My Lady, To Defeat Scumbags You Must Start Early

Xin Group’s skyscraper at night.

From the high floors, one can see Jin City’s beautiful night sky and majestic cityscape.

Mu Cidian stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, absorbing the view.

This was how he had spent a significant part of his time.

To familiarize himself quickly with Xin Group, to establish his territory within the company, to avenge his father’s death, he had worked relentlessly. Starting from the bottom, Mu Cidian had followed Xin He’s advice to climb the ranks step by step, a strategy that would grant a comprehensive understanding of the company.

Looking back now, perhaps Xin He was simply providing an excuse, hoping that he would give up when faced with obstacles, without a genuine intention of nurturing. Little did He know, Mu had risen on his own merit, and it had not taken him long. Of course, his mother occasionally lent a helping hand behind the scenes.

His stomach throbbed in discomfort.

His gastritis probably started back then when he would often forget to eat and pull all-nighters, resulting in his current condition.

He turned to gaze at the takeout food resting on his office coffee table – a pot of nourishing porridge. His secretary, who had been by his side for several years, was well -aware of his gastric issue and prepared gut-friendly meals for him regularly. Half the pot of porridge remained. Slowly, he walked over.

Picking up the spoon, he began to eat.

This was his favorite porridge shop. He wondered… if she would like it.

Just then, his secretary knocked on the door.

Mu Cidian turned and watched his secretary, looking somewhat embarrassed with the semi-finished pot of porridge.

His facial expression remained indifferent as he continued to eat.

“Chairman Xin refuses,” his secretary informed.

Mu Cidian nodded. “Put it down.”

After respectfully placing the pot in front of him, the secretary turned to leave.

“Did she say anything else?” Mu Cidian asked.

He guessed that Xin Zaozao’s dismissal wouldn’t amount to a single line.

The secretary hesitated.

Despite the general manager’s casual demeanor, she knew he was delivering an undeniable message.

Reluctantly, she spoke, “Chairman Xin also said, she fears dying from poisoning if she consumes your food.’

Mu Cidian’s face seemed to twitch slightly.

The secretary, who had been with him for many years, noticed his subtle facial changes, indicating his imminent anger. She dared not even breathe.

Who wouldn’t feel slighted, having their goodwill rejected so callously?

But in the next moment, the general manager wore an eerily calm expression, “You may leave.” The secretary exited the room hurriedly, immensely relieved.

Indeed, Mu Cidian’s temper was a force to reckon with. His outbursts were not groundless, often stemming from the intense pressure of his workload. He used these bouts of anger as a coping mechanism.

However, his temper seemed to have softened recently.

He appeared to tolerate more, less prone to fits of rage, creating a seeming atmosphere of restraint.

She wondered what held him back.

Was it the arrival of Chairman Xin that forced him to tread lightly?

It didn’t seem necessary.

Everyone in the company knew that the general manager controlled Xin Group and that, sooner or later, he would inherit the company.

It only made sense. As his secretary, she was well aware of the profits he had brought to Xin Group.

His inheritance was inarguable. However, for some reason, Chairman Xin had come into the picture.

She decided to stop pondering over it.

These were matters for the upper echelons. For secretaries like her, it was more important to play it safe and secure their job.

Back in his office, Mu Cidian placed his spoon down midway through his meal.

His hunger had been replaced by throbbing pain.

He clutched his chest.

It was gastric pain.

Just gastric pain.

He rose to fetch his stomach medication.

As he poured a few pills into his hand and strode over to the water dispenser, the office door swung open.

Mu Cidian looked over.

There, in the doorway, stood Xin Zaozao.

Xin Zaozao observed Mu Cidian’s condition.

Mu Cidian tightly gripped the pills in his hand, fetched the water with feigned composure, and took a sip.

“Do you need something,?” Mu Cidian asked, calmly taking his seat at the office desk, his eyes fixed on her.

“Did you set up Liu Wudong?” Xin Zaozao asked bluntly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

‘Yesterday you said you wanted to marry me, gave me your shares, and promised never to step foot into Xin Group again!” Xin Zaozao said somewhat sarcastically.

Mu Cidian pressed his lips tight, looking at her.

“Today, you had Liu Wudong threaten me, saying I must hold a decision meeting about the vacation area first thing tomorrow, or I’ll pay!” Xin Zaozao said, not feeling threatened, but rather finding it amusing.

Did Mu Cidian really think she was still that naive little girl?

That she would believe every word he said.

That if he showed her a bit of kindness, she’d feel as if spring had arrived.

Did he think that by offering a bowl of porridge, she’d be moved?

Of course, she knew it wasn’t poisoned, she just found it ridiculous.

She really wanted to tell him, stop wasting his efforts, she was truly unmoved, even disgusted.

“I didn’t tell him to do that, believe it or not, it’s up to you.” Mu Cidian offered no further explanation, it was as simple as that.

