"Mr. Mo, you should understand that while we can't afford to offend the Luo family, it doesn't mean we can't deal with you," Li Manqing said at the right moment. "Between you and the Cheng family, do you really think Second Miss Luo would choose a boyfriend with no family background over the Chengs? If the young master wants to use any means, it's just a matter of us giving up a few projects."
"And it might not even require that. A few gifts and an apology at their doorstep, and you really think Second Miss Luo is bound to marry you?"
Mo Xuan just sighed. He would give up only if Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi told him themselves that they no longer needed him. Not because of some stranger he didn't even know, threatening him to leave.
Even if this relationship was twisted and abnormal, as long as Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi still needed him, he wouldn't care, even if it were a nightmare.
"Mr. Cheng, if that's what you want to talk about, then I'll take my leave," Mo Xuan said, spreading his hands. "Muqi and I will resolve our issues ourselves, or the Luo family can come to me. But as for you, an outsider, there's no need for us to talk."
Cheng Wenxin remained calm, but the beads in his hand were turning faster and faster. After a long while, his tone carried a hint of threat: "Do you believe I can make sure you don't leave here today?"
"Mr. Cheng, if Muqi had you in her heart, there wouldn't be any room for me," Mo Xuan said, feeling a headache coming on. Indeed, rumors couldn't be trusted. This so-called noble son of a wealthy family had to set up some 'Buddha boy' persona, and yet, he exploded after just a few words. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. Also, this is a rule of law society, and I'm not afraid of you."
"Ha, Mo Xuan, you still don't get it. Some of us are different from you!" Cheng Wenxin said coldly with a sneer. "The situation has been explained clearly. Here, I'll add another three million to the deal. Mo Xuan, I heard Rongxing has already scheduled you for an interview, right? You think, with the Cheng family's influence, who do you think Rongxing would side with?"
"Don't force me to wipe you out across the entire Capital. If I want to, you could be beaten up by my men, and no hospital would dare treat you! Oh, and I have a dinner tonight with Luo Tian. Do you think Luo Tian would side with me or with you?"
Mo Xuan's impression of Luo Tian was of a hapless guy who would tremble at the mere cough of Luo Shiya. He had no idea what kind of leverage Luo Shiya had over Luo Tian, but the only son of the Luo family's first branch was constantly manipulated by his cousin from the second branch.
"Do as you please."
Mo Xuan couldn't be bothered to argue and turned to leave, but Cheng Wenxin snapped his fingers. Two bodyguards almost ran to block Mo Xuan's path.
"You, you're forcing me…" Cheng Wenxin said, his face showing a compassionate mercy. "Don't dirty this pavilion. The scenery here is so elegant; his blood is too filthy…"
"By the way, Mr. Cheng, while you're busy posing, let me ask you something," Mo Xuan interrupted, taking off his black-rimmed glasses. "How many men did you bring? Why not call them all out?"
"Two are enough to deal with you," Cheng Wenxin closed his eyes, his face cold as he fiddled with the beads. "As long as no one dies, anything goes."
"You're sure it's just the two of them, right?"
Mo Xuan put his glasses in his jacket pocket and then stretched his neck. "Alright, you two, come at me together. I'm in a hurry…"
A few minutes later, Mo Xuan walked out of the teahouse unscathed. Soon, an ambulance arrived, and the two bodyguards were carried away on stretchers.
Cheng Wenxin sat on the stone bench, his beads scattered on the ground, his face pale. Li Manqing, even more pale, hid behind a pillar for a long time before she finally walked over.
Mo Xuan, an unknown figure, had effortlessly injured two bodyguards!
As he left, he walked up to Cheng Wenxin and tore his beads apart. "I've never heard of someone who claims to be devoted to Buddhism still obsessing over how to steal a woman. Maybe you should stop chanting and cleanse yourself first, fundamentally solve your issues, and then you can promote… the teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism."
Seeing the scattered beads on the ground, Cheng Wenxin's originally pale face slowly turned red. He swept all the scriptures on the stone table to the ground!
He had always been above others, but today, he was humiliated by someone he looked down upon!
The incident didn't affect Mo Xuan's mood, though he couldn't have lunch. Fortunately, he still had the hot spring steamed buns he bought for his grandmother.
Driving to the nursing home, he entered the ward. Aunt Zhang wasn't there, and his grandmother was unusually awake, wearing her reading glasses and reading a newspaper.
"Grandma, didn't I tell you to read less newspapers and use your phone?"
Mo Xuan put the fruits and the hot spring steamed buns he brought on the table. Seeing Mo Xuan, his grandmother smiled apologetically. "Aunt Zhang had something to do and went back first. Knowing you were coming, Grandma was afraid of falling asleep, so I didn't know what to do. Reading the newspaper actually made me feel more awake."
"Is that something a good person would say?" Mo Xuan said with a wry smile. "I brought you hot spring steamed buns and some fruit. Have you had lunch?"
"Yes, Xiao Xuan, tell me, did Jin Peng get into trouble again?"
Hearing his grandmother ask this, Mo Xuan sighed and picked up a fruit knife to peel an apple for her. "You don't need to worry about it. Whatever trouble he gets into, he brought it on himself."
"Ah, I just feel sorry for you!" His grandmother sighed. "Jin Peng has some small cleverness, but he's spoiled by your useless parents and sister. If this family business doesn't go to you, it will surely be ruined by him!"
"Grandma, you know I'm not interested…" Mo Xuan handed the sliced apple to his grandmother. "Besides, isn't there still Mo Qingqing?"
"Ha, your older sister… She inherited your father's ruthlessness and your mother's coldness without missing a bit!" His grandmother said disdainfully. "Qingqing is capable, no doubt, but her ambitions are too big. Her insatiable desires will lead to trouble sooner or later!"
Mo Xuan couldn't help but admire his grandmother. Despite meeting only a few times a year, she saw through Mo Qingqing completely. In comparison, his own ability to judge people was practically blind. Thinking about it, Mo Xuan mentioned the shares issue to his grandmother, including Mo Qingqing's acquisition.
"Sell them, that old man and your parents raised such a viper. Whatever consequences come, they have to bear them themselves!" His grandmother didn't care about Mo Qingqing buying the shares. "Whoever offers the money, we sell to them. As for the rest, that's their problem…"
Mo Xuan inwardly sighed. Over the years, his grandmother's heart had completely died. She had always stopped him from avenging her, not wanting to see the family torn apart by infighting.
"Sell the shares, and you and the two Luo girls can live peacefully," his grandmother said, reaching out to pat her grandson's head. "Child, let me tell you, no matter what happens, you must believe that those two girls love you…"
Mo Xuan looked at his grandmother in surprise, not understanding her meaning. She didn't elaborate further but continued, "Don't think about revenge. This life, I've had a karmic relationship with them. I just hope for the next life, we don't meet again…"
"But, Grandma, I still want Xiao Xuan to be my grandson…"
Mo Xuan held back his tears, his voice hoarse. "This life, I'm still your grandson, aren't I? You just wait, Wei'er and Xue'er are still waiting for you to be discharged so their great-grandmother can make them candy cakes…"
"Alright, then I'll have to eat more. Come, let me taste these hot spring steamed buns!"
Everyone knew the outcome, but no one was willing to say it out loud…
Everyone hoped for a miracle, yet they all understood that miracles wouldn't come…