Chapter 18
The light from the crystal chandelier is like a flowing galaxy, pouring down on the Dome-shaped banquet hall, the highest standard in City B.
The air was filled with the luxurious aroma of expensive champagne, exquisite pastries, and high-end fragrances. Elegantly dressed people, clinking glasses, this was the epitome of the power and wealth at the pinnacle of City B.
Qin Mu walked among the guests, like a peacock patrolling his territory. He deliberately slowed down his pace, enjoying the sticky and complex gazes cast at him by the people around him.
Stunning, obsessed, unbelievable - these are the first reactions to Lin Yao's beautiful appearance.
Envy, jealousy, greed—these were the emotions that quickly changed after seeing him standing next to Qin Mu.
"Look, that's Master Qin's new favorite? Oh my god... silver hair and blue eyes, like an elf..."
"Tsk, Young Master Qin is so lucky to be able to get such a top-notch product..."
"It's just a new favorite. After a few months, if you get tired of it, won't you just throw it aside? By then... hehe..."
Those suppressed but still perceptible discussions were like maggots wriggling in a dark corner.
In the eyes of these people, Lin Yao was just a rare, beautiful object to be shown off and fought over. His wishes, emotions, and even soul were unimportant.
This naked objectification and malice made Lin Yao feel cold inside and even a little ridiculous.
The ants covet the dragon's reverse scales, but they don't know that their death is approaching.
"Brother Qin Mu." A coquettish voice came.
A young woman in a backless dress with delicate makeup held a wine glass in her hand. She flew in front of Qin Mu like a butterfly, her eyes full of resentment and expectation. "Long time no see... You haven't paid any attention to me lately..."
She deliberately ignored Lin Yao who was beside Qin Mu.
The smile on Qin Mu's face instantly became a little stiff, and he subconsciously turned sideways to block Lin Yao's sight: "Lillian? Ah... I've been busy recently..."
"Busy?" Lillian pouted and complained aggrievedly, "Are you busy accompanying your new love? Brother Qin Mu, we were so good before, have you forgotten?" As she spoke, she glanced at Lin Yao provocatively.
Lin Yao showed a curious expression at the right moment, and looked at Qin Mu with clear blue eyes: "Qin Mu, who is this lady? Did you have a good relationship before?"
His voice was not loud, but it was loud enough for those around him who were listening carefully to hear it.
"Well, just... an ordinary friend. We've collaborated on a project before."
Qin Mu immediately denied it, speaking quickly, trying to downplay it. "Lillian, be mindful of the situation and don't talk nonsense."
His tone was warning.
Lillian's face changed. She wanted to say something, but Qin Mu had already put his arm around Lin Yao's shoulders and led him away forcefully: "Yaoyao, let's go over there and introduce you to some elders."
Seeing Qin Mu covering up the past with a clumsy lie and using his elders as an excuse to divert attention, Lin Yao just felt funny.
Qin Mu was like a peacock who was performing desperately on the stage, trying to attract all attention with his gorgeous feathers, but he didn't know that the audience had already seen through his ridiculous nature and only regarded him as a monkey for people's entertainment.
He enjoyed Qin Mu's embarrassment as he struggled with lies, as if he was enjoying a carefully choreographed farce.
At this moment, the crowd automatically parted to form a passage. A woman in a dark green velvet dress, with an elegant and graceful demeanor, walked in, surrounded by the crowd.
She was well-maintained and her age was hard to tell, but her sharp eyes and the aura of authority that came from her instantly overwhelmed everyone in the room.
It was the mayor of City B - Qin Lan.
Lin Yao's heart moved slightly. Female city lords were especially rare in this new world where resources were scarce and strength was respected.
She was able to stand out from countless competitors and sit on the throne of city lord. The blood, sweat and sacrifices behind it are probably far beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
This tenacity and strength is worth his second look.
Qin Lan's gaze swept across the entire room, finally landing on Qin Mu and Lin Yao.
She first looked at Lin Yao, her eyes scrutinizing but without malice, instead there was a hint of imperceptible pity.
She walked up to the two of them, her voice gentle but with undeniable strength: "This is Lin Yao, right? Welcome to City B."
She turned to Lin Yao and said in a softer voice, "Child, if you encounter any difficulties here, you can come to me directly."
