Bai Yu’an compliantly took out her earbuds and put them in, having not the slightest interest in how Mu Yanxi was about to beg Yi Wulan for mercy.
In front of Chen Xu, who was driving, Mu Yanxi had already lost face countless times. Seeing Bai Yu’an consciously put on her headphones, she answered Yi Wulan’s call without any hesitation.
But the moment she heard Yi Wulan’s voice, driven by a sense of guilt, Mu Yanxi didn’t even wait to hear what Yi Wulan was saying before she began to confess on her own accord:
“First of all, I didn’t go to the club last night to fool around, so don’t believe every rumor you hear. Although I used your card to pay the bill, I didn’t enjoy any of those benefits. Bai Yu’an almost fell asleep listening to our discussion. So I really didn’t go there to fool around.”
Yi Wulan: …
Yi Wulan sighed, “I wasn’t asking about that.”
Mu Yanxi choked, saying dryly, “You couldn’t have not known about this before, right?”
Yi Wulan didn’t hide it: “I know now.”
Mu Yanxi shot a fierce glare at the back of Chen Xu’s head in front of her, trying to change the subject. “Elder Sister Yi, Elder Sister? Why are you calling me now? Why are there car horns on your end? Hey, you haven’t arrived at Rongjia yet? It’s so late, you’re going to be late.”
Yi Wulan on the other end of the phone was silent for several seconds before speaking: “Have Chen Xu stay close to you later.”
“I know, good Elder Sister. With so many police officers there later, what could possibly happen?” Mu Yanxi smiled, “Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about your own health. Don’t get too… because you miss me too much…”
She paused, then uttered the last few words as if her mouth were filled with honey: “…emotionally agitated?”
Ever since Doctor Xiusina had repeatedly emphasized that Yi Wulan’s condition required her to avoid intercourse and emotional agitation, those four words had become a tacit little inside joke between them.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Yi Wulan blurted out a reprimand: “Don’t be so reckless with your words.”
“Alright, alright, I won’t speak carelessly anymore.” Mu Yanxi giggled and leaned back against the car seat, teasing, “But it’s a good thing I didn’t have you come with me. Otherwise, if you had to stay up late and rush around with me, I’m afraid Doctor Xiusina would really misunderstand.”
As the date of the financial summit approached, the time for Yi Wulan’s surgery was officially put on the agenda. Yi Wulan’s surgery was no small matter; no matter how minor a craniotomy was, its level of risk far exceeded that of surgeries on other parts of the body.
Therefore, there were many preoperative preparations. Doctor Xiusina’s entire medical team had already rushed to China on the first of March and was on standby at a private hospital in Yuncheng to prepare Yi Wulan for her surgery.
Thus, Mu Yanxi’s statement wasn’t wrong. If Yi Wulan’s complexion suddenly worsened, given Doctor Xiusina’s personality, she would probably blame her for it immediately.
The second miss of the Mu family could be thick-skinned on a normal day, but she really couldn’t afford to lose face in a situation like this.
The car had already driven into their destination. Mu Yanxi didn’t pay attention to what Yi Wulan was saying, said her goodbyes, and hung up the phone.
Seeing this, Bai Yu’an at her side finally took off her headphones and asked doubtfully, “You coaxed her so quickly?”
Mu Yanxi shot her a sidelong glance. “Is she supposed to come to Feicheng to catch me? Do you think this is a novel?”
To prevent Mu Yanche’s system, whose status was unknown, from doing anything, she had specifically rejected Yi Wulan’s kind offer to come along.
Otherwise, how could she have courted death with such peace of mind last night?
Mu Yanxi and Bai Yu’an followed the staff member sent by Kang Qi to pick them up out of the parking lot.
In the time it took for them to get out of the car and leave the parking lot, many cars had already poured in one after another. It was clear that today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony was a gathering of celebrities and influential figures. Bai Yu’an casually scanned the area and, as if she had suddenly seen something, grabbed Mu Yanxi’s arm. “Xiao Xi, am I seeing things?”
Mu Yanxi followed Bai Yu’an’s gaze and said meaningfully, “Xiao An, it turns out you’re the one who’s about to be dragged home.”
