Chapter 85: Why Are You So Tense?

He was drunk.

Lily was a little anxious. “You can’t drive after drinking, Mr. Mo. You should follow the rules of the road.”

In truth, she was on her way to Crimson Bloom.

Mo Zhicheng ignored her, started the engine, and Lily hurriedly asked, “Where are we going?”

He set her question aside and asked in a low voice, “Do you like the flowers?”

So it really had been him all along.

Lily turned her gaze to the window. “Do you often do this?”

Her words were veiled, but she knew he understood exactly what she meant.

“This is the first time,” he said softly.

Ye Lily was slightly taken aback. He went on, “When I was young, my family was shattered, I was poor and destitute, and even my home fell apart. How could I have had the money or the mind to prepare such things?”

She looked at him in surprise, then turned toward the man’s profile in the dark night. “Later, you rose to the top, surrounded by power and wealth, yet at the right time, you never met the right person.”

Perhaps because he had been drinking, he was in exceptionally high spirits today. Unlike his usual severity and chill, there was even a hint of teasing in his words. Yet Lily was curious about his past. “So even Mr. Mo has a story no one knows.”

He glanced at her, and after a quiet, faint smile, there was unexpectedly a trace of indulgence in his eyes. “Curious?”

Lily said nothing.

Mo Zhicheng withdrew his gaze and said lightly, “If you’re curious, then it proves that you’re not entirely without feeling for me, doesn’t it?”

She froze. He called to her softly, “Lily.”

“Yes?”

Then he told her earnestly and in a low voice, “Then why not try moving a little closer to me, and closer still...”

His tone faded away, leaving her mildly astonished. Such a Mo Zhicheng made her not know how to respond. She did not speak, only turned her head stiffly and continued looking out at the scenery beyond the window.

The carriage fell suddenly into silence. Outside, the night sea surged in, the dusk dim and boundless, the deep stillness of late night spreading little by little between them.

Then, all at once,

Buzz—buzz—buzz.

The vibrating sound was like a sudden thunderclap, abrupt and piercing, shattering the already deep quiet of the air. The woman startled; the source was her coat pocket. It must have been a message from Young Master Ye. She did not dare move recklessly, and yet wanted to delete it before Mo Zhicheng noticed.

Buzz—buzz—buzz.

Another sharp vibration.

Mo Zhicheng glanced sideways, his eyes falling on her. The next moment, the sound ceased. With a sudden brake, Mo Zhicheng lifted his eyes and looked at the woman.

The car was already dim inside, and now they could only see each other by moonlight. Lily pressed tightly against the door, while the man remained silent. Yet in those slightly drunken eyes there seemed to be a faint haze. He slowly leaned toward her, and Lily edged back in fear. “You always seem so frightened of me—”

Before he could finish, she drew in a sharp breath.

He fixed her with an intense gaze, then reached out to take her phone. Lily held it tight beneath her hand. His cold palm covered hers, and with gentle but insistent force, he pried open her fingers. Softly he said, “Let go. Let me see it!”

Lily would not release it. “Mr. Mo, we’re not close enough for that yet, so please respect me.”

Mo Zhicheng’s brow tightened. “Be good. Obey me.”

It became a tug-of-war. She watched his expression gradually darken, while the force in his hand grew stronger. She could not let him see Young Master Ye’s message. Her fingers were squeezed until they hurt. At last she could not withstand his strength; he took it from her.

Her heart clenched at once, as if fearing her lie would be exposed. Panic flickered through her, but her face remained calm and unreadable. She dared not reveal even a trace of resistance, keeping herself composed, though cold sweat had already broken out in her palm. Her eyes remained fixed on the phone in his hand.

Mo Zhicheng opened it. She watched from the side and saw that it was only an advertisement. Lily let out a faint breath of relief and said evenly, “May I have my phone back now, Mr. Mo?”

No sooner had she spoken than the phone rang again.

Buzz—buzz—buzz.

Lily’s loosened nerves snapped taut at once. When she saw the caller ID, her heart pounded like a drum. She reached out to snatch it, but Mo Zhicheng had already read it. In a low voice, he said, “Your cousin is waiting for you at Crimson Bloom. He booked your usual private room.”

Her heart seemed to collapse like a high wall struck down. Lily took the phone back from his hand.

Mo Zhicheng looked at her. “So all that careful dressing up was for a date?”

“No—”

He was displeased and let out a sigh. “Lily,” he finally asked, “I’m curious, and I want to know what kind of man your cousin is. Or did he matter very much to you when you were in college? That’s why, whenever I see his name in front of me, you act like a frightened bird? I don’t like that feeling. Since you have an appointment, I’ll take you there. Better yet, let me meet your cousin tonight.”

He started the engine again.

“Where are you going?” Her tone carried some displeasure, but she soon realized something was wrong. This direction was—

“Crimson Bloom,” Mo Zhicheng said, his voice firm.

Lily clutched the seat belt in disbelief. “Let me out.”

Her mind was in utter turmoil. He was taking her to Crimson Bloom? Right now, she could not contact Young Master Ye, and she did not dare imagine the consequences of their meeting. Yet she was also afraid that an overly strong reaction would arouse Mo Zhicheng’s suspicion.

