Chapter 10: Is Campus Beauty Su Yanyan My Girlfriend?

Shen Anlian had privately accepted considerable favors from Chen Hai and promised to bring him and Shen Zhihan together. If she failed, she would lose the benefits still to come and have to return his deposit. She couldn’t allow that.

“Why are you so upset, Aunt?” Zhihan met her eyes calmly.

“I’m worried some scoundrel has deceived you! Besides, who in Beicheng but Chen Hai is worthy of marrying into the Shen family? I’ve already spoken to your grandfather, and he agrees. Are you going to defy him?”

Zhihan frowned. She hadn’t expected Chen Hai to involve her grandfather. Still, she understood why the old man agreed: a project had left Shen Group in a difficult position, and it needed Chen Group’s technical assistance. The other company would help only if the families were joined by marriage.

That didn’t mean she had to sacrifice herself.

“I have work to do, Aunt. Goodbye.” She lowered her head and opened a file.

Furious, Anlian pointed at her. “Fine. Refuse if you like. Once I find that man, I’ll have him crippled and put an end to this. Then we’ll see if you don’t marry Chen Hai!”

She seized her bag and slammed the door behind her. Zhihan looked up. Pressure came from both her company and her family, but she would never marry Chen Hai. The boyfriend she’d mentioned was an invention to fend off her aunt. Where could she find someone to play the part?

“Who would be suitable?”

…

Meanwhile, Lin Mo had picked out several outfits at the mall, spending over 8,000 yuan. He’d never have spent so much normally, but Zhihan was paying, and he couldn’t embarrass her.

As he was leaving, he ran into Su Yanyan carrying shopping bags.

“Lin Mo? What are you doing here?” Her eyes lit up.

“What a coincidence.” He lifted his bags. “Buying clothes, obviously.”

“Me too.” She smiled sweetly, leaving out that she had come specifically to buy something to wear to dinner with him.

“Have you decided when and where we’re eating?”

Her eyes moved thoughtfully. “How about tonight?”

“Where?”

“My place. You’re in luck—I’ll cook myself.”

“Is that appropriate? Your boyfriend might misunderstand.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t have a boyfriend.” She rolled her eyes.

He was surprised. Attractive and accomplished, she was a dance teacher and surely had admirers. Was she simply too choosy?

“Say something.” She waved a hand in front of him. “Are you scared? Worried I’ll eat you up?” She made a fierce face, but her gentle features only made it look cute.

“Shouldn’t I be the one saying that?” He laughed. At college she had always seemed aloof; this side of her was new to him.

“I’m not scared. Seven tonight. Are you coming or not?”

She had pressed the invitation so earnestly that refusing again would be rude. “All right, but I might not be on time. I have to finish work first.”

“Work? I didn’t get to ask yesterday. Where do you work?”

“Shen Group.”

“The Shen Group?”

“How many Shen Groups are there in Beicheng?”

“A big company! As expected of you, Lin Mo. Top students really are different,” Su Yanyan said, nodding.

He felt a little guilty. He was about to explain that he was only a driver when two familiar faces emerged from the mall: Qin Xiaoman and Zhao Zihao.

“What’s wrong?” Yanyan followed his gaze. Xiaoman, dressed alluringly, was walking arm in arm with Zihao. The couple noticed them too.

“Lin Mo…” Xiaoman’s eyes widened. Fear of what he’d done the day before rushed back, and she began to tremble. The experience had left a deep mark on her.

Zihao looked surprised, then smirked. “You’re still alive? Lucky you.” He noticed the familiar woman beside Lin Mo. “Su Yanyan?”

He had pursued her for a long time at college, but she had never paid him any attention. He still resented never having won her over, and seeing her with Lin Mo made him angrier.

“Why are you with this loser?”

“Do I have to report to you who I spend time with?” Yanyan smiled scornfully, glanced at Xiaoman, and slipped her arm through Lin Mo’s.

The sudden intimacy surprised him, but he soon understood that she was standing up for him.

“Zhao Zihao, I should thank you for taking Qin Xiaoman away from Lin Mo. You gave me a chance to be with him.”

“What?” Zihao glared at Lin Mo, furious that a woman he couldn’t have would choose this man.

Xiaoman was equally shocked. “Lin Mo, we only broke up a few days ago and you’re already with her? You two must have been involved all along!”

“That’s right,” Yanyan answered before Lin Mo could speak. “I’ve had a crush on him since college. After graduation, I even brought him to my place from time to time when you weren’t around. What we did there… we’re all adults. I don’t need to spell it out.”

Xiaoman flushed with anger, feeling as though she had been cheated on herself. She had never imagined that would happen to her.

“Zihao, let’s go!” She pulled at him, but Lin Mo spoke.

“Wait.”

“Are you deliberately humiliating me? Don’t push it!” Her face was red. To her, what he’d done yesterday hadn’t been enough; now he was humiliating her in public too.

“We’re even, Qin Xiaoman. I don’t care whether you leave.” He turned a cold gaze on Zihao. “But the two of us still have a score to settle.”

He hadn’t forgotten that kick.

Zihao laughed. “Interesting. The lesson I gave you wasn’t enough?”

Before he’d finished speaking, Lin Mo slapped him. Then, before Zihao could react, Lin Mo kicked him several meters away.

“A drop of kindness deserves a fountain in return,” Lin Mo said. “I couldn’t agree more.”

…