The car drove all the way into the Huo Residence and came to a stop in front of the main building.
Lin Mo sat in the car, feeling somewhat uneasy.
After all, she couldn’t quite figure out what Huo Tingshen might do to her.
This was the man who had confiscated Zhao Ziling’s phone and locked her in the bedroom—even the windows required a key to open.
It was clear this man was a little unhinged.
But unease wouldn’t help. Things had already come to this, and she was already in the car.
So Lin Mo simply stopped overthinking it and spent the ride memorizing vocabulary.
For the harder new words, she had jotted them down on a piece of paper and tucked it in her pocket, pulling it out now and then to review.
The Huo Residence’s butler and bodyguards in the car were stunned.
With that kind of mindset and dedication, she could succeed at anything!
The car stopped, and the butler said, "Follow me."
Lin Mo tucked the vocabulary sheet back into her pocket and followed the butler out of the car.
Entering the living room of the Huo Residence’s main building, Lin Mo finally took in the extravagantly luxurious, old-money decor.
Last time she’d been here, she hadn’t been in the mood to look.
The entire space was furnished in antique Chinese style, with every vase an invaluable artifact.
Lin Mo couldn’t help but marvel. Casually, she asked the butler, "Between Huo Tingshen and Xie Guanyan, who’s richer?"
The butler: "…"
Was this really the time to worry about that?
She should be worrying about herself first!
Still, since she’d asked, the butler answered, "Definitely our Mr. Huo."
Truthfully, he didn’t actually know, but he wasn’t about to boost someone else’s reputation.
Lin Mo rubbed her chin. "Then my goal from now on is Huo Tingshen."
The butler frowned. "Give up. My young master would never cheat."
Though the young master and his wife often bickered, he believed the young master truly cared for her.
Lin Mo replied flatly, "I meant I’ll become richer than Huo Tingshen someday."
The butler was stunned for a second before laughing. "You’ve got quite the sense of humor."
That was even less likely than the young master having an affair!
Lin Mo raised an eyebrow but said nothing more, continuing to follow the butler.
Study.
Huo Tingshen sat in a chair by the desk, wearing slippers. When Lin Mo walked in, he noticed her school uniform and her calm expression, his gaze turning colder.
Huo Tingshen was two years older than Zhao Ziling, now thirty-one.
As the heir of a top-tier wealthy family, he carried an innate air of authority.
Facing him across the desk, eighteen-year-old Lin Mo felt a flicker of unease—but she kept her composure.
Spotting the sofa, she walked over and sat down. "Say what you need to say quickly. I still have homework to finish."
A complicated look flashed through Huo Tingshen’s stern, old-fashioned eyes.
Just look at her demeanor—then listen to what she says: I have homework to do.
Was this even reasonable?
Huo Tingshen had never met someone so brazen. He was starting to doubt—what gave her the nerve to speak like this?
"Is Shen Yihan the one backing you?" Huo Tingshen asked coldly.
Lin Mo met his gaze. "That’s none of your concern."
Huo Tingshen was momentarily infuriated. Aside from Zhao Ziling, this was the second person who could provoke him like this—a mere brat.
"You don’t seem to realize Shen Yihan is nothing in front of me. Even if we set that aside—"
Lin Mo cut him off. "No need to set anything aside. Just say it here."
Huo Tingshen: "…"
His expression darkened as he turned to the butler. "Bring Nanny Wang here!"
The butler’s heart skipped a beat.
Nanny Wang was a senior maid in the Huo Residence, notorious for her ruthless discipline.
This girl was on her own now.
Nanny Wang arrived promptly. "Young Master, what do you need?"
Huo Tingshen tapped his fingers on the desk. "This brat slapped me twice. How do you think we should handle it?"
He would never hit a woman himself, nor would he personally lay hands on an outsider.
Nanny Wang glared at the girl on the sofa, her face dark. "No one in the world dares lay a finger on our Young Master—and you had the gall to hit him twice? You’ve got a death wish!"
She rolled up her sleeves and marched toward Lin Mo.
Lin Mo stood up.
Huo Tingshen’s brow twitched. Was this brat really going to fight Nanny Wang?
Nanny Wang felt no pity for Lin Mo’s youthful, delicate face.
She swung with all her might—
And hit nothing but air.
Lin Mo had ducked.
Nanny Wang: "…"
Before she could try again, Lin Mo bolted.
The butler reacted swiftly, locking the study door.
In an instant, the scene turned into a chase—Lin Mo running, Nanny Wang pursuing, and Lin Mo with nowhere to escape.
Huo Tingshen’s brow twitched harder.
This brat truly didn’t play by the rules!
Lin Mo had no intention of fighting Nanny Wang. This was the Huo Residence, and she was alone.
Resisting would only provoke Huo Tingshen further.
Nanny Wang, panting from the chase, snapped, "You—stop right there!"
Lin Mo ignored her.
Nanny Wang fumed. "Fine! Just wait—I’ll call for backup. Let’s see you run then!"
She pulled a walkie-talkie from her pocket.
"Send ten people to the Young Master’s study!"
Lin Mo: "…"
Huo Tingshen watched the scene unfold, utterly composed.
Just then, the butler spoke up. "Young Master, the front gate guards report that Madam has returned. Shall we let her in?"
Huo Tingshen’s eyes lowered as he picked up his black goji berry tea and took a sip. "Tell her I already said—if she steps even one foot outside the Huo Residence, she’s never coming back in."
Did she think this was a place she could leave and return to as she pleased?
Lin Mo frowned. "Zhao Ziling is here?"
Huo Tingshen looked at her. "What? Didn’t expect that? You and Zhao Ziling aren’t even friends, are you?"
All those messages from Zhao Ziling must have been a ruse—to make him think she had nothing to do with Xie Guanyan.
Lin Mo disliked his tone. Coldly, she said, "Zhao Ziling is my best friend."
Huo Tingshen scoffed. "You expect me to believe that?"
Those in positions of power often had unshakable confidence in their own judgment—otherwise, they couldn’t command vast empires.
Lin Mo studied him and suddenly asked, "Do you love Zhao Ziling?"
Huo Tingshen hadn’t expected the question. After a beat, he smirked. "That’s none of your business."
Ten maids filed into the study.
Nanny Wang grinned viciously. "You little brat, just wait—I’ll teach you a lesson!"
Surrounded on all sides, Lin Mo had no escape.
So she climbed onto the ceiling, bracing herself in the corner like Spider-Man.
Nanny Wang: "…"
She pointed upward. "Stay right there! I’ll get a stick!"
Lin Mo’s expression darkened.
This is bad.
Was she about to be beaten to death?
After getting a second chance at life, she hadn’t even touched a man’s abs yet—was she really going to die like this?
But less than a minute later, Nanny Wang came scrambling back in a panic.
"Young Master! Trouble—someone’s leading a whole group to storm the Huo Residence!"
