Xu Mu looked toward the man walking in from afar—Dai Xiao, the eldest son of the Dai family patriarch.
According to the plot of The Dragon King's Return, after the Dragon King took over the Xu family, he moved to conquer Yang City.
His greatest rival then—was the Dai family.
The Dai family was utterly different from the Feng family—like heaven and earth apart.
As Feng Yue had once said, Feng Kang of the Feng family had married a woman from a reclusive clan.
But the Dai family itselfwas a reclusive clan.
Unlike the Xu family, which ran multiple industries, the Dai family only owned one company—Dai Holdings.
Yet that single company controlled numerous large corporations, commanding nearly half of Jiangbei's economy.
Dai Xiao was tall and broad-shouldered, wearing a tailored suit. His cropped hair framed a sharp face, and a black stud glinted on his left ear.
His gaze was lofty, carrying the air of someone used to being on top.
Xu Mu knew him well.
The man was shameless—debauched, living in endless luxury in Yang City's nightlife.
But he did have real power and ability.
Feng Jian had been planning to stir trouble with Su Ruiming, but the moment he saw Dai Xiao, he quickly strode forward.
"Master Dai!" he greeted respectfully.
Dai Xiao only glanced at him indifferently before smiling and heading straight toward Xu Shou.
The surrounding businessmen hurried to bow and greet him.
After all, the Dai family was the wealthiest in Jiangbei. Countless companies dreamed of getting even a drop of their investment.
"Welcome, welcome! It's not that we didn't invite you, we simply didn't dare to. I thought the Dai family wouldn't come," Xu Shou said pleasantly—though inwardly he knew this visit wouldn't be friendly.
"If you never invite me, how would you know I wouldn't come?"
While speaking, Dai Xiao's eyes landed on Xu Ningbing. He blinked in surprise. "This must be Miss Xu Ningbing?"
"That's right."
Her expression remained calm.
Dai Xiao's gaze swept her figure openly, lingering at her chest, and he sighed. "Truly famous for a reason—well-deserved reputation indeed."
As he spoke, he noticed another beauty nearby—Mu Qingying—and his eyes lit up again.
Stepping forward, he asked, "And this young lady is?"
"Oh, Master Dai, this is my daughter, Mu Qingying," said Mu Yuansheng with a polite smile.
He had a square face and a neatly trimmed beard.
"So, from the Mu family then—Jiang City's beauties are indeed impressive," Dai Xiao said, grinning.
"Miss Mu, are you married?"
"No, why?" Mu Qingying replied coolly.
"A fortune-teller once said I lack the element of Thunder. Yet here, I find myself surrounded by lightning—truly heaven's will!"
Dai Xiao laughed loudly, then leaned closer. "To be honest, I've taken a liking to you."
Gasps rippled through the Jiang City businessmen, though the locals from Yang City looked unfazed.
This was typical Dai Xiao behavior—he'd declare his interest in a woman publicly, forcing her to comply under the pressure of social decorum.
He was arrogant, but not stupid.
For instance, he hadn't said anything like that to Xu Ningbing.
The Xu family's weight-loss drug had drawn interest from multiple hidden clans—including his own.
For now, cooperation was beneficial, so he wouldn't offend them.
But the Mu family was different—well-known in Jiang City, yes, but only top-five at best.
They weren't even worth his consideration.
"Brother Xu, that guy's stealing all your spotlight," Su Ruiming whispered.
"Stay low," Xu Mu murmured. His sharp eyes narrowed.
The plot was slightly different from what he remembered, but the overall direction was the same.
In the original story, Dai Xiao met Mu Qingying after the Dragon King's return—and tried to claim her as his woman, until the Dragon King intervened.
"Haha, Master Dai really likes to joke. But aren't you already married?" Mu Yuansheng tried to keep his composure, smiling stiffly.
"Surely a man like you knows how the Dai family works. As long as there's no marriage certificate, I can still take her as my proper wife."
Dai Xiao smiled slyly.
Mu Yuansheng's face darkened. He'd long heard of Dai Xiao's reputation—
the man caroused nightly, doing as he pleased under the Dai family's protection.
Mu Yuansheng only had one daughter—he'd never hand her over to this scoundrel.
From her father's expression, Mu Qingying realized this man was someone of high standing—
even Xu Shou had treated him cautiously.
To avoid embarrassing her father, she said calmly, "I'm sorry, sir, but though I'm not married, I already have a boyfriend."
"A boyfriend? That's not a husband," Dai Xiao smirked.
"But I already see him as my husband," she said icily. "So please, stop saying such things."
"Oh? Then I'd like to know who he is—who dares compete with me for a woman?"
Dai Xiao's eyes locked on hers.
"That's my private matter," she said firmly.
Sitting at another table, Fang Chu watched with amusement.
If his wife weren't beside him, he might have stepped in to play hero.
That body—what a masterpiece!
If he could have her and Li Yun together, one on each side… surrounded by mountains indeed!
Too bad his three-year term wasn't up yet.
Mu Qingying's gaze darted around—until it landed on Xu Mu.
"…Why the hell is she looking at me?" Xu Mu muttered under his breath.
He'd been thinking about how to make the Dai family burn through more of the Dragon King's strength in the future—
but now, with everyone following her gaze, every eye in the room turned toward him.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're Xu Mu, aren't you?" Dai Xiao asked, his tone carrying an edge.
"Don't tell me you're Miss Mu's boyfriend?"
"Yes! She's Brother Xu's girlfriend! You got a problem with that?"
Su Ruiming slammed the table and stood up, glaring coldly at Dai Xiao.
"Idiot…"
Su Weiye nearly fainted on the spot.
Did this fool have any idea who he was talking to?
Even the Xu family couldn't stand against the Dai family!
Feng Jian nearly burst out laughing—so Xu Mu was finally in trouble.
Stealing a woman from Dai Xiao? He must have a death wish.
Fang Chu also looked smug. Guo Xiao had told him the Dai family belonged to the hidden clans—
and once you offended a reclusive clan, your end was sealed.
Xu Ningbing and Shen Wanning both frowned.
Since when did Xu Mu have anything to do with Mu Qingying?
Especially Shen Wanning—hadn't he been learning music to impress her?
And now he was supposedly dating this woman?
Xu Mu cursed inwardly. That idiot Su Ruiming had just dragged him into a mess.
But at this point, backing down would only humiliate the Xu family.
Just as Xu Mu stood up, another voice came from the doorway.
"My, what's all this commotion?"
A middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses entered, holding a document folder.
"Boss Xu, you've returned to Yang City, yet didn't think to inform our Nangong family?"
Beside him stood a tiny gothic-styled girl, around seven or eight years old.
She wore mismatched stockings—one black, one white—and her twin pigtails bounced as she moved.
Her round face made her look adorably mischievous.
"You! Your sins are deep! Watch as I cleanse you with Holy Light!"
The little girl covered her left eye with one hand and pointed at Dai Xiao with the other, her childish voice ringing out—
full of divine righteousness and pure, unshakable cuteness.