Chapter 25 He Likes Me: The Case Is Solved, and Mo Ningzhi Is More Than Just a Fan. ...
Under the shade of a tree not far away, Qin Weijin paused slightly.
He came out during his break after receiving a report from Xiao Guo, but he never expected to overhear such a conversation.
He had noticed that Mo Ningzhi's attitude towards him was different a long time ago, but he never expected that Mo Ningzhi would not hide his feelings for him no matter where he was, and that everyone could see it.
...If you love someone but can't have them, do you plot and scheme?
Qin Weijin lowered his eyes and stood there, seemingly lost in thought.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" In the current situation, it would be difficult for Mo Ningzhi to clear his name of suspicion no matter what he said.
He dared not explain, fearing that the more he explained, the more confused things would become. If people misinterpreted it as a guilty conscience or as if it were true, how could he hold his head high in front of Qin Weijin? Therefore, his reaction should be as calm as possible: "Nothing of the sort. You're overthinking it."
Xiao Xie looked at him and asked, "Then why do you know Qiu Su?"
"Qiu Su?"
"It's that blond guy."
"..."
Mo Ningzhi said, "We met in real life. What, does she have another identity?"
Xiao Xie: "You really don't know?"
"What should I know?"
Xiao Xie frowned, whether from disbelief or simply from thinking of Qiu Su, it was unclear. "She's Jin Ge's number one hater, constantly posting hateful things online. No matter how many times we report her, she's never completely clean. I've thought about dismantling her from within, but I always fail when I try to join the group. I just can't bring myself to harshly criticize Jin Ge. Listening to what you guys were saying just now, I thought you had successfully infiltrated the enemy's ranks."
Mo Ningzhi's expression was quite interesting. "If this is true, haven't you ever considered that I might also be an undercover agent planted by a hater next to Qin Weijin?"
“No way.” Xiao Xie looked at him and said firmly, “You’re so protective of Brother Jin, how could you be a hater?”
Mo Ning said to herself, "Then you've misjudged him."
He's more than just a hater.
However, after spending this period as an assistant, he disrupted offline operations several times, making him no different from a true fan infiltrator.
As we were talking, a familiar voice came from the side.
"Brother Jin, what brings you out here? I've been looking for you on set for ages," Zhang Yuyu said.
Mo Ningzhi's eyebrows twitched suddenly.
Turning his head, he saw that Qin Weijin had been standing under the shade of a tree not far away for some time. The canopy extending outward from the shop door blocked part of his view, which was why he hadn't noticed that there was someone standing under the tree.
Qin Weijin's expression was somewhat subtle. Did Mo Ning know when he arrived, or how much of the conversation he had overheard?
Xiao Xie seemed very excited, "Brother Jin, it's been a long time!"
Qin Weijin greeted him calmly, then turned his gaze to Mo Ningzhi.
Mo Ningzhi felt uneasy under his gaze.
I increasingly feel that Qin's support for Jin was something they had heard.
Did he notice?
Have you finally seen through his true identity?
What will Qin Weijin do? Fire him? Or publicize his actions and let his loyal fans continue to condemn him? Or will he secretly devise some way to retaliate?
Either way, it means his assistant career is over, and he can go back to where he came from.
Mo Ningzhi wasn't very interested in being an artist's assistant. Even though he had gotten used to the intense work pace, he still didn't like the job. However, the mismatch between professional interests and actual job requirements was common in the industry. If he were to pack his bags and leave now, Mo Ningzhi would feel strangely reluctant.
What is it that you can't bear to part with?
It's probably the novelty and excitement that this job brings.
"What were you talking about just now?" Qin Weijin asked.
This topic seems a bit abrupt, because Qin Weijin is not one to meddle in other people's business, yet he has now turned the page on the topic. No one would believe he knows nothing.
Mo Ningzhi became increasingly certain that he was about to lose his job again.
He looked up and said, "It's nothing."
Even though her disguise was about to be exposed, Mo Ningzhi didn't seem guilty at all, her face was completely calm.
"Then why are your ears red?" Qin Weijin glanced at the side of his head. "They're almost ripe."
Mo Ningzhi subconsciously raised her hand to touch it, and felt a warmth on her hand.
When did this start? Why didn't he feel his ears burning?
Xiao Xie and Zhang Yuyu also looked over.
Mo Ningzhi suddenly felt like the whole world was studying his ears, and his skin went from red to burning hot. He gritted his teeth to prevent the heat from spreading downwards. "It's too hot, Xiao Xie. Weren't you going to deliver something? Has the car arrived yet?"
