The next morning, Lin Mo prepared a lavish breakfast as usual.
Just as he and Su Qianqian were eating, Xia Shiya arrived again.
“Oh, you little mute, so you really are here. I knew it. Aunt Wang would never lie to me,” Xia Shiya said as if she were in her own home. She went straight into the kitchen, took a set of bowls and chopsticks, and sat down to eat.
Early that morning, Xia Shiya had been worrying about what to eat when she happened to run into Aunt Wang at the market buying groceries.
Aunt Wang told her that Lin Mo had already returned last night.
After hearing the news, Xia Shiya hurried home to tidy up and rushed over in a flurry.
“Slow down. Look at you. You’re eating like you’ve been reincarnated from a starving ghost,” Su Qianqian rolled her eyes at her irritably.
Hearing this, Xia Shiya puffed out her cheeks and said indistinctly, “It’s all because the little mute cooks too well. If I don’t eat for one day, I start craving it.”
“You…” Su Qianqian shook her head helplessly.
But she had to admit that Lin Mo’s cooking was indeed delicious.
“On this windy day, I once tried holding your hand…” The phone rang, and the three of them paused.
Lin Mo picked up his phone. Seeing that the caller was Ye Qingqing, he immediately answered.
“Senior Lin, what are you busy with?” Ye Qingqing’s pleasant voice came from the other end.
Lin Mo swallowed his food and said, “I’m eating. What’s up, Qingqing?”
“It’s like this. I just called to ask. Registration for the talent show starts at eight this morning. I wanted to see if you have time. I can go with you to register and also explain the rules,” Ye Qingqing said patiently.
“I have time, I have time,” Lin Mo replied immediately and walked toward the bedroom as he spoke, completely failing to notice the ugly expressions on Su Qianqian and Xia Shiya’s faces.
“Alright. Get ready, and I’ll drive to pick you up.”
“Okay. I’ll send you my location in a bit.”
After hanging up, Lin Mo quickly changed into more formal clothes and prepared to leave.
“Where are you going?” Su Qianqian asked with a dark expression when she saw how anxious he was. Even though she had just heard Ye Qingqing’s words, she still could not stop herself from asking.
Lin Mo was slightly startled and replied naturally, “To register for the talent show. What’s wrong?”
“You… do you really have to go?” Su Qianqian almost gritted her teeth as she spoke.
Xia Shiya also looked at Lin Mo with hopeful eyes.
Seeing this, Lin Mo frowned slightly and said in confusion, “What’s wrong, Qianqian? Didn’t we agree on this last night? What do you mean now?”
“I…”
“Fine. Go then. Shiya, let’s go back to the bedroom,” Su Qianqian said as if she were sulking.
Lin Mo was baffled. He did not understand why Su Qianqian was acting this way.
Last night, she had clearly said he could handle his own matters during the day as long as he returned home at night.
Why was she angry again now?
But Lin Mo did not think too much about it. He glanced toward Su Qianqian’s bedroom and hurried downstairs.
Soon, he ran to a small convenience store not far from the villa and sent Ye Qingqing the location.
Su Qianqian already had prejudice against Ye Qingqing.
If he sent the villa’s location, Su Qianqian might come downstairs and argue with Ye Qingqing.
“Why did Lin Mo run over there?” Upstairs, Xia Shiya frowned as she looked at Lin Mo standing outside the convenience store, glancing around.
He had not gone far. From Su Qianqian’s bedroom, they could clearly see his every move.
“Hmph. He’s really protecting that vixen,” Su Qianqian sneered, as if she knew what Lin Mo was thinking.
While they were talking, a black limited-edition Maybach stopped beside Lin Mo.
Lin Mo opened the passenger door and got in with a smile.
That scene deeply stabbed Su Qianqian’s eyes.
She had never seen Lin Mo smile so happily.
Was he unhappy when he was with her before?
Or… were the words he said last night lies? Did he actually like Ye Qingqing?
At that thought, Su Qianqian’s expression grew tense.
“Qianqian, do you think Lin Mo might really like that woman?” After Lin Mo left, Xia Shiya asked gloomily.
Su Qianqian came back to her senses and shook her head while looking in the direction Lin Mo had gone. “No. Although Ye Qingqing likes Lin Mo, I already asked him last night. He told me himself that he doesn’t like her. So that shouldn’t happen.”
“What do you mean?” Xia Shiya frowned.
At the same time, Ye Qingqing had already brought Lin Mo to the registration venue.
Because of Ye Qingqing, Lin Mo was able to join the show smoothly.
After that, Ye Qingqing took Lin Mo around.