“I don’t believe you.” Xin Zaozao was blunt.

A slight change crossed Mu Cidian’s face, but he remained silent.

Xin Zaozao turned to leave.

As she left, she abruptly paused, “Give me your six percent shares, then maybe I’ll consider your previous proposal.”

Mu Cidian watched her.

Xin Zaozao repeated, “Six percent plus your promise never to step into Xin Group again.”

Mu Cidian chose to remain silent at that moment.

Silent.

Xin Zaozao laughed, it was a detached laugh, “You must have been out of your mind last night. What a relief I didn’t take you seriously.”

Xin Zaozao left.

Mu Cidian’s tightly clenched fist was crumbling the pill in his hand into powder!

Xin Zaozao left with Nie Feng.

While walking, she called Yan Quan.

She worked overtime every day, but when Yan Quants company wasn’t absolutely necessary, she would let him leave first.

“Chairman.”

“Uncle Yan, Liu Wudong just called me, threatening that I must hold a board decision meeting first thing tomorrow.” “Did you agree?”

“No.” Xin Zaozao refused.

She couldn’t compromise with anyone now. to do so would only lead to endless suppression.

She said, “But I’m really worried that Liu Wudong will do something extreme, enhance the security on my floor tomorrow.”

‘You suspect he’ll do something to you?”

“I don’t know what he’S planning, but safety is the most important factor.” Xin Zaozao was straightforward.

“Yes, I’ll arrange it right away.”

Xin Zaozao hung up the phone.

She turned to Nie Feng, “Not that I don’t trust you, it’s just that they know I have you, they might redouble their efforts.”

Nie Feng nodded.

He didn’t mind. However, it seemed like Xin Zaozao was always thoughtful of others.

Except…Wan Quan and Mu Cidian.

After all, having been behind Xin Zaozao, even he saw the pill in Mu Cidian’s hand. Yet, Xin Zaozao kept silent, she probably wished for Mu Cidian to die sooner.

It seemed.

Wan Quan and Mu Cidian had indeed gone too far with Xin Zaozao.

On a normal day, Xin Zaozao appeared soft, but contrastingly, she was strong-willed.

A person who hated evil as if it were an enemy, he really admired her.

One must live to be oneself!

In his office, Mu Cidian just stared in the direction Xin Zaozao left.

His face ice cold.

The secretary wanted to help him clean up after his meal, but upon seeing his icy demeanor through the door, she didn’t dare enter and slipped away quietly. Mu Cidian remained stiff, until his phone rang.

His throat moved slightly.

At that moment, as he readjusted his emotions quietly, he tossed the medicinal residue from his hand into the bin and picked up the phone, “Hello.”

“Is this Mr. Mu Cidian?”

“Yes. Who is this?”

“I am the current primary doctor for Wan Quan at the Central Hospital. Your mother has not eaten anything for a day. She lost a lot of blood initially causing quick depletion of nutrients. She can’t sustain merely on intravenous nutrients. If you have time, can you please come and persuade your mother to eat something? If this continues, I’m afraid…”

“1 understand.” Mu Cidian hung up the call.

This call was initiated by his mother.

He disappeared for one day without visiting her, and she would become frantic.

He hasn’t given her the shares till now, and she will go to all lengths to get them.

He stood up and left the office.

He wasn’t sure when his stomachache started to become less difficult to bear.

He went to the hospital.

In the hospital ward, his mother was lying on the bed, her face pale.

Presumably, having not eaten for a day, she looked very weak.

He knew his mother’s character well—she wouldn’t stop until she achieved her goal.

If he didn’t give her the shares, she might genuinely die just to make a point.

And he didn’t have the heart to be utterly indifferent to that.

Just like when his father died, his mother held him, a young child then, and cried heartrendingly, telling him that in this world, only the two of them were left, depending on each other for survival.

At that time, he was full of hatred, wishing he could kill all the members of the Xin family to avenge his father.

Many years had passed since then.

Many years of hatred… have passed.

Mu Cidian walked into the ward, and Wan Quan turned her head away, refusing to look at him.

Mu Cidian sat next to Wan Quan’s bed.

Wan Quan didn’t turn around.

Mu Cidian asked, “Where’s the agreement?”

Wan Quan looked startled and then turned to him.

“Where’s the transfer agreement?” Mu Cidian asked.

Wan Quan’s face visibly brightened.

Mu Cidian glanced around and saw a document folder on a coffee table at one end of the hospital room.

He got up and picked it up.

There were three copies of the document.

One copy for each party, and one for the lawyer’s records.

Without any hesitation, he swiftly signed his full name, then picked up the Indonesian stamp next to him and pressed his personal seal on the documents.

The shares were successfully transferred.

At that moment, Wan Quan laughed openly, not hiding her joy at all. She said, “Cidian, it’s good that you came to your senses. It’S good indeed. You must believe that in this world, your mother loves you the most.”

