C6 Put It in the Car

Xu Jin didn't reach for the aperitif as Lee Mu had taken her hand.

"Let me handle this," Lee Mu offered.

Today, he had to step in. He'd been deceived. If his rival had been superior, he might have accepted it. But Bai Shanshan, why choose someone so unworthy?

Once he had calmed Xu Jin down, Lee Mu pulled out his phone and typed a message: Yang Jian was on a date with a girl at Springtime.

He hit send.

Looking up at Xu Jin with a smile, Lee Mu said, "All set. Now, let's sit back and enjoy the drama."

"Pfft, standing there trying to intimidate. What's the act for?" Bai Shanshan only saw a man with his back to her holding Xu Jin's hand, oblivious to the fact that it was her own boyfriend, Lee Mu.

Xu Jin was tempted to confront her with a slap or call security, but she refrained, comforted by Lee Mu's persistent grip.

"Why don't we change the subject? I'm looking to intern at KM Hospital. Could you introduce me to the head of the medicine department?"

Lee Mu's voice was clear and soft, audible only to Xu Jin.

Xu Jin had invited Lee Mu to dinner partly to see if she could offer any assistance. He had been a great help to her, saving her and ensuring her research could proceed. She wasn't one to withhold gratitude and was determined to repay his kindness.

"With your expertise, wouldn't working at KM be beneath you?"

The sound of car horns interrupted them. Lee Mu glanced outside to see a red Ferrari parked across the street, followed by a black business car. He chuckled.

Raising his voice a bit, he remarked, "Finding a job is good enough. Why be a 'phoenix man' and live off a woman's money?"

"Phoenix man?" Xu Jin scoffed. "Any self-respecting man would hardly rely on a woman for his livelihood."

"That's not necessarily the case. Living off a woman can be a skill in its own right," Lee Mu mused aloud.

"A man who lives off a woman is more than just trash; he's utterly despicable. If he has no regard for his own dignity, he might as well be dead."

Xu Jin's voice grew colder, echoing the stark truth she held within.

She had nothing but contempt for women who kept kept men and treated them as playthings, and equally for men who sacrificed their self-respect for money.

"You're absolutely right. A man who leeches off a woman is lower than swine, especially those who squander a woman's money while philandering on the side. They're nothing but ambulatory manure factories," Lee Mu agreed emphatically.

Xu Jin felt bewildered.

The conversation had taken a turn, and she couldn't shake the feeling.

It was as if Lee Mu knew everything about her past relationship with her ex-boyfriend.

Crash!

Suddenly, a loud noise erupted from behind Lee Mu.

Yang Jian had slammed his wine glass onto the table, shattering it into countless pieces, the shards scattering in all directions. His face was crimson with rage.

"Damn it, who the hell are you two gossiping about? You think you can disrespect me?" Yang Jian exploded with fury.

He suspected Xu Jin and Lee Mu were talking about him, deliberately provoking him with their words.

And he wasn't mistaken.

Lee Mu had indeed spoken intentionally, because... the person who was meant to arrive had done so.

Now was the moment to stand up and deliver a crushing blow to these two lowlifes.

"Did I insult you? Are you a phoenix man, living off a woman's money? What does my criticism of phoenix men have to do with you? Are you one of them? Are you?" Lee Mu stood up, his voice booming with four rapid-fire questions, ensuring that Bai Shanshan, seated across from Yang Jian, could hear every word.

The entire restaurant overheard and turned to look in their direction.

Yang Jian was at a loss for words. He had never met Lee Mu and was clueless about his identity.

Should he admit to being a phoenix man?

That would mean losing all face during this meal.

But he was certain Lee Mu was targeting him.

He couldn't swallow his pride.

"Li, Lee Mu... It's you?" Bai Shanshan finally reacted, her face a mix of disbelief and shock. She realized that Lee Mu had overheard her earlier conversation and actions, which left her expression particularly telling. Her mind raced with questions. Why was he here? How could this be happening?

"Shocked, are you?" Lee Mu asked with a smile, his gaze resting on Bai Shanshan.

Being with Bai Shanshan had come easily to him. He was a top student at Usiross University, handsome, and had a gentle demeanor, which made him quite popular among the girls. Bai Shanshan was one of them, drawn to him in part because they shared similar family backgrounds.

He would split his scholarship money in half each year, giving one portion to Bai Shanshan and keeping the other for himself. Now, he couldn't help but feel stunned by the outcome of his generosity.

"You're Lee Mu?" Yang Jian, having regained his composure, scoffed.

"Yes, I am Lee Mu, Bai Shanshan's official boyfriend—or rather, her ex-boyfriend," Lee Mu replied, his expression serene.

"Damn, who did I think you were? A brilliant student from Usiross University, huh? Big deal. What does it matter when your girlfriend is still with me?" Yang Jian gloated, pulling Bai Shanshan into his embrace as a show of dominance.

"Is that so? Well, then I suppose congratulations are in order," Lee Mu said, an eyebrow arched.

"You wimp. I slept with your girlfriend last night, and you're congratulating me? Are you stupid or something?" Yang Jian laughed boisterously. After his laughter subsided, he added, "Your girlfriend was pretty good. I had a great time last night. I even have a video on my phone. Want me to show it to you?"

Bang!

The sound of a chair being kicked over echoed from behind Yang Jian. Lee Mu looked past him, still smiling.

Standing there was a slightly overweight girl dressed in the latest fashion. Despite her size, her delicate features were striking. Her attire and the expensive sneakers on her feet, which were worth a small fortune, indicated she was no ordinary girl. She was flanked by three or four professional bodyguards.