Bai Yu’an: …
Seeing her mother wave at her, Bai Yu’an’s entire body slumped. “I… I’ll go over for a moment.”
“See you in the venue later.”
Mu Yanxi wasn’t surprised to see Bai Yu’an’s mother here. After all, she and Bai Yu’an had never intended to hide this act from their families. With the experience of Bai Yu’an’s parents in the business world, how could they not see through it?
After watching Bai Yu’an get dragged away, Mu Yanxi was just about to turn around when a force suddenly rushed up from behind her.
Before she could turn, a smiling male voice sounded, “Yanxi, why is your bodyguard so tactless? Isn’t he being a bit unfriendly?”
Mu Yanxi turned her head and slightly pulled aside Chen Xu, who was standing in front of her like a high wall. The sunlight sprinkled on her white woolen coat, and her long hair, blown by the wind, gently brushed against her cheek, making her look gentle and radiant.
Following Mu Yanxi’s pull, Chen Xu shifted slightly to the side but didn’t move away completely, revealing the person in front.
Mu Yanche was dressed in a black suit, his hair meticulously styled. When he smiled, he looked like a noble young master just entering the business world.
“How could that be?” The smile on Mu Yanxi’s face didn’t fade, but her eyes were filled with coldness and distance. “After using my things so brazenly for so many years, is there any friendship between us?”
Whether it was the dozen or so years of her life that were stolen, or Mu Yanche’s attitude as the master of the house after she returned to the Mu family, or the things Mu Yanche had done outside in the name of the Mu family over the years.
The more successful Mu Yanche was, the more he acted as pleasant as a spring breeze when dealing with people, and it was even more so at this moment. He shook his head, his smile warm:
“I thought you would be grateful to me. After all… if I hadn’t gone through your things, I’m afraid Yi Wulan wouldn’t have known you liked her, and maybe you wouldn’t be married now.”
He took two steps forward, not getting angry even when Chen Xu rudely blocked him again. He shook his head lightly, but his words finally became harsh:
“Since we were young, you only ever got things I didn’t want. After so many years, why can’t you still see clearly? Did you think I wouldn’t know about Bai Yu’an coming to Feicheng to seek cooperation? To still offer yourself up after being rejected so many times, why must you come here to be shut out?”
Mu Yanxi’s eyes flickered, and she forced herself to remain calm. “Mu Yanche, the new energy vehicle project has so many phases. The project has just begun, don’t be too confident.”
Mu Yanche saw Mu Yanxi’s unease. His gentle disguise couldn’t last long before his true colors were revealed. He said arrogantly, “Originally, I was thinking of sending you a car once they’re built, for the sake of our relationship. But now it seems that won’t be necessary.”
“Don’t go too far!”
“It does seem a bit much, after all, you’re here seeking cooperation and wanting to invest.” Mu Yanche spread his hands in a troubled gesture, but his face was triumphant. “But there are no extra spots.”
After saying that, he sneered, turned around with the few people behind him, and entered the venue.
After they had all turned their backs, the feigned anxiety on Mu Yanxi’s face instantly dissipated. Gazing at Mu Yanche’s back, she gently parted her lips, her voice seeming to be hidden in the wind: “…How are you still so stupid?”
The people attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony were not only representatives from the government and project partners, but also some potential collaborators like Mu Yanxi who were there to observe. Since she had already run into Mu Yanche, Mu Yanxi no longer tried to hide or avoid anything and simply followed the staff to her seat in the venue.
As luck would have it, Mu Yanxi was seated in the same row as Mu Yanche. She secretly scanned the minds of everyone present with her power, ensuring that apart from the people Mu Yanche brought, no one else was affected by the system’s ability.
Sitting in front, Mu Yanche had once again put on that warm human facade, chatting with Kang Qi, who was also in a formal suit, asking about the reporters and the live broadcast.
Kang Qi glanced meaningfully in the direction of the government officials. Mu Yanche immediately understood that it was not suitable for public exposure and tactfully didn’t ask further, turning instead to converse with the system in his mind.
“System, your positioning is really accurate. Mu Yanxi is still obsessed with this project. It’s a pity she’s going to return empty-handed this time.”
