CHAPTER 65 — The City That Woke Up in Flames
By sunrise, the entire city had changed.
Not gradually.
Not quietly.
It was as if someone had lit a match and thrown it into a pool of gasoline.
The livestream explosion was everywhere.
Every platform.
Every trending bar.
Every gossip forum.
Every major news site.
MU LINGCHEN CONFIRMS THE CHILDREN ARE HIS.
CEO MU EXPOSES SHI ROULAN LIVE.
THE REAL VILLAIN WAS NEVER SHI YUNXI.
DNA REPORT PROVES EVERYTHING.
Public opinion didn't shift.
It collapsed.
Instantly.
The same crowd that mocked Yunxi the day before now worshipped her like she was a phoenix that had risen from ashes.
[We were wrong. I apologize to Shi Yunxi publicly.]
[She raised two children alone for THREE YEARS??]
[Roulan is DONE. CANCELLED. ERASED.]
[Mu Lingchen protecting his woman?? This is historical.]
The online battlefield was ablaze.
But none of it compared to what was happening inside the families involved.
⸻
⸻ Mu Corporation — Executive Office (8:15 AM)
The board members were trembling.
Some standing.
Some sitting.
All silent.
Mu Lingchen stood by the window, hands in his pockets, the morning sun outlining his figure like a blade.
"Gentlemen," he said without turning, "you've seen the news."
No one answered.
He didn't expect them to.
"Shi Yunxi," he continued calmly, "and all three children—are under the Mu family's protection."
"It is not a matter open for discussion."
A few men exchanged horrified glances.
"P-President Mu… there will be backlash. Investors will question—"
He turned.
Just one look.
One.
The director stopped breathing.
"If any investor questions," Lingchen said coolly, "remove them."
Another director stuttered, "S-Sir… the public is attacking Roulan viciously. The Shi family is—"
"The Shi family is irrelevant."
He walked to the table, placing a folder down.
The same DNA report.
"From this moment," he said evenly, "Shi Yunxi is off-limits. Anyone who slanders her will be sued. Anyone who attacks her will be destroyed. Anyone who touches her or the children—will not live to touch them again."
Total silence.
One woman—the youngest executive—finally found her voice.
"President Mu… is she… the future madam of the Mu family?"
Lingchen didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The room collectively lost its breath.
"She just doesn't know it yet," he added softly.
And that softness—
That single soft note in the middle of all the cold power—
Terrified them more than his threats.
⸻
⸻ The Shi Family Villa — Living Room (9:03 AM)
Chaos.
Pure chaos.
Mr. Shi was shouting.
Mrs. Shi was crying.
The housemaids were whispering.
And Roulan—
Roulan sat on the floor, hair messy, face pale, phone buzzing nonstop with notifications calling her a liar, a snake, a homewrecker, a monster.
"Roulan!!" Mrs. Shi screamed.
"What have you done? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
Roulan stared blankly at the carpet.
"I… I was trying to protect us…"
"PROTECT?!" Mr. Shi roared.
"You humiliated the family! You insulted the Mu family! You challenged Mu LINGCHEN publicly!"
He slammed his cane on the floor so hard the maids flinched.
"Do you understand what that means?!"
Roulan didn't reply.
She couldn't.
Her mind was blank and burning at the same time.
Yuhan had promised the evidence would ruin Yunxi.
He had promised.
Yet now—
Yuhan's phone was turned off.
Her "allies" had disappeared.
And the entire world wanted her head on a spike.
Mrs. Shi grabbed her shoulders violently.
"Roulan… beg her," she whispered shakily.
"Get on your knees. Crawl if you have to. Apologize to Shi Yunxi."
Roulan stared.
"What?"
"She is the key," Mrs. Shi cried.
"She is the mother of the Mu heirs—if she forgives us—"
"I WILL NEVER!" Roulan screamed, tearing herself free.
Her voice cracked.
"She took EVERYTHING from me! EVERYTHING!"
"You took it from yourself!" Mr. Shi barked.
"You attacked a woman protected by Mu Lingchen! You ruined our last chance of survival!"
He pointed at the door.
"Get out."
Roulan froze.
"W-What…?"
"GET. OUT. OF MY HOUSE!"
Her world collapsed.
Yet this was only the beginning.
⸻
⸻ Phoenix Entertainment — Parking Lot (9:40 AM)
Shi Yunxi stepped out of her manager's car, still exhausted, still shaken, still trying to process the night before.
She didn't want attention today.
She didn't want noise.
She didn't want more eyes.
She just wanted to work.
But the moment she stepped onto the pavement—
Dozens of reporters rushed forward.
Microphones.
Cameras.
Lights.
"Miss Shi, how do you feel about the DNA confirmation?"
"Did you and President Mu reunite already?"
"Will you move into the Mu mansion?"
"Are you getting married?"
"Where are the children?"
Yunxi's heart stopped.
She stepped back instinctively.
Her bodyguards closed in, forming a wall around her.
Her breaths grew shaky.
Too much.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
A familiar black Maybach swung into the driveway like a predator cutting through prey.
The reporters froze.
Mu Lingchen stepped out.
Not rushed.
Not dramatic.
Just… present.
Everyone instinctively moved back.
He walked to her with long, steady strides.
When he reached her, he didn't say anything at first.
He just looked at her—
At her trembling hands.
At her overwhelmed eyes.
At her fear.
Then, without asking permission—
He took her hand.
Firm.
Warm.
Unyielding.
"Let's go," he said quietly.
And just like that—
She felt safe again.
But before they could enter the building, a reporter shouted:
"President Mu! Are you confirming your marriage with Miss Shi?"
The crowd held its breath.
Yunxi stiffened.
Lingchen turned his head slightly.
"No."
Her heart dropped—
Until he added:
"We will announce it together."
He looked at her gently.
"When she's ready."
The parking lot erupted.
Yunxi's face burned.
She opened her mouth to protest—but he squeezed her hand lightly.
"Not here."
Not in the noise.
Not in the chaos.
Inside the building—
behind closed doors—
she could yell at him all she wanted.
For now—
He stood beside her.
Shielding her.
Claiming her.
And everyone watching knew—
This was only the beginning of a war no one could predict.