Chapter 21 It Is All Your Fault for Startling Me

The sounds of the fight gradually ceased. Outside, the fireworks had also stopped. Wei Zhishu and Fang Cheng were busy wrapping things up with their people. Lin Ting glanced around. Quiet had returned.

By Shang Moting’s side were not only Wei Zhishu and Fang Cheng but others as well. There were simply too many people wanting him dead. But who could it be this time?

Wei Zhishu approached, standing by the table and reached out to pull down the collar of a person slumped against it. At the nape of the neck was a black tattoo resembling the sun.

Wei Zhishu said, “They all have this.”

“A killer organization from Continent D,” Shang Moting explained.

Lin Ting took a quick look. It was a paid assassin group—reckless men who only recognized money. Someone had hired these killers. It was likely that the people who came today were merely following orders, unaware of their employer’s identity. Asking would be pointless.

“Throw them back to their organization’s territory,” Shang Moting said, knowing there was nothing more to find out and decided not to linger.

“Yes,” Wei Zhishu said as he dragged them away.

Lin Ting looked toward Shang Moting. This was a blatant provocation against a killer organization.

Shang Moting wiped his hands with a tissue and said, “Let’s go.”

Lin Ting hesitated for a few seconds before getting up to follow him.

Fang Cheng stayed behind to handle the aftermath, while Wei Zhishu drove them back.

The car was quiet. Perhaps due to the alcohol, in such a still environment, Lin Ting gradually grew drowsy. Her eyes lost focus. Though she appeared awake, her consciousness had already drifted to sleep.

Just as she was about to close her eyes, Shang Moting chuckled softly.

Lin Ting immediately opened her eyes and turned her head toward him.

Leaning his elbow on the car window, resting his hand against his temple, Shang Moting looked at her and said, “Your bravery has once again surpassed all my expectations.”

Lin Ting, too sleepy to speak, just stared at him.

“As a suspect, aren’t you afraid I'll take you somewhere for harsh interrogation?” Shang Moting asked.

Half-opening her eyes, Lin Ting replied, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I want to sleep now.”

Shang Moting raised an eyebrow, observing her expression and tone, and four words flashed in his mind: a child throwing a tantrum.

“Anything else to say?” Lin Ting asked.

“No,” Shang Moting answered.

“Then stop laughing for no reason,” Lin Ting said.

Shang Moting was speechless.

Lin Ting glanced at him once more, then rested her head against the car window and closed her eyes.

Within seconds, Shang Moting heard her steady breathing.

She had fallen asleep.

Shang Moting watched her for a while, then gently curled his lips, a silent smile.

At first, the car was on the expressway, smooth and steady. But after exiting, they traveled a stretch filled with speed bumps.

Wei Zhishu was doing his best to minimize the jolts, but each bump still caused Lin Ting’s head to hit the window.

After two such impacts, Lin Ting frowned and placed her hand beside her head to cushion it.

It helped little; she was still uncomfortable.

Watching her hit her head again, Shang Moting lifted the armrest between them, shifted it closer to her side, then took her arm and pulled her toward him.

Lin Ting opened her eyes and looked at him—accurately, she was awakened and glared at him fiercely.

Without a word, Shang Moting pressed her head against his shoulder.

Lin Ting blinked, found a comfortable position leaning on him, closed her eyes, and fell asleep again.

Wei Zhishu drove ahead, watching them.

Although his face was calm and steady, as if accustomed to storms and turmoil, inside he was boiling.

Lin Ting leaned on Shang Moting’s shoulder, her head drooping.

Shang Moting had to support her face with his hand.

Her small face, no bigger than a palm, seemed even tinier in his palm.

He held her for a while, smiled silently again, and gently stroked her face twice with his thumb.

Wei Zhishu took a deep breath silently.

Who exactly claimed their boss wasn’t one to like people?

He was very good at it!

Just now, scaring her!

Now, touching her small face!

And secretly smiling!

Wei Zhishu felt his gossip spirit igniting; he wanted to share, to tell someone!

Shang Moting didn’t take Lin Ting anywhere else but back to the hotel.

As they neared the hotel entrance, Shang Moting was debating whether to wake her when Lin Ting suddenly shuddered awake.

Instinctively, she gripped the hand that was supporting her face tightly.

Very tightly.

Shang Moting turned his head to look at her.

Lin Ting’s grip remained firm; she sat up straight, eyes filled with murderous intent, staring at Shang Moting.

After a moment, she released him and touched her chest.

Shang Moting’s gaze followed her hand, looking at her chest.

The image of a knife being pulled from her chest flashed in his mind.

His eyelashes twitched.

Lin Ting said, “It’s all your fault.”

Shang Moting raised his eyes to meet hers.

Lin Ting continued, “Before I slept, you insisted on scaring me, causing me to have nightmares.”

“Who scared you?” Shang Moting asked. “I was merely stating a fact that would happen.”

Lin Ting frowned and quickly shifted away from him, “Anyway, it doesn’t concern me. No matter how you torture me, that’s all I’ll say.”

Shang Moting narrowed his eyes, grabbed her wrist, lifted her hand, and made her look at his fingers.

“These beautiful nails, pulling them off one by one...” Shang Moting said, “that would be a pity.”

Lin Ting recoiled slightly.

He tightened his grip, “Nails can grow back, but I wonder if fingers could grow back if cut off.”

Lin Ting stared at her fingers, imagining nails being pulled off and fingers being severed.

Her eyelids twitched.

The car stopped at the hotel entrance.

Lin Ting pushed the door open, shook off his hand, and ran inside.

Shang Moting watched her retreating figure and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Wei Zhishu said, “Boss, aren’t you afraid of scaring the young lady away?”

Shang Moting replied, “She’s got guts.”

His tone carried a hint of pride.

...

Back at the hotel.

Lin Ting removed her makeup and washed up.

After some fuss, she lay in the bathtub with a face mask on, soaking.

Soon, Shen Anyu called.

Lin Ting put the call on speaker.

Shen Anyu asked, “Finished with your work?”

Lin Ting replied affirmatively.

Shen Anyu began the weekly work report.

He started with important matters abroad, then moved on to domestic updates.

Twenty minutes passed.

Lin Ting closed her eyes, not uttering a word.

Shen Anyu asked, “Are you listening?”

“I am,” Lin Ting responded.

“What did I just say?” Shen Anyu began a questioning report.

“You just said...” Lin Ting suddenly opened her eyes, peeled off the mask, thought for a moment, and said, “You just said, ‘What did I just say?’”

Shen Anyu exclaimed, “I knew you weren’t listening! Oh my god! Are they done yet? I don’t want to report this stuff anymore. Why do I have to?”

Lin Ting felt guilty, pursed her lips, and remained silent.

She suspected she had drunk counterfeit alcohol today; otherwise, why was she so sleepy?

...