If Ye Tong remembered correctly, ever since she married Xu Mu, Xu Ningbing had never once come to their home.
"Sister, what brings you here?" Ye Tong asked with a smile.
"I'm here to talk to Xu Mu about something," Xu Ningbing said, her tone surprisingly mild.
"You could've just called—why bother coming all the way yourself?" Xu Mu asked with a grin.
"Not something suitable to discuss over the phone."
Xu Ningbing parked her car by the roadside. "Why don't you get in?"
Xu Mu nodded lightly, glancing at Ye Tong. He was about to speak when the honk of an electric scooter came from down the street.
Moments later, Ye Yu pulled up beside them. "Sis, Brother-in-law—why are you both waiting for me at the gate?"
"Because you're beautiful."
Xu Mu chuckled and pressed a hand on Ye Yu's head, then looked back at Ye Tong. "You and Ye Yu should go home first."
"Alright."
Ye Tong nodded gently.
"Brother-in-law, off to a date with another woman agai—ah?! Sorry, Sister! I didn't see you there!"
Ye Yu quickly waved her hands, realizing Xu Ningbing was standing nearby. Since she was his sister, there was no competition anyway.
"It's fine," Xu Ningbing said, then waved at Xu Mu. "Get in."
"Okay."
Xu Mu nodded and sat in the passenger seat.
Xu Ningbing didn't drive off—she simply rolled up all the windows.
"What's with the secrecy?"
Xu Mu leaned back in his seat, hands folded behind his head. The familiar scent inside her car lingered faintly.
"Remember the natural treasure you asked me to find before?"
Xu Ningbing's tone grew serious.
"Yeah, but didn't you already become a martial artist? Why are you still looking for it?"
Xu Mu looked puzzled.
"I paid a hefty sum. They promised to search for a year, and if they couldn't find anything, they'd refund half the payment."
She shook her head. "But that's not the point. The point is—they told me two days ago they found something unusual, a place that matches the materials I described. But now… they've gone completely silent."
"You think they ran off with the money?" Xu Mu asked.
"Impossible! I know the boss personally. He said if he doesn't contact me within a month, he'll refund everything."
She frowned thoughtfully. "You think there might really be some kind of treasure there?"
"What are you implying—you want to go check it out?" Xu Mu asked.
"That's the idea. What if there's something truly valuable?" Xu Ningbing nodded slightly.
"Let's wait a few days. If they still haven't responded, then we'll decide."
If anyone else had said that, Xu Mu wouldn't have believed them. But Xu Ningbing was different—she had a Fate Level of 10.
Fate was a mysterious thing. If she felt that place held treasure, then maybe it really did.
"Alright, I'll wait a few more days."
Xu Ningbing nodded, then changed the topic. "By the way, in a few days the Feng family is hosting a celebration—twenty-nine years since their company's founding. They specifically invited our Xu family."
"Twenty-nine years? Wouldn't thirty be more fitting?"
Xu Mu frowned slightly, sensing something strange.
"Dad thought the same," Xu Ningbing said. "But since they chose this particular timing, maybe they plan to show something off."
"Hmm, perhaps. Since we're invited, we'll go and see for ourselves," Xu Mu said, rubbing his chin.
——
After Xu Ningbing left, Xu Mu returned home.
Ye Yu was sitting on the sofa watching TV. When she saw him, she smiled. "Brother-in-law!"
Ye Tong walked out from the kitchen, glancing outside. "Did my sister stay for dinner?"
"No, she just came by to discuss some company business," Xu Mu replied, sitting down.
"Alright then."
Ye Tong went back into the kitchen.
When dinner was ready, they all gathered around the table.
Ye Yu mentioned she'd run into Mu Qingying after school—and through their chat, learned that Xu Mu had incredible musical talent.
"Brother-in-law, I listened to your piano piece—it's amazing!" Ye Yu said.
"Just the basics," Xu Mu replied coolly.
After Ye Tong finished washing the dishes, Xu Mu took her by the hand upstairs.
"Ye Yu, get some rest early—you've got school tomorrow," he called back.
Ye Yu couldn't stand it anymore. These two were getting bolder by the day.
Before, they'd go upstairs around eight. Now, it wasn't even seven-thirty!
She felt like a lonely roommate. Every evening she'd barely finish dinner before they disappeared to "enjoy themselves."
Unable to resist, she rushed upstairs and barged into their bedroom.
"What are you doing? We're getting ready to sleep," Xu Mu said, already reaching for the lock.
"Oh please, who are you fooling? I can still hear you at midnight."
Ye Yu pouted and flopped onto the bed. Her face brushed against Xu Mu's pillow—his unique masculine scent made her heartbeat quicken.
"Ye Yu, that's my pillow," Xu Mu reminded her.
"Eh? Smells kinda stinky—" She took a few exaggerated sniffs before rolling away, but made no move to leave. She lay there scrolling on her phone instead.
Ye Tong didn't mind. In fact, she looked relieved. She sat down beside her sister. "What are you watching?"
"Funny videos," Ye Yu said, tilting her phone for her to see.
The sisters soon burst out laughing together.
Xu Mu, sitting in a nearby chair, could only sigh. With an extra "lightbulb" in the room, he couldn't exactly make a move.
He opened his phone and logged into the cloud server Meng Wanyue had set up.
The camera feed from the Feng family's study was working—but the room was pitch dark.
Hopefully, he'd get the video of Chen Cai soon. Just as he was about to close the feed, the study lights flicked on.
Xu Mu's gaze sharpened as Feng Kang entered the room.
Behind him was a man in a sports cap.
When he stepped closer, Xu Mu's expression darkened—Lin Yan!
Xu Mu's face grew grim. He hadn't expected Lin Yan to be involved with Feng Kang.
He turned up the volume. The pinhole camera Meng Wanyue installed also recorded audio.
"My goal is simple," Lin Yan's voice came through clearly. "I want the Xu family bankrupt and Xu Mu in hell. That's all I need."
"I couldn't agree more," Feng Kang sneered, leaning against a bookshelf. "That old bastard Xu Shou has returned in full force. If I don't strike first, he'll crush us. So I'm taking the initiative."
"Fine by me. Whatever you need, I'll cooperate," Lin Yan said with a cold smile.
"Heh, good. I will need your cooperation."
Feng Kang smirked darkly. "This time, I'll be inviting both the Dai family and the Nangong family to join us…"
——