Chapter 27

Mu Tian Heng took Mo Di and Lai De Si to the Michelin restaurant he had reserved in advance.

Lai De Si was touched: “After not seeing you for ten days, I didn’t expect you to become so human and treat me so well! But I won’t fall in love with you. In my heart, there’s already….”

“Get lost!” Mu Tian Heng was creeped out by Lai De Si’s voice and tone. He raised his leg and gave him a kick but Lai De Si was able to dodge it.

Mo Di was amused and couldn’t help laughing. He felt that ever since he met Mu Tian Heng and Lai De Si, the suffocating pressure in his heart was elevated bit by bit, becoming less oppressive.

Lai De Si saw Mo Di’s sudden laughter and immediately wanted to pounce on him, “Little brother, you dare to laugh at me? See how I’ll…OW—!”

Lai De Si backed away and once again covered his ass.

“Put your paws away.” Mu Tian Heng shot Lai De Si a dark look. This guy is getting bolder, he dared to try to pinch his little one’s face?!!

Lai De Si eyed Mu Tian Heng and felt unexplainable guilt. It seemed he was overjoyed and forgot his place. Luckily, he did not manage to pinch the little guy, or else he would be very miserable today.

“Aiya, starving starving! I’m really starving. Let’s go eat!” Lai De Si put on an exceptionally bright smile and quickly ran outside.

At dinner, Mo Di received an anonymous yet not entirely anonymous text message.

Mo Di quickly said to Mu Tian Heng after reading it: “She finally decided to break up!”

Mu Tian Heng thought back and realized that Mo Di was referring to Wen Ru Ya. He nodded and smiled: “That’s a good thing.”

“What? Who’s she? Who decided to break up?!!” Lai De Si chomped a big piece of lobster with cheese and asked in confusion.

“My eldest cousin’s girlfriend decided to break up with him.” Mo Di put down his phone and explained it in one sentence.

From Wen Ru Ya’s message, it was probable that she had already guessed his identity so she not only thanked him but also sent him her blessings.

“Uhm? Your eldest cousin’s girlfriend?” Lai De Si recalled that Mo Yi Cheng was the noble-looking man chasing Mo Di at the hospital. And oh, he was also caught in the video, looking upright and natural even when spitting out all those nonsense.

“Why is it that even such a scum has a girlfriend?!” Lai De Si let out a burp, then went back to thinking about how unfair the world was.

Mo Di: “…”

Was that a profound question that he had after eating full?

After dinner, Mu Tian Heng and Lai De Si went back to work while Mo Di returned to the villa and continued to work on his game.

At around eleven midnight, he received a text from Pang Qiang Lang. As if he was vocalizing his message across: “You really know how to make games?!!!!!”

Mo Di was silent for a while before replying: “It’s true.”

“And it’ll be done in one and a half months. The game this time is of normal production difficulty. After this, I’ll work on a game with a higher caliber.”

“Are you sure you can finish in one and a half months?”

“I’m sure I can finish it by the end of August but that’s to say that you don’t delay the drawings.” Mo Di drank some water from a cup and continued typing: “And if you’re still suspicious, then don’t join, just finish with the work that I assigned you.”

“Why not? It’s all my drawings anyways, there’s no reason for me not to join. If I don’t join then ain’t I losing out? When the game gets popular I’ll also get my share. Not joining only earns me a little commission money.” Pang Qiang Lang typed with confidence as he felt that his brain and logic were never clearer than this moment.

“I’ve decided to join you. You don’t have to spend too much on my salary. Ten thousand a month is enough. After all, you’re younger than me. I don’t feel good taking your scholarship money.”

Mo Di read the text and was relieved. These few days he not only looked for illustrators to commission but also artists who could join his team but unfortunately, they were not up to his requirements.

Mo Di was very welcoming towards Pang Qiang Lang. He typed delightedly and smiled: “Welcome to the team. But I thought that you were going to contribute without requiring payment.”

“How’s that possible?!” Pang Qiang Lang replied in a flash. “Let me tell you I’m not someone who can work and not ask for anything in return. I’m also snobbish and to me, benefits are above all else! Do you understand?”

“Don’t ever expect too much from me!”

“I’ll get off work right on the dot!”

“I will not work overtime either!” (TN: great resumé)

“I…”

“…”

Mo Di regretted texting that line as a joke. He knew that Pang Qiang Lang was crazy and had a childish tendency but he still went on to feed his curiosity.

“Alright, I won’t pay you a cent less or make you lose a cent more.” He then sent Pang Qiang Lang a few character designs, sketch requirements, movement details, biographies, and also the game’s setting. “This is it for the time being. Draw these first and it’d better be done in a month. If you think that there really isn’t enough time, then tell me the parts you need help with, I’ll find another artist.”

“There’s no need for that. I have a friend who wants to join as well. His art is no worse than mine (but that’s only because he began drawing three years earlier than me!). What do you think? With the two of us, we can have the drawings done in a month.”

Once work was involved, Pang Qiang Lang was unexpectedly serious.

Mo Di thought it over and said: “It’s worth considering but I have to meet him first. I’ll bring along a contract. If he’s not bad then the three of us will sign an agreement, if not then it’s just us two.”

“Ok. Then I won’t send him those things you just sent me. These are confidential right?”

“Of course.”

“Just like that and you trust me? Is it because my illustrations are too good, that’s why you wanted to seize me? But you can definitely rest assured, Brother Pang will not do that kind of thing.”

Mo Di: “…”

Can Pang Qiang Lang even stay serious for one minute?

“Um, of course I trust you.” Mo Di said indifferently.

In truth, the reasons why he sent the information to Pang Qiang Lang were firstly, he did somewhat trust him and also, more importantly, those that he sent were not too confidential. His objective for this game was just to pass the first round of audition, there was not much uniqueness to the designs. Secondly, this was also part of his test for Pang Qiang Lang.

Mo Di and Pang Qiang Lang agreed to meet up at the cafe from before at four in the evening.

When he arrived, Pang Qiang Lang was already seated with another boy beside him. The boy was extremely skinny and white, with several white hairs on his head, looking almost transparent.

“Hello, I’m Han Chao.” Han Chao stood up at once when he saw Mo Di coming.

“Hello.” Mo Di nodded, “Nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too. I really like to play games and it’s such a great honor to be able to take part in the game making process.”

“That’s enough. You two stop with the formalities. Are you going to follow up with a ‘how are you, I’m fine, thanks, and you? I’m fine too!’” Pang Qiang Lang then made a mocking gesture, “Quickly, we’re here to work.”

“This is a picture that old Han drew before, Xiao Di(第), see if it’s good?” Pang Qiang Lang said with a smug. This top student’s name was not good, whoever addressed him would sound like calling their younger brother.

Mo Di heard Pang Qiang Lang’s teasing but he did not mind. He took the computer and started browsing through the pictures.

This type of nickname was just a harmless joke which carried no malice, therefore he did not put it to heart.

After all, the origin of his name was a lot more unbearable. The reason he was called ‘Mo Di(第)’ was that none of the Mo family members wanted to name him, so they randomly called him ‘Mo Di(弟)’, meaning Mo Liu Gui’s younger brother.

But at the time they registered his name, the staff mistakenly typed it as ‘Mo Di(第)’. Fortunately, the Mo family did not check and that was how he avoided being stuck with that kind of name.

---

TN: These are the two different ‘di’ mentioned here: 1)第 2)弟 The first one, which is Mo Di’s name, is mostly used with order or ranking like 第一 means first, 第二 means second and so on. The second ‘di’ usually refers to younger brother. So what Mo Di was trying to say is that he was glad to be named 第 rather than 弟, otherwise, his name would be Mo Younger Brother. 

The Mo family and Mo Liu Gui call Mo Di Xiao Di (小弟) which means little brother, while Pang Qiang Lang and Han Chao call him by Xiao Di (小第) which is more like Little Di, but I don’t really like how it sounds so I’ll just stick to Xiao Di for both.

---

Han Chao’s drawing skill was indeed topnotch. His drawings were no worse than Pang Qiang Lang, and not only that, he was actually more proficient. If Pang Qiang Lang did not put in the time, he could produce six pieces a month. If he invested all his time then he could complete ten pieces. On the other hand, with adequate time, Han Chao could produce eleven or twelve pieces in a month.

Therefore, these two could deal with the main scenes and character sketches. As for the other scenes, supporting characters, equipment, etc, he would outsource it to other artists.

Anyway, he did not have high expectations for this game. Just passing the audition and the following elimination round will do.

Mo Di and Han Chao chatted for a while and the more they spoke, Mo Di found that Han Chao was alright. He was a little introverted but not unexpressive. For now, the trust was adequate to cooperate in this first game.

“Let’s sign the contract.” Mo Di retrieved the contract from its folder. “If this game received investment and is widely distributed, then as the key members of the original team, we can share the dividend as follows.” 

“From here, I’ll stop with the politeness and be straightforward. The game’s creator, planning, testing, game concept and characters, digitizing and animating your drawings, it’s all me. I’m sure you know how much time and effort this takes and so I’m going to take eighty percent. The remaining twenty is for you guys. In addition, I will also pay your salaries during the production period. The outsourcing costs, sound effects, dubbing, etc, will be paid by me. I will take care of all the expenses during the production. I assure you, you won’t be taken advantage of.”

Mo Di smiled: “Actually it’s written clearly on the contract, you can see it for yourself. And let me say this in advance, whether the profit is sizable or not, I will continue to work on a second game, which means our work will not stop here.”

“Isn’t it just signing the document, I’ll sign.”

Once Pang Qiang Lang heard that there will be another game, he was immediately excited. Moreover, he felt that he already had a lot of benefits. He took a pen and signed his name.

“Honestly, I didn’t think that I and old Han could account for twenty percent. We’re taking advantage of you. We’re not stupid. Do you know how much credit you should take for this game? Not everyone can be a producer. Planning, creating, designing, etc, are also not what ordinary people can do even if they want to. Or else, why would game companies spend millions to buy copyrights of novels? And then there’s also the coding. You’ve completed almost all of the work except the illustrations. Keeping eighty percent for yourself, you’re actually losing out.”

Mo Di was pleasantly surprised to hear such serious and humane words coming from Pang Qiang Lang.

“That’s right. We’re even taking a salary and such a high dividend from you when our efforts and investment are way less than yours. More importantly, your skillset is the most irreplaceable one here. We’re really taking advantage of you.” Han Chao was older than Pang Qiang Lang and was now twenty years old. He said with a little embarrassment.: “You’re only seventeen, right? That’s just too incredible. I’m very happy and honored to be able to work with you.”

Mo Di smiled and mutually sealed the business deal: “I’m also honored to work with you two.”

“Wei, when is your birthday? Quickly grow up! Being ordered around by a minor, how can I be so twisted?” Pang Qiang Lang began his non-human speech again.

Mo Di had now learned to ignore him and so, Pang Qiang Lang was totally disregarded.

“That’s right Xiao Di, which month is your birthday? I’ve done a little research of the constellation signs, tell me, when were you born?”

“…” Mo Di was speechless. Didn’t Han Chao seem more intelligent just a moment ago? But seeing that the two were relentless, he replied: “October 31st.”

Han Chao: “Xiao Di, you’re a Scorpio.”

“What’s unique about Scorpio?” Pang Qiang Lang asked Han Chao.

Han Chao: “Black belly. White outside and black inside just like a black sesame filled dumpling.”

Pang Qiang Lang gave Han Chao a complicated expression, then turned to look at Mo Di: “That’s so not accurate.”

Mo Di: “…”

After the agreement was signed and the details agreed upon, Mo Di left. The three of them created a chat group called ‘Dream Chasing Team Wechat Group’.

Mo Di, with no naming sense, was the one who named it. Pang Qiang Lang and Han Chao mulled over it for some time but in the end, did not object since they both also had no naming sense and could not come up with a good team name.

In the days to come, things only got busier.

Once his eyes were opened, Mo Di would be coding. Even when they were closed, his head would still be filled with computer codes. He slept less than four hours a day and eventually, dark circles, one by one, appeared under his eyes.

Seeing Mo Di busy to such an extent, Mu Tian Heng felt proud of his favorite little guy’s capabilities, but on the other hand, there was also heartache. He wanted to introduce one or two IT programmers to help Mo Di but Mo Di refused.

Compared to his last life, things were a whole lot better now. At least he was not in constant fear or on high alert. He was in a safe environment where he could create freely, so no matter how worn out he was, he was still happy.

Furthermore, he already relied on Mu Tian Heng to ward off the Mo family and Qin Cheng Yi. In other aspects of his life, he would prefer not to depend on Mu Tian Heng for help.

Mu Tian Heng was quite vexed by his family’s little guy’s independence which gave rise to a small sense of crisis.

He was only seventeen and already was not dependent on him. Wait till he was twenty plus, wouldn’t it be worse? By then wouldn’t he be a useless old beast who only knew how to gnaw on tender grass?!!

TN: I’m not sure if everyone’s familiar with the term ‘old cattle chewing on young grass’ or something along those lines. It refers to a couple with a large age gap, the older person is the old cattle (MTH) while the younger one is the grass(MD).

This definitely can’t go on!!!

On this day, Mu Tian Heng came back earlier for once in a blue moon. After taking his shower, he went to Mo Di’s room.

To start off, Mu Tian Heng inquired about Mo Di’s life like an elder caring for a child. Then he let Mo Di explain his game project; what kind of game it was and what the programming was like. Mo Di was not at all bothered by Mu Tian Heng. He obediently explained and guided Mu Tian Heng through the program.

Mu Tian Heng gazed at the Mo Di sitting next to him, speaking softly and politely. Although he was tired, his eyes were filled with stars talking about the game, like a small poplar tree with unimaginable tenacity in its core. The soft and dark hair was dyed a tint lighter under the light. And because he had lost too much weight lately, the t-shirt he had on seemed a size bigger as it became loose on his body.

Mu Tian Heng looked as his heart turned soft and a little sore.

“Actually I also liked gaming and quite interested in game designing.” Mu Tian Heng said to Mo Di: “you know that my major was in computer and the work I do is also closely related to coding. If you’re willing to teach me, I’d like to learn a bit about making games.”

“Of course I can teach you. Brother, you’re so talented, in no time you’ll be an expert.”

Mo Di did not think that helping Mu Tian Heng was adding on to his workload. Towards Mu Tian Heng, Mo Di only had gratitude and guilt. He only hoped to be able to make it up to him, there was no room to feel bothered.

Mu Tian Heng was really a quick learner. As expected from someone who had graduated from H University of America and created the ‘impression’ website just in his junior year, his talent was not something an ordinary genius could compare to. After he had mastered the procedures, his first request was to do a chapter that Mo Di had not completed to test his skills. 

Mo Di gawked at Mu Tian Heng and finally understood something. His heart was instantly filled with warmth as if it was poured with hot soup.

But he did not say anything or rejected the offer.

His refusal would not make it up to Mu Tian Heng nor help him repay his gratitude any faster. After the game’s completion, the possible investment will be partly used to make his next game and the rest, he would give it all to Mu Tian Heng. 

When Mu Tian Heng got the full directions for the unfinished chapter, he let out a smile and said: “It’s important to balance between work and rest. I’ll take you out for a breather in a few days, let you relax for a bit, how about it? It won’t take long, just a couple of hours.”

“Ok. But let’s wait till I’m done with the tenth chapter.” Mo Di’s eyes bent and he also smiled at Mu Tian Heng. After the tenth chapter, the remaining work should be reduced considerably. He should be able to relax when there was less stress. 

“Good.” Mu Tian Heng rubbed Mo Di’s hair and said tenderly: “You can do it.”

…

Lately, Lai De Si gradually found out that Mu Tian Heng’s almost inhuman work efficiency seemed to have gone up another level. 

He was a little afraid of Mu Tian Heng’s abnormality. This was very unlike a normal human being!!

Even when they were overloaded with work, Mu Tian Heng had begun transitioning the time he got off from 1 a.m. to 12 a.m, then to 11p.m. At times, he even left at 10 p.m.

This was just shocking. How powerful was the will to avoid being a useless old beast that could only gnaw on tender grass?

And hence, with the help from Mu Tian Heng, Mo Di managed to complete the high-intensity workload on July 22nd. After being done with chapter ten, what remained was just the ending and fine-tuning of the whole game.

Their work progression was way ahead of Pang Qiang Lang and Han Chao. Pang Qiang Lang wailed across the group chat that he would complete the illustrations by the end of the month even if he did not get any sleep.

Finally, Mo Di could catch his break with Mu Tian Heng.

Mu Tian Heng took Mo Di to have a big meal first. In front of the restaurant, Mo Di unexpectedly met someone he had not seen in a long time.

“…” Gu Ran Ju’s first thoughts after seeing Mo Di were quite complicated.

His first reaction was that he wanted to have a round with Mo Di, after all, Mo Di was the first person he had ever lost to and he was quite unwilling to let it go. But thinking about the video and what he understood from the internet, he was a little ashamed and remorseful. The last time they met, Mo Di’s situation couldn’t be any good, and yet he still caused trouble. Hence he felt that he should not fight Mo Di at this time. However, the desire to win Mo Di in a fight was also strong. These clashing emotions were making him agitated. 

“What are you doing now? Where do you live?” In the end, Gu Ran Ju could only squeeze out these two dull sentences in an angry tone.

Mo Di shot Gu Ran Ju a look and already, did not want to talk to him. He turned and left.

Gu Ran Ju jogged a few steps to catch up with Mo Di: “I’m asking you a question. What are you up to lately? Who is this man? He’s not a con man….is he?”

