Chapter 493: Two Choices

As she reached the elevator entrance, Mu Youyu instinctively turned her head back.

The audience seats were half empty, with only a few smashed chairs left in the front row and crystal shards strewn across the floor.

She leaned into Mu Xi's embrace; if Second Older Brother hadn't pulled her, those shards would have hit her head instead of the chairs.

Arriving at the parking lot, Mu Xi seated his sister in the passenger seat, bent over to buckle her seatbelt, pausing on the buckle before fastening it.

"Honey, just sit tight; don't worry about this—I'll call big brother."

He reached out and lightly pressed the top of her head; after she responded, he opened the window a crack before closing the car door.

Mu Xi dialed a number; the phone rang twice before being answered, and Mu Nian's steady voice came through: "Little Xi? What's wrong?"

Mu Xi briefly explained the situation.

Mu Nian's expression turned serious; his first reaction was to ask: "You're not hurt, are you?"

"I'm fine, just twisted my wrist." Mu Xi flexed his right wrist slightly; a faint soreness came from the joint, likely just a strained ligament from overexertion then, nothing serious.

"Your wrist?" Mu Nian fretted, "Don't neglect this hand—you need to get it checked. Besides, we're not unable to support you at home; from now on don't go to those crowded places where anything could go wrong..."

"Oh."

Mu Xi's spirits were low; he quietly added, "My sister is here too."

Mu Nian's voice rose several notches: "What? How did Youbao end up there? Is she hurt?"

Mu Youyu faintly heard, turned sideways, and reached out her hand toward Mu Xi.

Mu Xi handed over the phone; she took it and soothed him with just a couple sentences, after which Mu Xi took the phone back, saying, "I'm not here to have my sister comfort you—I'm telling you to have people investigate."

The line went dead, and Mu Nian naturally understood the weight of those words.

The crystal chandelier fell.

Perhaps it would have been an accident elsewhere, but it "happened to" occur at the gathering Tan Jingyan organized, and "happened to" be in the row where Mu Xi was seated, so it might not be accidental.

"Understood." Mu Nian's tone sank, "I'll have people look into it—you two leave the scene first, don't linger."

Mu Xi grunted, hung up, turned to his sister, and said, "I'll go check the situation; sweetheart, stay put—there are snacks in the back seat, I'll be back later."

"Okay, Second Older Brother."

As Mu Xi approached, the entrance to the Music Hall was already in chaos.

Ambulances wailed as injured spectators were helped out by staff.

Moreover, several media reporters, having gotten the news from somewhere, shoved their cameras forward to the police line, being blocked outside by security, but their lenses remained trained on the Music Hall's exit.

"Mr. Tan Jingyan, may I ask if the crystal chandelier really injured Young Master Xi?"

"Why hasn't Mu Xi come out—is his injury so severe he's waiting for an ambulance to carry him?"

"The Young Master Two of the Mu Clan Conglomerate is injured—how much compensation does the Music Hall plan to offer?"

Someone sharp-eyed spotted the person who came out, raised their voice: "Little Teacher Tan, your concert's turned out like this—what do you have to say?"

Annoyed, I felt like beating up this bunch of question‑asking idiots right away.

Feng Cen, just having come out, kept hearing those words echo in his mind.

Bodyguards escorted several people outward, shouting, "No interviews now—please make way, make way!"

Feng Cen was supported by Tan Yuzhou; a small patch of the gauze on his arm was soaked with blood, standing out starkly against the white fabric.

Tan Yuzhou walked at her side, his other hand loosely guarding her rear, his demeanor restrained.

He lowered his head and said something; Feng Cen didn't respond, merely quickening his pace forward.

Tan Jingyan followed behind, his expression still calm, quietly conversing with the Music Hall's person in charge.

Seeing Mu Xi approach, he wanted to come over and explain, but the chaos before him kept him from breaking free.

Mu Xi lowered his head and flexed his right wrist again; it wasn't serious, but it was enough that he didn't want to use that hand to play the piano for the next few days.

