Chapter 24: The Cannon Fodder in a Dogblood Novel (24)
Upstairs was the KTV. After the meal, Chen Yigang led the crowd in a mighty contingent to switch venues.
Shen Tangqing had no interest in playing cards or drinking. After making up the numbers for a few games of billiards on the side, he prepared to go back.
Zhou Geng was having fun with them. Hearing that Shen Tangqing wanted to leave early, he put down the wine glass in his hand without thinking and stood up. “I’ll drive you.”
“No need, I’ll just go out and hail a taxi.”
“It’s hard to get a taxi in this crappy place, have to walk two li. I’ll drive you…”
This was a private club, quite far from the city center. Being somewhat remote, it was indeed hard to get a taxi.
“No, Brother Geng, we agreed not to go home until we’re drunk tonight! I’ll ask the manager to call a car for Little Shen…”
“Yeah yeah, we’ve only played for how long and you want to leave?”
“…”
Just as Shen Tangqing was about to speak to smooth things over, Lin Mu, who hadn’t spoken much all night, suddenly stood up. With a half-smoked cigarette between his fingertips, his expression lazy as if talking about an insignificant matter,
“You drive him? Drive him with your legs? Or planning to drive drunk?”
After speaking, he glanced at Shen Tangqing unobtrusively. “I’m planning to head back too, might as well drop him off on the way.”
“You’re not playing anymore?” Zhou Geng frowned after speaking, then suddenly realized. “You didn’t drink tonight?”
Lin Mu raised the tail of his eye slightly, responding carelessly, “Mn, took cephalosporin so didn’t drink.”
After speaking, as if his patience had run out, he lifted his chin at Shen Tangqing. “Let’s go, go home.”
He looked at Zhou Geng again. “You go back with Gangzi and the others tomorrow yourself.”
This group of people always played until the latter half of the night and then got rooms to stay overnight; it was a long-standing habit.
Shen Tangqing was stunned…
He completely hadn’t expected Lin Mu to actively offer to give him a ride. However, looking at his impatient face, it was probably reluctantly done for Zhou Geng’s sake.
After saying goodbye to Zhou Geng, Shen Tangqing silently followed Lin Mu out of the private room.
Zhou Geng wanted to chase out to send him off but was held back by Chen Yigang and the others, so he could only sit back at the card table.
At the corner of the corridor, Lu Yanli’s footsteps suddenly paused.
His gaze stuck to Shen Tangqing’s back, his expression as heavy as undissolved ink.
The assistant beside him reminded softly, “President Lu…”
Only then did Lu Yanli slowly withdraw his gaze from Shen Tangqing’s back. His right fingertips unconsciously rubbed the plain ring on his left index finger.
After a few seconds of silence, he walked toward the private room.
Parking lot.
Just as Shen Tangqing was hesitating whether to sit in the front or back, Lin Mu glanced at him faintly. “You’re not treating me as a driver, are you?”
Shen Tangqing: “…”
He just felt Lin Mu didn’t like him much. Sitting in the passenger seat, wouldn’t that be inviting dislike for no reason?
But since Lin Mu had spoken, Shen Tangqing could only open the passenger door and sit inside.
By the time he would get back to the dorm, it would be past curfew, so Shen Tangqing gave the location of the Jiang family home.
The two were silent all the way; the car cabin was quiet to the point of being somewhat eerie.
While waiting at the second intersection, Lin Mu suddenly spoke, “There’s water on the side, get it yourself if you want to drink.”
Shen Tangqing gave an “Oh.” He really was a bit thirsty.
Reaching into the passenger storage compartment to take out a bottle of water, Shen Tangqing unscrewed the cap…
Lin Mu’s peripheral vision landed on his slightly raised neck. When lifted, blue veins were faintly visible. The rolling Adam’s apple was like a small hook, hooking Lin Mu so hard he almost stepped on the gas to drive five li, not even noticing the red light.
Screech…
The sound of sudden braking was particularly piercing in the silent night.
Shen Tangqing was unprepared.
If not for the seatbelt, he had no doubt he would have been pasted on the windshield just now.
The water he didn’t have time to swallow choked his windpipe.
Shen Tangqing couldn’t help bending over and coughing.
Lin Mu quickly handed two tissues to Shen Tangqing, panic he didn’t even notice himself in his voice. “Are you okay?”
Shen Tangqing took the tissues to cover his mouth, coughing for a good while before recovering.
He straightened up and glanced at Lin Mu.
Due to choking, his eyes were watery, and the corners were red, like crushed rouge spreading out, carrying a wet beauty.
Damn, this guy didn’t deliberately prank me seeing I was drinking water, did he? Thinking this in his heart, Shen Tangqing asked it out loud.
