Chapter 32: Easy to Catch

"What is so special about that girl that she matters so much to you?" Elder Shang asked.

"Yes, she is very important," Shang Moting replied.

Elder Shang was stunned; he had not expected such an answer. This was a clear warning to him. That young girl was significant. If he continued to pry into her affairs, what happened today would happen again—and perhaps even more severely. Today, he had merely dealt with a traitor as a warning; the next time, things might not be so measured.

Shang Moting said, "Since you are physically fine, I will take my leave now." He stepped back, gave a slight nod, and turned to depart.

"Where are you going!" Elder Shang called out to his retreating figure.

Shang Moting paused and said, "To the company."

"Pay your respects to your parents before you leave," Elder Shang commanded.

"I know," Shang Moting replied, and then he left.

In the ancestral hall, Shang Moting placed the incense into the burner and looked at his parents' spirit tablets. It had been over a decade, and gradually, he had run out of things to say after lighting the incense. He simply stood before the tablets, watching their names and the slow burning of the incense.

*“Your father died to save you, all to save you. You must hold up the Shang family; this is what your father left behind, and you must protect it.”*

*“What right do you have to be disobedient? Your life was bought with your father's life!”*

*“You are nothing like your father. Your father was filial, intelligent, and obedient.”*

*“If it weren't for your father, why would I have wasted my energy teaching and raising you?”*

These words drifted through Shang Moting's mind. He had heard them too many times. He was accustomed to them. He was numb. It no longer mattered.

The incense burned down to nothing. Shang Moting bowed to the tablets, turned, and exited the ancestral hall.

Once in the car, Wei Zhishu, who was driving, asked, "Boss, where to?"

"Back to the company," Shang Moting said.

"You haven't eaten yet," Wei Zhishu reminded him.

"Right," Shang Moting said. "Drop me off at the company, go eat, and bring some back for me."

"I don't want to eat with him," Fang Cheng said.

"And I don't want to eat with you either," Wei Zhishu retorted.

Shang Moting was in no mood to mediate and looked out the window. Wei Zhishu and Fang Cheng fell silent as the car pulled out of the Shang estate.

Shang Moting's phone rang—a single chime, then silence. He glanced at the screen; it was an unfamiliar number from Beijing. As he stared at it, the phone rang again, twice, then hung up. Wei Zhishu glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

Shang Moting continued to watch his phone. Sure enough, the unknown number called again. This time, it didn't hang up; it kept ringing. Shang Moting let it ring for a while, but just as he went to answer, the caller hung up.

Shang Moting: "..."

He waited, but the caller didn't ring again. After a while, he dialed the number back.

The other side answered quickly: "I'm sorry, the owner of the number you are calling is currently resting. Waking her up requires a fee. The owner is in a very good mood today, so we are launching a special promotion. Forget 288, forget 188, and definitely forget 88—it only takes 888 to wake up the beautiful owner and have a chat with her."

"First time I've heard of a promotion that inflates the price instead of discounting it," Shang Moting remarked.

Lin Ting chuckled. "Have you had lunch?"

"Not yet," Shang Moting said.

"What grand affair could be so important that it leaves Mr. Shang without time to eat?" Lin Ting teased.

"You're just here to fish for information," Shang Moting said.

"I am clearly here to show concern for you," Lin Ting replied.

Shang Moting smiled. "Where did you get this phone number?"

"I am the owner of the Wangyue Auction House," Lin Ting said. "Getting a phone number—isn't that a simple matter?"

"Does that mean tracking my location is also a simple matter now?" Shang Moting asked.

Sitting on a hotel sofa, Lin Ting looked at the tracking trajectory of Shang Moting on her laptop. "I'm not bored enough to track you. You make it sound like I'm trying to catch you cheating."

Shang Moting: "...Could you find a more pleasant way to put that?"

Lin Ting laughed. "Besides, can Mr. Shang's location even be tracked so easily?"

"Well, Wangyue... is just average," Shang Moting said.

Lin Ting’s lip twitched. "The Di Shang Club is also just average."

Shang Moting was momentarily silenced. "You called just to annoy me."

"You were the one who called me," Lin Ting countered. "Mr. Shang... you're not very good at resisting the bait."

Shang Moting rubbed his fingertips, a faint, imperceptible smile crossing his eyes. "You are certainly candid."

"It's not like you're learning that for the first time," Lin Ting said. "I'm going to eat pizza for lunch. There’s a Western restaurant in Beijing that serves it too. Do you want some? My treat."

Shang Moting paused for a moment. "Yes."

"Then I'll call and order it. Where should it be delivered?" Lin Ting asked.

"My company," Shang Moting said.

"Fine," Lin Ting agreed.

After hanging up, Shang Moting said, "No need to bring me food."

Wei Zhishu’s eyes darted around. "Understood."

***

In Jiangcheng, Lin Ting returned to her hotel for a nap after lunch. Following Shen Anyu’s report to the police, Xiang Zheng and Song Zhiyuan were quickly taken into custody. There would be developments in Beijing by tonight at the earliest, or tomorrow morning at the latest.

Lin Ting didn't concern herself with that; her task was to ensure that the Interstellar Hotels in Jiangcheng and Beijing remained unaffected.

As for the Lin family, their company was in a downward spiral. Zhao Chen had been unable to uncover Shang Moting’s identity, so he laid all the blame on Lin Jinchuan. The pressure from the Lin family left Lin Jinchuan gasping for air, but he couldn't get in touch with Lin Ting.

Two days passed, and Lin Ting did not appear. Finally, Lin Jinchuan tracked her down at the hotel. Usually, he wouldn't dare cause a scene at the Interstellar Hotel, but with the Lin family failing and his own prospects crumbling, he no longer cared.

When Lin Ting heard he was there, she had him brought to a reception area. The moment Lin Jinchuan saw her, he lunged to strike her. Lin Ting dodged, and Lin Jinchuan slammed into the door, nearly knocking it off its hinges.

"Lin Ting! You did this on purpose! You're trying to ruin me!" Lin Jinchuan shouted. "Everything is because of you!"

"It's because of you. You have no ability, you love to stir up trouble, and you don't know how to be a decent person," Lin Ting said. "You've reached this point entirely on your own."

"It's all because of you! You're a jinx!" Lin Jinchuan cursed. "Ever since you came back, nothing good has happened to the Lin family."

Lin Ting placed an agreement on the table. "Sign this, and from now on, I have nothing to do with the Lin family. Then I won't be able to 'affect' you anymore."

"In your dreams!" Lin Jinchuan roared. "The Lin family is falling, and you want to abandon us? No way. Don't you have a man? That good-looking one. Is he staying at the hotel? Is he living with you? He must be rich if he can stay here this long. Make him pay up. If it's not a hundred million, I'm not signing this agreement."