Chapter 154 : Damn It, You’re Really Messing with the Whole Family!
Chapter 154: Damn It, You’re Really Messing with the Whole Family!
It was truly rare—Rushuang Empress actually blurted out a curse word. Not only did Lin Mo freeze for a moment, even Miss Yuan, who had known her for many years, was dumbfounded.
Was this still the same Liu Rushuang she knew—the woman who always maintained her poise and cared deeply about her image in front of others?
It was precisely because Liu Rushuang, aside from her outstanding looks and figure, always paid attention to her words and behavior that everyone who met her—male or female—tended to have a very good impression of her. Otherwise, how could she have hooked her brother Yuan Hua into becoming such a loyal admirer?
But now, the ever-perfect Liu Rushuang had actually started cursing. That truly shook Miss Yuan’s perception of her.
Lin Mo, on the other hand, had known her for a much shorter time. So after being momentarily stunned, he quickly recovered.
To him, so what if she was Liu Rushuang? Even if she were a fairy, she still had to poop. Saying a curse word was perfectly normal—everyone had their moments of passion.
And compared to Miss Yuan’s honeyed tongue, Liu Rushuang’s words sounded more like playful teasing than actual scolding—completely harmless.
“Just a few days, and you actually made nearly two million? The profit margin’s over thirty percent too. Not bad, little brother. You’ve got some talent! If I’d lent you more back then, wouldn’t you have made even more?”
Liu Rushuang sighed in astonishment after receiving Lin Mo’s transfer notification.
She and Yuan Meng had pooled together 4.5 million. Both of them knew Lin Mo himself had one million in hand, so that meant his starting capital was 5.5 million. Yet in just a few days, he’d made nearly two million.
That amount might not have been much to her, but she could tell—the profit margin was terrifyingly high.
Over thirty percent, and in such a short time too. As a businesswoman, Liu Rushuang was extremely sensitive to numbers like that.
Although she didn’t know what method Lin Mo had used or what kind of business he’d gotten into to earn that much, she was sure it wasn’t a conventional one.
And such business ventures usually weren’t sustainable or stable. So she dismissed the idea of joining in. It was just a pity she’d missed the chance to take advantage of Lin Mo this time.
“Hey, it’s just a bit of hard-earned money. Can’t compare to you, Sister Rushuang, with your vast empire,” Lin Mo said with a bright smile.
Ah, a man without debt was a man at ease. Back when he had over seven million in hand, he hadn’t felt happy at all—only pressured. Now, though he had less than three million left, at least the money was all his, and spending it felt reassuring.
And this time, his earnings were tax-free. Since he’d bought stocks using a personal account, his profit came from appreciation, which was exempt from tax. Only dividend income was taxable.
Of course, there was still a tiny stamp duty, but it had already been automatically deducted.
“That’s still ‘small money’? I’m starting to think you robbed a bank,” Miss Yuan said disdainfully.
Though she came from a wealthy family and spent lavishly, that didn’t mean she was dumb. She knew very well what two million meant—money that most people couldn’t make in a lifetime.
“Rob a bank? Please. You two are both rich women. If I ever get desperate, all I need to do is kidnap one of you!” Lin Mo rolled his eyes.
Liu Rushuang chuckled lightly. “Ha~ You even know how to tie people up? Go on, elaborate~”
Lin Mo: …
What the hell? How did “kidnapping” turn into “tying up”? That sounded way too suggestive.
“Well, since you made money, let’s go. Sister’s treating you tonight, Mr. Rich Man!” she said, starting to gather her things.
“Eh? So soon? We just finished eating not long ago!” Miss Yuan complained.
Lin Mo nodded in agreement. He wasn’t hungry either.
“I’m hungry, can’t I be? I’ll pick the place, and Little Mo pays,” Liu Rushuang said, calling for her secretary, Xiao Tian, to bring the car keys before leading the three downstairs.
