Xu Mu returned home to find Ye Tong already in the bedroom.
After a long day out, he took a shower first.
Deep down, he knew that Feng Yue was just like Ye Tong had been back then.
But Xu Mu couldn’t understand—judging by the look in her eyes, she clearly didn’t like him either.
Her favorability rating hadn’t even turned positive.
"Forget it."
Xu Mu shook his head lightly and stopped dwelling on it.
This whole situation felt so haphazard that he wondered if he was dreaming.
Approaching Ye Tong, he noticed she was still scrolling through her phone.
"You’re back," Ye Tong greeted him with a smile.
"What are you looking at?" Xu Mu asked as he lay down beside her.
"Chemical formulas. The weight-loss drug was a success, bringing massive new capital to the Xu Family. We’re planning to develop a new drug now."
Ye Tong glanced at Xu Mu with a grin.
"Don’t work at home."
Xu Mu wrapped his arms around her, took her phone, and tucked it under the pillow.
This was his woman. As for Feng Yue, he’d let her fade into the past.
As a pianist, Xu Mu was adept at duets—it was second nature to him.
He’d played one for Feng Yue earlier.
But that didn’t affect his ability to perform a duet. A master like him believed he could even handle a trio or a quartet.
Though he hadn’t tried it yet, having only performed duets with Ye Tong so far.
Pulling off a trio, he figured, would be much harder.
...
Early the next morning, Xu Mu woke up before dawn.
After yesterday’s busy schedule, he still hadn’t gathered enough for a "ten-draw."
Neither Mu Qingying nor Feng Yue had positive favorability ratings, so there was no multiplier bonus.
Noticing Xu Mu was up, Ye Tong quickly got out of bed too. After a quick wash, she went to make breakfast for him.
Once they finished eating, they left the villa together and headed to the company.
Xu Mu reminded Ye Tong again to stay cautious—even though Lin Yang was lying low for now.
Ye Tong agreed.
Instead of going straight to the office, Xu Mu found himself inexplicably detouring to Feng Yue’s bar.
Just like yesterday, the place was locked tight, with a "For Sale" sign plastered on the door.
He pulled out his phone and found Feng Yue’s contact, hesitating before ultimately deciding not to call.
Back at the company, Xu Mu slumped into his executive chair, lost in thought until his phone buzzed, snapping him out of it.
He checked the screen—it was a message from Xu Shou, summoning him upstairs.
Xu Mu stretched, then got up and made his way to the chairman’s office, where Xu Ningbing was also present.
"What’s up? Why’d you call me here?" Xu Mu asked, sinking into the black leather sofa.
"People climb higher, water flows lower. Our weight-loss drug is a huge success, so I’m planning another push into Yang City’s market."
Xu Shou smiled at Xu Mu. "What do you think?"
"Nothing to think about. It’s a done deal. Yang City’s economy is stronger, and we already have a company there anyway."
Xu Mu had seen this coming—the Xu Family’s business was bound to expand back into Yang City.
"Ran into trouble yesterday?" Xu Shou lit a cigarette and said softly, "In the past, you’d have called me the second something went wrong."
"I could handle this one myself, so I didn’t bother you." Xu Mu chuckled.
Xu Ningbing shot him a glance. In the past, no matter how big or small the problem, Xu Mu would always run to Xu Shou first to clean up his mess.
Now, faced with something serious, he’d dealt with it alone.
Her little brother really had changed—grown unfamiliar somehow.
"Lin Yang kidnapped Feng Yue and Mu Qingying to force you into a trap. Weren’t you afraid for your life?" Xu Shou frowned, taking a deep drag. "Next time, don’t take risks like that."
"Got it. But I’m fine, aren’t I?"
Just as Xu Mu spoke, his phone rang. He checked the screen—it was Meng Wanyue.
"Wanyue, what’s up?"
"Director Xu, officers from the Jiang City Police Department are here. They want to speak with you."
Meng Wanyue’s voice came through the phone.
"What? Didn’t they already question me yesterday?"
Xu Mu was puzzled but replied, "I’ll be right down."
"What’s going on?" Xu Shou asked.
"Probably about yesterday. I’ll go check."
Xu Mu pocketed his phone and left the office.
When the elevator reached his floor, he spotted two people waiting outside his office.
One was a man in his thirties, dressed in a police uniform.
The other was a younger woman in a black casual outfit, her long hair loosely framing a strikingly sharp profile.
She stood with her hands in her pockets, blowing occasional bubbles with her gum.
Xu Mu quickly scanned them with his "God’s Eye."
The man was ordinary, but the woman made Xu Mu’s eyes widen in shock.
Name: Jiang Huihui
Identity: Cleaner for the Dragon Nation, female lead of The Master Returns: My Seven Senior Sisters Are All Stunning Beauties.
Favorability: -20
Destiny Level: 9 (Max: 10)
Xu Mu was stunned—another female protagonist had appeared.
This was bad.
Though he hadn’t read that particular novel, he was familiar with the genre.
To put it simply, the male lead's senior sister is impressive, but the male lead is even more so.
"What can I do for you two?" Xu Mu walked over calmly.
"Xu Mu, here's my badge."
The thirty-year-old male officer first flashed his police ID, then introduced, "This is Jiang Huihui, the captain of our department. Just cooperate fully with whatever she asks you."
"Got it."
Xu Mu nodded. As expected of the Cleaners—their authority was indeed substantial.
The man said a few more brief words before leaving, leaving only Jiang Huihui behind.
Jiang Huihui glanced at Xu Mu and said, "Let's talk in the office."
Xu Mu agreed and headed toward the office.
Inside the office.
Xu Mu sat in the executive chair, while Jiang Huihui stood with her hands in her pockets, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
"Ms. Jiang, what did you want to ask me?"
Noticing her prolonged silence, Xu Mu took the initiative to speak.
"This Cadillac Escalade—it's yours, right?"
Jiang Huihui placed her phone on the desk, displaying a photo.
Xu Mu checked the image—the license plate matched—and nodded. "That's correct."
"You said you received the criminal's call in the morning yesterday. Why did you only report it in the afternoon? What were you doing in between?"
As she spoke, Jiang Huihui circled around to Xu Mu's side, one hand resting on the desk while the other pulled open a drawer.
"Even if you're the captain, you can't just rummage through personal belongings, can you?" Xu Mu's expression darkened with displeasure.
"I have a search warrant. If you don’t believe me, I can have it delivered!"
Jiang Huihui shot him a cold look. "Move aside!"

