Chapter 128: Bestow This Girl Upon Them!

Baidi City.

Li Gong and his band of rabble were no match for the terrifying power of Wu Mu; they were soundly routed. After disposing of them, Qin Mu had no intention of leaving any survivors. He instructed Wu Mu to haul the trash away from Baidi City to be dealt with elsewhere. One reason was that their audacity to cause trouble was, in Qin Mu’s eyes, a capital offense. The other was that they were all sent by the Jiang family.

"Director, most of the documents have been burned. We could only salvage a fraction. While everyone remembers the content, it will take time to fully reconstruct it," an employee said, looking dejected while holding a pile of scorched papers.

It was infuriating to think that these people had burned the most critical pharmaceutical data the moment they started their rampage. This meant that the delay would go far beyond just the product launch. They had built up significant hype, even inviting reporters to come and sample the product. If they couldn't deliver the first batch of goods on time, the entire city of Jiangcheng would likely dismiss them as frauds who were only good at empty talk and deception. The reputation of Baidi City would suffer a devastating blow.

"It’s fine, let them burn," Qin Mu said with an indifferent wave of his hand.

"But, sir..." the employee began, confused. Without those documents, they would have to delay production for several project cycles while they relied on their memories to perfect the data. How could their Director treat this as a matter of no importance?

"Elder Hua, are you alright?" Qin Mu leaned down to check on him.

"Thank you for your concern, Director. These old bones of mine can still hold up for a while, hahaha," Elder Hua said, scratching his head with a sheepish smile. "It’s just that I only managed to save a small portion of the data; the rest is gone."

"You’ve worked hard," Qin Mu nodded and stood back up. He walked to the desk, picked up a pen and paper, and began writing rapidly.

"I will write out a new list of all procedures, starting from the assembly line. Production will proceed as scheduled."

As soon as Qin Mu said this, everyone was stunned. So, there had been a complete set of production data all along? Why hadn’t he brought it out earlier, instead of letting them spend so much time testing and researching to gradually perfect it?

This bewilderment lasted only a moment. Soon, these business elites realized the truth. Qin Mu could have given them the complete data from the very beginning, allowing them to start assembly line production immediately. But he hadn't. He did it to train them. Had they been handed the complete method from the start, they would have been truly helpless when the documents were destroyed. Now, because of their previous deep-dive research, they could implement the new data instantly.

As they thought about this, they couldn't help but admire him. Such foresight! This was what a true leader was.

"Any work that remains can wait until morning. It’s late; everyone go home and let your families know you're safe." The employees, who had intended to work through the night, followed his instructions, tidied up the scene, and headed home.

Qin Mu then picked up Jiang Zheng and drove her home. Perhaps because it was so late, or perhaps due to exhaustion, Jiang Zheng fell asleep in the backseat shortly after they started. Qin Mu, sitting in the front passenger seat, noticed this in the rearview mirror, took off his coat, and draped it over her.

"This girl has really been through a lot," Qin Mu murmured with a faint smile. At her age, most girls were still pampered darlings at home, yet Jiang Zheng was already shouldering the banner of Baidi City for him.

"She is the General’s sister, after all; there is nothing ordinary about her," Wu Mu remarked, seizing the chance to flatter him.

Qin Mu couldn't be bothered with the sycophant and waved him off. "It’s late. Once we get home, find yourself a place to sleep."

Upon arriving home, Qin Mu carried Jiang Zheng to her room and tucked her in to make sure she didn't catch a cold. Afterward, he washed up and went to his own room.

"Why aren't you asleep?" Qin Mu’s sharp eyes caught Luo Shui faking sleep the moment he entered.

"I can't sleep without you," Luo Shui whispered, her voice fragile as she curled up under the covers, exposing only the top of her head. This was a bad habit she had developed, perhaps after suffering from the cold out in the countryside. She could no longer sleep alone; she needed the steady warmth of someone else to drift off.

Qin Mu said nothing more. He lifted a corner of the quilt and slid in. The warmth of his body immediately relieved the chill in Luo Shui’s frame. Feeling the presence of another person, she shifted slightly to find a more comfortable position.

"Hold me," she whispered.

Qin Mu’s large arms wrapped around her, pulling them close until their breathing and body heat slowly merged. His movements were becoming increasingly practiced.

Earlier, when Qin Mu had left, Luo Shui had wanted to go with him. But when she glanced out the window, she saw no fewer than a dozen pairs of eyes lurking in the corners of the neighborhood, staring fixedly at their building in the dark. They were Jiang Qi’s men. She didn't need to guess; she recognized them instantly. She hadn't expected Jiang Qi to have his subordinates stake out their very doorstep. She knew exactly how ruthless the people raised by the Jiang family were. When Jiang Qi was a child, whenever he got into a conflict he couldn't win, he would call his servants to break the other child's limbs, and then use the Jiang family’s influence to bury the matter.

She had abandoned the idea of following him; if she appeared arm-in-arm with Qin Mu, it would only provoke Jiang Qi further.

Now, wanting to tease him, she reached out and pressed her icy hands against his neck. Qin Mu, who was about to drift off, opened his eyes and looked at her.

"Why are your hands so cold?" His first words were not of annoyance, but of concern.

Luo Shui was stunned for a moment. After a while, she smiled and shook her head. "Spring has just arrived, and it’s about to rain, so the weather has turned cold."

Qin Mu didn't know that since he had left, she had been standing by the window, keeping watch until he returned, even as the cold wind chilled her to the bone. She was terrified that those Jiang family servants would seize the chance to kill him. After all, Qin Mu was a thorn in Jiang Qi’s side. With her watching, those men had kept their distance.

The night passed in silence, but it was a comfortable sleep.

The next day, Qin Mu prepared breakfast for Jiang’s parents and Jiang Zheng as usual, then prepared an extra portion and placed it in the microwave to keep warm.