Urban Seduction: Housewives Club Chapter 1954 - 283: The Mistress of Xuan Nü Palace 4

Chu Kuo felt a deep sense of frustration at those words. The excuse that "emotions are beyond one’s control" was the classic defense used by those entangled in multiple affairs—whether men with many women or vice versa—and it was a justification Chu Kuo himself had once employed.

If a person cannot even be truthful with themselves, how can they use such logic to demand honesty from others?

It dawned on Chu Kuo that this seemingly innocent Young Master of the Wang family was far more difficult to handle than he had anticipated. Despite being much younger than Zhang Qingtian, Wang Yue made the latter look like a mere child by comparison.

While this realization sparked anger in Chu Kuo, he couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of respect for Wang Yue. Had circumstances been different—and if he didn’t know the power backing the Zhang family—he would have unhesitatingly chosen Wang Yue as his son-in-law.

However, since the engagement between his daughter and Zhang Qingtian was already set, there was no room for second thoughts.

Truthfully, Chu Kuo wasn't sure he wanted to change his mind anyway. Wang Yue outshone Zhang Qingtian in every category, but the Zhang family’s influence was overwhelming. If they were provoked into action, the three major families of Jinling could be wiped out in a heartbeat.

What value would Wang Yue’s excellence have if the foundations of their power were destroyed?

Committing fully to the Zhang family’s side, Chu Kuo dropped his polite facade and spoke harshly. "To put it simply, as Chu Mo’s father, I am telling you: all contact between the two of you must end immediately!"

"That is not a decision I can make unilaterally," Wang Yue countered with a composed grin.

Fuming, Chu Kuo warned, "Wang Yue, do not push me to escalate this; if I do, neither of our families will emerge unscathed!"

"Then let us escalate it," Wang Yue remarked with total indifference. "I am just a child, after all. At worst, people will simply say I have poor upbringing."

Chu Kuo reached a sudden standstill. It was true; Wang Yue was only fifteen. Even if their relationship turned toxic, the boy would only suffer a minor blow to his reputation. As long as the Wang family offered a formal apology and promised to discipline him, the matter would fade.

But for Chu Kuo, the head of the Chu family, engaging in a public spat with a child would be a humiliating stain on his legacy that would haunt him forever.

After staring Wang Yue down for a long moment, Chu Kuo’s rage finally dissolved into a weary sigh. "My opposition isn't just for the Chu family’s sake; it’s for Mo Mo. If your feelings for her are genuine, stop bothering her so she isn't dragged down with you."

Wang Yue’s expression softened. "Uncle, what are you trying to say?"

Sighing once more, Chu Kuo admitted, "For Mo Mo’s sake, I will give you a warning. The Zhang family has formed a secret alliance with the powers of Tianhai. It won't be long before their reinforcements arrive, and their goal is to eliminate your three major families."

Caught off guard, Wang Yue asked, "Why are you sharing this with me?"

"Mo Mo and I may be father and daughter, but we have been distant since she was small. She blames me for what happened to her mother, though there were reasons for my actions," Chu Kuo explained. "Regardless, she is my firstborn; of course I love her. She has feelings for you, and your downfall would break her heart. So, take my advice: if your three families voluntarily surrender your influence in Jinling, you might find a way to survive."

Wang Yue was once again surprised.

Because of Chu Mo’s perspective, he had always viewed Chu Kuo as a cold-hearted patriarch, similar to his own grandfather, who would sacrifice anything for the Sect or family. He never expected Chu Kuo to harbor such paternal warmth for Chu Mo.

"If there are reasons for what happened, why not explain them to Mo Mo? It would surely mend your relationship," Wang Yue suggested.

This time, it was Chu Kuo who was stunned. He hadn't expected that after receiving such a dire warning, Wang Yue’s immediate concern would be the bond between father and daughter. This caused his opinion of the boy to improve slightly.

"The truth is difficult to discuss," Chu Kuo replied. "Besides, as the head of the Chu family and her father, I cannot bring myself to beg for my daughter's forgiveness."

It seemed that while he wasn't heartless, he remained a stubborn old man bound by the rigid dignity of a patriarch.

Wang Yue found this somewhat amusing, yet he found Chu Kuo much more likable than before.

"Uncle, do you know which specific faction from Tianhai is backing the Zhangs?" Wang Yue inquired.

Chu Kuo shook his head. "I am unsure. However, Tianhai is home to many formidable experts. Even a mid-tier force from there possesses power far beyond what our Jinling families can withstand. You should return and consult with your grandmother."

"Uncle Chu, I appreciate the warning," Wang Yue said with genuine sincerity. "In return, I have a piece of advice for you: I don't expect you to side with us, but it would be wise to keep your distance from the Zhang family. Otherwise, when the time comes to wipe them out, the Chu family might get caught in the crossfire."

"You... you intend to destroy the Zhang family?!" Chu Kuo gasped, visibly shaken.

Wang Yue offered a silent smile, but his eyes showed he was perfectly serious.

"Our discussion ends here. Keep in mind, I only spoke to you for Mo Mo’s sake; I said nothing else." Chu Kuo was clearly rattled and needed to find a quiet place to process everything.

Even if Wang Yue didn't speak for all three major families, what if he did? Before the Tianhai forces arrived, the Zhang family could not survive an assault from the three major families, even with Chu family support.

Without another word, Chu Kuo hurried out of the study.

