After returning to the second floor, Su Qianqian frowned when she saw the untouched dishes on the table. She looked at Lin Mo and asked, “Lin Mo, you still haven’t eaten?”
Lin Mo scratched his head and explained, “Yeah, I was busy just now, so I forgot.”
A faint, mocking smile tugged at Su Qianqian’s lips. Lin Mo was truly stubborn. He had obviously been waiting for her, yet he still insisted on making up such an excuse. Was he playing some kind of hard-to-get trick? Still, the aroma of the dishes made her realize she was indeed a little hungry. She might as well give him a way out.
“I haven’t eaten either. Let’s eat together,” Su Qianqian said as she turned her wheelchair toward the table.
Lin Mo froze for a moment, then quickly carried all the dishes into the kitchen to reheat them. Although he was pressed for time, he could not ignore Su Qianqian’s words.
Soon, a table of steaming dishes was placed back in front of them. Watching Lin Mo busy himself, Su Qianqian pressed her lips together and asked, “You… why didn’t you call me just now?”
“Huh?” Lin Mo was momentarily confused.
“I thought you were with Xiao Jibo, so I didn’t want to disturb you,” Lin Mo replied with a small smile after understanding her meaning.
Su Qianqian paused. Her gaze toward him became complicated. So he knew everything, yet said nothing. He had simply stood at a distance, silently watching her. Watching her leave with another man, while he could only endure it alone. Just how much did Lin Mo like her to willingly bear all of that?
Thinking of this, Su Qianqian felt a mixture of emotions. Then, as if remembering something, she asked somewhat unnaturally, “Then… is your injury any better?”
Recalling how she had hurt Lin Mo before, Su Qianqian felt a faint sense of guilt.
Lin Mo was taken aback. He touched his arm and said indifferently, “It’s much better. After this period of Sister Qingyue’s care, it’s basically fine now.”
Su Qianqian’s expression instantly turned cold. The guilt she had just felt disappeared without a trace. Again, Sister Qingyue. Why did he always mention her? Did Lin Mo like Sister Qingyue that much? For some reason, whenever Lin Mo brought up another woman, Su Qianqian felt a suffocating anger in her chest. She even lost her appetite.
“I’m full. You can finish it yourself,” Su Qianqian said coldly as she put down her chopsticks.
Then she turned her wheelchair and returned to her room.
Lin Mo stood there in confusion, not knowing what he had done to upset Su Qianqian again. However, he did not think too much about it. Su Qianqian’s strange temper was nothing new. He still had to stay up late to prepare his work and had no time to ponder why she was angry.
After taking a few quick bites, Lin Mo cleared the table. He then placed a glass of water on Su Qianqian’s bedside cabinet before returning directly to his bedroom.
The next morning, Lin Mo woke up with dark circles under his eyes. He had stayed up too late and gotten up a little late as well. Even so, he was full of energy. Today was both the semifinals and the finals. He could not help feeling excited.
He quickly prepared breakfast and called Su Qianqian to get up. Since waking up, Su Qianqian had been wearing a cold expression, clearly still not over last night’s matter. But Lin Mo had no time to figure out what she was thinking.
Seeing that he was about to run late, Lin Mo arranged everything for Su Qianqian and left the villa without even eating.
As usual, he got into Ye Qingqing’s car and headed to the program venue.
No sooner had Lin Mo left than Xiao Jibo arrived at the villa holding a bouquet of roses. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
“Why are you here?” Su Qianqian frowned at Xiao Jibo. It was clear she was still upset about last night.
Xiao Jibo gave a light laugh and said sincerely, “Qianqian, I know what I did last night may have made you unhappy, so I came specially to apologize.”
“There’s no need. I’m not angry,” Su Qianqian replied coldly without even looking up.
Seeing this, Xiao Jibo grew anxious. He hurried forward, knelt on one knee, and said seriously, “Qianqian, I know you’re still upset, but I was truly overwhelmed last night. You know how much I like you. That’s why I was so eager to have you. During these three years abroad, I thought about you every moment. I was almost driven mad. I dreamed every day of seeing you again. Your every smile and every movement were engraved in my mind. There are things I want to say to you that could fill not just three days and nights, but an entire lifetime. So… Qianqian, I was only impulsive last night. Can you forgive me?”
Su Qianqian sighed softly, her tone gentler. “Jibo, I’m not blaming you. But when we started dating, I made it clear that I lack a sense of security. I would only give myself to you completely after marriage. What you did last night really scared me. I felt like you weren’t the same person you were three years ago.”
“Qianqian, don’t worry. I respect your thoughts. I promise that what happened last night will never happen again,” Xiao Jibo said hurriedly, lowering his head with a wronged expression.
“If you don’t forgive me, I won’t even know what the meaning of living is anymore.”
Su Qianqian’s expression changed dramatically, and a trace of fear flashed in her eyes. “Jibo, don’t say such foolish things. I never said I wouldn’t forgive you.”
“What? Qianqian, you mean you forgive me?” Xiao Jibo asked excitedly.