Soon, the three drove away from the company. Unbeknownst to Lin Mo and Yuan Meng, just after they left, a woman arrived at the company—only to be told by Xiao Tian that Manager Liu had already gone out to meet an important client.
Meanwhile, in the South City’s government compound, Old Jiang, whose body had recovered quite a bit, went out for a stroll with his wife on this fine day.
“Old Jiang, out for a walk?”
“Hey, long time no see, Old Jiang! How’s your health?”
“Old Jiang’s in a good mood today, huh? Old Wang and the others are playing chess—aren’t you going to join them?”
As the elderly couple walked through the compound, many people greeted them warmly. The community still had that old-fashioned friendliness—unlike modern neighborhoods where people could live for over ten years without knowing their neighbors’ names.
Here, it was different. It felt like the countryside—most residents knew each other, many had been neighbors for decades. They might not be close friends, but they’d at least exchange greetings.
That was why Old Jiang and his wife refused to move to a fancier place. People their age disliked unfamiliar environments. Many elderly couldn’t stand apartment living, preferring their spacious old courtyards back home—where they at least had someone to talk to.
Otherwise, even if Jiang Jianguo couldn’t openly use his position to get them a better home, with Mrs. Jiang’s and Old Comrade Yuan’s connections, buying them one would’ve been easy.
This neighborhood was like that because most of its residents had once worked in government institutions. It was normal for them to know each other. Even in retirement, they kept in touch.
And since many were former officials, sometimes a casual chat downstairs could solve someone’s work problem. So everyone naturally greeted one another.
Even if there wasn’t any favor to ask, getting familiar never hurt—one never knew when it might come in handy.
Soon, Old Jiang and his wife reached the pavilion, where two elderly men were in the middle of a heated chess match.
“Check! Captured your rook!”
“Check again!”
“Taking your knight!”
“Hey! Watch your mouth, will ya!”
Before they even approached, they could hear the booming voices and the clattering of chess pieces.
“Old Zhang, Old Wang, still at it, huh?” Old Jiang laughed.
Both looked up.
“Well, if it isn’t Old Jiang! Feeling better?”
“I told you he’d be fine! Look at him—fit as ever! Hey hey, don’t you move that piece, I saw that! You think I’m blind?”
The two were longtime residents too, both retired officials. These days, they mostly strolled around or played chess. A few years ago, they could still fish or dance, but not anymore.
“You two old codgers are in better shape than me. If Little Li hadn’t treated me, I still wouldn’t be able to walk out,” Old Jiang said with a laugh.
“Which Little Li?” asked Old Zhang curiously, waving his fan.
“Who else? That young doctor from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital,” Old Jiang replied.
“Oh, him? I remember now. He treated Old Bai once—didn’t help much though. Otherwise, Old Bai wouldn’t be gone!” Old Wang said.
“Pfft! Old Bai had terminal cancer. You think that doctor’s a god? And besides, we’re all old. Who can escape death?” Old Zhang spat.
Old Jiang nodded. “Exactly. Life and death spare no one. But still, I have to give that kid credit—he’s the reason I recovered so fast.”
“So his skills are that good? What medicine did he prescribe?” Old Wang asked.
“Just a few doses of herbs, but mainly acupuncture and massage. Especially the massage—he’s got a student who’s really skilled. I fell asleep during treatment, and when I woke up, my whole body felt light.”
Hearing Old Jiang’s praise, the two elders silently took note of this “Little Li,” planning to have him treat them someday.
At their age, death didn’t scare them—suffering did. They’d heard how bad Old Jiang’s condition had been, and now he was out walking just days later. Clearly, the doctor had real skill.
Professor Li, meanwhile, hadn’t expected his workload to increase so much because of his student’s massages. Even several officials had taken notice. The upside was that his clinic’s medicinal output had risen, bringing in more income.
Elsewhere, Liu Rushuang led Lin Mo and Miss Yuan to an old, decades-established restaurant in Jiangning’s old city district.
