Volume One, Chapter 21: Assign Two Male Models to Yu Mo!

“As you can see.”
Mu Shaozhou held Yu Mo’s hand.
Each word he spoke seemed to echo in Yu Mo’s ears.
Her heart skipped a beat.
What did he mean by that?
The same question flashed through Fu Yanting’s mind.
Those in the private room who had previously looked down on Yu Mo were now regretting their earlier mockery.
Someone had already found news online about the crown prince of the Imperial Capital making his first public appearance.
In the news, Mu Shaozhou was also wearing this very mask while accepting reporters’ interviews.
That figure, that air—there was no mistaking it.
Several men had already asked Fu Yanting for Yu Mo’s contact information.
Fu Yanting’s face darkened, and he glared viciously at the man.
Impossible.
How could Yu Mo possibly be connected to Mu Shaozhou?
Those who did have Yu Mo’s contact information quietly sent her a smiling emoji.
Some were more direct, taking advantage of a trip to the restroom to call Yu Mo and apologize to her.
Shen Zining was filled with regret.
With one hand incapacitated, he used his other hand to call his father.
He then called Yu Mo, only to see her status was online.
Watching him, Fu Yanting frowned.
“Shen Zining, you’d better get to a hospital, stop making a scene in front of me.”
Clutching his injured hand, Shen Zining left the private room.
Fu Yanting couldn’t stay any longer either. It was supposed to be Lin Hua’s celebration banquet, but he’d lost all interest.
He took Lin Hua and left the room.
Lin Hua didn’t look much better.
She was full of speculation about Mu Shaozhou’s attitude toward Yu Mo.
So what if Yu Mo had caught the eye of the crown prince?
With her background and family, there was no way she could marry Mu Shaozhou.
If anyone had a chance to marry the crown prince, wouldn’t every woman in the city be dreaming of becoming his princess?
At most, the prince would glance at Yu Mo a few more times now.
Give it some time; when he tires of her face, he’ll discard her.
With that thought, she felt much more at ease.
She linked arms with the still sulking Fu Yanting.
“Brother Yanting, Yu Mo must be feeling down after being rejected. If the crown prince is willing to give her a little attention, let her enjoy it while it lasts.”
Hearing this, most of Fu Yanting’s anger dissipated.
He opened the car door and got in.
“Riding on the tiger’s back!”
-
Yu Mo and Mu Shaozhou left the private room.
They saw Chu Xirui hurrying over, worry etched on her face.
She grabbed Yu Mo’s hand.
“Mo Mo, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, Xiao Rui.”
Chu Xirui nodded gratefully at Mu Shaozhou.
“Thank you, if not for you, I really wouldn’t have found Mo Mo.”

Mu Shaozhou’s expression was indifferent.
He responded with a simple “Mm.”
Yu Mo was puzzled. “What happened?”
“Mo Mo, you disappeared just now. This gentleman offered to help me look for you, and we actually found you.”
Yu Mo understood.
It seemed those online rumors about Mu Shaozhou’s coldness weren’t entirely accurate.
He was actually quite helpful.
She’d already thanked him, but Yu Mo thanked him again.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Beneath his mask, Mu Shaozhou’s brows arched slightly, his lips parting ever so slightly.
“Yu Mo, call me Mu Shaozhou.”
He had already told her this once before.
Yu Mo nodded.
She took the hand of Chu Xirui, whose jaw had nearly dropped to the floor.
“Mu Shaozhou, we’ll be going now. We won’t disturb you.”
With that, she and Chu Xirui returned to the private room.
As soon as the door closed, Chu Xirui’s eyes widened. She grabbed Yu Mo’s hand and spoke in a conspiratorial tone.
“Mo Mo, when did you start flirting with the crown prince?”
She pulled out her phone and found the few photos of Mu Shaozhou from recent news reports, staring at them in awe.
“The crown prince is so handsome, and he even helped look for you today.”
At this, she looked at Yu Mo with a mixture of exasperation and fondness.
“Mo Mo, I’ve told you a thousand times, don’t waste your youth on Fu Yanting. Open your eyes and look at other men—there are plenty of good ones in this world, every one of them better than Fu Yanting.”
Yu Mo sat down, poured herself a glass of water, and a gentle smile appeared on her fair face.
Her rosy lips brushed the rim of the glass as she took a small sip.
“My blindness is cured. You’re absolutely right; any man on the street is better than Fu Yanting.”
Her tone was calm,
but it was like a thunderclap in Chu Xirui’s ears.
Chu Xirui took a step back, clapped her hands, laughed, and threw her arms around Yu Mo in a big hug.
“That’s wonderful! You’ve finally seen the light. I must open some champagne tonight—we have to celebrate your recovery.”
She promptly ordered over a dozen bottles of wine, expertly opening each one.
She filled two glasses, pressed one into Yu Mo’s hand, and clinked glasses with her.
Yu Mo set the wine aside, raising her glass of water instead.
“I have to attend the pharmaceutical company’s celebration for Lin Hua tonight, so I can’t drink.”
Suddenly she remembered the person they were originally looking for—Su Beican.
“By the way, how’s Su Beican? Did you see him?”
“Mm.”
Chu Xirui swirled the wine in her glass, tilted her head back, and went on.
“That guy still won’t admit he has a girlfriend. As if I’d believe his act!”
She slammed her glass down.
Gritting her teeth, she declared,
“I’m going to find out exactly who he’s secretly in love with.”
Yu Mo clinked her glass with Chu Xirui’s again and downed the water.
Even without alcohol, she felt slightly tipsy.

Her mind was filled with the image of Mu Shaozhou wearing his mask, and every word he had spoken to her.
She pressed her forehead.
It felt as if everything he said had a hidden meaning.
She must be out of her mind,
to actually think Mu Shaozhou might like her.
She drank a few more rounds with Chu Xirui.
Chu Xirui could hold her liquor, but she was in such high spirits tonight that she finished all of it.
Her words started to slur, though she could still walk straight.
“I’m going to the restroom.”
Five minutes later, she pushed open the door again, her cheeks flushed, and announced to Yu Mo with a conspiratorial air,
“Mo Mo, I heard the male models at Blue Pavilion are out-of-this-world handsome—all six feet tall, eight-pack abs. We ordered two to come hang out with us. What’s your type? Bad boy or puppy dog? I’ll tell the manager to bring them in, and you can pick!”
She thumped her chest heroically.
“It’s on me tonight.”
Yu Mo was speechless.
“You’re ordering two? Can your body handle it?”
Chu Xirui didn’t register her latter question.
She opened her mouth,
“Then let’s get four—two for you, two for me.”
Yu Mo’s lips twitched.
Only her best friend could be this generous.
She never let her miss out.
But thinking about already having a pretty boy in her life, she didn’t have the energy, nor the desire, to look for anyone else.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Two tall young men in gold-embroidered suits entered, both strikingly handsome and extravagantly dressed.
Chu Xirui’s eyes widened with excitement.
She pointed at Yu Mo and said to the two men,
“Keep her company.”
Immediately, the two men moved to sit beside Yu Mo.
Yu Mo shot up from the sofa.
“I’m going to the restroom.”
With a look, she signaled Chu Xirui to deal with the men before she returned.
Chu Xirui grinned foolishly and waved the two young men on.
No sooner had Yu Mo stepped out than the two followed her.
Each grabbed one of her hands, trying to pull her back inside.
“There’s no need to be shy, miss.”
One of them smiled at her face.
Yu Mo looked down, struggling to free herself.
A pair of gleaming leather shoes appeared before her.
She instinctively looked up,
and met a pair of eyes—sharp, intense, and fathomless.