Mo Di really wished that Gu Ran Ju would disappear quickly: “I’ll tell you so you can leave quickly. At present, I’m making a game to compete in the game competition. I’m very very busy and have no time to fight with you.”

The rumor that the first Hua Xia game competition was going to be held had already spread all over the internet. Only the specific date and rules have not been announced yet. There was nothing wrong with him talking about it.

“Game competition!?” Gu Ran Ju eyed Mo Di suspiciously. “Are you an adult yet?”

“What does this have anything to do with adulthood?” Mo Di was a little impatient.

“Of course it does, I …” Gu Ran Ju surveyed the area and when he saw no one was coming, he whispered: “My father works in the system and heard a piece of gossip. There’s this old geezer that wanted to add the rule to ban minors from participating. That old geezer is very powerful and has a high position. The other old farts wanted to lick his boot so a lot of them supported this decision. There was some opposition, but most likely the rules will stick and minors will not be allowed to participate. If you’re underage then don’t waste your energy.”

“Ban minors from participating?!!” Mo Di’s face changed drastically. “How is this possible? Clearly last…”

Clearly in his last life, there was no such rule!

“You’re lying to me, right?!!”

“Who’s lying to you? If you don’t believe me then forget it!” Gu Ran Ju was frustrated. He had never bothered to lie to anyone, ok?!

Mo Di stared at Gu Ran Ju. Seeing that he did not seem to be lying, his whole heart immediately sank.

Mu Tian Heng saw Mo Di’s desolate state and hurriedly held his shoulder, stooping slightly to look at him. He said in an anxious but gentle tone: “It’s ok, don’t worry. I’ll get someone to ask about this.”

“And then what?” Mo Di’s eyes became hot and he was nauseous with anger. How can this world be like this?!!! Ever since he got his second chance at life, it just won’t rest until he was dead again!!!

“If this is true, then these old people were joining up to make unreasonable and ridiculous regulations. This is not right and there will be opposition. What we have to do is to increase the number of people who disagree with the decision, inside and outside the system.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”

If Mo Wu Hang was the Mo family’s most impulsive member and the one who loved to physically abuse him the most, then Mo Si Lang was the kind that loved to slyly make suggestions in the back. He put up a noble and righteous front but behind it was a toxic and insidious mind. The one who came up with the iron needles torture idea: Mo Si Lang.

Mo Si Lang was one of the more difficult people in the Mo family to deal with. Because he entered the entertainment circle early and had numerous fans, even when he was hit with a scandal and his reputation was torn, there would still be a group of brain-dead fans with distorted three views willing to support him.

Therefore, to completely destroy Mo Si Lang, a ruined reputation was not enough.

Mo Di saw the man and woman disappeared into the street corner. He turned and said to Pang Qiang Lang’s mother who was eagerly trying to say something: “Auntie, to tell you the truth, I’m really busy during the summer, I might not have time to tutor Pang…”

“Call me brother Pang!” Pang Qiang Lang said abruptly.

“…” Mo Di: “I may not have time to tutor him but if he has any questions, he can send it to me, I’ll definitely teach him how to solve it.”

“You really don’t have time?” Pang Qiang Lang’s mother obviously refused to give up. She looked at Mo Di pleadingly.

“I really do not have time. I’m sorry, auntie.”

“Even if you’re free I still won’t study with you.” Pang Qiang Lang squinted at Mo Di. He seemed to be taking revenge on Mo Di for not calling him ‘brother Pang’.

Mo Di was speechless, then he asked: “How old are you?”

“Nineteen and a half. I got held back for a year. Got a problem?”

“No, I thought that you’re only sixteen or seventeen. You looked especially childish.” Mo Di smiled.

Pang Qiang Lang did not seem to hear the later part at first but after pondering for a few seconds, he realized that Mo Di had called him childish! He instantly slapped the table, “Did you just call me childish?!”

“Aiya, don’t make a fuss. Show some decency!” Pang Qiang Lang’s mother hurriedly pulled her son down and smacked him twice on his arm. “Sit down!”

Pang Qiang Lang twitched his mouth and sat down obediently.

The few people sat and chatted for a while. Mo Di still insisted that he was not available and apologized repeatedly. He also knew that Pang Qiang Lang had already repeated one year yet his results were barely passing the two hundred points mark. He really was not the academic type.

When Mo Di left, principal Huang and Pang Qiang Lang’s mother stayed behind to discuss the next candidate to tutor Pang Qiang Lang. As for Pang Qiang Lang, he quickly ran after Mo Di and stopped him before he crossed the street. Breathing harshly, he said: “You were serious about buying my work? It’s not a bluff?”

“Of course I’m serious.” Mo Di said.

“Then …then the same quality as the illustration just now, I’ll charge one for five thousand.” Pang Qiang Lang spoke in a gruff tone and showed an unkind expression. But Mo Di smiled and said: “Didn’t you say that you won’t give me a discount just because I’m pitiful?”

“Humph! I’ll increase and decrease the price as I like. None of your business!” Mo Di nodded his head in earnest but there was no sign of wanting to thank him. Pang Qiang Lang was half choked to death.

Mo Di scanned Pang Qiang Lang and was quite amused. This person was not bad. He was straightforward, his EQ was not exactly high, a little impulsive in his speech, but he was not ill-intentioned and his illustration skill was remarkable.

If he could get him to join his team….umm, that would be a good choice.

“Pang Qiang Lang, are all your drawings original?”

“What crap! I have never done any plagiarizing!” Pang Qiang Lang was quite angry. It seemed he indeed hated plagiarism and thought of it as an insult.

Mo Di nodded: “Then do you like playing games?”

“I do. The games ‘Legendary Beast Continent’ and ‘Immortal World’, I like to play them all. What about it?”

“Have you ever thought of being involved in the game making process?” Mo Di gleefully coaxed: “You design the characters, settings, equipment, and then animate them into the plot and gameplay.”

Pang Qiang Lang was clearly ignited by Mo Di’s words but he still said: “This, it’s impossible.”

Firstly, he was not a famous illustrator, no game company would hire him. Secondly, he knew nothing about programming or making games.

“!” Pang Qiang Lang suddenly woke up and seemed to finally understand something. The next moment he looked at Mo Di with a completely different set of eyes filled with zeal: “Are you going to use the characters that I drew to make games?! You know how to make games?!!”

“I do know how to make games. So, are you interested?”

“Is this true!?” Pang Qiang Lang turned red with excitement. “Just how old are you? You don’t even look like you’re eighteen. Did you learn it by yourself? Do you have a team?”

“At present, I’m the producer, planner, programmer, and tester for the team.” Mo Di said honestly: “I may have to seek out a design production team. After all, your drawings need to be computerized and put into the storyboard. Anyways, what I said to your mom earlier was all true, I’m very busy.”

Pang Qiang Lang: “…”

“If you want to join and become the graphic designer for the team then send me a message. But make it quick because I only have one and a half months to finish the game. And if you don’t like the idea, it’s also fine. I’ll still buy the illustrations. Basically, the deal is still the same.” Mo Di knew that Pang Qiang Lang could not make up his mind immediately. He did not mind. He waved his hand and left.

Pang Qiang Lang stood in place and stared at Mo Di’s back in silence.

When Mo Di returned to the villa, there was a car parked at the door. He was just wondering who came when a head suddenly popped out and with a teeth-flashing smile, said: “Hi! Did you miss me these days, little brother?”

Mo Di gazed at Lai De Si’s runaway-husky look and stayed quiet.

“I heard you came in first in the College Entrance Exam. Little brother, you’re incredible, so much better than an underachieving student like me!”

Lai De Si came out of the villa in an orange get up, looking like a walking bottle of orange juice. He said frankly: “And your family before are such scums and yet you can still excel, that’s really impressive.”

“Brother Lai De Si, stop talking nonsense. I know that you attended one of the top twenty universities in America.” Mo Di glossed over the Mo family topic and said: “If you’re an underachieving student then the other ninety-nine percent are also underachievers?”

“Ai, I had an upper hand in the enrolment process.” Lai De Si waved his hand. He did not think that there was anything wrong with what he just said. “Mu is still working overtime. Come, I’ll take you to him. Let’s eat out tonight.”

Mo Di was a bit hesitant but he agreed in the end. He should at least let Lai De Si who had just returned have a little ‘welcome back’ atmosphere. As for his work, he could always stay up later to finish it.

Mo Di nodded: “Ok.”

Mo Di boarded Lai De Si’s newly bought Land Rover. This car was specially brought back by Lai De Si and he was still in the intensive love period with it. He was not willing to let the driver touch it and so, he would be the one driving.

Six o’clock was the peak hours in the capital. Their usual thirty minutes’ drive had become an hour and yet they had not reached their destination. Lai De Si was hungry and thirsty but his new car was void of any food or drink. Lai De Si groaned uncomfortably.

Mo Di told Lai De Si to stay off the highway after they passed this stretch of road. He would go down to get him something to eat at one of the roadside stores.

Ten minutes later, they finally got off the highway. Mo Di directed Lai De Si to a corner of the street and alighted.

Mo Di went to get him a hotdog at a bakery and an orange juice from a vending machine, then he hurried back to the car. Mo Di would never admit that he deliberately bought the juice because of Lai De Si’s fresh orange look.

Concentrating on the road, Mo Di was not aware that on the second floor of the western diner opposite the bakery, two pairs of eyes had been following him.

“Xiao Gui, that is your little brother?” The elegant and handsome man looked at the girl across him with gentle eyes. “Do you want to go to him? He had misunderstood you to such a degree, do you still want to resolve it?”

If Mo Di was there, he would recognize that this was Ye Cheng Feng, the supporting male in the original novel with the most screen time. From his first meeting of the sorrowful Mo Liu Gui, he fell deeply in love with her. He had cleared the path for Mo Liu Gui and escorted her through it all. Gentle and handsome in appearance, considerate and meticulous at heart, his grandfather and father were both high-standing government officials, and he himself was also very capable. In his last life, the reason Mo Liu Gui had a smooth career and no stumbling blocks was that besides having Qin Cheng Yi by her side, Ye Cheng Feng was also there to help her out in secret.

But that did not mean Mo Di will like this person. Au contraire, Ye Cheng Feng was one of the people he was most disgusted with.

In addition to Qin Cheng Yi’s connections and intelligence network, Ye Cheng Feng’s meticulous and considerate coverup was part of the reason that Qin Cheng Yi could lock him up and torture him in the asylum, cleanly buried away anything that would incriminate the Mo family, and hid this matter from the outside world and the higher-ups.

Even after tormenting him to such an extent, Ye Cheng Feng actually came to visit him. In his polite and gentlemanly manner, he asked Mo Di if he knew he was at fault. He then mockingly stated that they were willing to forgive him… but he was too vicious and outrageous that they could not let him out to harm Mo Liu Gui.

Ye Cheng Feng stood there looking all gentle, noble and elegant, staring down on him who was almost unhuman-like, filthy and ugly. He stood as if covering the truth and doing what he did was a rational and upright act. Mo Di was utterly disgusted. If it weren’t for the shock and blood loss from the tortures he had earlier, he would’ve beat the crap out of Ye Cheng Feng’s handsome face.

“….honestly, I’m not sure.”

Mo Liu Gui bit her lips. Her slender fingers pinched the straw as she took a sip from the cup. “I did not want to break off with Xiao Di. No matter how he misjudged me, I still think of him as my brother. But …but this time, he went a little too far. How could he hurt my dad like this? I don’t know. I don’t know how to deal with him.”

Mo Liu Gui’s eyes slowly turned red. She lowered her head and pretended to eat. Ye Cheng Feng sat opposite and saw how she would rather forbear the sadness and refused to hurt others, making his heart ached for her.

“Xiao Gui, you are too kind. This type of person will not appreciate your kindness and concession. He will only continue to hurt and bully you. You have to fight back, you can’t forgive him anymore.”

“But, he’s my little brother.”

Mo Liu Gui’s eyes were slightly wet. She wiped it with a tissue, then smiled and said: “Forget it. Let’s not talk about Xiao Di for now. Let’s talk about something else. Cheng Feng, just now you said that the first Hua Xia Innovative Game Competition was about to start, isn’t it?”

Ye Cheng Feng did not voice what he had wanted to say. He just gazed gently at Mo Liu Gui and passed her another piece of tissue, “It’s a little piece of news that my father heard. It will roughly start in late August but the official announcement will not be issued until July.”

“The game competition, what kind of game is allowed to participate? What about the rules and regulations? Are there any rewards?”

“Any type of game, whether it’s sports, cultivation, or puzzle…any form or style can participate. First, there will be an audition that will sift out quite a number of teams. After that is the knockout round which will also eliminate another batch. The last few rounds will probably be slower and there will be more demand for higher quality games.”

“As for the reward, most likely it’s at least ten million yuan. But more importantly, the winning game will attract a lot of investors. After all, the whole process will not only be broadcasted countrywide but also worldwide. Getting attention is the most important thing for the game and its company.”

“That means the top few positions not only get a lot of investment but also free publicity?! As long as you do well, whether it’s a small company or team, it will help them flourish.” Mo Liu Gui said with some envy: “Too bad I don’t know how to make games or else I would’ve participated.”

“I’m going to take part in the competition. Xiao Gui, you can join my team.” Ye Cheng Feng looked at Mo Liu Gui and said: “Do you want to join?”

“But I don’t know anything.”

“It doesn’t matter. You can just stay in our team and be our adrenaline shot.” Ye Cheng Feng sincerely said: “You can absolutely participate.”

“Thank you Cheng Feng. I really want to participate but I don’t have the chance to. There’s a director who came to me…” Mo Liu Gui showed a smile, “he said that he liked my temperament. It’s very much in line with the heroine in his movie, and so he wanted me to join his cast.”

“Who is it?” Ye Cheng Feng was worried that the naive Mo Liu Gui would get scammed.

“Sun Yi Lun.”

“Sun Yi Lun?!” Ye Cheng Feng was somewhat surprised. Sun Yi Lun was one of the leading directors of Hu Xia. He had directed many award-winning films. He, Zhao Li Qing, and Meng Fan Hao were known as the three directors who would pioneer the hope of the Chinese film industry.

“En. Which is why I don’t have time to take part in the game competition.” Mo Liu Gui said as a wisp of hair drooped down. She lifted it gently and continued: “Actually I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to participate in the competition. After all, I don’t quite agree with allowing minors to participate in the game competition. Minors do not have the same skillset and capital as the other university grads or even working staff. They’ll most likely just be accompanying everyone else, it’s impossible for them to get a placing in the competition but they will put a lot of hope and effort into making the game, neglecting their studies, and finally end up losing at both ends. At the same time, it will also have a bad impact on other internet addicted children.”

“And more importantly, they will lower the threshold for the competition. In the early stages of the audition, this will increase the workload for the judges and staff which is not very conducive to the competition as a whole.”

“Xiao Gui, what you said makes a lot of sense.” Ye Cheng Feng looked at Mo Liu Gui with even gentler eyes: “for something that has nothing to do with you, you’re even thoughtful towards the minors and the competition staff. You’re really kind but you shouldn’t worry too much about this. The people who care for you will be upset.”

“I’m fine, I’m used to it.” Mo Liu Gui gave an alluring smile and said: “Then will the competition have this restriction?”

“I have not heard of it but I will definitely talk about this with my father and let him make the suggestion.”

…

Meanwhile, Mo Di and Lai De Si finally arrived at Mu Tian Heng’s office.

“Mu! Let’s go have dinner!”

Lai De Si pushed open the door after knocking on it twice. Mo Di followed behind not knowing whether he should wait for Mu Tian Heng’s invitation.

“Little brother, come in.” Lai De Si took a step in, then turned back and grinned at Mo Di: “you don’t have to be afraid, this is not a beast’s den. Also, there’s no office play like those you see on TV. Although Mu is very much a beast, in the company he’s still very… OW!”

Lai De Si gave a sudden cry of pain. He turned over and had his back against Mo Di: “Mu Tian Heng! Why did you kick me again!!”

“Shut your mouth.” Mu Tian Heng came out with a black face. “Say another word and you don’t have to think about this month’s bonus.”

After he finished speaking, he looked at Mo Di and the expression before was swept away and replaced with a smile: “Come in little one.”

“En.” Mo Di was a little embarrassed. He took a quick glance at Lai De Si before entering with Mu Tian Heng. Lai De Si groaned while patting his butt and followed suit.

Assistant Gao who had a report to hand in decided to turn around and leave. It was better to report back later, otherwise, Lai De Si would think that his embarrassing moment was seen, and then there won’t be any peace for him for at least a week.

Mo Di entered Mu Tian Heng’s office and kept his eyes and feet to himself. He stood obediently with his hands by the side. Mu Tian Heng saw his good-boy stance and just wanted to laugh.

“Don’t be so restrained. Come have a look, the scenery here is beautiful.”

“Um.” Mo Di nodded and walked over. But when he passed the pen holder, he accidentally knocked it askew. He stopped quickly to carefully placed it back in position.

From Mu Tian Heng’s perspective, Mo Di’s butt was a little higher than the desk. He felt that with a little hug, he could raise Mo Di onto the desk, and then a kiss could also be ….

Thinking to this point, Mu Tian Heng’s expression changed abruptly and his face turned dark.

That damned Lai De Si!

Chapter 25

There was an upsurge of internet discussion regarding the two contrasting news.

“Mo Di the first scholar,” “Mo Di 1st in the College Entrance Exam,” “Mo Shi Hong acquitted” etc, was quickly pushed to the front of the top hot searches and gained a string of lively responses.

