What Should I Do If My Ex-Girlfriend's Pheromones Smell Too Good? - Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Muddy Waters

Inside the study, Shu Mufeng sat upright with his hands clasped.

He watched Shu Qiong walk in and plant herself directly into the chair opposite him. Upon sitting, Shu Qiong brushed her hand against the wide, heavy armrest of the yellow rosewood chair, inconspicuously surveying her surroundings.

Shu Mufeng seemed to have a particular fondness for wooden furniture, which gave the entire study a steady, seasoned natural fragrance. It complemented the faint scent of ink wafting from the paper books in the collection.

Shu Qiong’s gaze swept over the massive bookcase that occupied an entire wall. It was regularly cleaned by servants and free of dust, but the overly pristine exteriors of the books betrayed the fact that their owner used them only for status—they were not actually read.

She sneered inwardly. The study’s decor was stable and dignified, a far cry from Shu Mufeng’s own flighty and vain temperament. He was a man who loved “face” and specialized in superficial appearances.

Seeing that she remained silent after sitting, Shu Mufeng lost his patience first. Since it was just the two of them, he softened his expression and spoke in a kind tone: “Xiao Qiong…”

Hearing this name, Shu Qiong’s brow furrowed slightly.

Shu Mufeng continued “concernedly”: “Do not hate your grandfather. You must understand the well-intentioned efforts of those who have come before you. I am doing this for your own good. When your cousin inherits the business, you and Minmin will be his left and right hands! You are a top student; surely you understand that blood is thicker than water…”

Shu Qiong felt nauseous listening to him, but she felt a spark of interest—I want to see what else this old man has to say.

She nodded, pretending to be moved by the sentimentality: “Grandfather, I understand the logic, but I am a military student. According to custom, I will enter the military in the future. I’ve put my life on the line; I won’t be able to manage family affairs.”

Seeing progress, Shu Mufeng felt even more convinced that this brat responded to soft tactics rather than force. Delighted, he struck while the iron was hot: “You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve come around now and absolutely support you in chasing your mech dreams. It’s just that the main Shu line is sparsely populated. I worry about you, your cousin, and your sister… Sigh, I am old, and I find myself worrying more and more about the younger generation.”

Shu Qiong replied with cynical, deadpan reading: “Wow, Grandfather, you care about us so much. I’m so moved.”

Shu Mufeng sighed deeply, not caring whether her words were sincere. He revealed the true purpose behind this “Good Grandfather, Good Granddaughter” act: “So, I’ll be direct. I’ve discussed this with your father. Before you head to the military, get married. Leave an heir. I’m sure your mother’s spirit in heaven would be at peace then.”

Shu Qiong’s fake smile shattered. She lowered her head, her expression darkening terrifyingly.

How did he have the gall to mention Ms. Shu Ci?

Shu Mufeng’s words were written entirely in terms of profit. To this businessman, Shu Qiong’s remaining value to the family was to find a strategic marriage partner, squeezing out every last drop of utility before she graduated. Once she graduated with honors from the Alliance Military Academy, it would be difficult for him to control her; the Shu family’s reach did not yet extend to the military-political power class.

Thinking she was seriously considering the proposal, Shu Mufeng’s voice softened further: “So, tomorrow the Shu family will hold a banquet. Nominally, it is your birthday party. In reality, I have invited a group of young talents from prominent families to give you a surprise. A few of them have very important statuses; let me introduce them so you don’t embarrass the Shu family…”

Shu Qiong stared at the tips of her shoes. Her long lashes cast shadows, and her expression was inscrutable: “Oh? A wild child who wasn’t even raised by the Shu family can represent the family’s ‘face’?”

“Don’t say such silly things, child.” Shu Mufeng laughed kindly, the wrinkles on his face rippling like decaying wood. “Are you worried you won’t learn the etiquette of high society? It’s fine; someone will come to teach you later.”

Seeing his face, Shu Qiong felt a sudden urge to set a fire and burn this piece of rotten wood to ashes. After a long moment, she suppressed her emotions, pulled open the door, and left wordlessly.