【Please do not let your guard down, Host. Complete the ribbon-cutting ceremony and sign the final contract as soon as possible.】
“I know, I know. Isn’t the contract signing right after the ribbon-cutting ceremony?”
【Please continue your efforts, Host, to correct the deviated plotline as soon as possible and reach the pinnacle of your life.】
“Alright, you don’t need to remind me. Haven’t I already called her over? Once the contract is signed here, I’ll go find her. But she’ll be your problem then, don’t mess up again.”
【Rest assured, Host. The System’s Likability Points have finished charging.】
A smile reappeared on the corner of Mu Yanche’s lips. According to the novel’s script provided by the system, securing the Feicheng project and becoming a huge hit in the entertainment industry would pretty much complete his career arc.
And next, as long as Yi Wulan died, Rongjia would proactively request a sentence reduction, and with the system’s manipulation, Yi Jingming could be released from prison early to take over Rongjia.
As for Mu Yanxi… Mu Yanche didn’t want to deal with Mu Yanxi so quickly. He wanted to wait and make Mu Yanxi watch as she lost everything, and then let her take the fall completely, just like in the novel.
From the moment the system started its repairs, he, Mu Yanche, had been on the same side as the people from T Country. He had used the resources of T Country’s capital in China to turn the tide and reverse the situation in recent months. But in exchange, he also had to help the people from T Country secure this new energy vehicle project.
From the moment the people from T Country started feeding him resources and helping him regain his footing, as he absorbed more and more Likability Points, the system was finally fully repaired. Mu Yanxi and Bai Yu’an’s little tricks naturally couldn’t escape the system’s tracking and detection.
He had long known about them using the excuse of escaping blind dates to secretly seek cooperation with Kang Qi, but he had let it develop and even persuaded Kang Qi to feign compliance. This was what led to the conversation with Mu Yanxi just now.
Mu Yanche had a thorough understanding of the plot’s development and naturally knew how to exploit loopholes. He had already thought out all his plans, just waiting to implement them one by one.
On stage, Kang Qi had almost finished his speech introducing and planning the new energy vehicle project. The next step was the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Mu Yanche straightened his tie, about to stand up, when he heard a familiar voice from behind him: “Mu Yanche, don’t be in such a hurry to go up.”
Mu Yanche paused his movement, turning his head slightly with a faint smile. “Mu Yanxi, you can’t possibly still think you have a chance, can you?”
Mu Yanxi laughed, “Of course I wouldn’t think that.”
“Welcome, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau…”
On stage, Kang Qi had already begun to announce the list of people who would be cutting the ribbon. Mu Yanxi raised her head slightly, looking at the high platform.
The gazes of the people below were filled with either envy or jealousy due to the project’s immense prospects, but her gaze held not a trace of eagerness.
“I see you’re quite eager, but it’s a pity you won’t have this chance.” Mu Yanche said meaningfully, “I advise you to meddle less in this project. Who knows, one day… you might get into trouble.”
“Is that so?” Mu Yanxi naturally knew what Mu Yanche was talking about. In her previous life, she hadn’t let Mu Yanche and Yi Jingming’s plan succeed, nor had she taken the fall for them. This life, she certainly wouldn’t either.
Mu Yanche turned his head completely, looking at Mu Yanxi with pity.
But the moment his eyes met hers, he found that Mu Yanxi’s gaze upon him was even more pitiful, so pitiful it was almost excessive, completely different from her state in the parking lot just now.
Mu Yanche’s expression suddenly turned cold. But before he could speak, he heard Kang Qi on stage announce: “Bai Yu’an of the Bai Group.”
After the microphone’s sound faded, Mu Yanche in the front row abruptly looked up at the stage. Even the people who had come with him in the same row all turned to look at him, their eyes filled with disbelief.
In the back row, Mu Yanxi shrugged, her face full of innocence. “I told you, I really didn’t want to go on stage.”
Mu Yanche’s system rapidly consumed Likability Points, sending a wave of suggestive mental power sweeping towards Kang Qi on the stage.
Little did he know that Mu Yanxi behind him moved even faster. The power at her fingertips formed a giant net, blocking the system’s energy.
