Wu Shengqi stared at Li Yun—what a figure. He'd thought she was an old A6; turns out she was an old Bentley.
"Zheng Yan, is this your friend?"
Wu smiled at the short-haired woman.
"Director Wu, this is Li Yun, my high-school classmate and fellow villager. Her English is excellent," Zheng Yan said quickly, smiling.
"Hello, Director Wu," Li Yun added with a polite smile.
The company was huge—office towers in front and a large production area behind.
It was clearly a major conglomerate. She didn't want to lose this opportunity.
"In principle, our department doesn't recruit anyone over thirty-five, but you both present well," Wu said, eyes squinting with a grin as he glanced at Li Yun's chest, fighting the urge to bury his face there.
"Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Director Wu," Zheng Yan said hastily.
Li Yun forced a smile too, then asked, "Director Wu, what exactly would our work be?"
"Our department handles reception—we're the company's face. Depending on the visitor and purpose, we set the reception standard."
He looked Li Yun over. "We'll be targeting overseas markets next. If foreign clients come, your English will be useful. You can communicate normally, right?"
"Yes."
Back then, believing languages had a future, Li Yun had worked hard on English and even paid for training.
But under family pressure, she married in a hurry and never used it again.
"Knowing a foreign language is great. I'd like to learn too—maybe after work you can teach me," Director Wu chuckled.
"O-okay…"
Something about his smile felt greasy, but she could endure it if it meant earning money.
"By the way, Director Wu, what's the pay for this position?"
She had to be clear—she'd come to Yang City to earn more and pay off debts.
If it was similar to Jiang City, she'd rather be closer to home.
"We're a big company—don't worry about compensation. After social insurance and housing fund deductions, plus various allowances, full-timers take home a bit over eight thousand a month."
Wu smiled at her. "There's also a year-end bonus, and quarterly bonuses for each department."
Li Yun brightened. As expected of a big company—the benefits were strong.
"Of course, I can't decide everything alone. I can waive your initial screening, but the manager still needs to sign off before it's official," Wu said.
"Hehe, with someone as capable as you, Director Wu, I'm sure you can get us in," Zheng Yan flattered him.
"There's a way, sure—just a bit troublesome. We'll talk tonight. I've got work now," Wu said, turning to leave, leaving the rest to Zheng Yan.
Xu Mu and Meng Wanyue found a nearby restaurant and grabbed a simple meal.
Ye Tong had messaged—truth be told, she didn't want to attend, but since Xu Shou had said as much, she'd go along with it.
After eating, the two strolled by a nearby river.
For some reason, Meng Wanyue loved this feeling—she wished time would stop here forever.
"Wanyue, I still don't know your past," Xu Mu said, looking at her profile.
Her expressionless eyes gazed into the distance.
Thinking of her past, her fists tightened.
With others, she would never bring it up—but Xu Mu was different.
She told him the painful memories.
Trained from childhood—inhuman torment.
Every week, there was a death list. Whoever ranked last overall was executed.
Then they were forced to kill each other, continuing to eliminate their peers.
Out of several hundred, only ten survived. She was one of them.
By the end, she was trembling.
Just then, a warm embrace wrapped around her like a winter quilt.
She had shed no tears while recounting her suffering—
but in Xu Mu's arms, they fell freely.
"Wanyue, you've really been through hell," Xu Mu said, holding her tight. "I promise you—never again."
He wasn't thinking about Fate Points—this was sincere feeling.
Anyone would feel compassion; she truly was pitiable, and one couldn't help wanting to protect her.
[Favorability +50]
Wiping her tears with her sleeve, she realized how filthy and fetid her previous life had been—like living in a sewer—especially after seeing Xu Mu's warm interactions with Ye Tong and the others.
"Alright, no more crying. Routine check—show me Illusionary Sword. How far have you gotten?"
He patted her back and shifted the topic.
He'd already swept the area with his perception—no one nearby.
"I still haven't mastered it," she said, thrusting her palm forward.
Whoosh!
A gust of force swirled, and before her palm a water-like longsword formed—
only to collapse the instant it left her hand.
"Not bad. Keep practicing—this move is very strong," Xu Mu smiled.
"Okay," she nodded, calm again though her eyes were still slightly red.
Dusk fell.
Outside the Yang City branch, lanterns and decorations were up.
Luxury cars lined up in neat rows—most of them with Jiang City plates.
Xu Mu and Meng Wanyue entered the lobby—already quite crowded.
"Brother Xu! Brother Xu! I missed you so much!"
A yellow-dyed youth rushed over in tears—Su Ruiming of the Su family.
He clung to Xu Mu's arm. "Were you sick lately? I heard you even like going to work now. Why don't you take me out to make art anymore?"
Xu Mu gave him a faint smile. According to the old memories,
Su Ruiming was his little lackey—always trailing behind him.
"I've been busy," Xu Mu said, patting his shoulder. "What've you been up to?"
"Staying home gaming. Feng Yue's bar is closed, and you won't take me out, so I've got nowhere to go."
He sighed. "My dad's forcing me to learn business. I'm just not built for it."
"Hahaha! It's for your own good."
As Xu Mu laughed, he sensed several people staring at him.
Without turning, he swept the room with his perception.
Sure enough—familiar faces.
One was Mu Qingying, wearing her usual black dress with a simple ponytail, delicate features—she was the center of attention.
Her father, Mu Yuansheng, was there too, personally invited by Xu Shou.
Another pair of eyes belonged to the live-in son-in-law Fang Chu.
"Brother Xu."
A woman in a black bodycon dress with French waves approached with a smile—Guo Xiao, Fang Chu's wife.
Seeing her go straight to Xu Mu again, Fang Chu glared from a distance, face full of hatred.
Grinding his anger down, he walked toward Xu Mu.