Chapter Forty-Four: Where Was It Stolen From?

Han Ziyu was stunned for a moment, his eyes fixed on that black card, wondering if this could really be true.

Throughout it all, Qin Mu sat composed in his seat. No one had managed to see clearly how Qin Mu had produced that black card.

With poise, Qin Mu picked up the wine bottle and poured half a glass of red wine into Luoshui’s crystal goblet.

Luoshui, after watching this, simply sat down as well.

“Open your mouth,” Qin Mu said.

“Hm?” Luoshui tilted her head.

Qin Mu deftly cut a piece of steak with his knife and fork, holding it out in front of Luoshui.

Luoshui quickly understood his intent, shifted forward, and opened her mouth to take the steak from Qin Mu’s fork, biting it neatly.

“It’s delicious,” Luoshui said with a charming smile.

Han Ziyu, witnessing this scene from the side, turned green with envy.

That was the cutlery Qin Mu had used!

Luoshui didn’t seem to mind at all, eating it without hesitation. And the way Qin Mu was feeding her—wasn’t it far too intimate?

“Eh? Senior, you’re still here? We’re eating. Would you like some too?” Luoshui asked.

“Heh, no need. In fact, my presence here is rather spoiling the mood,” Han Ziyu replied.

Realizing he was not gaining any advantage, Han Ziyu excused himself and left.

“Hey, senior, don’t forget your card!” Luoshui called after him as he was halfway out the door.

Han Ziyu gave an awkward smile and, after quite some effort, pulled his black card from the table and left with his own card, crestfallen.

“The wine was his choice too,” Qin Mu remarked after Han Ziyu had gone.

“Really?” Luoshui asked in surprise.

Earlier, Qin Mu had overheard Han Ziyu downstairs, deliberately revealing Luoshui’s identity to the front desk and requesting the restaurant’s most expensive wine.

“Let’s not worry about him. Ahh—” Luoshui clasped her arms in front of her chest, leaned forward, and opened her mouth.

Qin Mu, resigned, cut another piece of steak and brought it to her lips.

…

After dinner, Qin Mu drove back to Yanguiyuan.

Just before parting, Luoshui seemed to recall something and turned to say,

“By the way, tomorrow I’m performing at the gala in Jiangdong Bay. If you’re free, come support me, will you?”

Luoshui took a sparkling diamond card from her bag and handed it to Qin Mu.

“This is a VIP pass. I only have one, so don’t lose it.”

“Alright. Good night,” Qin Mu replied, taking the card. As it happened, he had no plans for tomorrow.

He unlocked his room, only to see that Luoshui hadn’t gone into hers yet.

“What is it?” Qin Mu asked.

“I’ve kissed you twice already. Don’t you think I deserve something in return?” Luoshui looked expectantly at him, pointing to her cheek.

Qin Mu stood there for a long moment, simply gazing at her, making no move.

“You—you’re going to be the death of me!” Luoshui fumed, grinding her teeth. He’d seemed so smooth and charming at the restaurant, yet here he was, acting like a blockhead.

With a huff, Luoshui stomped her foot, threw her arms around Qin Mu, and planted a deep kiss on his neck, leaving a vivid mark.

“Idiot!” she cried, blushing furiously as she fled to her room.

Qin Mu touched the lingering scent at his neck and shook his head with a smile.

He was still more accustomed to commanding armies on the battlefield; there were some things he simply couldn’t bring himself to do.

Back in his room, after showering and stretching in preparation for bed, Qin Mu’s phone chimed with a message.

It was from an unfamiliar contact.

“Brother Qin, are you free tomorrow?”

From the nickname, Qin Mu guessed at once who it was.

Lin Peipei.

He hadn’t expected the girl to reach out to him so soon, after less than a day.

“Tomorrow is my birthday. Will you come? My friend has reserved a place at Jiangdong Bay.”

What a coincidence!

Qin Mu chuckled inwardly; two events had ended up overlapping.

Since it was the girl’s birthday, he couldn’t refuse and agreed.

Meanwhile, miles away at the Lin family home, Lin Peipei hugged her phone in delight. Seeing Qin Mu’s reply, she rolled excitedly on her bed, too thrilled to sleep.

…

The next day, Lin Peipei met up with several classmates, gathering early in front of her house.

“Peipei, why aren’t we leaving yet? If we wait any longer, we won’t get a spot,” complained a girl dressed in a white T-shirt and clean blue jeans, unable to hide her impatience.

This was Sun Ling, Lin Peipei’s close friend from class. Attractive in her own right, though not quite as beautiful as Lin Peipei, she was still considered one of the school’s belles.

“Don’t worry, his place is a bit far from here,” Lin Peipei explained.

Sun Ling was clearly annoyed. “Who is this guy, making two beauties wait out here? Didn’t you see Chen Wenqing and the others have already arrived?”

Nearby, several classmates sat in a BMW, with a handsome young man at the wheel.

“Peipei, Lingling, maybe we shouldn’t wait any longer. If we do, we’ll really be late,” said Chen Wenqing, glancing at his expensive watch after adjusting his glasses.

Lin Peipei looked off into the distance without replying, then suddenly called out, “He’s here, he’s here!”

A Bugatti Veyron sped towards them and came to a steady stop in front of the group.

“Sorry I’m late,” Qin Mu said curtly.

He had first driven Luoshui to Jiangdong Bay, then doubled back, making a round trip—no wonder he was delayed.

“Wow, a big spender!” Sun Ling exclaimed, snapping a few photos of the Bugatti to post on her social media.

“I’m riding with him,” Lin Peipei declared.

“Me too! I’ve never been in a Bugatti before!” Sun Ling tucked away her phone, grabbed Lin Peipei, and quickly climbed into the car.

“Let’s go then.”

Chen Wenqing eyed Qin Mu with thinly veiled hostility.

This was supposed to be a small gathering of their classmates to celebrate Lin Peipei’s birthday, yet some outsider had wedged his way in—and had taken both girls into his car.

“He’s really something,” another boy said sourly.

“Hmph, just a Bugatti Veyron. I only drive my BMW to school because there’s no need to buy something so expensive,” Chen Wenqing muttered, turning the key in the ignition.