When Ye Chen saw Xu Mu, his expression became slightly unnatural.
He deeply hated this man. In his heart, this person should have died long ago.
But unfortunately, he was Ye Tong's man — and also Xu Ningbing's younger brother.
Just that identity alone meant Ye Chen couldn't make a move openly.
However, his patience had limits. If Xu Mu dared to act presumptuous in front of him,
he wouldn't mind making Xu Mu disappear without a trace.
Xu Mu was now sitting beside Xu Ningbing, facing Ye Chen. The phone camera in his breast pocket was, of course, recording everything.
"President Xu, I've already given you two days. How have you considered my offer?"
Ye Chen asked calmly.
Standing behind him, Xiao Ran lowered her head, still thinking about what Meng Wanyue had said yesterday.
"I discussed it carefully with the senior executives," Xu Ningbing leaned back in her chair, arms crossed before her chest.
But the two intimidating things in front of her almost completely hid her forearms.
Ye Chen was dumbfounded. He stared for quite a while before reacting.
"What did you just say? You're refusing?"
"That's right."
Xu Ningbing's tone was indifferent.
"You don't think I'm lying to you, do you? The person who spoke to you on the video call last time is Middle Eastern royalty — a big oil tycoon,"
Ye Chen frowned slightly. "He personally said he would invest in our new joint venture."
"We never said we thought you were lying," Xu Ningbing adjusted her rimless glasses.
"It's just that all of our executives unanimously believe one can't grow fat in a single bite. Our Xu Corporation has expanded too rapidly lately — and that's not a good thing."
Xu Mu glanced at Xu Ningbing. That was indeed a good excuse.
"Opportunities like this don't come twice. I'm giving you face by offering to cooperate. I could easily work with another company instead."
Ye Chen's expression darkened. He didn't like being rejected.
"Please, go ahead."
Xu Ningbing said coldly.
"Then your Xu Corporation will become our competitor. And don't think I'll go easy on you just because Ye Tong married into your family."
Ye Chen's face turned unpleasant.
"Competition is a good thing," Xu Mu said from the side.
"And who the hell are you? I'm talking to Xu Ningbing — it's not your turn to speak."
Ye Chen's tone grew colder.
"I'm your brother-in-law. I'm your elder. So what if I butt in?"
Xu Mu stared straight at him.
"If it weren't for Xu Ningbing being here, you'd already be dead."
Ye Chen's fists tightened. He didn't even know why, but from the very first time he met Xu Mu, he'd wanted him gone.
"This is a lawful society now. You still want to kill me?"
Xu Mu said after a pause. "Believe it or not, I'll call the police."
"Law?" Ye Chen's eyes glinted like a tiger's.
"That's just a tool to restrain the lower classes. From a certain perspective, I am the law, because I decide who lives and who dies."
"Ye Chen! We are not going to cooperate with you. Please leave!"
Xu Ningbing's expression grew even darker.
This man truly was unreasonable — threatening her brother right in front of her face.
"Xu Ningbing, you'll regret this. I can tell you right now — it won't be long before you come begging me to cooperate."
After saying that, Ye Chen stood up and walked toward the door.
At the doorway, he stopped. "Xu Mu, you really deserve to die, you petty tattletale."
"Tattletale? What do you mean?"
Xu Mu was momentarily confused.
"Our last conversation — you told Ye Tong about it, didn't you? Fine, I don't care."
Ye Chen said indifferently, "Trash like you doesn't deserve Ye Tong. In this world, only I do!"
"What about Ye Yu then?"
Xu Mu deliberately provoked him.
"Whether she lives or dies — what's that to me?"
Ye Chen said coldly, then opened the door and left.
Xiao Ran gave Xu Mu an awkward glance, then followed after Ye Chen.
Once the two had left, Xu Mu took out his phone and ended the video call.
Xu Ningbing slammed her palm on the table.
"Damn it! That bastard! If Dad hadn't said it's unnecessary to provoke conflict, I'd have cursed him out already!"
Xu Mu looked at her expression, a bit surprised.
Then he chuckled. "Don't you think he's full of manly charm? So domineering."
"Manly, my ass! Dominating? He's like a rabid dog!"
Xu Ningbing was so angry that her chest rose and fell violently — the buttons of her office uniform were under tremendous strain.
Xu Mu couldn't help laughing. At least for now, Xu Ningbing definitely wouldn't get close to Ye Chen like in the original plot.
Still, he had to stay cautious.
Just like before with Li Yun — even though she hated Fang Chu so much, she almost went to his room last time.
As the first main heroine, Xu Ningbing would probably have more future story events. He had to guard against that.
Speaking of Fang Chu, Xu Mu suddenly remembered he'd told Chai Wang to spend money to hire the sixth-ranked assassin on the Death List — Black Robe.
But until now, there had been no action. He was starting to doubt whether the organization "Hundred Ghosts Parade" even existed.
"What are you spacing out for? Let's go!"
Xu Ningbing saw Xu Mu sitting there motionless and slapped his shoulder.
"Oh."
Xu Mu snapped back to his senses and stood up.
"What? Scared by his threats? How embarrassing."
Xu Ningbing glanced sideways at him.
"No, I'm not scared of anything except thunder — especially twin thunderbolts. Too scary. I don't think I could handle that."
Xu Mu grinned, sneaking a glance at Xu Ningbing.
Xu Ningbing gave him a helpless look. "A grown man afraid of thunder? You might as well lie down and play dead."
"Why?" Xu Mu asked.
"Because that's called avoiding thunder by faking death."
Without changing expression, Xu Ningbing walked out of the meeting room.
"Hahaha! My dear sister, how do you manage to tell jokes with such a straight face?"
Xu Mu laughed, catching up to her and putting an arm around her shoulders.
"Get lost!"
Xu Ningbing shoved him away. "Coward!"
"If I were a coward, I wouldn't have risked my life to save you before."
Xu Mu said calmly, hands in his pockets.
[Favorability +10]
Xu Ningbing pushed up her glasses and muttered softly, "Stinky little brother."
——
When Xu Mu returned to his own office, Ye Yu immediately pounced on him.
"Brother-in-law! That damn Ye Chen — he's disgusting!"
Ye Yu hugged Xu Mu's waist, looking up at him, her eyes slightly red.
She'd been so happy before, knowing Ye Chen was alive.
And yet he had said her life or death had nothing to do with him.
What was he even worth?
If not for her parents taking him in back then, he might have died already.
"It's okay. He's not worth your anger."
Xu Mu patted Ye Yu's head.
[Favorability +15]
Ye Yu wiped her eyes with her sleeve and nodded slightly.
Xu Mu knew well — in the original storyline, Ye Chen only had feelings for Ye Tong.
Ye Yu, after Ye Chen killed Xu Mu, idolized him deeply and secretly did many things for him.
Only then did Ye Chen's attitude toward her change.
Just then, Xu Mu's phone rang.
He took it out and looked — it was a call from Zhao Yingying.
He frowned slightly. Could it be that Fang Chu had gone to cause her trouble again?