Down on the first floor, she saw Shu Xuanhe sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, talking to an assistant: “Of course, pick the most expensive one… Yes, then go to our winery, get two bottles of No. 1 Red, and send them to…”

Noticing Shu Qiong, he didn’t lower his voice. After finishing his instructions and hanging up, he glanced at her with a flippant smile and opened his mouth as if to say something. But his wristband vibrated again.

He tutted impatiently, but his expression changed when he saw the caller ID. He walked toward the exit while answering: “Not today, baby… don’t be in such a rush, I’ll see you the day after tomorrow, the day after~”

The tone gave Shu Qiong goosebumps; she sensed the caller was one of his lovers. Once his back disappeared from view, silence returned. She found a seat.

“He is, in his own way, a talent.”

A voice spoke leisurely from behind, half-mocking.

Shu Qiong didn’t need to turn to know it was Shu Xuanmin. While Shu Xuanhe had been on the phone, she had noticed Shu Xuanmin standing behind the second-floor railing, coldly watching everything in silence.

Shu Qiong rubbed her temples: “Do you enjoy observing from the shadows?”

Shu Xuanmin sat down beside her, saying unhurriedly: “Occasionally.”

“How is he a talent?” Shu Qiong asked humbly. “Having enough lovers? Masterful time management?”

Shu Xuanmin glanced at her: “Shu Mufeng’s health has been poor lately with constant ailments; he’s no longer fit for heavy labor. Thus, he intends to groom Shu Xuanhe. The latter has been managing things at the Group.”

“Unfortunately, Shu Mufeng’s expectations always fall through. In his second month, Shu Xuanhe lost a major project. The partner was the Wang family, old friends of the Shu Group. A surefire investment was lost because of him, resulting in a significant deficit.”

Shu Qiong was curious: “Isn’t his staff made up of veterans? Even if Shu Xuanhe is a fool, it shouldn’t cause his subordinates to be incompetent too, right?”

Shu Xuanmin smiled: “A few smart ones jumped ship. The rest either couldn’t advise him or chose to play dumb. They could only lose money to learn a lesson.”

Shu Qiong suspected this “jumping ship” wasn’t simple.

Sure enough, seeing her expression, Shu Xuanmin actively explained: “Yes, I was the one who poached them.”

“Shu Mufeng didn’t blame you?”

“Blame me? He should be thanking me,” Shu Xuanmin said flatly. “If I hadn’t moved quickly to bring them into companies under my name, there was no guarantee those senior managers wouldn’t have sold the Group’s secrets to competitors. I am a hero who saved the family business from a crisis.”

As for how that crisis started—don’t ask. She had fooled everyone, executing a successful poaching plan. The results were excellent; not only were the targets poached, but the other “smart people” in the Group were starting to get restless.

Shu Qiong knew Shu Xuanmin’s current power within the family Group wasn’t large; she only managed a tourism company, which high-level management normally ignored. When she took over that subsidiary, it was a fledgling operation with no prospects or investment. Over a few years, she had turned it into a thriving business. Conversely, the Group’s core businesses were stagnating, losing customers, and showing visible revenue fatigue.

“Now, internal and external troubles are mounting. Other competitors are watching like tigers, and inside the Group, I’m not the only one who wants to rise. A normal person would be anxious, but he still has the mind to flirt with lovers and have his assistant send expensive gifts so none of them feel neglected.”

Shu Xuanmin lightly turned a string of sandalwood beads on her wrist, shaking her head. “Is that not a ‘talent’?”

Shu Qiong tested the waters: “I don’t know much about business. Can I ask how you got him to lose those old clients?”

Was this ambitious woman secretly collaborating with the Shu family’s competitors? That kind of tactic was easy to backfire. If she lost control, it wouldn’t just be Shu Xuanhe who went down.

However, Shu Xuanmin seemed to see through her. Her sharp eyes carried a hint of disdain: “Do I look that stupid? I was merely an assistant in this matter, giving a small push. It was mainly that idiot Shu Xuanhe—he got the Omega son of that CEO pregnant.”

