Mr. Nan started to talk ambiguously, and Wu Heping fell for it. He couldn’t help but ask, “Hey, just tell me already. What’s your idea?”

“For the first idea, you just have to show up and make up some reasons to make her stay. Trick her into drinking the drug, and the rest will be smooth sailing.”

“What’s the other one?”

Mr. Nan smirked, “The other idea is much easier. I’ll get two men to help. You just have to force yourself on her. We will record everything down. She will have no choice but to obey you.”

That idea terrified Wu Heping. He shook his head, “We can’t do that. We are done for if she is a decent woman.”

Mr. Nan found him disdainful. He wanted this, but he was too timid. He shouldn’t have tried to do anything if he didn’t have the courage.

“We will go with the first plan, then. You should hurry and go. Don’t let her get suspicious. The rest will be on you.”

Wu Heping got up to leave. He turned back after a second thought, “No, she hates my guts now. She will get suspicious now if I show up alone. If she insists on leaving, I can’t make her stay.”

“Then, we’ll stick with the second plan. It’s simple and straightforward. You don’t have to waste time with her. Just get ahold of her.”

“Will there be a problem?”

“Do you not trust me? I will get Liu and another man to argue with her. Then, they will think of a way to subdue her. After they cover her head, you’ll just have to enjoy. After that, clean up everything, and you won’t get busted.”

“What if someone else notices the commotion?”

“They won’t. No one will notice anything if they do it neatly. Don’t worry. My men are skillful. Constraining her wouldn’t be a problem.”

“What if she reports it to the police?” he asked worriedly.

“So what if she does? It would be a crime of passion. Both parties would be at fault. At worst, my men will go to jail for you instead. That will settle it. Don’t worry, Brother Wu. I will pay for their compensation. You don’t have to worry about a thing. Just leave it to me.”

Wu Heping hesitated, but he gritted his teeth and made up his mind. “All right. I’ll leave it to you!”

“That’s right. She just comes from a normal family. You don’t have to worry about anything. You probably just need to give her some money to keep her quiet.”

…

Li Mu was resting at home. He agreed to pick up Lin Wan at the resort at 9 p.m. It was not 7 p.m. yet, so he decided to take a shower and watch some TV before it was time to pick her up.

Before he entered the bathroom door, he heard someone yelling with a loudspeaker downstairs. Thinking that it was the traders that collected old electrical appliances and furniture again, Li Mu didn’t pay attention to it.

There were minivans going around Shanyang collecting old electrical appliances and furniture. The slogans were always the same, which got on his nerves.

Li Mu was going to enter the bathroom when he realized something was off. It sounded like someone was shouting his name.

He opened the window, and the shouting became distinct. It was a woman screaming, “Li Mu is a cheater! He left his wife and children. He’s a scoundrel!”

It was He Xiaoyu. His blood boiled with anger. She really came. He thought she was just making empty threats, but she was actually serious.

Li Mu got out of the house immediately. He didn’t even wait for the escalator and rushed down the stairs.

In just a while, he hurried out of the entrance. He was lucky that his house was on the 8th floor, or he would have tripped at the stairs.

He looked around. He Xiaoyu was standing right there, shouting her lungs out with the loudspeaker!

Li Mu was all worked up. He rushed to her, snatched the loudspeaker, and threw it to the ground, smashing it to pieces.

He Xiaoyu yelped and covered her eyes. But through the gaps between her fingers, she stared at him intently.

He was wondering why she did that. Onlookers began to gather. Some of them started to make noise, and some even whistled.

Something was wrong. He felt cold all of a sudden. He looked down and realized that he was in such a hurry that he came out just wearing shorts. He was practically naked.

Li Mu was so embarrassed that he grabbed He Xiaoyu and dragged her to his house.

She went along with him and left the scene.

He Xiaoyu didn’t know where he lived, so she had no choice but to resort to this trick. Since she managed to lure him out, she should stop giving him any trouble.

He Xiaoyu didn’t know where Li Mu lived?

Yes, she didn’t know. She just knew which building he lived in, but not which unit.

When Li Mu got married, He Xiaoyu didn’t attend the housewarming, because she was in a bad mood. She hid in the yard feeling sorry for herself. Therefore, she didn’t know where he lived.

He Xiaoyu had no other choice, or she wouldn’t have done it.

After entering his house, Li Mu shut the door close and went into his room to put on some clothes.

He Xiaoyu made herself at home and looked around the house. She asked as her eyes glanced around, “Li Mu, where is my room?”

Li Mu yelled, “The toilet bowl is yours. Go on and move in there!”

He Xiaoyu was nonchalant. She followed his voice and went to him. She looked at him while leaning on the door frame, “You wore the singlet inside out. I can see the tag.”