Xiao Xie remembered the important matter and immediately forgot everything else. He took out his phone and quickly sent a message: "I'll be there in five minutes. I'll go over there first to organize everyone to help distribute the food. Brother Jin, I'll be going now."
Qin Weijin's expression softened for a moment: "Thank you for coming to support me despite the hot weather. I've also prepared some gifts for you. I'll have Xiao Guo bring them over later, and you can take them with you and share them."
This wasn't the first time Xiao Xie had done fan support; Qin Weijin always prepared gifts in advance, so she was used to it. Her idol always cared deeply for his fans, and she could love him for a million years without getting tired of it. "Thank you, Brother Jin," she said.
“Then I’ll go help,” Zhang Yuyu said. “Ningzhi, keep an eye on the time. Brother Jin is filming another scene in an hour and needs to touch up his makeup.”
"good."
After Xiao Xie and Zhang Yuyu left, Qin Weijin remained standing there, looking down at his phone, seemingly doing nothing.
Mo Ningzhi sidled up to her: "Aren't we going back?"
In fact, he could tell that Qin Weijin left behind something to say to him. Under normal circumstances, Mo Ningzhi would have already taken the initiative to break the ice and then waited maliciously to see the other party's terrified expression.
But if the object is changed from Qin to Jin.
He found it hard to bring himself to do it.
The reason is unknown, so Mo Ningzhi chose to play dumb. Let whoever wants to pry open the window can pry it open; he won't.
"I'm not going back for now." Qin Weijin looked up at him. "Don't you have anything to say?"
Mo Ningzhi pretended to be clueless: "No."
Qin Weijin frowned.
He actually looked a little angry.
It wasn't shock, nor disbelief. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and the corners of his mouth were turned down, the curve very faint. If Mo Ningzhi hadn't known him well, she really wouldn't have been able to tell that he was angry.
While I was lost in thought, Qin Weijin suddenly said, "Don't try to smear yourself again next time."
Mo Ningzhi: "?"
What's going on?
Meeting his bewildered gaze, Qin Weijin said, "You say you're a hater, an undercover agent."
Mo Ningzhi: "...?"
"Although Xiao Xie doesn't believe it, do you know how much trouble it would cause him if someone with ulterior motives overheard it?"
Mo Ningzhi felt like she had seen a ghost: "Do you know what you're saying?"
Qin Weijin gave him a look that said, "Are you sunburned?" and asked, "What do you think?"
After he finished speaking, the corners of his mouth turned down even lower.
Mo Ningzhi stared at the downward curve of his lips, and as if trying to probe something, she said, "I understand, I won't do it again next time."
As soon as he finished speaking, the downward curve slowly rose again, even tilting upwards slightly.
"..."
The person was appeased, but remained standing still.
Mo Ningzhi glanced to the side and saw that Qin Weijin had opened Weibo. He swiped through the "Messages" interface in the lower right corner and finally found a chat box among a bunch of red dot notifications, then clicked on it.
"What is this?" Mo Ningzhi felt that the opened profile picture looked familiar, but he couldn't quite remember if he had seen it before.
Mo Ningzhi felt that this chat avatar was probably something he had encountered when he was still working as an entertainment reporter. He didn't remember it very well because he was adding people and groups everywhere on Weibo during that period.
Given his short attention span for many online celebrity events—he gets involved quickly and forgets about them even faster—he won't even give a second glance to anything that's not worth reporting.
This must be some kind of whistleblowing group.
“Fan group,” Qin Weijin said.
Mo Ningzhi was surprised. "Why did you join the fan group?"
Then he stared cautiously at Qin Weijin's fingers.
Among the myriad fan groups on Weibo, celebrities sometimes join direct-connect communities to engage in direct communication, allowing fans to feel a closer bond with the artist more genuinely. These communities are communication spaces specifically designed for particular stars and their fans.
Qin Weijin is currently very popular, and anything he says can cause a strong reaction from his fans. Mo Ningzhi watched with bated breath.
"I didn't mean anything by it." Qin Weijin moved his phone a little closer, exposing the entire screen to Mo Ningzhi's view. "I just wanted to send a red envelope."
Mo Ningzhi understood, "Because of the cheering just now?"
Xiao Xie's appearance to show support represents the fan group, and the gifts were definitely purchased through collective fundraising, so it's understandable that Qin Weijin would personally express his gratitude.
"Hmm." Qin Weijin quickly edited a message and entered a long string of amounts into the red envelope, all of which were 9s.
