Urban Seduction: Housewives Club Chapter 1858: 0187: The Official Fiancée 5

“Relax, Mom. Although they claim it’s for my benefit, that is merely a convenient pretext. Truthfully, their resentment toward the Zhang family has been festering for a long time,” Chu Mo explained. “Besides, Wang Yue and Chen Xi delivered a public humiliation to Zhang Qingtian today. The mask has finally been stripped away.”

Her heart couldn't help but soften at the mere mention of Wang Yue’s name.

Having spent nearly the entire day by his side, the pure yang energy he naturally emitted had impacted her deeply. Now, whenever his image crossed her mind, scandalous thoughts surfaced, leaving her feeling flushed and overheated.

Suddenly, Chu Mo sensed a chilling aura radiating from her mother, as if she were standing near a block of ice. Her senses sharpened instantly, and the flickering embers of passion within her were abruptly snuffed out.

“Mom, is there some kind of Cultivation energy inside you?” Chu Mo asked, her voice filled with wonder.

Xu Yanran appeared oblivious, responding with confusion, “What energy are you talking about?”

“Just a moment ago, I felt a freezing energy coming from your body. You didn't feel it?” Chu Mo pressed.

Xu Yanran’s brow furrowed as she countered, “Mo Mo, were you just feeling… agitated?”

“How did you know?” Chu Mo blurted out, her cheeks turning crimson.

With a heavy sigh, Xu Yanran said, “It is likely due to the nature of my Nine Yin Meridians—they possess the power to extinguish the desire of anyone near me.”

“Is that true?” Chu Mo was stunned. “Then if that's the case, how did you and Dad conceive me?”

“In this era of advanced medical science, having a child is not difficult. A traditional union between a man and a woman isn't strictly necessary,” Xu Yanran clarified.

The realization hit Chu Mo like a lightning bolt, explaining why her father had never stayed the night at their home for as long as she could remember. She had always wondered why her mother—who was more stunning than the 'Twelve Beauties of Jinling' and had a far superior figure to her father’s mistresses—was treated with such distance. Now, the cold reality was clear.

Looking at it from that perspective, she realized her father wasn't entirely to blame for the estrangement.

“If in vitro fertilization was an option, why didn't you have a son?” Chu Mo questioned further.

“If I had given birth to a son, what would have become of Chu Wang?” Xu Yanran laughed softly, seemingly indifferent to her own status.

Chu Mo fell into a pensive silence. Chu Wang was her half-brother; his mother was her father’s favorite consort and he had already been named the successor to the Sect leadership.

Technically, Xu Yanran remained the officially recognized wife of the Chu family. Had she birthed a male heir, he would be the legitimate successor by bloodright, which would have stripped Chu Wang of his title as the next Young Master.

“Don't feel sorrow for me, Mo Mo. Having you is enough,” Xu Yanran said, offering a comforting smile to her visibly distressed daughter. Suddenly, her expression turned curious. “You mentioned Wang Yue earlier and seemed quite moved. Is he the one who has captured your heart?”

Chu Mo’s face burned. “It’s just… I have feelings for him. He is currently pursuing me.”

“From your reaction, it seems to be more than just a passing fancy,” Xu Yanran teased gently. “Regardless, you have my full support. Even if Wang Yue is younger and already bound by an engagement, status is irrelevant as long as your love is genuine.”

“Thank you, Mom,” Chu Mo replied, her heart swelling with gratitude for her mother’s blessing.

“What is the subject of this discussion?” a voice suddenly cut through their private moment.

A tall, imposing figure entered the room—it was Chu Kuo, Chu Mo’s father.

“What brings you here?” Xu Yanran’s warmth vanished the moment she saw him.

Chu Kuo felt a pang of internal regret. He still harbored feelings for Xu Yanran; if he hadn't, he never would have married a woman whose Meridians were useless for martial arts, despite her being the daughter of the powerful Xu family.

However, the curse of her 'Nine Yin Meridians Severed' was a psychological torture. To possess a wife of such breathtaking beauty and grace, yet be unable to touch her, would drive any man to frustration.

Consequently, Chu Kuo had sought comfort in other women shortly after their marriage, causing their bond to wither until it reached this irreparable state.

“I am here to inform Mo Mo that the wedding date with the Zhang family is drawing near. She needs to stop going to that gym and remain at home to prepare herself properly,” Chu Kuo stated bluntly.

“I refuse to marry Zhang Qingtian. I’ve told Mom, and now I’m telling you,” Chu Mo declared with equal bluntness.

“Insolence!” Chu Kuo barked. “This union was forged by both the Chu and Zhang families. It is not something you can simply walk away from!”

“You made that decision, not me. I never gave my consent,” Chu Mo replied icily. While she hadn't actively fought the arrangement in the past, she had never truly accepted it either.

“You have no right to decline!” Chu Kuo shouted. “The family has provided for you and educated you for twenty years to make you who you are. Now, it is your duty to pay that debt back to the family.”

“I used to believe that, but I’ve been told that serving the family doesn't require me to throw my life away,” Chu Mo countered.

“Ridiculous,” Chu Kuo sneered. “What else could you possibly offer the Chu family?”

“At the very least, I can ensure the Chu family survives,” Chu Mo shot back.

“What are you implying?” Chu Kuo asked, his eyes narrowing.

“That is all I will say. Whether you believe me or not, I will never become Zhang Qingtian’s wife,” Chu Mo said firmly. She chose not to reveal the plot involving the three major families moving against the Zhangs.

She could trust her mother with that secret, but her father was currently aligned with the Zhang family’s interests. Giving him that information was no different than handing it to the enemy.

Even if she remained silent, the Zhang family would likely suspect something after Wang Yue’s provocation. However, Chu Mo refused to confirm their fears; that was her line in the sand.

Chu Kuo stood stunned for a moment before letting out a long sigh. “Do you understand that the power balance in Jinling is about to shift? The Zhang family is set to become the dominant force. If we break this engagement now, it will be a grave insult. Do you think they will just let it slide?”

Chu Mo was taken aback. “What do you mean?”

“I’m telling you this for your own good: the Zhang family has secured a powerful backer. I don't have all the specifics, but this force hails from Tianhai. Within a month, or six at the latest, experts from that organization will arrive to help the Zhangs seize control of all Jinling,” Chu Kuo revealed.

“I know you are close with the Su family sisters. You should warn them to prepare. They may need to surrender their assets or flee Jinling entirely. If they don't, the three major families may be wiped out of existence.”

Chu Mo was shocked that her father would share such a secret with her. It proved he still possessed a shred of fatherly concern, and her voice softened in response. “Thank you for the warning, Dad.”