“Wow, 729 points! Mo Di rocks!!!” 

“Hahaha! This is killing me! The father whose brain is weird and vicious wanted to break off with Little Mo and even posted the severance documents online. But ultimately when he made Little Mo sign off the severance agreement and about to let him be taken away by the police, he was arrested instead. Now Little Mo scored 729 and placed first in the exam while he is sentenced to jail! Ha Ha Ha Ha The heaven has eyes!”

“Say, the two news flashes on my phone at the same time. Having them side by side like this, do you understand how exciting this is?”

“I do! Because the same thing happened to me!”

“Plus 1!!!”

“Hey Hey Hey, the video from a few days back gave me heartache and anger. Now I feel great! Oh yeah!”

“My God. My Grandmother said that it’s fantastic that a good child was able to leave that sea of misery, she’s going to celebrate with some pig’s hoof stew. Grandma, I’m trying to lose weight!”

“…”

The Weibo hot search comments resembled a festival. Although there were still negative and crude comments, most of the netizens were in a congratulatory mood.

And news tweets do not discriminate, so Mo Yi Cheng, Mo Wu Hang and the others also received the stimulating pair of contrasting news. 

Mo Wu Hang with his broken nose was already having trouble with breathing. After seeing the news, his anger caused his breathlessness to worsen and his whole face turned red like a pig’s head. Don’t even talk about the modelling audition, even leaving the house would attract repulsive stares.

Enter Mo Liu Gui with her red eyes into the living room. Seeing Mo Wu Hang, she quickly went over and patted him on the back: “Fifth brother, what’s wrong with you? Are you ok?”

“Xiao Gui, you’re willing to talk to me?” Mo Wu Hang raised his head in surprise and looked at Mo Liu Gui.

Since ten days ago, Mo Liu Gui had refused to talk to him because he had deceived her and went along with his uncle, grandpa and the others to break off with Mo Di. The depression was killing him.

This matter was not solely his fault. His third uncle and grandpa were also involved. They knew that Xiao Gui, who was too kind and softhearted, might stop them at the last moment so they made such a decision.

“Well, who made you my fifth brother? Can’t I be worried about your health?” Mo Liu Gui turned away from him: “If you’re still so stubborn in the future, still hide things from me, then I’ll ignore you forever!”

“I absolutely won’t do it again. I know I’m wrong! Really, Xiao Gui, stop ignoring me. I will listen to you in the future and won’t make decisions behind your back anymore!” Mo Wu Hang put his hand up to swear, “I promise not to do such things again. Xiao Gui, please forgive me. Xiao Gui, you’re the best! Sister, you’re the best!”

Mo Liu Gui pursed her lips, then she turned around and said: “You’ve said it, fifth brother, now you have to listen to me.”

“Yes, absolutely!” 

“Then fifth brother, now you have to….Xiao Di scored 729?!” Mo Liu Gui saw the news on Mo Wu Hang’s phone and was shocked: “He’s the top scorer in the whole capital?!!”

Mo Wu Hang quickly shoved his phone inside the sofa, regretting the mistake he just made. “This year’s College Entrance Exam is overrated! That animal must’ve done something underhanded! It’s impossible for him to get such good results. Xiao Gui, don’t pay attention to it.”

Mo Liu Gui was listless. She paused before saying: “I don’t mind. I’m just happy for Xiao Di. Fifth brother, don’t say that Xiao Di cheated anymore. Maybe he suddenly thought things through. Although his grades were usually poor, he worked hard and maybe the huge change brought about quality changes. It’s just a pity that he broke off with us. If we could hold a graduation party together, that would be nice….”

“Xiao Gui…” Seeing Mo Liu Gui’s sadness, Mo Wu Hang’s heart was terribly sore.

“But he hurt my dad, so this time, I won’t forgive him easily.” Mo Liu Gui wiped the corner of her eyes. When Mo Wu Hang saw her distressed look and was about to mentally swear at Mo Di, Mo Liu Gui said: “Fifth brother, take me to the courtroom, I want to attend the court session.”

In the next moment, her eyes were thoroughly red, “I want to see my dad.”

Mo Wu Hang was dumbfounded, even scolding Mo Di slipped off his mind. This was not good. His grandfather had ordered not to let Xiao Gui attend the hearing. His third uncle agreed as well. Firstly, he was worried that Xiao Gui would get too emotional seeing him, and they both would get upset. Secondly, he knew there would be media coverage and did not want Xiao Gui to be caught in the same frame as him. If the scene were to be widespread, his precious daughter was would get hurt.

He did not want his Xiao Gui to be in the news for such a disgraceful matter. This would have a negative impact on her.

Mo Wu Hang understood his uncle’s intention which was why he hated Mo Di to the core. If it wasn’t for Mo Di, the Mo family would not be abused online, the Mo Group shares will not fall, his third uncle will not be sentenced, and most importantly, his beloved sister would not be ridiculed by those scums on the internet. Mo Di deserved to die! He should be hacked into a thousand pieces!!

Agitated with Mo Wu Hang’s silence, Mo Liu Gui turned and immediately ran out of the living room and towards the villa’s gate where she was stopped by the security guards.

Mo Liu Gui who was in a hurry but could not get out was about to cry when a car came to stop outside the villa. Qin Cheng Yi alighted from the car.

He saw Mo Liu Gui on the verge of tears and was instantly furious. He ordered his henchmen to hold the guards down and break their arms and legs.

Then he took Mo Liu Gui to the car.

Mo Wu Hang hurriedly chased after them. Trying to catch up from behind, he carelessly tripped and stumbled to the ground. He let out a pitiful shriek when his healing nose gave out a clicking sound and broke, again.

When Qin Cheng Yi and Mo Liu Gui reached the court, the session had ended over thirty minutes ago. The case was closed and Mo Shi Hong was taken to prison.

Mo Liu Gui turned on the waterworks and was inconsolable. Qin Cheng Yi anxiously held the weeping beauty. His heart ached terribly and his mind was filled with violence. He placed Mo Di on the top of his blacklist. 

The last person who was at that position was now a human staff displayed at one of his Southeast Asian underground casinos. 

And no one at this moment was aware of this but, Mo Wu Hang did not want Mo Liu Gui to come because he was worried about the repercussion to her image and so he blocked her way, Qin Cheng Yi on the surface wanted to take Mo Liu Gui there but underneath, he wanted the same thing as Mo Wu Hang. And hence, he ordered the driver to choose a road with heavy traffic and deliberately came late. But Mo Liu Gui…

There were at least a hundred ways to leave the Mo house. All she had to do was to have a small scratch on her arm or leg while struggling and the bodyguards would never refuse her request, but Mo Liu Gui was not able to think of such methods.

Meanwhile, Mo Di had returned to the villa.

Mo Shi Hong’s participation in giving out false testimonies had disturbed judicial justice and had a very bad social impact. He was sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment according to the law. However, he admitted his guilt sincerely and things were stopped in time, hence the negative impact was not aggravated. He was sentenced to thirteen months in prison.

The Mo family must’ve put up a lot of effort and resources, otherwise, Mo Shi Hong would’ve been sentenced to three years instead. And Mo Shi Hong was surprisingly flexible to actually admit his mistake, which was not within Mo Di’s speculation.

It seemed that when things did not concern Mo Liu Gui, the Mo family members were able to rationally choose the most efficient way out. No matter how frustrating or disagreeable the choices were, they would put their benefits above all else.

When Mu Tian Heng came back in the evening, Mo Di told him about the verdict.

“Only thirteen months?”

Mu Tian Heng was carrying a simple looking bag that looked like the gift bags from beauty boutiques that girls would frequent. It… did not match his high-end suit very well.

“I think it’s already quite long.” Mo Di took back his line of sight from the bag and sincerely looked at Mu Tian Heng. 

After all, that was truly what he thought.

How bad can prison be? Even if the inmates and guards despised Mo Shi Hong, at best he would be shoved around or get a beating. There were no electrocutions, iron needles into your fingers, no chains, no dark rooms, no insane patients, etc. Not to mention the Mo family might even reel in a warden to take good care of him. Such a fine living condition, how can it be enough?

This was just the beginning, an appetizer. The most important benefit of Mo Shi Hong’s imprisonment was to drag down the Mo family’s reputation and let their ridiculous mentality be forever sealed in the minds of the public. Let everyone know how they had manipulated the truth and even commit crimes to frame him. This way he would not be at a disadvantage in public opinions and the majority would not believe in the Mo family’s lies.

But prison was simply not enough. He would not let them off just because they had suffered one-thousandth of what he had in his last life. He is Mo Di, not a priest.

Mu Tian Heng would never have thought the ‘little good boy’ in front of him was actually a black sesame filled dumpling. He placed the bag in Mo Di’s hand and said: “I respect your thoughts, but just don’t let yourself be mistreated. This is for you, congratulations on becoming the number one scholar. See if you like it.”

“Ah?” Mo Di was surprised, “Number one scholar?”

“You didn’t check your score?” Mu Tian Heng laughed at Mo Di’s stunned and surprised look, “Did you turn silly with making games?”

“…I forgot.” Mo Di received the gift in a daze. He could almost hear his heartbeat thumping from joy.

After coming out of the courtroom, his mood was a little extraordinary. He just sat on the subway seat and stared at the advertisements passing by and did not want to do anything, let alone check his phone.

And when he got back to the villa, he went straight to his room and continued coding his game. If memories served him right, in almost a month, the first Chinese Innovative Game Competition will begin. In his last life, even before his death, he had missed every chance to participate due to various reasons. In this life, he was not going to miss it again. And to make an outstanding game, a month was barely adequate.

But for now, he was willing to put the game aside and fully enjoy the present bliss.

Mo Di looked up at Mu Tian Heng with excitement: “Brother, how many points did I score?”

“729. Top in the whole exam.” 

Mu Tian Heng looked at the bright-eyed Mo Di, teeming with happiness, he smiled: “Not going to open the celebratory gift I got you?”

Mo Di picked up the very feminine gift bag and couldn’t help wanting to laugh: “Let me guess. Is it something valuable for adults? Like a watch or a tie?” 

“Is your brother that uncreative?” Mu Tian Heng rubbed Mo Di’s hair and said: “Besides you’re not eighteen yet so you’re not an adult.”

“Almost there. I’m going to university soon. In fact, I can be considered an adult already.” Mo Di gave a pleasantly sweet smile. He held the bag and said with an almost serious expression, “Brother, can I open the gift now?”

“Go ahead.” Mu Tian Heng said with a chuckle.

Mo Di lowered his head and opened the bag. Inside was a flat and square box. Mo Di then opened the box.

Inside was an out of print CD of his favourite singer, Veles! There was even his signature!

Mo Di was in shock. He stared at the CD in disbelief and his cheeks turned a tint redder.

“Do you like it?” Mu Tian Heng smiled and asked.

“Yes! Very much! This is the favourite gift that I’ve ever received. Thank you, brother!” Mo Di held pressed the CD against his chest but couldn’t help but want to take it out. Like a chipmunk that found a chestnut and wanted to hide it but at the same time also wanted to admire it.

This was not just his favourite gift, it was the first gift he ever received from a friend or family. It’s truly precious.

He had only casually mentioned that he liked Veles in one of his talk with Mu Tian Heng, to think that Mu Tian Heng remembered and even found the CD. 

“Brother, how did you find this? It’s been out of print for so long, and even signed by Veles.”

“Actually it’s really a coincidence.” Mu Tian Heng showed a gentle look, “I have a friend who is acquainted with Veles’s nephew. More than a decade ago when Veles became famous, my friend relied on his relationship with the nephew and acquired quite a collection of CDs signed by Veles. Over the years, he had sold and handed them out as gifts and there aren’t many left. I asked him the other day if he still kept any and unexpectedly, he did find one and mailed it to me.”

“This must be really expensive. Or should I say, brother, what did you promise him?” Behind the joy, was a little anxiety, he was afraid he couldn’t repay this favour.

“It’s not expensive, and I did not owe him anything. That guy owed me a favour.” Mu Tian Heng patted gently on Mo Di’s shoulder and said tenderly: “You don’t have to think too much, only whether you like it or not.”

Mo Di saw Mu Tian Heng’s gentle eyes on him and felt his chest becoming warm and stuffy. The feeling caused his nose to turn sour. He could not point out what this feeling was because he had never felt it before, but it was too alluring that he was greedy for more.

Mo Di sniffed and said: “Brother, my dream is to establish a game company as soon as possible and let it spread my games across the globe.”

“That’s great.” Mu Tian Heng did not understand why Mo Di changed topics all of a sudden but he still encouraged: “You just have to do what you want. I believe in your capabilities. Little one, what kind of game company do you have in mind?”

“Online games. What I want to work on most is 4D online games but the current condition is not suitable. So at the moment, I want to make an online 3D game that will be widely distributed in the market.” Mo Di gazed at Mu Tian Heng with enthusiasm in his eyes: “Brother, when I finally set up my company, will you be a shareholder? I guarantee you’ll profit! I absolutely won’t let you suffer any losses, really!”

Under little Mo Di’s insistence of wanting to help him earn money, Mu Tian Heng was touched and also a little amused. He put his hand on Mo Di’s head and rubbed it gently, “Alright, when you’re ready to set up your company, I’ll be your very first investor.”

“It’s a promise!” Mo Di stared at Mu Tian Heng seriously.

“Um, it’s a promise. Want to pinky swear?” Mu Tian Heng deliberately teased Mo Di.

“…” Mo Di blushed in embarrassment. He pulled his eyes back to the CD and found something else to talk about: “Brother, Veles is handsome and has such a good voice, why did he retire? Isn’t it a pity?”

Mu Tian Heng: “…”

Hey, he just realized that the little guy was quite skillful at brushing off topics. Still, teasing him was pretty fun.

Mu Tian Heng did not realize that his appetite and behaviour were more becoming of an old beast. He casually followed up: “It’s probably because he’d earned enough and it was time to go after his wife. I can relate to that.”

When Veles retired, he was forty years old. He married the year after his retirement. The wedding was very lowkey and only family members were invited. No one outside knew what the bride or the groom looked like.

Mo Di: “…” he realized that Mu Tian Heng was matured, stable, and reliable. Yet during their conversations, there would be a sentence that made one wonder if that impression of him was accurate.

The next day, Mo Di received a call from the Principal of Xia Jia International School, Huang Li Cheng. According to the schools’ practice, there would be a reward ceremony for Mo Di and the top ten scorers in the city. Principal Huang would like Mo Di to make a trip to school and have their photo taken together.

Mo Di had no desire to go back to school but he really wanted and needed the money. Xia Jia International School was a wealthy school. Every year, their scholarships for the top ten students were extremely generous. Generally, the first place would get one hundred and fifty thousand yuan, second and third place get one hundred yuan, the fourth and fifth place get fifty thousand yuan, and the sixth to tenth get thirty thousand yuan. 

This bonus could help patch up a portion of the burning hole in his pocket after buying the computer equipment and drawings.

On the phone, Mo Di sincerely expressed his gratitude for the teachings and guidance the school provided and how honourable it was to be a Xia Jia student …..after singing a lot of praises for the school, at the end he stated that it was not convenient for him to visit the school for the photo session but his bank account number was available. 

Huang Li Cheng on the other end was silent.

He felt that after Mo Di was met with downfall one after another, his change was very drastic. Before he was a regular good student and a little introverted, very much unlike this.

Huang Li Cheng continued to solicit but to no avail. He finally took a step back and said that he wanted to meet Mo Di outside of school, the place would be of Mo Di’s choice. He wanted to bring along a relative. This relative of his had a son with unacceptably poor grades and so, hope that Mo Di could tutor him. The pricing was not a problem.

Although Mo Di wanted to refuse but after second thought, he agreed in the end. Huang Li Cheng had taken a step back and he had to at least give him some face.

Mo Di sent him the address of a cafe three blocks away from the villa. At four in the afternoon. He wore a mask and went to the appointment.

He arrived at the coffee shop ten minutes before schedule but principal Huang was already there. Mo Di hastened his pace and came forward.

“Hello, principal. Sorry, I’m late.”

“It’s ok, I came early.” Huang Li Cheng was beaming when he looked at Mo Di. He showed a never before sense of familiarity and said: “Little Mo, you’ve really brought honour to our school. You’ll definitely become a pillar of society in the future!”

“Principal, you’re overpraising me.” Hearing such formal praise, Mo Di also replied formally.

“No no, his praises are spot on.” Next to Huang Li Cheng was a middle-aged woman who had a traditional and kind appearance. She quickly chimed in: “Little student, you’re the top student in the entire capital, no amount of praise is enough. Unlike my son. He only knows how to play computer games and nothing else. His grades are at the bottom of the class, it’s frustrating.”

“Humph!” Huffed the tall and large size boy sitting next to her, holding a tablet.

“What was that?” The middle-aged lady looked at her son disapprovingly and apologized to Mo Di: “I’m sorry little student, my son, he doesn’t have a problem with you. He just had an argument with his father before coming here. Now he’s still mad.”

“It’s alright.” Mo Di tilted his lips and maintained his respect.

“I do have a problem with him. I said I don’t need a tutor and I don’t want the make up lessons. I can earn thirty thousand yuan a month, you don’t have to worry I can’t support myself in the future. Why are you forcing me to go to university? That’s not my calling.” The boy sat up straight and put his tablet on the table, “I said I wanted to draw. I don’t want to attend school and I’m not meant for schooling either. I can’t understand those things and I have no interest in them!”

