Mu Jianling returned to the Mu family. A servant immediately came up to her.
"Eldest Miss, the Chairman requests your presence."
"Understood."
After responding, Mu Jianling arrived at the Chairman's study.
"Dad, why did you ask for me?" Mu Jianling pushed open the door.
Chairman Mu was gaunt, his eyes carrying a sharp, authoritative gaze.
"Ye Yunkui just called me, wanting to change the betrothed."
"The Ye family wants Ye Jiangfeng to be betrothed to you."
Upon hearing this, Mu Jianling immediately retorted, "What do they take me for? They can just marry me off to whomever they please? Don't forget who is the driving force behind this alliance!"
"What? You still want to be betrothed to Ye Jiangliu?"
"Ye Jiangliu is no longer an imbecile. Your plan to control his thoughts will likely go down the drain."
As the saying goes, no one knows a daughter better than her father. Chairman Mu naturally knew why his daughter had chosen an imbecile.
Forcing his daughter to sacrifice for the family, Chairman Mu already felt guilty towards Mu Jianling, so he indulged her.
"I will only marry Ye Jiangliu."
Mu Jianling was familiar with the younger generation of the Ye family. Ye Jiangfeng was also a dissolute wastrel.
The Ye family's decline was not without reason!
The Ye family, though seemingly prosperous now, was in reality riddled with holes.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have sought an alliance with the Mu family.
"You met, and you liked each other?"
Chairman Mu was well aware of Mu Jianling's movements and naturally knew she had just met Ye Jiangliu. He had initially thought Ye Jiangliu's cancellation of the engagement was his daughter's doing, but now it seemed that was not the case.
"Better than those good-for-nothing young masters."
"You don't want me to bring wastrels into the Mu family, do you?"
Hearing Mu Jianling's words, Chairman Mu nodded. "Alright, I'll call Ye Yunkui right away."
A moment later, Chairman Mu re-established communication with Ye Yunkui.
In the Ye family manor, Ye Yunkui chuckled, "Brother Mu, what are the Mu family's thoughts?"
"It must be Ye Jiangliu. No one else will do."
"The entire Mist City knows my daughter is to marry Ye Jiangliu. If the person is changed now, where will the Mu family's dignity go? Will my daughter still be able to show her face in public?"
"You all discuss it amongst yourselves. If you cannot agree to Ye Jiangliu, then our alliance plan will be shelved."
Chairman Mu's reply put Ye Yunkui in a difficult position. "This..."
"Reply to me after you've thought it through."
With that, Chairman Mu hung up the phone.
Ye Yunkui was dejected. He hadn't expected the Mu family to be so resolute. He knew this must be Mu Jianling's insistence. Regardless, the Mu family had laid down their bottom line. If it couldn't be met, the alliance would likely fall through.
The Ye family's finances were stretched to the breaking point, and they desperately needed the Mu family's orders to weather the storm. To secure such a large order from the Mu family, an alliance was necessary.
Ye Yunkui paced back and forth in his residence and finally left his dwelling with a sigh.
More than ten minutes later, Ye Yunkui arrived at the First Madam's courtyard. Seeing the First Madam practicing martial arts, Ye Yunkui cleared his throat. "You're still so diligent."
"Without strength, how can our mother and son stand firm in this Mu family?" the First Madam scoffed.
"With me around..."
Before Ye Yunkui could finish, the First Madam interjected dismissively, "Don't spew your disgusting words. Spit it out if you have something to say."
"The Mu family insists on betrothing Mu Jianling to Jiangliu."
"This is a good opportunity, why don't you agree?"
"Mu Jianling is the Mu family's eldest daughter, and also the most beautiful woman in Mist City."
"If Jiangliu marries her, he will be the Mu family's son-in-law, enjoying wealth and prosperity."
"Mu Jianling is a good girl. With her protection, Jiangliu will surely live a good life." Ye Yunkui persuaded.
"This is the son's own idea. It's useless for you to tell me."
"If you want my son to marry into the Mu family, go talk to him yourself."
"I warn you, don't try to threaten him, or I won't let you off." the First Madam said sternly.
Ye Yunkui: "Accompany me."
The First Madam pondered for a moment and nodded.
Qin Han Chu was studying the divine ability "Thousand Transformations" when he once again sensed someone approaching. He opened his computer and waited quietly. A moment later, his door was knocked.
Seeing Ye Yunkui, Qin Han Chu calmly asked, "Something wrong?"
"I want to talk to you about the Mu family alliance..."
Before Ye Yunkui could finish, Qin Han Chu interjected, "Nothing to talk about, it's canceled! Doesn't your second son have his eyes on Mu Jianling for a long time?"
"Mu Jianling is infatuated with you." Ye Yunkui said, distressed.
Qin Han Chu was taken aback. Wouldn't Mu Jianling call off the engagement?
"Are the Ye family's descendants that incompetent?"
"Mu Jianling would rather choose me than anyone else?"
Hearing Qin Han Chu's sarcasm, Ye Yunkui's face darkened. "What do you mean by that? How can you mock your own brothers like this?"
"Have you ever protected Ye Jiangliu like this?" Qin Han Chu didn't say "I," but used Ye Jiangliu's name. In Ye Yunkui's eyes, he felt Ye Jiangliu was not acknowledging his identity as a Ye family descendant. But this question indeed left Ye Yunkui speechless.
"I have no interest in this alliance. Don't bother me again!"
Seeing Qin Han Chu's attitude, Ye Yunkui angrily declared, "If you don't agree, then leave the Ye family!"
"That's fine." Qin Han Chu truly didn't care about the Ye family. Leaving would grant him more freedom.
"You..." Qin Han Chu's action made Ye Yunkui tremble with anger.
"Since my son is leaving, there's no need for me to stay here either." With that, the First Madam walked towards Qin Han Chu.
"You guys..." Ye Yunkui trembled with rage. He hadn't expected "Ye Jiangliu" to be so resolute. Under his gaze, the First Madam accompanied Qin Han Chu as they walked away.
"I want to venture out on my own. You don't need to accompany me." Qin Han Chu said to the First Madam.
"If I don't accompany you, you'll be in mortal danger," the First Madam replied.
"I've left the Ye family and refused the engagement with the Mu family. What reason would anyone have to kill me?"
The First Madam was momentarily speechless. The logic did seem sound.
"I have a villa of my own in the city. Let's go live there."
"You can do whatever you want. As long as we mother and son are together." Hearing the First Madam's words, Qin Han Chu nodded. "Alright."
Half an hour later, the First Madam drove Qin Han Chu to a villa. Led by the First Madam, Qin Han Chu walked inside.
"There are several rooms here, choose whichever you like." the First Madam smiled.
Qin Han Chu went to the second floor and chose the room at the far east. "I'll stay here."
"Okay." The First Madam nodded.
"I'll tidy up the room first, and then I'll accompany you for dinner." Qin Han Chu smiled.
The First Madam smiled and nodded. "Good."
Not long after the two left the Ye family, Mu Jianling received the news. Upon learning that Qin Han Chu had left the Ye family, she became a little anxious. The Mu family also wished to form an alliance with the Ye family. Although her father had spoken very definitively, the Mu family was not solely dictated by her father.