Zhongzhou City, Mu Group.
Chairman’s office.
Mu Rongchang gazed out the floor-to-ceiling window at the night beyond, letting out a deep sigh as exhaustion crept across his brow.
The Mu family’s household staff was sparse, with Mu Qingxue as their only child.
Xiaoxue, ever since she was little, suffered an accident that left her too scared to interact with men.
He had thought this illness would slowly improve, but over more than a decade, aside from himself, she treated all other men like mice spotting a cat.
If things went on like this, there was no way she could ever take over the vast Mu Group.
Last year, his wife tried a new method to help Xiaoxue attend company meetings—video conferencing.
This method worked well, and Xiaoxue showed no signs of rejection.
But there were still some matters that needed to be handled personally.
For all these years, he’d toiled away during the day, managing affairs of the many companies within the group.
Even after returning home at night, there was still more work to do.
Logically, with such a busy schedule, his wife’s belly should’ve shown some movement by now.
But after several years, not a single child had appeared.
The couple had nearly given up hope.
If Mu Qingxue’s illness couldn’t be cured and they never had a second child, what would become of the Mu family in the future?
Back at the villa, Mu Rongchang hugged his delicate wife, burying his face in the fragrant curve of her jade-like neck.
“Old Chang, what are you doing? That tickles.”
The warmth of his breath on her neck made Zhao Rongrong giggle as she playfully pushed him away.
Though Zhao Rongrong was already forty, she took excellent care of herself—her skin was as smooth and soft as a young girl’s.
Add in her gentle, soft voice, and she was downright alluring. To outsiders who didn’t know better, it would seem Mu Rongchang was an old ox eating young grass.
“Wife, you smell so good.”
“All right, all right, we’re already getting on in years, don’t act like such a kid.”
While chiding him, Zhao Rongrong undid Mu Rongchang’s tie.
Then, his suit jacket was casually tossed onto the sofa.
Wearing only a white shirt, Mu Rongchang scooped his delicate wife into his arms.
“Wife, about tonight’s mission, what do you think…”
Zhao Rongrong’s smile was full of springtime charm.
But she still shook her head.
“Old Chang, let’s skip tonight. Rest for a couple of days, don’t go overboard like you’re still a young man.”
At that moment, Mu Rongchang felt a complex mix of emotions.
On one hand, he was relieved to temporarily escape from the “devil’s lair.”
On the other hand, he regretted not being able to enjoy his voluptuous little wife.
No matter what, she was doing it for his own good—maybe she’d let him off the hook for a few days.
“Fine, fine, I’ll rest for a couple days, and continue my conquest in a few days.”
Mu Rongchang grinned, his smile lecherous.
Zhao Rongrong gave him a flirtatious glare but didn’t say anything else.
She was forty already, long past the age of shyness.
“By the way, Old Chang, our daughter’s been acting a bit strange lately.”
“Strange?” Mu Rongchang was puzzled.
She never went out, never socialized—an out-and-out homebody. What could be strange about that?
“Lingling told me that Xue’er’s been playing a holographic online game lately, something called Immortal World.”
“I know that game—The First Holographic Online Game in History. Its popularity is leagues ahead of any other. Countless companies are eyeing that piece of the pie, but the developer remains a mystery to this day.”
Zhao Rongrong nodded, continuing, “Xue’er’s been playing for over a month, and starting yesterday she’s planning a game party. According to Lingling, it’ll have over a thousand people.”
As soon as she said that, Mu Rongchang’s eyes widened like a tiger’s. He forgot all about hugging his wife and shot to his feet.
“Rongrong, are you serious?”
“That’s what Lingling said. And, the venue’s already set. Xue’er even used our connections and found Brother Xiao from the Resources Department.”
Mu Rongchang didn’t care about any of that. What mattered was—if she could organize a thousand-person party, did that mean his daughter’s illness was cured?
“Wife, you don’t seem shocked at all.”
“Shocked?” Zhao Rongrong shot him a strange look.
“Yeah, our daughter is hosting a gathering, and it’s a thousand-people event. Doesn’t that mean she’s cured?”
“Ah—” Zhao Rongrong’s face fell, sighing heavily.
Mu Rongchang saw the look on his wife’s face and his excitement quickly ebbed.
Anxiously, he asked, “What? Did I say something wrong?”
“Old Chang, there’s one more thing I forgot to tell you. You should prepare yourself.”
“What is it?” Mu Rongchang already sensed this wouldn’t be good news.
“Xue’er, she’s fallen for a girl.”
That sentence exploded like thunder in Mu Rongchang’s mind. He was instantly stunned.
Blood rushed to his head; his eyes bulged wide as an ox.
“You… What did you say!!!”
Fury!
Boundless fury.
This unfilial daughter—does she want the Mu family line to end?
He could support her in anything, but homosexuality was absolutely out of the question.
“Calm down, Old Chang.”
“Rongrong, how am I supposed to calm down?”
“Well…” Seeing Mu Rongchang’s bloodshot eyes, it was obvious his anger was boiling over.
Zhao Rongrong didn’t try to persuade him further.
She herself didn’t really understand Mu Qingxue’s behavior.
As their only child, to end up like this… wasn’t this just spelling doom for the Mu family line?
“She can do whatever she wants, except this.”
“I know, I know. You’ve spoiled Xue’er all these years. Calm down—getting angry won’t solve anything; you’ll just make yourself sick.” Zhao Rongrong gently stroked his chest, comforting him softly.
Mu Rongchang flopped onto the sofa, his rapid breaths making his chest heave.
“Old Chang, Lingling’s words—we don’t know if they’re true or not. Don’t go wrongly accusing Xue’er.”
“Hmph, how many years have those three girls been in our house? Especially Lingling—when has she ever lied?”
Zhao Rongrong gave an embarrassed smile.
“Well, Lingling also said Xue’er fell for that girl in the game. And you know how games are—what’s real and what’s not…”
“What if, in real life, Xue’er doesn’t… like… her?”
“Why are you stammering?” Mu Rongchang looked at her suspiciously.
“I think I forgot something else…” Zhao Rongrong raised a finger, her voice as tiny as a mosquito’s.
Mu Rongchang was both exasperated and amused.
“Rongrong, you’ve had this habit for decades and still haven’t changed. Can’t you just finish a sentence in one go?”
“What do you mean by that, Mu Rongchang? Are you complaining about me now?” Zhao Rongrong suddenly flared up, glaring fiercely at Mu Rongchang.
“I…”
Mu Rongchang couldn’t say a word, and forced himself to swallow his response.
He knew that no amount of explanation would help.
Only actions would do.
His wife, though she seemed so gentle and dutiful on the surface, was just pretending.
Her temperament was just as childish as her appearance.
Mu Rongchang pulled Zhao Rongrong in for a domineering kiss, not letting go until the world went dark and she was breathless.
Looking at his delicate wife slumped on the sofa, he felt quite satisfied—as if he’d reclaimed his masculine pride, standing tall.
“Wife, anything else you forgot to say?” So, you think I can’t handle you?
Zhao Rongrong dabbed her lips with a tissue. “The girl Xue’er likes will be at this party too.”
With that, she gazed at Mu Rongchang with eyes full of longing.
Mu Rongchang’s heart skipped a beat. Seeing the desire in his wife’s eyes, he knew there was no way he’d escape tonight.
Still, he wanted to make one last effort.
“Wife, let’s go upstairs and ask Xiaoxue. See what she has to say.”
Without waiting for Zhao Rongrong to reply, Mu Rongchang stood up and headed upstairs.
But could he really get away?