“Actually, there are all kinds of professions and everyone excels in different areas.” Mo Di wanted to ease the atmosphere before things got too tense and then reject the tutoring offer. But as he finished his sentence, his sight was captured.

The figure illustration on the boy’s tablet was actually…pretty good.

The colour rendering was clean, vivid, and charming. The background design and characters were in perfect harmony. There was also a three-dimensional sense to his artwork. His drawings were excellent compared to the expensive commission he paid some else to draw a few days back!

Mo Di immediately looked at the fat boy in front of him and said with great interest, “Did you draw this piece? It’s really good. The watercolour is beautiful.”

“This piece is not done yet, there’s still a little refining to do.” the boy looked at Mo Di with a little surprise, “A nerd like you also likes to draw?”

“I’m not a nerd.” Before the middle-aged woman apologized again, Mo Di smiled to show that he did not mind. “From what I heard just now, you earn money by drawing? Is this ordered by someone?” 

“Um, six thousand.” the fat boy had an indifferent look. “I can finish this in a week. In a month, I can produce at least five to six pieces.” 

“That’s incredible!” Mo Di said sincerely. This was much better than the eight thousand yuan that he paid for!

Principal Huang and the middle-aged lady: “…”

What was going on? We did not invite you here to praise his drawings, we want you to teach him how to study!

“Give me a way to contact you. I’ve been trying to find an illustrator recently. Even if you don’t want to have a tutor, then just treat me as a client.” Mo Di smiled.

The fat boy used a strange expression to eye Mo Di and said: “Just because you’re pitiful and have that kind of family, I won’t give you any discount.”

“…” Mo Di smiled. “It’s ok. My school just gave me a hundred and fifty thousand yuan grant, enough to pay you for a few months.”

The fat boy choked then seriously added Mo Di’s wechat. The fat boy’s figure was just as his surname suggested: Pang Qiang Lang. His wechat nick: Brother Pang is strong and unrestrained. Um, perfect use of his name.

(TN: fat in Chinese is ‘pang’ which pronounces the same as his surname though the word is different. His name is what it is, ‘qiang’ is strong, ‘lang’ roughly means unrestrained)

Principal Huang and Pang Qiang Lang’s mother saw the harmonious picture and did not know if they should stop it. Besides, they were not sure whether that kid Mo Di was trying a detour strategy or was serious about buying the drawings.

Pang Qiang Lang’s mother thought that regardless of whether the top student in the capital tutored her son or not, it was still beneficial for them to be friends. She wanted to invite Mo Di home as a guest, but before she could ask, sudden noises were coming from upstairs. A man and a woman came down one after the other. They seemed to be arguing.

The man glanced at his surroundings in anger, then he pulled down his hat and left. The woman, both angry and anxious, ran after him. The customers in the shop were baffled. They took a few more glances at them before looking away.

Mo Di was a little surprised. He did not expect to meet his fourth brother, Mo Si Lang’s assistant and agent at this place.

And from the few sentences he could hear just now, it seemed like there was something at fault with Mo Si Lang’s image and the agent had decided to give the good endorsements and activities to someone else. The assistant was begging him to do otherwise?

What a pity. In his previous life, Mo Si Lang’s career from the start was smooth sailing. He had a good reputation and a highly commendable style. His fans were proud that their idol was an all-around great person and highly talented musician. He was the spokesperson for either a high-end brand or a top global brand. Before his death, Mo Si Lang had already reached the pinnacle of his career and become the top-ranking artist in Hua Xia.

Unfortunately…

In this life, his path to fame had fallen apart, and it fell apart quite early.

Chapter 24

Mo Di did not get to hear Wen Ru Ya’s final response because when his focus returned after eavesdropping by the corridor…

Mu Tian Heng was already standing behind him!!

Mo Di almost flinched from being startled but he still put on a calm expression. Pretending that it was a coincidence, he asked Mu Tian Heng in a sweet voice: “Brother, you’re also going to the toilet?”

Mu Tian Heng said: “I’m not going to the toilet. I’m here to look for a certain little boy who fell into the toilet. Have you seen him?”

Mo Di: “…”

Mo Di submissively went back with Mu Tian Heng. 

After Mu Tian Heng led Mo Di back to their seat, he did not show any interest in asking Mo Di about what just happened. He only helped him with his food and let him drink his juice. Mo Di kept his silence for a while. Until he couldn’t stay quiet anymore that he explained with a little bit of guilt: “Brother, the truth is I intentionally went to look for my eldest cousin’s girlfriend.”

“Uhm. Why were you looking for her?”

Hearing that Mu Tian Heng’s voice was as usual, gentle and patient, Mo Di knew that he did not mind and was not angry. He couldn’t help but feel relieved.

He hesitated, then said: “I …I want to help her break up with my eldest cousin.”

“Break up?”

Mu Tian Heng served Mo Di a big shrimp, “Didn’t you say that you and she aren’t acquainted? She might not listen to a stranger like you.”

Mo Di did not speak. He just stared at the shrimp in his bowl while his face inexplicably turned red. And it was not the kind which he held his breath on purpose to create, it was a real …shyness?

He thought that it was because Mu Tian Heng had picked the food for him, and this seemingly intimate act made one with a guilty conscience such as himself feel a little uneasy.

“Thank you, brother, I …I can do it myself.” Mo Di used his obedient voice to thank Mu Tian Heng. He then drank a mouthful of sour plum soup and said softly: “I know she may not listen to me but I still think it’s necessary to remind her that my eldest cousin is not a good man. If she married him, she won’t be happy. At that time, the person with the lowest status in the family will probably be her.”

Actually, it was not probably, it was definitely.

In his previous life, after he was found by the Mo family and Qin Cheng Yi and then forced into the mental hospital, a haggard Wen Ru Ya came to visit him once. At that time, she was about thirty-seven but looked like she was in her forties, unlike the other socialites who were in their forties but maintained their late twenties look.

It could be seen how unhappy it was for Wen Ru Ya.

At that time, Wen Ru Ya probably had just divorced Mo Yi Cheng. When she came to see him, she did not say anything. Maybe she did not know what to say or that she knew whatever she said would be useless. After all, she was incapable of doing anything to help him.

Mo Di did not want to talk to Wen Ru Ya or ask about her situation either. He was a sane man locked in a mental hospital, suffering from all kinds of torture every day. And as a man who had almost exhausted his will to live, he was not qualified nor capable of sympathizing with others

But in this life, everything was starting afresh.

If possible, he hoped that all the innocent cannon fodder, including Wen Ru Ya, would stay away from the Mo family fire pit. Once you entered the Mo family, there were only two options: one was to assimilate yourself and become the same as the rest of the family, just like his sweet-tongued aunts-in-law. Two was to be the existence for them to trample on.

But at present, becoming like his aunts-in-law was no longer possible. After all, when they entered the family, Mo Liu Gui was not born yet. And when they gave birth one child after another, their position in the family was stabilized. After Mo Liu Gui was born along with him, the footstool for everyone, his aunts-in-law were able to smoothly transition into the Mo family cult and become a moderate abuser. 

However, the Mo family structure was no longer the same – their footstool was gone

Of course, if his advice weren’t heeded, he would not spend any effort on them. He’s not a Priest. In order to prevent himself from falling into that horrifying ending, he was mentally and physically exhausted treading on thin ice. There was not much energy left to save others.

Mu Tian Heng did not doubt Mo Di’s words. He gave it some thought and said: “If you want to persuade or remind her, it can be done anonymously. There’s no need for direct communication. Anyway, the internet is currently filled with the videos showing the Mo family’s behaviours and mindset, so there’s no need for you to explain or add too much. All you have to do is give her a little push, and that’s enough. If after watching the video and receiving your anonymous advice, she still insisted on marrying Mo Yi Cheng, then this person is beyond help, you can’t hope to persuade her.”

“I understand.”

Mo Di looked at Mu Tian Heng with unrivalled attention and nodded cleverly. Next, he flattered Mu Tian Heng in utmost sincerity: “Brother, you’re incredible! Your take on the matter is very logical and reasonable! I didn’t even think of it before!”

“Flattery is useless.” Mu Tian Heng had a helpless and endearing smile on his face. He filled up a bowl of green bean and lotus seed soup and placed it in front of Mo Di: “Drink. Finish it and I’ll forgive your little trick just now.”

“Yes sir!”

Mo Di saluted and reached out both hands to take the soup bowl, then gulped it down at lightning speed.

Then he belched and looked at Mu Tian Heng with his beautiful eyes.

“Brother, you can forgive me now?”

A sudden animalistic thought entered Mu Tian Heng’s mind. For a moment, he wanted to pull the little guy into his arms and kiss those ink-painting-like eyes. 

But in the end, his human ego still suppressed the beast inside. Mu Tian Heng gave out a steady cough: “Um.”

Then he stretched his hand to gently rub Mo Di’s feel-good-hair as compensation for having to give up the kiss.

….in fact, that was still quite animalistic.

When Mo Di and Mu Tian Heng returned home that night, it was already past ten. After bidding each other goodnight, they washed up and rested.

Knowing that the public mentality was almost in place, Mo Di did not surf the net. And the news regarding Zhang Khuang Chang and Mo Shi Hong’s sentence that he was most enthusiastic about would only be announced the next day.

Hence, he was not in a hurry. Time was better spent planning the eating trip for tomorrow. Mu Tian Heng had two days off which meant he would be busy again the day after tomorrow. He must make sure the arrangements for tomorrow were perfect.

However…

That said, Mo Di still could not fully concentrate on planning out the food tour. After all, the biggest time bomb, Qin Cheng Yi, was still lurking somewhere, planning something he could not speculate. Without receiving a notice from the police, he could not relax completely.

…

Meanwhile, in one of the most luxurious villas of the capital, Qin Cheng Yi was having a video conference with his father, Qin Jie Guang.

Qin Jie Guang was clearly not in a good mood. With an awful expression, he said: “Is there logic for the things you do behind my back? Since you’re so capable, why do you still need me to clean up your mess?”

“I was momentarily careless and made a mistake. This doesn’t need your concern. I can settle this by tomorrow.” Qin Cheng Yi was gloomy and his attitude was nowhere good, “It seems your mistresses weren’t able to make you happy? You even have time to be bothered with me.”

“You little brat! How can you talk to your father that way?” Qin Jie Guang’s face turned beet red from anger. “I’m telling you, you’re not allowed to deal with the Mo family’s problems. You want to court that Mo girl, fine, up to you, but you can’t interfere with anything else. Especially that fabricating crime, you better stay out of trouble!”

“Do you know that the College Exam fraud case is already known throughout the whole country? The higher-ups are all paying attention to it. Do you know how many connections I have to find, how much hush money I have to pay to clean up your mess? You little brat still doesn’t know what’s good for you!” 

“There was no need for you to meddle, I could’ve handled it myself. I can clean my own mess. I have a handle on Zhang Kuang Chang and ways to keep him from exposing me. You find it hard to find connections and had to spend that much money only meant that you’re already old and useless.”

“And one more thing,” Qin Cheng Yi stared at Qin Jie Guang coldly with those violent eyes, “Don’t you dare touch Xiao Gui, otherwise, old man, you will regret it.”

“What do you mean you son of a bitch?! Threatening your father?  Are you trying to kill me? Do you even treat me as your father?! What medicine did that Mo Liu Gui give you…. beep——!” Qin Jie Guan swept the computer to the ground in his anger.

“That little jerk dared to hang up on me! I can’t get him to listen anymore!!!”

“Director Qin,” an elite looking man stood aside respectfully, he waited for Qin Jie Guang to calm: “What you mentioned before….are we still doing it?”

“Of course! Get it done!” Qin Jie Guang ordered secretary Sun to cut a cigar for him, “If I don’t stop this little brat, he’s going to dig a hole for me. The older he gets, the more outrageous he becomes. Even have the guts to break the law! When I was his age, my hands were clean!”

Secretary Sun standing next to him only bowed his head and dared not voice his inner thought: ‘Well, now your hands are definitely not clean.’

“Give out strict orders for Yan Peng and his men to deal with what I said before. Make sure the little brat is cleanly separated from this case. Zhang Kuang Chang also needs to be dealt with. And one important thing, do not let that brat reach out to anyone for the sake of helping that girl, Mo Liu Gui’s father, or else, there will be trouble.”

“Yes!” Secretary Sun passed the lighted cigar to Qin Jie Guang and retreated quickly. After he left, his face did not look too good.

The young master’s influence was developing surprisingly fast, almost on par with the master’s connections and resources. If they wanted to prevent his side from taking actions, they had to exert at least eighty percent of their capacity.

He was afraid that in less than two years, the young master’s backing and power could surpass that of the master’s even if his financial resources were not as good. But when the time comes, the small-fries like him would be the first to suffer.

…

After his shower, Mu Tian Heng received a phone call from Assistant Gao reporting that he noticed there was a quite formidable power trying to stop the Qin family from meddling, and that power seemed to be very familiar with Qin Cheng Yi’s methods. Assistant Gao wanted to know if Mu Tian Heng wanted to take action.

Mu Tian Heng raised his brows in surprise, thought it over and said: “No, just keep an eye on them for now. If you find that the opposing force is not able to handle Qin Cheng Yi, or that they stopped doing so, then we move in.”

“Understood.” 

Mu Tian Heng hung up. His pupils converged slightly. It seemed that the ones who were interfering with the investigation before were not entirely the Qin family’s doing. The underground forces in the capital ran deeper than he thought. The Qin father and son both have diverging plans, each with their own thoughts. Guess every family has its own problems. And the government, its people and their interests were equally complicated.

This could get interesting.

The next day.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Mo Di was woken up by three consecutive chimes sent to his phone.

Mo Di randomly flicked the screen. In a daze, he read the latest text and suddenly sprang right up, completely awake.

• Zhang Kuang Chang pleaded guilty for leaking the College Entrance Examination questions and acknowledged his attempt to frame Mo Di. Zhang Kuang Chang’s brother is the general manager of the Ma family’s company. After being arrested, Zhang Kuang Chang was worried that the Ma family would seek his brother for revenge if he were to offend them. At the same time, he also heard of the Mo family’s youngest master whose character is immoral and is disliked by his family, he also has a bad reputation in school, so…

• In the College Entrance Exam Fraud Case, there is irrefutable proof that Mo Shi Hong was involved in fabricating evidence and misleading the police. He will be charged and a hearing will commence at the People’s Court in ten days. When the time comes…

• According to experts’ predictions, this year’s temperature will reach a record high in the last ten decades…

Mo Shi Hong had been charged!

The court session was in ten days!

A smile spread across Mo Di’s lips unnaturally. The next moment, he stuffed himself into the blanket, laughing heartily till his tears fell.

This was just the first step. The Mo family members would line up one by one to receive the punishment and retribution they deserve!

Mo Shi Hong was just the beginning, a beautiful beginning.

…

Mo Di took Mu Tian Heng to an eating place called Bai Nian Lu Dian at Huangfu Road where he was recognized when they were queuing up. From the crowd came a fifty-something-years-old woman criticizing him for being unfilial and that ‘all parents are right’. He should have taken the initiative to understand Mo Shi Hong and not let him be sued. But Mo Di was in a very good mood today, so good that he was not fazed by her. He smirked in his heart but used a neutral tone to patiently explain to her that in the College Exam Fraud Case, Mo Shi Hong committed a crime and was being prosecuted by law, no one can change this.

When he finished explaining, an old lady immediately chimed in to contradict the woman, saying that she had never seen such an awful person. That kind of animal was not worthy of being a parent. Several young girls nearby also voiced their disapproval and said that such a human scum should be severely sentenced.

Seeing how the passer-bys had supported him, Mo Di’s good mood was indestructible.

Mu Tian Heng beside him rubbed his hair and whispered to him: “The customers here are mostly very sensible. Indeed a good restaurant.”

Mo Di was instantly amused, this was the first time he heard that that was how a store was judged.

Why was it that the more time he spent with Mu Tian Heng, the more he felt that Mu Tian Heng was not just reliable, calm, matured, and charming, but also….also quite interesting and cute?

After this day had passed, Mu Tian Heng went back to his busy-as-a-beaver life.

At the same time, Mo Di also began to get occupied. The critical part of the second phase of his plans had begun: to rebuild his company, take the games that he had made, the ones that the Mos had taken from him, and make it known throughout Hua Xia, and eventually, the world!

The first thing Mo Di did was to accept a multitude of translating orders online to earn money. Then he sold his old computer and everything in his possession that was of value. When enough was accumulated, he bought a  fully equipped high-grade computer and started programming the game.

Bustling times passed quickly and by the time Mo Di realized it, it was already ten days later, the time for Mo Shi Hong’s court trial.

Mo Di wanted to see Mo Shi Hong’s sentence with his own eyes. He wanted to know if his good father felt any trace of regret.

Of course, he was not expecting Mo Shi Hong to regret how he had treated him. What he wanted to see was the regret that just for framing him, he had falsified evidence and in turn landed himself in jail.

Because Mu Tian Heng was too busy, Mo Di had to go to the court alone. He came in a hat and mask.

Cell phones had to be turned off during the court session and so Mo Di did not realize that today was also when the College Entrance Exam’s results would be announced. His scores could already be checked.

And what he did not know was that Xia Jia International School had already printed his name and results on a banner displayed at the top of the school main gate.

“Congratulations to my school mate Mo Di! With 729 points, he’s placed first in the College Entrance Exam of the Capital!”

The news of the results spread like wildfire and was caught by the media. All kinds of fancy writings were broadcasted on the general public’s phones.