【Warning! Warning! Abnormal energy interference detected. Requesting Likability Point exchange.】
Mu Yanche was startled by the sudden alarm in his mind and gritted his teeth, replying in his head: “Exchange! Exchange it now! I must secure this partnership!”
【Likability Point exchange successful. Target confirmed.】
The system’s energy was sent out again, only to be blocked once more.
Seeing that Bai Yu’an was about to go on stage, Mu Yanche urged anxiously, “Hurry up, hurry up! Even if it’s not Kang Qi, it’s fine. Can’t you understand what I’m saying?”
【Warning! Warning! System energy interfered with again.】 “Exchange it for me! Quickly!”
【Warning…】
The core of Mu Yanxi’s power had gained a storage function during its last upgrade. Ever since she had obstructed Mu Yanche’s system at the New Year’s Eve concert, she had been accumulating a very small portion of her power every day, while ensuring she provided treatment for Yi Wulan, and forced herself not to use it.
After two months, a little had become a lot, which was why she could deal with Mu Yanche at this moment without any hesitation. After her power severed the energy tentacles extended by the system, it began to change direction and swiftly surged towards Mu Yanche.
A familiar mechanical alarm sounded in Mu Yanche’s mind again: 【Warning! Warning! Under attack by an unknown force. Activating system defense program.】
【Bzzzt— Bzzzt… System under attack, entering hibernation.】
Mu Yanxi’s power was suddenly cut off.
In just a few seconds, Bai Yu’an had already walked onto the stage. The urging voices of the representatives from several companies who had come with him and the piercing mechanical sound of the system stimulated Mu Yanche’s brain, causing him to finally lose his temper. He slammed the table and stood up, the gentle smile completely gone from his face, and roared at the stage, “Kang Qi, you promised me! I’m clearly the project partner!”
However, the ribbon-cutting ceremony on stage didn’t stop at all. The moment the ribbon was successfully cut, Mu Yanche finally couldn’t bear it anymore and was about to lead his men up. But who knew that a group of police officers in military green uniforms, who had appeared out of nowhere, would rush up from all directions, surrounding and restraining Mu Yanche and the people with him.
A suffocating pressure, like a mountain, bore down on him, and Mu Yanche immediately panicked. “What… what are you doing?”
The policeman at the very front showed his badge: “Mu Yanche, we have sufficient evidence to prove your involvement in a transnational criminal case. Please cooperate with our work.”
Mu Yanche panicked completely, forcefully urging the system in his mind to start working. At this point, even though the system sensed danger, it had no choice but to indiscriminately interfere with the consciousness of the surrounding police officers. A continuous, large stream of energy radiated from Mu Yanche’s body towards the surroundings.
This was the moment!
Mu Yanxi seized the moment when the system was pouring out all its energy. The giant net woven from her power directly severed those energy sources. The immense energies collided invisibly in the air, and all of the system’s energy was redirected back at itself in that instant.
【Warning! Warning! System energy backlash in progress… Bzzzt… Bzzzt…】
Even though the police were right in front of him, Mu Yanche looked around as if he had gone mad, babbling incoherently, “Where? Where is it? Who is it!”
The power Mu Yanxi sent over delved deeper into Mu Yanche’s brain, searching for the location of the system’s core.
【Bzzzt… System under attack. Self-defense program failed… Acquiring Likability Points… Repair in progress…】
【Bzzzt… Locating rejection energy…】
Two police officers immediately stepped forward to restrain Mu Yanche, pinning his hands behind his back. Mu Yanche was still struggling constantly, his clothes and hair disheveled, shouting on the ground, “Who is it, stop! Ahhh!”
The moment Mu Yanxi’s power pierced through the layers of barriers in Mu Yanche’s brain and finally found the system’s location, a system prompt also sounded in Mu Yanche’s mind: 【Target located. Host, please stop Mu Yanxi as soon as possible!】
Mu Yanche’s frantic movements paused, and he finally understood.
Why, after he returned to the country, Mu Yanxi, who was supposed to help Yi Jingming, had married Yi Wulan. Why Yi Jingming had gone to prison. Why Mu Yanxi had stolen his limelight in the entertainment industry.