Mo Ningzhi's gaze fell on that passage of text. Qin Weijin was not a pretentious or affected person. He couldn't say anything sentimental. Even his thank-you speech was short and concise, just like his own style.
Perhaps it was because his gaze was too direct, Qin Weijin raised his face as if he had a feeling, "The thank-you note doesn't need to be too exaggerated, otherwise they will think I'm trying to get reimbursed and won't accept it. This simple one is just fine."
Mo Ningzhi had seen many such group chats, but because the requirements for joining were too high, and because of the nature of these group chats, even if you joined, you wouldn't find anything interesting. So far, he had only joined one group out of curiosity...
Um?
one?
Which one was it again?
Before he could even think of it, Qin Weijin pressed send.
[Buzzing.]
My phone vibrated.
Qin Weijin raised his eyebrows and looked over, his eyes filled with surprise and doubt.
Mo Ningzhi: "..."
Forgotten memories resurfaced in his mind, becoming clearer and clearer. He gripped his phone tightly and turned off the screen.
[Buzzing.]
Qin Weijin turned his attention to his hands.
Mo Ningzhi swallowed hard and explained, "It's a scam text message."
Qin Weijin gave a casual "hmm," it was unclear whether he believed it or not.
[Buzzing]
[Buzzing]
[Buzzing]
My phone kept vibrating like crazy.
Mo Ningzhi: "..."
He had never regretted it so much before. Why did he switch to his alternate account to check the replies out of boredom, and forget to switch back to his original account?
Qin Weijin stared at Mo Ningzhi's strange profile for a few seconds, then suddenly remembered something, opened the group members, and searched for "Good Mo Ning".
The search result was 1.
I saw the profile picture just a few days ago.
His homepage is full of his photos, and it was last updated a few days ago.
The case is solved.
Mo Ningzhi is his fan.
Perhaps, it's not just fans.
Mo Ningzhi had been following him for several years.
Mo Ningzhi glanced at the screen and saw that the group chat had indeed exploded. Qin Weijin rarely spoke in the group, but whenever he did, it would cause a sensation. Now, a group of people in the group were calling out to their friends and going about all sorts of things, and everyone was having a blast.
Mo Ningzhi quietly silenced his phone. Without the annoying buzzing, he felt much more confident in front of Qin Weijin. "It's about time, let's go."
Qin Weijin didn't move: "You're in the group too?"
After saying that, her ears turned even redder.
The red hue even showed a tendency to spread downwards.
"Not here."
Qin Wei Jin: "Do you know what group I'm talking about?"
Mo Ningzhi: "..."
He tried to keep his online persona a secret: "I'm not in any groups. I don't like online social networking and I never join group chats."
"Is that so?" Qin Weijin smiled faintly, noticing that redness had spread across one side of his neck. He finally let him off the hook. "Then it seems I misunderstood. Let's go back."
Mo Ningzhi breathed a sigh of relief.
"Goodmorning".
Mo Ningzhi: "…………"
...
Because of a slip of the tongue, Qin Weijin didn't hear Mo Ningzhi speak again until the end of the afternoon. She stayed far away and wouldn't come over no matter how he called her. All the work was given to Xiao Guo and Zhang Yuyu, and he demoted himself to doing odd jobs on the periphery.
Although he didn't jump up in anger, Qin Weijin felt that this behavior was much more serious than jumping up and down.
Because he simply couldn't catch anyone.
"Brother Jin, Manager Zhan said that wearing a wig can damage your scalp, so he sent over some skin care and hair root care products. Let me apply them to you before you leave."
Zhang Yuyu came in carrying a bunch of bottles and jars after finishing work and removing her makeup.
Qin Weijin looked behind her and asked, "Where is Mo Ningzhi?"
He said he forgot to turn off the tap at home and went home first.
Qin for Jin: "..."
His words had such power that they scared people away and sent them home.
Zhang Yuyu had already started unscrewing bottles and jars, washed her hands, and applied a little liquid to Qin Weijin's cheeks and the roots of his hair; it felt cool and refreshing.
If it weren't necessary, Qin Weijin usually disliked applying greasy lotions and serums to his face and head, and would only reluctantly accept it after Zhan Linzhou got angry and yelled, "Are you going to go bald if you don't take care of your hair?" Today, however, he was more patient and obediently sat in the chair while Zhang Yuyu touched his face.
Zhang Yuyu couldn't help but tentatively ask, "Brother Jin, I need to apply three more types of essence."
"good."
Zhang Yuyu stretched out a small, provocative hand: "Want to use the hair treatment device for another half hour?"
"Either is fine." Qin Weijin looked at his phone without even looking up.
