The second-floor boasted premium rosewood flooring, with sunlight spilling in from the colossal glass windows and into the central living room.
A woman, donned in a knit sweater and a gossamer long skirt, lay languidly on the sofa, barefoot with her tiny, crystalline feet exposed. She held an iPad in her hands, scrolling through Weibo while humming along to the music in her earphones.
In just over half a year, she should have still been a student at school, yet now she had become a hot new star in the entertainment industry.
All of this was provided to her by Lin Mo.
"Lin Mo, it's been a long time since I've seen you, how have you been?" Zhong Qiaomeng supported her cheek with one hand, letting out a gentle sigh.
"I've been doing quite well."
Suddenly, a hearty laugh echoed, and a youth in casual attire with a tall stature ascended the stairs.
Zhong Qiaomeng rubbed her eyes in disbelief, her eyes slightly reddening as she stared at the youth before her.
"Lin Mo, is it really you?" Zhong Qiaomeng said, already sprinting over and throwing her arms around Lin Mo.
He Wuxue, Han Qingzi, Zhong Junxian, and others following behind Lin Mo were taken aback.
So, Lin Mo really did know Zhong Qiaomeng.
"Now you're a big star, why are you still acting like a child?" Lin Mo said with a chuckle, shaking his head.
"I..." Zhong Qiaomeng blushed, cooing like a spoiled kitten.
Lin Mo smiled helplessly.
"No wonder even Young Master Hua fears him; it turns out he really knows Zhong Qiaomeng," Zhong Junxian shook his head and said.
Han Qingzi's cheeks flushed with a hint of red, initially thinking that Lin Mo was just boasting.
"Lin Mo, what would you like to drink?" Zhong Qiaomeng asked.
"Just plain water," Lin Mo replied to her.
As Zhong Qiaomeng saw Lin Mo, a trace of joy surfaced in her heart, and she scurried barefoot to the water dispenser, fetching a cup of water for Lin Mo.
"Thank you."
Only then did Zhong Qiaomeng notice the group that had followed Lin Mo, among them two women whose beauty was no less breathtaking than her own. Being sharp-minded, she felt a pang of sadness.
Indeed, Lin Mo was no ordinary person, and the number of girls who liked him was unknown.
Sitting on the sofa, Lin Mo casually chatted and inquired about Zhong Qiaomeng's past year. With Royal Entertainment and the Mo Family backing her, both Zhong Qiaomeng and Zhong Xiaoyu were doing well, and unlike other female stars without such support, they didn't have to entertain investors with drinks or even sleep with them.
While everyone talked, Young Master Hua approached, his face carrying a tinge of awkwardness, "Mr. Lin."
"Mhm, what's the matter?" Lin Mo frowned slightly, Mo Hua wasn't a fool and wouldn't normally interrupt his chat with Zhong Qiaomeng for no reason.
After a moment of hesitation, Young Master Hua spoke, "Mr. Lin, to be frank, we've encountered a bit of trouble."
"What kind of trouble?"
"Du Chengwen of the Du Family has taken over our filming location with his people, and they even beat up a few of our crew members," Mo Hua explained.
It turned out they wanted to invite Zhong Qiaomeng and Zhong Xiaoyu for a meal, but Mo Hua had refused, so they kept coming over to cause trouble repeatedly.
Although the Mo Family was wealthy and influential, their power lay mainly elsewhere, and the Du Family was a local heavy-weight in Xiazhou. As the saying goes, even a fierce dragon can't repress a local snake, and Mo Hua felt helpless against them.
"Du Family's Du Chengwen?" Lin Mo questioned with a hint of suspicion.
He Wuxue said from the side, "That's Du Li's eldest son, and also the spoiled young master of Xiazhou."
"I haven't even gone to the Du Family to settle the score, and Du Chengwen dares to show up? Let's see what tricks he has up his sleeve, daring to have my friends dine and drink with him?"
