Gold Cage - Chapter 5

 "Mu Mu, you've been smoking way too much lately."

On the terrace outside the office, the two sat under a sunshade, having coffee and breakfast. Mu Yu glanced at the cigarette in Huo Shiyin's hand. "And who's the one with a nicotine craving first thing in the morning, lecturing me?"

"I strictly control my intake now—no more than three a week."

Huo Shiyin studied Mu Yu's profile before suddenly asking, "Our studio is thriving in Washington too. Fan En and the others are all there. He even asked why you left... Mu Mu, why did you have to come back?"

Mu Yu smiled. "Haven't I already explained the domestic market potential to you all?"

Huo Shiyin knew that what he said was only one of the reasons. Although Mu Yu considered them close friends, there were some secrets he would never share. Sometimes, Huo Shiyin couldn't pinpoint the source of the occasional gloom and silence that flickered across Mu Yu's demeanor. She suspected it might stem from his background, but that didn't quite fit—after all, it was never his fault.

That evening, Lu Hao came looking for Mu Yu. Having heard from Huo Shiyin that their boss seemed in low spirits so much so that he hadn't even bothered to pick up the limited-edition heavy racing motorcycle (one of only a thousand worldwide) that had just arrived—Lu Hao dragged Mu Yu straight from the office to a bar.

Mu Yu and Lu Hao sat at the rooftop VIP bar on the second floor, drinking. Lu Hao proudly showed off his new car on his phone, prompting Mu Yu to laugh and scold, "Alright, enough. Go pick up your damn car already. You're practically drooling over it."

Lu Hao grinned. "The car's not going anywhere. I can pick it up whenever. But when my bro's upset, that takes priority."

"Sometimes, I really think you and A'yin act like my parents."

"Well, someone's gotta look after you when you can't even eat or sleep properly. Always causing trouble."

The three of them had met in college, with Mu Yu being the youngest. Despite his frail health since childhood, he paid little attention to his well-being, still pulling all-nighters, drinking, and eating junk food. Fortunately, his personal chef and doctor kept his diet and routine in check, preventing his condition from deteriorating too badly under his own neglect.

Lu Hao asked curiously, "Did Phil and Li Bing come back to the country with you?"

Phil was Mu Yu's chef, and Li Bing his doctor. Mu Yu took a lazy sip of his drink. "Yeah. They wanted to stick with me, and I couldn't be bothered finding replacements. I like Phil's cooking, and Li Bing, though annoying, at least doesn't talk too much."

"Can't believe anyone actually enjoys putting up with you. That's impressive."

Downstairs by the pool, a group of young people were throwing a party. At first, it was just lively, but soon the jeering grew louder, and splashes punctuated the blaring music. Mu Yu and Lu Hao exchanged glances before leaning over the railing to look down.

With a loud splash, a girl was shoved into the pool. The crowd laughed and egged it on as she surfaced, clinging to the edge. Someone crouched down and pushed her back under. She gasped and struggled before being hauled out again, though whatever was said next was lost in the noise. Drenched and trembling, she kept her head down—only to be shoved back in.

Mu Yu's gaze immediately locked onto Mu Zhiye standing among them.

Mu Zhiye was strikingly beautiful, taking after his mother. Tall and cold-faced, he watched as the girl was dragged out and pushed back in again. When she was pulled up once more, someone shouted, "Having fun?"

The girl shivered, silent. Another laughed. "Look, Zhiye, she can't even talk."

They were toying with her like an animal. Someone sneered, "She loved mocking Zhiye at school. Now she's speechless perfect."

"Hey, where's all that attitude from earlier? Show us again."

The girl's face was deathly pale. Mu Zhiye watched impassively as someone grabbed her, ready to toss her back in. She flinched, and the guy clicked his tongue, lifting a foot to kick her

Then a voice cut through the noise.

"What a lively scene."

Mu Zhiye was taken aback, raising his head in surprise. There stood Mu Yu, strolling casually into the open-air swimming pool. Dressed in relaxed attire, his black hair fluttering in the night breeze, he looked like a young master who had wandered there by chance.

Mu Zhiye never expected to run into Mu Yu here.

His loathing for Mu Yu ran deeper than anyone else's. A bastard child born from an illicit affair, freeloading off the Mu family for over a decade. What infuriated him most was that even before he was born, this illegitimate son had shamelessly claimed the position that should have been his—the rightful "youngest brother”—brazenly occupying the affection meant for him and his two older brothers.

"This is my party tonight," Mu Zhiye said through gritted teeth. "Get out."

His friends, none of whom had ever seen Mu Yu before, exchanged confused glances. Mu Yu acted as if he hadn't heard him, his gaze instead falling on the girl who had been momentarily forgotten. Her white clothes were soaked through, clinging to her body and revealing the undergarments beneath.

