Chapter 10
The Capital City Restaurant.
Dressed in a casual long dress, Yun Chu followed Xiao He into the venue. The people inside were all dressed to the nines, representing the most influential figures from various corporations, exchanging pleasantries and networking for business interests.
Xiao He said, “Yun Chu, wait here for a moment. I need to use the restroom.”
“Alright.”
Yun Chu was not adept at handling these social functions, where every word spoken had to be calculated through eighteen twists and turns before leaving one’s mouth. She walked over to the refreshments area, picked up a glass of red wine, and found an inconspicuous spot to sit down.
“Senior Yun Chu? It’s been so long since I last saw you.”
Hearing the voice, Yun Chu looked up to size up the woman before her. She was wearing an evening gown that showcased her voluptuous figure, but Yun Chu couldn’t recall ever seeing her before. The woman sat down next to her uninvited, a familiar smile on her face, making onlookers believe they were close friends.
“I’m Sun Jie, a year below you. Back then, you were our department beauty. I used to admire you so much.” As Sun Jie spoke, she lightly nudged Yun Chu with her elbow.
Yun Chu’s brows knitted together involuntarily at the sudden physical contact.
Sun Jie leaned in closer, asking gossipingly, “Senior, after you were taken away by the police during our junior year, rumors spread all over school that you went to prison. Is that true?”
Yun Chu shot her a fierce, dark glare, her face practically screaming: None of your business!
As if completely blind to her irritation, the woman pressed on, “A while ago, I heard Yun Xiaoxiao mention that you married an uncle eight years older than you who is also disabled. You didn’t deliberately degrade yourself just to become a caged canary, did you?”
Every single word was laced with mockery. It was truly rare to encounter someone so utterly lacking in both personal boundaries and emotional intelligence.
Yun Chu shifted her position to create some distance, looking back at her with a cold sneer. “And do you even have the opportunity to degrade yourself like that? Is there any uncle out there willing to take you in as a caged canary? Junior, when you’re out in public, you ought to watch your mouth.”
Besides, even though Mu Ze was eight years older, he managed his physique perfectly, possessed a steady personality, and was completely dependable. He could easily outclass countless young, toxic men.
Without even realizing it, Yun Chu’s mind was actively defending Mu Ze.
She picked up her wine glass to leave, but before she could take more than a couple of steps, a loud interrogation echoed from behind her. “Senior, I heard you were arrested for attempted murder! If I offended you today, please spare me! Don’t hold it against me.”
Hearing this, Yun Chu turned around, suppressing a surge of rage, her face incredibly pale.
The surrounding crowd began to gather and chime in. “Attempted murder?”
“She looks so beautiful, yet her heart is so vicious!”
More and more people crowded around, their eyes scanning Yun Chu with scrutiny, and some even began pointing fingers at her face. “Beautiful women always come with thorns. With someone like her, you’d better watch out for your life.”
At this moment, she felt as if she were once again standing in the courtroom being pronounced guilty. Yun Chu froze on the spot, her brain descending into absolute chaos, her limbs feeling as though they were nailed to a cross as she endured everyone’s judgment and abuse, both vocal and silent. Everything at this moment turned into countless sharp blades piercing through the fortress she had painstakingly built.
“Who dares to spread rumors about my, Mu Ze’s, fiancĂ©e?”
A harsh, authoritative reprimand instantly shattered the chatter of the crowd.
In an instant, the entire venue fell so silent that only the sound of a wheelchair rolling across the floor could be heard. Mu Ze was one of the most ruthless figures in the capital; his past audacity in spending tens of millions to acquire five companies in one go remained unmatched to this day. Even though he had faded from the business circle after his injury, his prestige remained absolute.
The crowd parted down the middle to form a path. Dressed in a sharp suit, he sat in his wheelchair while Gao Sheng pushed him steadily into the center of the crowd.
Yun Chu’s throat choked up, and the moment he appeared in her sight, her heart trembled violently. He had witnessed her in a pathetic state once again.
Mu Ze couldn’t see Yun Chu’s expression, but since she was being pointed at by a crowd, her state couldn’t possibly be any good. He raised his hand, speaking softly to her, “Give me your hand. I’m here, don’t be afraid.”
With her heart racing, Yun Chu placed her hand over his. Her previous panic and anxiety instantly dissolved at this very moment.
Following that, Mu Ze asked in a cold voice, “President Tang, my fiancĂ©e suffered a grievance under your roof. Give me an explanation.”