d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!

agon king storylines. At the start, I obtained the "Ultimate Lackey System" - the more I act as a lackey, the stronger I become. What else could I do? I chose to become the personal henchman of the ultimate villain, Su Muwan. I provoke all sorts of chosen ones, snatch away their opportunities, and commit every evil deed imaginable. You ask who's behind me? Hmph! You're not worthy of knowing my lady's name! ...... ....... I am Su Muwan, the eldest daughter of the Su family. Since childhood, I've possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts, which led to my arrogant and domineering personality in my past life. I was even foolish enough to repeatedly challenge those favored by heaven, ultimately resulting in a tragic death. In this life, I must behave and absolutely cannot walk the same path again!! However... SLAP!! "So you're the Dragon King, huh?!" When I saw my little lackey swagger over and viciously slap the Dragon King who was hiding his identity, I felt my heart sink. Su Muwan's suspended heart finally died as she watched Qin Luo, her utterly loyal lackey, standing before her. She fainted on the spot from shock. Heaven is determined to destroy me!! (Pure love 1v1, light-hearted, no angst, single female lead, villain, reincarnation, lackey)

【Prologue: The Beginning of It All – Use holy water to heal the saintess tainted by demonic energy, then converse with her.】 Shen Nian stared at his older sister sipping yogurt, lost in thought. So you’re telling me my sister is the saintess, and yogurt is the holy water? 【Main Quest 1: Brave Youth, Become an Adventurer! Reward: Rookie Adventurer Title.】 【Side Quest 1: Find the Adorable Kitty! Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.】 Shen Nian: "Wait, I’m a high school senior here—did some guy who got isekai’d accidentally bind his system to me?" Hold on, completing quests gives gold rewards? Titles even boost stats? Is this for real? (A lighthearted, absurd campus comedy—not a revenge power fantasy.)

th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"