Upon seeing the girl, Yang Jian's face drained of color, and his knees buckled, sending him collapsing onto the chair.

Lee Mu chuckled, then turned to Xu Jin and said, "Sugar Cube, you recognize her, don't you?"

Sugar Cube, the sole daughter of Faang Jicong.

In the early 1980s, Tubert was just beginning to take shape. Faang Jicong, as one of the first overseas Chinese to be called back to the country, made indelible contributions to the city's development. His wife, following her husband's return, also became a citizen of China. The pair shared a deep affection for one another, becoming a celebrated love story in Tubert's commercial history.

During their youth, the couple was preoccupied with their business ventures. At the age of forty, Faang Jicong entrusted his business to a professional manager and founded Tubert's first wig company. Once established, he imported machinery from abroad and leveraged his international connections to engage in export trade. Within a mere two years, Faang Jicong had risen to become a prominent figure in the wig industry. It was perhaps due to their constant business commitments that the couple only had their first daughter, Fang Tang, when Faang Jicong was fifty.

By all accounts, Fang Tang should have been the epitome of privilege and beauty. Unfortunately, while she was indeed privileged, her beauty fell just short of expectations. Fang Tang was not unattractive; she had delicate features and inherited her mother's pale complexion. However, at the age of eight, she developed an eating disorder commonly known as binge eating. This led to a significant increase in her weight, reaching 200 kilograms by the time she was sixteen. Nevertheless, Fang Tang remained cheerful and, given her family's status, her peers never dared to mock her weight. If not for Faang Jicong's access to cutting-edge medication from overseas research institutes, her weight would undoubtedly have surpassed 300 kilograms.

Regarding Fang Tang's relationship with Yang Jian, it was fortunate that Faang Jicong and his wife refrained from meddling in their daughter's personal affairs. Otherwise, Yang Jian, a so-called "phoenix man," would have been swiftly cut off from Fang Tang's life by her protective father.

Rumors had circulated in Tubert the previous year about Faang Jicong's daughter dating an average man. It now appears that this boyfriend is far from ordinary. Xu Jin cast a glance at the visibly shaken Yang Jian, then turned her attention to Lee Mu. Had Lee Mu just sent a message to Fang Tang, asking her to come and catch him?

Lee Mu had sent a message earlier, asking Fang Tang to come and catch a cheater in the act, right? Xu Jin took another look at Yang Jian and confirmed it was indeed him. Fang Tang, however, hadn't noticed Xu Jin. Or rather, whenever Yang Jian was around, she never seemed to notice anyone else.

"Having fun, Yang Jian?" Fang Tang said, her voice cool and collected, as three imposing bodyguards followed close behind her. Bai Shanshan was petrified. She knew of Fang Tang and the formidable background of her family. It wasn't that Shanshan hadn't realized Fang Tang's connection to Yang Jian; it was that she couldn't bring herself to believe it. Instinctively, she moved closer to Yang Jian and clung to his arm. "Honey, what's happening?"

Her use of the word 'husband' nearly drove Yang Jian to insanity. He desperately shoved Bai Shanshan away. "Who's your husband? Stop trying to seduce me! Let go, I'm telling you to let go!" Yang Jian's eyes were red with panic.

"Yang Jian! What do you mean by pushing me?" Bai Shanshan retorted, her anger flaring up.

"And who might you be? Oh, it's you, Bai Shanshan. Is your boyfriend not treating you well?" Fang Tang asked with a sweet smile, her dimples showing as she calmly regarded Bai Shanshan.

At the beginning of her relationship with Yang Jian, Fang Tang had been furious. Furious with the girls who tried to seduce him. But after so many encounters, she came to an understanding. It wasn't the fault of those girls; the blame lay with Yang Jian. She knew exactly who needed to be dealt with.

"Why would it be your concern? Don't think you're all that just because your family has money. Are you richer than my husband's family? You're nothing but a fat woman relying on your father's clout!" Bai Shanshan, her mind a blank slate from fear, began to spout nonsense.

Slap!

Before Bai Shanshan could finish her tirade, the bodyguard next to Fang Tang raised his hand and delivered a firm slap, sending her tumbling into a high-backed chair, completely dazed.

"Take her out," Number One commanded the other two bodyguards, his expression icy.

Fang Tang watched as Bai Shanshan was carried out by the bodyguards and dumped on the opposite side of the street. She bit her lip, a hint of remorse flickering across her face.

"Tang Tang, I was wrong," Yang Jian, who had been so full of bravado just moments before, suddenly fell to his knees after seeing Fang Tang's bodyguard take action.

"How many times, Yang Jian? How many times have you betrayed me? Does it make you happy to spend my money on other women? If you don't like me and don't want to be with me, just say so. Why do you treat me like this?" Fang Tang's eyes welled up with tears, her face the picture of despair.

Yang Jian tried to offer an explanation.

"Take him out of here. I never want to see him again," Fang Tang commanded the bodyguards who had returned to her side.

The three bodyguards, assigned by Faang Jicong to ensure Fang Tang's personal safety, were always treated well by her. They had been patient with Yang Jian, not wanting to upset their charge. But now that Fang Tang had given the word, they wouldn't let Yang Jian off the hook.

Naturally, they made sure Fang Tang was spared from witnessing any excessively violent scenes.

After receiving their orders, the bodyguards promptly escorted Yang Jian out of Springtime and bundled him into a car. One drove off with him, while the other two remained at the entrance, continuing their vigilance in protecting Fang Tang.