"..."
Zhang Yuyu paused, wishing she could run to Zhan Linzhou's ear and shout that their Brother Jin finally understood the importance of hair and face care!
Perhaps he's busy with some work and his mind isn't on this.
Her gaze inadvertently swept over Qin Weijin's phone, and she noticed that his thumb was hovering over the screen, staring blankly at the WeChat contact list.
"?" Zhang Yuyu: "Brother Jin, what's wrong?"
Qin Weijin frowned slightly, so briefly that neither he nor Zhang Yuyu noticed. "I have a question for you."
His attitude could be described as serious, and Zhang Yuyu unconsciously became serious as well, clearing her throat, "Please go ahead."
Do you have Mo Ningzhi's WeChat?
"..."
...
After leaving work early, Mo Ningzhi did not go home.
After Qin Weijin uttered the phrase "Good morning," he felt he needed to calm down, and the quickest way to do so was to attend Zhou Yaozheng's birthday party.
Going to places he doesn't like, seeing people he doesn't like, doing things he doesn't like—nothing can cool him down better than that.
“When are you coming? I’ve already prepared my clothes. We’ll leave as soon as I change.” Li Yan sent a voice message on WeChat.
Mo Ningzhi was sitting in the back of the taxi. Hearing this, he glanced at his surroundings and pressed the talk button. "Five minutes."
"Alright, I'm going to get my hair and makeup done. I heard a lot of big shots are coming tonight, and they've invited quite a few celebrities. If I dress up nicely, who knows, I might just find a girlfriend."
"Isn't this a birthday party? Why are there celebrities here?"
"Hey, it's a different matter. Zhou Yaozheng just took on the additional role of your group's CFO, and someone on the board immediately suggested combining his birthday party and annual meeting into one celebration. In the end, it's all about creating momentum for him to join the board..."
Perhaps it was because he was wearing a mask, but the taxi driver kept glancing in the rearview mirror, their eyes meeting several times. Mo Ningzhi then opened the input field and began typing: 【Who did you invite?】
Li Yan sent over several names, both male and female, none of whom were high-profile figures.
Mo Ningzhi breathed a sigh of relief after reading it from beginning to end.
Song Wan then realized that his reaction was ridiculous. With Qin Weijin's current popularity, he would never become a topic of conversation among celebrities.
A short while later, he arrived at a shopping mall. Li Yan was picking out ties in a familiar brand store. "This one is too flashy, it overshadows the rest of the outfit, I'll get a different one."
As soon as Mo Ningzhi walked in, she adopted a quick and decisive approach: "Where are my clothes?"
"Room number three," Li Yan said. "I've prepared two sets for you. If you're not satisfied, you can change them anytime. I've even brought the designer here."
Mo Ningzhi had no interest in showing off; it was best if he went quietly and left quietly, and no one spoke to him.
But at the same time, he also knew that having the words "Zhou Yaozheng's younger brother" etched on his forehead meant he was destined to have no peace tonight.
Two suits were hanging on the coat rack next to the sofa, neither of them in a conventional color. One was red and the other was white. The white one looked like a groomsman's suit, and the red one was too eye-catching.
Mo Ningzhi paused for two seconds, then walked out the door the way she came: "Just these two sets?"
"Yes, they're all your size. Don't you like them? I think they suit you perfectly," Li Yan said. "Or I can have them get some from another branch for you?"
"No."
Mo Ningzhi returned to the fitting room and stood in front of the two outfits for two seconds.
Between being as white as a ghost and being as red as blood, I decisively chose the latter.
A suit is undoubtedly a man's best weapon. When Mo Ningzhi came out after changing his clothes, he heard some quiet "wow" comments.
There were a few girls in the store who seemed to be helping their friends and family choose clothes. They looked really good at his outfit and kept glancing over at him.
“My taste is impeccable.” Li Yan circled him twice. “It’s really nice, this color suits you very well.”
Mo Ningzhi didn't feel that the clothes suited him at all; he just felt that wearing them made him look like an eye-catching peacock in the crowd, the kind with its tail feathers spread wide.
He rarely wore suits, and awkwardly adjusted his tie, saying impatiently, "It's almost time, let's go."
Li Yan agreed, his gaze sweeping over Mo Ningzhi with satisfaction.
Mo Ningzhi chose this outfit as part of his plan. Zhou Yaozheng has been too high-profile lately, buying shares, winning people over, and making high-profile appearances, all with his sights set on becoming the group's heir. Although nothing he does now can stop Zhou Yaozheng's upward momentum, it doesn't stop him from trying to make things difficult for Zhou Yaozheng and also let others know who the real young master of the Mo family is.
