Chapter 2: Chen Cu

Chen Mubai squinted his eyes and said, "How can one escape if it doesn't get a bit more chaotic?"

Chen Mubai has returned from abroad for several months but has not made any public appearances

As Chen Mubai hurried into the main hall, he suddenly stopped, raised his chin, pointed to a girl standing not far away, and asked, "Who is that?"

Some people are not in a hurry at all, responding perfunctorily with a sound, stepping on the fallen peach blossom petals scattered on the ground, facing the warm spring breeze, happily humming a little tune

Silently despising him in my heart, your father has urged you three times and yet you remain oblivious.

Not coming back? Then why did I bother to enter the Chen family's door in the first place? If you don't come back, how can I justify it to myself?

They haven't made things difficult for you, have they

Chen Mubai wore a perplexed expression, "Do I care? You can tell them directly, if anyone feels disheartened, they can leave without hesitation. I, Chen Mubai, will never hold them back. However, they must think clearly about whether what they truly want is an illusory shield or tangible benefits. I have never treated them unfairly."

Chen Jingkang stretched his neck to take a look and said, "She, I heard, was brought back by the master."

Chen Mubai, while nonchalantly irritating his father as usual, shot a glare at Tang Ke.

Chen Mubai did not turn his head and waved his hand, "Consider yourself lucky!"

Chen Mubai leaned back into the sofa and slowly raised his hand to make a gesture, instantly causing Meng Xingwen to break out in a cold sweat. It is said that Young Master Mu is ruthless and merciless, and he truly lives up to his notorious reputation. After a pause, he finally spoke, "After all, he may not have made any contributions, but he has put in hard work. If you act so decisively, those below will inevitably feel disheartened. In the future..."

Chen Mubai's delicate features were dampened by the misty rain, and the peach blossom mole at the corner of his eye was even more striking, as raindrops perfectly fell into his eyes. He felt a sharp pain in his heart, closed his eyes, and slowly spoke, "How could I, Chen Mingmo, such a selfish person, ever be kind to others? I am merely a pawn for him to balance the Dong family and Chen Muzhao. The more fiercely we fight, the more stable he becomes, and I will not allow him to have his way. How could I, Chen Mingmo, such a selfish person, ever be kind to others? I am merely a pawn for him to balance the Dong family and Chen Muzhao. The more fiercely we fight, the more stable he becomes, and I will not allow him to have his way. Once I leave, Chen Muyun and Chen Muzhao will inevitably fight even more fiercely; the act of reaping the benefits of others is not something only Chen Mingmo would do."

The beauty's complexion immediately changed like a palette, and Tang Ke followed her out, offering a comforting remark filled with a sense of cherishing her, saying, "He is not targeting you; he is unwell"

Chen Mubai walked leisurely on the rain-soaked ground, a vague smile playing at the corners of his mouth

Chen Jingkang sat back in the car, hunching his neck and silently shedding tears

Chen Mubai was not shy and casually accepted it. A captivating beauty handed him a glass of wine, and as Chen Mubai took it, the beauty, whether intentionally or unintentionally, seductively brushed his hand. Chen Mubai's expression immediately changed. Tang Ke initially thought something was said on the other end of the phone, but upon seeing Chen Mubai's hand, which had stiffened since being touched by the beauty, he wrapped his arm around the beauty's slender waist and leaned into her neck, chuckling softly.

At this moment, Chen Cu is standing by the high wall outside the Wangfu Garden, without an umbrella, his clothes dampened by a thin layer of rain. When he sees two figures flash by the door, he smiles and calls out, "Mu Bai!"

Tang Ke shouted behind him, "Are you really leaving just like this? Aren't those beauties inside worth a glance? Zhao specifically prepared something to apologize to you!"

Uh... Chen Zu was taken aback for a moment, blinked at the picture book, and said, "I’m sorry, I forgot again..."

Chen Mubai hung up the phone, took a wet wipe, and expressionlessly and meticulously wiped the skin that had just been touched, then threw it aside, stood up, and walked out.

When Chen Mubai received the call from the old residence, he was navigating through a sea of flowers, watching Tang Ke drunkenly resting on the lap of a beauty

Chen Jingkang coughed softly, feeling resentful in his heart. Well, you really haven't let anyone off the hook. Just because the girl ignored you, is it really necessary? You can criticize your father all you want, but why disparage a girl who is so fair and lovely?

Chen Mubai nodded

It was better that he did not offer any comfort; after he did, the beauty's expression became even more unpleasant.

The sky was almost completely dark when the two brothers finally parted ways

Chen Mubai changed his posture and said, "You are an elder, and there are some principles that do not require my instruction. If you give them a piece of candy every day, they will scold you on the day you do not. If you slap them every day, they will be grateful to you on the day you do not. In fact, what Zhao Xingbang wants is of little significance to me; I merely want them to understand that I am not Chen Mingmo, and the tactics used against Chen Mingmo will not work on me. There are certain things I can give, which I allow him to possess, but he cannot ask me for them, especially not by threatening me.

The sound is neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for three people to hear.

Chen Mubai seemed to be waiting for this "mm" sound, and soon spoke in a cheerful tone, "The weather is nice today, so let's go back and take a look!"

Chen Mubai let out an ambiguous laugh, "Oh, could it be the old man's hidden gem from the vast sea?"

Tang Ke expressed his admiration, saying, "You are simply a freak!"

