Chapter 193: Xu Huazhang’s Mother Realizes
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang stayed at the Mu Lantu family’s house for three days. On the fourth day, they set off for Luzhou.
Among the four great economic centers of Huaguo—Fuzhou, Luzhou, Shouzhou, and Xizhou—the Xu family stood as one of Luzhou’s top aristocratic households. Their luxurious estate lay in the villa district on Mount Lu Gong. From the airport, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang still had to take a taxi for more than half an hour to reach it.
Although Zhou Huili had offered to send a car, the two felt it was more convenient to grab a taxi themselves.
The Xu family, aware of the warm welcome Huazhang had received at the Mu family’s home, naturally wouldn’t slight Mu Lantu. Everyone was waiting at home.
When they saw Xu Huazhang and Mu Lantu walk in side by side, their demeanor wasn’t outwardly intimate, but their steps were perfectly synchronized—identical stride lengths, both lifting their left feet first. It was as if they were copy-pasted together, their different auras blending seamlessly. At that moment, a shocking thought flashed across Zhou Huili’s mind: could the “baby” her younger son always mentioned actually be…
By the end of lunch, Zhou Huili was even more convinced. Whenever Mu Lantu lifted his hand, Huazhang immediately knew what dish he wanted and served it for him. If Mu Lantu tilted his head slightly, Huazhang would hand him juice without a word. Unless two people were extremely close, how could such tacit understanding exist? She and Xu Shengming had been married for over twenty years, and even they didn’t share that kind of wordless connection.
As a mother, one would expect Zhou Huili to disapprove of such a relationship. Yet Mu Lantu’s handsome looks, refined manners, and ability to win both her and her husband over without them realizing it left her unable to dislike him at all.
Mu Lantu noticed Zhou Huili’s subtle emotional shifts. Truthfully, neither he nor Huazhang planned to deliberately hide things from their parents, but they also didn’t intend to confess outright just yet—they simply let things flow naturally. Back at the Mu family, it had been the same, but Mu Zixin, Nie Yalan, and Mu Zhanpeng all seemed rather oblivious and hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
“Huazhang, come to the kitchen with me and cut some fruit for Lantu,” Zhou Huili said softly, smiling.
Huazhang shot Lantu a glance before following her.
Once inside, Zhou Huili dismissed the servants, then studied her younger son carefully.
“Son, do you even know what you’re doing?”
“I do.” Xu Huazhang calmly picked up a fruit knife and began slicing a seedless watermelon. The quality was excellent, its flesh bright red and juicy. Each crisp slice was strangely soothing. “We met online and dated for three years. We agreed to take the entrance exam for Dongkai University’s geology department together.”
With just a few words, he explained the past and implied his firm resolve—if they had made a pact and both succeeded, how could that not prove determination?
Zhou Huili smacked him angrily. “Wait until your father breaks your legs!”
But Huazhang remained unfazed, letting her hit him. “Isn’t that why I have you? I know you’ll support me.”
Zhou Huili was left speechless. Her son had indeed struck her weak spot. Of her two boys, she had always favored the younger, indulging him almost unconditionally.
Not out of deliberate favoritism—rather, her elder son had let her down too many times.
Memories flashed through her mind, a bitter shadow crossing her beautiful eyes.
The first time was when Huazhang was little. His elder brother, at just ten years old, had pulled off his blanket one night, nearly costing him his life from a severe illness.
The second time, at age twelve, the elder son had taken Huazhang to an amusement park, where he was nearly abducted by traffickers.
And all this stemmed from a casual joke outsiders had once made: “What’s a younger brother? Someone who fights you for the family inheritance.”
As a mother, Zhou Huili hadn’t given up on her eldest right away. She had tried countless times to correct him, but nothing worked. In front of her and her husband, the boy acted like a protective older brother; behind their backs, his gaze at Huazhang was utterly devoid of affection.
Eventually, she had to accept the truth: their parenting had failed. Unable to correct her elder son, she could only protect her younger one. Gradually, her heart tilted toward the younger child. She knew her husband, too, harbored deep dissatisfaction with their eldest.
Naturally, her favoritism only worsened the eldest’s resentment toward Huazhang, creating a vicious cycle that left the brothers’ relationship irreparably broken.
“I can’t control you anymore! Let’s see how you get past your father!” Zhou Huili huffed, exasperated.
“Lantu is wonderful. You and Dad will definitely like him. Believe me, having another son like him is your blessing.”
His resolute tone made Zhou Huili want to smack him again. Two sons were already enough of a headache—who needed a third?
