Volume One, Chapter 90: For Whom Do I Stand Up?

Third floor, Yu Mo’s room.

Yu Mo closed her eyes and slowly lay down on her bed, her thoughts in chaos as a feverish heat spread through her body. She kicked off her thin blanket and forced herself up, intent on heading to the bathroom for a shower. Stumbling toward the bathroom, she was just about to take off her shirt when, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Lin Xing still standing there.

She frowned.

“Why are you still here?”

Her throat was dry and hoarse, her voice thick with labored breaths.

Lin Xing clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on Yu Mo’s flushed face, something restrained flickering in his eyes.

Yu Mo squinted slightly, hearing Lin Xing’s deep voice echo in her ears.

“Yu Mo, someone drugged you.”

He spoke with certainty, striding toward her.

In the next moment, her hand was gripped tightly in his, and she trembled, sensing the man’s unusual warmth.

“You…”

Before she could finish, she was swept up and placed back on the bed. Dizziness washed over her, her mind blank.

A loud thud resounded as the door slammed, the lock flying across the room and embedding itself deep in the opposite wall.

In her haze, a tall, imposing figure appeared before her. She knew that silhouette all too well—who else could it be but Mu Shaozhou?

Her pretty boy.

Yu Mo murmured.

Lin Xing was dragged away by a powerful force, stumbling backward until he crashed into the wall.

The corners of his seductive eyes lifted slightly as he straightened up, his tone languid.

“Mu Shaozhou, what are you doing here?”

Mu Shaozhou’s expression was icy enough to freeze, his gaze lingering briefly on the dazed Yu Mo before turning to Lin Xing, his face radiating displeasure, his voice cold and severe.

“Lin Xing, is this how you take advantage of someone’s vulnerability?”

Lin Xing curled his lips, hands in his pockets, looking utterly unbothered.

“So what if I do?”

He’d use whatever means necessary to win the woman he liked.

Could Mu Shaozhou truly claim he wasn’t taking advantage of Yu Mo either?

Lin Xing’s tone was mocking; he flexed his long fingers, the joints snapping crisply as he looked at Mu Shaozhou, half-smiling.

“Mu Shaozhou, your fiancée is Tang Xinyan, and now you’re here for Yu Mo. If word gets out, it won’t do your reputation as the crown prince any good.”

Mu Shaozhou’s cold eyes narrowed, and in the next instant, his long leg swept toward Lin Xing’s face, even the wind from his movement carrying a chill.

Lin Xing raised his arm to block, retreating several steps.

The first time he’d fought Mu Shaozhou, he knew he was no match for him.

This man was far stronger than he’d imagined.

Two more kicks came, Lin Xing barely caught them, his back pressed against the wall—nowhere left to retreat.

Mu Shaozhou rarely got so furious. Watching Lin Xing take Yu Mo away had felt like someone had ripped out his heart; after settling matters downstairs, he’d rushed up.

He punched at Lin Xing’s face, Lin Xing dodged with a quick tilt of his head.

Mu Shaozhou followed with another punch, giving Lin Xing no respite, landing squarely on his jaw.

Lin Xing landed a blow on Mu Shaozhou’s abdomen, but it lacked the force of Mu Shaozhou’s punch.

Mu Shaozhou seemed oblivious to pain, his iron fist swinging toward the other side of Lin Xing’s face.

“Pretty boy…”

His fist stopped two centimeters from Lin Xing’s jaw. Mu Shaozhou turned to look at Yu Mo lying on the bed.

Lin Xing seized the moment to put distance between them.

Blood stained his lips; he extended his tongue to lick it, then wiped it away with his hand, a wicked smile curling his mouth.

“If you’re choosing her, stay away from Tang Xinyan. Are you any better than me, playing both sides?”

He shook his head and strode out of the room.

Mu Shaozhou relaxed his clenched fist, sitting beside Yu Mo’s bed. He raised his elegantly jointed fingers, gently caressing Yu Mo’s lips.

Her body was burning, sweat beading on her skin.

Yu Mo struggled to sit up.

“I want to shower.”

Mu Shaozhou’s expression remained cold and stern; he said nothing, simply scooped her up and carried her into the bathroom.

After the shower, Yu Mo felt much improved as he placed her back on the bed.

She slowly opened her heavy eyelids.

She seemed to see Mu Shaozhou, gently helping her bathe.

Her head was heavy; she shook it lightly.

Impossible.

Mu Shaozhou should be tending to Tang Xinyan’s allergic reaction right now.

Mu Shaozhou watched her face, saying nothing, but kept her hand tightly in his.

Time passed swiftly; Yu Mo drifted through several naps.

In her half-consciousness, she seemed to hear Mu Shaozhou’s voice.

His voice was deep and magnetic, soothing the unrest within her.

“Yu Mo, you don’t remember me, but I remember what happened seventeen years ago vividly,”

Mu Shaozhou brought her hand to his lips, speaking softly.

“All these years, I’ve been watching over you, Mo Mo.”

Yu Mo’s mind was clouded, the light outside fading into a dreamy night.

—

On the second floor, the door of a gray room was knocked.

Xie Mengqi opened the door to find staff waiting outside.

She appeared in the first-floor hall, where Mu Shaozhou sat on the sofa, legs crossed.

His features were deep and intense; even with a blank expression, he radiated an intimidating presence.

He rubbed his elegantly jointed fingers before lifting his eyes to sweep a cold glance at Xie Mengqi.

In that instant, her legs trembled violently, but she forced herself to hide her guilty conscience and asked,

“I wonder what the crown prince wants with me?”

A pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on Mu Shaozhou’s nose, giving him the air of an immortal stepped out from a painting—noble and ascetic, an aura both aloof and forbidden.

Yet those glasses brought him back to earth, lending a scholarly calm to his handsome face—like the stars above, beautiful and untouchable.

He pointed to the table in front of Xie Mengqi, his voice cold and slightly hoarse, both lazy and noble.

“Eat all of this.”

A few simple words, yet impossible to ignore.

Xie Mengqi glanced at the table.

It was piled high with dishes and foods prepared by today’s guests, along with more than twenty small cakes, colorful and fresh—she guessed they had just been made.

Hard to believe, she stared in shock, gritting her teeth, repeating Mu Shaozhou’s command.

“Eat all of this?”

With so much food, even if she ate all night, she couldn’t finish.

Mu Shaozhou rubbed his hand again, red from smashing the wall.

But he seemed utterly unfazed by the pain, his lips curving slightly.

“I don’t have much patience. Start now and don’t stop until you’re done.”

Xie Mengqi looked around and noticed a camera filming—so it was being broadcast live?

Suppressing her fury, she picked up the nearest cake and put it in her mouth.

“Ugh—”