"Get lost! I'm living just fine, I don't need you playing the filial son!"
Gu Beichen shouted angrily, extending his leg to kick Chu Chenyi, but the latter dodged with extreme speed.
"Calm down. I'm just telling the truth. Bitter advice is good advice, and you have to accept reality. Instead of arguing with me, you'd be better off thinking about how you'll deal with them when they come looking for you."
Chu Chenyi advised him earnestly, hoping he would still see Gu Beichen's annoying face that he wanted to punch in the future.
Gu Beichen's expression faltered slightly. How could he forget this? If he didn't have a suitable explanation, it would indeed be difficult for him to extricate himself.
However, to save face, he still stubbornly held onto his pride. "I... I naturally have a way to deal with it, so you don't need to worry. You should focus on managing your own affairs."
Gu Beichen said, his face flushed with embarrassment. For the sake of his remaining dignity, he had to maintain his facade.
Chu Chenyi snorted, completely disregarding Gu Beichen's words. Only Gu Beichen could stubbornly persist in such a manner.
"Then I wish you good luck. I'll take my leave. If you unfortunately perish, I will certainly attend your memorial service!"
"Scram!"
Gu Beichen shouted angrily, cursing Chu Chenyi's retreating back.
...
"Put me down, Ling Mohan... You bastard, you scumbag, put me down!"
Upon arriving at the Ling Residence, Ling Mohan carried Feng Jin and walked directly into a room, ignoring Feng Jin's cries.
After entering the room, he firmly locked the door before heaving a sigh of relief and setting Feng Jin down.
"You bastard, open the door!"
She was furious, not wanting to be in the same place as Ling Mohan. Seeing that the door was locked, her anger intensified.
"Let me explain..."
"I don't want to hear it, open the door!"
"I'll open the door after you listen to my explanation!"
...
The two bickered back and forth for a long time, and finally, Feng Jin relented, "Speak, I want to see what nonsense you can come up with!"
She moved a chair nearby and sat on it, waiting to see what extravagant tales Ling Mohan's mouth could weave.
"I was dragged to the brothel by Gu Beichen, and Chu Chenyi was with us. We were there to discuss matters, it's not what you think..."
If he had known Feng Jin would witness such a scene, he would never have gone to that wretched place, no matter what.
Now, he could only hope that Feng Jin would believe his words. After Ling Mohan finished speaking, a brief silence fell, and even the sound of breathing seemed distinct.
Ling Mohan stared intently at Feng Jin, a hint of nervousness in his eyes, waiting for her response.
"With a few words from you, you can twist black into white. Do you really think I'll believe your lies, or do you think I'm that easy to fool!"
"There are plenty of places to discuss matters. Why did you specifically choose a brothel? Dare you say you had no ulterior motives? I think you were enjoying yourself immensely in that brothel!"
Feng Jin's words were filled with sarcasm. She wouldn't believe Ling Mohan's lies unless her mind was in shambles.
"Everything I've said is the truth, not a single word is a lie. Why don't you believe me!"
Ling Mohan was suddenly agitated. He had explained so clearly, yet Feng Jin remained stubborn and refused to believe him.
"Believe you? How can I believe you? I saw with my own eyes that you were in a brothel. Would you expect me to believe it was all fake even if you were lying in the same bed with other women, and that they were the ones who pulled you into bed!"
"Such a thing would never happen. Even if it did, it would be under duress, never by my own volition!"
Hearing Ling Mohan's words, Feng Jin's anger flared even more. What did he mean by "not by his own volition"? Did he actually wish for such a thing to happen?
"You... you get out! I don't want to see you anymore. From now on, go to whatever brothel you please, it has nothing to do with me. Get out!"
Her anger fully ignited, Feng Jin unceremoniously tried to push Ling Mohan out.
The difference in strength was too great. Even with all her might, she couldn't budge Ling Mohan an inch. Finally, in desperation, she gave up.
Seeing that Feng Jin's emotions had somewhat calmed down, Ling Mohan patiently continued in a very gentle tone, "Everything I've said is true, I'm absolutely not lying to you. I really went to the brothel to discuss matters. If you don't believe me, I can call Chu Chenyi and Gu Beichen here, and I can confront them. If even a single word I've said is false, then let me die a terrible death!"
Ling Mohan's attitude was sincere, and his words seemed devoid of falsehood.
Feng Jin's anger gradually subsided, but her expression remained cold, showing no signs of softening.
"How did you know I was at the brothel?" Ling Mohan cautiously asked the question that had been on his mind.
Since seeing Feng Jin at the brothel earlier, he had wanted to ask her why she was there, but Feng Jin was too angry at the time, and he dared not ask further.
Feng Jin raised her eyes and glanced at Ling Mohan, saying faintly, "Gu Beichen led me in. He said there was someone I wanted to see inside, so I immediately guessed you were there and went in to check."
Ling Mohan's eyes narrowed tightly. "Gu Beichen told you?"
Without dwelling on the meaning behind Ling Mohan's words, Feng Jin simply nodded in affirmation.
After a moment's pause, a flash of inspiration struck her, and she finally understood what was going on.
"Gu Beichen knew you were inside, yet he still let me in. Tell me, what was his intention!"
Earlier, she had been consumed by anger, only focused on confirming if Ling Mohan was indeed inside, without considering Gu Beichen's words. She had only wanted to see Ling Mohan as quickly as possible and clarify things.
Now that she had calmed down and thought about it carefully, she finally understood Gu Beichen's true motive.
He wanted to sow discord, to watch her and Ling Mohan fight so he could spectate from the sidelines.
"No wonder, he really thinks his life is too long!"
Ling Mohan's tone was filled with immense anger. He now wished he could drag Gu Beichen over and kick him a few times to quell the rage in his heart.
"If you didn't have weaknesses that others could exploit, you wouldn't be schemed against. If you maintained your integrity, even if others threw mud on you, it could be washed clean."