Urban Soldier Young Master

"Dad!"

Just as Chu Ge's eyebrows tightened together, an incredulous voice from Chang Xin echoed in the room.

At this moment, Chang Shao'en had come to stand beside the crushed bread roll that Chu Ge had stepped on, and he knelt down, facing Chu Ge, picking up a piece of residue and stuffing it into his mouth without hesitation.

Even though the piece of residue was already in a terrible state, mixed with the sweat and blood drops from Chang Xin earlier, Chang Shao'en still gobbled it up. Even when he gagged after taking a bite, he persisted in chewing in big bites.

"Dad, what are you doing? Get up, quickly get up!" Chang Xin ran over in two strides, her voice already carrying a sob, placing her trembling hands under Chang Shao'en's arms, trying to pull him up from the ground.

Chang Shao'en didn't glance at Chang Xin at all, his gaze was locked with Chu Ge, filled with bitter pleading, kneeling on the ground steadily, despite Chang Xin's efforts, unable to move him.

"Mr. Chu, I'm begging you to give my son a chance to live, I... I'm begging you."

As Chang Shao'en spoke, he swallowed the piece of bread roll residue and picked up another piece, continuing to stuff it into his mouth.

By now, he was acutely aware of the gravity of the situation. The phone call from Secretary Mu to Chu Ge earlier, along with Chu Ge's exhibited attitude, added to his despair.

Chu Ge pretended to have a bad signal and deliberately hung up on Secretary Mu's call, what does this signify?

This indicated that the relationship between Chu Ge and Secretary Mu was far more extraordinary than he had imagined, and also that Chu Ge didn't want to speak to Secretary Mu with the father and son present.

As for why this was necessary, does it even need to be asked? It must be because Chu Ge didn't want to give Chang Xin any chance of a comeback, so he was prepared to talk to Secretary Mu alone later!

Although Chang Shao'en felt that any efforts he made were probably in vain, for the sake of his son, he had to do something, no matter what.

Seeing this scene, Chu Ge's heart was in turmoil. At this moment, the only identity left for Chang Shao'en in front of him was that of a father, a father who was willing to kneel before others for his son's sake.

"Dad! Don't beg him; to kill or to maim, I'll accept it all. How can you kneel to him! Stand up, quickly stand up!"

Chang Xin's voice echoed again in the room, as Chu Ge expressionlessly walked to their side, unexpectedly kicking Chang Xin's stomach. Without even a glance at Chang Xin, who staggered back several steps, collided with a chair, and fell to the ground, he pulled Chang Shao'en up, and then, without looking back, took large strides out of the room.

Though Chu Ge had weathered many storms, he still felt a blockage in his heart. Even though he believed his guess was more than likely correct, he no longer had the mood to verify it and continue investigating the issue.

Exiting the Shimao Grand Hotel, Chu Ge turned back and glanced at the direction of the top floor, letting out a long sigh. Suddenly, he felt a bit envious of Chang Xin for having a father like Chang Shao'en.

Just like Chang Xin, Chen Yujie was the same. Putting aside grudges, wasn't Chen Zhihao also a father who loved his son?

Though, Chen Yujie was such a damned mess.

Chu Ge curled his lips into a self-mocking arc. This mountain-like paternal love, he had never experienced it, and could only empathize through others.

If... If I had a father, a mother, would they kneel before others for me without caring about anything?

Thinking of this, Chu Ge shook his head slightly. The two who gave birth to him and then abandoned him in an orphanage without care, he actually harbored fantasies about them, heh, it's simply laughable!

Feeling disheartened, he hailed a taxi, directing the driver to some random bar. Sitting in a corner seat, he silently began to drink.

Just as he downed a bottle of beer, his antique-level phone rang. Those who knew this phone number were the closest people to him, and it displayed Mu Lingshan's number on the screen.

Seeing the persistently ringing phone, Chu Ge hesitated for a moment. If nothing out of the ordinary happened, Mu Lingshan was probably calling about meeting Mu Chongyi. Honestly speaking, he didn't feel like seeing Mu Chongyi at all now, even more so without the mood.

The phone finally stopped ringing. Chu Ge had just picked up his beer and hadn't even taken another sip when it rang again, still Mu Lingshan's call.

Chu Ge put down the beer and let out a faint bitter laugh. Mu Lingshan really was persistent. As he hesitated, another ten seconds passed, and the phone abruptly stopped ringing once more.

When the phone rang for the third time, Chu Ge finally answered it.

"Hey, Tiger Girl, what's the rush? Calling me over and over? If it's about your third uncle looking for me, then..."

