Lu Ming knew there was no way to protect Lu Xixue today. He took a deep breath and declared decisively:
"Shiqing, the Lu family will give you an explanation for today's events. As for Xixue, you may deal with her as you see fit—I won't interfere!"
Huo Shiqing replied calmly, "I have no interest in meddling in Chairman Lu's family affairs. As long as your handling of the matter satisfies me, that will suffice."
Mu Beiyin was taken aback. The way he phrased it—letting someone else deal with his own daughter—was truly ruthless.
As expected, Lu Ming's expression darkened, but he held back his anger. He turned to Madam Lu and cursed, "Didn't you hear what Shiqing said? Take this disgraceful daughter and get out of here!"
Madam Lu shot a vicious glare at Mu Beiyin before supporting Lu Xixue as they left.
Lu Ming then turned back, forcing a smile as he asked, "I heard Miss Mu is interested in that ruby brooch? Shall I have someone take you to see it?"
Before Mu Beiyin could respond, Huo Shiqing interjected coolly, "No need to trouble yourself, Chairman Lu. I'll take her."
Lu Ming could only watch as the two departed, his gaze turning cold as he looked at Mu Beiyin. "In that case, I won't keep you any longer."
...
Lu Ming returned to his room with a stern face. Madam Lu was there, comforting Lu Xixue.
"Xixue, leave us."
Lu Xixue ran over, aggrieved. "Dad, I want to marry Brother Shiqing. Please help me. I want to—"
"I said get out!" Lu Ming suddenly roared.
Lu Xixue flinched, not daring to speak further, and ran out crying.
Lu Ming closed the door and suddenly turned around, delivering a harsh slap to Madam Lu's face!
Madam Lu held her cheek, stunned. "You hit me?"
Lu Ming's face was grim. "Fool! What's the point of targeting Mu Beiyin now? They're already married. Even if Xixue had extraordinary abilities, could she force Shiqing to divorce?"
Madam Lu protested, "But Mu Beiyin deserves to die…"
"Shut up! You tried to disfigure her, and you personally got involved in such a simple matter. How stupid can you be?"
Lu Ming grew increasingly furious. "My daughter is so foolish that she tried to harm someone and left evidence behind. What use are you to me?"
Madam Lu cried resentfully, "But you don't have to send Xixue abroad! She's been pampered since childhood. How will she survive?"
"She dared to attack Huo Shiqing with a knife. Do you think sending her abroad is the only consequence?"
Madam Lu panicked. "Then what do you intend to do? Xixue is your biological daughter! It's just Mu Beiyin. Once Lingshuang returns, Shiqing won't care about her."
"You know Lingshuang is returning soon. If your and Xixue's stupidity causes Shiqing to distance himself from her, you'll regret it."
Lu Ming sneered, delivering the final verdict. "If Lingshuang is willing to plead for Xixue, then send her abroad. If not, let Lu Xixue rot."
Madam Lu staggered back a few steps, panic spreading across her face.
...
Mu Beiyin followed Huo Shiqing to the Lu family's collection room.
The ruby brooch had not yet been officially displayed and was quietly lying in a glass case.
Mu Beiyin excitedly ran over to take a look, but her expression suddenly became indescribable.
Huo Shiqing raised an eyebrow slightly. "Not satisfied?"
Mu Beiyin shook her head in disappointment.
She had thought she'd finally found the ruby brooch. She had gone through all the effort to attend this banquet, only to discover it was a fake.
What was the Lu family thinking? A family of such stature showcasing a counterfeit? Weren't they afraid of being embarrassed?
Seeing how disinterested she looked, Huo Shiqing guessed that she had come today just for that ruby brooch.
The man raised an eyebrow slightly. "If you wanted to see the ruby brooch, you could've just asked me. No need to go through all this trouble."
Mu Beiyin turned her head away and mumbled, "But you didn't let me come to the banquet."
Huo Shiqing suddenly chuckled. "Mrs. Huo, do you really not know why I didn't want you here tonight?"
