Ch 48: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

Thanks to the “blessing” of the Qin Leyi scandal, the Mu family’s internal affairs—which the public had never really cared about before—suddenly became a hot topic for many reporters.

So when news broke that Mu Xing was temporarily stepping back from the Mu Group’s core operations, it hit the trending searches once again.

Now everyone knew: the handsome young master of the Mu family, betrayed by both his ex-girlfriend and his former brother, and crippled in a car accident, had also lost his corporate position due to his health.

Word spread that the current Madam Mu wasn’t his biological mother, and the one stepping into his former role was his half-brother.

Nothing more needed to be said—the internet had already spun out an 80-episode family feud drama in their heads.

And in that drama, it was obvious: Mu Xing was the pitiful loser.

【Tragic. Truly tragic.】
【Honestly, this kind of wretched storyline—I’ve only seen it in novels.】
【From years of reading, I can say this setup only leads two ways: either the cannon fodder who falls and never rises, or the beautiful-yet-tragic powerhouse who stages a glorious comeback. I’m a face-connoisseur, so I hope Young Master Mu will be the latter.】
【It’s just too hard for such a handsome guy.】

Right at this time, another “insider” dropped a bomb: Mu Xing’s car accident had something to do with Qin Leyi.

Not a conspiracy theory—someone had dug up a side account belonging to Cheng Qian, who was now abroad.

That account had posted on the night of the 27th: he’d done something that betrayed his brother, got caught, and the brother ended up in an accident. He said he felt guilty.

And Mu Xing’s car accident? It had happened on the 27th.

【??? So you’re telling me Mu Xing’s accident was tied to those two scumbags?!】
【Looks like it was an accident, but I checked—Mu Xing was driving himself. Based on this post, he must have just found out about the cheating then. Probably… wasn’t calm.】
【Of course he wouldn’t be calm! If I caught my boyfriend cheating right in front of me, I’d want to chop someone up.】
【So reasonably guessing, the accident happened because Young Master Mu was too shaken up emotionally?】
【If I were him, I’d have hacked those two to pieces on the spot.】
【And there’s this on top of everything? How did Qin Leyi even have the face to @Mu Xing with her apology?】
【No wonder Mu Xing was so cold and resolute in that interview. Those two are practically his personal disasters.】
【Heh. Qin Leyi still thinks she deserves forgiveness? Where does she get the face for that?】

Once this broke, Qin Leyi—who had just barely managed to avoid the spotlight and was preparing to slowly clean her image—was dragged back out and scolded all over again.

“…”

She was suffocating with frustration.

These days she could only stay home. Going back to her hometown was out of the question.

She used to be a big star. Her whole family was proud of her; her parents held their heads high among relatives and neighbors.

But after all this, her parents told her not to come home—not because they despised her, but because of the endless gossip.

The housekeeper she’d hired also quit, after Qin Leyi discovered she’d been gossiping outside, saying she was Qin Leyi’s maid and revealing little tidbits about her.

She’d moved to a new place, went out with a mask and cap just to buy groceries, and lived in hiding.

Friends in the industry had all cut ties. The few who hadn’t might help her in private, but no one dared risk showing public support.

Compared to her, Cheng Qian’s life was much easier.

He wasn’t in the entertainment circle, didn’t need to show his face. Now he was abroad, beyond anyone’s reach. Aside from getting regular scolding calls from his father, he was unaffected.

Sometimes when he saw news about Qin Leyi, he just skimmed and moved on, not caring at all.

For him, Qin Leyi was already the past, no different from all his other “girlfriends.”

---

At the Mu household.

Mu Xing had long since tossed those two irrelevant people from his mind.

He was busy every day.

He had to undergo rehabilitation training with his expert team, and he secretly practiced the internal cultivation methods from his previous life to strengthen his meridians.

Just those two things alone took up 90% of his energy.

The rest of his time was for relaxation: reading fairy tales or making a few investments with the money in his account.

“Mu, does it hurt?” asked a blond, blue-eyed man.

Sweat had formed on Mu Xing’s forehead, but he still smiled. “It’s fine. I can endure it.”

The man jotted down a string of numbers in his notebook.

He was Leland, the lead specialist on Mu Xing’s rehabilitation team.

After finishing, Leland’s stern, aristocratic face eased slightly. “Your progress surprises me. I’ve had to revise your program again and again.”

He looked down at Mu Xing’s legs. “Feeling pain is a good sign.”