“Lin Mu, you didn’t do that on purpose, did you?”
Lin Mu felt satisfied just by this look. That shimmering red was so beautiful his breathing grew a notch heavier.
It wasn’t until a horn sounded from behind that he snapped back to reality.
Restarting the car, Lin Mu didn’t dare look at Shen Tangqing again.
“Not on purpose, just didn’t notice the traffic light.”
Hearing Lin Mu’s somewhat pale explanation, Shen Tangqing didn’t speak again.
After putting the water aside, he turned to look at the night scenery outside the window, losing the intention to chat with Lin Mu.
Lin Mu gritted his back teeth somewhat irritably.
Why does this person have two faces for me and Zhou Geng?
Annoying as hell!
Until he dropped Shen Tangqing off at the Jiang family villa, Shen Tangqing was just about to unbuckle his seatbelt when he was held down by Lin Mu.
He looked at Lin Mu. “What’s wrong?”
Lin Mu was silent for a second, his Adam’s apple rolling. He abruptly blurted out, “Shen Tangqing, actually my pocket money is even more than Ah Geng’s…”
Shen Tangqing: ?
What? Is this guy showing off how rich he is to me?
Seeing Shen Tangqing frowning and silent, Lin Mu simply spoke openly. “Do you want to be friends with me? I can buy you whatever you want…”
Shen Tangqing suspected Lin Mu ate poisonous mushrooms tonight.
“Lin Mu, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I know you hang around Zhou Geng for his money. Actually… actually I’m also quite easy to trick. Do you want to try tricking me out of my money?”
Shen Tangqing: “…”
First time seeing such a ridiculous request.
But on second thought, Shen Tangqing felt something was wrong.
This grandson is definitely setting a trap for me.
Maybe he’s even hiding a recorder.
As long as I agree or admit I’m friends with Zhou Geng for money, he’ll turn around and send the recording to Zhou Geng to reveal my ‘true colors’.
Playing mind games with me, his heart is truly punishable!
He stared at Lin Mu with a cold sneer, even his voice revealing chilliness.
“Lin Mu, you think I’m with Zhou Geng for his money?”
“Isn’t it so?”
Lin Mu knew Shen Tangqing sold all the gifts Zhou Geng gave him for cash, and knew Shen Tangqing accepted every transfer Zhou Geng sent…
Since it’s for money, why not go for his? He wasn’t any worse than Ah Geng—
The atmosphere in the car froze instantly, with only the faint sound of wind from the air vents.
Lin Mu’s eyes lost their usual carelessness, his whole body revealing a bit of helplessness.
His gaze fell tightly on Shen Tangqing, hoping to get the answer he wanted.
“Of course not. Brother Geng and I are… very good friends!”
After speaking, Shen Tangqing unbuckled his seatbelt, preparing to get out.
Unfortunately, the door was locked by Lin Mu.
He looked at Lin Mu with a cold face. “Open the door.”
“Impossible. If you really treat Zhou Geng as a friend, why did you sell all the gifts he gave you?”
Shen Tangqing narrowed his eyes, staring dangerously at Lin Mu. “How do you know?”
Lin Mu was silent.
Couldn’t exactly say he had been having people investigate him, right?
Seeing Lin Mu silent, Shen Tangqing roughly guessed it.
No wonder Lin Mu didn’t like him. Turns out—he investigated him behind his back.
Shen Tangqing stopped pretending. His persona was originally selfish and vain, but so what?
Wasn’t the money Zhou Geng gave him voluntary? He didn’t force him…
Shen Tangqing suddenly hooked the corner of his lips, reached out to grab Lin Mu’s collar, and yanked him forward violently.
The movement was too fast; before Lin Mu could react, their noses were almost touching.
From outside the car, they looked exactly like lovers about to kiss.
Lin Mu’s heartbeat suddenly slowed by half a beat. He stared wide-eyed, holding his breath as he looked at the face so close at hand, even his fingertips trembling slightly.
“Lin Mu, listen well.”
Shen Tangqing’s voice was pressed very low, carrying a few degrees of mockery. “I am after Brother Geng’s money. Feel free to tell him, no need to use this to threaten me, understand?”
After speaking, he let go of Lin Mu and flashed him an innocent smile. “Now, can you open the door?”
Lin Mu pursed his lips.
His finger paused on the door unlock button for a few seconds before finally pressing it down.
Shen Tangqing pushed open the door and walked into the villa gate without looking back, not giving the person in the car another glance.
Watching his back disappear into the night, Lin Mu couldn’t help but curse.
“F*ck.”
He never thought of threatening Shen Tangqing, nor did he plan to tell Zhou Geng these things.
He just… just wanted to be friends with Shen Tangqing.
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