“The first place of the College Entrance Entrance is released! Mo Di of Xia Jia International School won with 729 points!”

“Once framed for cheating in the exam, Mo Di’s results had been published and it’s a high score of 729, winning the top scholar place in the whole capital!”

“Honed by hardship, Mo Di who was framed by Zhang Kuang Chang and abused by his family, emerged a winner with the score of 729, highest in the whole College Entrance Exam!”

…

Coincidentally, these tweets were mostly accompanied by “Mo Shi Hong’s crime in the College Entrance Exam Fraud Case is being judged.”

Chapter 23

The previous hot searches were still hanging around. However, next to the new topics which revealed the truth, they were like a plague of shame, both ironic and ridiculous.

The top two searches were now ‘The Truth Behind The College Entrance  Exam Case!’ and ‘Turns Out This Is Vicious And Unfilial!’

Two places below them were ‘Mo Family Members’ Brain Circuit’, ‘Mo Di Framed’, and ‘Apologies to Mo Di’.

Several searches such as ‘Zhang Kuang Chang Lied’, ‘Mo Family Really Disgusting’, ‘Mo Di’s Sister Mo Liu Gui’, etc, were scattered amongst the tenth and twenty-third positions on the list.

For those who had cursed and insulted Mo Di, every time they opened up their Weibo, the naked truth was like a slap in the face!

Netizens are not machines, they are also human beings. Most people have normal three views, most netizens are the same.

Seeing the truth after being agitated out of their mind and abusing Mo Di, many netizens’ brains froze and crashed. They all felt the ache on their cheeks and a strong sense of guilt, shame, and anger.

At the same time…there was an influx of people who felt heartache for the grief-stricken young man in the video asking his family “why”.

With the spread of the videos, the hype and support from the public had reversed.

“That’s the truth! I just want to ask those who had insulted Mo Di does your face still hurt? Will you apologize to him?”

“Shit!!! My heart hurts very much! Mo Di this little thing is so pitiful and miserable!”

“I swear I will not follow the queue so easily again. This reversal hurts my face too badly! When I think about the abuse he had to go through daily and the insults that I hurled on him, I’m really…damn! Felt like I just burned myself!”

“I don’t know what to say. I’m now feeling quite sad, and also heartache. I just want to apologize to Mo Di. I’m really sorry!”

“I did not expect the truth to turn out this way. After watching the two videos, I was really surprised. How could Zhang Kuang Chang be so obnoxious? Framing someone like this could ruin their life! And those Mo people are really the best of their kind. Are their brains made of sh*t? They just insist that one of their family cheated just like that? This involves prison time and forever be covered in stains! It’s going to destroy him for a lifetime!”

“I think Mo Liu Gui is very white lotus. Her words are shifty.”

“When Mo Di asked them why they always insulted him, always thought the worst of him, it was f**king pitiful!!! What’s wrong with the Mo family, how can they be so prejudiced? Their reasoning is so twisted. They even pretended to be upright. Not caring or liking the child is bad enough, you even got mad at him for falling down when he tried to serve you tea?! His leg was burnt yet you blame him for scaring your baby girl?! Are you f**king retarded?! I’m so pissed!!!”

“I don’t want to say anything just that I’m really frustrated and heartbroken!!!”

“I want to see those who supported the villains but mistreated Mo Di, the victim, put to shame! How many of you will actually apologize?”

“Damn! He got first in his grade but still got reprimanded, beaten, and had his leg broken by his brothers? And that was considered good teaching? Why? Because it made your baby princess cry? My god, your little princess didn’t do well in the exam and it’s Mo Di’s fault? It’s an imperial edict that your princess can’t be sad? Do you think your daughter is Mary Sue or the biggest goddess in the world?”

“Poor Mo Di, he’s really pitiable.”

“I understand the Mo family logic now. You only have a burned leg, but Liu Gui she’s crying!”

“I second that! You only have a fatal allergic reaction but your sister, she cried and fainted!”

“Mo Liu Gui is such a white lotus. Those who had praised her to the sky, does your conscience hurt now?”

“…”

Public opinion was gradually changing. There was guilt, anger, sympathy, and various other emotions being posted. However, the antagonistic comments were not completely eliminated. A small portion of those that had attacked Mo Di refused to admit their guilt. Instead, their anger escalated and so did the vileness in their comments. Several also insisted that “Mo Di must have done something nasty to provoke Zhang Kuang Chang” or “the Mo family hated Mo Di so much because he must have done something unspeakable before”. Basically the victim is always at fault. And so a cursing war was started between them and the rest of the netizens.

But the negative commenters were relatively small in number compared to the majority of rational people.

…

Zhang Kuang Chang who framed Mo Di, and the Mo family with their abnormal brain circuit, were berated by angry netizens. There was growing support for increasing Zhang Kuang Chang’s sentence and boycotting of the Mo enterprises. As such, in just an hour, the Mo group’s stock decreased by nearly eight percent!

The initially gloating Mo family members who had come to see Mo Di’s downfall, in the span of an hour, had their faces slapped consecutively. The whole Mo house had become a complete mess.

The Mo patriarch almost fainted in anger and the Mo eldest son had to send him to the hospital. Mo Yi Cheng had to rush back to the company and was surrounded by concerned shareholders. The Mo second son had to send the crying Ruan Qing Dan to the police station to see Mo Shi Hong. Mo Wu Hang and Mo Si Lang received criticisms from the netizens and some even had complaints about their baby sister. Unable to contain their anger, they both opened a side account to throw back their curses. At the same time, their main account and countless water armies were used to whitewash the Mo family. 

As for how far the public opinion had developed, Mo Di had yet to know. Currently, he was giving out testimonies to the police. After all, there were still some details that had to be clarified by him.

Several police officers had taken a liking to Mo Di. One of the younger policewomen kept looking at Mo Di with sympathetic eyes. Before he left, she whispered to him: “It’s good to break off, you’ll be happy in the future.”

“Thank you, sister.” Mo Di raised his head and gave her a sincere smile.

When Mo Di could finally leave, Mu Tian Heng gently shook his shoulder and said: “Shall we go?”

“En!” Mo Di smiled at Mu Tian Heng with sparkles in his eyes.

Mu Tian Heng’s heart softened. Joy was emitting from his every blood cell and a smile bloomed on his face. “But before we go back, there’s someone we have to meet.”

“Who?”

“Commissioner Wang. We’ll hand him the original video recording and then take him to see Han Lan Yi for confirmation. That’s how we can finally close this matter.”

“Ok.” Mo Di obediently nodded his head. He knew that Han Lan Yi refused to enter the police station or appear in public, and so the only choice was to keep her identity in the dark.

Mu Tian Heng must have worked really hard to be able to find this Commissioner Wang in such short notice.

“Brother.” Mo Di suddenly shouted.

“Uhm?” Mu Tian Heng looked at him: “What is it?”

“Thank you, brother.” Mo Di touched his right hand lightly, raised his head and said: “I will definitely repay your kindness. And the money I owed, I will pay brother back.”

“Why are you saying such things again? When did you owe me money?” Mu Tian Heng disagreed: “If you’re talking about the money given to Han Lan Yi and the broadcast fees, then there is no need. They only add up to less than ten million, it’s not as much as the house I wanted to buy for you. I just want to repay you for saving me but you keep refusing. Only you can save me but I can’t help you?”

Mu Tian Heng had thought this through. If he insisted on giving Mo Di a house or the villa, he still wouldn’t accept it. Then he might as well just help his little one with whatever he needed on a regular basis.

“Brother, that’s not how this is calculated. Your….logic is off.”

“How is it off? I think I’ve got it all straightened out. This is just a mutual repayment. If it weren’t for you, I would have been killed by that steel pipe. Even if I don’t die, my legs would’ve been broken. Whether it’s my appearance, mentality, or health, I would have suffered a big blow. No amount of money can cure such trauma. So don’t you think you’ve helped me out a lot?”

“And,” Mu Tian Heng did not give Mo Di a chance to cut in, “I think my life is worth more than a house. The little money I’ve spent to help you can’t even buy an ordinary house in the city. Little one, do you think that my life is not valuable?”

“Brother, you know that’s not what I meant.” Mo Di’s brows wrinkled.

“I know that’s not what you meant. But you’re always trying to balance out the books this way. It just felt distant when you keep saying that owe me.” Mu Tian Heng reached out and rubbed Mo Di’s hair: “Little one, this book-keeping that you’re doing, I’ll give you a set of loopholes and between us, don’t mention debts anymore. Got it?”

“I…I got it.” Mo Di felt a little swollen in his heart. He could not tell what this feeling was. In a word, ever since he could remember, he had never felt like this before.

It made his whole being warm, as if he was enveloped in an embrace.

…

When Mu Tian Heng went to see Commissioner Wang, Mo Di did not follow. He waited in the car outside the house.

He decided to log in to Weibo to see how the public opinion had developed after the tables were turned.

When he entered, the screen…

Froze.

Mo Di was speechless. He logged in again and the same thing happened.

Mo Di: “…”

After about seven or eight times, Mo Di finally got in.

Mo Di browsed for about ten minutes before his focus stayed on the news about the Mo Group’s plummeted shares. He sneered.

Too bad it only went down ten percent.

But that was quite impressive already. With their market value shrunk, the shareholders alone were enough to give them trouble, not to mention the affected cooperation and investment. Even if they don’t crumble this time, it would still bottleneck further achievement.

Unless…

Qin Cheng Yi lent them a hand.

Even so, the Mo Group would not be able to return to its former glory. The Qin family would also be affected. In any case, it was all gratifying news to him.

Mo Di locked his phone, turned and appreciated the flowers on the side of the road.

In fact, completely sullying the Mos’ reputation was the most satisfying and valuable aspect of his counterattack this time.

That was because after the public realized how the Mo family had manipulated the truth, it will be deeply rooted in their hearts. In the future, most would refuse to blindly believe in the Mo family’s nonsense. Should they try to slander Mo Di again, their words should cause him no disadvantage at all. Instead, it might even benefit him.

And after his rebirth, one of his goals was to gain as many ‘passer-by’ favours and support as possible, and now, he had accomplished a small part of it.

More importantly, in this fight, it had caused bigger cracks in Mo Liu Gui’s godhood again. And compared to last time, it was much more serious. 

People had begun to question her intentions and no longer swayed by her tears. Unlike the one in his past life where everyone was queuing up to praise her, voted her as their favourite celebrity, every foreigner would think of her when they talk about Hua Xia, this time, things were so much better. Naturally, there were still those that would start a swearing war on the internet for her sake and passer-by who became her fan after seeing the video, but it did not matter. Her almighty mask had been cracked, and that was enough. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day, it was just too unrealistic to topple her easily.

When Mu Tian Heng and Mo Di were finally done with their endeavours, it was already half past six in the evening. The two who did not manage to grab a bite the whole day eventually felt the hunger setting in. 

“Little one, the eating tour to the most authentic snacks and restaurants in the capital, is it still on?” Mu Tian Heng sat in the driver’s seat holding the steering wheel. He turned and smiled at Mo Di.

“Of course it’s on.”

Mo Di smiled naturally and said, “As planned, we’ll go to Lao Li Tou restaurant in Li Cheng lane tonight. That restaurant has the most authentic tasting local cuisines I’ve tried. It’s really good. And they not only have main dishes, but their snacks are also delicious. There are traditional flavours and innovative flavours as well. It’s said that their chocolate flavoured Lu Da Gun (TN: glutinous rice rolls) are the best. Brother, you will like it!”

“Chocolate flavoured Lu Da Gun?” 

“En! The traditional ones are filled with red bean paste. The newly created chocolate flavoured ones are made with soybean powder and taste like chocolate. It’s just amazing!”

“How do you know that I like chocolate?” Mu Tian Heng’s eyes slightly bent. His pupils were sparkling with the lights from the street. He teasingly questioned: “Did you ask Lai De Si?”

“No… I didn’t. I just made a guess!” Mo Di replied frenziedly.

“I can see that you’re indeed just guessing because I don’t like chocolate.” Mu Tian Heng smiled, “But I do like desserts. And I’m also looking forward to trying these authentic Beijing cuisines. Let’s go have our dinner now.”

Mo Di obediently agreed but internally, he was confused. Lai De Si clearly told him that Mu Tian Heng liked chocolates, why was that not the case?

Lai De Si, he’s…. not very reliable.

Because Mo Di had booked in advance, the two managed to avoid a gruelling queue of more than ten meters long. They were led to a table at a corner by the waiter.

“Good evening, these are complimentary dessert and snack from our store.” The young waiter stole a few glances at Mo Di but did not say anything.

Mo Di pulled up his mask, thinking that he should only take it down when they’re eating.

Mu Tian Heng thanked the waiter. He and Mo Di ordered several dishes together then let the waiter leave.

“It’s ok. After some time you won’t be treated as a walking attraction anymore.” Mu Tian Heng comforted him, then he teased: “Do you want a Lu Da Gun?”

Mo Di looked left and right. He quickly picked up a piece of Lu Da Gun, and, in a swift action, pulled down his mask, shoved it in his mouth and pulled the mask back up. He then gave Mu Tian Heng a proud look.

Seeing Mo Di’s movement and the puffed cheek, even his proud look made Mu Tian Heng want to laugh. His hand covered his mouth to suppress the chuckle and tried to speak steadily: “That was unexpected. Really can’t judge a book by its cover. That move of yours was really skilful. Amazing.”

Mo Di’s mouth was so full that even his tongue had nowhere else to go. He wanted to speak but was unable to. He had to chew the Lu Da Gun hard for half a minute before his tongue could move freely. 

He was about to say something when two figures entered the restaurant and caught his attention. He paused for a while.

His eyes followed the two people who went into a corridor at the other end of the room and into a private cubicle. 

Mu Tian Heng noticed Mo Di’s gaze and also turned to look at the two beautiful ladies in their early thirties. He thought and asked: “What is it? See someone you know?”

“Something… like that…” Mo Di refocused his mind and continued to chew laboriously. “The lady in the white suit and skirt is my eldest cousin, Mo Yi Cheng’s girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” Mu Tian Heng looked away with a little surprise.

On the surface, Mo Yi Cheng was perfect in talent and looks, his business skills were also not bad. It was just a pity that he was a brain-damaged sister fanatic and probably not a good man.

If Mo Di could hear what Mu Tian Heng was thinking, he would confirm that Mo Yi Cheng was definitely not a good man.

In his last life, a year after he left home, Mo Yi Cheng married his girlfriend Wen Ru ya, but they divorced after less than five years. 

He and Wen Ru Ya’s relationship was not close and were bad even. After all, his bad reputation was so well promoted by the Mo family and Zhu Wen Ze that the upper circle of the capital all knew of it. No matter how he explained, few people would believe him.

As for Wen Ru Ya, she was his big brother’s girlfriend, hence she would be closer to Mo Wu Hang and Mo Liu Gui. Naturally, she would not associate herself with him but she did not bully him either.

With that in mind, Mo Di wanted to give her a friendly reminder not to enter the fire pit known as the Mo family. 

Like him, she was also a cannon fodder – a relatively less important cannon fodder whose fate was not as bad as his but nonetheless, was still miserable.

Mo Di finally managed to swallow his Lu Da Gun. He then told Mu Tian Heng he wanted to use the men’s. On the way, he pretended to be lost and went to the corridor where Wen Ru Ya was sited.

Needless to say, he was not planning to directly persuade Wen Ru Ya to stay away from Mo Yi Cheng right now. He only wanted to observe her current state and attitude, then find a way to dissuade her later.

Coincidentally, as he approached the room, he could faintly hear Wen Ru Ya’s voice, which carried a hint of suppressed emotions: “Chun Wen, you don’t have to say anymore, I know what to do.”

“What do you know? The whole Mo family is a bunch of top-grade sickos. Why aren’t you breaking up with Mo Yi Cheng yet? Do you want to jump into that hell hole? All of them are crazy about Mo Liu Gui to the point of absurdity. Once you’ve entered their family, whether you’ve offended Mo Liu Gui or not, if she’s sad or not well, as long as it’s related to you, you’re automatically at fault. None of your in-laws will stand up for you, including your husband. Do you understand?!!”

Inside was silent.

It seemed Wen Ru Ya did not speak. The person named Chun Wen spoke again with a more restrained voice: “Don’t tell me that the timing is not right. There is no right timing for this. When it’s right, you’re already married!” 

“No, Chun Wen, we had discussed that the wedding will take place in May next year. There’s still some time for everyone to calm down.”

“No! There’s no more time!” the person said anxiously: “Ru Ya, let me tell you something but you have to promise not to tell Mo Yi Cheng.”

“I promise. What is it?” 

“Sigh…” there was a sound of a chair shifting and chopsticks being put down. 

“Ru Ya, let me tell you, my uncle who works in the Bureau heard a certain piece of news. Mo Shi Hong is being prosecuted and most likely sentenced because he participated in fabricating evidence. This is a very serious crime and they are going to make a big deal out of it. There will be no leniency. Do you want to have an uncle-in-law sitting in jail?!” 

“If you don’t break up with Mo Yi Cheng now, when his third uncle is convicted, then your break up will look even worse!”

Chapter 22.3

While the internet curses continued to ferment, Mu Tian Heng and Mo Di were sitting on the sofa of Han Lan Yi. 

Han Lan Yi was the woman Mo Di mentioned before. She was also Zhang Kuang Chang’s mistress. In the beginning, she was quite flustered and impervious to Mu Tian Heng’s questions. Nonetheless, with Mu Tian Heng’s skillful persuasion and the lucrative benefits he offered, she stopped putting on airs and let them in.

