Perhaps it was because Bai Nanxing’s gaze was too intense, but Mo Leyang caught it instantly.
He smiled and waved at Bai Nanxing, acting like a friend who had known him for a long time, showing a very friendly attitude.
In everyone’s eyes, it appeared that way.
But only those who had interacted with him knew how terrifying that smiling face truly was.
Bai Nanxing immediately averted his eyes, feeling extremely uncomfortable under the gaze Mo Leyang cast his way. He detested those eyes that were so full of oppressive pressure.
As for Mo Leyang, seeing him turn his head back, his face went from smiling one second to turning cold the next.
Zhou Lin witnessed this speed of changing expressions and lamented, “The speed at which you flip your face is faster than flipping a book. Since you can’t stand him, why go out of your way to provoke him? I truly understand you less and less.”
“Which of your eyes saw me provoking him?”
“Both eyes saw it.”
Mo Leyang immediately squinted and asked, “Do you want me to help you replace that pair?”
Zhou Lin took a step back. “Thanks, my eyes are perfectly fine, no replacement needed.”
Mo Leyang reached out unexpectedly and gave his back a hard pinch. Zhou Lin’s reaction was a step too slow, and he nearly cried out in pain.
However, decades of family upbringing and manners allowed Zhou Lin to stubbornly swallow the sound; he immediately went to give Mo Leyang a kick.
Unfortunately, Mo Leyang had already anticipated his move. With a slight dodge backward, Zhou Lin kicked empty air.
“Not only do your eyes need replacing, maybe you need a new pair of legs too.”
Zhou Lin didn’t bother arguing with him and sighed, “It’s not just me talking. If you can’t stand him, just find a reason to get the old man to cancel this marriage alliance. The Mo family isn’t short of marriage partners; isn’t doing this a bit like bullying someone?”
It wasn’t that Mo Leyang couldn’t stand Bai Nanxing, but rather that he vaguely sensed this marriage was something Mo Yuncheng had prepared for Mo Yichen. Especially after he was called over by Mo Yuncheng today, the words spoken in that room further confirmed his suspicion.
But he never understood why—over a mere Bai family. They were only considered half-elite; on any ranking list, the Bai family wouldn’t even place. Mo Yuncheng had no need to use the Bai family to consolidate Mo Yichen’s status as the heir.
The more he thought about this question, the more it felt off.
If the reason couldn’t be found through Mo Yuncheng or Mo Yichen, then the only answer must lie with Bai Nanxing.
Yet so far, he hadn’t discovered anything special about Bai Nanxing. He was just an inconspicuous illegitimate son. Even the dog he raised had more status than Bai Nanxing; he truly couldn’t figure out what made Bai Nanxing worth marrying into the family.
“The old man talked to me at noon,” Mo Leyang said in a flat tone.
Zhou Lin asked, “What did the old man say to you?”
Mo Leyang recalled, “The old man said there is no room for negotiation regarding this marriage alliance. The person must be Bai Nanxing, and told me to stop thinking about nonsense. If he finds out I’m pulling strings behind the scenes, he’ll ruin me.”
Zhou Lin was surprised. “The old man really said that to you? What about your eldest brother? Did the old man say anything to him?”
“Who knows, I have no interest in knowing his business.” Mo Leyang crossed his arms, but his eyes continued to circle back to Bai Nanxing. “Zhou Lin, you know that no matter how angry the old man got before, he would never say such harsh words to me. This time is clearly different.”
Zhou Lin was well aware of this.
Mo Leyang’s biological mother had been tragically murdered because of Mo Yuncheng. Although the culprit was caught later, she couldn’t be saved, resulting in Mo Leyang losing his mother just as he was learning to walk.
Because of this, Mo Yuncheng was responsive to Mo Leyang’s every plea. As long as it was something Mo Leyang wanted, Mo Yuncheng would find a way to get it, and he was exceptionally tolerant of Mo Leyang’s actions. As long as he didn’t cross the line, Mo Yuncheng would unconditionally clean up Mo Leyang’s messes.
Furthermore, as long as he didn’t touch the bottom line, Mo Yuncheng would never question him.
But this time was different.
This time, Mo Yuncheng had said it explicitly on the surface, which was a warning to Mo Leyang that this was a red line he could not touch, let alone cross.
Zhou Lin followed his gaze toward Bai Nanxing, but he couldn’t see any secrets hidden within him either. “Did you ask the old man for specifics? Or did he refuse to tell you?”
After asking, Zhou Lin realized it was a redundant question. If the old man were willing to tell Mo Leyang, he wouldn’t be standing here talking nonsense now.
“Want me to help investigate?”
Mo Leyang had the ability to investigate himself; this wasn’t the kind of thing that required Zhou Lin’s hand. “No need.”
“If you say so.” Zhou Lin thought about it and decided to let it go. “Really no need?”
Mo Leyang didn’t make the statement too final; who could say for sure what would happen in the future? “What about his side? Did you hear anything?”
Zhou Lin rubbed his chin in thought. “Nothing special. You know your eldest brother is meticulous, and since he knows about the relationship between us two, he obviously wouldn’t show any weakness in front of me. As for Qingqing, you wouldn’t want to involve her, would you?”
