Volume One, Chapter 81: She Wants Neither of the Two Men

“Mom, Lu Ran was definitely arranged by Dad to stay by your side, responsible for protecting you.” Qi Yancheng spoke with conviction.

If it weren’t for that, Lu Ran wouldn’t have appeared so promptly after Mom and Sister were kidnapped.

Xiao Lin grasped her son’s wrist, hope shining in her eyes.

“Is that true, Yancheng? So your father has always cared about us, but just never showed himself…”

Thinking of this, Xiao Lin realized her husband must have had some reason he couldn’t disclose, which kept him away all this time. But she believed that one day, he would return.

Qi Yancheng nodded gently.

“Mom, I’ll find Dad.”

Tears welled up in Xiao Lin’s eyes once more, and she hugged her son tightly.

“My son, please don’t hide from me anymore, alright? Tell me everything—I’ll understand, and whatever you wish to do, I’ll support you.”

Last time, when she was in the hospital, Qi Yancheng came to visit her. She could only watch his back from afar and listen to his voice. She truly couldn't bear another loss; she couldn’t lose her son. She was determined to make up for all the motherly love he had missed over the years.

“Alright, Mom, I won’t hide from you anymore. It was my idea to keep things from you before. I’ll arrange more people at the Yu residence, and I won’t let you be harmed again.”

Qi Yancheng hugged his mother tightly in return, releasing emotions he’d suppressed for so long; his eyes reddened, and the red birthmark at the corner glowed even more vividly.

A cold glint flashed across his narrow gaze. He would not let Meng Pei off, nor the power she’d amassed over the years—he would dismantle it, piece by piece.

He opened the patient room door and stepped into the corridor to make a phone call.

His voice was icy and indifferent.

“Have you found Meng Pei?”

“There were three charred bodies found in the hillside villa, one of them is Meng Pei.”

Qi Yancheng’s peach blossom eyes narrowed, their gaze sharpened with chill.

“Find Tian De, I need to discuss some things with him.”

Tian De was a man Meng Pei had kept by her side all these years, with influence spanning both the Imperial Capital and the Magic City. Now that Meng Pei was dead, if Tian De was wise, he’d let him go.

He asked again.

“Do you know who did it?”

“Master Qi, it was Lin Xing’s people.”

A sharp gleam flashed through Qi Yancheng’s jet-black eyes. “Understood.”

He hung up, and his gaze met Mu Shaozhou and Lin Xing in the corridor.

Looking up, he saw Yu Mo making a phone call, occasionally glancing at the two men.

Seeing them obediently sitting there, Qi Yancheng found it amusing.

Both these men wanted to be his brother-in-law, yet neither dared confront his sister directly, only competing in secret.

“I’m going to Mr. Zhuang’s house, don’t follow me.” Yu Mo ended her call, turning to Mu Shaozhou and Lin Xing.

But both men stood up at once. Mu Shaozhou took out the keys to his Cullinan.

His figure was tall and upright; in a simple designer suit, he exuded an extraordinary aura. His jawline was taut, and his chiseled face held a restrained fierceness.

Lin Xing likewise produced the keys to his Porsche, twirling them around his slender, fair fingers. His devilish face wore an enchanting smile, the corners of his lips curling high as he flicked his thin lips, speaking with a lazy drawl.

“Going to discuss my Aunt Han’s wedding, right? I’ll go too.”

Mu Shaozhou turned, his deep and shadowy gaze meeting Lin Xing’s slightly raised, long eyes. For a moment, sparks flew like blades clashing, and Qi Yancheng could almost smell the gunpowder in the air.

Mu Shaozhou spoke quietly.

“Since it’s my uncle’s wedding, I’ll go as well.”

Qi Yancheng covered his mouth and looked at Yu Mo, a look of anticipation on his face, unable to suppress his smile.

Yu Mo: “…”

She patted Qi Yancheng’s shoulder.

“Take care of Mom.”

