Chapter 180: Chapter 180

"Xiao Mo, my Xiao Mo, you’re always so considerate. Once I’m better, I’m going to reward you properly!" Qi Longbing said with a smile, reluctantly releasing her hand, though he still clung to her other delicate one. "I’ll take you on a trip; I will fulfill my promise to you. Tell me, where do you want to go?"

"..." Hua Xiaomo was speechless, her expression dimming slightly.

Alright, at this moment, she truly wished she could just vanish completely.

Seeing the despondent look in her eyes, Qi Longbing couldn’t help but say with concern, "What’s wrong? Is the pressure from work too much? Then just don’t go to the office. Leave your work to Ms. Lin and Ms. Zhang, and stay here with me, okay?"

"Not okay, President Qi. I’d better handle my own matters myself," Hua Xiaomo looked at him and forced a smile.

She thought about the less than half a month remaining and suspected that he would probably spend it all in the hospital. That way, it would save her a lot of worry. Then she could just wait until the contractual period was over.

"As you wish, but don’t overwork yourself. I would feel distressed, you know!" Qi Longbing said, a soft glow reflecting on his angelic face, making it exceptionally captivating.

"I know," Hua Xiaomo replied, saying nothing more. The night remained relatively quiet until well past midnight. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝙣𝙚𝙩

It wasn’t until Hua Xiaomo stood up to leave that Qi Longbing’s behavior became somewhat unnatural. He really wanted her to stay with him for the night, but in the end, he didn’t say it.

He knew that even if he asked, she wouldn’t stay. She was as stubborn as she had always been, making people want to go crazy and lose control...

Qi Longbing watched Hua Xiaomo leave, his hand subconsciously reaching for his chest. I must get better quickly... I will not let you leave me!

The night grew deeper and more still.

Yu Bao escorted Hua Xiaomo back to her home in Chaohu Alley.

That night, she suffered from insomnia, her mind racing with countless thoughts. But why was her life always under someone else’s control? She simply couldn’t walk her own path. Every step was full of such uncertainties, leaving her feeling lost.

Hua Xiaomo couldn’t help curling up. As her thoughts turned to a certain person, tears welled up involuntarily, quickly dampening the pillow beneath her head.

「Several nights later」

The night was deeper and more still, adding to the charm of City A, a place filled with various adventures and challenges.

On the top floor of Mohai Zongheng International Group.

Two slender figures stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the nocturnal world below.

"What should I do? Brother Lan, that fool, actually dared to come looking for me here..." Mo Rutian’s voice was low. His long hair, as if carrying the essence of the night, partially veiled his bright, handsome face. A trace of somber conflict was visible in his star-like brown eyes.

"Director Mo, worrying is pointless now. Since you decided to do it back then, you should have expected this day would come," the other person said, one hand casually in his pocket, a mysterious gleam in his narrow, phoenix-like eyes.

"Shang Xuan, how can you say that?" Mo Rutian asked, somewhat surprised, displeasure evident on his handsome, chiseled face.

He valued the other’s talent and even saw him as a confidant, which is why he’d told him about this. He never expected Shang Xuan to deride him now!

"Director Mo, you’ve misunderstood me. What I mean is... there is one way to prevent being bitten by mad dogs like him," Long Shangxuan said, his eyes deep and serious.

"What way?" Mo Rutian pressed, his gaze flickering. "I can give him money to make him leave this place!"

"For people like him, offering money will only whet his appetite and make him greedier. The most direct method is to make him disappear forever," Long Shangxuan said calmly, his distant, profound eyes emanating threads of ruthless resolve.

"Shang Xuan... you, you really have a way to make him disappear forever?" Mo Rutian sounded astonished. He had come seeking advice, not expecting such an answer.

But after all, they were just businessmen; things that could lead to loss of life...

Involuntarily, Mo Rutian’s eyes filled with fear and uncertainty, and he couldn’t make up his mind.

Long Shangxuan easily saw through his thoughts and said with a faint, enigmatic smile, "Director Mo, you needn’t worry. I will take care of all the trouble."

"This..." Mo Rutian thought for a moment, extremely hesitant. Suddenly, a cellphone began to ring.

Long Shangxuan pulled his phone from his coat pocket; a number flashed on the screen. "Excuse me, I need to take this call."

"Mm," Mo Rutian nodded, saying nothing.

Long Shangxuan walked to one side and quickly answered the phone, "Hello..."

"Brother Long, where are you?" A low female voice came from the other end.

"...I’m working overtime at the office," Long Shangxuan replied quickly. His keen perception, however, caught the sigh on the other end, and he couldn’t help but ask, "You don’t sound right. What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

After a good while, Hua Xiaomo finally spoke softly, "Brother Long, I’m near your house..."

Long Shangxuan’s gaze darkened. His eyes flicked up and caught Mo Rutian’s probing stare; he noticed a hint of suspicion and a glimmer of shrewdness in Mo Rutian’s eyes.

An idea striking him, Long Shangxuan quickly replied, "Alright, Xiao Mo, wait for me for ten minutes. I’ll be right there!"

"Okay." The call ended.

The final "Xiao Mo" had clearly revealed the caller’s identity.

However, when Long Shangxuan walked back, Mo Rutian still feigned ignorance, asking, "Shang Xuan, someone looking for you this late? I didn’t realize you had a girlfriend."

Long Shangxuan easily discerned the implication in his words and smiled faintly. "Not a girlfriend, Director Mo. It’s Hua Xiaomo."

"Oh? It’s her..." Mo Rutian’s eyes deepened. His long, straight hair fell beside his cheeks, stirring some obscure, faintly fluctuating emotion.

"Director Mo, you seem to misunderstand. Although Hua Xiaomo and I were university classmates, I only see her as a younger sister," Long Shangxuan explained.

Mo Rutian glanced at him. The handsome man before him indeed possessed enviable talent. His tone couldn’t help but carry a hint of melancholy as he said, "You see her as a younger sister... but she might not necessarily see you as an older brother."

Hearing this, Long Shangxuan put one hand in his pocket and curled his lip in an elegant smile. "Director Mo, I truly didn’t expect you to say that. You have power, status, wealth, and looks. Why do you have so little confidence in yourself?"