He had already grabbed a coat and draped it over her shoulders, wrapping her up securely before casually resting a hand on her shoulder. "Ganging up on a girl doesn't look too good, does it?"

One of the kids nearby snapped, "Who the hell are you? Mind your own business. She's Wild Brother's."

Mu Yu feigned shock. "What? Are you dating in middle school, Mu Zhiye? Should I tell your mom?"

The music by the pool had stopped at some point. The crowd, mostly middle schoolers around Mu Zhiye's age—young masters and misses dressed in trendy, mature outfits stared at the scene in bewilderment.

Mu Zhiye couldn't hold back his fury any longer. "Shut your filthy mouth! You don't get to mention my mom."

The more Mu Zhiye didn't want him to bring it up, the more Mu Yu insisted. "Didn't your mom teach you manners? Even if she didn't, she must've at least told you not to bully girls, right? She cares so much about the Mu family's reputation, and here you are, dragging it through the mud the moment you step out."

The crowd fell silent. Mu Zhiye stormed forward and grabbed Mu Yu by the collar. He was seething—being mocked by Mu Yu felt more humiliating than being bitten by a dog. "Who the fuck do you think you are? What gives you, a stray mutt, the right to lecture me? Your mom was just a whore what the hell did she teach you?"

Mu Yu's expression turned icy. Mu Zhiye sneered, "Did she teach you to wag your tail and please men in b—“

Before he could finish, Mu Yu punched him square in the face, then kicked him into the pool before he could react. Screams erupted as Mu Zhiye's friends lunged at Mu Yu in outrage. But Lu Hao, who had been watching from outside and sensed trouble, rushed in just in time to yank Mu Yu away, shouting, "Get him out of the water first!"

Lu Hao was at his wit's end. He had wanted to come down with Mu Yu, but Mu Yu had refused. All he could do was repeatedly remind him to just take the girl and leave no stirring up trouble. That Mu Zhiye was the Mu family's most treasured youngest son. If a conflict broke out, Mu Yu would be the one to suffer.

But he still underestimated Mu Yu's temper. Standing at a distance, he didn't hear what Mu Zhiye said to Mu Yu, but in the blink of an eye, he saw Mu Yu punch the guy and kick him into the pond.

At that moment, only two words flashed through Lu Hao's mind: We're screwed.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Lu Hao dragged Mu Yu and the girl away with each hand, driving off immediately.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Lu Hao yelled at Mu Yu while driving. "You actually kicked Mu Zhiye into the water! Do you have any idea how badly your mom's going to skin you alive for this?"

Mu Yu sat in the passenger seat, propping his chin indifferently as he gazed out the window. "His mom isn't mine."

"Fine, your stepmom then! But why him of all people?"

Mu Yu turned with a grin: "He ran his mouth and asked for it. Problem?"

Lu Hao was speechless. "Go die then. I'm done with you."

Mu Yu seemed utterly unbothered, turning to chat with the girl curled up in the backseat: "How old are you, kid?"

The girl kept her head down, wrapped in borrowed clothes, whispering that she was fourteen.

Wearing an expression that said ‘we're all doomed,’ Lu Hao kept driving while Mu Yu continued: "Why was Mu Zhiye harassing you?"

"He wanted me... to be his girlfriend," the girl murmured. "I refused... I need to focus on school. Then he..."

Still trembling with fear, she trailed off. Mu Yu asked for her address, and Lu Hao first took her to the hospital for a checkup before driving her home.

When they reached her apartment building, Mu Yu told her before leaving: "Don't let your parents report this to the police, okay?" The girl looked up at him blankly. Mu Yu smiled gently and patted her head.

"If you want peace, transfer schools. Moving would be even better." His voice was soft. "Luckily Mu Zhiye's still childish—he'll probably forget about you eventually."

After dropping the girl off, Lu Hao drove Mu Yu home but couldn't shake his worry. "Stay at my place for a few days," he suggested. "Auntie Zhao's definitely going to rip you apart," Lu Hao said. "Lay low at my place until things cool down."

Mu Yu laughed. "Can't avoid what's coming. Don't worry about me. Go home."

Lu Hao left uneasily. Watching his car disappear into the distance, Mu Yu's expression gradually turned cold.

His friend still underestimated Zhao Mengling. Her precious son got beaten up by the bastard child she despised most. If all she did was scream at him, she wouldn't be Zhao Mengling.

Lu Hao's fears were soon confirmed. The next evening, as Mu Yu returned from work and reached his apartment building, a black car intercepted him.

Bodyguards stepped out and politely gestured: "Mr. Mu Yu, Mrs. Zhao requests your presence."

Faced with their imposing figures, Mu Yu shrugged and got in under their watchful eyes.

The door closed, and the car sped away.

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