As for how she knew such private information, she obviously had a mole planted near him. Shu Qiong was a bit stunned.

“But both families have good status and are unmarried. Couldn’t they just get married and register the child?” she asked.

“You should know that a few years ago, Shu Mufeng wanted me to marry CEO Wang’s youngest Beta son. Unfortunately, a scandal broke out between that Beta and Shu Xuanhe, so the marriage fell through. Yes, I pushed that along too.”

Shu Xuanmin spoke briefly: “And the Omega whose belly he grew is also surnamed Wang—he’s the Beta’s biological older brother.”

Shu Qiong was agape. Why does Shu Xuanhe keep shearing the same family?! In this situation, it was no wonder CEO Wang was furious; it was a total high-society scandal.

She had an inappropriate stray thought: “This Old CEO Wang… his kids must really be Shu Xuanhe’s type.”

Shu Xuanmin’s expression turned strange as a middle-aged man with a bald spot and a beer belly came to mind, making her feel a wave of disgust.

“Sister,” Shu Qiong suddenly sat up straight, leaning toward Shu Xuanmin like a lackey, “Since you could ruin your own engagement, can you ruin my blind-date banquet too? You already know, don’t you? Shu Mufeng arranged a birthday party for me tomorrow night. Ruining it is good for both of us.”

Seeing her cousin unmoved, Shu Qiong racked her brain for reasons: “Think about it, if it actually succeeds, I’ll become the connection point for two major families. I’d have to step deeper into the muddy waters of the Shu family, making the situation even messier. And what if one day I realize the benefits of money and power and want to fight you for the inheritance? Sister, kill this possibility in its cradle!”

Shu Xuanmin calmly took a sip of tea: “I remember you saying you had no interest in the Shu family assets.”

“Alas! The heart is hard to keep pure,” Shu Qiong lamented performatively. “Even if I don’t forget my original intent, the people under me might get ideas. You just poached some veterans from the Group; you should know this best.”

The upper echelons of a large group never lacked opportunists, and they loved to hedge their bets. Some options were safe with small returns; others were risky with huge payouts. A single screw in a key position can loosen an entire structure.

Shu Xuanmin was silent for a moment, appearing slightly moved. Her eyes shifted as she set down her cup: “I understand.”

In that moment, Shu Qiong felt a flash of intuition. Shu Xuanmin was clearly someone who loved to strike proactively. Even without her persuasion, Shu Xuanmin would never let this birthday party pass peacefully.

“…” Shu Qiong thought silently.

Why did Shu Xuanmin come over to share these seemingly self-incriminating secrets now? Was her goal… to test Shu Qiong’s true attitude? It probably also contained a hint of intimidation.

The two fell into silence. The living room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Shu Xuanhe was still outside on the phone, his silhouette flickering behind the glass window. Shu Qiong’s hand hanging by her leg unconsciously balled into a fist, sensing the calm before the storm.

These convoluted matters were much more troublesome than piloting a mech to kill Zerg.

That night before sleeping, Shu Qiong lay in her childhood bed, looking at the playful chandelier. She suddenly missed dorm 406 at the academy—not very spacious, but clean and comfortable.

The first day of the holiday was ending. Yan Xiangyu was on holiday but hadn’t gone home; she wondered what she was doing. They hadn’t chatted since the “embarrassing projection” incident in front of the teammates. Shu Qiong had been forced to take etiquette classes all afternoon, and Yan Xiangyu seemed busy too; otherwise, given the latter’s personality, she wouldn’t be this distant.

As she thought, her wristband vibrated.

Yan Xiangyu: See you tomorrow.

Scanning up their chat history, it was still full of sappy messages like “I miss you.” Shu Qiong frowned, confused by the meaning of “See you tomorrow.”

Just then, Jin Yan sent a private message.

Jin Yan: The Shu family is throwing you a birthday party tomorrow? My mom got an invitation. Don’t be scared, daughter. This lady will be dressed to the nines tomorrow to back you up!

Jin Yan: By the way, there will be a surprise guest. Giving you a heads-up [Smirk]

Shu Qiong sat bolt upright in bed.