Speaking of this matter, it must start with a piece of history from Mu Lingshan's family.

In Mu Lingshan's grandfather's generation, there were three brothers in total. The eldest, Mu Chongwen, who was Mu Lingshan's biological grandfather, was a very upright and honest old man. The second, Mu Chongwu, had a temper similar to the eldest brother, but with a more fiery personality. Only the youngest, Mu Chongyi, was someone who had been shrewd and ambitious since childhood.

The eldest and the second brother led uneventful lives as ordinary factory workers, while the youngest brother maneuvered his way into politics. With his intellect and ruthlessness, combined with a bit of luck, he rose steadily through the ranks.

Logically, Mu Chongyi's success should have been a proud moment for the Mu family, something akin to fortunes rising from the family grave. However, when Mu Chongyi was most triumphant and proud, he got drunk one time and boasted to his two brothers about his political machinations, schemes, and sabotages—or even framings—of political rivals, which eventually led to a fallout.

The eldest and the second brother were the kind who couldn't tolerate injustice and were disgusted by deceitful and sinister people. Nowadays, it might be hard to understand their principles, but in the era of their youth, there were quite a few people like them.

When they learned that the youngest had committed shameful acts for the sake of promotion, especially harming someone who bore no grudge against him, had even helped him a lot, and then stealing that person's credit, they couldn't stand by and had to confront the youngest brother about it.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, or maybe the youngest really couldn't stand his brothers' characters. In any case, after a few words of criticism from them, he couldn't help but retort, leading to a fierce argument among the three, which eventually turned physical.

Mu Chongyi smashed a bottle on Mu Chongwen's head, shattering it instantly. The wine and blood flowed from Mu Chongwen's head, spilling all over the ground. With a fiery temper, Mu Chongwu gave Mu Chongyi a good beating.

The three of them, none thought they were in the wrong. After all the ugly words were said at the table, the brothers were thoroughly estranged from that point on.

Later on, Mu Chongwen and Mu Chongwu acted like they didn't have this younger brother, and until their deaths, they never saw Mu Chongyi again. This was truly a case of ending all ties, and a fundamental difference in values.

Did Mu Chongyi not feel regret or pain?

Of course he regretted it, of course he felt pain. Those were his two biological brothers! In their youth, they took the blame for him, fought for him, cheered him up, and gave him the best of everything, caring for him dearly!

But unfortunately, when the eldest and second brother passed away, the family hadn't informed him. Every time he thought about it, it was like a knife twisting in his heart.

The more he experienced conspiracy and deceit, and the higher he climbed, the more Mu Chongyi realized the preciousness of family. But, alas, his two elder brothers were already buried and could no longer hear his apology.

He had indeed thought about using his current power to help his elder brothers' descendants to make up for the mistakes he made in his impetuous youth, but regretfully, his elder brothers' descendants completely rejected his goodwill, albeit speaking gently yet firmly.

Mu Chongyi knew that this… was because his elder brothers had not forgiven him even till death!

In the blink of an eye, many years had passed. Mu Chongyi's temples had already turned gray, the vicissitudes of life wore down his youth but raised his status. Now he was a highly influential regional governor, holding the position of the Party Secretary of the Nanyun Province where Lidu is located.

Mu Chongyi certainly knew that Mu Lingshan was the granddaughter of his elder brother, Mu Chongwen. He didn't intend to disturb Mu Lingshan's life, but after watching that episode of "Heavy Punch" a few days ago, he was moved to tears, overwhelmed with emotions, he couldn't stay seated.

Because what Mu Lingshan experienced was so similar to what he had gone through back then, both achieving great merits relative to their positions with the help of others.

However, the choice made by Mu Lingshan was completely different from his own back then, which in itself was a tremendous act of courage, was it not?

Mu Chongyi knew that if Mu Chongwen were still alive, he would surely give Mu Lingshan a thumbs up and say, "Worthy of being my granddaughter, well done!"

And perhaps, he would add in his mind, "Much better than your Third Grandpa, that old cunning fox who became the Party Secretary!"

No matter what, even if it might displease his elder brothers' spirits in heaven, Mu Chongyi absolutely could not let anything happen to Mu Lingshan. He must ensure her safety, both politically and personally.

Therefore, Mu Chongyi immediately made a series of arrangements. He came to Lidu, not in the capacity of the Party Secretary, but as an elder full of paternal love, and met with Mu Lingshan.

Facing the granddaughter of his elder brother, Mu Chongyi candidly recounted that past, and while arranging for people to protect Mu Lingshan, he also arranged for some people to protect the young man named Chu Ge, who had greatly assisted Mu Lingshan.

