Inside Lin Mo’s lounge, Ye Qingqing fanned herself with her hand and pouted slightly. “Senior Lin, your room is so hot…”
As she spoke, she casually unbuttoned two buttons at her collar, revealing a stretch of snow-white skin.
Lin Mo coughed awkwardly and hurriedly looked away.
“But seriously, Senior Lin, your song was really amazing. Since I debuted, I’ve never heard such a beautiful song…” Ye Qingqing sat down beside Lin Mo, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at him with open admiration, like a devoted fan.
After stepping off the stage, she had not returned to her own lounge. Instead, she came straight to Lin Mo. On one hand, she wanted to discuss the song with him. On the other, she genuinely wanted to stay by his side.
“It was nothing, just luck,” Lin Mo said, scratching his head shyly.
Ye Qingqing blinked and grinned. “Senior Lin, you’re so modest. If your talent is just luck, then how are the rest of us supposed to survive?”
“Well… alright,” Lin Mo said with a sheepish smile, shaking his head helplessly.
Ye Qingqing seemed to remember something. She leaned closer and asked curiously, “By the way, Senior Lin, after you debut, which company are you planning to join?”
“I… I’m not sure,” Lin Mo replied, shaking his head with a hint of confusion.
Although he had majored in music in university, he was still a newcomer without experience. He did not really understand how to choose a company. From what he knew, singers usually waited for companies to approach them after debuting. Besides, as a rookie, what right did he have to choose?
What he did not realize was that Ye Qingqing’s question carried another meaning.
“Senior Lin, since you haven’t decided yet, why not join my current company after you debut? The treatment is very good, and I can help you find a good agent. That way, we can stay closer to each other and look out for one another if anything happens…” Ye Qingqing rested her chin in her hands and looked at him expectantly.
This was her true intention. She had even imagined a future where she and Lin Mo stood on the same concert stage, holding hands and singing together for the audience.
Lin Mo thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright.”
He did not really have any company lined up anyway. As a newly debuted singer, it was unlikely any company would rush to sign him. Ye Qingqing’s proposal seemed like the best option for now.
In truth, he did not care much about treatment or benefits. He only wanted to debut as soon as possible and work hard to become a top singer in the industry. That way, he could fulfill his promise to Sister Youchu and also search for her more effectively.
“That’s great, Senior Lin! You agreed?” Ye Qingqing said excitedly, her face lighting up.
Lin Mo smiled gently. “Mm. Thank you, Qingqing.”
“It’s nothing, I told you not to be so polite with me,” Ye Qingqing waved her hand, clearly delighted.
Lin Mo looked at her with gratitude. During this time, Ye Qingqing had helped him tremendously, yet he had nothing to repay her with.
Lowering his head unconsciously, his gaze accidentally fell on her collar. Seeing her pale skin, he quickly looked away in embarrassment.
Ye Qingqing followed his line of sight and glanced down as well. In an instant, her cheeks flushed visibly. She lowered her head, biting her lip softly without saying a word. Read the latest chapters at novelping.com.
“The, uh… it’s getting late. Let’s head out,” Lin Mo said awkwardly, sensing the tension.
Ye Qingqing snapped out of it and hurried out as if escaping.
However, the moment she stepped outside, she bumped directly into Su Qianqian and Xiao Jibo, who had just come out of their lounge as well.
Their eyes met, and the atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point.
At this moment, Ye Qingqing no longer looked flustered. Whether intentionally or not, she buttoned up the two undone buttons right in front of Su Qianqian. She then brushed back the slightly damp hair sticking to her forehead and shot Su Qianqian a provocative glance before turning and leaving.
Xiao Jibo gave her a meaningful look.
Su Qianqian’s expression turned icy.
Although she had never experienced that kind of thing herself, it did not mean she was naïve. Ye Qingqing’s loosened collar, slightly messy hair, the sweat on her forehead, and her flushed cheeks were enough to make Su Qianqian’s imagination run wild.
For some reason, her heart felt as if it had been pierced by a needle, twisting painfully. At the same time, a wave of inexplicable anger surged within her.
The thought that Ye Qingqing had just been doing that with Lin Mo made Su Qianqian’s entire body tremble slightly.
At that moment, Lin Mo stepped out of the lounge. Compared to Ye Qingqing, he looked calm.
He raised his head and met Su Qianqian’s gaze, pausing slightly. There was something strange about the way she was looking at him, as if he had done something unforgivable.
