Chapter 5: The Rival Always Wants to Taste Him Again [5]

Chapter 5: His Rival Keeps Coming Back for Another Taste "5"

Ye Qi's smile froze the instant the private room door opened.

From where he stood, the two of them were practically glued to each other.

Lin Ran's jacket had fallen to the floor, his shirt was half unbuttoned, and Shi Mo's hand was resting on Lin Ran's waist.

Two men alone in a private room, in such a compromising position—it was hard not to let the imagination run wild.

Shi Mo had planned to knock Lin Ran out, but he hadn't expected Ye Qi to arrive so quickly—and to walk in on this exact scene.

"Ye Qi? Why are you here?"

He kept his smile on, but his eyes flickered for a split second.

Knowing that Ye Qi was nearby was one thing, but finding his private room this fast was a whole other story.

It seemed the people here needed to be whipped into shape—and the ones who needed replacing would have to go.

Lin Ran heard that familiar voice, his hands freezing mid-motion. A flicker of hatred flashed through his eyes as he let go of Shi Mo's hand.

He turned to face Ye Qi, the hatred already buried deep, leaving only anger on his face as he buttoned his shirt.

"Ye Qi, what are you doing here?"

Ye Qi looked coldly at Lin Ran, gripping the documents in his hand, and said through gritted teeth:

"What, am I not allowed to be here?"

Lin Ran had finished buttoning his shirt. Hearing this, he let out a cold laugh and raised his chin:

"Ye Qi, I know you don't like A Mo, but as I recall, this club belongs to A Mo. Coming straight to his territory to cause him trouble—don't you think that's crossing a line?"

As he spoke, he stepped forward a few paces, planting himself in front of Shi Mo, and looked at Ye Qi with his disgust plain to see.

"Ye Qi! If you dare lay a hand on A Mo today, you'll answer to me!"

Ye Qi couldn't help frowning. If he remembered correctly, Lin Ran was the one who'd handed him that spiked drink last night.

Their parents had all been there. Although he didn't like Lin Ran, he couldn't very well refuse—but little did he know that glass of wine was drugged.

What was even stranger was Lin Ran's attitude toward him now.

Just a few days ago, the man had been chasing after him relentlessly, driving him crazy. Now he was looking at him like he was his worst enemy.

For a second, Ye Qi thought Lin Ran had lost his mind, but he had no proof.

Either way, whether Lin Ran had turned into an idiot or a madman didn't matter to him one bit. In fact, it was better if Lin Ran hated him—that way he'd stop chasing him.

But Lin Ran getting between him and Shi Mo? That he couldn't stand.

Ye Qi didn't want to argue with Lin Ran here, so he simply ignored him and stepped toward Shi Mo.

Meeting Shi Mo's amused, teasing look, Ye Qi held up the documents in his hand, cleared his throat, and said:

"I came to sign the contract with you—the... compensation I owe you."

Shi Mo let out a soft laugh: "Didn't you say you'd have someone deliver it? Why bring it yourself?"

Ye Qi pursed his lips, then said with complete seriousness: "My assistant got into a car accident, so I had no choice but to bring it myself."

"Though this doesn't seem like the best place to sign a contract. Why don't we find somewhere quieter?"

As he spoke, Ye Qi shot a quick, dismissive look at Lin Ran, who had been completely ignored by both of them.

Lin Ran's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Ye Qi, shaking with barely suppressed fury.

Memories of his past life flooded back. Looking at the man he'd once loved so deeply—the man who'd destroyed his family and ruined his life—he wanted nothing more than to strangle Ye Qi right here, right now!

But the last shred of rationality told him he couldn't do that. He couldn't afford the consequences yet.

Having finally gotten a second chance, how could he let Ye Qi destroy his life a second time?

Lin Ran closed his eyes, swallowing down the fury and hatred burning in his chest.

One day, he would take his revenge. He would make Ye Qi pay a thousand times over for everything he'd suffered in his past life!

Lin Ran took a deep breath, then looked at Shi Mo and reached for his hand again, his voice earnest:

"A Mo, don't go with him. I have something very important I need to tell you."

447 watched the whole thing and whispered into Shi Mo's ear:

"Xiao Momo, Lin Ran's darkening value is extremely high right now. He's standing too close to Ye Qi and is sucking up his luck like crazy."

Shi Mo's expression shifted subtly as he sized Lin Ran up without making it obvious.

Although he had worked in the Villain Department before, this was his first time on a mission like this, so he had no idea how a False Protagonist absorbed the protagonist's luck.

Seemed like it probably had something to do with their darkening value.

In that case, he needed to get Ye Qi out of here fast.

Shi Mo mulled it over.

Seeing that Shi Mo wasn't reacting, Lin Ran pressed on, his voice urgent:

"A Mo! Trust me—what I have to tell you is really important!"

He gritted his teeth: "It's about our future!"

Hearing this, Ye Qi, who had been calm until now, couldn't stay calm anymore.

He grabbed Lin Ran's wrist directly, frowning as he squeezed hard.

The sudden movement and the pain in his wrist made Lin Ran instinctively let go, hissing in a sharp breath.

"Tch... Ye Qi! Are you out of your mind?!"

Ye Qi's face was cold: "Who has a future with you? You don't even know Shi Mo that well—where would you get a 'future' together?"

He was the only one who could have a future with Shi Mo!

Lin Ran froze for a moment at his clearly displeased tone, forgetting to fight back.

Ye Qi had always been indifferent to him—no matter how hard he chased, Ye Qi never even gave him a second look.

He'd never seen Ye Qi like this. He was clearly angry—and it almost looked like... jealousy?

Lin Ran, upon realizing this, merely turned his head with a cold snort, shook off his hand, and said with a cold, haughty air:

"Ye Qi, let me tell you, I don't like you anymore. Who I have a future with has nothing to do with you. You've got no right to control me, and you've got no standing to rein me in."

Ye Qi: "???"

Has Lin Ran really lost it?

Shi Mo blinked: [Wow, Xiao Qi, he's got some nerve~]

447 was totally on board: [Yeah, I wish I could lend him some of the insecurity I get from not daring to send pics in my online dating.]

[Anyway, Ye Qi's luck's already been halved since he was reborn. If you don't get him out of here soon, he's gonna be cursed with bad luck for the next three days.]

Shi Mo smiled: [No hurry~ It's not like I'm the one who's cursed.]

That said, he still patted Ye Qi's shoulder, then stepped in between them to cut them off:

"Come on, let's find a spot to sign the contract first."

Ye Qi nodded, unwilling to deal with Lin Ran any longer.

He really believed Lin Ran had lost his mind now. If he snapped and clung to him or Shi Mo, that'd be a mess.

But just as they were about to leave, Lin Ran didn't want them to go—more precisely, he didn't want Shi Mo to leave with Ye Qi.

Lin Ran grabbed Shi Mo's hand again and said, all lovey-dovey:

"A Mo, I know you like me, and I know you used to go after him because you didn't want him to hurt me."

"But don't worry, I won't make you carry all this by yourself anymore!"

With each word he said, Ye Qi's eyes turned colder.

"Don't go with him, I..."

"SMACK—!"