Chapter 76: An Old Married Couple

The night wasn't late, and Elder Li was still watching television.

When he saw Mu Lin, he asked, "Mu Lin, how did the negotiations go? Was it a success?"

Mu Lin sighed. "Wu Long is insatiably greedy. Not only did he refuse to back down, he even tried to kidnap Li Xue and Madam Qiao for ransom. The man is completely out of line."

Elder Li slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. "That Wu Long is unbelievable! Qiao Canhua personally went to him to request a reconciliation, so what's he putting on airs for?"

"He didn't just put on airs—he assaulted someone and tried to take hostages! Does he really think the whole of Anhua City belongs to his family?"

Mrs. Li, Lin Jiajia, came over to comfort him. "Come on, Dad, calm down. What's the point? It's not the first time Wu Long has pulled something like this. Wicked people get what they deserve. Just ignore him!"

Elder Li huffed and went back to watching television.

Li Xue said, "Mom, can you make me something to eat? Anything will do, I'm starving!"

Mrs. Li asked, puzzled, "Didn't you just go out for dinner? How are you hungry again?"

"How could I dare to eat anything from Huangshang Huang! If I fell into one of their traps, it would have been a disaster."

It dawned on Mrs. Li. "You're right! From now on, none of us are eating at Huangshang Huang. Anyone who invites you to a meal there will be considered a bad person, period!"

After a bit of grumbling, she turned and went into the kitchen. To the tune of her soft humming, two steaming bowls of dragon whisker noodles soon emerged, each topped with an egg.

Li Xue went back to the kitchen, found a jar of chili sauce, and poured some into her bowl. She placed the jar next to Mu Lin and asked, "Want some?"

Mu Lin cheerfully took it, added a little to his bowl, and began slurping down the spicy noodles.

For a rare moment, the two were in harmony.

Inside private room 2020 at Huangshang Huang.

Guo Lei removed the needle from between Wu Long's eyebrows. He waited for nearly half an hour before shouting, "Wake up! Everybody, wake up!"

But there was no response. Guo Lei relaxed slightly. 'At least no one is faking it,' he thought.

An hour after Mu Lin and the others had left, Wu Ming finally regained consciousness.

Guo Lei hurried over. "Young Master, are you all right?"

The sight of Guo Lei reminded Wu Ming of his injuries, and he hastily recoiled.

"I'm fine! Stay away from me!"

Guo Lei said, "I've been trying to wake Chairman Wu for a while, but he's not responding at all. You give it a try!"

Wu Ming immediately panicked. Wasn't the only reason he could live the life of a spoiled heir because his father was backing him up?

If his father was gone, his future would be incredibly difficult.

"Dad! Dad, wake up!"

Wu Ming shook him desperately, truly terrified.

Wu Long suddenly frowned and let out a groan. "What's all the noise... Let me sleep!"

Guo Lei rushed forward. "Chairman Wu, you can't go back to sleep! That girl, Li Xue, she got away!"

Hearing this, Wu Long shot up. "What? You let her escape? What about Qiao Canhua's wife?"

"She got away too!" Guo Lei slapped himself across the face. "I was useless! I couldn't stop them! Li Xue's bodyguard is just too strong!"

Guo Lei pointed to the thugs scattered across the floor. "Look, this is the team of enforcers I personally trained, but they couldn't last a single round against him."

Wu Long's face was livid. He had been about to slap Guo Lei himself, but since Guo Lei had already done the deed, hitting him again would seem a bit unreasonable.

"It's not your fault. They're just too cunning! Have you found out where Qiao Canhua is staying?"

Guo Lei hadn't even looked, but he put on a troubled expression. "I've searched high and low, but I still couldn't find him."

"Hmph. Don't worry. As long as Qiao Canhua is in Anhua, I have ways to drag him out. And then..."

Wu Long recalled Madam Qiao's beauty and couldn't help but gulp.

After Mu Lin and Li Xue finished their noodles, Mu Lin took Li Xue's bowl and went to wash it in the sink.

Li Xue walked to the kitchen doorway, watching Mu Lin.

Mu Lin felt an unexplainable sense of unease. "What's wrong? Why are you staring at me? It's not like there's something on my face."

"I really thought you were going to die today. I would've felt so guilty," Li Xue said. Remembering the scene made her heart pound with fear.