Her brother had just reunited with their mother; they needed more time together.

Yu Mo drove her domestic car onto the road, with two cars following side by side—a Cullinan and a Porsche 911.

The cars slowly entered the Zhuang family villa. Fortunately, the garage was big enough for a dozen vehicles.

Yu Mo entered the house. Han Yue was leaning on crutches, directing the servants to decorate the walls with stickers.

Yu Mo looked up—the entire villa, inside and out, was filled with festive red. Her master was about to hold a traditional Chinese wedding with Mr. Zhuang.

Large red ‘double happiness’ characters adorned the walls, echoing the mood of Zhuang Zhizhi and Han Yue.

Zhuang Zhizhi sat in his wheelchair, gazing gently at Han Yue’s every move.

When Han Yue saw Yu Mo, she sat back in her wheelchair, still holding her crutches.

Yu Mo hurried to help.

“Master.”

Han Yue held Yu Mo’s hand, her gaze settling on Lin Xing and Mu Shaozhou, who entered together.

Her tone cooled a little.

“Mo Mo, how come that person is here?”

Her words were clearly directed at Mu Shaozhou.

Mu Shaozhou was Mu Qiming’s son, as was Lin Xing. The day had come when the two appeared before her together.

Yu Mo sighed and relayed each man’s reason for being there to her master.

Han Yue’s eyes dimmed slightly; she looked at Mu Shaozhou with displeasure, but said nothing.

Yu Mo and her master discussed the details of the wedding, staying at the Zhuang house for dinner.

Lin Xing and Mu Shaozhou stayed as well.

At the dinner table, Yu Mo sat between Lin Xing and Mu Shaozhou. Both men kept adding food to her bowl; seeing the heap, Yu Mo lost her appetite.

Han Yue and Zhuang Zhizhi took in everything.

After dinner, Han Yue called Yu Mo over and spoke quietly to her.

“Mo Mo, tell me honestly—what’s your relationship with Mu Shaozhou?”

Yu Mo hadn’t decided how to answer, but Han Yue continued.

“Your Uncle Zhuang already told me Mu Shaozhou likes you, but I can also see Lin Xing does too. As for which one you choose, I hope you’ll think carefully.”

Although Zhuang Zhizhi had told Han Yue that Mu Shaozhou was a good kid, Han Yue was still influenced by his father, Mu Qiming. She couldn’t easily warm up to Mu Shaozhou, since Lin Xing’s mother had died because of Mu Qiming.

Han Yue couldn’t help but look at Mu Shaozhou through tinted lenses, or she’d feel she was betraying Yang Duo and Lin Xing’s mother.

She’d watched Lin Xing grow up. Though he was unruly, he’d never truly cared for any woman—yet this time, she could tell his feelings for Yu Mo were genuine.

In her heart, Han Yue sincerely hoped Yu Mo would end up with Lin Xing.

Han Yue winked at Lin Xing, who was lounging on the sofa, and said,

“Lin Xing, it’s getting late. Take Mo Mo home.”

Lin Xing stood, stretched, and raised his big hand toward Yu Mo, inviting her to take it.

Yu Mo didn’t reach out.

She’d already told her master—she wouldn’t choose either of these men.

Mu Shaozhou’s cold gaze softened noticeably when he saw Yu Mo didn’t take Lin Xing’s hand, but a dangerous glint flickered in his deep eyes.

Yu Mo was utterly unconcerned with the rivalry between the two men. After bidding farewell to Han Yue and Zhuang Zhizhi, she headed straight for her cooking class.

As soon as she parked, Lin Xing strode over to her.

She looked at him, puzzled.

Lin Xing raised his eyes to answer her unspoken question.

“I’m joining the Magic City TV’s gourmet show next week, so I’m here to learn cooking. Who would’ve thought we’re both enrolled in the same class?”

Yu Mo frowned.

Could it be that the gourmet show Lin Xing was joining was the very same program she was on?