Lin Mo was utterly confused.
Honest to goodness, when had she ever said she didn’t want to take Xie Guanyan along?
The man wasn’t completely drunk, but he was definitely a little out of it.
Under the intense gaze of his deep, beautiful eyes, Lin Mo’s ears grew warm, and her lashes fluttered slightly. "No, I was just worried you’d find it too noisy or boring."
"Won’t. I want to go," Xie Guanyan’s voice was slightly hoarse, but his tone was firm.
Lin Mo watched as his pale, alluring Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and her heartbeat inexplicably quickened for a moment. "Alright, let’s go together then."
As everyone knew, KTVs were dimly lit.
And Xie Guanyan had had a bit too much to drink.
His abs might just accidentally bump into her hand!
Her inner mischievous side was starting to peek through again.
But just then, Shen Yihan and Shen Ji’an stepped forward. "Mr. Xie, you seem a bit drunk. Let us help you!"
Before Xie Guanyan could respond, they had already flanked him, each taking an arm to escort him away.
They’d been keeping an eye on their sister and Mr. Xie the whole time.
Mr. Xie was normally a decent guy, but alcohol could change people.
If he lost control and did something to their sister, it’d be a disaster!
Lin Mo, witnessing this scene: "..."
Xie Guanyan, who had only managed two sentences: "..."
Jiang Tang went to the front desk to settle the bill.
To her surprise, the receptionist said it had already been taken care of—by a middle-aged bald man.
Lin Mo overheard and turned to Uncle Fang. "Uncle Fang, I said I was treating everyone. Why did you pay?"
Uncle Fang scratched his bald head. "I’m the oldest here, and I’m happy to treat you all! Besides, Uncle Fang’s got money!"
Zhang Shuo leaned in with his big face. "Huh? Security guards make that much? I’m tempted!"
Uncle Fang laughed heartily. "Hahaha! I made a killing in the stock market!"
Lin Mo, supporting Zhao Ziling, was shocked. "Uncle Fang, you know how to trade stocks?"
Uncle Fang shook his head. "Nope. But over the years, Mr. Xie would occasionally stop by the security office when he visited the school. He’d recommend stocks, and I’d buy them. That’s how I saved up for my wife!"
Lin Mo glanced at Xie Guanyan, who was being escorted away, and sighed. "He’s such a good guy. Even the security guards at No. 1 High are thriving!"
Uncle Fang lifted his chin proudly. "Nah, Mr. Xie only gave recommendations to me."
He wouldn’t risk recommending stocks to others—didn’t want them losing money and blaming him.
Zhao Ziling draped her slender arm over Lin Mo’s shoulder and squinted. "I get it now. Xie Guanyan has a crush on you!"
Uncle Fang: "..."
As they chatted, the group made their way outside.
Uncle Fang, also a bit tipsy, let the breeze stir up some memories. "Mr. Xie is a man who repays kindness. Probably because back when his leg was broken, I carried him to the infirmary."
Broken leg?
Lin Mo had never heard of this. "When was that? How did he break it?"
The details were a bit hazy.
Uncle Fang thought carefully. "Must’ve been during the inter-school basketball tournament. I was patrolling the campus when I found him collapsed near the small hill, writhing in pain. So I carried him to the infirmary."
"I suspected he was being bullied, but when I asked, he wouldn’t say. Just thanked me."
Nowadays, bullying in schools was taken seriously, and things were much better.
But over a decade ago, even No. 1 High had its share of bullying incidents.
Thinking back to the basketball tournament, Lin Mo recalled chatting with Xie Guanyan about it recently.
So back then, he hadn’t participated because his leg was broken.
And that day, he’d joked about her overtaking him.
Why hadn’t he told her the real reason?
Puzzled but not dwelling on it, Lin Mo decided to ask him later and quipped, "Maybe he fell out of a tree and broke it himself."
