Mall opening and old house controversy

[Afternoon at the Mu Family Residence in Beijing]

The autumn sun shone softly, casting a cool glow on the old house's blue bricks. A few golden leaves fell from the osmanthus tree in the courtyard, rustling softly underfoot. As Mu Tianlang stepped across the threshold, the familiar scent of medicine mingled with the fumes of disinfectant—his mother had just been discharged from the hospital and was not yet fully recovered.

The living room was quiet. Mother Mu sat on one side of the long couch, draped in a light gray blanket, her expression serene, her gaze fixed on the shadow of the osmanthus tree by the window. Her cool demeanor was not aloofness, but rather a restraint cultivated over many years, like an invisible wall that no one could break through without making a sound.

Mr. Mu sat opposite him, holding a teacup, his knuckles tapping the lid rhythmically. Seeing him return, his voice was neither warm nor cold: "The person has arrived?"

"Hmm." Mu Tianlang sat down, his expression calm.

Mr. Mu cut to the chase: "Although we are not primarily responsible for this incident, the brand has been dragged down. Public confidence needs to be restored, and capital needs to be stabilized. The Xu family called yesterday, and their attitude was very clear—cooperation terms can be discussed, but only if you maintain a closer relationship with the Xu family."

"The so-called closer relationship," he tapped the lid of his cup with his knuckles, "is still a marriage contract."

The living room seemed to be swept by a breeze; the sound of teacups lightly touching the porcelain surface was very soft, yet it made the silence seem even thinner.

Mu Tianlang raised his eyes, his gaze straight ahead: "I will handle the company. The cooperation will be discussed on the table, and we will offer terms at a price that the market is willing to accept. There is no need to tie it to a marriage contract."

Mr. Mu smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes: "You think capital only looks at the terms? They look at the person, the sides they've chosen, and whether you're willing to put your 'bargaining chips' on the table. To protect her, you have to be prepared to give up the capital that can be used to acquire her—this isn't the first time I've said this."

Mother Mu lightly wiped her fingertips on the blanket before finally speaking, her voice extremely calm: "Your health is the most important thing. Don't go too far with your conversation."

Mr. Mu seemed not to hear him and continued to stare at him: "There have been many rumors about you lately. Don't let outsiders lead you by the nose. The Xu family's daughter is sensible and knows when to advance and retreat, which is a form of protection for you."

Mu Tianlang's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but his tone grew increasingly calm: "I don't need to exchange marriage for protection."

Mr. Mu flicked the lid off the cup with a crisp sound: "What you need is stability. You are the pillar of the Mu family, not a willful child."

After a brief silence, Mother Mu looked out the window and said in a voice so soft it was almost carried away by the wind, "Tianlang, it's time to eat. Stay for dinner." Her tone remained flat, without any persuasion or taking sides, as if she were hiding her emotions in a sip of lukewarm tea.

Mu Tianlang withdrew his gaze and stood up: "I have other matters to attend to at the company. I'll head back now." He nodded slightly as if to say goodbye to the two of them, and his face remained expressionless as he turned away.

Stepping out of the old house's long corridor, a breeze rustled through the osmanthus branches, their delicate fragrance settling on his shoulders. He stood silently by the steps for a few seconds before pulling out his phone and typing a line of text—

He sent Hu Li a message: "I'll be back late tonight."

Hu Li quickly sent back a sticker: a fox resting its chin on its hand and blinking, followed by the text:

It's okay, I'll wait for you.

He stared at the fox on the screen, a feeling of relief washing over him; the chill and sting that had settled in the living room were gradually eased by those three words. His brows relaxed, and his breathing returned to normal. He lightly tapped the screen with his thumb, as if touching her hair from afar, before putting the phone back in his palm, turning and getting into his car.

[The day after the opening of a brand store at the East Ring Shopping Mall in Beijing]

As the crisis gradually subsided, the public's attention noticeably decreased after the timeline jointly released by the brand and the supervisor. The following day, Mu Tianlang attended the opening of a partner brand store in the Donghuan Shopping Mall as scheduled. A stage was set up in the mall's atrium, with LED screens behind the curtain playing the brand's promotional videos on a loop, and gold ribbons and flower walls shining brightly under the lights.

At 10:30, warm-up music began. Media personnel lined up in a semi-circle with their cameras and microphones, while the crowd whispered amongst themselves outside the barriers. After the host's opening remarks, the guests took their seats in order. Mu Tianlang, dressed in a dark charcoal gray suit with his shirt buttons fastened almost obsessively, stood like a cold ray under the light. He shook hands briefly with several senior executives from the partners, his manners impeccable, but his gaze remained aloof, preventing anyone from getting any closer.

