As Lin Mo reached the second floor, she saw Xie Guanyan and Gu Jingchuan sitting together on the same couch.
She froze for a moment.
Who could understand the surreal feeling of seeing her ex-boyfriend and current boyfriend seated side by side?
Both men turned to look at her upon hearing the movement.
Her ex’s hair was thinning, his face twisted as if constipated.
Her current boyfriend, on the other hand, remained as handsome and gentle as ever.
Honestly, if she ever argued with Xie Guanyan in the future, just the sight of him taking off his shirt would probably melt her anger away.
“Gu Jingchuan, what are you doing? You didn’t bully my boyfriend while I was gone, did you?”
Lin Mo planted her hands on her hips as she strode forward.
Gu Jingchuan hadn’t expected Xie Guanyan to retaliate so effectively now.
Then again, he’d let rage cloud his judgment.
Xie Guanyan wasn’t the same man he used to be!
As the top billionaire in Jingbei, ruining the already-fallen Gu Family would be child’s play for him.
His father still frequently called, begging him to return home.
Xie Guanyan had already blacklisted over a dozen of their phone numbers.
Gu Jingchuan was finally experiencing the cruel irony of how fortunes could reverse—what was once east now lay west.
Seeing Lin Mo still shielding Xie Guanyan, his nostrils flared in anger as he stood up. “Me, bully him? He’s over six feet tall and weighs more than a hundred pounds—how the hell could I bully him?”
Lin Mo narrowed her eyes. “You could always jump up and punch his knees!”
Gu Jingchuan: “…”
Xie Guanyan chuckled softly.
Unnoticed, he turned his burned palm downward, hiding the ointment in his other hand.
But Lin Mo still caught the movement and asked worriedly, “What happened to your hand?”
Xie Guanyan shook his head. “It’s nothing, just a small burn.”
Lin Mo walked over and sat beside him, grabbing his wrist to inspect it. “Let me see.”
His hands were beautiful—pale, elegant, with well-defined knuckles.
But now, his palm was covered in large, painful blisters, like crumpled cellophane.
Frowning, Lin Mo blew gently on the wound, her heart aching. “Why didn’t you say anything if you got burned?”
Her touch was tender, her sweet breath brushing lightly against his skin.
It was a better painkiller than any ointment.
How could someone as radiant and perfect as her ever love someone like him?
He could never let her discover just how dark and unworthy he truly was.
Turning his head, Xie Guanyan shot Gu Jingchuan a cold, penetrating glance.
Gu Jingchuan watched their intimate exchange, seething with fury.
Then, meeting Xie Guanyan’s icy gaze, a chill crawled up his spine.
What was Xie Guanyan planning?
“A-hem! Actor Gu, your phone’s been ringing nonstop. I was going to bring it to you, but you never came down.”
The assistant director’s voice echoed from the staircase.
Gu Jingchuan snatched his phone—his mother was calling.
Suppressing his unease, he stepped onto the balcony to answer.
Meanwhile, Lin Mo applied more ointment to Xie Guanyan’s hand and shared her suspicions about the fire.
Xie Guanyan’s expression darkened. “You think your medication was tampered with?”
He had assumed her improvement was due to the psychiatrist’s prescription.
Lin Mo nodded. “Yes. Someone might be targeting me. The car accident eleven years ago… might not have been an accident either.”
A cold sweat drenched Xie Guanyan’s back.
Back then, her body had mysteriously vanished after the crash. The car was recovered, but no evidence was found, leaving it classified as an accident.
But if it wasn’t an accident—who had wanted her dead?
At eighteen, he’d been powerless. But not anymore.
If it was man-made, traces would remain.
“Leave it to me. I’ll get to the bottom of this.”
Xie Guanyan pulled her into his arms.
He’d need to assign two more bodyguards to protect her around the clock.
Lin Mo rested her head against his firm chest. “Investigating is one thing, but if I’m right and someone really wants me dead, they’ll strike again. I can’t just wait for it to happen.”
Xie Guanyan looked down at her. “Are you suggesting we lure them out? Isn’t that too dangerous?”
Lin Mo straightened, flashing a bright smile. “That’s where you come in, my dear boyfriend. I’ll need your support.”
With enough manpower, it was doable.
They just needed the right opportunity.
Xie Guanyan gazed at her radiant face, his voice low and smooth. “At your service, my lady.”
Downstairs, Shen Sizhan was still unconscious.
The director was frantically calling around, desperate to find a new filming location.
Celebrities had tight schedules—the original seven-day shoot couldn’t be extended.
But securing a suitable venue on such short notice was nearly impossible.
When Lin Mo’s phone rang downstairs, the assistant director called her down.
It was Zhao Ziling.
“Mo Mo, are you okay?”
Lin Mo reassured her. “I’m fine. Why are you up so early?”
It was barely past five in the morning.
Zhao Ziling sighed in relief. “Mornings are my best time for dance practice. Hey, who’s wailing in the background?”
Lin Mo glanced over. “Our director. The show’s lost its filming location, and he’s panicking.”
As a die-hard fan of the show, Zhao Ziling had a solution. “Easy. You can use my mega-yacht—six decks, dozens of rooms. I rented it for a month anyway. It’s just sitting there unused.”
She owned smaller yachts, but buying one this massive (costing billions) wasn’t practical.
Lin Mo’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Thanks, my wealthy queen! How about throwing a party tonight? Anyone willing to appear on camera can join!”
A party would draw a mixed crowd—the perfect setting for their suspect to make another move.
Whoever was after her was likely from Jingbei; she’d never even been to Jiangcheng before, so she couldn’t have enemies there.
Plus, it solved the filming dilemma. Two birds, one stone.
Zhao Ziling loved the idea. “Yes! I’ll handle everything!”
When the director heard the news, he nearly jumped for joy. “Thank you, Lin Mo! You’re amazing! Even if there’s an anti-addiction system, I’d still be obsessed with you!”
Lin Mo lifted her chin playfully. “No need to thank me. Just keep the compliments coming.”
Soon after, the assistant director announced on the show’s official account that filming would pause for the day and resume that evening, concluding tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ziling spread the word about the party across Jingbei’s elite social circles.
Elsewhere, Huo Tingshen was in his office, giving a business interview.
The reporter, ever the gossip, couldn’t resist asking, “Mr. Huo, you’ve heard about CEO Xie dressing up as a fish for love on the show, right? What are your thoughts?”
Huo Tingshen sipped his black goji berry tea, replying stiffly, “Embarrassing!”
Just then, his phone buzzed.
A message from his assistant:
[Mr. Huo, your ex-wife’s male model party has been moved up—it’s tonight!]
