Sheng Kuang looked at Sheng Jing with a face full of astonishment. After a long time, he sighed deeply and said, "No one knows a daughter like her father. If Xin Huai finds out that it's everything about that lad's return that exposed this information... she would certainly argue with you for three days and three nights, right?"

"Since that lad left, his name has become taboo at home. Whoever talks to her about him, she gets angry with them... doesn't want to hear our nagging and refuses to move back despite the dangers outside. No matter how we try to persuade her, she wouldn't listen."

"These past few days, she's suddenly changed her temperament, willing to come home for a match, and even agreed to go out with Shen Jianping's son... can you imagine such a thing happening with her?"

"Unimaginable." Sheng Kuang shook his head and said, "Totally unimaginable."

"Back then, Dongguo Xin from Dongguo Family liked her and wanted to marry into our Sheng Family. Upon knowing about this, she almost tore the family apart... That girl's fiery nature, once she decided against something, not even nine bulls could pull her back."

"So, as they say, there's an oddity behind every inconsistency. She's here to gather information for that lad."

"The matter with Shen Lewen..."

"It's almost certainly related to him." Sheng Jing resolutely concluded.

A single leaf forewarns of autumn.

To know one person is to know their loved one.

"That lad has escaped to the old lands... yet hasn't admitted defeat?"

"How could the Tang Family admit defeat? Even Tang Li, even in death... never admitted defeat, right?"

"True that. Back then, if Zhong Daolong hadn't used the lives of the entire Tang Family and the families of his elite soldiers to coerce him... the outcome would have been uncertain."

Reflecting on past events, speaking of the Tang Family in those days, even the wine enthusiast Sheng Kuang's eyes filled with admiration.

It's not an attitude befitting a traitor to the nation.

Of course, how would the ordinary folk know the real truth, when they couldn't even grasp it?

"Tang Li wasn't ruthless enough. If he had been decisive, the throne might have ended up with the Tang Family."

"It's a pity that he surrendered for his family, only for them and his brothers to be completely wiped out..."

"That's why the Tang Family won't surrender this time." Sheng Jing chimed in, "After twenty years, their fighting spirit hasn't dissipated; with one burst of effort, they could topple the Zhong Family from that position."

"What did they have back then? No money, no people. Now they have the support of the Qin and Lu families; the Qin Family has the army, the Lu Family has weapons, why not fight?"

"What do we do?" Sheng Kuang looked at his elder brother and spoke up, "Everyone outside knows, our Sheng Family never aligns... if Xin Huai helps Tang Fei, then it's tantamount to our Sheng Family choosing to side with the Tang Family."

Sheng Jing remained silent.

After a long time, he said solemnly, "Sons and daughters are the debts parents owe from past lives."

Sheng Kuang burst into laughter and said aloud, "That's why I refuse to marry... What's the point of marriage? Better to drink alcohol. When sober, sit among the flowers; when drunk, sleep beneath them. Free and easy."

"You aren't refusing to marry, you simply can't find someone."

"Say what you will... It's not me who's troubled over children's matters now." Sheng Kuang removed the wine gourd from his waist, gulping down a big swig under his brother's extremely disapproving gaze, flashing an exuberant smile, and said, "Anyway, I'm standing by Xin Huai, with just one solitary seedling in our Sheng Family."

"You really have the nerve to say that? If you were married, you could give our Sheng Family more heirs..."

"Hold it, hold it." Sheng Kuang interrupted his elder brother's nagging and said, "Instead of pinning unrealistic thoughts on me, perhaps you and sister-in-law should try harder yourselves..."

Sheng Jing's expression changed drastically as he retorted, "Get lost."

Sheng Kuang got up and left, saying, "I'll go watch over Xin Huai, see what that lad is really up to. Can't let our girl be deceived."

After Sheng Kuang left, Mei Yuyin entered the tea room with a worried look at Sheng Jing and asked, "Mr. Sheng, has Tang Fei really returned?"

"You heard everything?" Sheng Jing poured a cup of hot tea and placed it in front of his wife, asking aloud.

"With you two brothers quarreling so loudly in the tea room, how could I not hear?"

Thinking about what Sheng Kuang said, "You and sister-in-law should try harder," Mei Yuyin's face couldn't help but blush.

Although she's already the mother of a twenty-something child, her days spent in the garden listening to songs, maintaining great appearances, made her look like a graceful woman in her thirties.

Whether in figure or appearance, she was second to none.

Only such a woman could give birth to a daughter with 'inherent charm and beauty beyond measure.'

As for Sheng Jing...

The impact is very limited.

Sheng Jing knew what his wife was worrying about and reassured, "It's just my personal speculation. Whether he truly returned or not, we'll know once Sheng Kuang investigates. With him around, Xin Xin won't be in trouble."

"I'm not actually afraid someone would dare harm Xin Xin, I'm worried that... if Tang Fei's identity is exposed and Xin Xin becomes entangled with him... what should we do then? Will the Shen Family spare our Sheng Family?"

"Soldiers come and block, water comes and cover." Sheng Jing gently patted his wife's hand; his heart was also extremely anxious, perhaps even more worried than Mei Yuyin.

Because he could foresee many things that others could not, predicting the worst outcomes.

However, seeing his wife so worried, he couldn't 'afford to worry.'

"If the Shen Family truly wants to trouble Xin Xin over this matter, the Sheng Family is not to be trifled with." Sheng Jing confidently grinned, saying, "We only have Xin Xin, if we cannot protect our only daughter, why bother being the Finance Minister? Better to shed this old body and fight them."