She was about to explain when the man pressed harder on the accelerator, as if finding an outlet for his anger. The car shot forward like a bullet leaving the barrel.

Crimson Bloom, a place of indulgence and debauchery, still rang with music, full of noise and merriment. Mo Zhicheng took her hand, their fingers interlacing. Only then did she realize that his palm was damp with fine beads of sweat, that wetness seeping into both their skins.

He led her through the thunderous dance floor.

Lily stumbled after him, brushing past the crowd of revelers. But before she knew it, she had accidentally bumped into a drunken man. She lowered her head and apologized hurriedly. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Before she could finish, Mo Zhicheng had already pulled her away.

“Damn it, how dare you bump into me.” The drunk narrowed his eyes and was about to step forward and block them when a hand from behind yanked him back. “What is Boss Wang looking at so angrily?”

The drunk turned. Seeing that it was Young Master Qin, he immediately softened, nodding and bowing ingratiatingly. “Nothing, Young Master Qin, just got bumped by a little girl.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Young Master Qin glanced in their direction. His subordinate hurriedly leaned close and whispered, “Young Master Qin, that seems to be the woman brought by Mo Zhicheng.”

Young Master Qin narrowed his star-bright eyes. Once he clearly saw the figures ahead, his subordinate added, “Young Master Qin, that woman seems to be the one you saw in Night City.”

Of course Young Master Qin recognized Lily. That time in Night City, he had merely asked Mo Zhicheng for a woman. Not only did Mo Zhicheng refuse him any face, he had even beaten him and denied him the slightest dignity. That grudge still remained.

Young Master Qin smiled. Then he lowered his head and instructed, “Do it this way in a moment. You understand?”

“But, Young Master Qin, even Old Master Qin gives Mo Zhicheng some face. If this gets exposed—”

“If it gets exposed, I’ll bear it. What are you afraid of? I’m only teaching him a lesson. I don’t believe that in South River, aside from my old man, he can really call the wind and summon the rain.”

Ye Shenghan had been waiting early in the Misty Rain private room. He glanced down at his watch. Half an hour had passed. Why had she still not arrived?

He toyed with his phone in his hand, checking it from time to time. Someone pushed the door open. Ye Shenghan’s spirits lifted, but in an instant the delight in his eyes faded again.

The waiter came nearer carrying a delicate tray. Usually, he and Lily met at this karaoke place, and over time several of the staff had come to know him. Seeing Ye Shenghan waiting listlessly, the waiter asked curiously, “Hasn’t it always just been the two of you?”

Ye Shenghan frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Oh? You didn’t know? The young lady you’re waiting for came with a man, so I just thought I’d ask.” The waiter explained awkwardly.

The young lady came with a man?

For some reason, Ye Shenghan felt a sudden unease and immediately looked warily toward the pitch-black wooden door.

Outside the private room,

Lily clutched Mo Zhicheng’s hand. In her anxiety, she blurted out, “Mr. Mo, if you want to see my friend, that’s not impossible, but let me call him first. Going in without the other side knowing would be rude.”

Mo Zhicheng looked at her and knew she was frightened. “Since we’re already at the door and it’s noisy outside, we might as well go in.”

The next moment, Mo Zhicheng gently pushed the door open. Lily’s heartbeat pounded wildly in her throat, and her hand trembled incessantly. She reflexively shut her eyes.

“Sir, hello—” a stranger’s voice.

Lily slowly opened her eyes. Apart from the waiter, there was no one else in the private room. She let out a quiet breath; Young Master Ye had not arrived yet, so she still had a chance to contact him. But when she looked at the empty water glass on the tea table, she paused slightly.

The waiter set out the glasses and asked, “What would you like to drink?”

Mo Zhicheng, ever the gentleman, made room for her to sit. “Sit. I’ll order.”

Lily followed his lead. He asked, “Would blood Mary be all right?”

“I don’t drink,” she said softly.

Yet she carefully noticed a cigarette butt left on the dark carpet. Lily lowered her eyes. It was clean, and the brand—she froze. It was Young Master Ye’s!

Bad.

He had come here ahead of her. Lily withdrew her gaze and pressed the butt down with her heel to conceal it. Mo Zhicheng, beside her, watched intently as his slender fingers slid over the menu. With measured courtesy, he instructed the waiter, then raised his eyes toward her. “Have some cocktails. With me here, a little drinking is fine.”

She was still dazed, her mind fixed on where Young Master Ye might be, when she saw the waiter give her a meaningful look, his eyes flicking toward the restroom behind her.

Lily frowned. Could Young Master Ye still be in the room? She felt her breathing suddenly grow hot, and a wave of heat broke out across her back.

Her originally slim fingers, clenched tight, now stood out even more starkly and pale. Lily took the water glass from the table. Just as she was about to drink, Mo Zhicheng stopped her.

He did not understand her. “You’re prone to chills. Drink less cold water.” Then he looked at the waiter again. “Bring a pot of hot tea. And the blood Mary, no ice.”

“Yes, sir.”

Mo Zhicheng looked back at her and asked, “What does your cousin usually like to drink?”

“Brandy,” she answered at once.

Mo Zhicheng paused slightly. “So you’re very familiar with his tastes, are you?” His words carried a faint bitterness. “And brandy isn’t cheap. He must be doing quite well?”