That thought flashed through his mind, only to be replaced by a wave of lingering fear.

If he hadn't reacted in time, the one injured right now would not be Feng Cen but his sister.

Pushed a step further, if he hadn't yielded his seat to his sister, he himself would have been the one struck.

Mu Xi's face darkened; he gave Tan Jingyan a look, turned back to the parking lot, opened the car door, and slid into the driver's seat.

The car pulled away; Mu Youyu leaned against the seat, tilted her head, and said, "Second Older Brother, your hand..."

"It's fine." Mu Xi softened a bit, "Just a twist—it'll be better tomorrow."

Mu Youyu didn't press further; her gaze fell on his profile as the scenery outside the window retreated in alternating light and shadow, tracing his outline now deep now faint, his lips pressed together.

A cold glint flashed in Mu Youyu's eyes; this seat had originally been Second Older Brother's, and she was sitting next to Teacher Tan—a deliberate arrangement by Teacher Tan.

Because she had come unexpectedly, Second Older Brother gave up his seat to her, then moved to Teacher Tan's original spot, and Teacher Tan shifted slightly to the side…

Mu Xi, driving, couldn't afford to dwell on it much either.

Half an hour later, the car stopped at the Mu family residence.

Mu Xi turned off the engine but didn't immediately get out, his hands resting on the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on the empty space ahead.

"Second Older Brother?" Mu Youyu, not feeling the car to be particularly bumpy, called softly.

Mu Xi soothed, "Honey, get out and rest a bit—we're getting ready for lunch; I'm going to see someone."

"All right, then I'll head out first—Second Older Brother, stay safe."

Shen Clan Conglomerate meeting room.

A man in his thirties stood before the big screen, facing the crowd: "Chairman, every fund flow in the overseas business division has a complete approval record; I'm merely on the execution side, decision‑making authority isn't mine."

Jiang Liangjin sat in the chief seat, not in formal attire, a thin jacket open, half‑leaned against the chair back, left hand casually on the armrest, and said, "Then."

Everyone present fell silent, having thought this meeting would be a struggle session.

Unexpectedly, after several overseas business department staff were urgently recalled, Chairman Jiang kept him company, repeatedly saying "continue," "then," "so."

The division general manager stood for an hour, repeating the same PowerPoint explanation four or more times, each segment desperately trying to distance himself from responsibility.

"Then…" the general manager's mouth went dry, he opened his lips, then closed them again.

Everything that could be said has been said; saying more would just be repetition, and the more we repeat, the guiltier I feel, but it's obvious the person opposite doesn't intend to let me off easily.

"" Most people in the meeting room didn't dare to speak, all pretending to study that report that had been flipped through till it was worn.

This is the second large-scale internal audit since Chairman Jiang took over the Shen consortium, and everyone understands what it signifies.

How well the new chief's three opening moves go will directly determine the future power structure of the Shen consortium.

And this chairman, who has been in charge of the consortium for half a year and is only sixteen, clearly doesn't intend to just go through the motions.

The veteran employees who used to follow the previous Chairman Jiang and watch Jiang Liangjin grow up are different now; they look at Jiang Liangjin with kindness.

""Chairman," the general manager forced himself to continue, "every item in the overseas division's accounts can stand up to audit; if you have any questions here, I can arrange the finance team.""

In other words, he's only handling execution here; the decision-making authority isn't his.

Jiang Liangjin's tone remained indifferent: 'So?'"

The general manager choked up.

The meeting room fell silent for nearly a minute before he replied, 'So the result is just this…'"

The overseas division president sitting in the corner finally couldn't hold back, leaning over to whisper something to the vice president beside him.

The vice president didn't dare to respond.

The general manager felt a deep resentment.

Jiang Liangjin spoke casually: 'Can't go on? Then I'll give you two options.'

""One, voluntarily confess and the relevant personnel will get the full investigation package. Two, I'll investigate personally and put you through the full investigation procedure.""