When the host called on the brand representative to speak, a flurry of flashbulbs went off. Mu Tianlang gave a brief, composed speech: "Thank you for the trust and support of all our partners. We will hold ourselves to even higher standards, delivering quality to the market that can withstand scrutiny."

The words were few, yet each one powerful. The crowd gradually quieted down, and the media's pens paused for a moment.

Then came the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The moment the ribbon was cut, colorful streamers rained down from the ceiling. Mu Tianlang gave a slight nod to the audience, then turned and left. Amidst the jostling crowd outside, he was guided by security to the backstage area via a side passage. The entire process was swift and efficient, without any unnecessary pleasantries.

[Backstage brief break]

The interview area was temporarily set up in the side corridor. Light stands and microphones were crammed into a narrow passageway, with people coming and going, and the air filled with the scent of foundation and the heat of the lights. Mu Tianlang stood in front of the brand's backdrop, his expression calm, answering questions unhurriedly.

One reporter cut to the chase: "Regarding the shoddy workmanship incident, will the Mu family bear any joint liability? Will they seek compensation or terminate the cooperation?"

He stated, "The timelines for the supervision and third-party testing have been made public. The evidence will speak for itself regarding who is responsible. Consumer protection will not be compromised; compensation will be paid where due, and those who should be held accountable will be pursued."

Another follow-up question was: "There are concerns about your close relationship with certain suppliers. Was there any oversight in your oversight?"

His eyes darkened: "Internal controls have already implemented cross-checking and blacklist mechanisms, and this time the scope of review will be expanded. The bottom line for the Mu family is quality; anyone who crosses that line will be immediately eliminated."

Others offered a pointed perspective: "Your private life has recently become a topic of discussion. Are you worried about its impact on the company's image?"

He paused slightly, his tone growing colder: "I will only respond to questions related to the product and users. As for gossip, that's not on the agenda today."

There was a moment of silence, and the scratching of pens slowed down. The brand's PR representative then concluded the Q&A session and directed the media to hand over materials and camera positions.

During the break, the brand's PR representative handed him a bottle of warm water. He nodded his thanks, glanced at his watch, and casually unlocked his phone—a message popped up on the screen:

[Hu Li: Take care of your voice, I'm waiting for you at home]

He paused his fingertip on the screen for half a second, then replied with two words:

Okay, good girl.

Assistant Xiao Zhou leaned closer and whispered, "The trip is over. You can go directly through the side passage."

"Let's go." He put his phone away, his gaze returning to its usual cold and detached tone.

[Evening at a custom-made shop on the first floor of the mall]

The side passage leads to the pedestrian street on the first floor of the mall, where the light streaming through the glass ceiling is somewhat warm. As the crowd gradually disperses, he slows his pace and pauses in front of a shop window—it's an understated, handcrafted custom shop, displaying simple rings and delicate necklace pendants in the glass, without any ostentatious luster, only meticulous polishing and lines.

The shop assistant opened the door to greet him, speaking in a very soft voice: "Hello sir, would you like to inquire about custom orders?"

"Necklaces." His gaze fell on a simple little display stand, his tone restrained. "Make two, the same style. The design should be minimalist."

The salesperson showed the material swatches and sample cards: "We can use the semantics of lines to create abstraction, such as combining curves and geometry to form suggestive outlines. The material can be white gold or 18K gold, and the chain thickness can be customized."

He first looked at the sample card and stated the concept in his tone: "Make two, the same style, with the theme of wolves and foxes intertwined, and the style should be minimalist and abstract."

The shop assistant quickly took notes: "Understood. We can use a crescent moon curve as the main shape, with two lines, one light and one dark, intertwined to create an interlocking effect; the inside of the buckle can be engraved with the initials, and we suggest combining 'WF' to symbolize standing side by side."

He then flicked his fingertip to the small crescent moon pattern and lightly tapped it: "Use the crescent moon, and add a hook at the end to resemble a tail."

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with admiration: "You set the imagery first, then focused on the crescent moon and the inscription; the layers are very clear. The intertwining of the wolf and the fox signifies mutual dependence and also a sense of mutual restraint."

He paused, then added, "Make her another pair of earrings. The design should echo the necklace, with tiny crescent moons as a finishing touch, and a small diamond set at the tip of each crescent moon as a finishing touch, without any dangling. Use the same material, and make the posts hypoallergenic."

The sales clerk nodded and wrote it down: "Okay, sir. Two necklaces and a pair of earrings. The design draft will be ready in three days. We'll start production after you confirm it."

