Chapter 7: “Deduct Two Million Each Time”

Mu Ruo and Du Haili quickly finished their meal and headed back.

Haili couldn’t quite understand why Mu Ruo suddenly seemed like a different person.

But Mu Ruo had just said they were best friends.

Haili had never even dreamed that Mu Ruo would ever consider her a best friend.

After dinner, Haili, as usual, carried Mu Ruo’s bag and opened the door for her.

Mu Ruo was about to tell her not to do that, thinking that anyone who saw them might mistake the situation for a scene from an ancient story where she had a maid.

But then she reconsidered. Changing someone’s behavior and mindset wasn’t something that could be done overnight. If the differences were too noticeable, Haili would definitely sense something was wrong.

Mu Ruo didn’t dislike Haili as much as the original text described.

The character in the book was very one-dimensional.

It was only upon meeting the real person that Mu Ruo realized these characters were not just words on a page but real, living people.

Back at home, just as Mu Ruo lay down, she received a message from Butler Li: “Madam, there will be a Fu family banquet in a few days. Sir wants you to accompany him.”

Mu Ruo: A family banquet?

Most of the original book focused on the painful and deep love story between the male and female leads.

Mu Ruo knew nothing about the big family’s internal dynamics and had never gotten any information from the book, except that there was a very powerful old man in the Fu family. She knew nothing else.

Mu Ruo privately messaged Haili: “Do you know anything about the internal situation of the Fu family?”

Haili: “The Fu family is a very mysterious wealthy family. I know nothing about it.”

Haili’s family was very well-off. As the eldest daughter, she spent tens of millions each year without a care.

But compared to the Fu family, the Du family was far behind.

According to the original text, the Fu family appeared as benefactors to the male lead, Lu Beichen, helping him reach new heights.

Haili’s knowledge of Fu Jianzhi only increased after Mu Ruo married into the Fu family.

Mu Ruo: “Besides Fu Jianzhi, have you heard of any other names?”

Haili knew nothing.

Zhou Jian was even more clueless about the Fu family.

Mu Ruo anxiously clawed at her bedsheets. What was she going to do?

She wouldn’t recognize anyone at the banquet.

Could she ask for leave?

Mu Ruo tentatively told Butler Li that she was very busy recently and might not be able to go.

Butler Li: “Sir said that you must fulfill your responsibilities as a wife. If you can’t, your monthly living expenses will be deducted.”

Mu Ruo: “How much will be deducted each time?”

“Two million each time,” Butler Li replied. “If this month’s amount is exhausted, it will be deducted from next month’s.”

Mu Ruo: “…”

Butler Li also didn’t understand why his master suddenly gave such an order.

Usually, if there was a Fu family banquet, unless the old man was present, Fu Jianzhi would attend alone.

This time, he surprisingly instructed Butler Li to inform Mu Ruo to accompany him.

An idea struck Mu Ruo: “Butler Li, I haven’t interacted much with the Fu family before. Do you have any advice for me?”

Butler Li: “Madam, I don’t dare to speak about the master’s family, good or bad.”

As a successful individual earning a seven-figure salary, Butler Li had strong professional ethics.

Mu Ruo suddenly felt deflated and flopped onto the bed.

At that moment, her phone rang.

Absentmindedly, she picked up the phone.

A discomforting bubble-like voice came through: “Mu Ruo, I had another fight with Wanwan.”

Already in a bad mood, hearing this pretentious man’s voice only made it worse.

“Get lost,” she snapped.

After saying this, Mu Ruo hung up the phone.

On the other end, Lu Beichen was stunned.

Was this the same Mu Ruo he knew?

In the past, whenever he and Xia Wanwan fought, Mu Ruo would always rush to his side to be a gentle and understanding presence.

To Lu Beichen, Xia Wanwan was a particularly pure and delicate girl, though she could sometimes be unreasonable.

Despite Xia Wanwan often claiming she wanted to be independent, in reality, she relied heavily on him, and her entire family depended on his generosity.

This boosted Lu Beichen’s male ego significantly.

This feeling of control was something he couldn’t get from someone like Mu Ruo, who was an heiress of equal status.

However, Xia Wanwan had her drawbacks. She didn’t understand Lu Beichen’s social circles or his lifestyle.

During the day, Lu Beichen wanted to catch up on the latest news, so he went out with a few friends, covering all the expenses himself, spending around seven or eight hundred thousand.

When Xia Wanwan heard this, she got upset, saying sourly that her father couldn’t save that much in a lifetime, while Lu Beichen spent it all on a few bottles of wine.

Lu Beichen got even angrier, feeling that his money spent on networking had nothing to do with Xia Wanwan’s father.

They had a fight, and neither wanted to talk to the other.

Lu Beichen’s good friend, Mu Xinghui, was a bit shocked: “Mu Ruo actually hung up on you? Didn’t she always hope you’d call her?”

Lu Beichen felt uneasy, sensing that everything he once controlled was slipping away.

He wanted Xia Wanwan, who satisfied his vanity and public image.

But he couldn’t forget Mu Ruo, who was beautiful and noble like a goddess.

“Who knows what she’s thinking, lately she’s been acting like she’s on medication,” Lu Beichen said angrily, taking a sip of his drink. “Women! They’re so unpredictable!”

Mu Xinghui spoke up: “Don’t! You still need Mu Ruo! Don’t forget, her husband is Fu Jianzhi, a big shot that most people can’t even approach. Beichen, the secrets you want to know, Fu Jianzhi definitely knows. Sweet-talk Mu Ruo a bit, and she’ll definitely help you out.”

Fu Jianzhi…

Just thinking of that name, Lu Beichen felt a mix of fear, resentment, and confusion.

“From what I see, Mu Ruo is probably trying to get your attention. Some girls act distant and uninterested to attract you.”

Lu Beichen believed Mu Xinghui instantly.

He knew that given Mu Ruo’s feelings for him, she wouldn’t easily forget him.

“Still, I think Wanwan is the better girl,” Mu Xinghui said. “Wanwan is so great, she doesn’t care about money at all. Even if you went bankrupt, she’d probably still be willing to beg on the streets with you. Do you think Mu Ruo would ever do something so noble?”

Lu Beichen: “That’s true. Wanwan is a good girl, she wants nothing but for me to treat her well.”

Mu Xinghui added, “And Xia Wanwan is so genuine, unlike Mu Ruo, who’s completely materialistic. She married into the Fu family for money and isn’t even willing to stay single for you.”

Listening to Mu Xinghui, Lu Beichen felt even less regret about being with Xia Wanwan.