Even more so… Mu Yanche suddenly realized at this moment: perhaps Mu Yanxi wasn’t really here to compete with him for this project. Mu Yanxi’s real goal was the T Country capital behind him and the system in his mind!
Mu Yanche no longer had the time or energy to investigate why Mu Yanxi knew all this. Whether it was the police already in front of him or the system in his mind that was constantly sounding alarms, there was only one thought in his mind: make Mu Yanxi stop.
The instinct for survival caused Mu Yanche to erupt with unprecedented strength at this moment, shaking off the two police officers restraining him and lunging fiercely towards Mu Yanxi in the back row.
At the same time, the system in Mu Yanche’s mind was continuously reporting the damage progress:
【System damage rate analysis in progress. 40% damaged. Host, please stop it as soon as possible.】
【45%… 50%… System self-repair failed.】
Mu Yanche’s movements were extremely fast. In a flash, just as he was about to tackle Mu Yanxi and interrupt her actions, Mu Yanxi’s body was swiftly pulled up and fell into a familiar embrace.
“Crash—” As Mu Yanche fell to the ground in a sorry state, a row of chairs also toppled over. The metal knobs and screws on them scraped bloody marks on Mu Yanche’s hands as he was roughly pulled up by several police officers.
Mu Yanxi finally came to her senses and hurriedly pushed Yi Wulan, whose eyes were full of concern for her. “Why are you here? Can you go outside and wait for me?”
Yi Wulan pursed her lips. “I have something to ask him.”
Mu Yanxi was puzzled. “You have some…”
“That’s right, President Yi does have something to ask me.” Mu Yanche, now in handcuffs, was finally subdued. Hearing Yi Wulan’s words, his previously dejected expression broke into a smile again.
Seeing that they were with Mu Yanxi, the police allowed them to exchange a few words. Mu Yanxi held Yi Wulan’s arm tightly with one hand, while the power in her other hand continued to battle Mu Yanche’s system.
Mu Yanche’s face grew paler, and the sound of the system’s damage alarm in his mind had reached 80%. However, the urgent alarm sound slowed down, indicating that the system’s core was harder to destroy. “She lost her memory because this is a… ding—”
No matter how much Mu Yanche struggled, he couldn’t make a sound or form the words ‘book world’ with his mouth. It was clear the system was interfering with him, preventing him from saying this factually incorrect statement.
Mu Yanche usually had no way to get close to Yi Wulan, so he used Mu Yanxi’s erased memories as bait, deliberately choosing this day when he was supposed to snatch the project, planning to have the system eliminate the villain Yi Wulan in one fell swoop and deal a fatal blow to Mu Yanxi.
But he never expected all of this to be ruined. Unwillingness and resentment made his face darken. After connecting with the last bit of energy in the system in his mind, he persuaded the system to unleash its final energy under the pretext of completing the plot, and it fiercely pressed down on the injury in Yi Wulan’s brain, which was already being controlled by the world’s energy.
Yi Wulan’s body froze for a moment.
At the same time, Mu Yanxi’s power finally penetrated deep into the system’s core. She accelerated the control of all the power in her own core to deliver a final blow to the system, completely shattering all of its energy.
【Bzzzt— System destroyed.】
The next second, as if opening a treasure chest of memories, countless lost memories scrambled to rush into Mu Yanxi’s mind. Scene after scene flashed by, her experiences of meeting, getting to know, and falling in love with Yi Wulan in her youth played out in her mind frame by frame, like a movie.
Mu Yanxi’s swaying body was caught by Yi Wulan beside her. By the time she came to her senses, her vision was already a blur.
Everyone related to Mu Yanche had been taken into the police cars. A police officer from the side came forward. “Miss Mu, thank you for your cooperation. This time, thanks to…”
The police officer’s words trailed off, and he paused. “Are you having a bit of low blood sugar? Are you not feeling well?”
Even though Mu Yanxi had engaged in such a major confrontation with the system using her power, in the eyes of outsiders, she was just someone suffering from low blood sugar because she hadn’t eaten breakfast properly. Mu Yanxi shook her head at the police officer. “I’m fine. Do I still need to cooperate with a statement?”
