Ye Chen's expression stayed calm. "This is how I do things. My rules are the rules."
Xu Mu sneered inwardly—the Dragon King really is domineering. His life had been far too smooth. Even after returning to the Dragon Nation, the plot had him steamrolling everything in his path. He could be disrespectful to others, but if anyone dared be disrespectful to him, they'd be punished. Only around the mid-story did true danger appear.
"I called you here to make one thing clear: take good care of Ye Tong and Ye Yu. Their lives are more important than your entire Xu family. If you dare make Ye Tong unhappy, death would be the least of your worries."
Ye Chen's indifferent gaze locked onto Xu Mu as he rested his hand lightly on the table.
Buzz!
Every bowl and plate on the table bounced up, then settled back down neatly. When Ye Chen stood, the tableware instantly shattered.
Crack!
Soup and sauces splashed across the floor.
"They're my family. Of course I'll look after them," Xu Mu said, face unreadable. "Aren't you going to see them?"
"Whether I go or not—I don't report to you."
With that, Ye Chen headed for the door. He glanced at Meng Wanyue. "Protect Ye Tong."
"Yes!" Meng Wanyue replied.
"You're not protecting Ye Yu?" Xu Mu called after him.
Ye Chen didn't answer, striding out with his entourage.
"Remember to pay for the broken dishes!" Xu Mu reminded him.
Only after they left did Meng Wanyue hurry over. "President Xu, are you alright?"
"You were right there—what could happen to me?" Xu Mu smiled. "Still, that Dragon King is really overbearing."
"That's just how he is!" Meng Wanyue fumed. "President Xu is practically his benefactor, and he still acts like that? Too much!"
Xu Mu chuckled. "Let's go."
She nodded.
—
Outside the restaurant, Xu Mu hailed a taxi.
In the car, he noticed Meng Wanyue seemed deep in thought. "What are you thinking about?"
"I'm wondering why the Dragon King only told me to protect Sister Ye," she said, puzzled.
Xu Mu smiled slightly—he could guess the reason.
According to the plot, when Ye Chen lived with the Ye family, he was taciturn and brooding. The lively Ye Yu would often tease him. Their opposite personalities made them mutually annoyed.
As for Ye Tong—she was the one Ye Chen admired from childhood. When he discovered he was only an adopted son, he immediately returned to Jiang City to tell Ye Tong. To win her over and resolve his inner knot, he worked hard for a long time. With Ye Tong's help, the rift between him and Ye Yu eventually healed.
However, in the original storyline, once Ye Chen learned he had no blood relation to Ye Tong, the villain Xu Mu's ashes were scattered to the wind—only then could Ye Chen interact with Ye Tong so freely.
But now it's different. Xu Mu isn't dead—and he's even closer to Ye Tong. If Ye Chen thinks he can take my woman… dream on. Still, Xu Mu knew he needed real strength; only by being strong himself could he protect those around him.
—
Jiang City High School.
A Range Rover parked along the curb outside the school gates.
Ye Chen sat in the back seat, watching the entrance through the window. It was dismissal time. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed—he'd spotted Ye Yu in the crowd.
Ye Yu was pushing an e-bike. Beside her walked a uniformed girl with a single ponytail—Mu Qingying.
Her appearance made every male student around sneak glances at her chest. For boys that age, "heaven's thunder" held irresistible allure.
Ye Chen's gaze stayed on Mu Qingying. He was inwardly startled—this woman is gorgeous. He liked that kind of healthy, vibrant beauty; the feminine "features" should be obvious.
But he hadn't come back to flirt. His first task was to investigate the Ye family's downfall. He wasn't in the mood for romance.
"Dragon King, shall I call Ye Yu over to the car?" Xiao Ran asked from the front passenger seat, turning with a smile.
"No need. Judging by her expression, her life seems fine," Ye Chen said. "Let's go."
—
Xu Mu and Meng Wanyue had already returned to the villa community.
In the living room, Xu Mu pulled her down to sit. She let out a quiet sigh of relief—before she could even state her position, the Dragon King had himself assigned her to protect Ye Tong. Since Ye Tong was Xu Mu's wife, that meant she could remain by Xu Mu's side.
Xu Mu flopped onto the couch. Ye Chen's summons had only one purpose: to knock on the bamboo tube—to warn Xu Mu that Ye Tong and Ye Yu weren't alone; they had someone powerful behind them.
Just then, the sound of a sports car reached his ears. Using his Divine Eye, he saw Ye Tong returning from work. Moments later, she came in with her bag. Seeing Xu Mu and Meng Wanyue at home, she smiled.
"Wanyue, you're here too."
She set her bag and keys on the cabinet.
"Sister Ye," Meng Wanyue greeted quickly, afraid of being misunderstood.
"Sit, sit," Ye Tong smiled, then looked at Xu Mu. "You're home early today."
Xu Mu nodded lightly, debating whether to tell her about Ye Chen.
"President Xu, Sister Ye—if there's nothing else, I'll head back," Meng Wanyue said with a small smile.
"Stay for dinner," Ye Tong offered.
"No, no, that's alright," Meng Wanyue waved, quickly heading out.
"I'll see you off," Xu Mu said, standing.
"I'll come too," Ye Tong added. "Ye Yu isn't out of school yet anyway."
Meng Wanyue didn't refuse again; she just nodded.
They walked her to the community gate. Xu Mu suddenly felt as if someone were watching him. He spread his perception—and spotted a distant Range Rover: Ye Chen and Xiao Ran were observing them from inside.
After saying goodbye to Meng Wanyue, Xu Mu took Ye Tong's hand. The sudden touch brought a blush to her cheeks.
In the car, Ye Chen saw it—and for some reason, he didn't feel happy at all. Instead, he felt as if Ye Tong had been "rooted by a boar."
From as far back as he could remember, Ye Tong's gentle kindness had been etched into his heart. His ideal wife had always been someone like her. When he was younger, the person he fantasized about "using his hands to fulfill his dream" with… was Ye Tong.
Seeing her so intimate with another man now made him bristle. Yet he could do nothing—Ye Tong was his older sister. Back when he was overseas, he'd often fantasized: If only Ye Tong weren't my parents' biological child. Then he would make her his woman—and anyone who dared gossip, he'd kill.
"Let's go," Ye Chen said. He wasn't planning to meet Ye Tong; watching her and Xu Mu together only made him more uncomfortable. He couldn't kill Xu Mu, so better not to see it.
"Yes." The driver pulled away.
Only after sensing Ye Chen leave did Xu Mu lead Ye Tong back—when a black Mercedes-B rolled to a stop in front of them. The window lowered, revealing Xu Ningbing's cool, aloof face.
Both Xu Mu and Ye Tong were surprised—Why is Xu Ningbing here?