Chapter 125: I Do!

Qin Mu was unaware that the fat man had headed to the Yuan residence after leaving White Emperor City, nor did he know that Yuan Qingtian was plotting against him to plunder his medicinal formulas.

He remained at White Emperor City, intending to cultivate Jiang Zheng’s capabilities. Jiang Zheng did not disappoint; despite some initial nervousness from the fat man’s badgering, she adapted quickly. Following a full day of press conferences and interviews, news regarding the medicinal pills spread rapidly. White Emperor City issued a firm promise that all announced pills would be officially available within three days, with a price cap of one thousand.

This news sent the entire Jiang City into a frenzy, especially among middle-class families who had long suffered from exorbitant medical costs and had to be cautious with every expense. To them, this was a godsend. Simultaneously, White Emperor City's actions drew the resentment of many pharmaceutical companies, yet there was little they could do. After all, the products from White Emperor City possessed undeniably heaven-defying efficacy.

By evening, as the press conference concluded, Qin Mu let out a yawn. "Jiang, time to clock off," he called out.

"Let me finish the remaining tasks on hand. You go ahead, brother," Jiang Zheng replied, buried in her desk. She had always been this way since she was a child—never stopping until the job was done.

Qin Mu scratched his head and looked at the other employees. "Are you not heading home either?"

"The launch is in two days; we’re working overtime to get the first batch ready," Elder Hua said, leading by example as he reported to Qin Mu.

"Then thank you all for your hard work. If you feel tired, head home and rest; there’s no rush," Qin Mu nodded.

"This is nothing; the Director is the one working hardest."

"Exactly. Don't worry, Director, leave it to us. We guarantee to make White Emperor City the number one in Jiang City in the shortest time possible!" the employees responded with smiles.

After a series of events, every employee held genuine admiration for their young Director, with no trace of dissatisfaction left. Qin Mu, not wanting to dampen their enthusiasm, offered a few pointers on how to refine their workflow before driving away.

Inside the car, Wu Mu was already waiting in the driver’s seat, chewing on a piece of bread. "General, how does it feel to be the director of a major company? Pretty great, right?" Wu Mu chuckled slyly.

"Get to business." Qin Mu was long accustomed to Wu Mu’s habit of rambling before getting to the point.

"The Jiang family has been very restless lately." Wu Mu dropped his playful expression, finished his bread in a few bites, and handed a report to Qin Mu.

"They’ve sealed off the entire city?" Qin Mu arched an eyebrow. Whether it was to avoid being disturbed or to flaunt his power to Jiang City, Jiang Qi had acted decisively. He had closed all channels in and out of the city—high-speed rail, flights, and everything else were prohibited. Unless you were part of the Jiang family, no one was allowed in or out until the conclusion of Luo Shui’s birthday banquet. Such a move was certainly not something an ordinary person could pull off.

Back at home, Luo Shui had returned earlier and had been busy in the kitchen for quite a while, finally producing a few pastries.

"Quick, quick! Taste the masterpiece of this master chef!" Hearing Qin Mu return, Luo Shui immediately brought out a plate of small cakes from the kitchen. Qin Mu looked at the charred, blackened lumps and swallowed hard. If Wu Mu were here, he would surely be teasing him, telling him it was his wife’s love and that he should eat it immediately.

"What’s with that expression? This is the result of over an hour of hard work by this master chef!" Luo Shui furrowed her delicate brows, picked up a black cake, and shoved it into Qin Mu’s mouth.

Although the presentation was lackluster, the taste wasn't entirely terrible. With the help of several glasses of water, Qin Mu managed to get the pastries down. Luo Shui sat in a chair, hesitating, as if she had something on her mind.

"Something up?" Qin Mu asked, holding his teacup.

Luo Shui struggled for a moment before pulling two tickets from her pocket. "The Tinghu Lake at Central Park opened today. I bought two tickets." She hadn't been explicit, and her cheeks were flushed crimson. Being a young woman, taking the initiative to ask a man out was truly difficult for her.

Qin Mu’s eyes twitched. So that was it—these "dark cuisine" pastries were meant to bribe him into accompanying her on a date. He couldn't help but think: if she wanted to go, she could have just said so. Still, aside from that one time at the flower market, they hadn't been on a date in a long time. It was a good opportunity.

Qin Mu didn't refuse and took the tickets. Seeing how straightforward he was, Luo Shui felt a surge of joy and hurried to her room to change into a light, sky-blue slip dress. With spring arriving and the temperature gradually warming, the outfit suited her perfectly.

Qin Mu stood at the door, watching her look like a fresh, ethereal girl-next-door. Luo Shui was a natural beauty; she didn't need any adornment to outshine everyone else.

"What is it?" Luo Shui asked, seeing his gaze and wondering if something was wrong.

"You look beautiful," Qin Mu commented.

"As if you needed to say it," Luo Shui retorted with a playful pout, though she felt sweet inside.

Less than half an hour after getting in the car, the two arrived at Central Park to queue for their tickets. Luo Shui’s standout beauty, combined with her naturally cold and aloof temperament toward strangers, instantly drew countless gazes. Since she was no longer a celebrity, she had lost the habit of wearing sunglasses and masks. Many men were tempted to approach her, but upon recognizing the man standing beside her, they all lost their nerve. It was the decisive and formidable new master of White Emperor City.