After having breakfast, I prepared to go out. It was almost noon, yet I had not arrived. Chen Jingkang was driving, following someone who was several kilometers away and was about to get out of the car to walk back, moving forward step by step.

The two brothers, Chen Cu and Chen Mubai, leaned against the wall, gazing up at the gray, overcast sky. After a while, Chen Cu finally spoke, "What caused such a commotion?"

All are tall and handsome young men, and those who can appear in this private club are certainly not ordinary individuals. When the two of them stand there, occasionally someone passes by and cannot help but take a few more glances.

The last few words were spoken softly and coldly, causing Meng Xingwen's clothes to become wet once again. He fully understood in his heart that there was no hope left, and after discussing some other trivial matters, he finally took his leave

Chen Cu left the Chen family a long time ago and has no interest in the disputes within the family; he only cares about one person, "That person... is still protecting you. If it were someone else causing such a commotion, they would have already resorted to family discipline.

Chen Mubai, feeling annoyed, extinguished his cigarette and turned to leave

A few minutes later, two men stood at the end of the corridor talking

Chen Mubai lingered in the corridor for quite some time, occasionally praising the beauty of a particular flower and then admiring the lush green of a certain patch of grass. It was not until he heard a light yet deliberate cough from the main hall, belonging to none other than Chen Mingmo, that he finally entered the main hall

The girl seemed to have heard the sound as well, turned her head to glance at Chen Mubai, and then quickly turned her head back, as if she had not seen him at all

The people standing or sitting in the hall are roughly the same as those from a few years ago when he left, and they seem to have been waiting for quite some time. Yet, Chen Mubai still maintained his composure, slowly and deliberately strolling in as if to say, "I will be late, and if you have the ability, don't wait for me."

As soon as Chen Mubai entered, Chen Jingkang took his coat, looking up towards the study on the upper floor as he spoke, "Director Meng has been waiting for you all evening; he seems quite anxious."

Chen Mubai finally stepped through the door at the deadline of the ultimatum, while Chen Jingkang, who had been anxiously pacing along the way, broke into a sweat.

Chen Mubai's face no longer bore the innocence and naivety from earlier; instead, it was filled with gloom. Even a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth could not dispel it. "Second brother."

Recently, there has been too much commotion; is your father summoning you

Meng Xingwen nodded eagerly, "What you say is true; it is I who am being pedantic"

Tang Ke had already stepped outside, but upon realizing, he leaned back in from the door, scratching his head as he explained, "It's not that kind of illness, it's obsessive cleanliness!"

It is estimated that the net has been set up waiting for you, this level is likely to be difficult to pass

Chen Zu looked at him for a long time before slowly speaking, "Xiao Bai, in fact, it may not be a bad thing if you leave and never come back."

Jing Kang, you carry a heavy shell on your back, crawling forward step by step

The little follower Chen Jingkang wore a苦 face and did not dare to speak. Finally, under the oppressive威 of Chen Mubai, he reluctantly let out a soft "mm".

A few years later

The next morning, Chen Mubai suddenly asked at the breakfast table as if awakening from a dream, "Oh dear, did I forget to report back home?"

The two brothers gazed at each other deeply for a long time, and the elegant young gentleman who had just been so graceful suddenly lost his temper, saying, "How many times have I told you! Do not call me Xiao Bai!"

Chen Mubai pulled a blade of grass from somewhere and held it in his mouth, wearing a disdainful expression. "Once the matriarch of the Chen family passed away, the Dong family panicked, foolishly thinking they could collaborate with Chen Muzhao and the library to bring me down. They should consider whether Chen Muyun can bear the weight. Dong Minghui still believes that Chen Mingmo is wary of the Dong family. Little does he know that Chen Mingmo despises outsiders meddling in the affairs of the Chen family. Did the Dong family think that by helping Chen Mingmo rise to power back then, they could control the Chen family? Chen Mingmo is not someone who can be constrained by others. Over the years, Chen Mingmo has shown considerable tolerance towards the Dong family, seemingly valuing Chen Muyun, but in reality, he has been waiting for his sister to die. Once she is gone, the first to be dealt with will be the Dong family! Moreover, Chen Muzhao is a viper herself; it would be a miracle if she didn't bite others, let alone willingly make a wedding dress for someone else. However, she is indeed clever, knowing when to retreat."

Chen Cu is the second son of Chen Mingmo. He left the Chen family with nothing back in the day, and the intrigues of the deep courtyard have since had no relation to him, except for this half-brother.

Chen Mubai wore an indifferent expression, "If it is that easy, what is the point? What qualifications do you have to compete with me, Chen Mubai?"

Tang Ke has a nickname called "Jade-faced Fox". This nickname is not given without reason; in addition to having a face as beautiful as jade, he is also exceptionally clever and astute, making accurate guesses down to the slightest detail

Chen Mubai did hear it, but he did not receive the information. After going upstairs, he took a shower and changed his clothes, then leisurely enjoyed some tea before wandering to the study to meet the person who, it was said, had been anxiously waiting all night yet did not dare to urge him even once.

Chen Mubai knew the purpose of his visit, and Meng Xingwen did not dare to mention Zhao's name again, directly skipping over it to ask, "How should we handle this?"

He opened the window and shouted, "Third Master, please hurry up, or you will miss lunch."

Finally, the call ended with a powerful shout from the other end, "If you don't come back soon, then never come back at all!"