Chapter 204: Chapter 204

"Mm." Hua Xiaomo raised her head and nodded. "Mom, a friend of mine has come. I’m going out for a bit."

"A friend? Oh, go ahead!" Su Ronghua smiled and didn’t ask further.

A hint of shyness touched Hua Xiaomo’s face as she quickly turned and pushed the door open to leave.

Not far downstairs, a silver Mercedes was parked next to a utility pole. Inside sat a man of extraordinary elegance.

Hua Xiaomo approached him.

Long Shangxuan rolled down the car window and looked at her. "Get in, and we’ll talk."

Hua Xiaomo nodded and sat in the passenger seat.

"You don’t mind if I take you somewhere, do you?" Long Shangxuan asked at once.

"Brother Long, you have something to tell me, don’t you?"

Inexplicably, Hua Xiaomo felt a little uneasy. After a moment, she said, "Okay. I’ll go with you."

The car started and drove to a very quaint and elegant coffee shop before stopping.

"Let’s get out." Long Shangxuan smiled, gallantly opening the car door for her.

His tender expression, full of deep affection, warmed Hua Xiaomo’s heart once more.

They sat opposite each other in a secluded booth.

Before Hua Xiaomo could ask anything, Long Shangxuan took a deep blue magnetic card from his coat and placed it in front of her. "There are five million in this card, and now it belongs to you."

"..." Hua Xiaomo stared in astonishment, her amber eyes shimmering with an indistinct luster as she looked at him. "Brother Long, what do you mean by this?"

A faint sheen touched Long Shangxuan’s handsome face, and his smile was as light as the Qing Feng breeze. "Don’t ask what I mean. I can only blame myself for not noticing this silly girl’s feelings sooner."

Overcome with emotion, Hua Xiaomo didn’t know what to say. She felt like crying, yet she wanted to laugh even more.

The one who truly cares for me and loves me is right by my side, isn’t he? she thought.

"Quickly, take it. I know you need it," Long Shangxuan said softly.

Hua Xiaomo looked at him. After a while, she asked, "Brother Long, why don’t you ask me why I need the money?"

"You mentioned it before! Heh heh..." Long Shangxuan shook his head, not inquiring further. Perhaps these things were not important at all.

What’s important is that, at this very moment, this woman’s heart is two hundred percent in the palm of my hand... That’s what matters most!

"About the gambling debt I mentioned..." Hua Xiaomo recalled her previous words with immense embarrassment. He can’t really believe I’m that kind of despicable woman, can he?

"Don’t say any more. I actually believe that’s not your real reason, but you definitely have your own unspeakable difficulties. Brother Long understands. Take this money and quickly do what you need to do. Get your life back on track, okay?" Long Shangxuan said.

For a moment, Hua Xiaomo’s eyes welled up with tears as she tightly gripped the blue card, which seemed to glow with a golden light. "Thank you... Brother Long. I really don’t know what to say."

"If you don’t know what to say, then say nothing. Just go back and get a good night’s sleep. You’ll find the next day exceptionally sunny and bright!" Long Shangxuan’s smile was gentle and refined, the epitome of a graceful gentleman reflected in his wise eyes, revealing all without a word.

"Brother Long..." Hua Xiaomo’s heart surged with an uncontrollable emotion as she looked at him. His tender affection washed over her like a vast ocean tide, completely enveloping her body and soul, leaving her no place to escape...

"I will certainly pay you back as soon as I can," Hua Xiaomo said, a smile in her eyes, her amber eyes glistening brightly.

"I’m not in a rush, nor am I particularly short of money. However, I have one condition. Can you agree to it?" Long Shangxuan asked with a smile.

"Ah?" Hua Xiaomo’s face flushed slightly. A condition?

For a moment, her thoughts spun wildly. What could this condition be?

"Don’t be nervous. What I mean is, I hope you can continue working at Qi Imperial Court," Long Shangxuan finished.

This immediately shocked Hua Xiaomo. She thought she had misheard. But she had clearly heard him—He’s asking me to go... to work at Qi Imperial Court?

Hua Xiaomo looked at him incredulously, shaking her head in complete bewilderment. "...Brother Long, are you joking with me?" Why? Why should I return to Qi Imperial Court?

Could it be this money...

"Xiao Mo, you’re overthinking things," Long Shangxuan said earnestly, suddenly taking one of her delicate hands from the glass table. "I dream of having you by my side, but..."

"President Qi, Qi Longbing—you know him—he won’t easily give up on you. Plus, he’s so wealthy and wields such power and influence in City A. There’s nothing in this world he can’t get." Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝙣𝙚𝙩

"Aren’t you worried that if one day... he harms you, then Brother Long would be willing to die a thousand deaths!" Long Shangxuan said, his eyes deeply clouded with a heavy, somber hue.

"Brother Long, don’t worry! Even if I die, I’ll never be his!" Hua Xiaomo declared her feelings. At this moment, I know precisely what I want.

Yes, for Brother Long, what can’t I give up? A true heart is hard to find, true love even scarcer. For your love... I really, truly can become very brave! Aren’t heroes fearless? Since I’m no longer afraid even of death, why should I fear that Qi Longbing?

"Xiao Mo, I know. Brother Long believes you... But if you die, how could Brother Long go on living? Would you have the heart to see Brother Long live in this world alone and desolate?" Long Shangxuan said, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on her face.

He truly believed that, at this moment, Hua Xiaomo would be willing to die for him...

In this world, who truly cannot live on if another is gone?

Yet, he had met the best girl of his life, the one most worthy of his cherishing.

But, Xiao Mo... you are so pure, so pure that any man would go mad for you!

What are limits, what is cruelty, what is pain, what is true love? All these things cause injury and pain only because one takes them too seriously.

You will never understand... and it’s good that you don’t. Otherwise, how could Brother Long so easily control your emotions?

And through you, control the lives of so many others?

If this is a game, then it’s absolutely the most cutting-edge, most lavish lineup.

Qi Longbing, Mo Rutian, you, and I—not one of us can escape...

"Brother Long... then why would you say such things? Don’t you know how Xiao Mo..." Hua Xiaomo’s voice choked. The mere thought of what she had endured with Qi Longbing made her tremble uncontrollably.

I truly don’t want to go back there, nor do I want to see him again. Seeing him is like being ensnared by a demon, utterly unable to break free, no matter what...