Mo Leyang looked thoughtful.
Although Mo Qingqing wasn’t his biological sister and Mo Yichen stood between them, it was impossible to say there was no friction at all. However, Mo Qingqing called him “Third Brother” with every breath and hadn’t done anything to wrong him. If she were to be implicated just because of Mo Yichen, it would be an undeserved disaster.
Moreover, what Mo Yichen had done didn’t represent what Mo Qingqing had done. Only useless people would think of venting their anger on the innocent.
That didn’t fit his principles.
“What are you thinking? Am I that kind of person?” Mo Leyang said. “Don’t make me out to be so bad.”
Zhou Lin exposed him ruthlessly. “Aren’t you bad enough? If you aren’t bad, then there are no bad people in the world.”
Mo Leyang spread his hands. “I’m being framed here, okay? Don’t just slander me.”
Zhou Lin’s gaze stayed on Bai Nanxing as he said, “Is this what I call slandering you? Am I not stating the facts? If you aren’t bad, why bother making things difficult for him?”
Mo Leyang laughed softly. “He very likely threatens my position, and might even become a tool for Mo Yichen to deal with me in the future. If I don’t make things difficult for him, is it guaranteed that no one else will? Zhou Lin, set aside your naive thoughts; this is the Mo family. One wrong step can be fatal. Otherwise, how do you think I’ve survived until now?”
Elite families have always been heartless. Even if one Mo Leyang were gone, Mo Yuncheng would still have countless other Mo Leyangs.
To put it bluntly, the one thing elite families don’t lack is children.
“I understand.”
But Zhou Lin added one more thing, “Suit yourself. I have just one thing to say: just don’t cause any loss of life. You know my personality; don’t let it reach a point where we can’t even be friends.”
“Have you ever seen me kill anyone?”
Not really.
Zhou Lin had to admit that point. “Don’t you always hate your eldest brother? Just in case. I have to give you a reminder, don’t I?”
The relationship between Mo Leyang and Mo Yichen had been bad since childhood. On the surface, they appeared calm, but beneath the surface, it was a surging tide. To put it plainly, both were focused on appearances—at the very least, they couldn’t make things look too ugly in front of Mo Yuncheng. Otherwise, given the old man’s temperament, they would both be kicked out together.
“Relax, don’t worry blindly.” Mo Leyang felt a bit of a headache. “Where is the trust between people? Can’t you have a little confidence in me? If you’re like this, I’ll be very hurt.”
Zhou Lin didn’t even bother to call him out. He sighed and said, “Keep acting, keep acting. The next Oscar goes to you. I just find it strange; with your physique and looks, it’s a waste not to enter the entertainment industry, and even more of a waste not to act.”
Actually, Mo Leyang had tried that before. It started when they were living abroad together. Because of his mixed-race features, Mo Leyang was scouted by a local director who very sincerely invited him to an audition. Had things continued that way, there was a very high possibility Mo Leyang would have stayed in the industry.
Unfortunately, that director was thinking with his lower half. As soon as the talent was invited over, he thought about the “unspoken rules” casting couch. In a fit of rage, Mo Leyang directly crippled the man. From then on, a potential rising star of the entertainment industry was snuffed out by that director.
Being crippled was honestly not underserved at all.
“Fine, fine, you’re right,” Zhou Lin said. “But I have the same doubt as you: why did the old man insist on him? Although… he is indeed a bit striking, he’s not exactly a rare beauty. Plenty of people are breaking their necks to get into the Mo family, so why pick an illegitimate son? Also, since the old man decided not to hold an engagement banquet and wanted to keep things simple, it shows he doesn’t value this alliance at all. I really can’t figure out your old man’s thoughts.”
Mo Leyang looked thoughtful but wasn’t in a hurry to find the answer to that question.
He went to the same school as Bai Nanxing; knowing the answer was only a matter of time.
“Are you planning to go back to school later, or go home?”
Zhou Lin felt this was truly rare. “You’re actually concerned about where I’m going? Did I hear that right? Is this still the Mo Leyang I know?”
Of course, it wasn’t out of concern that he asked. Mo Leyang said, “Don’t be narcissistic. I just asked casually. You still have to help me pass a message to my dear junior. No, wait, I should call him ‘Little Sister-in-law’ now.”
Zhou Lin reached his hand out, signaling with his eyes.
But Mo Leyang pretended not to understand. “What? Begging for food? There are just enough leftovers from lunch; do you want me to have the butler pack them for you?”
“Get lost, just go.”
Zhou Lin felt that he must have committed some sin in his past life to be brothers with Mo Leyang in this one. Not only did he have to be a tool for free, but he also had to be on standby twenty-four hours a day, even to the point of working year-round without rest.
Yet, he actually kind of enjoyed the feeling.
Zhou Lin suddenly suspected he had some masochistic tendencies; he could actually endure it even after all this.
“I see he’s almost been scared to tears by you. Don’t actually scare him into having a breakdown, or be careful the old man really does ruin you.”
“Scared to tears? He should thank me for letting him adapt to life in the Mo family ahead of time.”