The moment the two newcomers walked in, shockwaves rippled through the crowd.
No one expected members of the Nangong family to appear.
They were one of only two reclusive clans in Yang City.
Compared to the Dai family, the Nangong family truly embodied the word "reclusive"—far more low-key.
The middle-aged man with the briefcase was Ren Fuhai, famed across Jiangbei as the "wage-earner emperor."
He practically ran all of the Nangong family's business interests, while most people didn't even know the Nangong clan existed.
Rumor had it Ren Fuhai had married into the Nangong family.
The little loli beside him was Nangong Yao, granddaughter of the Nangong family's former patriarch.
Xu Mu sat back down—he hadn't expected the Nangong family to show up.
According to the "plot," the Nangong clan kept to themselves and never clashed with the Dragon King.
"Dai Xiao! You wicked fiend, bullying people again! Be purified by my holy radiance!"
Nangong Yao scampered up to Dai Xiao and began smacking him with her tiny hands.
Dai Xiao couldn't be bothered with this chuunibyo girl.
He shoved Nangong Yao aside and looked at Ren Fuhai. "So the Nangong family that keeps out of worldly affairs wants a slice of the pie too?"
"We're an investment firm. When we see an excellent target, we invest," Ren Fuhai said as he walked toward Xu Shou. "Boss Xu, shall we talk?"
Xu Shou glanced at the briefcase and nodded lightly.
"Hold it."
Dai Xiao raised a hand. "If there's talking to be done, you talk to the Dai family first. President Ren, there's a proper order to things."
"As you wish. Business goes to the highest bidder," Ren said with a mild smile, nudging his gold-rim glasses. "Even if the Dai family talks first, if the Nangong family later offers better terms, it still benefits us more."
"Let's do it together," Xu Mu cut in, then looked to the side. "Mr. Shen, you join us as well."
"Gladly."
Shen Hong nodded. That was exactly why he'd come. He hadn't expected Xu Shou to anticipate it and extend the invitation first.
Feng Jian opened his mouth, then swallowed his words.
As a powerless second son, he had no seat at the adults' table.
In the end, Xu Shou and Xu Ningbing led the three (Ren Fuhai, Dai Xiao, Shen Hong) to the innermost table.
"Yaoyao, you're here too?"
Shen Wanning smiled, walking up to Nangong Yao.
"Wanning-sis, I didn't see you just now."
Nangong Yao tilted up her cute little face.
The two got along well; many of Nangong Yao's instruments had been taught by Shen Wanning.
Shen Hong was quite pleased to see his daughter connected with the Nangong family.
Since Feng Jian couldn't join that table, he turned back to find trouble with Xu Mu—
especially with that yellow-haired punk beside him practically begging to die.
"Xu Mu, let's finish our earlier conversation," Feng Jian said coldly, eyes fixed on him.
"What? Xu Mu?"
Nangong Yao suddenly turned, spotting Xu Mu sitting over there. She immediately covered her left eye.
"Ah! The stench of evil! Be shattered by my Holy Light!"
With that, she charged at Xu Mu.
She vaguely remembered how he had bullied Shen Wanning in the past; she'd even asked the family servants who Xu Mu was.
The servants said he was a good-for-nothing scoundrel.
She hadn't expected to meet him here today.
"You, steeped in sin! Prepare to be purified!"
One hand over her left eye, the other clenched into a tiny fist, she pounded on Xu Mu's leg—
though her strength was about the same as a massage.
Xu Mu flicked on his Divine Eye for a quick scan. Whether in the original "plot" or the old villain Xu Mu's memories, this girl hadn't left a deep impression.
Name: Nangong Yao
Role: Little Princess of the Nangong Family; female lead of Expert Descends the Mountain, My Seven Senior Sisters Are Devastatingly Beautiful.
Favorability: −20
Fate Level: 8 (max 10)
Seeing that, Xu Mu was a bit baffled. He wasn't sure when exactly she became a female lead.
If she only took that role after coming of age, fine.
But if she was already a female lead now, then the protagonist of that series was in for… legal trouble.
Feng Jian had been ready to continue needling Xu Mu, but with Nangong Yao here, he couldn't be bothered.
If he made the little girl cry, he'd be the one in trouble.
Watching Nangong Yao pummel Xu Mu, Meng Wanyue frowned slightly.
But seeing Xu Mu smiling and unbothered, she didn't step in.
Su Ruiming's admiration surged like a mighty river.
To him, this little loli was just flirting with Xu Mu.
Brother Xu was too dominant—he used pure refinement to attract even a girl this cute.
"What's going on? Why has the sin clinging to me… disappeared?"
Xu Mu suddenly looked at Nangong Yao in pretend amazement.
"Huh? It's gone?"
Nangong Yao stared at her tiny pink fist. "Did my purification work?"
"If I'm not mistaken, the eye you're covering—should be the legendary Holy Eye, right?"
Xu Mu looked gravely at the little girl.
When dealing with a chuunibyo, a few lines were all it took.
[Favorability +10]
Black text floated above Nangong Yao's head.
She stared in shock; even her twin pigtails quivered.
Then she leaned in close and whispered, "Shh! Keep it down. I'm afraid the bad guys will find out."
Xu Mu nearly laughed. Apparently no one had ever played along with this loli's game—
One line from him and they were instantly closer.
"Alright," he nodded softly, then whispered into her ear, "I possess holy power too, just like you. But I'd been possessed by evil. Thank you for saving me."
"You have holy power too?"
Nangong Yao's eyes went round. She whispered back, "I finally found a kindred spirit!"
[Favorability +10]
Another line of black text rose above her head.
Just a few lines, and her Favorability was back in the black.
A chuunibyo loli really was easy to fool.
From afar, Shen Wanning couldn't believe it.
Just moments ago, Nangong Yao had been hitting Xu Mu—
How were they suddenly whispering secrets?
Right then, Xu Ningbing walked over. "Dad wants you."
Xu Mu nodded lightly and said to Nangong Yao, "I have to step away for a moment."
"I'll go with you to slay evil!"
Nangong Yao grabbed the hem of his jacket and stuck to his side.
Xu Ningbing glanced down at the little girl.
Since when were she and Xu Mu so familiar?
…
At the far table, Xu Mu noticed that Xu Shou looked displeased.
Xu Ningbing took her seat again, her expression frosty.
Ren Fuhai was surprised—when did Nangong Yao switch to Xu Mu's side?
"Xu Mu, I didn't expect that the Xu family's decisions needed your consent," Dai Xiao said, crossing one leg and smirking at him.
"He is, after all, part of the family," Xu Shou replied, then smiled at Xu Mu.
"They say they want eighty percent of our pharmaceutical company's profits. Do you agree?"
"No."
Xu Mu walked over, calm as ever.
"Then there's nothing to discuss," Xu Shou said with an open-palmed smile, looking at the trio opposite.
"Xu Shou, you're doing this on purpose."
Dai Xiao pressed his palm to the table, his tone growing cold.