Volume One, Chapter 99: The Truth

Before the boat docked, Mu Shaozhou shielded Yu Mo behind him, his gaze wary as he watched Lin Xing approach. Lin Xing walked up to the pair, and upon seeing Yu Mo unharmed, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. He lifted his deep, shadowed eyes and spoke in a light, teasing tone, raising his brows.

"Finally found you. Are you alright, Yu Mo?"

The latter part of his words was directed at Yu Mo, and in his gaze lingered an emotion she could not name.

Mu Shaozhou pressed the woman further behind him, standing protectively before her, his voice cold.

"Why are you the one who came?"

He had no intention of bringing Yu Mo aboard; the person who ambushed him on the ship that night was likely one of Lin Xing's men.

Lin Xing arched his brow again, lips curling into a faint smile.

"I'm here to take you back."

Yu Mo glanced at the vast sea in the distance, tightened her hold on Mu Shaozhou's hand, signaling him not to be anxious. She whispered in his ear,

"Mu Shaozhou, let’s go back first. I’ll always be with you, we won’t be separated, so you don’t need to worry."

Before they fell into the sea, Yu Mo had sensed that the men in black had no intention of harming her; their target was Mu Shaozhou.

Lin Xing’s hatred was reserved for Mu Shaozhou, and the reason for it was that Mu Shaozhou was Mu Qiming’s illegitimate son.

Yu Mo recalled the news she’d overheard at Mu Qiming’s birthday banquet: Lin Xing was Mu Shaozhou’s brother.

His deep resentment for Mu Shaozhou stemmed from Mu Qiming’s betrayal of Lin Xing’s mother.

Yu Mo wanted to persuade Lin Xing to let go of his hatred. Since that day, it seemed as though Lin Xing’s eyes had been clouded by vengeance, changing him entirely.

In the end, Mu Shaozhou and Yu Mo boarded the boat together.

Lin Xing followed behind them onto the boat.

Yu Mo and Mu Shaozhou stayed in one room, and from the moment they entered, she held tightly to his hand, determined not to let go before they were ashore.

A knock sounded at the door; Lin Xing appeared outside.

His eyes, tinged with red, landed on their interlocked hands. Something stabbed at his heart so sharply that he could hardly breathe.

He pressed a hand to his chest, took a deep breath, and finally spoke.

"Yu Mo, why? In what way am I inferior to him?"

He spoke earnestly, a question that had haunted him for years, and now he finally voiced it before her.

He too was Mu Qiming’s son. Was it because he was illegitimate that he and his mother must endure the scorn and ridicule of others?

He was unwilling to accept it. All these years, aside from caring for his mother, he had sought the Mu family, sought Mu Qiming, wishing to win justice for his mother.

If Mu Shaozhou had been a stranger, he would not have felt jealousy or hatred. The fault lay in Mu Shaozhou being Mu Qiming’s son—the only son Mu Qiming acknowledged for years.

Yu Mo met his gaze, her long lashes fluttering gently. She spoke,

"Lin Xing, can you let go of your hatred? Living in vengeance will never bring happiness."

She lowered her eyes, knowing she had no right to make such decisions for others.

But if Lin Xing’s mother, Yang Duoqian, could see from beyond, she would surely not wish her son to live in hatred.

Lin Xing’s hands clenched into trembling fists at his sides.

After a moment, he exhaled, released his hands, and spoke to Mu Shaozhou, lips curling.

"When my mother was alive, I could feel her sadness and pain every day, all of it caused by your father!"

His anger mounted.

"He wronged my mother, owed her a debt he can never repay. My mother said nothing, but I won’t let him get away with it."

Lin Xing smiled, his eyes shadowed and cold.

"And you, Mu Shaozhou, as his son, I’ll make him taste the agony of losing what matters most!"

With that, he raised a pale hand, reached inside his suit, and drew out a black pistol, its barrel aimed straight at Mu Shaozhou.

The crisp sound of the gun cocking echoed in Yu Mo and Mu Shaozhou’s ears.

Yu Mo instinctively tried to shield him, but Mu Shaozhou blocked her, keeping her behind him.

He faced Lin Xing’s hatred-tainted expression without a trace of panic, his thin lips pressed together as he spoke slowly.

"Lin Xing, since you care so much about what happened years ago, I’ll tell you the truth."

Lin Xing lifted his eyes, staring into Mu Shaozhou’s, as if searching for his intent, suspicion lurking in his gaze.

He snorted, a mocking smile on his lips.

"Mu Shaozhou, you still want to trick me? What truth? The truth is Mu Qiming deceived my mother, made her wait for over a decade, and in the end she died in despair. Today, I’ll reclaim everything for her."

Yu Mo saw Lin Xing growing ever more agitated, fearing he might pull the trigger in a moment of carelessness. She held her breath, steadying her voice.

"Lin Xing, if you hurt him, I won’t forgive you. This is a matter of the last generation; don’t drag it onto the next. Mu Shaozhou has done nothing."

Lin Xing’s lips curled, his expression now deeply desolate, the light in his eyes cold and indifferent.

"I’m sorry, Yu Mo. I know he means a lot to you, but he bears the Mu name."

Mu Shaozhou saw Lin Xing’s refusal to listen to the truth, anxiety flickering in his eyes.

He feared for Yu Mo’s safety; if it were only him and Lin Xing, he would not be afraid.

He turned his face slightly, speaking gently to Yu Mo.

"Mo Mo, go outside first. I’ll talk with him."

Yu Mo shook her head fiercely, her grip on Mu Shaozhou’s hand unwavering, her tone resolute.

"I won’t leave."

Mu Shaozhou lowered his eyes, sighed softly, his jawline taut, his crimson lips accentuating the pallor of his face.

He decided to reveal the truth to Lin Xing.

"Lin Xing, the man who loved your mother was always Mu Boyu—my uncle. I don’t know why my father took the blame, but I believe he’s not that kind of man. In my memory, his feelings for my mother were deep, and he would never betray her for another woman.

Seventeen years ago, after my mother died in a car accident, he was devastated, unable to manage the company for years. My uncle, though—you must’ve heard of his reputation. At the last birthday banquet, I saw my uncle’s reaction; clearly he knew Yang Duo, and their bond was profound. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have panicked and dropped his glass."

Mu Shaozhou finished, his gaze steady on Lin Xing.

Lin Xing’s face shifted from disbelief, to hesitation, to unwillingness.

He shook his head, stepping back a few paces.

"Impossible. Ha, you’re lying to me. It’s ridiculous..."

Suddenly, Lin Xing recalled that night at the birthday banquet—when he and Aunt Han returned to the hotel, Mu Boyu had inexplicably chased after them.

And the strange words Mu Boyu had said to him.

Thinking back, Mu Qiming had faced him openly, while Mu Boyu showed deep guilt.

He continued to retreat, lowering the gun aimed at Mu Shaozhou.

Yu Mo hurried forward and took the gun from his hand, finally able to breathe freely.

Seeing the emptiness etched into Lin Xing’s features, she spoke,

"Lin Xing, let’s talk it over."

Lin Xing lowered his eyes, lost in thought. Suddenly, he straightened, turned, and strode away, murmuring a name under his breath.

"Mu Boyu... Mu Boyu..."