"Wang Yue, what did you talk about?" Chu Mo asked with concern as he emerged.

Wang Yue chuckled. "What else? Your father tried his best to use logic and emotion to convince me to leave you."

"And?" Chu Mo pressed, her anxiety rising.

"I did the same to him—trying to convince him to let us be together," Wang Yue said. "Sadly, he is incredibly stubborn. No matter what I said, I couldn't sway him."

Chu Mo exhaled in relief. "That’s to be expected. As long as he didn't sway you, that’s all that matters."

"Never. I’ve told you before: I will never abandon you in this lifetime," Wang Yue stated firmly.

Chu Mo beamed with happiness.

"Ugh, the cringe!" Su Xiu teased. "If you're going to feed us 'dog food' like this, please do it somewhere else!"

Su Jiaojiao laughed and began to sing, "Cold 'dog food' hitting my face, goosebumps everywhere..."

Meanwhile, Xu Yanran watched with a satisfied smile. Seeing her daughter with a boy who was so loyal and sincere made her far happier than any family alliance ever could.

Su Jiner interjected, "Mo has been cooped up for so long. Now that she's free, why don't we all go out and have some fun?"

"Yes, let's go!" Su Jiaojiao was the first to agree, her hand shooting into the air.

"Aunt Xu, you should join us," Su Jiner added.

Xu Yanran was tempted, given her good mood, but she eventually shook her head. "No, I’m just an ordinary person. I might just slow you all down."

Wang Yue quickly replied, "That’s no problem; we’ll just pick a place that’s perfect for everyone."

"I know! Let's go to the amusement park!" Su Jiaojiao shouted excitedly.

Another amusement park?

Wang Yue was at a loss for words. It made sense for someone like Chen Feng, who was basically a child at heart, to want to go there.

But Jiaojiao was only a month younger than him—a fifteen-year-old girl. Why was she so obsessed with such places?

To his surprise, everyone except him immediately loved the idea.

With the four of them, plus Xu Yanran and the Chu mother-daughter duo, they had a group of six.

Their usual suspended car was too cramped, so they took the Chu family's seven-seater instead.

Out of respect for Xu Yanran, they avoided the high-intensity rides at first. They started with a scenic tour of the park and moved on to some more relaxed group activities.

Eventually, Su Jiaojiao couldn't hold back any longer and demanded they try bungee jumping.

The jump here was nearly 300 meters high. Even for a Cultivation expert, falling from that height was incredibly dangerous unless they had reached the Tianyuan realm.

Chu Mo was surprisingly the first to agree.

After being trapped in her room for three days, she felt a buildup of stress that she wanted to release through something thrilling.

Su Jiner and Su Xiu, being her closest friends, naturally went along with her.

Xu Yanran shook her head and said, "You girls go on. I'll wait down here." Wang Yue also had no desire to jump. "I'll stay here with Aunt Xu, don't worry."

"No need to worry about me, I'm perfectly safe. Go have fun with them," Xu Yanran told him with a kind smile.

"Auntie, just let him try to win over his future mother-in-law," Su Xiu joked, waving her hand. "Let's go!"

The four girls ran toward the jumping tower, while Wang Yue walked with Xu Yanran toward the edge of the deep lake situated beneath the platform.

A few moments later, Chu Mo was the first to take the plunge.

Watching her daughter's silhouette screaming through the air, Xu Yanran turned to Wang Yue. "Even though Mo isn't a child anymore, she still has her moments. I hope you can be patient with her."

"Auntie, you're too modest. If anyone acts like a child, it's me. I actually find that side of her very endearing," Wang Yue smiled. He then shifted the topic. "Did you know? She actually wants me to show up on her wedding day to the Zhang family and 'kidnap' her in front of everyone."

Xu Yanran didn't find it funny; she only sighed softly. "It isn't a 'kidnapping' she's after. She wants something grand and unforgettable."

"What do you mean?" Wang Yue asked, confused.

"You are already engaged to someone else, so she can never be your legal wife," Xu Yanran explained. "Because she loves you, she accepts this, but there must be a part of her that feels slighted. She wants a dramatic memory to hold onto, something to compensate for what she's giving up."

Wang Yue finally grasped the truth. Chu Mo wasn't just acting out a scene from a drama. He felt a sharp pang of guilt and made a silent vow: If she wanted a grand spectacle, he would give her one she would never forget!

Changing the subject again, Wang Yue asked, "Auntie, I can see that Uncle Chu cares for Mo deeply. Why is there such a rift between them?"

"Does Chu Kuo really love her?" Xu Yanran asked, surprised. "I honestly hadn't noticed."

"He told me himself. He just hides it to maintain his 'stern father' image," Wang Yue replied. "He also mentioned there were reasons for his past behavior. Forgive me for asking, but is there some sort of misunderstanding between you two?"

"It isn't a misunderstanding, but he does have his reasons," Xu Yanran said, her cheeks tinting slightly. She paused before continuing, "But we aren't close, and we rarely talk. Perhaps that's why Mo has developed such a wrong impression. Since Chu Kuo never shows her any warmth, the distance between them just kept growing."

Wang Yue wondered what kind of secret could be so difficult that they couldn't even explain it to their daughter.

He briefly wondered if Chu Kuo suffered from some kind of physical inadequacy in his private life.

But he dismissed the thought immediately. After all, rumors said Uncle Chu had plenty of mistresses and several other children.