Mu Lin said, "It was nothing. You're just not used to seeing that kind of thing. Next time I get in a fight, just watch from the sidelines. I'm sure you'll get used to it after a few times."

"You're still talking? You put yourself in harm's way, and you think I'm praising you!"

Li Xue was so furious she felt like her lungs would explode. She poked Mu Lin's chest. "You'd better remember not to be so reckless in the future. You only have one life!"

"I know, I know!" Seeing that Li Xue was genuinely concerned for him made Mu Lin's heart feel warm.

After washing the bowls, he got up, ready to shower and go to bed. Mu Lin walked toward the bathroom, but Li Xue beat him to it, slipping inside. "I'm showering first! I'm exhausted today!"

Mu Lin shrugged, letting her have her way.

Li Xue closed the door and let out a long sigh. She turned on the shower, and as the hot water cascaded over her head, her mind cleared.

'Mu Lin is my fake husband,' she thought. 'I have no right to meddle in his affairs.'

Mu Lin sat down to watch TV with Elder Li. The old man seemed bored and asked again, "Mu Lin, do you think this situation can be resolved peacefully?"

Mu Lin shook his head gravely. 'It will be difficult. Very difficult.'

"Wu Long has built up his power in Anhua for a long time. He's cultivated a formidable reputation, the kind that doesn't falter even when he hits a snag."

"And to maintain his advantage, he will stop at nothing. The attacks we're about to face are only the beginning!"

Elder Li sighed. "It's a shame I'm old. I can't fight alongside you, or I'd definitely lend you a hand!"

"Your support is more than enough!"

Mu Lin went to get his clothes and waited by the bathroom door.

A few moments later, Li Xue appeared at the doorway, wreathed in steam. She looked as ethereal as a fairy.

"What are you doing just standing there? You scared me!"

Mu Lin said, "I'm waiting to take a shower, what else?"

He pushed past her, went inside, closed the door, and casually locked it.

Li Xue took a few steps before a critical problem dawned on her. "Hey, open the door! My clothes are still in there!"

'My bra, my panties... If Mu Lin sees those, I'll just die!'

Mu Lin's voice came from inside. "Too late, I've already seen them. Nothing to be done. I'll bring them out for you later."

After he spoke, the sound of the shower running—SHHHHH—came from inside.

Elder Li chuckled. "My dear granddaughter, you're a married couple. What's the big deal if he saw them?"

With that, he leaned on his cane and slowly made his way to the stairs. Mrs. Li hurried over to help him, gradually guiding the old man to his room.

But that wasn't the end of it. The old man was afraid of the dark, so she had to wait for him to fall asleep before she could leave.

Li Xue was so exasperated with her grandfather she could scream, but there was nothing she could do. Covering her face, she fled to her room.

Mu Lin opened the bathroom door and came out, saying cheerfully, "I'm done. You can get your clothes now!"

But it was quiet outside. Where was Li Xue?

"Honestly, this girl..." Mu Lin shook his head, speechless. He put his and Li Xue's discarded clothes into the same laundry basket and took it out to the balcony.

As Mu Lin passed Li Xue's room, he saw her door was still ajar. He shook his head slightly but didn't go in.

He had only taken a couple more steps when he saw Li Yinhe coming out of the study.

"You went to the meeting with Qiao Canhua and Wu Long? What was the outcome?"

Mu Lin reported truthfully, "It was a close call, but we're safe. However, I'm done negotiating with Wu Long. From now on, it's either him or me."

When Li Yinhe heard his daughter had nearly been kidnapped, his face twisted in fury. "You never should have taken her to such a dangerous place!"

"Are you kidding me? I didn't even want to tell her about it in the first place! She insisted on going!" Mu Lin said. "I'm the one being wronged here!"

Li Yinhe pursed his lips. It was a difficult situation. He knew his daughter's personality; she was stubborn to a fault, the type to not turn back until she's hit a wall.

To be honest, she had already hit a wall just the other day, but sadly, that hadn't changed her.

"Ah, I get it," Li Yinhe said, patting Mu Lin's shoulder. "She doesn't listen to anyone. When she gets stubborn, there's nothing to be done. You'll just have to put up with her."

'Whoa, this attitude...' Mu Lin felt like the sun had just risen from the west.

'Doesn't Li Yinhe usually treat me like dirt?'

'Ah, whatever. I won't think about it for now.'

Mu Lin returned to his room and fell straight to sleep.