“I already said, I don’t know anything. My usual exchange with Zhang Kuang Chang is simply a service in exchange for money. And that stupid fatso is very stingy. He only gives me forty or fifty thousand a month and eight thousand goes to the rent for this place.”

Han Lan Yi lit a cigarette and crossed her legs, looking at Mu Tian Heng with a smile, “But if you’re the one seeking, then I don’t mind taking a little less.”

Mo Di immediately rolled his eyes and shot a glare at Han Lan Yi.

“Ha Ha Ha, I’m sorry, I forgot that there’s still a little brother here.” Han Lan Yi laughed. “Are you an adult yet? You should avoid listening to topics that are not suitable for children. Got it?”

“I thought that you’re a smart person.” Mu Tian Heng said abruptly. He swept a cold look at Han Lan Yi, “but now it seems that’s not the case.”

“You, why are you looking at me like that. I’m not easily scared.” Han Lan Yi’s fingers shook, causing the cigarette’s ashes to fall on her dress, burning a hole. “I already said I don’t know anything! Even if you give me a million yuan, I still do not know anything.”

“It’s a felony to give false evidence!” Mo Di chimed in: “Sister, if you’re helping Zhang Kuang Chang to falsify evidence because you’re trying to avoid certain troubles, when the police found out about this, you’ll be sentenced to jail. You can’t even imagine how hard it is in there!” 

“And I already know that you have proof,” Without waiting for Han Lan Yi’s refutation, Mo Di continued, “you have evidence to prove that Zhang Kuang Chang gave a false statement and framed Mo Di for buying the questions.”

Mu Tian Heng’s eyes narrowed, his family’s little fellow actually knew how to deceive people?

“Nonsense! What does a kid like you know?” Han Lan Yi was obviously flustered. But she kept her composure and said: “I don’t have any evidence. Even if you give me a million, I still won’t have it.”

Mo Di looked at Han Lan Yi quietly without flinching. Han Lan Yi was a very untrusting person. In order to ensure that she would have a way out, she had installed a pinhole camera at home shortly after becoming Zhang Kuang Chang’s mistress. In turn, Zhang Kuang Chang was an arrogant and greasy man who did not take Han Lan Yi seriously; he thought that the place where he was hiding his mistress was suitable to do business transactions. When he brought Ma Lian Chao and Huang Lie Hao’s parents back for the exchange, it was all recorded on the camera.

But after all, Han Lan Yi was still a coward. She only dared to place two cameras, one in the shoe cabinet and the other on the bedroom door frame. Zhang Kuang Chang was not an idiot. He had set up a special room and locked it up with keys in hand, not allowing Han Lan Yi to enter. He would discuss matters there and not tell Han Lan Yi about it.

However, with just the footage captured by the two cameras, it was enough to prove Mo Di’s innocence. That was because afterwards, the police would find a box that was believed to have held the items or cash for the exchange. Huang Li Hao’s father and Ma Lian Chao’s parents, they each should also have one. And their voices were also captured by the cameras in the mistress’s house.

Mo Di could guess why Han Lan Yi agreed to hand over the footage in his last life but not this time. In his past life, the evidence proved the actual crime Zhang Kuang Chang had committed, but now, the evidence would not only prove that Zhang Kuang Chang sold the papers but that he also gave a false statement. If she handed the evidence over, she might get into trouble. Moreover, if there was someone giving Zhang Kuang Chang instructions to lie, then she would be in even bigger danger. 

“Sister,” Mo Di looked at Han Lan Yi and said: “I can understand that you’re worried about getting into trouble but don’t you think that holding on to it is dangerous? You can only get out of this mess if you hand it over to us. We’re going to get the person behind this as well so you don’t have to watch your back every day.”

“Only ghosts will believe you!” Han Lan Yi regretted that she had agreed to talk to them for ten minutes at fifty thousand yuan. She said angrily: “It’s almost ten minutes. Give me the money quickly. Then leave!”

“Do you know who is the person behind Zhang Kuang Chang?” Mu Tian Heng asked coldly.

“He…who is behind him has nothing to do with me!” Han Lan Yi was unhinged by Mu Tian Heng’s indifferent gaze. 

“It’s the Qin family.” Mu Tian Heng answered, “The Qin family’s wealth is not solely from their entertainment and real estate enterprises. They also have an underground industry, do you know what it is?”

“W. . .what?”

“Casinos. Not just in Macau but also in other Southeast Asian countries. Although on the surface, it’s not under their name. And under the local influence, do you know what interesting exhibitions are displayed in front of their casinos?”

“Wh…what exhibition?!” Han Lan Yi’s hand shook and she had goosebumps on her back.

“They would cut off your arms and legs, pull out your tongue and dig out your eyes and turn you into a human staff which will be placed in a vase as a welcome attraction.” Mu Tian Heng looked directly into Han Lan Yi’s frightened eyes and said: “Isn’t it especially interesting? Miss Han, who do you think will become those ‘welcome attractions’? Do you really think that they’ll never discover you hiding this evidence? We’re here now because we found you by accident but Zhang Kuang Chang can easily give you up any time later. Will the Qin family not be suspicious? What if after coming here, they found out …”

“Ah!” Han Lan Yi shrieked and covered her ears, “Stop it, stop it! How is that possible? That’s against the law!”

“The law? They even dared to fabricate evidence to frame someone, do you think they care about the law? Besides, they have ways to make you disappear without facing any consequences. You’ve heard about the news a few days ago. A principal killed a teacher but was only discovered twenty years later. That was just a principal, he’s not even an ant compared to the Qin family. If the Qin family wants to….”

“Stop! Don’t say anymore! I don’t know anything!”

Mu Tian Heng: “If you tell me what you know and give me the evidence in your hand, you’ll not only get rid of this hot potato, but I will also help you to stay away from the Qin family’s sphere of influence.”

“What?” Han Lan Yi looked up in astonishment.

“That’s right. You didn’t hear wrong.” Mu Tian Heng said steadily: “I’ll have people take you to America. If you want, I can get you a new identity and give you five million yuan so you can live without worries.”

Han Lan Yi’s expression clearly loosened up for a moment, “How…how can I trust you?”

“At present, I’m the only one you can trust. The police might get here any minute. Besides, there’s no reason not to trust me. You should know about the ‘impression’ network. You can check who its founder is.” 

“Y…you?!!!” Han Lan Yi remembered vaguely a gossip she heard from her ‘sisters’ about the world’s most worthy man. It was the founder of ‘impression’ who was young and promising with incredibly high assets. He was more handsome than celebrities and more importantly, he looked like he was from Hua Xia.

Han Lan Yi frantically looked for her phone on the sofa and did an internet search. Three seconds later, her brain crashed.

“You…you, you’re really Mu Tian Heng?!”

“Of course. The money that I promised, I will give it to you. I will also arrange for your stay in the States. You can choose to stay here and be threatened under the Qin family, and then made into a human staff, or take the money and live in the US under a different identity, it’s all up to you. But, I’ll only give you five minutes to consider.”

“I … I… are you sure you can help me, give me money, give me a new identity, and let me live in America?”

“I’m certain. But if you don’t believe and want to refuse, that’s also not a problem….”

“I agree!” Han Lan Yi interrupted: “But you have to arrange for me to go abroad as soon as possible. I have a passport!”

“Give me the evidence and I’ll have someone book your tickets.”

Han Lan Yi took a deep breath and stood up feebly. She then rushed into the bedroom.

…

It could be clearly seen that when Mo Di and Mu Tian Heng left the Shui Quan Community their expressions were a lot less tense.

With this evidence and Han Lan Yi’s confession, the truth behind the College Entrance Exam fraud case should be settled.

“I’ll get someone to work with the police. I also happen to know a few upright commissioners, I’ll ask them to help shake up Zhang Kuang Chang and make him talk.”

“He will only admit to the frameup but won’t spill anything. However, I’m still very satisfied and happy.” Mo Di looked at Mu Tian Heng and let out an uncontrollable smile, one that truly came from his heartfelt feelings and not an act.

“I’m really grateful to you, brother.”

Although he could’ve turned the tables on his own, it would not have been this smooth.

Mu Tian Heng smiled back and gently rubbed Mo Di’s hair, “Good boy.”

When they got home, Mu Tian Heng ordered Assistant Gao to contact major networks and make sure to acquire a timeslot and layout on the most popular news channel for tonight. He then quickly edited the surveillance video from the villa gate when the Mos came and made n number of backups of the video from Han Lan Yi.

And at this time, Mo Di was browsing his Weibo. As soon as he opened the app, the top few hot searches with stabbing bright red characters exploded on the screen.

Other than the topics involving the college entrance exam farce, one was actually ‘The Mo Family Broke Off With Mo Di’.

Only now that Mo Di knew the Mo family had acted so quickly. Even the indictment was written beforehand and the court approval had been obtained. As long as he signed, they did not even have to go to court to complete the break-off. 

Yet this morning, they had the face to feign benevolence and said that as long as he apologized, they would not indict him or cut him off. Such an act was really…

Hypocritical and disgusting.

But then it had made things easy for him.

Mo Di immediately called Mo Shi Hong and agreed to the severance. He made an appointment to meet them later at the Civil Affairs Bureau, sign and go through with the formalities.

Mo Shi Hong swore loudly on the spot, saying that he would bring the police along to take him in as soon as the procedure was complete.

Mo Di only answered: “The police indeed will come, but I’m just afraid at that time, father, you would be even more unhappy.”

Having said that, Mo Di hung up and reported the matter to Mu Tian Heng.

Mu Tian Heng had just finished reading the comments online. His wrath and coldness were not concealed. But once he saw Mo Di, his eyes were gentle as he rubbed his hair: “Now that the public opinion has reached its peak, you’re right to break up with them. We’ll then release the two videos on the internet at the perfect timing.”

“En!”

Mu Tian Heng personally drove Mo Di to the Civil Affairs Bureau. When they arrived, the place was already bustling with people hoping to catch a glimpse of the ultimate scum Mo Di being cut off and then taken away.

Someone even tried to smash Mo Di with an item but Mu Tian Heng raised his hand to push it away. He shot a look of intense fury back and the violator turned chicken.

Mo Di entered the Civil Affairs Bureau and saw that the whole Mo family had come. Actually, with just Mo Shi Hong and Ruan Qing Dan, it would have been enough. But the Mos were very united and they really wanted to give Mo Di some face, so the Mo patriarch, Mo Wu Hang, and those who could come were here. The only strange thing was, Mo Liu Gui was absent.

If it weren’t for the staff’s presence, Mo Shi Hong and the others would have started throwing their curses at Mo Di. But after all, at this place, they had to uphold their reputation, hence, they only stared at Mo Di and kept their vile words to themselves.

Meanwhile, Mu Tian Heng, who was waiting outside the Civil Affairs Bureau, sent Assistant Gao the two videos to let him pass them on to major networks and hire a water army to intensify the public opinions.

…

Mo Di signed quickly and the formalities were also handled swiftly. The Mos was a distinguished family after all, they had already made the arrangements in advance, hence no queuing was required. The whole process was done in less than twenty minutes and hereinafter, Mo Di no longer had any relationship with the Mos.

Using family as an excuse to send him to the mental hospital for ‘treatment’ or to directly take over his painstaking company…

The Mo family will never have that right again.

Mo Shi Hong endured until they exited the building when he could not hold back anymore, he scolded Mo Di: “You animal, in the future, don’t ever say you have anything to do with the Mo family. We do not have such a vicious and unfilial white-eyed wolf like you!”

 Then he said to the approaching policemen: “Comrade police, you’re here to catch Mo Di, isn’t it? We, the Mo family, are very reasonable, we will not cover up for him. We….”

“Indeed we need to take someone to the police station now, but it’s not Mo Di.” Mo Shi Hong was interrupted by a middle-aged policeman in the foremost front who suddenly took out a pair of handcuffs and placed it on his wrists: “Mo Shi Hong, you gave falsified evidence involving the case of the College Entrance Exam Leakage and violated the law. Now you have to come with us to the police station.”

A policewoman behind the policeman gave Mo Shi Hong and the others a nasty stare, then murmured the words: “Disgusting, human scums.”

The crowd was instantly dumbfounded. Someone was so infuriated that he wanted to report the police’s unjust behaviour on the internet but as it turned out, he was dumbfounded again after opening his Weibo. 

Reading two lines into the latest news, his face turned into different shades of red and then finally stopped at the colour of a pig’s liver.

Another bystander saw his abnormal reaction and after looking over, his face also turned red. He glanced at the young man’s back in the distance with an expression filled with guilt, anger, and sympathy. 

At the same time, these two weren’t the only ones that felt that their faces were hot and painful and that their three views had collapsed.

Within the whole network, anyone who had denounced Mo Di felt as if their faces were slapped over and again, leaving a scorching pain!

Chapter 22.2

“Actually there’s a surveillance camera at the gate.” 

After coming back inside the villa, Mu Tian Heng took a bottle of milk from the fridge and placed it in the microwave for heating. 

“Surveillance?” Mo Di sat on the sofa and looked up in a daze.

Of course, Mo Di knew that there was surveillance outside the villa. Otherwise, he would not have particularly poured out his childhood stories and questioned the Mo family’s prejudice against him. This was to make the Mos reveal how different their brain circuits were from ordinary people. This would allow him to make good use of the recording.

“That’s right. I will trim the video of what happened in front of the villa.” Mu Tian Heng came over and sat beside Mo Di, looking at him: “If I release this video online at the right time, the Mo family’s plan to desecrate your name, before and after breaking off the relationship, will fail. After all, there are still people in this world with normal three views. Most will not agree with their ridiculous and disgusting logic and ideas.”

“But first, I want to ask you, little fellow, what is it that you want? If you don’t want to break off the relationship and still want to go home, then it’s not suitable to release this video. We have to think of another…”

“I don’t want to go back.” There was a little shiver in his voice as Mo Di said with red eyes and tightly clasped hands. He then said firmly in a loud voice: “I won’t go back!”

“They don’t like me. Ever since I was young, they’ve never liked me and would frequently hit me and scold me. I used to fantasize that one day they will also love me but now I know that’s impossible.” Mo Di wiped his eyes with his arms, “Now they have firmly believed that I bought the questions and cheated. They want me to admit something that I did not do, want me to go to jail. I don’t want to have this kind of family anymore. They are not my family!” 

Mu Tian Heng felt a tugging heartache and yearned to hold Mo Di in his arms but in the end, he only reached out and gently held Mo Di’s shoulder, “I get it.”

“Brother, do you think everyone on the internet is criticizing me right now?” Mo Di abruptly raised his head and looked at Mu Tian Heng with fear, “Are the police also on their way to catch me?”

Not waiting for Mu Tian Heng to talk, Mo Di continued: “I studied for it, It was all my own efforts! I have never met that man, I never…no wait.”

Mo Di stopped mid-sentence and stayed stunned. After five or six seconds, he turned around and looked at Mu Tian Heng: “Brother, I seemed to have met that man, Zhang Kuang Chang, before.”

Mu Tian Heng concealed his almost uncontrollable anger and heartache, smiled before Mo Di could see it and said gently: “Are you sure you’ve seen him before?”

“Yes…I remember seeing him.” Mo Di nodded. “I think it was the second day I started living in the apartment you rented for me. After school, I got on the wrong bus and when I realized it, I was already in the eastern suburbs. I waited for a long time but the return bus didn’t come. I got hungry but there were no fast food stores nearby, so I went to a bakery at the intersection and bought some donuts.”

“While waiting for the clerk to wrap it up, I happened to see several people with suitcases coming out of a place called Shui Quan Community diagonally opposite the bakery. One of them seemed to be the man named Zhang Kuang Chang, next to him was another man and a woman. The suitcases they had were pretty big so I took a longer look.”

“Shui Quan Community?” Mu Tian Heng’s eyes were focused, “The Shui Quan Community on Shui Huai Road?”

“En.” Mo Di thought back and nodded.

“Oops, almost forgot.” Mu Tian Heng suddenly sighed and walked out of the living room. As he entered the kitchen, he pulled up Weibo on his phone and tapped on the hot search.

He wanted to see if that Zhang Kuang Chang was arrested in Shui Quan Community.

Shui Quan Community has a tacit reputation in the upper circle of the capital which Mu Tian Heng had overheard at a certain banquet. This community could almost be regarded as a place where the rich and those with a little standing in the government kept their mistresses. 

And some mistresses, in fact, would know a lot of secrets regarding these privileged personnel.

It took no effort to find the article. As soon as the hot search was opened, the first result with the word “hot” attached was the article with the tag “college entrance exam”.

Mu Tian Heng ignored the comments and went straight to the video and report, looking through quickly from the beginning to the end.

Zhang Kuang Chang was not arrested at his mistress’s place but at a nightclub. The arrest was made at midnight but within just an hour, he had spilled almost everything except the location of the transaction records which he was using as a bargaining chip with the police.

This was really suspicious.

And since he was not caught at his mistress’s place, then their trip to Shui Quan Community right now would prove to be of great value.

After Mu Tian Heng had gathered the information that he most wanted, he took the milk back to the living room. He said to Mo Di who stood up as soon as he returned: “Come, drink the milk. Then brother will take you to a place.”

“Where to?”

“Shui Quan Community.”

Mo Di sat in the car and was secretly relieved that Mu Tian Heng’s mindset and his were really comparable, only their methods were different. He wanted to achieve his goal through hacking but Mu Tian Heng’s methods were more active.