In his conduct and dealings with others, Young Master Li always adhered to one principle: even if he suffered heavy losses himself, as long as his opponent was not in a good position, he would not consider it a loss.
...
Zhou Yaozheng's banquet was held at the largest hotel in the city center. As a newly appointed official and on his special birthday, he booked an entire floor of the banquet hall. The list of invited guests was piled up, and luxury cars lined the entrance.
Mo Ningzhi and Li Yan had just arrived at the entrance of the banquet hall when they received a call from Zhou Suiyin, "Ningzhi, Xiao Zheng said you'd be coming today. There are a lot of people here, do you want me to come out and meet you?"
Even though attending this banquet was not voluntary, Mo Ningzhi couldn't bring himself to be forceful towards this gentle woman. "No need, Aunt Zhou, I'm already at the door."
"Okay, then your dad and I will wait for you inside."
After hanging up the phone, Li Yan glanced at his expression and knew who it was. "Zhou Yaozheng's mother?"
"Um."
"Damn, I knew you wouldn't agree to come here. Did that old bastard provoke you with his mother again? What a good son."
Mo Ningzhi remained silent for a long time. Ever since Zhou Yaozheng discovered his unspeakable guilt towards Zhou Suiyin, he had become even more adept at manipulating him.
Initially, Mo's father did not intend to keep Zhou Yaozheng by his side, but he couldn't resist Zhou Yaozheng's ambition. After casually mentioning twice at home that Zhou Suiyin was in poor health and that his workplace was too far from home to take care of her, Mo Ningzhi knocked on Mo's father's door during the cold war. A week later, Zhou Yaozheng became Mo's father's specially recruited intern and entered the company.
After starting his job, Zhou Yaozheng worked diligently and conscientiously, and within two years he was promoted to general manager of the group, making a name for himself in the business world.
He never did anything to harm the company, and Old Man Mo became increasingly appreciative of his work ability. Zhou Yaozheng gained a firm foothold in both the company and his family, and Zhou Suiyin smiled more and more at home.
Afterwards, having tasted success, Zhou Yaozheng became increasingly arrogant and overbearing. When Mo Ningzhi was traveling the world and didn't want to go home, he would subtly and overtly mention that Zhou Suiyin was weak and hospitalized, and that she was depressed.
When Mo Ningzhi ran away from home, he sent Zhou Suiyin to visit him.
When Mo Ningzhi and Old Man Mo had a fight, he asked Zhou Suiyin to mediate.
This tactic proved effective once and for all, and even now, Zhou Yaozheng is still using it again.
That scar almost became a tight band around Mo Ningzhi's head.
According to Mo Ningzhi's observation, Zhou Suiyin herself was unaware that she was being used by her beloved son. She was an extremely simple woman, with only her family and son in her heart. She couldn't understand financial statements or stock market fluctuations. She spent her days shopping and arranging flowers, living a life as beautiful as a poem.
If she knew that she had been Zhou Yaozheng's leverage over Mo Ningzhi, she would probably feel guilty to the point of wanting to go to the Western Hemisphere and never appear in front of Mo Ningzhi again.
Even though Mo Ningzhi had already grasped Zhou Yaozheng's weakness, this card would never be played.
"It's almost time, let's go in."
Not long after entering the world of fame and fortune, Li Yan was dragged away by his old man to make friends everywhere. Mo Ningzhi, an idle person, had no interest in discussing economic policies with anyone, so he found a corner to stay in, waiting to go home after his appearance.
But not long after, Zhou Suiyin arrived with Old Man Mo.
"Ningzhi." Zhou Suiyin pushed Mo Yanzhou to Mo Ningzhi's side, her smile very polite: "The guests haven't all arrived yet, and your father is already getting restless. Please keep him company for me. I'm going to chat with Mrs. Qi and the others for a while."
Mo Ningzhi and Old Man Mo exchanged a glance but neither spoke.
"By the way," Zhou Suiyin leaned closer and whispered in his ear, "Your dad's medical report from last week just came out, and his blood sugar is a bit high. Keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't eat any sweets."
Mo Ningzhi glanced at Mo Yanzhou, who was standing next to him with an air of superiority, with surprise. Although he kept calling him "Old Man Mo," he knew in his heart that his father was only 50 years old and calling him that wouldn't make him old.
But now, looking at Mo Yanzhou, his temples are turning gray and his eyes are wrinkled, showing early signs of aging.
Mo Ningzhi was immediately rendered speechless.
