mu stretched and got up to leave.
"After you extend the invitation, go straight to the Yang City branch," Xu Shou reminded him.
Xu Mu agreed and left the office.
Back in his own office, he lay on the sofa and messaged Ye Tong about Xu Shou's plan.
She didn't reply immediately—probably busy.
Just then came a knock. Sensing who it was, Xu Mu said, "Come in."
Meng Wanyue pushed the door open. "Manager Xu, I saw your schedule—are you heading to Yang City today?"
"Yes. We're hosting a banquet tonight. The local companies may try to give us a hard time," Xu Mu said, sitting up with a smile. "Wanyue, come with me today."
"Alright."
She nodded, a light smile on her face.
"How's the cultivation technique going?" Xu Mu asked.
"As expected of a Profound-Rank art—I haven't mastered it yet. I'll need to keep working," she said, a little embarrassed.
"It's fine. Take it slow," Xu Mu replied—he didn't really know the difficulty curve; whenever he drew a technique, he mastered it instantly.
Meng Wanyue nodded lightly.
—
After chatting for a bit, Xu Mu drove her to the Wei residence.
A figure like Wei Jingzhi wouldn't care for common gifts, so Xu Mu didn't overthink it—he just bought some fruit and headed to the manor.
He parked at the gate, and the two of them got out.
"Hello, I'm Xu Mu. I'm here to pay my respects," he told the security guards.
"Please wait," a middle-aged guard said, then walked inside.
With his perception, Xu Mu sensed Wei Jingzhi in the courtyard; Jiang Huihui was there as well.
Before long, the guard returned. "Please come in."
Xu Mu nodded and entered with Meng Wanyue.
From a distance he saw Old Wei painting bamboo before a grove, while Jiang Huihui stood nearby, hands in her pockets, blowing bubbles now and then.
"Old Wei!" Xu Mu called, then looked to Jiang Huihui. "Huihui, you're here too."
She shot him a glance, wanting to say we're not that close, but let it go—she had something to tell him later anyway.
"Heh, you came at the right time," Old Wei beckoned. "Come see my bamboo—how is it?"
Xu Mu stepped up, looked down at the painting, and nodded inwardly. "Old Wei, your brush lines truly have majestic strength."
Old Wei lifted his thermos with a smile. "Don't flatter me—tell me the flaws."
"Your level is excellent. What's missing is qi-rhythm."
Xu Mu pointed at the painting. "The bamboo, leaves, and rocks are each well rendered, but they don't flow together.
In Chinese painting, what matters is the circulation of spirit and rhythm, unifying all parts into one."
Old Wei's eyes lit up. "Sudden enlightenment! I see it now!"
He set the thermos down and examined the bamboo he'd painted—indeed, it looked pieced together.
"Hey, Xu Mu," Jiang Huihui walked over and said coolly, "my grandpa wants to see you. Got time?"
"I'm rather busy today. I actually came to invite Old Wei to a banquet in Yang City tonight," Xu Mu said with an easy smile.
"Yang City? I won't go," Old Wei shook his head lightly. "If it were local, I might stroll over. I'm old—don't want to run around."
Xu Mu wasn't surprised. He nodded. "Alright."
"But Huihui can go in my place," Old Wei added with a grin, looking at her.
"What would I go for?" she asked, blowing another bubble.
"Aren't you heading back to Yang City today anyway?" Old Wei chuckled.
Jiang Huihui glanced at Xu Mu and shrugged. "Fine, I'll go. Saves me paying for a meal."
"Manager Xu, the fruit," Meng Wanyue reminded him, lifting the basket.
"Oh—forgot about that."
Xu Mu took it and set it on a nearby chair with a smile.
Hands still in her pockets, Jiang Huihui sized up Meng Wanyue, her gaze growing stranger by the second.
Meng Wanyue lowered her eyes slightly, avoiding her look.
Old Wei lifted his thermos and smiled.