Nonetheless, although he knew everything in his head, on the surface, Mo Di still pretended to be confused and asked Mu Tian Heng why they were going to the Shui Quan Community. Mu Tian Heng explained briefly that there might be important information about Zhang Kuang Chang there, and they had to find someone close to him and ask in detail.

Mo Di then pretended to be enlightened.

After arriving at the Shui Quan Community, Mu Tian Heng let Mo Di stay in the car and he would go to look for clues. But just as he got out of the car, Mo Di frantically grabbed him. He got close and whispered into his ears: “Brother, brother, I see the woman who was with Zhang Kuang Chang last time. She’s right next to the stone block!” 

Mu Tian Heng’s ear was numbed from the heat exhaled by Mo Di and his ear bones were crisp momentarily. He coughed unnaturally and said: “Where?”

“There.” Mo Di pointed.

Mu Tian Heng followed Mo Di’s finger and saw a woman in a back spaghetti strapped dress, buying Coke from a vending machine in front of the estate entrance. Judging by her looks, she was roughly twenty-seven or twenty eight, still quite young.

Young is good. Young people are generally very ‘understanding’.

Mu Tian Heng cast a sharp look and decided to take Mo Di to talk with the woman.

Mo Di and Mu Tian Heng did not pay much attention to the flow of things on the internet. One was that looking at those insults and curses would only bring him anger and disgust, not much benefit for his thoughts. Two was that at this time, they had more pressing matters to pursue. Thus, they were unaware that presently, the Mos had announced a piece of news using their enterprise’s Weibo account. It stated that Mo Di had tried times and again to frame and tarnish his sister’s reputation. He had insulted and reviled his family. He was unfilial to his parents. His conduct was bad to the point of fabricating lies. The Mo family were disappointed time after time and their feelings were completely crushed. They now decided to use legal means to sever the relationship with Mo Di!

A long document was attached below. It was the court issued approval certificate on severing the relationship and also, the submitted bill of indictment from the Mo family. And the submission date on the bottom right corner ….was six days ago?

When the enthusiastic netizens got wind of the announcement, some started throwing mud at Mo Di immediately. They berated him as the disgusting rubbish second generation who cheated; the unfilial and vicious son who hurt his sister and his parents; he’s the scum among scums; feeding him is just a waste of food; he’s just polluting the air; life imprisonment is too easy on him, he should be executed instead!!!

These types of comments were quickly praised by many and became a hot topic. But there were also those that stated that the Mo family’s behaviour was very strange. They broke off the relationship as soon as their son was in trouble. There’s just something secretive behind this incident. However, such a comment was instantly denounced by hundreds of thousands of netizens. 

There were also testimonies from Mo Di’s classmates: “Mo Di has always been such a hypocritical and disgusting person. Not only did he try to harm his sister, Mo Liu Gui, but he’s also very good at acting pitiful and flipping right and wrong. Some time ago, he even caused his sister to faint and was admitted to the hospital. Even so, Mo Liu Gui was kind enough and did not blame Mo Di one bit. Mo Di is just like a dog that does not recognize kindness and ran away from home. This caused Mo Liu Gui to miss a lot of classes to find him. If not, she will definitely be the top three scorers in the whole city!”

…

This kind of classmate testimony had further aroused the fury of netizens.

In a short period of time, the cursing of Mo Di, the sympathy and understanding for the Mo family, the sympathy and love towards Mo Liu Gui as the kind and bullied girl, were at an all-time peak.

“Why is this Mo Di so disgusting! He dared to cheat in the exam! Another second-generation scum!”

“Really, cheating in the exam is already disgusting, he’s also unfilial and bullies such a good sister. This kind of guy will just grow up to be the most garbage of scums! Go to hell!”

“I feel heartache for his sister Mo Liu Gui. I also like how she’s perfect all around. Kind, beautiful, intelligent, and tolerant. How can there be such a perfect girl? It’s just that she’s too kind and soft. The garbage little brother is just disgusting. Little big sis, don’t be nice to him anymore. Treat yourself a little better. Heartache. [crying] [hugging]”

“Some men are just garbage. Especially this Mo Di. He even bullied such a good sister. So disgusting I just want him to die! But maybe because his sister is so smart, pretty, has a great personality, and everything about her is perfect, that’s why he got jealous and tried to set her up. He wanted to surpass his sister in the exam so he cheated. And even ran away from home so his sister had to find him and affected her learning. Fuck this Mo Di is just terrible!”

“The Mo family is also quite miserable, giving birth to such a white-eyed wolf.”

“Those who bought the exam questions should just die! The one who released it should also die!”

“From the cheating incident, could it be that the Mo family values man over woman? Otherwise, how could that Mo Di become so outrageous? The little big sis is so kind, so good, so intelligent, so beautiful, and yet so humble. Under such circumstances, she was still thinking of her brother. Damn it! Such a good sister, if you don’t love her then get lost! Those who bully their sister should die!”

“Everyone curse that scum Mo Di to be tortured and rot in prison for the rest of his life! Like if you agree!!!!”

“Like!”

“Plus one.”

“Plus 10086”

“…”

The tags “Cheating in College Entrance Exam”, “College Exams Question leaked”, “Xia Jia International Student Mo Di Buys Exam Questions”, “Mo Family disowns Mo Di”, “Heartache for Mo Di’s Sister”, “My First Love: the goddess Mo Liu Gui”, had all become the hottest topics on Weibo.

And in every post, the insults and curses aimed at Mo Di were endless. Even if there were opposing opinions, it would sink into the sea and be overwhelmed by other comments and criticisms.

For example, one one of the comments speaking up for Mo Di stated: “Mo Di is not like that at all. He had never bullied Mo Liu Gui. Instead, it was Mo Liu Gui who almost killed Mo Di who had to get emergency treatment. But the Mo family and many students still blamed Mo Di and swore at him. You people are all retarded do you know that. Have you joined some sort of cult and brainwashed by Mo Liu Gui?!!!”

This comment was denounced by the top five commenters immediately. Fanatical netizens now not only cursed at Mo Di but also at the people who would such comments.

Chapter 22.1

Mo Di looked at the video on the screen and his pupils shrank. There was an overwhelming sense of fear and disbelief on his face.

But he was laughing in his heart.

To be honest, before Qin Cheng Yi spoke, he was scared indeed. He did not know what kind of trap the Mos and Qin Cheng Yi had set up for him this time but after Qin Cheng Yi revealed his cards, he just felt funny instead.

After all, if it wasn’t for the Mos and Qin Cheng Yi, he would not have such a great opportunity to break off his relationship with the Mo family.

Zhang Kuang Chang revealed that he sold the exam questions to two families, this did happen in his last life. And the reason why he was exposed and then sent to prison was that he had offended the Qin family. The only difference was that in his last life, Zhang Kuang Chang sold one copy to Huang Lie Hao from Jin Cheng High School and the other to Ma Lian Chao from Jing Da Affiliated High School. 

As for why he managed to remember this event so clearly. Well, if anyone was attacked by their school bullies on the second day of the college entrance exam, and had to forfeit the last exam due to a broken arm, he would also remember the names of the top and second scorer.

He even remembered that when the case was reported in August, the police had found the specific transaction records and video footage hidden by Zhang Kuang Chang’s mistress. Huang Lie Hao and Ma Lian Chao’s parents both gave them cash for the payment of 1.5 million each. Zhang Kuang Chang marked Huang Lie Hao as “H” and Ma Lian Chao as “M”. At first glance, the “M” could easily be mistaken for “Mo”.

More importantly, the transaction was in cash. With the intervention of the Qin Family, the transaction amount could be reduced to several hundred thousand, and with the Mo family certifying that Mo Di’s New Year money saved over the years and with other belongings, he could easily come up with the money to pay Zhang Kuang Chang. And finally, as long as Zhang Kuang Chang insisted that it was Mo Di whom he was dealing with, there was no way Mo Di could clear his name.

And Qin Cheng Yi would not allow him the chance to prove his innocence. He would work behind the scenes and ensure that he would be convicted swiftly. 

Under such a frame-up, if Mo Di was just a regular student, there was really nothing he could do but resign to fate; to be splashed with dirty water, denounced by the whole netizens, cut off from everyone, sentenced to jail, and had his whole life destroyed!

The Mo family could then further publicize the ‘evil’ things that he had done to gain a wave of public sympathy. As for him, a person with a vile mind, a despicable personality, useless garbage with fabricated achievements, a white-eyed wolf – what he had to face in addition to prison were the scorn from thousands of people, a tarnished reputation, and finally the fancy torture with no boundary or hope of escape.

By then, Qin Cheng Yi and the Mo family could easily clean him up. And since he was more powerless and his reputation was worse than his past life, forcing him into a mental hospital could be done even more effortlessly. Were he to escape from the asylum after being tortured mercilessly, the public would still spit in his face with the words “serves you right!”

Mo Di felt a shiver in his heart.

He realized that after his rebirth, this world had spared no effort to change and accelerate the plot process. Not only did he have to suffer through new difficulties continuously, but the consequences of failing to change his fate were raised to hellish levels! As though there was a large mouth filled with fangs under his feet, with one careless step his fate would be hundreds of times worse than in his last life. He would be crushed to pieces and doomed eternally without any hope of getting back up.

It was as if he was being punished for breaking the core of this world and daring to change his destiny!

But there seemed to be another force, although feeble compared to the world force, was fighting for him and had saved him from being destroyed completely.

He could still remember vividly that when Zhang Kuang Chang was arrested in his last life he not only divulged his exchange procedures and the amount involved but also the location.

…

Mo Di just stayed in place and watched the video in disbelief, not saying a word.

But Qin Cheng Yi got impatient and scoffed: “You should consider well. What you’ve done has been exposed. The crimes of cheating and buying the questions are already set in stone! If you do a good job in admitting your crime and apologize to Liu Gui and Uncle Mo first, when you admit your wrongdoings on the internet, some people might still forgive you.”

“And if part of the public was willing to forgive you, the pressure on you will be much less. More importantly, if Uncle Mo and the others decided to keep their ties with you, they could get some connections to help you out. You could get through this unscathed but if you don’t apologize and own up, things won’t end with just being cut off and going to jail. It’s a simple choice, it can’t be that you don’t know which to choose, is it?”

Mo Liu Gui looked at Mo Di anxiously. Seeing that Mo Di remained silent, she could not help but say: “Xiao Di, this is the best way. I’ll ask grandpa and dad to find some connections and help control the public opinions online. This way, you will receive the least damage and won’t be cut off. You probably won’t even be sentenced. It’s just that your result will be invalid and you can’t retake the exam in the future.”

“But that’s ok, you can still have a good life even if you don’t go to university. But if you go to jail then you’ll be ruined. Since the new legislation was introduced last year, the penalty on cheating in the college entrance exam has become very serious!” 

“If I admit something that I didn’t do just like that then I’m really finished!”

Mo Di looked at Mo Liu Gui and finally spoke.

“I don’t understand, Sister, I don’t understand! Why are you all persuading me to admit! Saying it’s for my own good, that’s just because you believed that I cheated!”

“But I didn’t do it! Sister, you’d believe a Qin Cheng Yi that you’ve only for a month and a one-sided claim of the criminal who sold the papers but you don’t believe me? Why?!”

“You never doubted that they’ve set me up? Or that there’s a misunderstanding somewhere?”

“Why do you insist on believing that I cheated? Or is it that you’ve always thought I shouldn’t have scored that well, that I couldn’t get such a high score. Was thinking that I could get 720 points my mistake?!!”

“I, I … I didn’t mean that. That’s not what I meant!” this was the first time Mo Liu Gui was questioned in such a manner by Mo Di. No, it should be that this was the first time anyone had questioned her in such a manner. For a moment, she was in disbelief. Anger and grievances caused her eyes to turn red.

More importantly, Mo Di’s eyes towards her were just too strange. It was far from his usual expression which roused a sense of unexplainable discomfort.

“Mo Di, you animal!”

Mo Shi Hong exploded instantly after seeing his baby daughter being bullied and under scrutiny. Not only her goodwill was trampled by that white-eyed wolf, but he even reversed right and wrong! Mo Shi Hong’s heart ached terribly and his rage was uncontrollable. He only wished to kill Mo Di right now! To kill the shameless and vicious ingrate!

Mo Shi Hong violently pulled at the door of Mu Tian Heng’s car, wanting to drag Mo Di out.

“Mo Di, come out right now. Otherwise, I’ll immediately go to court and disown you, you bastard! When you go to jail, no one will even care! When you’re dead, no one will collect your corpse!”

A sharp hoot blasted from the car horn.

Mu Tian Heng was in a dark mood, he shot a cold look at the startled Mo Shi Hong, “What? Mo Third Master, are you trying to destroy my car by acting so violently?”

For a moment, Mo Shi Hong was taken aback by the powerful look and demeanour exuding from the person in front who was obviously younger than himself. He recollected himself after two seconds and his anger returned: “I really want to question you! This beast…Mo Di is my family’s child. How we discipline him, Mr. Mu, as an outsider, you have no right to interfere. Why are you still not letting him go? Are you trying to abduct my son?”

He had heard a bit of gossip the other day. It seemed that Mu Tian Heng liked men. A pervert.

If he wasn’t worried that it would bring shame and insult to the Mo family, he would’ve let someone expose Mu Tian Heng as a pervert who had abducted a Mo family member. Such a disgusting person, even looking at him would taint his eyes. He should just get lost!

When Mo Liu Gui heard this, she had almost voiced her astonishment. How could it be? What her father just said, …did it really mean that???

How was that possible? Although she did not discriminate or oppose homosexuality, it was just not normal at all!

“Third Master Mo, you should be careful with your words. Some things are easily said but hard to take back.” Mu Tian Heng cast a cold look at Mo Shi Hong, “Instead I would like to ask if Mo Di is a child that you just happened to pick up? You naturally pin him for everything. Injustice, unfounded charges, maltreatment, insult, and abuse…you people don’t deserve to be human. Mo Shi Hong you are even more unworthy to be a parent!”

“You…!” Mo Shi Hong was teeming with fury. He pointed at Mu Tian Heng and was about to discharge a barrage of insults when Mo Yi Cheng frantically stopped him and advised: “Uncle, third uncle, calm down. Our priority now is to take Mo Di home.”

“Xiao Di, you just sit there and watch your father being insulted and reviled?” Mo Liu Gui was annoyed and had a sad look on her face. She then said with anger to Mo Di: “Xiao Di, what’s the matter with you. How can you change like this?”

“What’s wrong with me? How had I changed?” Mo Di pulled down the window completely. He showed an even more heartbroken and distressed look, “Do I have to admit every accusation that comes my way? And scold Mr. Mu who is my benefactor? That is the right thing to do? That is how I should behave? ”

“Mr. Mu is my benefactor. He took me in when I was in trouble, so I can study safely, live my life safely. Now he’s speaking up for me to refute all your slandering. He only threw back what you guys had said and you guys can’t even stand it? You still think I’m the beast? Why do you think that you’re so upright?”

“Just because you’re my family so you can defame me without fear? This time it’s not just some petty slander, it’s a crime! I could go to prison!”

“Bullshit! You little beast… you’re getting harder to teach after running away from home.” Mo Shi Hong gasped as his anger intensified. He took a breath and continued to scold Mo Di: “You vicious scheming little thing. It’s no use pretending. You’ve robbed your sister ever since you were a child. The evil acts here and there, don’t think that you can wash it away with just two sentences!”

“How had I robbed my sister? How had I framed and schemed against her?!” Mo Di abruptly opened the door. He stood and looked straight at Mo Shi Hong and tears flowed down uncontrollably: “I’ve been trying my best to be a good child since I was little. I’ve never robbed anything or harmed anyone! Father, you and these people keep saying that I’m vicious, I’m scheming, I’m harmful. Based on what? Based on what?! I’m clearly your family, how could you mistreat me like this?”

“I mistreat you? What bullshit!” Mo Shi Hong was going to hit Mo Di but was stopped by Mo Yi Cheng who saw Mu Tian Heng closing in from the other side. He shook his head at Mo Shi Hong, “Third Uncle, please control your anger.”

Mo Shi Hong took a deep breath, and looked as though he wanted to swallow up Mo Di, “It’s no use pretending.”

“How am I pretending?” Mo Di’s eyes and nose were red, “Father…”

“You animal, don’t call me father. I’m going to cut ties with you immediately!”

Mo Di was stiff. He raised his arm to wipe his face: “Fine, then I’ll call you one last time fa…ther. I just want to ask one thing that I’ve never understood growing up. I’m clearly your child, a Mo child, why do you hate me so much. You always think the worst of me and denounce me.”

“I remember when I was very young, day by day I would look forward to you and mom hugging me. I tried to be good every day, but you both never paid any attention to me. You only liked my sister.”

“So I thought that I wasn’t good enough and decided to do something to make you happy. I once learned how to make fruit tea from the kitchen lady and wanted to serve it to you. But on the way, I accidentally tripped and fell. The teapot broke and my leg was splashed with hot water. It hurt so much and there were so many blisters, but you still blamed me. You blamed me for trying to hurt my sister just because she was startled by the noise and cried. But I really did not try to hurt her and yet you still accused me.”

“Accused you? The hell I accused you. So small yet you already have such misguided thoughts. At that time, Xiao Gui’s health was already not very good, and you still frightened her. You just wanted to scare her into a fever. Did you think that me, your mom and grandfather couldn’t see? We’ve lived much longer than you had. You still dare to mention it.”