Mu Beiyin froze, her scalp tingling. The reason Huo Shiqing hadn't brought her to the banquet was because she had insisted on keeping their marriage a secret. But… wouldn't going public with their relationship now still be inappropriate?
It wasn't that she was afraid of making things awkward for Song Lingqian—she was more worried that Grandpa Song wouldn't be able to accept it. After all, it would take some time to digest the idea of his former granddaughter-in-law becoming his daughter-in-law.
Her eyes flicked with thought, and suddenly she came up with a reason. She lowered her head pitifully.
"Huo Shiqing, our marriage isn't public yet, and already someone from the Lu family wants me dead. If we make it public, won't even more people want to kill me? How could I possibly handle that?"
"So, keeping the marriage hidden for now is really for my own safety!"
Huo Shiqing lowered his gaze and looked at her steadily.
As each second passed, Mu Beiyin began to sweat from the pressure. Finally, the man turned his head and said:
"If Lu Xixue has learned her lesson, she won't dare mess with you again."
Mu Beiyin's eyes lit up. She blinked. "You really let me deal with her however I want?"
Huo Shiqing nodded calmly.
Mu Beiyin was a little surprised. For a moment, she felt like she actually mattered to someone. "Why are you so good to me?"
Huo Shiqing looked up, his voice calm. "No reason. But if you must ask, then Mrs. Huo—why did you marry me?"
Mu Beiyin secretly clicked her tongue. Obviously, because you're Song Lingqian's uncle.
But if she said that, it would sound heartless.
To be fair, Huo Shiqing was so outstanding he didn't even seem like he belonged to the Song family.
She was about to speak when someone suddenly walked over. "Mr. Huo! My apologies, I didn't realize you were already here. Allow me to offer you a toast."
A flicker of disgust passed through Huo Shiqing's eyes, but the man persisted. "Mr. Huo truly lives up to being the most outstanding heir of the Huo family. Even the Lu family is beneath your feet now."
Mu Beiyin frowned. What kind of passive-aggressive tone was that?
Wait a second… her heart skipped a beat. "The most outstanding heir of the Huo family"? Wasn't he a Song family heir?
The man, undeterred by Huo Shiqing's silence, turned his attention to Mu Beiyin. "This must be Mrs. Huo, yes? Have you ever been to the Huo family's old estate?"
He kept mentioning the "Huo family" with every sentence. Mu Beiyin suddenly panicked. She looked at Huo Shiqing and asked in a trembling voice, "…The Huo family's old estate?"
Huo Shiqing raised an eyebrow and suddenly pulled her hand, shooting a glance at the man before silently leading her downstairs.
The man didn't follow. He simply watched them go, his gaze cold and condescending.
Even after they'd reached the first floor, Mu Beiyin was still reeling. "So… why did he say you should take me to the Huo family's old estate?"
Huo Shiqing's expression grew even colder. "Nothing. Just family matters. Sorry you had to witness that."
Mu Beiyin was thoroughly shaken. "…" Family matters? But which family—Song or Huo?
If she didn't figure it out, she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight!
But Huo Shiqing's face was so cold that Mu Beiyin chickened out at the last second and swallowed her words.
She had never really doubted him before. But now… a single question kept surfacing.
She suddenly realized—she had never actually investigated Huo Shiqing.
Could she have… actually married the wrong man?!
…
After returning from the banquet, Huo Shiqing got busy. He didn't return to Yujing Garden for three days straight.
During that time, Mu Beiyin used every method she could think of to investigate Huo Shiqing, but she always came up empty-handed.
She took a deep breath. There was still one place she might find the information she needed…
Half an hour later, outside a certain bar.
On the surface, it looked like a regular bar, but in truth, it was an underground intelligence hub. A few years back, Mu Beiyin had become one of its owners by accident, though she rarely showed up. Today, she had come to dig for answers.
Just as she walked in, someone not far away exclaimed excitedly, "Huo Shiqing, look—it's your wife!"