"Why are you hiding so far away?" After Zhou Suiyin left, Mo Yanzhou stood awkwardly for a while before taking the initiative to speak up: "Several uncles and elders were asking me about you and how you've been doing. I'll go say hello later."
Mo Ningzhi: "Oh."
oh?
Mo Yanzhou turned and stared at him strangely, "Will you come home for dinner more often in the future?"
"……Um."
Mo Yanzhou's expression changed: "Did you eat spoiled food? Why are you being so easy to talk to?"
Mo Ningzhi's face immediately turned green.
He shouldn't have given that old man such a nice look.
Perhaps it was his sudden softening that made Mo Yanzhou feel a long-lost father-son bond, and the two chatted peacefully for a while.
"You've been away from home for over half a year, haven't you had enough fun?" Mo Yanzhou walked to the side, his gaze sweeping across the distance. "Your brother has successfully taken over the position, what about you? How much longer do you plan to coast along?"
Mo Ningzhi said lazily, "I'm just not cut out for it, don't even think about it."
“No one is born to do this job. Everyone learns it little by little. Don’t be fooled by how successful your brother is now. When he first started, he worked overtime every day and often stayed up all night. I was afraid he would hide and cry in secret.” Mo Yanzhou was probably a little thirsty. As he spoke, he approached the food counter, his eyes scanning for his favorite food.
Mo Ningzhi glanced at him: "I don't like working overtime, and I don't like staying up late."
"So you work as someone's assistant, working overtime until the early hours of the morning every day?"
"..."
"Why aren't you saying anything? Did I hit the nail on the head? Being someone's assistant is worse than going home. What position do you want... Hey, what are you doing?" Mo Yanzhou had just chosen a glass of wine when it was intercepted.
Mo Ningzhi took a sip herself and stuffed a decorative cucumber roll into the old man's hand. "If you keep talking nonsense, you won't even get to eat the side dish."
Mo Yanzhou: "..."
He was both angry and amused. "When are you leaving?"
"Never leave."
Mo Yanzhou: "Why? Is someone holding something against you?"
"..." Mo Ningzhi put down her wine glass, having lost her appetite: "No, I just don't want to quit, okay?"
"What kind of attitude is this?" Old Mo said sternly.
"This is my attitude. If you're not satisfied, go find your adopted son."
"you!"
From that moment on, the atmosphere that had been so hard to ease almost plummeted to freezing point.
Fortunately, the banquet hall suddenly became lively, and the noise broke the awkwardness. It was clear that everyone who was supposed to be there had arrived. Mo Yanzhou straightened his coat and generously turned the page: "Come on, come with me and say hello."
Mo Ningzhi endured his impatience and walked the whole way. He didn't like to talk, so Mo Yanzhou and Zhou Yaozheng would speak for him. When they encountered someone they didn't know, Zhou Suiyin would whisper a reminder.
No one came to make him unhappy, and the atmosphere was friendly, but Mo Ningzhi just wanted to leave as soon as possible.
After finally finishing the scene depicting a harmonious family, Mo Ningzhi, feeling bored, unbuttoned her shirt and wanted to leave. Zhou Yaozheng chased after her, "Ningzhi, are you leaving?"
Mo Ningzhi turned around, his dark red outfit highlighting his beautiful lips and white teeth, and even the coldness in his eyes seemed to have warmed up, making him look less aggressive.
Zhou Yaozheng was stunned for a moment. "Uncle Mo said that he wants you to go home later and take your money and cards with you. He won't interfere with your work anymore."
"knew."
"I would rather know..."
"Zhou Yaozheng, my patience is limited. If you keep talking nonsense, I can't guarantee I won't ruin your perfect banquet."
"..."
It's finally quiet.
Mo Ningzhi exhaled and was about to leave when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure in the corner. He paused for a moment and involuntarily went to look for it.
There were many men and women in the corner, chatting loudly, but looking around, there wasn't a single familiar figure.
Mo Ningzhi couldn't help but laugh at himself; he was really obsessed with working overtime, and everyone looked like Qin Weijin to him.
Just then, a man walked up to them. "It's you? We meet again."
Mo Ningzhi sized up the other person. "Who are you?"
"Don't you recognize me? We've met before, on the cruise ship." The other person smoothed their hair and smiled. "You even said you were going to keep Qin Weijin as your sugar daddy."
Mo Ningzhi had no recollection of this person. Judging from the content of their conversation, they were hardly acquainted. She turned to leave.
"Wait, which company in the capital do you work for to get here?" the man asked.
"none of your business."