Huazhang dodged lightly, slipped an arm around her shoulder, and lifted the fruit plate. “Mom, let’s go back out.”
Zhou Huili gave a small huff, but a smile played across her smooth, fair face. At least he hadn’t forgotten his mother after finding someone.
After sitting down to share fruit, Huazhang finally brought up the main topic.
“Dad, Mom, besides visiting this time, we also came for something else.”
We. Zhou Huili gave him an annoyed glance, but still fed Xu Shengming a piece of watermelon.
“What is it?” Shengming asked, pleased, and wrapped an arm around his wife’s waist.
Mu Lantu watched quietly. He had heard some stories from Huazhang and respected Zhou Huili a lot. Though she came from a middle-class family, she had married “up” into the Xu’s. Yet after more than twenty years, she still kept Shengming firmly in hand. Among the wealthy elite, many men kept mistresses or even illegitimate children, but Shengming was the lone exception.
In fact, Xu Shengming and Zhou Huili were known as the rare genuinely loving couple in their circle, often the envy of others. That happiness seemed to be the secret to Zhou Huili’s lasting youth—true joy kept a person young.
“It’s good news. Let’s discuss it in the study,” Shengming said.
As before, three folders were distributed: one each for Shengming, Zhou Huili, and Xu Jinhui.
Huazhang hadn’t wanted his older brother to know about this project, but out of respect for his parents, he kept silent.
As for Jin Mingzhu, though she had been married into the family for years, she still had no right to participate in major Xu family affairs, much less step into Shengming’s study.
After reading the documents, Shengming’s eyes shone with pride. “Good job, brat. You didn’t let your old man down!”
Zhou Huili’s face also glowed with pride. “That’s my boy!”
She glanced at Mu Lantu, faintly realizing why her son had chosen him. The two fit together as if destined.
Xu Jinhui, however, frowned. His gaze flicked over Mu Lantu. “Huazhang, this project is too big to risk. You two youngsters can’t possibly handle it. It’d be more reliable for Xu Group to take full control.”
What an unpleasant thing to say.
Mu Lantu only smiled, sipping his tea. He knew Huazhang would handle it.
Ignoring his brother’s words, Huazhang told his parents, “Lantu’s family has already wired over two hundred million.”
Shengming nodded. “I’ll make a call later to have funds transferred to you.”
“Dad—” Jinhui protested, frustrated.
But Shengming, unwilling to embarrass his eldest in front of outsiders, waved him off. “Your brother is already an adult. If he wants to try, let him.”
Calmly, Huazhang refilled his father’s teacup. “Thank you, Dad. By the way, when Lantu turned eighteen, Uncle Mu gave him a coming-of-age gift—5% of Delist shares.”
Both parents chuckled at their son’s little ploy.
Jinhui’s face stiffened.
“You’re right, I overlooked this,” Shengming admitted. “Tomorrow, come to the company with me. I’ll transfer 5% of shares to you as well.” Delist wasn’t as valuable as his Longtian Hotel, but he couldn’t let the Mu family think less of them.
“Thank you, Dad.” Huazhang could be sweet when he wanted. He added deliberately, “When our gaming business grows strong, I’ll gift both you and Mom 5% each too, so you’ll always be shareholders. That way, even if Longtian Hotel falls into the wrong hands one day, you’ll never be short of money.”
Mu Lantu nearly laughed at Jinhui’s clenched jaw, hiding behind a teacup.
Shengming and Zhou Huili were delighted.
“We’ll hold you to that!”
Mu Lantu chimed in with a grin, “Uncle, Auntie, don’t worry. Huazhang means it. And when the time comes, I’ll also give my parents 5% each. If the four of you get along, you can form a mahjong table—or even travel the world together.”
The couple beamed, saying “good, good, good” repeatedly.
Jinhui, however, frowned deeply at his brother. What was he implying?
Huazhang leaned back lazily, smirking faintly at him. He had no real interest in inheriting Longtian Hotel—but if Jinhui provoked him, he wouldn’t hesitate to fight for it. Whether his brother could withstand that was another matter.
Jinhui understood the look, and anger warred with alarm in his heart. Since when had his little brother become this formidable?
“Mom, if you’re free this afternoon, Lantu and I will take you shopping,” Huazhang said, then turned to his father. “Dad, if you’re free tomorrow, we’ll play golf together.”
Tempted, Shengming nearly wanted to go immediately. Older men valued time with younger family members, especially such outstanding ones—it was a matter of pride.
“Wife, how about you go shopping tomorrow instead?”