The filming location of the crew was not far from the beach, primarily shooting scenes of dining on the beach. At this time, there were already a dozen bodyguards standing in place with stern expressions.
A young man dressed in a colorful suit, sporting an airplane hairstyle, sat leisurely on a white chair, puffing on a cigar and blowing out a white ring of smoke.
Lying on the ground were several members of the film crew, their faces bruised and swollen, very afraid of these people.
Fu Kai stood to one side and said, "Mr. Du, we're here to work too. Could you please spare us?"
Du Chengwen let out a puff of smoke and sneered, "Damn it, all I wanted was to invite your female actress to have a meal, why pose as innocent? If they don't show up today, I'll beat you to death."
Just as Fu Kai spotted Mo Hua and his group approaching from the villa, his face lit up with joy.
He knew that Mo Hua didn't dare to truly cross Du Chengwen, since this wasn't the Mo Family's territory, but that Mr. Lin was no easy target either.
Mo Hua had clashed with Du Chengwen a few times over the past few days. Du Chengwen was a local tyrant in Xiazhou, harsh and aggressive. Mo Hua, a top-class prodigal in Shu Province, had never suffered this kind of treatment.
"Heh heh, Mr. Lin's here, you're dead meat this time," Mo Hua said with a sneaky smile, striding forward.
"Mr. Du, long time no see. Enjoying the sun at the beach in such a good mood?" said Mo Hua, his smile forced and insincere.
Du Chengwen glanced at him indifferently, his eyes showing disdain and contempt. The Mo and Du families were equals in strength, but this was not Shu Province—Du Chengwen didn't take Mo Hua seriously at all.
"Have your company's actress accompany me tonight, or I'll make it impossible for you to survive in Xiazhou," Du Chengwen said coolly, seated on the chair with a glint of coldness in his eyes.
"Have my friend accompany you, and who do you think you are?" Just then, Lin Mo came out from behind, Mo Hua stepping aside with a look of pity in his eyes for Du Chengwen.
Du Chengwen's brow furrowed slightly, then he looked at Lin Mo with a piercing gaze.
The surrounding bodyguards stared at Lin Mo with predatory eyes; Du Chengwen was a notorious young master in Xiazhou, known for his perverse nature; few dared offend him.
Zhong Junxian frowned secretly, thinking, "Du Chengwen is the Du Family's eldest son. Does this guy think just because he knows a big star, he can stand up against Du Chengwen?"
Han Qingzi, a local from Xiazhou, naturally understood the strength of the Du Family. Moreover, Du Chengwen was the eldest son of the Du Family, holding even higher status than He Wuxue did in the He Family.
"Mr. Du, these people are here to work. Why make things difficult for them?" said He Wuxue, hesitating for a moment before stepping forward to speak.
The He and Du families were comparable in power, both being prominent families in Xiazhou.
He Wuxue stepping forward surprised Du Chengwen and he laughed.
"I was wondering why a fool suddenly appeared, turns out it's Eldest Miss He's friend."
He Wuxue said, "Since Mr. Du knows they're my friends, I hope Mr. Du can do me the courtesy of not making things difficult for them."
Du Chengwen narrowed his eyes slightly, his pupils flashing with cold light.
"Mr. Du, I hear that He Wuxue and someone from the Wei Family are considering a marriage alliance," a bodyguard whispered into Du Chengwen's ear, bending over.
Du Chengwen clenched his teeth and sneered coldly, "Fine, I'll give Eldest Miss He face. I'll drop the issue for today, but don't let me see him again."
Seeing that the issue was resolved, both Zhong Junxian and Han Qingzi breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhong Qiaomeng and Zhong Xiaoyu stood behind Lin Mo with calm expressions, watching Du Chengwen.
They both knew Lin Mo's personality—he would not easily let Du Chengwen get away.
Just as Du Chengwen was about to stand up and leave with his bodyguards, a light voice suddenly asked, "Who said you could leave?"