"..." The man noticed that his clothes were impeccably tailored, a stark contrast to when they first met. However, his manners and speech lacked the sophistication expected of someone in their circle, making him appear like an illegitimate son from some lowly family, lacking real power but undeniably handsome. "I was rude last time. I thought you were a newly signed trainee from some company. This cup is my apology. My surname is Zhang. Shall we be friends?"
"I don't lack friends," Mo Ningzhi said. "Can you move aside?"
He smiled and told them to get lost.
man:"……"
After several attempts, Mo Ningzhi's patience was completely exhausted, and she left the man to go to the balcony alone for some fresh air.
To his surprise, the small balcony was already occupied, and a figure was hiding in the shadows. Just as he was about to leave, he saw the person turn around.
"..." Mo Ningzhi was surprised: "Qin is Jin?"
"What a coincidence." Qin Weijin straightened up.
Mo Ningzhi saw no surprise on his face, only feigned composure. "How did you get here?"
Qin for Jin: "He came at the invitation."
Mo Ningzhi was highly skeptical of the truthfulness of his words and was about to speak when she suddenly remembered something, "You've been here all this time?"
"Yes, what's wrong?"
Mo Ningzhi pursed her lips. "Did you hear something just now?"
Qin Weijin raised an eyebrow: "You mean?"
"nothing."
Qin Weijin hummed in agreement, lowered his eyes, and swallowed back the words that were about to come out. He had witnessed Mo Ningzhi's embarrassed and angry state of avoiding people before. If he were to use what he had just heard to tease her again, he estimated that Mo Ningzhi would take a week off in a fit of anger.
However, this did not stop him from secretly verifying something.
"It's so late, have you eaten anything?" Qin Weijin asked.
The nature of this banquet was limited to investment and networking; no one wasted time eating. Mo Ningzhi had drunk half a glass of wine since arriving, but he didn't feel particularly hungry.
Before he could even speak, Qin Weijin pushed a plate in front of him. "This is what I just got. It tastes good. Would you like to try some?"
"No need..." Mo Ning didn't finish her sentence before her eyes fixed on the plate, "Did you take these things?"
"Um."
"Have you eaten?"
Qin Weijin paused subtly for a moment: "I ate."
Mo Ningzhi's expression changed. "Who told you to eat this stuff? Do you even know what's in it? Where's Yuyu? Is she here yet?"
Qin Weijin stared at him without moving his eyes. "I came by myself."
Mo Ningzhi's complexion worsened.
The whole plate is full of allergens. How could Qin Weijin eat so quickly? Doesn't he care about his own life?
However, the most urgent task is to confirm the amount he ingested and whether it poses a life-threatening risk.
Recalling Qin Weijin's allergy symptoms, Mo Ningzhi grabbed his hand, lifted his sleeve to check for rashes on his arm, and then lifted his collar.
Qin Weijin was taken aback for a moment, then stopped him halfway.
"Let go." Mo Ningzhi said fiercely. "Don't move if you don't want to die."
Qin Weijin gripped his thin wrist, the flesh in his palm soft. "You have to tell me what happened?"
Mo Ningzhi: "..."
He swallowed the words he couldn't say, forcefully brushed Qin Weijin's hand away, and tore off his tie without a word.
He was so strong that he pushed Qin Weijin so hard that he leaned back against the railing.
The two of them were intertwined in such a dangerous position in a corner of the balcony. The chirping of insects under the trees not far away made the dim and quiet corner seem even more tranquil.
Because they were so close, Mo Ningzhi actually noticed a few red spots on the edge of Qin Weijin's neck.
Without saying a word, he grabbed Qin Weijin and said, "Come on, let's go to the hospital."
Qin Weijin grabbed him, "Why?"
"You didn't even know you were allergic?" Mo Ningzhi glared at her fiercely, then, remembering Qin Weijin's health condition, she became somewhat worried. "How are you feeling now? Are you having difficulty breathing? Are you itchy all over? Did Zhang Yuyu give you any medication with you?"
Seeing the assistant's anxious expression.
Qin Weijin felt a mix of apology and mischievous delight; he had found out that his assistant liked him.
If testing Mo Ningzhi's attitude with allergens was a high-stakes gamble with no chance of winning, then Mo Ningzhi's anxious reaction, even to the point of forcibly tearing off his clothes, had already turned the tables on him.
Mo Ning knew he was nervous.
Mo Ningzhi liked him.
He likes me. Qin Weijin thought to himself.
An unknown warmth seemed to surge within his heart, and with each beat of his organs, this warmth would be supplied to his limbs and bones, like branches stretching out in spring, just waiting for the season to arrive so they could bloom.