Mu Cidian silently placed the agreement down.

At that moment, the door to the ward opened, and a nurse brought in some food.

Mu Cidian took it and walked over to Wan Quan.

Mu Cidian put the tray aside, picked up the porridge from the side, scooped up a bowl, and then said to Wan Quan, “Have something to eat.”

Then, he started to feed her with a spoon.

Wan Quan, for her part, compliantly ate mouthful after mouthful, finishing a big bowl.

The hospital room was rare in its peace and harmony.

After the meal.

Wan Quan held her son’s hand, and said, “Cidian, perhaps now you think your mother is cruel and mean. But everything that mother does is for your own good. You’ll understand this one day.”

“Think about when your father died, how we made it through that time. We’ve come so far now. How could we just give up! I know you appear cold in nature, but you have a soft heart. You saw Xin Zaozao looking pitiful, and your heart softened. Mother understands. In the future, you don’t need to involve yourself in the company affairs, mother can handle it all. If you’re not feeling well, you can go out and travel to relieve your stress. From now on, mother won’t press you anymore.” Wan Quan spoke sincerely and persuasively.

Mu Cidian didn’t really listen to much of it, and didn’t respond.

Wan Quan didn’t mind.

In any case, her son was still on her side. With a little fuss, her son would still listen to her.

Thinking of this, her heart felt a bit happier.

She said, “Cidian, there are actually many good girls in this world. Wu Qianyuan was originally a very good girl, and mother knows you liked her. But now that their family insists on breaking off the engagement, there’s nothing we can do. Once we’ve taken control of the Xin Group, mother will find you an even better girl, a hundred times better than Wu Qianyuan. Let the Wu family, those ungrateful wretches, regret their decision.”

“We can talk about the future later.” Mu Cidian apparently didn’t want to listen anymore, and he changed the subject. “The doctor said your health isn’t seriously compromised. As long as you can eat something, you can be discharged from the hospital. It’s uncomfortable to stay in the hospital. I’ll take you home.”

“Fine, whatever you say, Mom will listen to you,” Wan Quan said happily.

Mu Cidian left the hospital with Wan Quan.

The family’s driver picked them up.

All the way, Wan Quan was very cheerful.

Mu Cidian, however, did not reveal any emotion.

For a long time, he had been silently accepting this.

The car arrived at the Xin family villa.

The villa was quiet at the moment, presumably Xin Zaozao was already asleep.

Mu Cidian settled his mother, then returned to his own room, lying on his own bed.

The mattress no longer carried the blood stains from his forehead last night; it had been recently changed by the domestic helpers.

Last night, there was a moment, a fleeting moment when he wanted to fall into a deep slumber.

He turned over.

His body was tired.

His stomach ached.

It twisted painfully, his entire body shook, and he concealed his profuse sweating.

Xin Zaozao didn’t understand why Mu Cidian doesn’t lock his door anymore.

Doesn’t he fear that she might snap one day and stab him in his sleep?!

She turned and went downstairs.

She had never had stomach pain before, so she didn’t know what it felt like, now due to frequent overtime work and meals at irregular times, her stomach started reacting. She couldn’t sleep due to a faint stomach pain and had to get up to check if there was any medicine downstairs.

Luckily, she found some. A lot actually.

It must be Mu Cidian’s.

His weak stomach is well known in the family, so they maintain a supply for him.

She didn’t know if she should consider herself lucky at the moment.

Following the instructions, she took the stomach medicine.

Just as she was planning to go back to bed, she was suddenly grabbed from behind.

Xin Zaozao wanted to scream.

She didn’t want to create a commotion, or cause unnecessary trouble, she hadn’t even switched on the lights, she just used the flashlight on her phone.

So, at that moment she couldn’t see who it was behind her, yet when he held her tightly, she immediately knew.

Surprisingly, the feeling was familiar.

Still so familiar.

She found it amusing.

She didn’t scream, but gritted her teeth and ordered, “Mu Cidian let go of me!”

He didn’t let go of her arm.

“Let go of me!” Xin Zaozao said harshly.

Mu Cidian didn’t let her go.

Xin Zaozao struggled fiercely.

She thought she wouldn’t be able to get free, thinking about calling Nie Feng for help.

And right at that moment, she was able to push Mu Cidian away with brute force.

And managed to push him to the ground.

She turned and looked at the shadow.

Mu Cidian lay on the floor, not moving.

Xin Zaozao frowned.

Was he dead?

She hesitated for a moment, then walked over.

She went over, shone the flashlight onto Mu Cidian’s face, and put her finger under his nose.

“Wish I was dead, huh?” Mu Cidian asked.

Xin Zaozao was taken aback and quickly pulled her hand back.

Mu Cidian smirked, “For now, I’m not dying.”

Then he got up, with great difficulty, and like her, began rummaging for the medicine box….