Li Yun didn't explain things to others — she knew that often explanations only made things worse and drew more suspicion.
So she had been waiting for Xu Mu, but now that he stood before her, she didn't know what to say.
Xu Mu noticed Li Yun's worries and asked curiously, "Auntie, what's the matter?"
"I…"
Li Yun hesitated, then decided to tell him, "Xiao Mu, come with me."
Xu Mu followed Li Yun out into the lobby.
"They've been spreading rumors that… that I'm your lover."
Li Yun glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then spoke. "I can feel it — people look at me differently now."
Xu Mu frowned a little. Rumors like that were common. In any company, when a woman suddenly gets promoted, gossip will follow. Especially if she's attractive — people jump to the conclusion she slept with her boss. Human nature is like that: when others gain advantage and you don't, you assume they cheated somehow.
"Do you want me to investigate who started it?" Xu Mu asked, annoyed — he hated fabricated accusations. If she were his lover, fine. But they weren't involved.
"No, that would only make things worse."
Li Yun shook her head gently.
At her age she wasn't afraid of gossip — what she feared most was her daughter, Zhao Yingying, hearing it. If Yingying thought that, how could Li Yun face her?
"It's fine, Auntie. Let them call you my lover — it might actually stop anyone messing with you at the company."
Xu Mu saw how panicked Li Yun was and smiled, clarifying, "When I say 'lover,' put quotes around it."
Li Yun finally breathed out in relief. If Xu Mu had said he truly thought she was his lover, she wouldn't have known how to reply. Refuse him? She owed him too much. Accept it? She'd feel guilty.
"Get back to work." Xu Mu waved her off. "Just work hard and the rumors will die down."
[Favorability +10]
"You're right. If I were just a pretty face, that'd be one thing — but if I work harder than anyone else, no one will dare say anything."
Li Yun smiled and walked into the company hall.
Xu Mu returned to his car, reclined the seat, and rested for a while.
About an hour later his phone vibrated. It was Meng Wanyue calling, so he answered.
"President Xu, I'm outside the company."
"Okay, I'll be there now."
Xu Mu planned to ride with Meng Wanyue — his own car was too conspicuous for tonight's actions. He walked out and saw a Wuling Hongguang parked nearby; he climbed into the passenger seat.
When Meng Wanyue saw Xu Mu, a black label appeared above her head.
[Favorability +10]
"Hey, Wanyue — you seem in a good mood today," Xu Mu said.
She wore a black tracksuit and a faint smile played on her pretty face.
"President Xu, I can now fully perform the Illusionary Sword technique."
Meng Wanyue glanced at him gratefully. "If nothing else went wrong, it's thanks to the Marrow Cleansing Pill."
Xu Mu smiled: "It helped, but the most important thing is your ability."
[Favorability +5]
Meng Wanyue smiled; she knew it was indeed the pill.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"To the Feng family estate — we'll circle around the perimeter first."
Xu Mu's plan was simple: install a pinhole camera at the Feng estate. He knew from the plot that Dai Xiao and Chen Cai often met in Feng Kang's study.
On the way, Xu Mu explained the plan to Meng Wanyue. She nodded and drove them around the estate once.
"There are a lot of guards. Sneaking in unseen will be difficult," she said, parking a distance away.
Xu Mu had used his senses to scan inside — indeed, many patrols. The estate's security was at least two to three times that of the Xu family villas. If they tried a blatant break-in, they would be noticed; the recordings had to be done without detection.
Leaning back in the seat, Xu Mu closed his eyes. It looked like he'd have to get help from Feng Jian. But thinking of Feng Jian reminded him of Feng Yue — he wondered if she could help. He dialed her.
"Brother Xu, don't tell me you're coming back to bother me — I'm a little scared," Feng Yue said with mock grievance when she picked up.
"I'm dealing with the Feng family. I need a pinhole camera in Feng Kang's study, but there are too many guards. Can you help?" Xu Mu asked.
"Is the Feng family home?" Feng Yue asked, then her tone changed when he said no. "They're not."
Xu Mu had circled to the back of the estate; his perception couldn't penetrate the mansion's interior, which meant the family wasn't there.
"I actually have an idea. Remember those staged-scam videos you gave me?" Feng Yue asked with a laugh.
"The staged-scam videos?" Xu Mu paused, then looked at Meng Wanyue and recalled: the time with Ye Tong, Ye Yu, and Meng Wanyue in Yang City, they'd encountered a new kind of honey-trap. Xu Mu had taken their phones and Meng Wanyue later compiled the videos. Xu Mu had given the clips to Feng Yue.
"Exactly. Coincidentally, one clip shows a Feng family man — the security captain, Sun Wei." Feng Yue said. "I kept that file; it might be useful now."
"Would that threat even work?" Xu Mu frowned.
"You don't know — Sun Wei's wife is the housekeeper's daughter," Feng Yue explained. "In the video, Sun Wei is very forward; if the housekeeper knew, he'd be desperate to cover it up."
Xu Mu smiled. "Okay. What's your plan?"
"We threaten him. Make him set a small fire in the front yard to burn the estate's wiring. The guards will rush to put out the fire, the power will go out, and the cameras will be disabled." Feng Yue suggested. "What do you think?"
"Good — very good. As expected, you have tons of tricks." Xu Mu praised, laughing.
As they spoke, he noticed Meng Wanyue beside him seemed a little off emotionally. Could she be jealous?