“Yes.” Mu Xing smiled too, running his hand over his legs, cherishing even the discomfort. “For the first time, I’ve come to love the feeling of pain.”

That day’s training was done, and he leaned back in his chair, lazily saying, “Dr. Leland, before you leave, could you hand me the green-covered book on the shelf?”

He wasn’t shy about asking.

Leland walked over, picked up the thick green-covered book, and handed it to him.

The Chinese characters on the cover meant nothing to him, but there was a picture of a beautiful flower fairy and a charming little mushroom cottage.

He glanced at it curiously, then passed it to Mu Xing.

Mu Xing took it lazily. “Thanks.”

Leland inclined his head. “Then, Mr. Mu, I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, please contact me.”

Mu Xing waved his hand, signaling he understood.

After finishing one short story and drinking a cup of herbal tea, he felt rested enough and closed his eyes to meditate.

To an outsider, it looked like he was simply dozing in his chair.

But in Mu Xing’s perception, tiny warm currents were slowly rising inside his body. Under the guidance of his will, they flowed along his meridians in a mysterious rhythm, nourishing and repairing his injuries.

This was the real reason why he was so confident he would one day stand again.

After cycling like this for over an hour, he opened his eyes.

He exhaled deeply, steadied.

Leland’s evaluation had been that even in the most optimistic scenario, it would take at least two years of treatment before he might stand again.

But Mu Xing already knew: that timeline could be cut in half.

And he hadn’t really been idle in his “spare time.”

As heir of the Mu family, aside from the Mu Group, he personally held a considerable fortune, invested in various industries and companies.

He reviewed those investments—didn’t overhaul them, only made slight adjustments.

He added a stake in a gaming company and an AI research institute.

By coincidence, he also received a quarterly report from the CEO of Glory Entertainment. Mu Xing casually threw in funding for two films and one drama—one in his personal name, the other under the Glory banner.

He wasn’t an expert investor; he went by mood, actors, and a kind of uncanny intuition.

If something looked promising, he’d bet on it. If it hit big, great. If it tanked, well—it wasn’t enough to hurt him anyway.

Not a big problem.

---

Ten months later.

With someone steadying him, Mu Xing cautiously stood and tried lifting his leg—

A wave of weakness surged, and he nearly collapsed, caught in time by a strong, solid body.

“Careful!”

Thankfully, Leland was tall and sturdy; otherwise, catching Mu Xing’s 182 cm frame would’ve been difficult.

Seated again, Mu Xing listened as Leland frowned. “Your legs have been unused too long. Their function has atrophied.”

Mu Xing said lightly, “It’s fine. More practice will fix it.”

Ten months—faster than he had even hoped.

And the reason he seemed so relaxed was because he knew. His injuries were no longer an issue.

If he wished, he could have healed without a trace. But then medical tests would raise suspicion. So he left behind a few “aftereffects” to explain.

Leland flipped through notes and reports, his usual stern face breaking into barely-contained delight. “This is a miracle. If I hadn’t witnessed it myself, I’d hardly believe it.”

Mu Xing smiled, matching his excitement. “Maybe I just have good constitution. Easier to heal.”

“It’s possible.” Leland mused. “Mr. Mu, I may need to use your case as a classic study. Don’t worry—if you’re uncomfortable, I’ll anonymize all your details.”

Mu Xing didn’t mind. Only…

He thought helplessly: But no one else in this world can quietly use cultivated inner force to mend their body day after day. Study all you want—you’ll never find the real reason.

By the time autumn leaves began to fall, Mu Xing was able to walk a few steps on his own.

His stride was still awkward from disuse, but time would smooth that out.

Leland ran him through a battery of tests. The results were excellent.

With his data, research notes, and a hefty payout from the Mu family, Leland happily flew home to continue his studies.

Because of the miracle brought by his eldest son, the usually low-key Mu Yuanjing held a grand birthday banquet.

Reporters and media swarmed the hotel. And there, in a tailored suit, legs once again steady, Mu Xing reappeared in flawless form before the world.

The trending searches exploded.

And Qin Leyi—finally—saw her chance.

She had been utterly quiet for a year, almost invisible. The internet was forgetful: a week was enough to erase a scandal, a month made any gossip old news.

After a year?

That whole mess last year—unless brought up—most people wouldn’t even remember.

And the hate, boycott, disgust… all had faded too.

She pulled strings to land a spot on a well-known talk show about relationships.

And right before the program, she learned of Mu Xing’s recovery.

Nothing could be more perfect. This, she thought, was her best opportunity.

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