Ch 50: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

【？？？？】

【Hahahahaha I can see Young Master Mu’s determination to take the midnight high-speed train just to escape Qin Leyi】

【Isn’t Mu Xing a bit too lacking in grace? She was sincerely offering blessings—no need to be so blunt】

【Yeah, I didn’t see Qin Leyi doing anything wrong here. If anything, Mu Xing, as a man, seems a bit too narrow-minded】

【? What demons snuck into the comments? Okay then, I wish you all get cheated on by your partner—and remember to keep your grace, stay friends with them afterwards】

【Let’s all get rich together, drop me the group number and I’ll join the PR wash effort too】

【I love this kind of personality. For clingy pests you don’t want to deal with, being straightforwardly cold and ruthless is the only way】

【So satisfying. Qin Leyi must be completely dumbfounded right now】

【Serves her right! Why should the victim have to be magnanimous and forgiving?】

Qin Leyi really was dumbfounded.

Mu Xing seemed completely different from before.

In the past, even if she had wronged him, Mu Xing would never have openly given her no face like this on a public platform.

The worst she had expected was for him to ignore her entirely.

That would’ve been enough.

As long as she was willing to spend money on PR, public opinion could gradually be turned. After a couple of years, everything would fade into the past.

But Mu Xing’s reply—no forgiveness, no interest, don’t stick to me again—instantly painted her actions as pathetic, one-sided clinging. It also cut off her chances of ever using their past for hype again.

She had become a laughingstock and reminded everyone all over again of her cheating.

Qin Leyi felt wronged.

The source of that grievance was his coldness.

She knew she was wrong, knew Mu Xing would never forgive her. But perhaps because deep down she always counted on his feelings for her, she never imagined there would come a day when he’d be this utterly heartless.

Her first impulse was to reach out and ask why he was treating her this way. But then she remembered: a year ago, Mu Xing had already blocked her on every account.

He had even sold off the two apartments whose addresses she knew.

The clean break was ruthless—and foresighted.

At that very moment, the far-sighted Mu Xing was being given a thumbs up by his younger brother.

“Bro, why didn’t I ever realize your personality is this likable?” Mu Shao grinned.

Mu Xing raised his teacup and shot back, “What do you mean? I wasn’t likable before?”

“That’s not it.” Mu Shao scratched his hair. “It’s just… before, you felt kind of distant. I didn’t dare bother you over nothing.”

Watching his brother carefully, he only relaxed when he saw Mu Xing wasn’t annoyed.

Then he blinked and exclaimed, “Huh? Bro, your skin looks amazing! With the sunlight on your face, it’s literally glowing.”

Mu Xing was well aware of that.

Over the past year, he had never stopped practicing the internal cultivation techniques of the Carefree Sect. His body had been cleansed inside and out, impurities flushed away. Better skin was the least of it.

In truth, his whole body was in peak condition.

“Got any skincare secrets, bro?” Mu Shao asked eagerly.

“Why?” Mu Xing looked puzzled.

Scratching his face in embarrassment, Mu Shao muttered, “I’m chasing a girl lately… gotta pay attention to my looks, right?”

Mu Xing sipped from his thermos, eyeing his brother’s faint dark circles. He said lazily, “Sleep early, wake early, exercise, eat healthy. You’ll be fine.”

Mu Shao thought about it, then shook his head. “Forget it. Men don’t need to be that delicate.”

After the banter, his expression turned serious. “Bro, now that you’re healthy again, about the company…”

Mu Xing froze.

He clutched his teacup, staring steadily at Mu Shao. “From what I see, you’ve been doing pretty well this past year.”

Being praised by the brother he’d admired since childhood, Mu Shao lit up. “You think so too?”

Mu Xing nodded. “Very good. Dad’s praised you a lot too. Keep it up.”

Mu Shao was about to nod when he suddenly realized something was off. “…Huh?”

He looked at Mu Xing in confusion. “Me? Keep it up?”

Dad’s meaning was clear—he wanted big brother to return to the company. Mom had even sulked about it for days.

So what did big brother mean by this?

Not one for subtlety, Mu Shao said it outright: “I only took over because your legs were injured. Now that you’ve recovered, Dad wants you back. I’ll switch roles.”

Though a little unwilling, he knew it was rightfully Mu Xing’s.

Years ago, when the Mu family faced a major crisis, it was Mu Xing’s mother’s family who saved them. When Mu Yuanjing divorced Zhu Lanjun, they signed an agreement too: most of the family inheritance would go to Mu Xing.

So fairness wasn’t really in question.

Besides, Mu Xing had always been outstanding and capable. Even in a fair competition, Mu Shao would accept losing to him.

He just needed to coax his mom afterwards.

But Mu Xing wasn’t interested.