Li Mu cursed and shoved her out of the room. Then he slammed the door shut.

He Xiaoyu scowled, “You’re going to be mine soon anyway. Why are you being shy?”

Not knowing if he had heard it or not, she waltzed into the dining area. A tray of apples was on the dining table. She grabbed one and took a bite.

A minute later, the door was opened, and Li Mu came out looking mad.

“Xiaoyu, this is too much!”

“Who do you mean? Let me ask you. Why didn’t you reply to my emails or text? Even worse, why didn’t you answer my calls?”

Li Mu was at a loss. It was normal to not answer her emails. He let go of himself for the past two days, so he didn’t check his emails. But he didn’t respond to her texts and her calls?

He checked his phone. He was logged out from Vchat. As for his phone, only whitelisted calls and texts could be received. The contacts on his whitelist were his parents and Lin Wan’s number. It was obviously his wife’s doing.

Li Mu changed the settings and cast it aside, “Why do you want to see me?”

“Li Mu, the promotion announcement was issued. You are the head of the business department. It’s fine that you didn’t show up. But shouldn’t you at least send an email internally to boost the morale? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Li Mu understood the situation now. It was his fault for messing things up.

She was right. He hadn’t resigned, so he still had to follow the formality and say something, since he had been promoted to the head.

He didn’t have to ask. His silence must have made her think that he still insisted on resigning. That was why she made a scene in his neighborhood.

“All right. I’ll send the email now.”

Li Mu turned on his laptop and logged into his work email. After some consideration, he replied to all of the related staff with a standardized email under the promotion announcement.

Of course, it was some official statement that encouraged everyone to go through hardships and overcome hurdles together. It sounded nice, but it wasn’t very sincere.

After writing the email, he checked a couple of times before he hit the send button.

“That will do it, right? Are you happy now, Ms. He?”

“Why are you home alone? Where’s Lin Wan?” He Xiaoyu asked curiously.

“She went to a party. Is there anything else? Or you should get going.”

“Hey, is that how you treat your guest? How can you ask a guest to leave? Are you not going to treat me to dinner?”

“No, I can’t let Lin Wan see you here. Hurry up and go.”

Li Mu kept asking her to leave, but He Xiaoyu ignored him. She stared at Li Mu with delight while she munched away at her apple.

“Why are you staring at me?”

“Li Mu, how come you look tanner now?”

“Did I? I went hiking these few days. It’s probably the sun exposure.”

“Where did you go hiking?”

Li Mu mentioned a few places. He Xiaoyu was upset, “You’re mean. Why didn’t you invite me?”

“I went with Lin Wan. Why should I invite you? Do you think it was a polygamous trip?”

It sounded harsher than he thought. Before he said anything else, He Xiaoyu nodded, “Fine. It’s meaningless to fight. I don’t mind if Lin Wan agrees. But I have to be the first wife, and Lin Wan comes after me.”

“I think you should be my mother instead. How about if I take you as my godmother? Godmother, please stop causing trouble for your godson.”

He Xiaoyu laughed and choked on the apple bits. She coughed uncontrollably and gave him a few punches.

Li Mu patted her back and gave her a cup of water. When she got better, he said, “That’s it. Stop messing around. Finish the apple and go.”

He Xiaoyu glared at him. She had another bite, “Let me ask you. When are you going back to work?”

“Give me some more time, all right? Stop pushing me!”

“I’m not. You’re the general manager of the business department now. It’s not a good idea to shut yourself in your house. You should know that there are plenty of opportunities this year. Most of the project bidding started in the first half of the year. This is the time where all staff should work together. How can you hide into your shell as the leader?”

“Mr. Yan is gone?” Li Mu asked.

“He left right after he got the transfer order. He ran faster than the hare!” He Xiaoyu sounded upset.

“Darn it. That old man. Who is giving instructions now?”

Li Mu expressed concern. Just as he said, it was where his career started. He had put in his effort and energy. He couldn’t just let it go.

He Xiaoyu pointed at herself and said pitifully, “I’m holding things together as the assistant. It’s exhausting. Li Mu, are you just going to watch me work like a horse?”

“Assistant?”

“The general manager assistant cum secretary. I gave this title to myself. Doesn’t it sound nice?”

Li Mu rolled his eyes. He thought to himself, “This girl doesn’t know how to keep a distance. What will her dad think of it?”

“Xiaoyu, I think we should keep a distance…”

He Xiaoyu didn’t like that and refused to listen, “What for? We don’t have to. I’m not going to. If something had gone on between us, it would have happened a long time ago. It can happen now, too.”

“You’re right. But people talk. Ever since that incident, there must be someone who has been gossiping about us. I’m fine with that. But you are not married yet. I’m saying this for your own good!”