Chapter 11: Shen Zhihan Asks, “Lin Mo, Are You Single?”

Lin Mo had never forgotten Zhao Zihao’s kick. He’d been wondering where to find him, and now the man had appeared on his own.

“Zihao!” Qin Xiaoman cried, rushing over to help him up.

“Don’t move me!” Zihao shouted, his face flushed. “My back… it’s broken…”

He spat blood and turned deathly pale, grimacing at the pain in his lower back. Xiaoman panicked. She had never imagined Lin Mo could kick so hard. Why had she never seen that strength before?

“Today was only interest,” Lin Mo told Zihao, looking down at him without expression. “Don’t worry. I’ll settle our account little by little.”

He turned and left without another glance at Xiaoman. Su Yanyan hurried after him, leaving Xiaoman beside the man sprawled on the ground.

“Zihao, how are you? I’ll call an ambulance…” She burst into tears.

“I’ll remember this, Lin Mo!” Blood trickled from Zihao’s mouth as he clenched his teeth. “I swear I’ll make you pay!”

He was a young master of the Zhao family, yet Lin Mo had beaten him like this. He regretted not throwing him into the sea for the fish that day. And as for Su Yanyan, if Zihao couldn’t have her, he wouldn’t let Lin Mo have her easily.

Yanyan kept her arm through Lin Mo’s all the way to the parking lot. She was still shaken, surprised by both his ability and the severity of his attack.

“Did I frighten you?” he asked, smiling at her silence.

“N-no.”

“Then how long are you planning to hold on?” He glanced down at her arm.

She realized she had been holding him the whole way. Blushing, she let go and stepped aside. “Don’t misunderstand. I was only putting on an act to get back at Qin Xiaoman and Zhao Zihao for you.”

Her heart pounded, and she couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes.

“You don’t have to explain. I understand.” He smiled, grateful that she had stood up for him.

“Weren’t you a little too harsh?” she asked quietly. “Zihao’s family has money. What if he comes after you?”

“Let him. I’m more worried he won’t dare.” If Zihao stayed away, Lin Mo thought, how could he beat him again?

Yanyan studied him. “You seem different from before.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling.” She shook her head. “Never mind. As long as you know what you’re doing. Remember dinner tonight. I’ll cook, and I promise you’ll be impressed.”

She tightened her grip on her shopping bag. Inside was a surprise she planned to wear that evening, certain it would captivate him.

“I’ll come after work. Send me your address.”

“I will. I’ll be waiting.”

She went to her car and left. Lin Mo unlocked Shen Zhihan’s Rolls-Royce and tossed his clothes into the back seat. It was 9:31. Zhihan had told him to come to her office at ten, and the drive to Shen Group would take only a little over ten minutes.

He arrived at 9:46. He’d expected the guards at the entrance to stop him, but Zhihan had already spoken to them. “I thought guards at a big company would look down their noses at people, like in those short dramas,” he muttered.

He took the elevator to the top floor and found the CEO’s office without difficulty. He knocked.

“Ms. Shen.”

“Come in.”

She sat at her desk wearing glasses, working with her head down. He stood before her, smiling politely.

She checked the time: 9:55. “You’re punctual,” she said.

“Thank you, Ms. Shen.”

“Let’s go. After you take me home, you don’t need to come in this afternoon.”

“What?” Was she firing him? “Have I done something wrong? Tell me, and I’ll fix it!” He didn’t want to lose such an easy, well-paid job.

She looked up. “Did I say you were fired?”

“Then…?”

“I’m not coming back to the office this afternoon. You can have half a day off.” She stood and handed him a contract. “Take this and come downstairs with me.”

“Yes, Ms. Shen!” Relieved, he followed. He’d thought he was losing his job on the first day.

At the door, she stopped and looked directly at him.

“What can I do for you?” He straightened.

“Are you single?”

He stared. Why ask that? Was she going to introduce him to someone?

“Y-yes. Why?”

“Good.” She nodded and walked on without answering.

He watched her go, wondering what she meant.

…