Su Qianqian had been in a relationship with Xiao Jibo since their university days and believed she knew him well. Even though they had not seen each other for three years, she was still willing to believe he was not that kind of person.
Hearing her words, Xiao Jibo seemed to let out a sigh of relief. There was even a hint of provocation in the way he looked at the other two.
“Little sister, I was only telling the truth for your own good. There’s no need to turn around and slander me,” Xiao Jibo said calmly.
Ye Qingqing met his arrogant gaze and replied with sarcasm, “You don’t need to say it’s for my own good. What choice I make is my business and has nothing to do with you. Besides, even if Senior Lin has nothing right now, so what? At worst, I can support him. As for you, the truth will come out one day. You’d better think about how you’ll explain yourself then.”
Xiao Jibo glanced at Su Qianqian and pretended to remain composed. “If your conduct is upright, you won’t fear crooked shadows. I’ve never done those things, so why would I need to explain?”
Ye Qingqing smiled coldly. “I hope so.”
She turned to Lin Mo and spoke softly, “Senior Lin, I’m done eating. Let’s go.”
Lin Mo hesitated for a moment before finally nodding, preparing to leave with Ye Qingqing.
“Wait. Lin Mo, where are you going?” Su Qianqian, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.
Lin Mo replied absentmindedly, “I’m going to take Qingqing home.”
“No…” Su Qianqian blurted out instinctively. Her expression softened slightly as she continued, “Come back with me first. I need to talk to you.”
Lin Mo glanced at Xiao Jibo, whose face had darkened, and said, “It’s better not. Our contract has already expired. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go back with you now. And it’s already late. I’ll send Qingqing home first. If there’s anything, we can talk on the phone.”
After speaking, Lin Mo turned and left without looking back.
It was the first time he had refused Su Qianqian’s request. The reason was simple. He felt he had wronged Ye Qingqing today. He had invited her out to dinner to thank her and to welcome her back, but two unexpected incidents had occurred. He had lost his appetite, and he knew Ye Qingqing had too. When she said she had finished eating, it was only because she did not want to remain with Su Qianqian and the others any longer.
Moreover, Xiao Jibo had clearly been targeting him all day. Lin Mo had no intention of asking for more trouble. Following the principle that less trouble was better, he chose to leave.
Su Qianqian’s expression darkened as she watched him go, anger flickering in her eyes.
“Qianqian, forget about Lin Mo. Let’s eat first,” Xiao Jibo said with a smile after Lin Mo left.
Su Qianqian took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. “I’m not feeling well today. Let’s eat another time.”
“But Qianqian, today is the day I returned to the country,” Xiao Jibo said, looking wronged.
“Jibo, since you’ve already come back, we’ll have plenty of chances to eat together in the future. Let’s leave it at that for today. I’m tired. I’ll go back first. You eat by yourself,” Su Qianqian said firmly.
Seeing that she was determined to leave, Xiao Jibo quickly grabbed her shoulders and looked at her seriously. “Qianqian, it’s late. It’s not safe for you to go back alone. Let me go with you so I can take care of you.”
Su Qianqian frowned slightly. “Jibo, Lin Mo and I haven’t divorced yet. If you move into my house like this and others find out, it won’t be good. Besides, my parents don’t even know you’re back, let alone that we’re planning to be together. If they find out, they definitely won’t agree. We need to take this slowly.” This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.
Xiao Jibo’s intentions were obvious. Yet for some reason, when she learned he wanted to go home with her, Su Qianqian felt an intense resistance.
“…Alright.” Xiao Jibo seemed to notice her reluctance. He also felt her reasoning made sense, so he forced a smile.
Only after Su Qianqian left did his expression instantly turn gloomy.
“Lin Mo, it’s all because of you that you ruined my plans. You want to enter the music industry? I won’t let you succeed.”
After that, he called the waiter to bring the dishes, opened a bottle of red wine, and drank leisurely by himself.
On the other side, after Su Qianqian left the restaurant, she happened to see Lin Mo and Ye Qingqing getting into the same car.
Her expression instantly turned cold. She stared fixedly at the direction in which they left.
For some reason, when she recalled Ye Qingqing admitting she liked Lin Mo, she felt an inexplicable sense of loss.
She did not know whether Lin Mo liked Ye Qingqing. But judging from his behavior just now, he did not seem to dislike her. Otherwise, he would not have refused Su Qianqian in order to send Ye Qingqing home.