“Since the schedule is tight, the show will begin tomorrow. Registration closes this afternoon,” Ye Qingqing said while walking with her hands clasped behind her back.
Lin Mo nodded and listened carefully.
“There will be three rounds of competition. Contestants must bring out their best works.”
“Each round will eliminate some people. The one who stands at the end will win.”
“The audience votes determine popularity, but the judges decide who stays and who leaves.”
“Senior Lin, do you understand?” Ye Qingqing asked seriously.
“Yes, I understand,” Lin Mo replied softly, though there was still a trace of nervousness in his eyes.
It was his first time participating in such a large-scale talent show. It was natural for him to feel tense.
Seeing this, Ye Qingqing smiled and comforted him, “Senior Lin, don’t be nervous. Just treat it as coming here to have fun. Relax.”
“As long as the judges aren’t blind, with your talent, you’ll definitely stand out among so many contestants.”
Lin Mo took a deep breath and said firmly, “Yes. I can do it.”
“Go for it, Senior Lin. I believe in you,” Ye Qingqing clenched her fists in encouragement.
Lin Mo smiled, and his tension gradually faded.
“What? Does she have no shame? She actually confessed to Lin Mo in front of so many people?” In Su Qianqian’s bedroom, Xia Shiya’s incredulous shout rang out.
Just moments earlier, Su Qianqian had told her about what happened at the restaurant the day before.
After learning the truth, Xia Shiya was furious, and jealousy flashed in her eyes.
Su Qianqian nodded but did not speak.
“Qianqian, why are you still sitting there? Why not call Lin Mo back? If those two stay together like this, something will happen sooner or later,” Xia Shiya said anxiously.
“You’re that sure?” Xia Shiya asked in confusion.
“Do you think I’m keeping Lin Mo here just because I’m afraid my parents won’t accept Xiao Jibo?” Su Qianqian smiled faintly.
Xia Shiya looked puzzled. “Do you have another plan?”
“Of course.” Su Qianqian paused, then said firmly, “I’m going to find him a suitable girlfriend as soon as possible.”
“That way, he’ll stay away from Ye Qingqing, and he won’t keep pestering me either.”
Xia Shiya’s eyes lit up. “Have you found someone suitable?”
“Well… not yet.”
“Then how about considering me? I really like Lin Mo, and we’d make a great match,” Xia Shiya said excitedly as she grabbed Su Qianqian’s hand.
Su Qianqian rolled her eyes and said irritably, “Forget it. Who knows if you’d treat Lin Mo wholeheartedly in the future?”
“Besides, the gap between Lin Mo and your family is too big. Even if you like him, would your parents agree?”
Su Qianqian did not take Xia Shiya’s words seriously. She assumed she was joking.
Xia Shiya pouted and muttered softly, “Hmph. It’s clearly you who can’t bear to let Lin Mo go, and you’re always making excuses.”
She could see through Su Qianqian’s evasiveness.
It was simply because she did not want to hand Lin Mo over to someone else.
After three years, she had long grown used to Lin Mo’s care. How could she willingly accept him liking someone else?
She just had not realized it herself, or perhaps she had been deceiving herself all along.
“It rained all night, my love overflowed like rain…” The phone rang again, breaking the silence.
Seeing that it was Xiao Jibo calling, Su Qianqian’s expression softened.
“Hello, Jibo. What’s wrong?”
“Qianqian, I want to ask you for a favor,” Xiao Jibo said awkwardly.
Su Qianqian smiled faintly. “There’s no need to be so polite between us. Go ahead.”
“Qianqian, I’ve decided to participate in this season’s talent show. And I want to win first place. I hope you can help me,” Xiao Jibo said firmly, clearly intending to rely on her connections.
As the CEO of a listed company, Su Qianqian was a true capitalist. She had investments throughout the entertainment industry and even the music world.
As long as she said a word, even if Xiao Jibo’s performance was terrible, he could still win first place.
That was precisely why Xiao Jibo sought her help.
“You’re participating too? Do you understand music?” Su Qianqian asked, frowning slightly.
“It’s precisely because I don’t that I need your help,” Xiao Jibo replied matter-of-factly.
Before she could respond, he continued, “Qianqian, I know your family has always looked down on me, so I want to achieve something.”
“But the projects here at home don’t suit me, and most of my previous achievements were abroad.”
“So if I want to make a name for myself domestically, this seems to be the only path.”
“Qianqian, you just need to say one word. Do it for us.”
“Once I win the championship and debut, I’ll definitely become famous.”
“Then we can confess to your parents again. They’ll surely agree.”
Su Qianqian finally understood what he meant.
“Alright. I’ll help you,” Su Qianqian said with a faint smile, as if she had just thought of something.