Though small and traditionally decorated, the place’s food was excellent—better even than the secret cuisine Miss Yuan had treated Lin Mo to before. Of course, it wasn’t cheap either.
After the meal, Lin Mo footed the bill—5,200 yuan. The most expensive meal he’d ever paid for, but since he was treating two “investors,” it was money well spent.
Outside the restaurant, Liu Rushuang lightly touched her belly and smiled. “Thanks for the treat, little brother. Next time, it’s my turn!”
“Yeah right,” Miss Yuan scoffed. “Didn’t see you holding back at all. And you only pick the priciest places!”
Lin Mo just laughed. “It’s fine. I’m happy. If you really like it, I’ll treat you two more times.”
“See? Little Mo knows how to talk! And I barely ate anything. We all know who ate the most—don’t pretend. I didn’t even touch that Buddha Jumps Over the Wall dish; you had two portions yourself!” Liu Rushuang shot Miss Yuan a flirtatious glance.
With her cheeks flushed from the wine, her smile carried an alluring charm. Her hand rested on Lin Mo’s shoulder, and he could even feel the warmth of her skin.
Miss Yuan gave an awkward laugh—well, the food was too good, and those tiny portions didn’t help. Everyone deserved their own serving.
“Alright then. Since Little Mo didn’t drink, you can drive. We’re going to your cousin’s place,” Liu Rushuang said, handing him the keys.
Miss Yuan frowned. “If you drank, call a driver or get your chauffeur. We’re going home to play games—no time for detours!”
Liu Rushuang’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “Your cousin just messaged me, said she has something for us. It’s on the way.”
Miss Yuan pouted but got into her own car. “Fine, but hurry up! We’re waiting for you to get back so we can play!”
Lin Mo waved her off, and she drove away.
“So,” he said with a grin, “what’s the deal that you had to send Yuan Jie away for?”
“What makes you think I’ve got something to say?” Liu Rushuang leaned against the car, smiling.
Lin Mo chuckled. “Not only do I know you’ve got something, I know you’ve got something bothering you. During dinner, you kept checking your phone and declined at least three calls. You seemed… troubled?”
“Well well, didn’t expect you to be so observant. What, been paying that much attention to me? Got ideas?” she teased, resting her elegant hand on his shoulder.
He brushed her hand off. “Cut it out. Just tell me what’s going on.”
“It’s nothing big. Someone keeps contacting me. We’re… on decent terms, I guess, but I feel something’s off. The way she looks at me—it’s strange. You get what I mean?” Liu Rushuang sighed.
Lin Mo frowned. “A pursuer?”
“No. If it were, I’d have sent them packing already. You’ve seen how I handle those,” Liu Rushuang said with a knowing smile.
Lin Mo: …
Recalling Yuan Hua, he had to admit—Rushuang Empress did have a way of rejecting men.
“So what do you need me for?” he asked.
“What else? Be my man for a day. Have dinner with that person,” Liu Rushuang said casually.
Lin Mo: ???
“A decoy boyfriend? So it is a pursuer.”
“No, not a decoy—just helping me build a ‘not single’ image,” she argued.
Lin Mo: “Do I look stupid? That’s the same thing!”
“Wrong. The person’s a woman, okay?”
“…A woman?” Lin Mo blinked.
“Yeah, what, not allowed?”
Lin Mo narrowed his eyes. “A woman… and you want me to help you look not single? Wait, are you saying…”
Liu Rushuang coughed lightly, a bit guilty. “Ahem, don’t overthink it! I’m not even sure myself. It just feels weird being around her, so better safe than sorry.”
Lin Mo nodded stiffly, still puzzled. “Then why not just avoid her? And why did you have to send Yuan Jie away?”
At that, Liu Rushuang glanced at him and said slowly:
“She’s Yuanyuan’s cousin.”
Lin Mo: …
Damn it, you’re really messing with the whole family!