A middle-aged man with a large head, large ears, and a beer belly that nearly burst his suit squeezed out from the back of the crowd. He stepped forward, his face wrinkling into a sycophantic smile. “My apologies, President Mu. I will have this employee apologize immediately.” The man glared at Sun Jie, snapping furiously, “Hurry up!”
Sun Jie had never witnessed such a scene before; even her own company’s boss was bowing and scraping. She quickly stepped forward, bowing in apology. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Senior! I was just talking nonsense!”
Mu Ze’s thumb stroked the back of Yun Chu’s hand, seemingly offering comfort. “Gao Sheng, how many days will it take to acquire his company?” His tone was biting, leaving no room for argument.
Gao Sheng replied loudly, “Two days. It’s just the handover procedures that will take some time.”
The man’s pupils shrank in terror, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. The surrounding onlookers could also see that President Mu was playing for keeps. With the Mu family’s financial power and influence, throwing money to acquire his company was nothing but a drop in the bucketâa matter of a single sentence from Mu Ze. But to President Tang, it represented the business he had spent half his life building!
The man glanced at Yun Chu standing behind him and reacted instantly. He turned around to glare at Sun Jie. “You! You’re fired effective immediately! Get out of my company!”
“President Mu, do you think this… is acceptable?” The man bowed and scraped toward Mu Ze once more, his speed of changing faces absolutely staggering.
Mu Ze turned slightly toward Yun Chu, his tone softening. “Help me push the wheelchair. It’s time to go home.”
Gao Sheng vacated his position, and Yun Chu circled to the back to wheel him away. As they cut through the crowd, Mu Ze spoke coldly once more, “Gao Sheng, have it done within two days, or you can get lost as well!”
Gao Sheng’s spine stiffened. “…Yes, President Mu.”
Just as the two were about to leave the venue, Xiao He finally appeared. He ran over all the way, panting for breath. “President Mu, my apologies, Yun Chu. I was held up by someone just now and couldn’t break away. Fortunately, President Mu saved the day.”
Heh, saved the day? If it weren’t for Xiao He, she wouldn’t have ended up in this wretched place being publicly humiliated!
“It’s fine,” Yun Chu replied, shaking her head. She couldn’t entirely blame him either, since he wasn’t the one who started the trouble.
Mu Ze was currently in a foul mood and found everyone unpleasant to look at. “Incompetence in your duties. Demoted by one rank. Report to the HR department yourself tomorrow.”
“Yes, President Mu.” Xiao He lowered his head.
After Yun Chu wheeled Mu Ze away, Xiao He straightened his posture and stood on the spot, his expression turning sinister as he watched their departing figures until they vanished.
“It seems this fiancĂ©e of his is his weakness. She needs to be utilized properly.” The heavy-set President Tang walked over to his side holding a glass of red wine, his face entirely devoid of the panic of his company being acquired.
Xiao He’s face darkened as he shot him a cold, menacing glare. “If you dare touch Yun Chu, I will cut off your final source of income.”
Upon returning to the Mu Residence, the family was currently having dinner in the dining room. Mu Yantao sat at the head of the table, while Mu Ze’s sister, Mu Shenglan, and her son, Liu Mingwei, sat on the left side. When Yun Chu brought Mu Ze into the living room, the eyes of the three individuals naturally fell upon them.
Seeing his son return home, Mu Yantao immediately put down his chopsticks. “Ah Ze, have you two eaten? Would you like to join us?”
Mu Ze turned his neck slightly, asking Yun Chu, “Back to the room, or in the dining room? Up to you.”
Yun Chu raised her eyes to glance at Liu Mingwei. Her mood had already hit rock bottom, and she didn’t want to deal with bad luck. “Back to the room.”
“Mm.”
After the two went upstairs, Liu Mingwei, who was sitting at the dining table, retracted his gaze and lowered his head, a sinister smile flashing across his lips. He suddenly looked up at Mu Yantao. “Grandpa, I just remembered I have a gift for Uncle that I forgot to give him. I’d like to take it upstairs now, lest I disturb his rest if I go too late.”
Mu Yantao wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Go ahead. It’s been a while since you two last caught up.”
Having received permission, Liu Mingwei walked out of the dining room, a wicked glint flashing in his eyes as he headed straight for the second-floor bedroom. He muttered quietly to himself, “Doing it at home is what makes it thrilling.”
A moment later, barely two minutes after Yun Chu and Mu Ze had returned to their room, someone arrived outside the door.
Knock, knock!
Aunt Chen moved this quickly?
Yun Chu didn’t think twice about it. She walked quickly to the door, placing her hand on the doorknob. Before she could turn it, Mu Ze stopped her. “Wait, push me over to open the door.”