"What are you spacing out about?" Mo Ningzhi asked. "Qin for Jin?"
Coming to his senses, Qin Weijin ignored his still slightly trembling heart and patted his hand, "I'm fine, don't worry."
Mo Ningzhi thought he was talking nonsense.
"I didn't eat those things." Qin Weijin observed his expression and changed his words: "I hadn't had a chance to eat before you came in."
Mo Ningzhi asked doubtfully, "Are you sure?"
"I wouldn't joke about my own life."
Mo Ningzhi's gaze fell on him: "Then why is your neck red?"
"You mean this?" Qin Weijin pulled open his collar, revealing a section of his lean and strong neck. "I didn't notice when I changed clothes this afternoon that I was wearing a fabric that I'm allergic to."
Seeing that he didn't seem to be in any trouble, Mo Ningzhi finally felt relieved and let go of his hand. But then she suddenly remembered that this person had mocked her mercilessly before, and immediately retorted, "Such a delicate flower."
Qin for Jin: "...???"
What are you looking at? Mo Ning thought to herself, with such a wide range of allergens, they're even harder to care for than delicate flowers.
"Speaking of which, I'm quite curious," Qin Weijin suddenly said, "how did you know about my allergies?"
Mo Ningzhi was stunned: "..."
Realizing too much had been revealed in hindsight is no longer something that can be explained away by simply being a fan.
This was Qin Weijin's secret, a weakness he had carefully protected, but Mo Ningzhi had irrationally exposed it to the light of day.
In her moment of nervousness, she hadn't paid attention, but now that she'd come to her senses, Mo Ningzhi felt as if she had unwittingly caused a lot of trouble.
"Hmm?" He didn't answer, so Qin Weijin gently urged him.
There was no way to avoid it, so Mo Ningzhi braced herself and answered, "I guessed."
Qin, not letting him off the hook, demanded, "What's your basis?"
"By observing the range of foods you avoid, the things you never touch may be allergens."
Qin Weijin raised an eyebrow: "Why don't you think it's because I don't like it?"
Mo Ningzhi couldn't continue the story any longer: "I guessed."
The topic circled back to itself, and Mo Ningzhi felt that she hadn't covered things up at all; the loopholes were like a honeycomb.
Whether it was a sudden pang of conscience or not, Qin Weijin let him off the hook for the time being. "It's getting late, do you want to go?"
Mo Ningzhi had wanted to leave earlier, but now he wanted to stay a little longer to calm down. He leaned against the balcony railing and let the wind blow on him: "No, I have something to do. Brother Jin, you should go back first."
Qin Weijin stood beside him, their hands touching. Mo Ningzhi felt a coolness in his fingers, like a breeze brushing against his nose.
Qin Weijin suddenly felt very good, probably because the chirping of insects in the grass was more pleasant than usual, and the lamplight and evening breeze were just right.
"I'll be going now." He said he was leaving, but he didn't move an inch. "See you tomorrow?"
Mo Ningzhi moved slightly. "See you tomorrow."
Perhaps it was because his body trembled slightly when he spoke, and the skin on the edge of his palm brushed against Mo Ningzhi's little finger. Qin Weijin felt Mo Ningzhi be quiet for two seconds, and then he moved his hand away.
Qin Weijin frowned; no one could see him clearly in the darkness.
"By the way, do you have the interview transcript for next week?" Qin Weijin asked, remembering something. "I need to familiarize myself with it beforehand, could you send it to me?"
"Okay." Mo Ningzhi took out her phone and opened WeChat.
Qin Weijin glanced at it quickly, then looked away just as fast.
Subconsciously opening the chat interface, Mo Ningzhi suddenly realized that he and Qin Weijin had not added each other as friends since he joined the company. Would it seem like he was neglecting his duties if he brought it up now?
"...Can I post this on your Weibo?" After a long silence, Mo Ningzhi finally managed to utter a sentence.
"?" Qin Weijin turned his head. "Do you know how many private messages I receive on Weibo every day?"
"……"Too.
Mo Ningzhi composed herself, opened the QR code interface, and held it out to Qin Weijin, "Then let's add each other as friends."
"We haven't added each other as friends?"
Mo Ningzhi pursed her lips. "No."
"Okay, then add it." Qin Weijin took his phone, tapped a few times, and then returned it. "Alright, I'm leaving now. You should go home early too."
Mo Ningzhi stood there, looking at the 11-digit number on her phone screen, and frowned.
"..."
Why not just scan a QR code? Why give him his phone number?
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