The Shen Family could only be considered well-off, with the company having grown substantially under Lin Mo's father, Shen Jian.
The Zhao Family, however, was different—they had deep roots, a vast lineage, and were considered true aristocracy in Jingbei.
As for the Huo Family, Lin Mo had heard of them too.
They were the most established old-money family in Jingbei, with a history tracing back to the 1960s and 70s.
Among the upper class, arranged marriages between wealthy families were a common practice.
Daughters who grew up in luxury were expected to sacrifice for their families—a notion many elites saw as perfectly reasonable.
Once such marriages were sealed, the intertwined interests made divorce an unthinkable option.
At the mention of this, Zhao Ziling's lips pressed into a frown. "That’s part of the reason, I suppose. My father would never agree. If my mother were still here, maybe there’d be room for negotiation."
Lin Mo frowned. "Auntie..."
In the past, Zhao Ziling would burst into tears at the mention of her mother, but she had grown stronger since then.
"She passed away from illness. After that, my father married his personal secretary. The arranged marriage was my stepmother’s idea—back when our family business was in crisis."
Eleven years had passed, and once again, Lin Mo felt the weight of how much could change.
She hadn’t realized Zhao Ziling had endured such upheaval.
No wonder the once-spoiled and willful Zhao heiress had been sent off into an arranged marriage.
She reached out and pulled Zhao Ziling into a light embrace, patting her shoulder in silent comfort.
Feeling the gentle weight on her shoulder, Zhao Ziling smiled. "It’s all in the past now. Back then, whenever I felt sad, I’d think of you. You were my role model!"
Lin Mo’s parents had passed away overnight, yet she barely allowed herself to wallow in grief.
It was as if she had matured in an instant, shouldering the Shen Family’s responsibilities without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ziling had only been sent into an arranged marriage—to the Huo Family, a dynasty with more money than they knew what to do with.
She faced no material hardships. By all accounts, she was fortunate.
Lin Mo grinned. "You’re amazing too, Zhao Ziling!"
The larger the family, the stricter the rules. To have retained her personality after seven years of marriage was no small feat.
Zhao Ziling studied Lin Mo’s radiant smile, then suddenly grew solemn. "Lin Mo, I want to apologize again for our fight back then. I’m truly sorry."
It hadn’t even been that big of a deal.
After their college entrance exams, Zhao Ziling had wanted Lin Mo to accompany her on a trip abroad.
Lin Mo had refused. "No, I’m afraid of flying."
Zhao Ziling had pestered her. "Come on, planes aren’t that scary! Just push through it—it’ll be so much fun! Beach resorts, hot guys with six-packs..."
Lin Mo shook her head. "I’ll pass. I’ll go somewhere domestic with you."
Raised by a doting mother, Zhao Ziling had always gotten her way.
Being rejected twice was unfamiliar territory.
She sulked. "Lin Mo, are we even best friends anymore?"
Lin Mo frowned. "Find someone else to go with you."
Zhao Ziling snapped. "Fine! Let’s just cut ties! No more contact!"
Back then, she had been immature. She had wanted Lin Mo’s company so badly that she resorted to threats.
After that, she stopped reaching out, waiting for Lin Mo to make the first move.
She was convinced of her own importance in Lin Mo’s heart.
But Lin Mo never contacted her.
Instead, she received news of Lin Mo’s death.
It hit her like a thunderbolt. She couldn’t believe it.
She flew back from abroad immediately, even hiring people to search the river.
In that moment, regret consumed her. She never should have insisted on that trip.
If she had stayed in the country with Lin Mo, maybe things would’ve turned out differently.
What haunted her most was knowing Lin Mo’s fear of flying stemmed from her parents’ plane crash.
Yet she had dismissed it as something Lin Mo could "get over."
She had taken it as a sign that Lin Mo didn’t value her enough.
It wasn’t until her own mother died of breast cancer that she understood.
Just hearing the word "cancer" made her chest tighten.
That’s when it dawned on her:
No one can truly empathize unless they’ve walked in the other’s shoes.
She drowned in endless remorse.
Countless times, she had dreamed of tearfully apologizing to Lin Mo.
She never should have threatened to cut ties.
She never should have tried to force her.
Lin Mo must have been heartbroken—her best friend failing to understand her fears.
She hadn’t even mentioned her sleep disorder, yet she had been willing to endure it to accompany Zhao Ziling domestically.
And still, Zhao Ziling had been ungrateful, lashing out with cruel words.
"I was nowhere near as mature as you back then. I couldn’t comprehend your fear. But after losing my mom, I finally understood. I’m so sorry, Mo Mo."
Zhao Ziling’s voice cracked again.
Lin Mo had indeed been angry at the time.
Once she committed to someone, she was loyal to the end.
Hearing Zhao Ziling so casually suggest cutting ties had stung.
She had her pride, too.
If Zhao Ziling could say such things, Lin Mo wasn’t about to chase after her.
But now, seeing Zhao Ziling on the verge of tears, Lin Mo said softly, "Ziling, if I could choose, I’d wish for you to never understand my fear."
She wouldn’t want her best friend to endure the same trauma.
Zhao Ziling broke down completely, tears streaming as she flung her arms around Lin Mo. "Waaah! I’m giving you another 50 million!"
She immediately reached for her phone.
Lin Mo stopped her. "Enough, enough! 50 million is plenty!"
Zhao Ziling, however, was adamant. "Since I’m already married, not spending this money would be a waste! My money is your money now—I’ll take care of you for life!"
For the first time, Lin Mo experienced what it felt like to be pampered by a wealthy best friend.
With Zhao Ziling’s emotions running high, Lin Mo didn’t resist further.
They could invest it—a retirement fund for both of them.
Lin Mo steered the conversation back. "You said part of the reason was your family. What’s the other part? Do you like Huo Tingshen?"
Lin Mo knew a little about Huo Tingshen.
The sole heir of the Huo Family, he had been featured in magazines since childhood.
Rumor had it he was quite handsome.
At the question, Zhao Ziling sat bolt upright, wiping her tears before launching into a tirade.
"Like him? I’d sooner fall for a dog! That fossilized patriarch might’ve studied abroad, but his mindset’s straight out of the Qing dynasty!"
"He micromanages everything—my clothes, my meals, even how I talk! His favorite line? ‘Mind your manners, you represent the Huo Family!’"
"That bastard—I’ve fantasized about ripping his mouth off!"
Watching Zhao Ziling vent, Lin Mo’s peach-blossom eyes crinkled with amusement.
This was far better than her forced smiles earlier.
"Go on, let it out. Swear all you want—cleanse your soul!"
Zhao Ziling flopped back down. "Yeah, I feel much better now!"
Now Lin Mo was even more curious. "If you don’t like him, what’s the other reason you won’t divorce?"
Zhao Ziling rolled onto her side, dead serious. "He’s hung like a horse and amazing in bed."