Before Chu Ge could finish, a slightly confrontational female voice came through the receiver, "Then what?"

Chu Ge was taken aback; the voice was not Mu Lingshan's. But he'd heard it just yesterday, and it was still fresh in his memory. He quickly realized it was Mu Chongyi's daughter, Mu Xiaoting.

Chu Ge was even more puzzled. How did Mu Lingshan's phone end up with her? Could it be that the two of them were together?

Chu Ge's guess was correct. Mu Lingshan and Mu Xiaoting were indeed together. Originally, it was Mu Lingshan who planned to make the call, but Mu Xiaoting snatched the phone.

Mu Xiaoting held Mu Lingshan's phone in one hand and picked up the coffee cup in front of her with the other. She gently blew on it, took a small sip, and asked unhurriedly, "Well? Then what?"

Mu Xiaoting's tone was far from friendly and carried more than a hint of provocation. Mu Lingshan sat beside her, looking a bit tense and helpless.

"Then there's nothing more to say." Right after Mu Xiaoting took a sip of her coffee, Chu Ge's voice came through the receiver.

Startled by Chu Ge's response, Mu Xiaoting's hand holding the coffee cup shook. If the cup had been full, coffee would definitely have spilled all over her. Luckily, she had only taken a small sip, or she would've choked.

Mu Lingshan raised a hand to her forehead. Though she didn't hear Chu Ge's exact words, she could tell they weren't pleasant. Otherwise, why would Mu Xiaoting react this way? Sigh, these two clashing is such a headache...

Despite the headache, Mu Lingshan felt a bit of smug satisfaction. In different circumstances, seeing Mu Xiaoting flustered would surely make her laugh out loud.

Mu Lingshan didn't choke herself, but her throat still felt uncomfortable. She coughed twice and set the coffee cup back on the table with a "thud."

The sound wasn't loud, just enough for Mu Lingshan to hear. Even so, it was enough to show that Mu Xiaoting was a bit miffed. Normally, when drinking coffee, she would handle it gracefully.

Next, Mu Xiaoting leaned back against the sofa, slightly furrowing her brow as she said, "What did you say? I didn't quite catch that. Could you trouble yourself to repeat it?"

The words were polite, even using honorifics, but Mu Xiaoting's tone was far from courteous.

In fact, if she really wanted to know what came after "then," she could've waited quietly for Chu Ge to finish. The reason she didn't was to make it clear to Chu Ge that the person talking to him wasn't Mu Lingshan, but her, Mu Xiaoting.

Despite this, Chu Ge still gave her that kind of response, which naturally irked her even more.

Chu Ge rolled his eyes, thinking, "Who taught this young girl to speak with such a tone? Even your dad, when he calls me, doesn't flaunt his position as the Provincial Party Secretary. And you're trying to act tough with me?"

His mood wasn't great to begin with. Even though he clearly sensed Mu Xiaoting's dissatisfaction, he didn't indulge her, yawningly saying, "I said, if you want to talk about your father looking for me, then there's nothing more to say. Got it now?"

Mu Xiaoting was furious. Since Chu Ge said "your father" this time, it clearly showed he knew who she was. Still, he had the audacity to say that?

No one had ever spoken to her so dismissively or sarcastically in her entire life.

She believed she'd given Chu Ge a way out, but he had no intention of taking it, even adding fuel to the fire himself.

Mu Xiaoting narrowed her eyes, almost grinding her teeth as she said, "What's this? Mr. Chu thinks so highly of himself that even my father can't invite you? Would it take the Chairman of the Central Military Commission sending eight sedan chairs for you to agree to a meeting?"

No sooner had Mu Xiaoting finished speaking than she heard Chu Ge say, "If it's not something urgent, not necessarily."

Hearing Chu Ge's still lackadaisical tone nearly drove Mu Xiaoting up the wall. She intended to provoke Chu Ge, but he countered her with one sentence. Even with her usual quick wit and sharp tongue, she was at a loss for words.

After a long pause, Mu Xiaoting finally squeezed out a sentence: "Ha! Mr. Chu is quite the comedian. From your tone, it seems you're quite familiar with each other?"

"Well, not that familiar, really. But at least you can see him every night at seven on that epic TV program. Besides, you know how busy he is. How would he have time for someone as insignificant as me?"

"Come on, don't act so humble with that 'insignificant' talk. If you're a small fish, then what am I? Should I just find an ant hole and crawl into it? Living under the same sky as you, it's quite the burden."

Mu Xiaoting laughed out of anger, biting back with a retort, then realized something. Her lips curled into a faint smile as she glanced at Mu Lingshan, who looked both helpless and slightly gleeful.