Chapter 47: Tonight, Who Holds the Reins of Fate?

Mu Yiran felt as if she had dreamed for a very long time.

In her dream, she had returned to three years ago, held in the arms of the young man she had longed for day and night, whispering confessions of love. That was the sweetness she had kept in her heart for a lifetime, so sweet it made her forget all her troubles.

She wished she could continue dreaming this dream forever.

But alas, the gentle breeze brushed her face, making her sigh, and she could not help but open her eyes.

The instant her eyes opened, Mu Yiran was startled. She immediately sat up, glancing left and right at the unfamiliar surroundings, and her head spun with dizziness. Looking down, she saw she was dressed in fresh new pajamas.

For a split second, her mind went blank, and her heart nearly shattered.

Had she... been...?

She dared not take the thought further.

Just then, Ling Xiao walked in slowly, carrying a tray of nutritious breakfast.

“You’re awake?”

Mu Yiran narrowed her eyes, a cold glint flashing from her gaze.

“What did you do to me?”

Ling Xiao paused, then smiled.

“Last night, you were forced to drink. I rescued you. Rest assured, I didn’t touch you. It was Xiu’er who helped you change. I slept outside last night.”

Only then did Mu Yiran breathe a sigh of relief.

She looked a little embarrassed.

“Sorry, I didn’t know. Thank you for saving me.”

Ling Xiao smiled warmly.

“We’re friends, there’s no need to be so polite. Have some breakfast. You’ve slept half a day and a night, you must be hungry.”

“Thank you, but I’m not hungry. I’ll eat when I get home.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than her stomach betrayed her with a loud rumble.

Her face flushed bright red in an instant.

Ling Xiao chuckled and set the breakfast on the bedside table.

“Hurry and eat, or it’ll get cold.”

With that, he sensibly left the room.

Mu Yiran crept out of bed, tiptoeing barefoot to the door. Peeking out, she saw Ling Xiao had already gone far, and only then did she rush to the bedside table and devour the breakfast.

But as she ate, her delicate brows furrowed in thought.

“Why does this breakfast taste so familiar?”

With this puzzle in her mind, she polished off the breakfast and even let out a contented burp.

She hadn’t noticed when Ling Xiao had returned; he was leaning against the door with his arms crossed, watching her with an amused look.

Mu Yiran’s face turned scarlet once more.

“I... I should get to work. Thank you for the breakfast. Goodbye!”

With that, she fled without looking back.

“Hey!” Ling Xiao called out. Mu Yiran stopped and looked back in confusion.

Ling Xiao pointed to the corner of his mouth.

Mu Yiran touched her own and found a grain of rice stuck there, causing her cheeks to burn all the way to her ears.

“Th-thank you. I’m leaving now.”

“I’ve washed and dried your clothes—they’re at the door. You can change at your office. Xiu’er is downstairs; she’ll drive you.”

“Alright.”

Mu Yiran nodded, grabbed her clothes, and hurried out of the hotel as if escaping.

Ling Xiao’s gentle smile faded, replaced by a look of determination.

“One more day, Yiran. Just one more day. Once Jiangzhou is ours, I’ll tell you everything.”

...

It was a long day.

Ling Xiao remained in his room in deep thought, never stepping outside.

As night fell, a caravan exited the Jiangzhou highway, bringing a different air to the city.

Sixteen top-of-the-line Mercedes S-Classes, and a stretch Lincoln.

Such a fleet was not something an ordinary family could muster at will.

The procession ran several red lights along the way—no one dared stop them—and sped straight to the Xu Grand Hotel.

The hotel itself was ablaze with light.

At the entrance, luxury cars were already lined up—Lexus, Ferrari, Bentley... enough to host a grand auto show.

Inside the lobby, a crowd had already gathered.

But more striking than the numbers was the fact that every person wore expensive designer brands—Armani, Louis Vuitton, and more, with even some custom suits worth millions.

It could be said that tonight, the majority of Jiangzhou’s powerful families and elites had gathered here.

At that moment, someone suddenly shouted—

“Master Xu is back!”

Instantly, the whole hotel was electrified. Everyone stopped talking and flocked toward the entrance.

Soon, two men in tailored suits entered.

One, around sixty, lean but imposing, with tiger-like eyes and thick brows.

The other, in his forties, sported a crew cut and a beer belly, yet his presence was no less commanding.

As they arrived, everyone in the hotel bowed deeply to them—more precisely, to the elder man.

“Welcome home, Master Xu!”

“Good, good... hahaha! I’ve been away for a while, but you all have managed Jiangzhou well and kept the Xu family out of trouble.”

“Thank you for your praise, Master Xu. It is our duty to ease your worries!”

“Excellent! Truly excellent. I am greatly pleased. Now, let me introduce you! This is my good friend, Shen Wantong. He’s come with me to Jiangzhou for a few days of leisure.”

At the mention of Shen Wantong, everyone shuddered.

“Master Xu, is this the renowned King of the Northwest, Lord Shen Wantong?”

“Hahaha, yes, indeed!”

With a grand gesture, Master Xu signaled everyone to bow again.

“Greetings, Lord Shen, King of the Northwest!”

Shen Wantong chuckled and waved a hand.

“This is Master Xu’s domain. I am only a guest—please, no formalities.”

“Brother Wantong, you are too modest. What’s mine is yours. My subordinates are your subordinates—there’s no need to distinguish between host and guest. Let me introduce you!”

“This is my capable protégé, Tie Xinzhan of Jianglin’s Tie Group. You must have heard of their electronics business—annual revenue never less than five billion.”

“Yes, the Tie Group is famous. Of course I’ve heard of it.”

Tie Xinzhan bowed hastily.

“You flatter me, Lord Shen. I will rely on your guidance in the future.”

“And this is Lin Qinghua from Jiangcheng. His family is in the hotel business; they own two hotels in the Northwest as well. I hope you can look after them, Brother Wantong.”

“Master Xu, you’re too kind. If there’s anything you need, just ask.”

“That’s what makes you so generous, Brother Wantong—truly worthy of your title as King of the Northwest!”

...

“All these people are my loyal subordinates and promising young men. If they ever misstep in front of you, Brother Wantong, do not hesitate to discipline them.”

“Master Xu, you’re being too formal. Your subordinates are naturally mine as well. I will not treat them unfairly.”