The more she thought about it, the more suffocated she felt.
The next moment, she waved to the driver and said coldly, “Follow that taxi.”
At the same time, Lin Mo looked at Ye Qingqing apologetically. “Qingqing, I’m sorry. Because of me, today’s meal didn’t go well. I’ll treat you next time.”
“It’s fine, Senior Lin. I’ve already told you not to be so polite. But… I wouldn’t mind if you treat me next time,” Ye Qingqing replied, lowering her head slightly, her cheeks still faintly red.
What she had said earlier about liking Lin Mo had not been baseless. It had been her true feelings. She had liked him since university but never had the chance to confess. Today, she had finally spoken out about her years of secret admiration. Even if Lin Mo did not accept her, at least she would not have regrets.
“Alright. It’s settled then. I’ll treat you next time,” Lin Mo said lightly with a smile.
As for what Ye Qingqing truly meant, he did not notice at all. He simply thought she had been helping him out earlier.
“Handsome guy, beautiful lady, we’re here,” the driver called out.
The two quickly got out of the car.
“Qingqing, go in first. I won’t walk you any further,” Lin Mo said. There was no luggage this time, so he did not accompany her too far. He simply stood there and watched her quietly.
Ye Qingqing hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Alright… Good night, Senior Lin.”
“Good night.”
With his hands in his pockets, Lin Mo watched Ye Qingqing until she gradually disappeared from view. Only after hearing the sound of a door closing did he turn around to leave.
“Stop.” This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.
A cold voice suddenly sounded behind him.
Lin Mo turned around to see Su Qianqian being pushed forward by a bodyguard, her face dark.
“Qianqian? Why are you here?” Lin Mo asked, stunned.
Su Qianqian sneered. “What? If I hadn’t come, were you planning to spend the night at her place?”
“Qianqian, what are you talking about? I just sent Qingqing home. There’s no need to say that,” Lin Mo said, frowning.
He did not understand what was wrong with Su Qianqian today. From the airport to the restaurant, she had seemed to be deliberately finding fault. Now she had followed him here and was speaking sarcastically again. Was she angry that he had followed her earlier? But he had already explained it had not been intentional.
“Enough, Lin Mo. Come back with me first,” Su Qianqian said, her tone finally softening though still cold.
“Qianqian, it’s really not appropriate for me to go back now. If others see it, there will be consequences. Besides, Xiao Jibo is still there. If I go back with you, what will he think?”
“Who told you Xiao Jibo is at my house?” Su Qianqian asked in confusion. Then she seemed to realize something. A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips, and her expression softened slightly.
So he was jealous after all. He was saying these things just to test her.
“Alright. Let’s go. I didn’t bring Jibo home,” she said impatiently, returning to her usual coldness.
Lin Mo was slightly surprised. Xiao Jibo had just returned to the country. Shouldn’t they have gone home together to rekindle their relationship? Why had Xiao Jibo not gone with her? And why had she come looking for him?
But none of that mattered anymore.
“Forget it. The contract has ended. I really have no reason to go back. So, Qianqian, you should leave. When you have time, let’s finalize the divorce. That way you and Xiao Jibo can be together properly. And I won’t disturb you again. Today was just a misunderstanding. I hope you understand,” Lin Mo said sincerely as he prepared to walk past her.
Su Qianqian’s brows tightened. It was clear she was angry. She had never been rejected by Lin Mo before, let alone twice in one day. Could it be that he really had something with Ye Qingqing? Was that why he was refusing her?
“Stop.” Su Qianqian turned her wheelchair and spoke through clenched teeth. “Lin Mo, I’ll say this one last time. Come back with me. Otherwise, don’t blame me for using force.”
After saying that, she turned her wheelchair and headed toward the car, leaving two bodyguards standing in place, watching Lin Mo.
Lin Mo frowned, confusion filling his eyes. He did not understand why she was still so persistent after he had made himself clear.
“Mr. Lin, you’d better come with us. Don’t make things difficult for us,” one of the bodyguards said seriously.
Lin Mo sighed helplessly and eventually got into Su Qianqian’s car.
He knew Su Qianqian’s temperament better than anyone. If he refused to go back with her tonight, she really would order the bodyguards to drag him away.
And so, he compromised.
The entire ride, however, was filled with silence.