Uncle Fang shook his head. "Nah, Mr. Xie isn’t like you."
Lin Mo smiled. "Uncle Fang, your insults are getting more sophisticated!"
Since they’d planned to drink, everyone had brought their drivers.
The cars started up.
Zhao Ziling, lively as a bird, threw her arms up. "Go, go, go! Off we go!"
At the KTV, Zhao Ziling booked a large private room.
The receptionist recognized her instantly. "Mrs. Huo."
Hearing the title, Zhao Ziling immediately corrected her. "Don’t call me Mrs. Huo. My name is Zhao Ziling. From now on, call me Miss Zhao!"
The receptionist, though confused, nodded. "Understood."
She couldn’t quite figure out how this group—ranging from a bald older man to kids in school uniforms—had ended up together.
The receptionist added, "Minors aren’t allowed in our KTV."
Zhang Shuo, Shen Ji’an, and Zhao Zixin were still a few months shy of eighteen and were promptly turned away.
Since it was getting late, Lin Mo had the driver take them home.
Shen Ji’an, still worried, pulled Shen Yihan aside. "Second Brother, keep an eye on Sis."
He then turned to Jiang Tang. "Jiang Tang, you too."
Shen Yihan spun the Buddhist beads on his right wrist with his left hand. "Don’t worry."
As Shen Ji’an was about to leave with Auntie Zhen, Lin Mo asked, "Auntie Zhen, do you want to stay and have fun?"
Auntie Zhen clasped her hands, glanced around, then at Lin Mo, and nodded. "Fun!"
Shen Ji’an trusted Auntie Zhen with his sister. "Alright, have fun, Auntie Zhen."
The group was led to their room.
The receptionist immediately made a call.
"Inform Mr. Huo—Mrs. Huo is at our KTV."
This was standard practice across all major KTVs and clubs in Jingbei. The moment Zhao Ziling appeared, they reported it.
They had no choice and were long accustomed to the routine.
Inside the room, Zhao Ziling ordered more drinks.
Lin Mo, the moment she entered, dragged Auntie Zhen to the karaoke machine and queued up a bunch of songs.
The intro played, and Lin Mo launched into her performance with zero rhythm.
"Ah↑ ah↑ ah↑ ah↓ ah↓ ah↓~~~"
Everyone froze.
Zhao Ziling’s glass slipped, spilling some wine on her dress. "Who’s slaughtering pigs?"
Auntie Zhen covered her ears. "Little Mo sings beautifully!"
Only Xie Guanyan was genuinely appreciative.
Breaking free from Shen Yihan and Jiang Tang’s blockade, he stood up and walked over to the stool with the tall microphone stand, sitting down.
He harmonized with Lin Mo’s completely off-key melody.
"When the mountains lose their edges, when the rivers cease to flow~"
His voice was soft, smooth, and magnetic, like a babbling brook.
Instantly, everyone’s ears were cleansed.
Lin Mo turned to look at him.
The tall, slender man was unusually dressed in a dark green T-shirt today, giving off the vibe of a refreshing college guy.
His long legs bent slightly as he sat.
His petal-like lips parted as he sang.
Behind silver-framed glasses, his deep, dark eyes locked onto her.
Lin Mo walked toward him.
Shen Yihan frowned, spinning his Buddhist beads again.
Zhao Ziling, watching this unfold, smirked at Jiang Tang. "Look, Mo’s enchanted by Xie Guanyan!"
Xie Guanyan watched the girl approach.
In school, she always tied her hair up in a ponytail.
Now, it swayed lightly in the air, bathed in colorful lights.
His heart pounded like thunder.
Unconsciously, his slender fingers tightened around the microphone stand as he continued singing.
"When time stands still, day and night merge, when all things fade into nothingness~ I..."
The rest of the lyrics never made it out.
The radiant young girl stood with her hands on her hips, fuming. "Xie Guanyan! You stole my song! Get off the stage!"