This is the gentle protection of the superior.
Then, her gaze turned to Qin Mu, and instantly became stern as a knife: "Qin Mu, put away your cunning thoughts. Since you brought her back, treat her well and don't bully her. Also, don't be idle all day, learn more from your brother. If I hear about your messy love affairs again, you will bring disgrace to the Qin family and punish me according to the family rules!"
The harsh reprimand made Qin Mu wilted instantly, and he kept saying yes.
After Qin Lan finished scolding her son, she shifted her gaze to a place not far behind Lin Yao.
A tall young man with a stern face was standing there.
He was wearing a neatly tailored black suit, his eyes were sharp, and his aura was powerful and restrained, like a sharp blade in its sheath.
It was Qin Mu's brother, Qin Feng, the recognized future star of City B.
An S-level space-cutting mutant with unfathomable strength and unlimited potential.
Qin Feng simply nodded slightly to his mother and stopped looking at her, as if he was indifferent to everything going on at the banquet.
He exuded an icy aura that kept strangers away, keeping people at a distance.
However, Lin Yao's spiritual perception caught a hint of unusual fluctuations.
Beneath Qin Feng's cold exterior, there seemed to be a core of energy lurking, completely different from his outward appearance, and an unusually soft core. This sharp contrast instantly ignited Lin Yao's desire to explore.
Halfway through the banquet, Lin Yao used the excuse of getting some fresh air to walk alone to the sky garden terrace connected to the banquet hall.
The night was cool, the lights of the city spread out beneath his feet. His spiritual thread extended silently, quickly capturing the subtle energy fluctuations coming from a hidden corner deep in the garden.
He approached quietly and saw an unexpected scene.
Qin Feng, who was as cold as an iceberg during the day, was now squatting on the ground, carefully holding a bird's nest that had fallen from a tree.
He gently placed the shivering chicks back into the tree branches, and with his fingertips, he condensed a gentle spatial energy to reinforce the shaky nest. After doing all this, the corners of his tense mouth seemed to relax for a moment.
Then he took out a small bag of something from his pocket - cat strips.
Several stray cats hiding in the bushes came over as if they knew the place well and rubbed his trouser legs affectionately.
The lines on Qin Feng's cold face softened. He tore open the cat strips and fed the cat with clumsy but patient movements, his eyes focused and gentle.
Only in a corner where no one is watching him will he take off the heavy mask that befits his identity as the future city lord.
At this moment, a cat seemed to be startled by Lin Yao's breath and cried out.
Qin Feng raised his head abruptly, his eyes instantly switching from tenderness to icy alertness!
"who?!"
He shouted sternly, and when he saw that it was Lin Yao, his body stiffened noticeably, and a trace of panic and tension flashed in his eyes.
"You...what did you see?"
He almost questioned her, his voice trembling slightly. If this matter were to get out, his political enemies would exploit it and say he was wasting his time and energy, and was too soft-hearted. This would deal a huge blow to his mother's and his own prestige.
Lin Yao looked at him as if he was facing a great enemy, and a hint of understanding flashed in his blue eyes.
He didn't panic, instead he smiled a pure and kind smile, "Master Qin Feng? What a coincidence! I came out to get some fresh air... I didn't expect you like kittens too?"
He pointed at the cat licking its paw and said naturally, "I like them too. I used to feed stray cats in D City..."
He revealed a bit of nostalgia and sadness at the right time.
Qin Feng's tense nerves relaxed slightly at Lin Yao's gentle attitude and his declaration of sympathy, but his vigilance was not completely eliminated.
Lin Yao walked forward, keeping a safe distance, and squatted down, extending his hand to a vigilant little orange cat. The little orange cat hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked over and rubbed his fingers.
"They are cute and fragile."
Lin Yao said softly, looking at the cat with gentle eyes, "It feels good to be able to help them, doesn't it?"
Qin Feng looked at Lin Yao's focused profile. His silver hair shone faintly in the moonlight, and his blue eyes were as clear as a mountain spring.
The tenderness towards the weak life seemed to resonate deeply in his heart. His tense body finally relaxed and he uttered a low "hmm".
