Xu Mu Also Knows a Thing or Two About Painting

Xu Mu also noticed the surge of destiny energy above Fang Chu's head—this guy was genuinely innocent.

This Fang Chu, isn't he a bit too sensitive?

Xu Mu hadn’t done anything out of line—just exchanged some polite, formal pleasantries. Why was Fang Chu getting so worked up?

Still, judging by Guo Xiao’s destiny level, even if she treated Fang Chu like dirt early on, she’d end up taking him in eventually.

"Miss Guo, you’re too modest. Everyone knows about the Guo Corporation."

Xu Mu continued with the polite remarks. "After Mr. Guo passed away, the family business didn’t decline at all. I’m sure that’s all thanks to you."

[Affection +20]

Guo Xiao felt a pang of bitterness in her heart, even on the verge of tears.

Finally, someone understood her struggles.

Fang Chu had been married into the family for years, yet he hadn’t lifted a finger to help. The company had been held together solely by her and her mother.

As the sole heir of the Guo family, and with her father gone, she often faced condescension in business dealings.

She had endured all that humiliation alone.

Xu Mu was surprised. One sentence had flipped Guo Xiao’s affection from neutral to positive, and another had earned him over a hundred points of righteousness value.

Seemed like she’d been bottling up a lot of resentment.

Fang Chu couldn’t take it anymore. Xu Mu was crossing the line—openly trying to steal his wife right in front of him.

How could he tolerate this?

"Xu Mu, so you’re the infamous wastrel everyone talks about."

Fang Chu walked over, his gaze cold as he stared at Xu Mu.

"How dare you!"

Guo Xiao was instantly furious. Never mind that she was in the middle of being moved by Xu Mu’s words—even if she weren’t, how could Fang Chu insult Xu Mu like this? Did he want to ruin the Guo family?

She raised her hand, ready to slap Fang Chu again.

But Xu Mu reached out and caught her wrist, then immediately let go.

"Miss Guo, there are a lot of people here. Let’s save him some face. Besides, it’s no secret that I’m a wastrel."

Xu Mu paused, then added, "But saying it to my face like that was rather rude."

"Fang Chu! Apologize to Young Master Xu right now!" Guo Xiao snapped.

"I’m sorry, Young Master Xu. I shouldn’t have said that."

Endure!

Fang Chu had to endure!

A plan was already forming in his mind—he’d tell Li Yun, Zhao Yingying, and Lu Xueyao about this.

Let them see the truth behind this so-called gentleman—a good-for-nothing wastrel.

"It’s fine. Out of respect for Miss Guo, I’ll let it slide."

Xu Mu waved dismissively and turned to leave.

But Guo Xiao wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away.

If she could hitch the Guo family to the Xu family’s rising star, their fortunes would soar.

She quickly called out, "Young Master Xu, do you know Fang Chu?"

"We’ve met. I know a couple of younger sisters who are still students. Fang Chu seems quite close to them."

Xu Mu glanced at Fang Chu as he spoke.

Fang Chu’s expression darkened. Before he could defend himself, Guo Xiao’s palm struck his face again.

"Fang Chu! You scoundrel! No wonder you refused to live at home and moved out—you were chasing other women?"

Guo Xiao trembled with rage. "After everything the Guo family has done for you—giving you a home, supporting you while you did nothing—this is how you repay us?"

[Destiny Energy -20]

Fang Chu clutched his cheek, his pride crumbling bit by bit.

He had no choice but to keep enduring.

These past few years, he’d been focused on recovering his strength—when would he have had time for other affairs?

As the crowd around them gathered, their scornful gazes only deepened Fang Chu’s hatred for Xu Mu.

This bastard had humiliated him in public!

"What’s all the commotion here?"

An elderly voice cut through the tension.

Everyone turned to see Wei Jingzhi approaching.

"Elder Wei!"

"Happy birthday, Elder Wei!"

The crowd immediately bowed and greeted him.

