"I remember now — Brother also said he had several wives."
Dai Xingluo handed Xu Mu's phone back to him. "I thought you were joking, but it turns out you were serious."
"Having several wives was a joke — but the one wife I do have is real."
Xu Mu slipped the phone into his pocket.
"Can I meet this sister of mine?"
Dai Xingluo smiled sweetly as she asked.
"What are you planning to do?"
Xu Mu suddenly fixed his gaze on her — the calm in his eyes fading into a cold sharpness. "Xingluo, she's my family. If you dare harm her in any way, I will never forgive you."
"Ah… so that's what Brother thinks of me?" Dai Xingluo sighed softly. "I only wanted to have a cup of tea with her, that's all."
Then she asked gently, "What's her name?"
Xu Mu hesitated for a moment but finally answered, "Her name is Ye Tong."
"Why does that sound so familiar? I think I've heard that name before."
"She's from the Ye family of Yang City," Xu Mu explained.
Dai Xingluo's eyes lit with realization — so it's that Ye family. She decided then and there that she would meet her.
After Xu Mu dropped Dai Xingluo back at the antique shop, he drove home.
Fire-Yang Wood was similar to ordinary wood, with one key difference — it didn't burn.
So Xu Mu could easily make what he needed himself.
Once home, he pulled out a dagger and hollowed a small cavity into the wood, carving the inside as wide as possible.
By the end, he'd shaped the Fire-Yang Wood into a spherical form — about the size of a fist, with a two-finger-wide hole leading into a hollow center.
It could hold four to five pills at once.
Without a true alchemy furnace, this would have to do.
He didn't plan to refine everything at once — just three pills for now, then more later.
Maybe someday, he'd find better material for a proper furnace.
At that same time, a black Mercedes AMG stopped outside the gates of Xu Mu's villa complex.
Dai Xingluo sat in the driver's seat, eyes fixed forward without blinking.
She had already investigated Xu Mu long ago.
The Xu family of Jiang City now lived in the Riverside Villa District.
Not only that — she even knew all the cars registered under his name.
Just earlier, she had bribed a security guard at the entrance, who told her that Xu Mu's two cars went out almost every day.
That confirmed it — Xu Mu hadn't lied. He did have a wife, and they did live together.
Dai Xingluo clenched her fists tightly, a surge of irritation rising within her.
The thought of the man she desired spending every day with another woman filled her with murderous intent.
Anything she liked — she had to claim for herself.
If she couldn't have it, she'd rather destroy it.
Even as a child in the Dai family, this temperament had often earned her beatings — but she had never changed.
"She should be home soon," Dai Xingluo muttered. "Let's see what kind of woman dares to steal my man."
She checked the time on her phone.
Moments later, a Porsche 911 came into view.
She focused on the license plate — yes, it was Xu Mu's.
Immediately, Dai Xingluo started her engine, driving forward to block the Porsche just before it could enter the villa gate.
Lowering her window, she gestured for Ye Tong to do the same.
Ye Tong looked puzzled but complied.
With a soft smile and eyes curved like crescent moons, Dai Xingluo said, "Sister, I'm pregnant with Brother Xu Mu's child. I want to talk."
Ye Tong froze for a moment — her expression visibly shifting — then nodded.
The two cars left the entrance and parked together on the roadside.
Inside her car, Dai Xingluo picked up the dagger from the cup holder but hesitated, finally setting it down again.
She wanted to see what kind of person Ye Tong really was first.
If there was another way to make her leave Xu Mu — peacefully — that would be ideal.
If Ye Tong left on her own, Xu Mu wouldn't blame her later.
When Dai Xingluo stepped out of her car, Ye Tong did the same.
Seeing her up close, Dai Xingluo couldn't help but feel a pang of reluctant admiration — this woman was beautiful.
Not the stunning, dazzling kind — but gentle, warm, and soothing to look at.
A subtle smile tugged at Dai Xingluo's lips. She's coming over fast, she thought.
No doubt Ye Tong wanted to argue — maybe even start a fight.
Fine by me, Dai Xingluo thought. If you dare strike first, I'll strike back.
"How many months? Are you feeling alright?"
Ye Tong came up to her, took her hand, and asked with genuine concern.
"Huh?"
Dai Xingluo froze.
What was going on?
Did this woman… misunderstand what she'd said?
So Dai Xingluo reminded her pointedly, "Sister, I wasn't lying. I really am pregnant with Xu Mu's child."
"I know. When did you two meet?" Ye Tong asked.
Dai Xingluo's lips curled in mockery. "A month ago. Xu Mu came to see me almost every day, saying his wife at home couldn't satisfy him."
She sneered inwardly — let's see how that lands. Surely, Ye Tong would be furious now.
Then she'd run home and divorce him.
"Sigh… so that's what my husband really thinks," Ye Tong murmured softly, lowering her head.
Dai Xingluo's heart leapt — yes, that's it! Divorce him!
"I really have wronged him," Ye Tong whispered again.
He was such a strong man, yet every time after the first round, she would plead for mercy and pretend to sleep.
No wonder he was unsatisfied.
She felt a pang of guilt. I've truly let my husband down.
"What the—? Sister, he's cheating! Why are you blaming yourself? It's his fault!" Dai Xingluo stammered in disbelief.
"No, it's my fault," Ye Tong shook her head gently and held her hand. "You already have his child — of course I'll accept you. Come home with me first."
Dai Xingluo took a deep breath. No way. This… this isn't normal.
Had she gone crazy from all the delivery coupons lately?
This logic was completely upside-down!
"Sister… aren't you afraid I might be a bad person?" Dai Xingluo asked, genuinely confused. "Like maybe I only wanted his money and seduced him on purpose?"
"Impossible. I'm a good judge of character." Ye Tong smiled warmly. "You're so beautiful — even I feel inferior. A girl like you would never do something like that."
She looked at Dai Xingluo kindly. "If my husband lost control around you, it's perfectly understandable."
Dai Xingluo's cheeks flushed pink.
This woman…
She couldn't even bring herself to talk back now, let alone fight.
"Sister… you're prettier than me," Dai Xingluo mumbled shyly.
"Then we'll let our husband decide later," Ye Tong said with a smile, taking her hand.
"Our… husband…"
Dai Xingluo's face turned red, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. "Sister, do you really not mind?"
"Perhaps you don't understand what it means to be from a hidden clan," Ye Tong replied gently.
She decided it was time to give this "little sister" some ideological guidance.
She had originally wanted to find someone to divert Xu Mu's energy, and since this one had delivered herself to the door—there was no reason to refuse.