Father and Daughter

After parting at West Mountain, both the moonlight and the traces of emotion quietly settled into silence.

The dawn in Jingzhou arrived as punctual as ever. Sunlight pierced through the thin mist, casting a golden edge over the sprawling metropolis, yet it failed to dispel the shadows lingering within certain family circles.

The Mo Family Estate.

Unlike the modern minimalism of Yunxi Manor, this was a traditional Chinese courtyard steeped in history, where every plant and tree exuded discipline and heritage.

In the main hall, Mo Zhenbang—Mo Qingli’s father—sat stiffly on an exquisite golden nanmu armchair, his fingers idly rolling a pair of polished walnuts. The restless speed of their rotation betrayed his inner agitation.

Mo Zixuan and Mo Siyu, his nephew and niece, were tearfully recounting their "horrific" ordeal from the previous night.

"Uncle! You must stand up for us! That Lu Chenyuan went too far—how dare an outsider lay hands on us in the Mo family’s territory!" Mo Zixuan clutched his still-throbbing abdomen, his face twisted with humiliation and resentment.

"That’s right, Uncle! And Cousin Qingli—she slapped me in front of everyone! How am I supposed to show my face in Jingzhou’s social circles now?" Mo Siyu’s makeup was smeared, her appearance utterly disheveled.

Mo Zhenbang’s brows furrowed as he prepared to reprimand them, but a cold voice cut in from the doorway.

"If you can’t face people, then stay home. It’s a good opportunity to reflect on the meaning of ‘words bring disaster.’"

Mo Qingli stepped inside.

She had changed out of her evening gown into a sleek, smoke-gray professional suit, her hair pulled into a flawless bun. Her expression betrayed nothing, as if the passion and turmoil of the previous night had never happened.

At the sight of her, Mo Siyu bristled like a cat with its tail stepped on.

"Mo Qingli! How dare you say that! If it weren’t for you, would we have been humiliated like this?"

"Humiliated?" Mo Qingli walked to the head seat, picking up a freshly brewed cup of tea. She blew lightly on the steam, not even glancing up.

"All I saw were two spoiled brats throwing a tantrum at my birthday banquet, embarrassing the entire Mo family."

"You—!"

"Me what?" Finally, Mo Qingli lifted her gaze, her eyes like twin blades forged from ice as they locked onto the siblings.

"Mo Zixuan, at the banquet, you threw a punch at the CEO of Lu Corporation without even asking for an explanation. Do you have any idea what that implies?"

She paused, her voice dropping colder.

"It implies that if Lu Chenyuan had wished, Mo Corporation’s stock would have plummeted at least five points this morning due to rumors of a feud. That one stupid punch of yours cost billions. Have you done the math?"

Mo Zixuan’s face drained of color. He had only wanted revenge—he hadn’t considered the consequences.

Mo Qingli then turned to Mo Siyu, her tone laced with undisguised disdain.

"And you, Mo Siyu. Spouting that archaic nonsense about ‘a woman’s virtue being her lack of talent, and marriage being her ultimate fate’—do you know how people outside will judge the Mo family’s values? They’ll say the Mo family raises daughters like commodities waiting to be auctioned off. That doesn’t just insult me—it insults every woman in our family, including your mother and grandmother."

"I—I didn’t mean—" Mo Siyu stammered, her lips trembling, but no retort came.

Mo Zhenbang, who had remained silent until now, looked at his niece and nephew with undisguised disappointment and anger.

"Qingli, then… how do you propose we handle this?" he asked.

"Handle it?" Mo Qingli set down her teacup with a crisp clink, as if delivering the final verdict.

"There’s nothing to handle. I’ve already dealt with it."

She pulled two documents from her bag and tossed them onto the table.

"Mo Zixuan, you’ve been lounging around as a deputy director in the marketing department without lifting a finger. The African branch needs someone to pioneer market expansion. You’ll report there next Monday. Don’t come back until you’ve produced results."

"Mo Siyu, all your credit cards, luxury cars, and villas are frozen. I’ve enrolled you in a year-long rural farming and teaching program near Grandma’s home in Qingzhou. You’ll return only when you’ve learned to grow your own food and teach students properly—then we’ll discuss your ‘princess’ lifestyle."

"You can’t do this!" Mo Zixuan and Mo Siyu shrieked in unison.

"I can, because I am the CEO of Mo Corporation. Because every cent you spend comes from the profits I’ve worked tirelessly to earn. And most importantly—"

Mo Qingli rose to her full height, looking down at them with an aura of absolute authority.

"—because the person you offended last night was Lu Chenyuan."

"Lu Chenyuan isn’t just the head of Lu Corporation. He is—and will remain—my most crucial business ally, as well as Mo Corporation’s. Your idiocy nearly destroyed that. This punishment is what you deserve. Chairman Mo, don’t you agree?"

Her last question was directed at Mo Zhenbang.

Mo Zhenbang studied his daughter, his gaze a mix of admiration, pride, and faint helplessness. With a weary wave, he said to the siblings,

"Do as Qingli says. Both of you—get out."

The two froze as if struck by lightning before being dragged out by the butler, wailing.

Silence returned to the main hall.

After a pause, Mo Zhenbang cautiously ventured, "Qingli, you and that Lu Chenyuan…?"

"Business partners," Mo Qingli replied smoothly.

"He possesses the technology we need most. That’s all."

With a slight bow, she added, "Father, I have a meeting at the company. I’ll take my leave."

Watching his daughter’s retreating figure, Mo Zhenbang shook his head and muttered to himself,

"Just… business partners?"

That Lu Chenyuan—aside from being a bit cold, his reputation isn’t bad. Shouldn’t my daughter consider him?

Mo Zhenbang mused silently.

…

Meanwhile, at the Li Residence.

Li Xiujian listened quietly to his subordinate’s report.

"…According to our surveillance, Lu Chenyuan and Mo Qingli spent nearly an hour alone together in the Ferris wheel at West Mountain last night."

Li Xiujian rolled two walnuts in his palm, their rhythmic clicking like the ticking of a death knell.

"Lu Chenyuan… Mo Qingli…" He murmured the names, a cold smirk curling his lips.

"Interesting. I thought he was just a lone wolf exiled from his pack. Turns out, he’s already found a tigress for an ally."

This complication disrupted his original plan of "boiling the frog slowly."

He had intended to let Lu Corporation weaken under the infighting of fools like Lu Mingshi before swooping in for the kill.

But now, with Lu Chenyuan securing Mo family’s support externally, allowing him to grow would only create a formidable threat.

"Boss, then what should we…?" the subordinate probed cautiously.

"How’s the progress on Lu Mingshi’s transfer of Sheng Tian Real Estate’s shares?" Li Xiujian asked.

"He has already mobilized all the funds he can. It shouldn’t take much longer before he comes to us to buy shares in Shengtian Real Estate."

This Lu Mingshi is utterly useless—after all this time, he still hasn’t scraped together enough to acquire Shengtian Real Estate.

As time passes, the risks surrounding Shengtian Real Estate only grow larger...

A sinister expression flickered across Li Xiujian’s face.

Some things need to be accelerated! Li Xiujian thought to himself.