Chapter 31: The Rival Always Wants to Taste Him Again [31]

Chapter 31: The Rival Keeps Coming Back for Another Taste "31"

It was a text from Lin Ran.

Shi Mo glanced down at it.

During this period, Lin Ran had been blinded by the massive traffic and popularity, leaving him little energy or time to bother Shi Mo.

Even so, he still made time every night to send him a goodnight text.

Even without receiving any reply, it didn't faze Lin Ran one bit, as if that alone proved how devoted he was.

Shi Mo couldn't help but scoff softly. Looks like Lin Ran was basically done dealing with things, or he wouldn't have had time to ask him out.

Though, thinking about it, that made sense.

Even though Lin Ran was still useless deep down, he did have the Lin family backing him. Lin's father wouldn't waste such a good opportunity, so handling this stuff wouldn't be a big deal.

Shi Mo thought about the comments he'd just seen, plus the videos and posts Lin Ran had been putting out lately.

He just replied with a simple "okay."

Lin Ran immediately replied, booked a restaurant for tomorrow, and sent him the address.

Then came a full two minutes of the "typing..." indicator.

Shi Mo patiently waited for Lin Ran's next message, only to receive several videos he'd shared.

Lin Ran: "A Mo, have you been on social media lately? A lot of people think we make a great match."

Lin Ran: "A Mo, look at these videos people edited. They flow so seamlessly. You'd think we were actually already together."

Lin Ran: "Oh yeah, a couple days ago someone shared some fanfiction about us. They're pretty well-written too. Want to check them out? I can share them with you."

Lin Ran didn't even wait for Shi Mo's reply before sending over the fanfiction.

Shi Mo obviously knew why this was happening.

What Lin Ran had built online wasn't just a perfect all-rounder persona—it also included a "changed man" devoted lover image.

Probably because Shi Mo had rejected the marriage arrangement so thoroughly before.

Lin Ran never directly said the person he liked was Shi Mo, but he dropped plenty of hints, some obvious, some subtle.

Some people spoke up, saying he used to chase after Ye Qi.

He would only give a bitter smile and say he'd loved the wrong person before, but wouldn't anymore—from now on, he would cherish the one who truly loved him.

Combined with Lin Ran's deliberate steering and paid shills, many people started wondering what Ye Qi could have done to make someone who once loved him so much say stuff like that.

Many also started shipping them hard, believing Lin Ran was practically a novel protagonist.

Some hoped Lin Ran and Shi Mo would get together, combining their strengths for a satisfying "told you so" moment.

Others believed those who betray sincere hearts deserve to choke on a thousand needles, waiting for Ye Qi's redemption arc.

Only a small number of people stayed skeptical or neutral about the whole thing.

But the voices online were too loud—even if they disagreed, it was hard to speak up, and even if they did, they were quickly drowned out.

Shi Mo scrolled through the comments and videos, not surprised by any of it.

But thinking about how Ye Qi had been cast as the villain in these stories, he couldn't help but find it a little funny.

He wondered what Ye Qi would do if he saw all this now.

Shi Mo thought about it—he'd probably be pissed enough to lose it.

Back when Lin Ran just said he liked Shi Mo and wanted to marry him, Ye Qi was already livid.

Now with the internet flooded with fanfic and edited videos of him and Lin Ran...

"Tsk..."

Shi Mo turned over, sat up in bed, and leaned back, remembering the time Lin Ran had invited him to dinner and ended up getting beaten into the hospital by Ye Qi halfway through.

If Lin Ran hadn't learned his lesson, they might be meeting in the hospital again.

But clearly, Lin Ran hadn't made that same mistake this time.

The next day, he met Lin Ran at the agreed spot.

Lin Ran had booked a romantic restaurant, and they were seated in the main dining area rather than a private room.

There weren't many people in the restaurant when they arrived.

Shi Mo casually swept his gaze over those people and immediately understood why Lin Ran had invited him out today.

Those people looked like they were there to eat, but in reality, they kept watching them closely.

So Lin Ran had brought them here to gather material for their fanfic.

Just as Shi Mo sat down, Lin Ran presented the bouquet of red roses he had prepared earlier, his eyes brimming with tenderness.

"A Mo, I picked these out just for you today—your favorite red roses."

Quite a few people had already secretly snapped photos of this moment.

Those excited, burning stares—no matter how hard they tried to hide it, it was obvious.

Shi Mo curled the corner of his mouth and gave Lin Ran an unreadable look before accepting the roses:

"Well then... thanks a lot."

Lin Ran smiled. "A Mo, you don't need to thank me."

447 sat on Shi Mo's shoulder, secretly noting down everyone who had taken photos, and finally remarked:

[Xiao Momo, he's so smooth. You've barely sat down, the food hasn't even arrived, and the rumors are already flying everywhere.]

[That guy behind you to the left—he looks like he's video-calling his girlfriend, but he's actually recording you two.]

[Even though neither of you has said anything directly, everyone basically assumes you're a couple now.]

447 then huffed.

Watching Lin Ran across from him, still scrambling for topics and constantly flaunting his devotion in front of those people's cameras,

447 rolled his eyes, letting out a soft, annoyed huff:

[Looks like he's not only planning to step on Ye Qi to craft a clear-headed, devoted image after ditching a toxic ex, but he's also using public opinion to shackle the two of you together completely.]

[I know this is all part of your plan, but Xiao Momo, seeing him like this just ticks me off...]

A slight curve formed in Shi Mo's eyes, the smile in them deepening, with the freshly served dishes set before him.

Hearing 447's words, he quirked the corner of his lips and replied:

[Since he's upset our Xiao Qi, let's make sure he can't be happy either.]

447's eyes lit up instantly, speaking with eager anticipation:

[Xiao Momo, do you have another plan?]

Shi Mo: [No plan, just acting on a whim.]

[There must be quite a lot of people watching the livestream, right? Go mess with it a bit—hijack it.]

Shi Mo lowered his gaze briefly, concealing the emotions in his eyes.

[Since he wants the whole internet to see his devotion, let's give him what he wants.]

[But with so many eyes watching, if something unexpected were to happen, it would definitely be quite entertaining...]