Mo Di’s eyes were blurred by tears. He wiped his face and did not argue. He then continued: “When I was six, I scored first in my grade. I happily showed you the certificate but you all still scolded me. I was called to the back garden by my brothers and the four of them beat me up and even broke my leg. But you still said that their teaching was right because I made my sister cry. You said that I was intentionally attacking her self-esteem and giving her a psychological scar. You accused me of trying to harm her!”

Mo Di did not give Mo Shi Hong and the others a chance to speak, his eyes were red as he continued: “On my eighth birthday, third and fourth brother locked me up in the toilet before the birthday party. On such a cold day, I was locked up all night. You didn’t even look for me. After I came out, I had a bad cold and you didn’t even care. But when my sister caught a cold the next day, you hit me with the clothes hanger, saying that I infected her on purpose, that I couldn’t go to the sports meet so I deliberately caused her to be absent as well. You called me a white-eyed wolf. Called me insidious! Called me an animal…”

“Mo Di!” Mo Yi Cheng who had been holding in his anger, finally could not help but said: “I didn’t expect you to be so well versed. You’re even good at acting pitiful in front of others, even reversing the truth and blurring the focus. You make it sound like you’re innocent but don’t forget that your harming and scheming against Xiao Gui are all facts.”

“She has always treated you well but all you do is frame her. You can argue but facts speak louder than words! The truth is you made her cry, made her sad, made her ill, and recently, you even smeared her name. I don’t understand how you can be so vicious and not even know right and wrong?!”

“I don’t know right and wrong? I’m vicious?” Mo Di stared at Mo Yi Cheng, his tears blurring his sight, “Is it that even if I don’t do anything, as long as my sister is sad, ill, or hurt, and that I’m connected, it’ll definitely be my fault? Are these the ‘facts speak louder than words’ you are referring to? That I harmed her?!”

Mo Di cried till he wanted to laugh, “And the drink that she gave me a month ago which caused me to have an allergic reaction that I almost died. All I did was ask if she knew I was allergic to cocoa and because she cried and fainted, it’d become my fault again! It’s me who set her up. It’s me who smeared her name! You even said that I was so determined to discredit her that I even harmed myself. Why do you keep pinning this on me, keep making me the one who’s nasty and disgusting! She’s a Mo child and I’m not? Since young, you’ve never liked me. You had ignored me and despised me. Later you’d always think the worst of me, insult me, hit me. And now you actually want to put false charges on my head and put me in jail! What right do you have?!!”

“See! You animal! You finally can’t pretend anymore. You’ve finally shown your face. I knew you were always jealous of Xiao Gui, always hated her, so you always tried to hurt her!” Mo Shi Hong approached and grabbed Mo Di’s collar. He raised his fist towards Mo Di’s face, “You ani… Ah—!”

Mo Shi Hong ‘s fist was seized by Mu Tian Heng and then given a twist. His wrist was dislocated and his face was pale with pain.

“Third Master Mo, how can you bully a child like this? This is not excusable.”

Mu Tian Heng’s face was cold as he pushed Mo Shi Hong aside, then he turned back and raised his long leg and kicked the figure approaching from the right.

Bang!

Qin Cheng Yi was caught off guard and suffered a kick to his waist. The violence in his eyes could no longer be suppressed. But when he tried to retaliate, he was pulled back by Mo Liu Gui who was on the verge of tears.

“Stop fighting! Don’t fight anymore!”

She then turned to Mo Di: “Xiao Di, is this the scene that you want to see, family becoming enemies? Dad was beaten, are you happy about this?”

“Then sister, what is the scene that you want to see? That I confess to the crime that I didn’t do? That I admit on the internet that I bought the exam papers and then obediently go back to the Mo house to be abused and beaten? That I was put in handcuffs and put on trial?”

“That was not what I meant at all. Xiao Di, how can you misinterpret my intention like this?! I only wanted everyone to sit down and discuss this matter, at the same time help you….”

“Xiao Gui, you let that animal be!” Mo Shi Hong shouted. He covered his wrist and stood up. Looking grudgingly at Mo Di and Mu Tian Heng, he said: “Good daughter, stop worrying, let that animal be caught and sentenced. I’m going to the court later to cut him off!”

“Dad, I don’t agree!” Mo Liu Gui was a little shocked, she firmly opposed, “Dad you can’t cut Xiao Di off. What’ll happen to him after you cut him off? How can he survive the lawsuit? How can he support himself? What will others think of him?”

Mo Shi Hong refused Mo Liu Gui’s demand for the first time. He got in the car and said: “I’ve already made up my mind. Xiao Gui, you’re just too silly and kind. In order for you to not be harmed again, and also for that animal to receive the punishment he deserved, this relationship must be broken! You don’t have to plead anymore. Your mom, grandpa, uncles, they will also agree to this.”

Mo Liu Gui turned and looked at Mo Di with sadness and concern, then caught up with Mo Shi Hong, wanting to keep persuading him.

Mo Shi Hong’s group finally left.

Mo Di stood rooted in place. He felt tired all over, very tired. The tears had dried on his face; he felt a slight sting on most parts of it.

But he was inexplicably relieved. What he just said to Mo Shi Hong and the others had helped him complete one small step in his plan.

It’s just that…

Mo Di’s thought process was disturbed by a sudden warm breath that enveloped him. He looked up and saw Mu Tian Heng standing to his left, reaching out for his shoulder and held it gently.

Mu Tian Heng’s usual calm and tender eyes were filled with heartache and a few traces of suppressed anger.

“Little fellow, shall we go home first? Let’s eat something. That falsified evidence is not worth worrying at all. We’ll definitely think of a way out.”

“I…” Mo Di’s eyes suddenly felt slightly scorched. Although for now, he was not worried about the result of this matter, yet hearing Mu Tian Heng’s voice and comfort, he still felt strangely sad and the grievances in his heart overflowed. 

“Good boy.” Seeing Mo Di’s small appearance, Mu Tian Heng’s heart ached terribly. He reached out to rub Mo Di’s hair gently, “Brother will not let you suffer any grievances, nor will I let them frame you. Do you trust me?”

“I do…” Mo Di nodded lightly. 

Nonetheless, Mo Di knew that without him interjecting, Mu Tian Heng could not help him through this dilemma cleanly. It’s just that at this moment, he only wanted to indulge himself in this sense of security. He just wanted to temporarily rely on Mu Tian Heng for this one minute. Just for a minute.

TN: There’s one point I want to bring attention to. MLG said that she’s not against homosexuality BUT then she said it’s not normal after all. That’s not really something someone who doesn’t discriminate against homosexuality says, so she’s also a homophobe. Just keep this in mind.

Chapter 21

Mu Tian Heng felt a little sore in his heart looking at Mo Di’s sparkling eyes. He slightly lowered his head and spoke to him: “The busiest time for the first phase of the Hua Xia project is over, I’ll be free the next two days. Little fellow, you said before you’ll take me on an eating tour at the most authentic restaurants of the capital, is that still on?”

“Yes!” Mo Di nodded quickly. His cheeks turned red and the joy and excitement could not be concealed, just like a silly little hamster holding on to his favourite fruit.

Looking at Mo Di’s stance, Mu Tian Heng couldn’t help but smile: “let’s go for a ride this evening. You’ve just finished your exam so let’s go loosen up.”

He was truly glad that when he got to the airport, he changed the decision he made in the morning. The so-called last struggle was actually laughable. They were ridiculous and meaningless.

He clearly had fallen for the kid. And all those times that he repeatedly tried to avoid him, other than making the little thing upset, it did not change anything. He still liked the little guy, and this feelings kept multiplying. Just thinking about the scene after he left Hua Xia, and received a phone call from the kid who would put up a happy front but was in fact, timid and cautious, made his heart ached.

So at that time, Mu Tian Heng thought it wasn’t that bad being an old beast.

But for the time being, he would not disturb the elephant in the room. He would first ascertain that the little guy really liked him rather than a misunderstanding, and then, wait till after his 18th birthday to start developing their relationship.

After all, being an old beast was quite interesting but being an old pervert, not so much.

Lai De Si at the side was completely ignored by the two. He was about to explode.

What the hell is this? When he’s gone, wouldn’t these two just get together?!!!

…

Lai De Si left anyway. When he left the sky was already dark and lights began filling the city, making it bright and vibrant.

Mu Tian Heng did not send him off but it was not because he did not want to. Between Mu Tian Heng sending him and a big bonus, Lai De Si chose the latter. 

Mo Di did some serious strategizing. He was determined to take Mu Tian Heng to eat authentic local street food and let their footsteps imprint on the streets and alleys and into their memories.

Before going to bed that night, Mo Di saw a message from his headteacher. After some consideration regarding his performance in the exams, he sent the estimated score to the group chat according to his teacher’s request.

Then he shut down his computer.

He did not have to guess what the most malicious students in the school had to say about him. He also did not want to think about their anger or scorn.

This year’s exam was surprisingly difficult, especially mathematics and English. But reporting the estimate of 720, he was already very humble. No matter how difficult those math problems and English questions were, to him, they were simply a walk in the park.

The next day, Mo Di got up early to take Mu Tian Heng to the old alley for breakfast. There were dou hua, jiao quan, tang shao cake, chao gan, you tiao, wan dou huang etc, he would order one of each.

When they drove out to the gate, the villa entrance was suddenly blocked by another car.

Sitting in the car, Mo Di spotted a dark rough-looking cross-country car parked outside the villa gate. His sight caught on a rainbow-coloured teru teru bozu doll hanging on the front windshield and instantly, his scalp burst into a bone piercing chill and his body was frozen stiff.

Mu Tian Heng was acutely aware that something was wrong with Mo Di sitting next to him. Looking over, he saw his aghast expression and eyes filled with fear and panic.

“What’s wrong?” Mu Tian Heng’s heart leaped, the tone was eager yet brimmed with tenderness: “What’s the matter, little fellow? What are you thinking about?”

“I…I’m fine, brother.” Mo Di forced himself to keep it together. He had Mu Tian Heng beside him, he’ll be fine. This time, he definitely will not be taken into that car and had his legs broken then shut into that dark place.

Mo Di’s current state was far from being fine. Mu Tian Heng was about to ask something else when he saw five or six figures alighting from the cross-country car parked outside. Amongst them, only two were familiar to Mu Tian Heng. One was Mo Shi Hong, the third master of the Mo family, the other was Mo Yi Cheng, the little guy’s cousin whom he had met at the hospital.

When Mo Shi Hong saw that Mo Di had clearly seen them but remained motionless, his heart was teeming with anger. But seeing that Mu Tian Heng was present, he did not tear off his mask or let his mouth run wild.

Mo Yi Cheng next to him was much calmer. He took the lead: “Hello Mr. Mu, we’re here to pick up Mo Di. He really has been bothering you these past few days. Thank you for taking him in. He suddenly ran away from home and it took us a long time to find him.  Everyone is worried.” He then looked at Mo Di, “Xiao Di, come down quickly. We’re taking you home.”

Mo Di held on tightly to his phone and stayed still as a statue.

“Mo Di did you hear me? Come out quickly.” Mo Shi Hong endured his anger and stared at Mo Di: “You’re already a disaster at home. You left home and still want to bother others?”

“I…I don’t want to go home.” Mo Di’s movement was rigid and his speech was incoherent, he looked at Mu Tian Heng tentatively with eyes brimming with fear, he beseeched: “Brother, please don’t drive me out. I’ll be good, I can cook, I can work, I’ll be very obedient!”

“Little one, what nonsense are you saying? Why would I drive you out? You can stay here as long as you want. There’s also no need for you to do anything.” Mu Tian Heng rubbed Mo Di’s hair and said in a warm voice, “Don’t be afraid.”

Mu Tian Heng maintained his tender look but inside, he was outraged. From the fact that despite being a victim of the bullying incident and hospitalized, the Mo family still insisted on beating and scolding Mo Di, Mu Tian Heng could tell that Mo Di was abused at home. But from the reaction just now, he was afraid that what he thought was just a fraction of what was done to Mo Di.

“Xiao Di, why are you refusing to come home? Mom, dad, grandpa and uncles are all worried about you. Living at someone else’s place, how could it be better than at home. Moreover, you don’t have any money, you shouldn’t disturb people like this. Eating and drinking, what’s there that does not cost money?” Mo Liu Gui was wearing a long off-shoulder red dress, looking beautiful under the sun. Her eyes were also showing a tint of red, “or is it that you hate me so much that you’d rather owe this Mu…brother Mu a favour than to come home with me?”

“I know that I didn’t do well in certain aspects, but I can change. Whatever you think that I am lacking, I’ll change it all! Xiao Di, come home with sister, alright? I can also apologize to you!”

“He dares!”

Mo Shi Hong was at his limit enduring Mo Di’s defiance towards him. Upon hearing his darling daughter’s words, his heartache further fueled the rage and his anger was uncontrollable: “How can you apologize to him? He had schemed and framed against you all his life. He’s just acting innocent right now. His whole being is a bastard!”

He then looked at Mu Tian Heng: “You’re Mr. Mu, right? I’m going to take the kid home. You have no right to stop us from taking Mo Di back to the Mo house! You also have no right to stop us from educating our children! We’re doing this because he’s still a Mo, that’s why when he does something we have to be the one to clean up his messes! Don’t meddle. Or else when he has to go to prison, the first one he hates is you!”

What’s happening?! Going to prison?!!

Mo Di’s heart thumped hard as a bad premonition swept over him. He shot a look at Qin Cheng Yi who had been silent the whole time. His temperament was cold but his eyes were still violent. Mo Di said to Mo Shi Hong: “Father what do you mean?! What did I do?”

“You still dare to ask!” Mo Shi Hong stared at Mo Di, “Weren’t you bold enough to cheat in the college entrance exam, only now you know it’s humiliating?”

“Cheat? What about cheating?” Mo Di just felt ridiculous, “It’s all a rumour, I did not cheat!”

“Xiao Di, this matter currently only we know about. You don’t have to be afraid. Come home with us, we’ll think of ways to solve this, and then…” Mo Liu Gui glanced at Mu Tian Heng, “Let’s not involve anyone else, the more people know, the worse things’ll get.”

“Sister, what are you talking about. This matter I did not do. My scores are achieved from my honest efforts! I did not cheat!” Mo Di stared at Mo Liu Gui, “Don’t just open your mouth and condemn me, that’s slander!”

“You bastard! How dare you talk to your sister like that?!!” If laws were non-existent, Mo Shi Hong would’ve strangled Mo Di, “The older you are the worse you get! If you don’t come out now, we’ll go to court tomorrow and cut you off from the Mo family!”

“Dad!” Mo Liu Gui shouted in shock, “what are you talking about?!”

“Xiao Gui, stop protecting him. This ingrate from young has been hurting you and framing you, why are you still protecting him? You treat him as your brother but does he treat you as a sister? Our Mo family has been around for so many years. To actually think that we gave birth to such an animal, he’s a shame to our family! If you didn’t beg everyone to bring him back and help him deal with this, I would’ve taken him to court and broken off this relationship a long time ago. I just didn’t think that he was so ungrateful. He’s incorrigible! That’s fine then, I’ll see you in court! When you’re convicted of cheating in the exam, don’t come back to us and cry! By then we have nothing to do with you!”

Breaking off with the Mos, Mo Di couldn’t be more eager. But now he had to figure out one thing to confirm the conjecture he just made. He looked at Mo Liu Gui and said: “Sister, are you the one who said that I cheated in the exam?”

“You don’t have to aim at your sister or pretend anymore. I’m the one who spread the news.” All of a sudden, Qin Cheng Yi broke his silence and spoke coldly, squinting his eyes: “You also shouldn’t be too positive. I’ve publicized this matter on the internet and let them make a big deal out of it.”

Mo Liu Gui looked at Qin Cheng Yi: “Cheng Yi, what did you say?”

“Liu Gui, you are just too kind and soft. He tried to harm you over and over again and even disrespected you. Why are you still treating him so well?” Qin Cheng Yi sighed, looking at Mo Liu Gui with heartache and indulgence, “this matter you can blame me. I just don’t want to see him hurting you.”

Then he turned and looked at Mo Di coldly: “Zhang Kuang Chang divulged the questions of the exams and sold them at a high price to two people, one of them is you. You dared to estimate your score to be 720 because you’ve bought the data and cheated. I have both a witness and evidence. Zhang Kuang Chang identified you and another person after his arrest. So if you don’t want to be shunned by everyone after you’ve lost your reputation, you’d better apologize to Liu Gui and uncle Mo, then own up your crime of cheating on the internet.”

“This way, the Mo family will not be completely disappointed with you and won’t cut you off. They might help you get off your sentence. Even if you do get a sentence, it can be reduced to the minimum. As long as you’re honest, your work and life might not be affected too much. But if you don’t admit, all the evidence will be put on the internet! Not only will you have billions of people despising you, you’ll also have to spend the next seven years in prison. Prison, rejection, and a ruined reputation, your life will be ruined.”

“What nonsense are you saying? I did not do such things, why should I admit?!” Mo Di’s conjecture was spot on and a plan immediately took shape in his head. Still wearing a flustered look, he said: “You’re just forcing me to admit!”

“As I said, I will only give you one last chance.” Qin Cheng Yi looked at Mo Di with a dark face. He opened Weibo on his phone and tapped on the top link with the hottest search topic and a video popped up.

In the video, a middle-aged man in handcuffs was crying bitterly to the police, saying that he was a first time offender. He then said that he only sold the data to two people, one was Mo Di of Xia Jia International School and the other was Huang Lie Hao from Jing Cheng Yi High School. He knew that he was wrong and asked for leniency.