"That won't do. I don't like owing favors."
Lin Qianzhu pulled out two hundred yuan, set it on the console, and lifted her chin. "Is that enough?"
"Good enough."
Xu Mu hadn't let her in just out of kindness — she was from the Heavenly Sword Sect, and not just anyone, but the Sect Master's daughter.
What a stroke of fate. Through her, he could probe for information about the sect's inner workings.
Lin Qianzhu leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes.
"Your leg's hurt?" Xu Mu asked, glancing at her.
"Yes," she replied curtly, not even opening her eyes — clearly uninterested in conversation.
"I know a bit of medicine," Xu Mu offered calmly. "Want me to take a look?"
"You only 'know a bit'? Then do humanity a favor and keep your hands to yourself," Lin Qianzhu said coolly. "Don't hit on me. Just drive. I know I'm beautiful, but you're the kind of man who could never reach my level."
Xu Mu was momentarily speechless. He'd known she was haughty, but this level of narcissism was impressive.
Sure, she was good-looking — elegant even — clearly spoiled since childhood.
But up close, she wasn't exactly formidable. He couldn't figure out what gave her this much confidence.
"You're overthinking. I have a wife, and she's prettier than you. I was just trying to help."
Xu Mu kept his tone even.
"Prettier than me? Don't lie. Everyone says my face is the gold standard of beauty," Lin Qianzhu said, flipping her hair proudly.
"Every ceiling still needs a chandelier," Xu Mu replied dryly. "My family runs a renovation business — want me to install one for you?"
Lin Qianzhu frowned slightly, not catching the innuendo, and huffed.
Xu Mu didn't bother continuing. She was clearly impossible to talk to, and he wasn't about to waste effort flattering her.
He pressed harder on the gas pedal, speeding up.
When they reached the city, Xu Mu switched to low beams and headed toward the Third People's Hospital — it happened to be on his route.
"Alright, I'll stop here," he said once they arrived.
Lin Qianzhu opened the door and got out without another word.
Just as Xu Mu was about to leave, he saw a woman in a long dress walking past Lin Qianzhu. Her aura was powerful — domineering, even.
It was Mu Qingying, the woman whom the original Xu Mu — the novel's villain — had once pursued relentlessly.
Normally, the current Xu Mu wouldn't have greeted her.
But since Ye Chen had recently approached the Mu family for business, he decided to ask a few questions.
"Teacher Mu."
He rolled down his window and called out.
"Xu Mu?"
Mu Qingying blinked in surprise and took a few steps closer.
Lin Qianzhu, who had just been walking toward the hospital, froze. "Xu Mu?"
She turned back — the woman who had just called out had gotten into the same car she'd just left.
"He's Xu Mu?"
Her expression changed. Limping, she hurried after him. "Xu Mu! Wait—!"
But by then, the car had already vanished into the night.
"I think I heard someone calling your name just now," Mu Qingying said.
Her single ponytail swayed slightly as she turned. She looked paler than usual.
"You must've misheard."
Xu Mu smiled lightly.
"Thanks for the ride. Saved me the cab fare," she said softly, glancing at him before looking away. "I suddenly felt dizzy this afternoon and didn't dare drive, so I took a taxi to the hospital."
"Long hours, no exercise, sitting too much — your neck's compressing a nerve. Of course you're dizzy," Xu Mu said, getting to the point. "Why didn't your family come with you?"
"My dad's been really busy. Some big businessman wants to partner with him to set up a company in Jiangbei. He's been running around all week."
"That businessman's name wouldn't happen to be Ye Chen, would it?" Xu Mu asked.
"You know him?" Mu Qingying looked surprised.
"He came to our company first, but we turned him down. So he went to yours next," Xu Mu replied, then asked, "You've met him — what do you think of him?"
"He's… alright, I guess. Arrogant, but that's normal for someone so young and successful," she said calmly.
Xu Mu watched her face. It didn't look like she had feelings for Ye Chen yet.
In the original plot, Ye Chen had impressed her only by "putting the villain Xu Mu in his place."
Now that the "rescue scene" never happened, Ye Chen would have to find some other way to attract her attention.
In the story, Ye Chen had a soft spot for Xu Ningbing and Mu Qingying — for the same simple reason: they were well-endowed.
On that point, Xu Mu actually agreed with him — Ye Chen clearly had good taste.
He remembered that the original Xu Mu used to harass Mu Qingying after work — bringing her flowers, showing up at her home, until she moved back to her father's house.
Now, though, she'd moved back to her own apartment — a high-end complex near the Second Ring Road, close to her school.
"Would you like to come in for a drink of water?" Mu Qingying asked.
Xu Mu hesitated briefly, then nodded.
They got out of the car and walked together. He recalled that her place was on the ground floor — with a small backyard behind it.
"Funny, I think this is my first time at your place," he said.
"That's right," Mu Qingying replied, glancing at him with mixed feelings. She couldn't explain it — she used to hate this man, yet now she found him… admirable.
In the living room, she was about to fetch some water when Xu Mu spoke from behind her.
"No need. I know a bit of traditional medicine. Let me work on your neck."
"T-that's not really appropriate…"
"What's inappropriate? It's your neck, not somewhere private," he said matter-of-factly.
Before she could argue, he gently guided her to lie face down on the sofa.
His hands pressed lightly along her back, moving upward bit by bit — but soon she tensed up, clearly uncomfortable.
"What's wrong? I'm not using that much pressure," Xu Mu frowned.
"M-my… sofa's a little hard," Mu Qingying stammered, her face flushing red.
Glancing at where her body pressed against the sofa, Xu Mu finally understood — the "problem" wasn't the sofa, but the impact area.
He sighed inwardly. No wonder she looked in pain — a certain attribute of hers made lying flat a physical challenge.
Lin Qianzhu, he mused, would probably never know this kind of suffering.
"How about we move to the bed, then?" he suggested.
"Uh… fine," Mu Qingying said softly, though she'd meant to refuse.
They went to the bedroom. Mu Qingying lay on the edge of the bed while Xu Mu began pressing precisely along her neck and shoulders.
"Here, right?" he asked.
"Yes… that's the spot," she said quickly.
Crack!
"Ah!"
She gasped and turned beet red.
[Favorability +10]
"Don't hold back — I know it feels good," Xu Mu teased, continuing the massage.
After more than ten minutes, Mu Qingying lay limp, completely relaxed — the tension gone from her body.
It was the first time she'd ever felt so light, so at ease.
A dangerous thought crossed her mind: maybe she could ask him to do this every day.
[Favorability +20]
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Mu Qingying frowned. "Who could that be at this hour?"
Xu Mu extended his spiritual sense — and froze.
Well, damn.
It was Ye Chen at the door.