The atmosphere relaxed. Lin Yao was about to say something else when Qin Feng suddenly stood up, as if realizing they were too close.
He hesitated for a moment, and saw Lin Yao looking up at him. His blue eyes looked very much like the kitten that had just rubbed his hand... For some unknown reason, he reached out and gently rubbed Lin Yao's soft silver hair.
After doing this action, both of them were stunned.
Lin Yao just widened his eyes slightly.
Qin Feng, as if scalded, abruptly retracted his hand. His face flushed red from his ears to his neck. His eyes were filled with disbelief and embarrassment. He didn't even dare to look at Lin Yao again and practically fled. With a flash of his spatial ability, he vanished from the spot.
Lin Yao squatted in place, looking at the direction where Qin Feng disappeared, and touched his hair that had just been rubbed, and a playful arc slowly appeared at the corner of his mouth.
How interesting. This S-rank warrior, cold as ice on the outside but soft and innocent on the inside, was even more...interesting than he'd imagined. Perhaps, further exploration was necessary.
…
Back at Qin Mu's luxurious apartment, the atmosphere was far less harmonious than when the party began.
"Yaoyao, are you tired tonight?" Qin Mu poured a glass of wine and approached with ambiguous eyes, "Do you want... me to help you relax?"
His hand restlessly rested on Lin Yao's waist, full of suggestive meaning.
Lin Yao calmly avoided her and walked to the window: "I am a little tired and want to rest early."
This is the nth time I've been rejected recently.
The smile on Qin Mu's face faded, and a hint of impatience and anger flashed in his eyes.
"Yaoyao, how long are you going to reject me? Am I not good to you? I will give you whatever you want! The whole city of B knows that you are mine!"
His tone was oppressive, "Or... are you still thinking about Lu Cheng, the man who sold you out?!"
Qin Mu's patience is running out rapidly lately.
He had invested a huge amount of resources, not just to provide a vase that could only be looked at but not touched. Lin Yao's repeated rejections had seriously challenged his authority and self-esteem.
The brief absence of Lin Yao and Qin Feng at the banquet tonight also made him feel inexplicably irritated.
Lin Yao turned around, with just the right amount of fatigue and a hint of grievance on his face.
"I'm not... I'm just... not ready yet."
He lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyes, looking fragile and stubborn. "Qin Mu, give me a little more time... okay?"
If it was before, Qin Mu might have been moved by this look. But now, he just felt that he was being fooled.
He took a swig of his drink and his tone darkened.
"Time? Isn't the time I gave you enough? Lin Yao, don't challenge my bottom line. I'm not a fool like Lu Cheng who will indulge you endlessly."
A quarrel seemed imminent.
Lin Yao sneered in his heart, his annoyance reaching its peak.
He certainly didn't consider himself a person with a strong sense of chastity, but choosing between a self-righteous fool like Qin Mu and... Lu Cheng? Lu Cheng's eyes, always filled with heartache and eagerness, subconsciously flashed through his mind...
Lu Cheng? The mention of that name made him pause for a moment. That handy tool he'd abandoned in City D…why would he think of him at this moment? It had clearly lost its function, hadn't it?
This inexplicable thought made him even more irritable. He couldn't put it off any longer.
Qin Mu's patience had run out. If he continued to refuse, given the playboy's temperament, he would likely resort to coercion. Although Lin Yao wasn't afraid, a big fuss would be detrimental to his subsequent plans.
He looked out the window at the towering energy tower in the city center, and recalled Qin Feng's red ears as he fled...
A plan quickly took shape.
Isn't Qin Feng, the S-class warrior in front of him, who appears cold as ice but is pure as a blank sheet of paper at heart and holds a very high status and weight in City B, the perfect shield and the next convenient prop?
I can't take the initiative. Qin Mu is not a fool. It will be troublesome if he finds out.
He needed to act as if nothing had happened, to proceed with caution. He had to let Qin Feng step into the gentle trap he had carefully woven, a trap of chance and resonance.
In the night and the reflection of the window glass, the corners of Lin Yao's mouth curled up into a cold, calculating arc.
New experimental subjects and a new stage script are about to begin.
Qin Mu, who was immersed in possessiveness and anger, was completely unaware that he was moving step by step towards the edge of being eliminated.
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