He remembered the original owner’s memories: thirty days in a month, half spent flying around, the other half stuck in endless meetings and overtime.

On the outside, it all looked glamorous—but who would know that CEO Mu, so young, already had neck problems?

Mu Xing still held the same thoughts he had when speaking with Mu Yuanjing earlier: the Mu family had money, he lacked nothing, and he had no ambition.

Truly, he had no ambition. Even the original Mu Xing didn’t.

What Mu Xing saw from inside this body was more responsibility than desire.

He was Zhu Lanjun’s son, Mu Yuanjing’s eldest child, the heir decided from birth. So he had to be excellent, had to perform better than everyone else. He couldn’t allow the Mu family to decline.

If Mu Xing had been the only child of the Mu family, even if he disliked it, he would have played the role of family head properly and managed the company well.

But over the past year, watching Mu Shao’s performance, Mu Xing thought—this younger brother wasn’t bad at all.

Yes, his temper was a little hot, but he was humble and capable. A bit inexperienced, sure, but with the senior management team guiding him, in a couple more years he would be well-seasoned.

Even Mu Yuanjing had praised Mu Shao more than once.

The old man, beaming with pride: at his age, what could be more satisfying than having two successful sons?

With that in mind, Mu Xing made his decision.

Sitting in his cushioned lounge chair, clutching his thermos cup, he put on a troubled expression. “I may have recovered my legs, but my spirit isn’t good. I think I’ve been left with some aftereffects.”

Mu Shao: ?

Worried, he said, “But didn’t Dr. Leland say before leaving that you’d recovered well? Later checkups showed nothing wrong either.”

Mu Xing sighed. “Yes, the tests say nothing’s wrong. But I just feel drained, exhausted after sitting for a while.”

Alarmed, Mu Shao said, “Then go get checked again. What if they missed something?”

Mu Xing spoke slowly. “I already went a few days ago. The doctor said my body’s excellent, that I just need more rest.”

Looking intently at his brother, he added sincerely, “So the company will still need you to shoulder it. I really don’t have the energy.”

Mu Shao: ?

For a fleeting moment, he couldn’t help but suspect: could big brother just not want to work?

But the thought lasted only a second before he dismissed it—how could big brother ever do something so childish?

Uneasy, he went to their father.

Mu Yuanjing stormed in angrily to confront his eldest son.

The moment Mu Xing saw him, he repeated the same explanation.

Unfortunately, his father wasn’t as easy to fool as his silly younger brother.

“Spare me,” Mu Yuanjing snorted. “That kid may be gullible, but do you think I am?”

He glared at Mu Xing. “Why won’t you go back to the company? Are you worried about affecting your relationship with your brother? If that’s it, I’ll talk to your Aunt Shao and Mu Shao—I won’t let them resent you.”

When Mu Xing stayed silent, his father softened his tone. “I’ve already explained this to them. I also promised your mother—if the company is yours, it’s yours. I won’t shortchange Mu Shao either. He’ll get part of my shares, and my personal assets are already arranged.”

Seeing his father couldn’t be deceived, Mu Xing sighed. “That’s not the reason, Dad. I truly think managing the company is too tiring. I want a more leisurely life.”

“The things I told you before—I meant them.”

He elaborated, “Back then, Mu Shao was too young. I was afraid he couldn’t handle it. But Dad, you’ve seen it yourself—he’s very capable. He can support the Mu family in my place. That means I can relax a little.”

Mu Yuanjing fell silent.

After a long pause, he finally said, “I’m afraid you’ll regret it later.”

“You know very well what your current position means.” He fixed his son with a sharp gaze. “Such vast wealth and social standing—and you’d give it up just like that?”

“And,” he added calmly, “look at Zhaoxing Group. For outsiders, when they say ‘Chairman Mu,’ they mean me. Your uncles and aunts have made plenty of snide remarks.

“In the past, you were the glamorous CEO Mu. But if Mu Shao takes over, he’ll be the one people praise.”

He stared hard at Mu Xing. “Can you accept that fall in status?”

Blunt words, not very pleasant—but Mu Xing understood this was his father speaking from the heart.

He shook his head and didn’t explain much, only said, “Dad, I feel tired. I want to rest.”

He wanted to be a salted fish, and Mu Shao just happened to want the role.

Why not?

Mu Yuanjing said no more. “Since that’s the case—if you regret it later, that’ll depend on your brother.”

Mu Xing coughed lightly. “I don’t think I’ll regret it.”

“Hmph.” Mu Yuanjing grunted. “As for your mother, you’ll tell her yourself.”

He, for one, wasn’t going to answer Zhu Lanjun’s calls in the next few days. That woman might not scold her son, but she certainly wouldn’t spare him!

Recalling the memories of their interactions, Mu Xing suppressed a laugh. “Okay.”

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