Mei Yuyin apologized, saying, "It's my fault for not educating Xin Xin well; she has had her ideas since she was little... I'll talk to her more..."

"What silly things are you saying? Isn't she your daughter just as much as mine?" Sheng Jing laughed and said, "Gave her freedom when young, now she is uncontrollable."

"The elder has been ruined; shall we start anew with a younger one?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Mei Yuyin smiled slyly, pinching Sheng Jing's arm fiercely.

------

M3.

Lu Siyu, disguised as Hua He, roared and howled at the center stage, her guitar almost creating sparks.

After a song of "Glory," the whole dance floor erupted into waves of cheers.

"Hua He, Hua He, Hua He..."

"Encore, encore..."

"'Indulgence,' sing a song of 'Indulgence'..."

------

In the second-floor booth, Sister Zi watched the scene in front of her with great satisfaction.

Hua He had only performed three shows at M3, but she'd already amassed a large following.

This externally cold, usually quiet purple-haired girl transformed into a completely different person once on stage.

Contained within the wildness, fury, and emaciated body is an uncontrollable hostile energy.

That's very rock n' roll.

"When will your throat get better?" Sister Zi asked, holding a whiskey glass, glancing at Tang Fei standing beside her.

"Probably a few more days..." Tang Fei explained aloud, "I got sick on the way, lung infection, my chest still can't exert any force."

"Take a good rest," Sister Zi casually expressed her concern.

If Tang Fei recovered, she wouldn't mind giving him a chance.

After all, Zhao Xiaozhou and Li Mi have been praising him for quite a while, saying he sounds even more impressive than Hua He.

She also wanted to see Tang Fei's expressiveness and influence on stage, to see if he's more captivating than Hua He.

Even if he's not well, it doesn't matter; with Hua He around, she loses nothing.

Plus, news about a fiery female singer from M3 has been spreading widely in the circle, drawing many to hear her sing. Table bookings have been increasing, sometimes making it hard to get a reservation.

Lu Siyu finished her performance and turned to leave with her guitar.

She didn't speak, nor did she bow to the audience.

As per her agreement with Sister Zi, she only sings three songs each night.

Once those three songs are done, there's no need to sing more.

Seeing her cool and aloof demeanor, the audience shouted even louder.

"Hubby, kill me!"

"Hubby is so handsome!"

"Hua He, you're so cool... I want to have your babies..."

-------

The female fans shouted the loudest and most forcefully.

Lu Siyu, holding her guitar, went backstage and said to Tang Fei, "I'm done singing, shall we head back?"

"Let's go," Tang Fei nodded, smilingly saying, "Let's go for some skewers and drinks."

Looks like a singer; after all, that's how other singers live.

Sometimes they drink till dawn.

Tang Fei and Lu Siyu didn't want to appear out of place, especially under the 'watchful' eyes of Li Mi and Zhao Xiaozhou.

Zhao Xiaozhou and Li Mi are a couple, they invited many times, hoping to have Tang Fei and Lu Siyu over to their rented place for hotpot and drinks, only to be declined by the duo.

They were afraid that if they went, they'd have to reciprocate the invitation and have them over to their little courtyard...

If the relationship gets too close, many secrets wouldn't remain secrets.

Tang Fei didn't want to resort to things like silencing or murder.

After all, he could feel the genuine sincerity Zhao Xiaozhou and Li Mi showed them.

Which was truly precious in Tang Fei's eyes.

"Sister Zi, we're heading back," Tang Fei took the initiative to greet Sister Zi.

Lu Siyu was unwilling to speak, so naturally, this sort of courtesy fell to him.

"Alright, go back and rest well," Sister Zi's gaze landed on Lu Siyu's face, her smile gracious and alluring, "Remember, it's the same time and place tomorrow. If there's a new song, you can try out your new song... You know, many people film videos to post on their Douyin; this could help boost your fame."

Talented people are respected anywhere.

Those who help others make money are liked anywhere.

Sister Zi might not care about Tang Fei's 'illness', but Lu Siyu had become her money tree.

At least, she was for this duration.

Whether she could stay popular for long, use her platform to become the center of attention, or quickly be abandoned and replaced by more rocking newcomers...

Who knows?

Who cares?

Tang Fei naturally knew about Sister Zi's differential treatment towards the two of them, but wouldn't get angry over it.

Just found it somewhat amusing that he became Lu Siyu's 'young man' kept as a lover.

"I will." Lu Siyu nodded expressionlessly.

Don't know when, but she had another piece of gum in her mouth.

'Pop...'

She spit out a big pink bubble.

Her personal image always kept very consistent.

Tang Fei and Lu Siyu were about to leave through the back door when, suddenly, they heard exclamations and a ruckus from inside the venue.

And then all the dance floor lights were turned on, the entire place brightly lit.

The light made the sultry men and women uncomfortable, each swearing vehemently.

"Turn off the lights, hurry!"

"My eyes are going blind... Are you running a damn light show? Which idiot turned them on?"

"What the hell? What's M3 up to?"

------

A large number of soldiers in dark uniforms barged in, scattering around, organized and disciplined, controlling the front and back entrances as well as emergency exits of M3.

Now, M3 became a trap to catch fish... or so it was.

Tang Fei and Lu Siyu exchanged a glance, they both recognized these were soldiers from the Security Bureau.

Soon, a familiar figure appeared in the center of the dance floor, it also appeared in front of them.

"Have we... been exposed?"

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