When Mu Lingshan spoke of this, Chu Ge smiled, raised his glass, "Haha, this is a good thing, isn't it? With a Third Grandpa who's the Party Secretary, won't you, Miss Mu, have a free run here in Nanyun Province from now on?"

"A good thing? Sigh..." Mu Lingshan sighed, as if asking Chu Ge, or perhaps talking to herself. She raised her glass, clinked it with Chu Ge's, tilted her head back and drank it all, then set the glass down. "Why do I feel like you're mocking me for only being able to rely on others?"

"I didn't mean it that way. Having someone to rely on is certainly a kind of happiness, so just don't think too much about it."

Chu Ge shook his head and poured himself another glass of wine. "When I was little, there were countless times I wished for someone to rely on. But unfortunately, as an orphan, I had no choice but to grit my teeth and persist on my own."

Chu Ge drank the glass of wine by himself and smiled slightly, "By the way, when you get a chance, thank your third great-uncle for his kind offer. But I won't trouble him to send someone to protect me. It's really uncomfortable to be followed around in everything I do."

Mu Lingshan also drank a glass of wine, looking at Chu Ge with a hint of reproach, "Didn't you shake them off today? Do you know that doing that makes people worry?"

With those words, Mu Lingshan noticed the ring on Chu Ge's ring finger and suddenly realized she might not be in a position to say this, pausing, "You're about to get married; surely you don't want your wife to be on edge all the time, right?"

Sensing Mu Lingshan's attempt to cover up, Chu Ge chuckled nonchalantly and raised his glass, "Come on, let's drink."

Unfortunately, he wanted to change the subject, but Mu Lingshan was adamant about sticking to it. He was already getting ready to drink, yet she showed no intention of raising her glass.

"Can you tell me what you did after shaking them off?"

"After shaking them off..." Chu Ge deliberately smiled mischievously, "Of course, I went to do some shady things."

Although Chu Ge's smile was somewhat mischievous and easily led people to think that way, Mu Lingshan didn't believe it. But since Chu Ge was clearly tight-lipped, she had no choice.

Mu Lingshan shrugged her shoulders, snorted disdainfully following Chu Ge's words, and clinked her glass with his with a "ding".

"I knew you were no good. How could Qin Ruojing, the chairman of Tianjiao Group, even consider you? She must be blind. Come on, let's drink."

"Ha, I think so too." Chu Ge grinned and downed another glass.

After some snacks and drinks, the two unknowingly started bickering like they used to. Seeing Mu Lingshan's open and unreserved demeanor without mentioning that ridiculous night, Chu Ge gradually felt relieved.

Unwittingly, both had quite a bit to drink. Chu Ge stretched lazily, "It's getting late, I'll head back to sleep. Are you staying here longer?"

Mu Lingshan cradled her cheek with her right hand and shook her head, "You're not drinking anymore, what's the point of me staying here to drink alone? Come on, take me home."

"I've drunk quite a lot; I don't need to take you, right? Besides, the people arranged by your third great-uncle should still be around. Isn't it more appropriate for them to take you?"

"Enough, why all the fuss? We went out drinking together, and you won't take me, letting someone else? Are you even a man?"

Mu Lingshan rolled her eyes at Chu Ge, grabbed her handbag, and, without waiting for Chu Ge to say anything else, walked out, swaying slightly.

Although there was nothing hazy about Mu Lingshan's eyes, Chu Ge still felt it wasn't quite right to take her along. As they left the bar together, he hailed a taxi, but Mu Lingshan leaned directly against a Maserati door, sending him a disdainful and contemptuous look while beckoning with her finger.

The taxi driver, seeing this, gave Chu Ge an envious glance, then drove off with another passenger. As he left, he was still thinking to himself, "This guy's impressive, getting the attention of such a young, pretty, and Maserati-driving rich woman?"

Watching the taxi drive away, Mu Lingshan burst into laughter, "Come on, stop dawdling, hurry over. Do you think I could eat you up?"

Chu Ge shook his head helplessly, walked over to the Maserati, and opened the door for Mu Lingshan to get in.

When Chu Ge sat in the driver's seat, Mu Lingshan glanced around, smiled, "This car is indeed more comfortable than the Jetta from our police station."

Mu Lingshan didn't seem to expect a response from Chu Ge and continued on her own, "Yeah, but the space is a bit small. If it were a Range Rover or a Q7, that would be much more spacious."

Feeling a bit puzzled, Chu Ge didn't bother to respond, but Mu Lingshan suddenly turned her head, her gaze shifting towards him.

"Chu Ge, can you see inside this car from the outside?"

Chu Ge was taken aback, blinking, "Uh, um? You..."

Before Chu Ge could finish his sentence or even start the car, he noticed Mu Lingshan's eyes shining even more brightly, with a hint of something deeper.

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