Given Xu Mu's strength, there was no way the assassins she'd hired could have defeated him.
Clearly, Xu Mu had let himself be captured on purpose.
That meant he'd probably already obtained the chat logs from them.
Dai Xingluo sighed deeply. This time, Li Zizai had really ruined everything.
If not for him, why would Xu Mu be treating her like this now?
"Brother, I want that one!"
She suddenly grabbed Xu Mu's arm, pointing toward a nearby cotton candy stand.
What the hell?
Xu Mu froze for a second — this woman's shamelessness was on another level.
He instantly regretted ever provoking her.
"I don't have money."
He said flatly.
"But I wanna eat! I wanna eat~"
Dai Xingluo shook his arm, her tone and expression dripping with feigned sweetness.
Xu Mu narrowed his eyes slightly — he could sense faint traces of lightning energy pulsing against his arm.
He hadn't realized before just how dangerous she actually was.
Still, it wasn't entirely his fault.
She was always wearing loose hanfu, and that time in the forest, it had been a baggy black tracksuit.
He'd only ever seen her outline — he hadn't expected… this much presence.
But so what?
A woman this deranged might one day decide to kill him just because she felt upset — like one of those fatal "drink your medicine, my dear" types.
"I said, I don't have money—"
Before he could finish, Xu Mu noticed that dozens of onlookers were staring at them — mostly men, their gazes filled with envy and irritation.
"Buy it for her!" one man barked.
Others nodded coldly. Xu Mu could feel the weight of public hostility pressing on him.
This woman really knew her tricks — combining her beauty with perfect timing.
A few pouty "hmphs" and fluttering lashes, and any man would cave.
"Bro~ther~"
She kept clinging to his arm, her voice as soft as honey.
"Fine, fine, fine—buying!"
Xu Mu sighed helplessly. He tried to pull his arm away, but she clung tighter, not giving him any chance to escape.
They walked together toward the cotton candy stall.
As they did, Dai Xingluo turned around and deliberately winked at Meng Wanyue, who was following behind.
Meng Wanyue's fists clenched instantly.
Her assassin's patience and calm vanished in an instant.
This damn woman!
Was she mocking her?
Meng Wanyue didn't mind Xu Mu being around other women — when Dai Xingluo first appeared, she'd even thought Xu Mu's charm was impressive.
She respected Ye Tong as a good woman — a proper wife.
But this one? No way.
Xu Mu bought two cotton candies, handing one to Dai Xingluo.
"Thank you, Brother~"
She smiled brightly — but when she said it, she looked at Meng Wanyue, not Xu Mu.
Meng Wanyue's eyes narrowed, a flash of killing intent surfacing.
"Wanyue, here," Xu Mu said, seizing the chance while Dai Xingluo was distracted.
He slipped free from her grip and handed the second cotton candy to Meng Wanyue.
"Thank you, Manager Xu."
Meng Wanyue accepted it, her murderous aura gradually fading.
[Favorability +5]
She met Dai Xingluo's gaze again — the message was clear: I got one too. And I didn't even have to ask — he gave it to me.
Dai Xingluo's smile stiffened.
This woman wasn't like Shen Wanning.
Xu Mu hadn't cared much about Shen Wanning, but this one — he clearly did.
Could they actually be dating?
"Brother! You have some too!"
Dai Xingluo darted forward again, looping her arm around his and holding the cotton candy to his mouth.
"Open up, ah~"
Xu Mu could feel the eyes of everyone around them — mostly men glaring daggers at him.
From their perspective, this was just a couple shamelessly showing off their affection in public.
Some of them looked ready to burst from jealousy.
Xu Mu was about to refuse, but Dai Xingluo pressed the cotton candy right against his lips — forcing him to take a bite.
"Ah, Brother, we're sharing the same cotton candy~" she giggled. "If your girlfriend finds out, won't she get jealous?"
Her gaze flicked provocatively toward Meng Wanyue.
"She can't compare to me anyway. I only feel sorry for Brother."
What the hell?!
The crowd went speechless.
That gorgeous traditional beauty wasn't even his girlfriend?!
Then… the stunning woman in the uniform was?
Unbelievable.
Meng Wanyue clenched her cotton candy stick so tightly it nearly broke. It didn't even taste sweet anymore.
She could never pull off such over-the-top flirtation — it simply wasn't her nature.
Xu Mu was speechless. He could sense Meng Wanyue's mood souring fast.
This woman — Dai Xingluo — was terrifying. Maybe only Feng Yue could match her antics.
"Wanyue, let's go," Xu Mu said, taking her hand.
But Dai Xingluo hooked her other arm around his, tagging along on the other side.
To the crowd, it looked like he was walking off with a woman on each arm.
Amidst the envious stares of countless bystanders, the trio finally left the area.
They stopped by the park fence.
Xu Mu glared coldly at her.
"Are you done yet?"
"Blame little sister if you must," Dai Xingluo said with feigned innocence.
"Act normal," he snapped.
Then he turned to Meng Wanyue.
"Wanyue, wait for me in the car."
"Understood, Manager Xu."
She shot Dai Xingluo a final frosty glare before leaving, cotton candy still in hand.
"She called you Manager Xu? So she's not your girlfriend after all? Just a lover, maybe?"
Dai Xingluo grinned once Meng Wanyue was gone.
"Alright, talk. Why are you following me?" Xu Mu asked, hands in his pockets.
"Brother's such a bad man," she pouted. "It's only been a few days and you're already treating me like this. All men are the same—so fickle."
She took a delicate bite of her cotton candy.
"Hmph! You've got some nerve saying that."
Now that Xu Mu had already revealed his strength to her, he didn't bother hiding his irritation.
"I've got no grudge with you. Why'd you send assassins to kidnap me?"
"It wasn't me — it was Li Zizai," she explained softly. "He said Brother could see through Profound Rank techniques at a glance. He just wanted to test your strength."
So Xu Mu had guessed right — that's why she was acting this way now.
"Then what about last time? Why did you attack someone?" he pressed.
"Because that woman tried to take the man I wanted. She deserved to die," Dai Xingluo said calmly, her tone chillingly flat.
"I don't recall ever belonging to you," Xu Mu said coldly.
"Let me make this clear — I don't like cruel women. She was injured, I happened to see her and helped, that's all."
"Oh really? Then why were her clothes disheveled?" Dai Xingluo's eyes gleamed. "Don't tell me Brother was… tempted by her beauty?"
Xu Mu had planned to explain, but then thought better of it.
Better to let her misunderstand.
If she believed he was that kind of man, maybe she'd finally leave him alone.
"That's right," Xu Mu said bluntly. "I lusted after her body. And just so you know, I'm already married."
He raised a finger.
"Five—no, six wives."