“No rush. Come over when you’ve rested.” Seeing that she looked unwell, the police officer didn’t insist and turned to walk towards the noisy police cars, directing several officers to forcibly push the crazed Mu Yanche into a car.
Bai Yu’an would complete the new energy vehicle project on her behalf, which also gave Bai Yu’an a bargaining chip to escape her blind dates. Yi Wulan led her towards the car.
The warm sunlight shone on Mu Yanxi’s body, gradually bringing color back to her pale face. A relaxed smile, like that of someone who had survived a disaster, appeared on her face.
Mu Yanche’s system was destroyed, and Mu Yanche was about to be convicted. The protagonist’s halo in this world would disappear, and she would no longer be bound by the world’s consciousness.
She no longer had to live in constant fear and anxiety, worrying about when she or those around her would be sacrificed by the protagonist.
She had waited for fairness in this world.
Now, all that was left was the injury in Yi Wulan’s brain. Everything would be alright.
“In such a good mood?” Yi Wulan’s voice came from the side.
“Mmm… just a tiny bit less happy than the day I got my marriage certificate with you.” Mu Yanxi turned to the side and gestured to Yi Wulan. “Just this much.”
“But—” Mu Yanxi’s tone changed, and she suddenly blocked the car door, finally, belatedly, bringing up old scores. “Yi Wulan, you actually lied to me. Fess up, when did you get here?”
As she said this, she had the guilty air of someone who had been caught by Yi Wulan going to a club last night. She skillfully turned the tables by making a false counter-accusation, trying to divert attention. “And you actually came to see Mu Yanche? You believe whatever he says? What if something had happened?”
“With so many police officers, nothing would have happened.”
Mu Yanxi was choked by this sentence. She couldn’t very well say she was worried Mu Yanche’s system would harm Yi Wulan, could she?
She could only compliantly hook her arm around Yi Wulan’s neck and joke around. “I get it now. So in your heart, I’m not even as important as Mu Yanche? Yi Wulan, you better confess. If you don’t explain yourself clearly today, you’re not going home.”
A helpless smile appeared on the corner of Yi Wulan’s lips. She stepped forward, took Mu Yanxi’s hand, and said softly, “You are the most important. Let’s go.”
Mu Yanxi was placated. Still immersed in the matter of having dealt with Mu Yanche and the system, she didn’t realize that Yi Wulan’s tone carried a hint of urgency. She continued to press her advantage, “Then hurry up and praise me!”
The words had just left her mouth when a heavy, muffled groan suddenly sounded in her ear.
The wind blew Yi Wulan’s long hair, blurring Mu Yanxi’s vision.
Mu Yanxi seemed to sense something. Her pupils shrank violently, and she instinctively supported Yi Wulan’s falling body. “Yi Wulan?”
While Mu Yanche and Yi Wulan were talking, Mu Yanxi had been focused on dealing with the system, and the consequences of not noticing the system’s attack on Yi Wulan finally manifested.
Even though the system was later destroyed, for a patient like Yi Wulan, it was impossible to withstand two impacts. Waves of dizziness assaulted her brain, and she finally couldn’t hold on any longer and slid down, her dark hair spreading across her entire back.
Mu Yanxi’s pupils shrank violently. She quickly caught the person, carried her into the car, and Chen Xu quickly started the car, speeding towards the nearest hospital.
The little remaining power she had was desperately channeled into Yi Wulan’s body, but as the core of Mu Yanxi’s power was depleted, the strength in Yi Wulan’s body was drained away bit by bit, and her hand gradually drooped.
The sunlight shone through the car window, illuminating Yi Wulan’s pale face, but it couldn’t add a trace of color. Before losing consciousness, she seemed to part her lips and say something.
While forcibly extracting energy from her power’s core, Mu Yanxi lowered her head and pressed her ear close, vaguely hearing Yi Wulan’s words.
Yi Wulan said: “Don’t cry.”
Mu Yanxi was slightly stunned and subconsciously denied it, “I’m not. I… Yi Wulan!”
Exactly what I was searching for, regards for posting.