He looked at his reflection in the shop window, but the image of her earlobes peeking out from behind her hair floated into his mind. Those tiny crescent moons beside her ears, the diamonds gleaming like quiet, unassuming lights, yet instantly recognizable as his choice. When she smiled with her head down, the diamonds and the small diamonds swayed gently in the light, like a fox's tail tugging at his heart.

He added a note below the order: the earring back clasp should be round to prevent pressure pain; a micro diamond should be set at the crescent end of the earring; the chain length should be adjusted to one finger width above the collarbone for each of the two chains.

The shop assistant replied, "Yes, sir."

He nodded slightly, turned and went out, his steps more steady than when he came in.

【Evening at Crescent Moon Cottage】

As evening fell, the lights of Crescent Moon Pavilion came on.

The sound of the lock turning rang out as soup simmered in the kitchen. Hu Li turned the heat down and turned to open the door. The entryway light was warm, and he stood in its glow, the chill between his brows still lingering.

She reached out and hooked her arm around his collar, pulling him inside: "Wash your hands first, then have some soup."

He glanced down at her, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly: "Whatever you say."

On the table was a pot of clear beef soup and two refreshing side dishes. She ladled the soup into his bowl, and as the steam rose, he reached out and pressed his hand against her wrist: "Together."

"Okay." She sat down to his right, her knees touching his trousers. He ate quietly, occasionally glancing at her, at which point she would raise an eyebrow and make a funny face. That little joke gradually peeled away the shadows in his eyes.

"How are you today?" she asked softly.

"It's alright." He thought for a moment, then added, "It's good to see you."

She smiled, biting her spoon, and feigned composure: "Then take a second look."

He glanced at her obediently, then used his fingertip to wipe away a trace of soup from the corner of her lips: "Fox, slow down."

After dinner, she cleared the dishes, and he stood by the sink, sleeves rolled up, helping her rinse them. She nudged him lightly with her elbow: "Mr. President, this isn't in your job description."

"A temporary addition." He said casually, but his movements were practiced.

The living room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. She had arranged the sofa cushions in a semi-circle, and he had pulled her to sit beside him, the two of them sharing a thin blanket. She ran her fingers between his, as if unraveling the steel wires that had bound him all day.

"You looked very handsome today," she said.

"where?"

"The reporter asked about my private life. Even wolves can be chased by arrows, but you only look ahead."

He turned his head, his forehead gently touching her temple: "As long as you're in front."

Her heart warmed, but she still joked, "You make me sound like bait."

He chuckled softly: "It's not bait, it's the way home."

She reached out and pinched his earlobe: "You're so good with words."

He casually tucked her stray hair behind her ear, his gaze lingering on her earlobe for a moment, as if measuring something. She noticed his gaze and turned her head: "What are you looking at?"

"I was thinking of preparing something for you." He said calmly, without saying much more.

She squinted, trying to probe his thoughts like a fox, but in the end she stopped herself, simply resting her head on his shoulder and listening to the rhythmic beating of his heart.

"Tianlang".

"Um."

"No matter what happens in the future, remember, home is here."

He responded softly and hugged her even tighter.

As the night deepened, the bedroom light cast a warm glow. She turned to grab the sketchbook, and he suddenly wrapped his arms around her from behind, his lips brushing against the back of her neck with a soft breath: "Goodnight, fox."

She didn't back down, turning around and pecking him on the collarbone: "Goodnight, wolf."

The atmosphere paused for a second in the warm, dim light, and they both smiled. She nudged him to take a shower, and he went along. Just before the sound of running water began, he turned back to look at her, his gaze warmer than the lamplight.

The bathroom was still steamy. Standing in front of the mirror, he opened his phone and chatted with the shop assistant, adding a note to his request:

The necklace clasp is engraved with "WF" lettering with tight spacing; the earrings feature micro-diamonds set around the edge to prevent snagging.

We quickly received a reply: "Sir, we have updated the design draft."

Above the message box, Hu Li's conversation was still stuck on "Waiting for you to come home." He paused his fingertip over that line of text, then closed his phone.

As it approached midnight, his phone vibrated. It was his special assistant, Xiao Zhou, calling to report on the progress of the draft legal proposal and the supplier disposal list. He issued two instructions in a deep voice, adding at the end: "Tomorrow, cross-check the list of third-party monitoring agencies again."

After hanging up, he returned to the living room. Hu Li had already fallen asleep against the armrest, her breathing even. He approached her, pulled the blanket up a little, and lowered his head to place a touch of warmth on her forehead.

She murmured in her sleep, "Finished with work?"

"Mmm," he replied softly.