Still thinking about what happened last night, Xu Mu couldn't help but frown—that Chen Cai had really ruined things.
If it hadn't been for her, he might've overheard Feng Kang and Lin Yan's entire plan.
He rewound the recording to check the footage after they'd left the study, but the room was pitch black—they never came back.
Just then, someone knocked on his office door.
Sensing the familiar presence, Xu Mu said, "Come in."
"Manager Xu."
Meng Wanyue entered and set a folder of documents on his desk.
"Wanyue, from now on, you don't need to knock when you come to my office—just walk right in. I don't have any secrets in front of you," Xu Mu said with a smile.
[Favorability +10]
Meng Wanyue nodded lightly. Hearing him say he had no secrets from her filled her heart with inexplicable warmth.
That morning, Xu Mu had been thinking about who to give the remaining Marrow Cleansing Pills to. As for the Qi-Gathering Pills, he already had candidates: Ye Tong, Ye Yu, and Xu Ningbing.
Those pills would likely push them into the late stage of Internal Force. But to break through into Hidden Force, a few Qi-Gathering Pills wouldn't be enough.
By around 11 a.m., Xu Mu called Meng Wanyue to join him for lunch.
Just before leaving, he glanced at the surveillance feed again—and froze.
The study door was open.
"Wanyue, wait a second. Let's hold off a bit," he said, waving her over.
Meng Wanyue came to his side and tilted her head toward the phone screen.
The camera only captured the study itself, not the outside. But since the door was open, they could faintly hear sounds coming from beyond it.
——
Inside the Feng Family Manor.
Dai Xiao sat on the living room sofa. Before long, Chen Cai, wearing a slim dress, descended from the second floor.
"Madam, where's Feng Jian? I came to play with him today."
Dai Xiao looked up at her, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Chen Cai hid a sneer in her heart, but her face remained perfectly calm.
"That boy runs around all day—I'm not sure where he's gone. I'll give him a call later."
As she spoke, she walked to the main door and told the two guards, "Step outside for a while. I have something to discuss with Young Master Dai."
"Yes, Madam."
The two guards nodded and retreated to the garden.
Chen Cai sat opposite Dai Xiao with a polite smile. "So, how's Xu Mu?"
"Alive and well," Dai Xiao said coldly, leaning back. "But my bodyguard's dead."
"What?"
Chen Cai's smile vanished.
She knew full well that Dai Xiao's bodyguard was a powerful martial artist. Could it be that Xu Mu was one too?
"Don't overthink it. Xu Mu just got lucky. When my man was about to strike, a cleaner happened to show up nearby," Dai Xiao said, clenching his fist. "You know, Zhao Fei has followed me for over ten years. This pisses me off!"
The word cleaner made Chen Cai's heart sink.
Those "cleaners" existed solely to maintain the balance and peace among martial artists. She hadn't expected Xu Mu to survive by relying on one.
"I'm sorry, Young Master Dai," Chen Cai sighed.
"Sorry won't cut it. You'll need to compensate me," Dai Xiao sneered, glancing at his watch. "If I'm not mistaken, Feng Kang should be getting home soon, right?"
Of course, Chen Cai understood what he meant. She nodded slightly.
Feng Kang's daily routine was fixed—he worked mornings, came home at noon for lunch and a nap, and returned to the office around three. Unless something urgent came up, he never broke that schedule.
"Come on, take me to the study," Dai Xiao said, rising to his feet.
Chen Cai inhaled deeply and followed him.
Once inside, she shut the study door—but Dai Xiao smirked and reopened it slightly, leaving a narrow gap.
Through it, one could clearly see the main villa entrance.
"Did you forget what I told you before? I only feel satisfied when I see Feng Kang's face," Dai Xiao said with a grin. "And you'll stay right here with me."
"You really are a bad man," Chen Cai said, smiling faintly.
"Men who aren't bad don't get loved," Dai Xiao laughed. "By the way—you're sure there are no cameras around, right?"
"Relax, I already had professionals sweep the place," she replied.
After Xu Mu's previous threat, Chen Cai had indeed hired experts to check every inch of the villa. There were definitely no cameras.
"Good," Dai Xiao said, grinning. "Now stand by the door—with your back to me."
——
Meanwhile, Xu Mu and Meng Wanyue were watching everything through the hidden pinhole camera.
Meng Wanyue's eyes widened, and she couldn't help sneaking a glance at Xu Mu—he looked completely focused.
"Ahem… Manager Xu, why are you even watching this part?"
"I'm just figuring out how to use this footage to maximize the conflict between the Feng and Dai families," Xu Mu replied seriously.
"…As expected of Manager Xu," Meng Wanyue said, nodding firmly. Clearly I'm the one with the dirty mind, she thought.
——
Back at the Feng Manor.
Feng Kang's car pulled into the driveway. As he walked toward the villa, Chen Cai spotted him through the door crack.
"Stop! Feng Kang's here!" she whispered urgently.
"I see him. I've been waiting for this," Dai Xiao said, his grin widening as Feng Kang drew closer.
When Feng Kang finally entered the villa, Dai Xiao quietly closed the study door.
Hearing the faint sound, Feng Kang frowned and walked toward the study.
He pushed open the door to find Chen Cai sitting at the desk, head down, scrolling through her phone.
Dai Xiao was standing nearby, flipping through a book.
"Honey, you're home?" Chen Cai said with a smile.
"Director Feng," Dai Xiao greeted with a polite nod.
"Young Master Dai, what brings you here in the middle of the day?" Feng Kang asked evenly.
"I came to take Feng Jian out. He should be here any minute."
Dai Xiao closed the book and placed it neatly back on the shelf. "I hope you don't mind me using your study to kill time."
"Hah, that's funny—I'm pretty sure you've said that exact line before," Feng Kang said with a thin smile. "It's just a few books. Feel free to read them anytime."
"Honey, I'll go tell the chef to serve lunch," Chen Cai said.
"No need—I already gave the order. Stay and keep Young Master Dai company. I need to make a phone call."
With that, Feng Kang turned and left the study.
As soon as he was gone, Dai Xiao looked at Chen Cai and grinned.
——
Xu Mu stopped the video and saved it immediately.
"Alright, let's go eat," he said to Meng Wanyue.
With this footage in hand, he no longer needed Dai Xingluo's involvement. The video alone would be enough to throw the Feng and Dai families into chaos.
And considering that Feng Kang had recently gotten entangled with Lin Yan, if he could also pit Lin Yan against the Dai family, that would be even better.
A smile tugged at Xu Mu's lips.
All that was left now… was to wait for the Feng family's twenty-ninth anniversary celebration.