Min Yuan wasn't a fool. He instantly understood what Mu Shengchen wanted. A smile graced his features as he waved his hands in dismissal. "Of course, I'll wipe Young Mistress's shoes right now."
Before he could say anything else, he shot a glare at his girlfriend. "What are you still doing, Mei?" he snapped. "Wipe her shoes now!"
Her eyes widened. "But..." She couldn't even say anything else when he slapped her right on the face.
"Didn't you hear me?" Min Yuan barked, and her face suddenly turned somber. She didn't think that the same man who had promised her the world would treat her this way. Not only that, but he even forced her to wipe the woman's shoes!
Mei stared at him for a long time. There wasn't a single trace of concern in his eyes–just anger and impatience.
Ning Qianyu could only watch helplessly as the woman slowly kneeled down in front of her.
When Mu Shengchen had stood up for her a few seconds ago, she couldn't help but feel a little bit happy in her heart. Although she wouldn't have asked him to do that, she felt comforted that someone else had her back.
But upon seeing how Min Yuan pushed his woman onto the ground without even a second thought, she couldn't help but pity Mei. The woman had humiliated her, but still...
She couldn't help but glance at Mu Shengchen, tugging his sleeves.
Originally, he had planned to do some payback, but upon seeing Ning Qianyu's soft and helpless gaze, he nodded lightly. If that was what she had wanted, then so be it.
After getting his approval, she immediately took another step back. "Get up quickly," she ordered the woman who was still kneeling on the ground. "You don't have to wipe it."
"I..." Mei glanced up at her as if someone had snapped her out of it. Not knowing what else to do, she scrambled upwards.
Before they could say anything else, the manager from Mingjun Hotel finally stepped forward. "Young Master Mu," he said quickly. "We apologize for our negligence. As an apology, the Yuehua Pavilion has prepared new dishes for you and the Young Mistress."
The hotel originally didn't want to interfere, because they didn't want anyone to hold any grudges. However, upon knowing Mu Shengchen's identity, they obviously wanted to curry favor with him.
He glanced up at Ning Qianyu, and she nodded. "I'm starving," she whispered coquettishly, leaning against his shoulders.
She really was starving to death.
"All right. Let's go to Yuehua Pavilion." Knowing how hungry she was, he didn't want to waste any more time in finding another place to eat breakfast. The best he could do was to please his wife.
"Of course, let me lead the way." The Manager slowly led the way down the lobby and through the crowds. A large smile was evident in his features, and soon enough, the people around them finally dispersed. The only people left standing were Min Yuan and his girlfriend.
Min Yuan turned to his girlfriend. "Are you blind?" he snapped. "You actually offended him!"
"I'm sorry," she said lowly. "That won't happen again."
"Again? Get lost!" Not only did he lost face, but he might even lose his job the next time they meet! He stalked right out of the room without bothering to look back.
Yuehua Pavillion was a private room specifically used to entertain their VIPs. While Mu Shengchen didn't offer any praises, Ning Qianyu was filled with praise.
"No wonder so many people come here for breakfast," she said, clapping. "It's delicious!"
"The dumplings here are famous," he said, placing a few dumplings on her bowl.
"Really? The spring rolls here are great too." After that, she gingerly placed two spring rolls on his bowl for him to try. A large smile appeared on her lips as she did so.
"The spring roll in City A isn't authentic," he said. "City B has the best rolls."
"Really? And here I thought that B City's only famous for its sights. I didn't know they also have delicious food there," she responded. Ning Qianyu's eyes glittered as she leaned against his shoulders. "You should bring me there next time, okay?"
He lovingly pinched the tip of her nose. "The visas are ready," he stated. "We can get on the plane and travel to B City in the afternoon today."
"I thought you said we were going on Monday? Why are we going now?"
"Didn't you say you want to go?" He cocked up an eyebrow.
"Of course!" Her eyes lit up as she clapped her hands together, looking like a child on Christmas Day.
Seeing her so happy, the corner of his lips inched up into a large smile. They definitely needed a break after everything that had happened between them, and this was the perfect time to do it.
After breakfast, he sent her back to the apartment to pack before leaving with Ye Xi.
