Chapter 271: Chapter 271

Qi Lingfeng crossed his arms and chuckled. "Since you’re being so sporting about this wager, Big Brother, I can’t be petty, can I? We haven’t seen each other for ten years. Consider this a welcoming gift!"

Qi Lingfeng quickly retrieved a SIM card from an inner suit pocket with a pinch of his fingers.

"This card was removed from her phone—the source of the photos. Whether you keep it or destroy it, as a fellow member of the Qi Family, I’m returning it to you," Qi Lingfeng said, handing the card to him.

Qi Longbing caught the card, his eyes darkening. "It seems you sent that express package, not Hua Xiaomo."

Qi Lingfeng gave a nonchalant smirk. "Yes, her phone went missing, and my apprentice happened to find it. As for why I did this, I’m sure you’re well aware... Our Qi Family can’t afford such a scandal."

That was indeed true. When he saw Long Shangxuan deliberately getting close to Hua Xiaomo, he sensed the man’s intentions were far from simple, prompting him to have Long Shangxuan discreetly investigated.

Just as he’d expected, Long Shangxuan had enticed Hua Xiaomo into taking compromising photos of Qi Longbing to use as leverage, thereby achieving his ulterior motives.

Although at the time he hadn’t considered returning to the Qi Family, instinct told him this matter shouldn’t be publicized, so he took decisive action.

He started with Hua Xiaomo, taking her phone when she wasn’t paying attention. Then, he removed the SIM card. As for why he mailed her phone to Qi Longbing—that held a deeper meaning.

"You deliberately tried to ruin my relationship with Hua Xiaomo by mailing me that empty phone casing without the SIM card. You truly are despicable!" Qi Longbing’s words were slow and deliberate.

A sense of unease crept into his heart, especially when he recalled what he had done to Hua Xiaomo. He had smashed her phone right in front of her and uttered cruel words. How wrong I was! he thought. She was innocent, and I misunderstood her.

"As my rival in love... of course, I can’t let you become a threat to me, Big Brother," Qi Lingfeng said with a smile, his dark eyes gleaming brilliantly.

Qi Longbing looked at him but didn’t reply immediately. His stunningly handsome face was inscrutable, a dark gleam in his eyes. "A threat? Hilarious. Unfortunately for you... I’ve never considered you a threat."

"As expected of my CEO Big Brother, you really have that domineering presidential aura when you speak!" Qi Lingfeng said, smiling as he turned his head, the contours of his face sharp and elegant. "So, let’s settle this with a wager!"

"The loser withdraws automatically!" Qi Lingfeng declared, looking at him with a calculating glint in his eyes.

Qi Longbing looked at him and gave a cold, captivating smile.

He scoffed internally. He never lost!

The next day, Hua Xiaomo once again found herself outside the Mohai Zongheng International building, hesitating whether to go in.

She had already bought herself a new sapphire-blue phone.

Thinking about that debt, Hua Xiaomo’s expression dimmed slightly.

Long Shangxuan had previously borrowed the money for her from Mo Rutian, meaning she owed Mo Rutian five million. Now, with two cards in hand totaling only two million, she still needed to figure out how to repay the rest.

This particular debt was compensation for the "Blue Moon" necklace that had been stolen. Fortunately, Xia Shuangming had since recovered it. Her debt to Xia Shuangming was cleared; now she only owed Mo Rutian.

"Ugh, why is my miserable life always about owing money back and forth? It feels never-ending. So annoying," Hua Xiaomo lamented to herself with a pout.

At that moment, a mint green taxi brushed past her. Suddenly, a woman in the car, with long hair and wearing a white dress, glanced in her direction.

"Huh, isn’t that Xiao Mo?" The long-haired woman in the white dress called out to the driver, "Stop! Stop the car!"

The taxi quickly reversed. A girl with flowing long hair stepped out. "Xiao Mo, what are you doing here?"

When Hua Xiaomo saw the girl, her eyes lit up. "Xiao You, is that you?"

She rushed forward and embraced the girl’s slender figure.

"Xiao Mo, this is wonderful! I can’t believe I ran into you," Xiao You said excitedly, hugging her shoulders tightly as tears of emotion welled up.

Hua Xiaomo hugged her back, her own heart aching. "Xiao You, where have you been all this time? I’ve missed you so much!" Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽

"I... I missed you too, Xiao Mo!" Dong Xiaoyou cried with joy.

Just then, the sound of crying came from inside the taxi. Dong Xiaoyou immediately let go of Hua Xiaomo and looked towards the car. Hua Xiaomo then also saw the child inside.

"This child is..." Hua Xiaomo looked at Dong Xiaoyou, a flicker of suspicion in her eyes.

They hadn’t seen each other for about half a year. Could this child be...

Dong Xiaoyou looked at her, managing an awkward smile. "It’s strange, isn’t it, Xiao Mo? Actually, these past six months, I..." Her words caught in her throat, and she found it hard to continue.

Hua Xiaomo frowned slightly, then quickly stepped forward and put an arm around her shoulder. "Don’t worry about that now. The baby is still crying. Let’s get him out and soothe him."

Could her guess actually be true? Had Dong Xiaoyou secretly had a child while they were apart? That was just too wild!

"Mm." Dong Xiaoyou quickly took the baby out, her face full of tenderness as she looked at him, her delight unmistakable.

Hua Xiaomo looked at her; there were no visible signs that Dong Xiaoyou had recently given birth. She was still as beautiful as ever, her figure unchanged, just with a little one by her side now. It actually looked quite sweet.

"Here, let me hold him," Hua Xiaomo said with a smile, taking the baby and cooing, "SHH, SHH, don’t cry, little one, don’t cry!"

"Xiao Mo, will you look down on me? Think... think I’m not a good woman?" Dong Xiaoyou suddenly asked.

Hua Xiaomo paused, then quickly laughed. "How could I? The baby is adorable! Xiao You, we promised to be friends forever, remember? Come on, let’s go somewhere and have a proper chat."

Later, in a coffee shop, Dong Xiaoyou opened her heart to Hua Xiaomo and told her everything.

It turned out that the man, the child’s father, was indeed her boss, Yu Hanxi, the owner of Shenghuang Construction Company. And Yu Hanxi, as it happened, already had a fiancée from a prominent family.