However, he quickly looked away. Su Qianqian did not want others to recognize their relationship in public, so Lin Mo could only pretend not to know her and prepared to walk past.
Suddenly, Su Qianqian grabbed his wrist and said in a low voice, “Come with me.”
“Qianqian, what are you…?” Lin Mo asked quietly, caught off guard.
Su Qianqian lifted her head, her eyes dark as she looked at him. “If you don’t come with me, be prepared to pay the penalty for breaching the contract.”
Without waiting for his response, she turned her wheelchair and headed back toward Lin Mo’s lounge.
Xiao Jibo glared at Lin Mo and was about to follow, but Su Qianqian stopped him. “Stop. I need to talk to Lin Mo. You stay here. Don’t come in.”
Her tone carried strong anger, and Xiao Jibo did not dare move forward. He could only stand there with a gloomy expression.
Lin Mo frowned but followed her inside.
“Lin Mo, do you have any shame?” Su Qianqian burst out the moment they were inside.
Lin Mo was stunned. “Qianqian, what do you mean?”
“What do I mean? Lin Mo, you’re unbelievable. Knowing you can’t advance, so you try to climb higher by sleeping with that fox spirit? I thought you were a decent person. Turns out you’re just like the rest of them, shameless. If I had known, I would never have helped you in the first place…” Su Qianqian’s voice trembled as she spoke in anger.
Lin Mo frowned, clearly displeased. “Qianqian, I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Yes, I took your money, but that doesn’t give you the right to humiliate me like this. Qingqing and I are completely innocent. I’ve said before that I treat Qingqing like a younger sister. Why won’t you believe me? Or do you simply look down on me and think I would sell myself for my future?” Find the original chapter at novelping dot com.
Although Lin Mo had always been obedient to Su Qianqian over the years, that did not mean he had no temper. Being accused of shamelessness without reason would anger anyone.
Su Qianqian paused, regaining a bit of clarity. She grasped the key point and asked cautiously, “You mean… nothing happened between the two of you just now?”
“What do you think? Do you see us as that disgusting? Qianqian, yes, you helped me, but that doesn’t give you the right to insult me and Qingqing. And I didn’t take your money for nothing. For all these years, I’ve taken meticulous care of you. Haven’t I earned that money?” Lin Mo said, disappointment written all over his face.
Seeing that Lin Mo did not appear to be lying, Su Qianqian realized she might have acted too rashly. She glanced around the room and noticed it was not messy at all. The tension she had been holding finally eased.
Still, she pressed her lips and asked awkwardly, “Then… what was going on with Ye Qingqing’s collar?”
“She said she felt too hot, so she…” Lin Mo’s ears turned slightly red as he recalled the awkward moment, but he patiently explained. It was clear Su Qianqian had misunderstood, though Ye Qingqing’s appearance had indeed been suggestive.
Su Qianqian suddenly understood. So she had wronged him.
But then why had Lin Mo not avoided suspicion from the start? Why had he not stopped Ye Qingqing from unbuttoning her collar, or at least reminded her before she stepped out? Unless…
A cold smile slowly curved at Su Qianqian’s lips.
“Lin Mo, stop playing these tricks. You’re only going to make me even more disgusted,” she said mockingly.
If Lin Mo had stopped Ye Qingqing earlier, none of this would have happened. In her eyes, he was deliberately playing hard to get. He knew she would never like him, so he staged this scene with Ye Qingqing just to see if she would feel upset. And her reaction had fallen perfectly into his trap. He must now believe that she cared about him.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, her gaze turning colder.
Lin Mo looked at her in confusion. “Qianqian, what do you mean?”
This time, he genuinely had no idea what she was thinking.
Su Qianqian became even more convinced of her assumption and sneered. “Lin Mo, I’m very busy. I don’t have time to act with you. Take care of yourself.”
With that, she turned her wheelchair and left without looking back.
Outside, Xiao Jibo greeted her with a smile. As he walked away, he cast Lin Mo a smug glance.
Although the room was soundproof, one could still hear faint noise from outside. Xiao Jibo had clearly heard their argument. Though he could not make out the words, he could tell Su Qianqian was furious and seemed to be scolding Lin Mo.
That was why he now looked radiant, like a victorious general, his gaze full of provocation.
Lin Mo felt baffled but had no time to dwell on it. The finals were about to begin.
After closing the door, Lin Mo left as well.