Chapter 22: A Costly Mistake
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Shen Anyu quickly soothed herself and said, “Forget it. It’s nothing serious. But for what I’m about to tell you, stay focused.”
“Mm,” Lin Ting replied. “Go ahead.”
“The media outlet that exposed you was dealt with by Shang Moting’s people. We didn’t have to lift a finger,” Shen Anyu said. “Lin Shan was involved in the kidnapping case and has been detained for the time being.”
To show that she was listening, Lin Ting gave a small response.
“There’s something else you may need to handle,” Shen Anyu continued.
“What is it?” Lin Ting asked.
“The Shang family has sued the Interstellar Hotel.”
“Which Shang family?” Lin Ting asked. “What do they sell? Why are they suing the Interstellar Hotel? Is it because of some partnership? What have we partnered with them to sell?”
There was more than ten seconds of silence on Shen Anyu’s end before she shouted, “Lin Ting!”
Lin Ting flinched. “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. I was only joking. Just joking.”
Shen Anyu did not feel like speaking.
Lin Ting asked, “Why are they suing the hotel? Is it because of the surveillance footage?”
Shen Anyu still said nothing.
Lin Ting scratched her cheek and wheedled, “Sister Anyu, don’t be angry anymore. I was only joking.”
“Spare me that act,” Shen Anyu said.
Lin Ting laughed. “That’s the only thing that works on you. What else can I do?”
Shen Anyu sighed softly. “Shang Moting said that the hotel’s leaked surveillance footage violated his privacy. And there really have been quite a few people online attacking the Interstellar Hotel for exposing its guests’ privacy.”
“Then I should be the one suing him. His face was blurred so thoroughly that even a bee couldn’t sting through it. What is he suing for?” Lin Ting said.
“Suing yourself, are you?” Shen Anyu replied.
Lin Ting fell silent.
Shen Anyu chuckled, then asked, “Tell me... do you think Shang Moting has fallen for you?”
“How could that be?” Lin Ting said. “Would anyone fall for someone who might take his life at any moment?”
“Then why is he doing all this for you?” Shen Anyu asked. “Suing the Interstellar Hotel? Who would ordinarily dare lay a hand on that place? Isn’t that just asking for trouble? And he’s so busy. I analyzed it for ages, and the only conclusion I could reach was that he likes you.”
“We haven’t even known each other that long,” Lin Ting said.
“Have you never heard of love at first sight?” Shen Anyu asked.
“He just thinks I’m entertaining, and that I’m bold. Once he finds me boring...” Lin Ting raised her hand and examined her fingers. “He might really cut them off.”
Shen Anyu was silent for a moment. “What about you? Do you like him?”
In truth, she was a little afraid that Lin Ting might fall for him.
After all, aside from the matters that remained unclear, Shang Moting was a man whose looks and abilities were equally formidable.
“Sister, what are you talking about?” Lin Ting asked.
“We’re done discussing work. Let’s talk about something personal,” Shen Anyu said.
Lin Ting was silent for a moment before answering, “Liking someone isn’t part of my plan.”
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“Mumu, nothing stays within the plan forever,” Shen Anyu said.
“At least nothing outside the plan has happened yet,” Lin Ting replied.
“All right.” Shen Anyu said no more. “As long as you know your own limits.”
“Mm,” Lin Ting said. “I know.”
...
After coming out of the bathroom and drying her hair, Lin Ting fell asleep again on the sofa.
She did not wake until someone rang the doorbell.
When she opened the door, it was the man who had brought Li Yu over earlier that day.
He handed Lin Ting a box.
She accepted it and opened it for a look.
Inside was the blade from the banquet hall screen.
A notch had appeared in the blade.
Lin Ting examined it, then closed the box again. “Go back to the capital tomorrow. There’s nothing left to do here.”
The man nodded and left.
Holding the box, Lin Ting stood in the doorway for a moment. Then, after some thought, she returned to her room, put on a coat, and went to knock on Shang Moting’s door.
The instant it opened, a smile appeared on Lin Ting’s face.
But the moment she saw Shang Moting, her smile froze, and her eyes went slightly blank.
He had evidently just finished bathing and was wearing a robe.
The belt seemed to have come loose, leaving the collar hanging rather low. A stretch of skin showed at his chest, and even a hint of abdominal muscles was visible.
His skin was fair, and the lines of his muscles were beautiful.
He looked powerful, but not exaggerated.
Lin Ting’s gaze remained fixed on him.
Following her line of sight, Shang Moting glanced down, pulled his collar closed, and tightened the belt of his robe.
Only after she could no longer see anything did Lin Ting look at his face with considerable regret.
His hair was half-dry and swept back, leaving his forehead completely exposed. His features appeared even more defined and refined.
Especially after bathing, his lips were darker than usual.
It gave his already striking appearance an even sharper edge.
But in any case, he was handsome—extremely handsome.
Lin Ting’s regret disappeared. If she could not admire his physique, looking at his face was hardly a loss.
This trip had not been in vain.
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“How long are you planning to stand outside my door?” Shang Moting asked.
Lin Ting came back to herself, though she was still looking at his face. “You didn’t invite me in. What else could I do but stand here?”
Shang Moting looked at her, then deliberately said, “It’s too late. It wouldn’t be convenient, so I won’t invite you in...”
Lin Ting slipped sideways past him into the room, though she did not go any farther. She looked at him pitifully, waiting for permission. “It’s only ten o’clock.”
Shang Moting met her gaze for a moment, then closed the door and walked toward the living room.
Lin Ting immediately followed.
“What is it?” Shang Moting asked as he sat down on the sofa.
Lin Ting sat opposite him. She looked at his face, then looked at his face again, and only after that placed the box in front of him.
Shang Moting opened it. Inside was his dagger, now bearing a notch.
He picked up the blade and examined it, then looked at her.
Sitting on the sofa made Lin Ting uncomfortable, so she moved directly onto the carpet. Resting her arms on the coffee table, she glanced at Shang Moting and said, “You threw it away and didn’t want it anymore? Your fingerprints are still on it.”
Shang Moting’s brows moved slightly. He clearly did not take it seriously.
Seeing how unconcerned he was, Lin Ting began to scare him. “Your fingerprints could be collected and used to open anything that accepts your fingerprint—your phone, for example.”
Shang Moting looked at her again. “You seem to know an awful lot about this... If anything from my phone gets leaked in the future, I’ll know it was you.”
Lin Ting’s face fell. “Why do you always wrong me?”
Shang Moting merely looked at her.
Lin Ting said aggrievedly, “The assassination attempt at the restaurant had absolutely nothing to do with me. I was only giving an example just now, and you still keep accusing me.”
Shang Moting watched her for a while, then leaned toward her. Extending one finger, he tilted up her chin and looked into her eyes. “Then what is your purpose in approaching me?”
Lin Ting stared at his face. After a few seconds, her gaze drifted downward.
Shang Moting leaned closer, and the collar of his robe opened a little farther. Lin Ting took the opportunity to sneak a glance inside.
Shang Moting said, “...Do you need me to untie it so you can see properly?”
Lin Ting had not expected him to be so generous, and her eyes brightened slightly. But she quickly regained her composure. “That won’t be necessary. It’s late at night. Seeing too much wouldn’t be good.”
Shang Moting fell silent.
He withdrew his hand.
Lin Ting looked at his face two more times before standing. “All right, I’ve delivered the item, and I’ve seen what I came to see. I’m leaving.”
It was only after she returned happily to her own room that Lin Ting remembered she had forgotten to mention Shang Moting’s lawsuit against the hotel.
As expected... lust makes people forgetful.
...
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