Su Qianqian let out a soft laugh and said gently, “Jibo, how could I possibly be angry with you? For the past three years, you’ve been thinking about me. How could I not miss you as well? My feelings for you have never changed. Besides, you only made a mistake that anyone might make. How could I bear to stay angry at you?”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Xiao Jibo stepped forward and hugged Su Qianqian. “Qianqian, I knew you would forgive me.”
Su Qianqian smiled lightly and returned the hug, gently patting his back. “Alright, Jibo. It’s getting late. Let’s head to the venue. Today is your day to win the championship. Be happy.”
After a long while, Su Qianqian pushed Xiao Jibo away and smiled. “Let’s go together.”
Meanwhile, Lin Mo and Ye Qingqing had already arrived at the program venue. Since Xiao Jibo and Su Qianqian had not yet arrived, the director decided not to wait for them. After all, the championship was meant for Xiao Jibo. Whether he came or not would not change anything. The drawing order for performances could also be controlled manually. They would simply arrange for Xiao Jibo to perform last.
Soon, the big screen selected one of the male singers. However, after Lin Mo’s performance yesterday, he had gained a large number of fans. When the singer took the stage, there was barely any reaction. The atmosphere remained as calm as ever. The audience even began closing their eyes to rest, waiting for Lin Mo to appear.
By the time the performance ended, Su Qianqian and Xiao Jibo finally arrived.
Just like yesterday, Su Qianqian did not even glance at Lin Mo. She walked straight to the side of the judges’ panel. Xiao Jibo, however, deliberately walked over to Lin Mo after arriving and looked at him with an extremely provocative gaze.
“Lin Mo, you can’t beat me,” Xiao Jibo said mockingly.
Lin Mo frowned in confusion. He did not remember ever offending him. Why did Xiao Jibo keep targeting him? And what exactly did he mean?
Xiao Jibo let out a cold laugh and withdrew his gaze.
At the same time, the big screen began another drawing. This time, it was the girl who had advanced yesterday. Like the previous singer, she received no applause from the moment she stepped onto the stage. The audience remained as still as if asleep.
Soon, the third and fourth contestants performed. When it came to the fifth draw, Lin Mo’s name finally appeared on the big screen.
The audience instantly straightened up, as if injected with adrenaline. Their faces were filled with anticipation.
Ye Qingqing smiled, her eyes curved with joy. No matter what the final result of this competition would be, Lin Mo was already the biggest winner. He had gained a large fan base. Even if he did not win the championship, he would become famous through their support. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
“Hello everyone, I’m Lin Mo. The song I’m bringing today is also my original composition. It’s called ‘Need Someone to Accompany Me,’” Lin Mo said.
This song was written for Sister Youchu. Sister Youchu had already left Lin Mo for seven full years. Whenever the night grew quiet, Lin Mo would stare out of the window in a daze. So he wrote this song to express his longing for Sister Youchu.
As he spoke, he began to pluck the strings.
Having learned from experience, the audience quieted down and listened attentively.
“Open the window, let loneliness draw near, this room feels so tightly sealed… The cheers still linger in the air, splendid yet empty as if no one is here…”
As his voice rose, the audience gradually sank into the lyrics. Unlike yesterday’s song, this one carried a deep sense of sorrow. Just one line was enough to pull everyone into its mood.
“I need dreams, I need direction, I need tears… More than that, I need someone to light up the darkness of the sky… I’m powerless, unable to resist, with nowhere left to retreat… In this silent night, right now, I need someone to accompany me…”
When the song ended, Lin Mo bowed deeply to the audience.
The audience remained immersed in the song. Even Su Qianqian unconsciously closed her eyes, quietly feeling the meaning behind the lyrics. When she finally opened them and looked at Lin Mo, a trace of confusion flickered in her gaze.
“Lin Mo, are you really going to be this stubborn?” she thought.
It was obvious that this song had been written for her again. The title alone made that clear. Lin Mo was subtly telling her that he needed someone to accompany him more than Xiao Jibo did.
But Xiao Jibo was the man she had loved for years. How could she abandon him just because of one song from Lin Mo?
“Lin Mo, don’t worry. Even if I can’t stay by your side, you won’t be alone. I will personally watch you find the one who truly belongs to you, and let her accompany you for the rest of your life,” Su Qianqian resolved firmly in her heart.
Soon, Lin Mo stepped down from the stage, and Xiao Jibo replaced him.
The audience’s eyes instantly dimmed. They returned to their previous drowsy state.
Until the very end of his performance, Xiao Jibo did not receive a single round of applause. The stark contrast in treatment made him clench his teeth unconsciously. His gaze toward Lin Mo grew icy.
Since Su Qianqian had already discussed everything with the director yesterday, there were no unexpected issues this time. Lin Mo advanced smoothly without surprise.
The contestants were reduced from six to three.
After a short intermission, the final round would begin.
“Lin Mo, I hope you won’t look too surprised when you see me win the championship,” Xiao Jibo muttered smugly as he watched Lin Mo’s retreating figure.
With that, he turned and walked toward Su Qianqian’s lounge.