When Mu Shengchen arrived in his father's office, he couldn't help but look around. The desk was clean of any documents, and his windows looked like they've just been wiped. It looked just as it had been three years ago.
"You haven't come to the Mu's for so long. I'm starting to think that you don't consider me as your father." A cold and deep voice came from behind the leather seat.
The seat slowly turned around, and he could see his father's cold features. He could see where his looks came from, that was for sure.
"As if you were ever-present in my life." He snorted.
"Tell me, is that what your mother had taught you?" Mu Zhenghong sneered. He had initially called him over to fix their relationship, but after Mu Shengchen's response, he wasn't having any of it. "I would've assumed that she could've at least taught you some respect."
As soon as he heard the words 'your mother', Mu Shengchen instantly fell silent.
There was silence, and the temperature in the office seemed to have dropped by a thousand degrees. The two men glared at each other for a long time as if they were waiting for the other to break down.
After what seemed to be a few minutes, Mu Zhenghong finally said, "I heard you were taking two days off."
"And?" Mu Shengchen frowned. Was that the only reason he had asked for him? What did he care if he suddenly took a break from his job for just two days?
He had other responsibilities to deal with than to micro manage his son's schedule.
Mu Zhenghong had always cared about his company and his own interests. As for the workers, he couldn't care less what happened to them–even if one of those workers included his son.
When the bidding price had been leaked, Mu Zhenghong immediately removed him from his position and took away all his shares from Mu's. The rest was history.
Mu Shengchen could never forget seeing his father's heartless face after his surgery.
"Ever since you've worked in Mu's, you haven't been serious." Mu Zhenghong raised his eyebrows as he leaned back against his seat.
"I don't think I've been absent from work other than taking leave of absences for personal matters, right? Or are employees not allowed to take leave anymore?" He sneered.
"You know what I mean."
"No," he responded coldly. "I don't."
"You weren't like this three years ago. You used to work so loyally for us. You've been our role model," Mu Zhenghong said slowly, rubbing his forehead. "What changed?"
"Well, that was three years ago." A mocking smile slipped into his lips. "That's just how I work now."
As soon as he heard Mu Shengchen's words, he slammed his hands onto the table. "Do you really want to oppose me right now?"
"What are you going to do about it? From what I remember, you're the one who dragged me into Mu's that day, didn't you?" Mu Shengchen's gaze had turned cold as he gazed up at his father. "Well? Do you have anything else you want to say?"
"Are you really going to talk to me like this?" Mu Zhenghong snarled. "Do you think I'm incapable of disciplining you?"
He had assumed that his son would change for the better after three years had passed. What he didn't expect was for him to turn a complete 180. He clenched his fists.
However, he had always been blind to the consequences that Mu Shengchen had faced. He never knew the feeling of losing his legs, never knew the pain of being dumped by his girlfriend, never knew the desperation of being kicked out by his own family. Of course, he could never understand.
With that thought in mind, the young man could simply sneer in response. "What are you going to do about it?" he repeated again. "Kick me out of the Mu's?"
"Do you want to end up with nothing?"
"It's not like I haven't done it before," he countered.
"Get lost!" Mu Zhenghong swept all his documents onto the ground, before waving his clenched fists up in the air. "I don't know what I've done to deserve a son like you!"
"I don't want to stay here anyway." Taking one last look at his father, Mu Shengchen controlled his wheelchair out of the office. And he didn't look back.
Even then, he couldn't help but feel anxious and confused by his father's words.
While the office was dark and dreary, Ning Qianyu's apartment was bright and summery. She was too busy packing her luggage in the room. "Hmm..." she hummed to herself as she slowly counted all of her outfits. Once she was sure that everything had been included, she zipped her suitcase up and pulled it out of her bed.
Mu Shengchen had just arrived when he saw the scene happening before him. At the sight, he could feel his heartstrings being tugged as a small smile appeared on his lips.
It was only when she was finished did she turn around. "Shengchen," she said in surprise. "You're back!"
"Have you packed up?" He controlled his wheelchair into the room.
"Mmhmm, I'm ready."
"Let's go. I'll take you out."
"Oh, sure." Ning Qianyu was stunned for a moment before she finally nodded.