Chapter 40: The Rival Always Wants to Taste Him Again [40]

Chapter 40: The Rival Keeps Wanting to Taste Him Again

It wasn't until the next day that Shi Mo casually sent Lin Ran a message:

"Lin Ran, don't you think you owe me an explanation about what's happening online?"

Lin Ran on the other end seemed to be waiting for his message, replying immediately:

"A Mo, I know you're angry right now, but please don't be angry—just hear me out first."

Lin Ran: "Although there are indeed some unpleasant comments about you online right now, you don't need to care about them. They're just running their mouths—as long as you don't go out for now, it won't have any real impact."

Lin Ran: "But this matter is very important to me. I'm sure you can understand my situation, right?"

Lin Ran: "Besides, you can't blame me for this. I know Ye Qi threatened you, which is why you can't help me now. I had no choice but to resort to this to save myself."

Lin Ran: "And, A Mo, what I said wasn't just for myself. I genuinely like you."

Lin Ran: "Trust me, once this is all over, I will definitely make it up to you!"

Shi Mo let out a soft scoff: "Lin Ran, you talk a good game. I'm the one being affected right now—how are you going to make it up to me? Are you going to give me all your Lin family shares to make up for it?"

This time, the other side was silent for a good while before sending another message:

"A Mo, something as important as share transfers isn't something I can decide alone. But if you're willing to be with me, then of course I can give them to you."

Lin Ran: "A Mo, be with me. As long as you're with me, we can pin it all on Ye Qi together. That way, those netizens won't keep coming after you either."

Shi Mo looked at this message and couldn't help but tsk.

447, who was lying in his arms, using his jacket as cover while munching on potato chips, widened his eyes in surprise.

447 exclaimed repeatedly: [Xiao Momo, his abacus is rattling so loudly I can hear it from another dimension!]

[I think all that stuff he said before was just a setup—this is what he really wants. He's using the online pressure to force you to be with him.]

[Whitewashing himself, getting to be with you, and scheming against Ye Qi all at once. With that much cunning in his head, I'm surprised it doesn't leak out when he drinks water.]

447 grumbled indignantly, all while still crunching away on his chips.

Shi Mo let out a low chuckle, brushing the chip crumbs off 447's face before speaking in a slow, relaxed tone:

"It's fine. He won't be strutting around for much longer anyway."

"How's the fortune recovery going?"

447 slowly opened the mission interface: [It's stalled at 35%. But his corruption level is too high, and there's no sign of it dropping right now. He's still extremely dangerous.]

[Xiao Momo, you need to be careful. I'm worried that after you let those people out later, he might snap and come after you.]

447 hesitated, then continued—after all, in the broken plotline, Lin Ran had ultimately orchestrated that kidnapping.

He'd set up that kidnapping to kill both the original host and Ye Qi. Ye Qi was the one he wanted to kill, and the original host was just there to take the fall.

More importantly, this way he could take over both the Ye and Shi families in one go.

Lin Ran had just barely gotten out from under the public's eye, and now Shi Mo was about to drag him back down into the dirt—and this time, trample him so he could never get back up.

447 was genuinely worried that Lin Ran would get desperate and do something rash.

Shi Mo's eyes flashed with a dangerous glint as he spoke in a low, unhurried voice:

"Xiao Qi, I'm not afraid of him acting. I'm afraid he won't."

447 was stunned for a moment, but quickly realized Shi Mo already had a plan.

This put him at ease a little.

[Since you've got a plan, that's good. I was just worried he might lose it and hurt you.]

Shi Mo's fingertips gently rubbed 447's fluffy hair, his eyes full of warmth at 447's concern:

"Xiao Qi, we've been partners for this long—how can you still doubt me?"

"Even if he wants to make a move, I can handle myself. I won't let myself get hurt."

447 let out a soft "oh," but still couldn't help adding quietly:

[It's just that his corruption level is so high... I just don't want you hurt.]

Shi Mo didn't say anything more, and 447 fell silent as well.

On the other side, Lin Ran, who hadn't received a reply, was getting antsy and sent another message urging him:

"A Mo, I know those comments online have had some impact on the Shi family as well. I don't think you want this to keep going either."

Lin Ran: "But I can't control what those people say. As long as you agree to be with me, and then we hold a grand wedding—"

Lin Ran: "After that, I'll pull some strings and hire some bots. They'll just be showering us with well-wishes. This benefits both our families. It's the best move right now, don't you think?"

Lin Ran: "A Mo, I don't want you to reject me, so I'll give you plenty of time to think it over. I'm sure you'll give me a satisfactory answer."

Lin Ran: "An answer that satisfies us both."

After sending his final message, Lin Ran went quiet.

Shi Mo read through all his not-so-subtle threats with a smile on his face, then got up and went to find Ye Qi.

Whether it was because the matter had blown up so big, or because Ye Qi simply wanted an excuse to stay here with him, the Ye parents—who had originally been preparing to go see the northern lights—were pulled back by Ye Qi to help handle things.

Ye Qi, meanwhile, had it easy. After Lin Ran had slung mud at them, he didn't even leave the house anymore.

Shi Mo hadn't fully taken over the family business yet either, and with this happening, he followed suit and dumped everything onto his parents.

Shi's father was furious. He knew Shi Mo was up to something, but he hadn't expected Shi Mo to cause trouble and still leave him to clean up the mess.

However, after a video call in which Shi Mo sat by the window, eyes lowered, putting on a dejected expression—

Shi's mother grabbed Shi's father by the ear and made him drop the idea of dragging Shi Mo back to handle things.

She even comforted Shi Mo for a good while, telling him to rest well at home and not take the online comments to heart...

So at this most critical moment, he and Ye Qi actually managed to enjoy a rare moment of ease.

Shi Mo quickly found Ye Qi in the kitchen, making desserts for him.

He blinked. "Making little cakes again?"

Ye Qi casually picked up a large, red strawberry and popped it into Shi Mo's mouth, saying very calmly:

"Can't help it—last night these little cakes visited me in a dream. They said they wanted to be eaten by the most beautiful person in the world and hoped I could help them out."

Shi Mo couldn't help but let out a low chuckle, wrapping his arms around Ye Qi's waist and resting his head against his shoulder.

Looking at the little cakes he'd never tried before, his voice was full of amusement:

"Ye Qi, how are you so good at this..."

Shi Mo said casually, picking up a chopstick, dipping it in some cream, and dabbing it on Ye Qi's nose and face.

"Young Master Ye's turned into a little cream kitten, what a good little cream kitten you are."

Ye Qi's eyes darkened slightly, and he also dabbed a bit of cream, ready to dab it on Shi Mo's face.

But Shi Mo noticed his move and tilted his head just in time, so the cream ended up landing on the corner of his lips instead.

Shi Mo raised an eyebrow, meeting Ye Qi's burning gaze, and in front of him, parted his lips slightly, revealing the soft red tip of his tongue, and licked the dab of white cream away.

"Mmm, not bad~"

Watching Shi Mo like this, Ye Qi's breath hitched for a moment, and the thought he'd been pushing down surged up again.

At that very moment, his hand was still suspended in the air, with a trace of leftover cream on his fingertip.

Seeing Ye Qi frozen, Shi Mo's eyes curved slightly, and under Ye Qi's slightly shocked gaze, he took his finger into his mouth.

"Mmph..."