Xu Mu studied Wei Jingzhi—a bald old man wearing reading glasses.

Judging by the wrinkles on his face, he was probably in his seventies or eighties.

Dressed in loose-fitting leisurewear, he cradled a thermos filled with goji berry tea.

Through his divine sight, Xu Mu checked his information.

Name: Wei Jingzhi

Identity: Supreme Elder of the Profound Heaven Sect, Janitor

Affection: -10

Destiny Level: 5 (Max 10)

Damn!

Xu Mu was stunned. A high-level janitor, yet also the Supreme Elder of the Profound Heaven Sect?

Didn’t that make him even more formidable than the sect’s leader?

But he didn’t recall the Profound Heaven Sect appearing in the original "Dragon King’s Descent" storyline.

Seemed like the merging of worlds had altered Wei Jingzhi’s background as well.

"Elder Wei, my apologies for the disturbance," Guo Xiao said, lowering her head.

"Couples need time to adjust. A little bickering is normal—hahaha!"

Wei Jingzhi laughed heartily, then turned to Xu Shou beside him. "Funny thing is, this old man forgot today’s my birthday, yet you all remembered."

"Elder Wei, you jest. You’re my benefactor."

Xu Shou lifted the red plastic bag in his hand, filled with liquor. "I brought this especially for you today."

"Little Xu, I’ve told you before—I don’t accept gifts."

Wei Jingzhi unscrewed his thermos and took a sip of his goji tea.

"I didn’t bring a gift. I just brought some wine to share a drink with Old Wei. Does that count as a gift?" Xu Shou asked with a smile.

"Hahaha! Of course not, of course not!" Wei Jingzhi laughed in response.

"Old Wei, happy birthday!"

Just then, a long-haired woman on an electric scooter came speeding from a distance.

She wore a black casual outfit, and the breeze lifted her hair, revealing a spirited and striking face.

Without even stopping, she rode the scooter right up to Wei Jingzhi.

"Huihui? You little rascal, you remembered my birthday?" Wei Jingzhi beamed at the sight of her.

The onlookers were secretly surprised—who was this woman? It was clear Wei Jingzhi had a much closer relationship with her.

"Jiang Huihui?"

Xu Mu, standing nearby, frowned slightly but soon dismissed his doubts.

Both of them were sanitation workers, so it made sense they knew each other.

"Xu Mu? You’re here too?"

Jiang Huihui turned to him, visibly startled.

Meanwhile, Xu Ningbing, standing beside Xu Shou, narrowed her eyes. This Xu Mu seemed to know quite a few women.

"It’s Old Wei’s birthday, so my dad and I came for the celebration," Xu Mu replied with a smile.

"Oh."

Jiang Huihui gave only a brief acknowledgment before taking a long bag from her back. She pulled out a rolled-up painting and handed it to Wei Jingzhi.

"What’s this?"

Wei Jingzhi grinned as he unfurled it.

"I’m just the messenger this time. I stole this painting from my grandpa to give to you as a birthday gift," Jiang Huihui said playfully.

"What? Old Jiang’s painting?"

Wei Jingzhi’s eyes lit up as he eagerly spread the painting across a nearby dining table.

It was a landscape piece—a lone figure in a long robe stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance from the edge of a cliff.

"Magnificent! Absolutely magnificent!"

Fang Chu suddenly emerged from the crowd, exclaiming in awe. "The use of ink here is masterful—the balance of light and dark, the texture, it’s breathtaking. But what truly stands out is the depth and spatial composition."

"Oh? And who might you be? You understand painting?" Wei Jingzhi looked at Fang Chu in surprise.

Guo Xiao was equally stunned, never expecting Fang Chu to have such expertise.

Xu Mu thought to himself, Here comes the protagonist, ready to show off.

Too bad he picked the wrong stage.

Painting?

As a master-level artist himself, Xu Mu knew a thing or two about the craft.