"He asked me where the Ye family's old house used to be," Ye Tong said to Xu Mu. "He says he wants to investigate the reason our parents disappeared."
Xu Mu nodded slightly. In the original plot, it was just like this. To find out whom the Ye family had provoked, Ye Chen went to many places where the Ye family had once lived. Later he discovered he was only an adopted son of the Ye family, then returned to Jiang City to look for Ye Tong.
"By the way, our Yang-Qi Pills have basically finished testing. They'll go on the market soon," Ye Tong said.
"Good." Xu Mu nodded inwardly.
The Feng family was about to collapse, and their industries overlapped with the Xu family's. Once they fell, the Xu family would immediately step up. Add in the Xu family's pharmaceutical company—this time they wouldn't just be aiming for the top five like before.
Dusk approached, and Ye Yu came home as well.
"Brother-in-law!" Ye Yu called out cheerfully the moment she entered.
"You don't greet me first anymore," Ye Tong teased with a faint smile.
"I'm closer with Sis," Ye Yu said, grinning as she sat beside Ye Tong.
"You stay with your brother-in-law. I'll cook," Ye Tong stood up.
"I'll cook today," Xu Mu said. "I suddenly want steamed buns. I'll go steam a few."
He remembered he'd gotten several first- and second-grade herbs this time. Those needed to be steamed or boiled to activate their effects, and the buns could absorb the medicinal power—just right for slightly boosting Ye Tong and Ye Yu's overall strength. Small gains were still gains.
Xu Mu went to the kitchen to knead the dough.
Ye Yu came to the doorway and asked with a smile, "Brother-in-law, why the sudden craving for buns? If you'd told me earlier, I'd have bought some on the way back."
"I like the ones I make myself. There's a lot of craft in steaming buns—especially the dough," Xu Mu said, glancing at Ye Yu. "Pinch, roll, knead, stretch—the force has to be just right. That's how buns come out chewy and fragrant."
Ye Yu stole a look at him. Is he really talking about buns?
While the buns steamed, Xu Mu casually stir-fried a few dishes.
The timing worked out—the dishes were ready as the buns finished. The three sat down together. Ye Yu took a bite and her eyes widened. "So good! Why is there a floral aroma?"
"I added some flowers," Xu Mu explained with a smile. Those "flowers" were the heavenly materials he'd obtained this time.
After they ate, Ye Tong went to wash the dishes. Just as she finished, Xu Mu grabbed her wrist.
"Xiao Yu, we're going to sleep," Xu Mu waved to Ye Yu.
"So early?" Ye Yu rolled her eyes.
"I didn't sleep at all last night. I need to turn in early," Xu Mu said—an airtight excuse—then went into the bedroom with Ye Tong.
He even locked the door specifically, so Ye Yu wouldn't follow and mess up the "progress."
Xu Mu went to wash up. Ye Tong was making the bed when she suddenly spotted a long hair on the sheets.
At first she didn't think much of it, but as she picked it up to toss it in the trash, she realized something was off. The length was about the same as her own hair, but the tail end had a slight curl.
Ye Tong's hair was straight, and Ye Yu's was shoulder-length—nowhere near this long.
"This hair… could it be Wanyue's?"
Meng Wanyue's image popped into Ye Tong's mind at once. Her hair looked just like this.
Could it be that after sending Ye Yu to school, Xu Mu and Meng Wanyue came back here and took a nap?
Ye Tong wasn't angry at all—if anything, she was a little delighted.
Those two finally clicked!
With Meng Wanyue taking one round of "fire," maybe tonight Xu Mu wouldn't insist on a duet, right?
Thinking of this, Ye Tong even felt a bit smug.
…
1:00 a.m.
The light went out of Ye Tong's eyes again.
She'd been too naive. The duet hadn't been reduced one bit.
What was with Meng Wanyue? Didn't she already help take one "turn"? Why was it still this intense?
Could Xu Mu's body even handle a trio?
Ye Tong had no idea how to cope. Should she find that just Meng Wanyue wasn't enough… and keep recruiting?
She was exhausted. Let the world burn.
…
The next morning.
Xu Mu woke early, fully refreshed; a comfortable night's sleep had wiped away all fatigue.
Seeing Ye Tong still asleep, he quietly got up to wash.
Only after he left did Ye Tong slowly open her eyes. She had decided that in order to deal with Xu Mu, she would keep looking beyond just Meng Wanyue.
Three or four, even five or six.
Let's see how tough he really is—bullying her all day long.
An evil little idea crept into her heart: she wanted to be last in the lineup.
When Xu Mu finally couldn't go on, she'd pat his shoulder to comfort him and say:
"It's okay. You're already amazing."
At that thought, a smile unknowingly rose on Ye Tong's face.
That scene… felt strangely satisfying.
"You're awake?" Xu Mu came out of the bathroom.
"Mm… I'll go wash my face," Ye Tong said quickly, her smile vanishing as she avoided his eyes.
For now, it was still just a fantasy—too early to celebrate.
…
After breakfast, Ye Tong and Ye Yu left one after another.
Watching Ye Yu ride off on her e-bike, Xu Mu wondered if he should buy her a car. She was an adult now and could get a driver's license. But she was still a student—he couldn't buy anything too expensive.
He planned to casually get her a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra as a temporary ride.
He was about to head to the company when a message popped up on his phone.
It was from Lu Xueyao: "Brother Xu Mu! I'm super strong now—I lifted my grandma's electric three-wheeler with one hand."
Xu Mu replied, "Remember what I told you yesterday."
With Lu Xueyao, it was an investment. If she produced results, he'd benefit; if not, it wouldn't hurt him.
Sitting on the sofa, Xu Mu reviewed the current situation.
Chen Cai was out collecting dirt on Feng Kang. Dai Xiao was dead, and the Dai family should learn of it soon. Which meant the Feng family was basically crippled—total destruction was only a matter of time.
Since the Fengs didn't require his attention for the moment, he'd focus on his own matter—the Qi Sea Pills.
He currently had three Blue Sunflower blossoms and one Blackleaf Grass; he still lacked Grade-Five Black Angelica.
He planned to find a place to barter with his other heavenly materials.
Just then, his phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number, but he hesitated only a moment before answering.
"Is this Xu Mu?" An elderly voice came through. "I am Qin Ju."
"So it's Senior. What can I do for you?" Xu Mu asked with a smile.
"You owe me two favors, don't you?" Qin Ju asked.
"Of course."
"I want you to come to my Qin family and help with something," Qin Ju said.
"Right now?"
"Yes. Once you arrive in Jinling City, I'll have someone pick you up."
Xu Mu smiled. A great clan like the Qin family ought to have plenty of heavenly materials. He might be able to trade for what he needed there.
…
The Qin family was in Jinling City, Jiangnan.
Checking the map, Xu Mu decided a flight would be easier than driving. He hailed a cab to the airport and caught a plane just in time.
That was when a young man caught his eye.
The man wore a shabby tracksuit and canvas shoes, carrying a woven fertilizer sack printed with "Urea." He looked spirited, with tousled hair and a clear-cut face.
His appearance drew looks of disdain from the surrounding passengers.
But Xu Mu's expression grew serious. This guy wasn't simple.
He immediately used the Divine Eye to check.