Facing Chu You, Gu Qiancheng could still exert pressure with the authority of the Swordbearer Headquarters.
But in front of Lin Mo, who was not only also a Golden Crow-class Swordbearer but even more so the actual head of the Binhai Branch, his official procedures and righteous conduct lost their effectiveness.
If he really tried to forcibly arrest someone, it would mean initiating a direct conflict with the local branch chief.
Even for the notoriously unruly Gu Qiancheng, the consequences would be difficult to bear.
Looking at Lin Mo’s expression—written all over with a strong and unmistakable refusal—Gu Qiancheng’s helplessness deepened.
He exaggeratedly shrugged, his tone carrying a hint of complaint after being thwarted, “Junior, you’re making things really hard for your senior here.”
Lin Mo raised his eyebrows slightly at those words, his tone leaving no room for negotiation, “The stability of the Northwest Defense Line depends on you holding the fort. Even if this Binhai investigation comes up empty-handed, with your merit, the Headquarters surely won’t be too harsh.”
He changed tack, steering the conversation to a more practical level.
“Of course, what I mean is, I hope Senior can avoid using such… extreme methods that are prone to misunderstanding in your investigation.”
“As the Binhai Branch Chief, maintaining regional stability is the most important KPI in my year-end assessment. I trust Senior can understand my difficulties, right?”
This was spoken in high-sounding officialese, waving the banner of “maintaining stability” directly in his face, leaving Gu Qiancheng speechless for a moment.
Gu Qiancheng let out a couple of dry laughs without replying, though he couldn’t help but curse Lin Mo inwardly for being just as shameless and thick-skinned—using some damned KPI nonsense to shut him up. Utterly brazen!
For Golden Crow-class Swordbearers, the most important thing was always their KDA in battle.
A brief silence stretched between the two.
Gu Qiancheng knew this move had failed completely; there was no point in dragging it out any further.
He resumed his usual rakish smile, waved his hand, turned and headed lazily toward the door.
“Tch, Junior, you really are thin-skinned—no fun at all. I’m leaving.”
As he reached the door, his hand gripping the handle, he suddenly seemed to remember something.
He paused and turned his head back.
His gaze slid past Lin Mo’s shoulder, landing on Chu You, who stood behind him with her eyes lowered.
His look was deep, and a meaningful, sly smile tugged at his lips as he drawled, “But speaking of which—both girls with the surname Chu, and yet Junior, your attitude is really…”
“Dis-cri-mi-nate-d treat-ment, huh~”
He enunciated each word of “discriminate-d treatment” with pointed clarity, carrying a certain unspeakable innuendo and mockery.
Before the words had faded and before Lin Mo or Chu You could react, Gu Qiancheng’s figure blurred like a ghost and vanished completely from where he stood.
Standing at the edge of the living room, Xia Ji witnessed this and couldn’t help but widen her eyes, her face full of disbelief—where had that huge, living person gone just now?!
Closer by, Chu You and Lin Mo both wore rather peculiar expressions.
Even after his scheme was exposed, Gu Qiancheng had to disgust others with a parting shot before leaving.
His nasty personality really lived up to every rumor about him.
“Xia Ji…” After a moment, Chu You turned to Xia Ji. “I have something to discuss with Lin Mo. Can you wait for me in the living room for a bit?”
At this, Xia Ji nodded lightly, sat back down on the sofa, and said obediently, “Okay.”
Chu You gave Lin Mo a look, then the two of them quickly headed one after the other to Chu You’s room.
Lin Mo quietly locked the door behind them, then took out his phone, turned the volume up to maximum, randomly opened a music app, and played a song with a pounding electronic beat.
The deafening music instantly filled the room.
“How did you know Gu Qiancheng came to my house?”
As soon as the music began, Chu You couldn’t wait to lower her voice and ask the question in her heart.
Lin Mo walked to the bed and sat down, smiling as he unhurriedly began to recount what happened after arriving at the Sea Hunting Grounds today—
…
(Half an hour ago, outskirts of Binhai, private sea hunting grounds)
After the convoy arrived, Gu Qiancheng was the first to jump out of the car, stretching and taking a deep breath of the salty sea breeze.
He sidled up to Lin Mo quite naturally, slung an arm over his shoulders, pointed toward the blue sea ahead, and laughed, “Fresh air, beautiful scenery—what a great place! Junior, how about we compete to see who can catch more seafood?”
Lin Mo expressionlessly shrugged off his arm, sidestepped half a pace to open some distance, and replied flatly, “Senior’s Oracle can slice reality and drag it into another dimension… and you want to compare speed and efficiency in fishing?”
He glanced at Gu Qiancheng. “Sorry, I don’t have any masochistic tendencies.”
Gu Qiancheng wasn’t annoyed by this blunt rejection.
Instead, he narrowed his eyes, smile unchanged, and lightly suggested, “No problem! Then let’s both not use our Oracles. Just skills and luck—a fair competition. That’s fine, right?”
At these words, Lin Mo’s face didn’t change, but a flicker of suspicion flashed deep in his eyes.
Something wasn’t right.
Gu Qiancheng was notorious for acting out of the ordinary, his thinking unorthodox and shameless to the point of arguing directly with deputy commanders at Headquarters.
And now he was proposing a fair competition on his own initiative?
Did the sun rise in the west today?
Where there’s abnormality, there’s mischief.
Lin Mo pondered this but didn’t let it show.
He casually turned and exchanged a glance with Zhao Dongyuan, who was following behind.
Zhao Dongyuan gave the slightest of nods.
Taking advantage of his body blocking the view, Lin Mo quietly took out his phone, fingers flying over the screen, and sent a message to Zhao Dongyuan.
…
…
Back in the room filled with electronic music.
Chu You was listening intently.
When Lin Mo paused, she immediately pressed with curiosity, “What did you send to Zhao Dongyuan?”
Lin Mo’s lips curved, “I told him to go to the convenience store at the sea hunting grounds, buy a box of chocolates, and give them to the fake Gu Qiancheng.”
“But when Zhao Dongyuan handed over the chocolates, he actually shook his head and refused, deliberately showing off the cola he’d been holding all along, saying he only needed that.”
At this, realization flashed across Chu You’s face.
She understood.
Just like what Lin Mo had told the real Gu Qiancheng later—due to childhood trauma, he had a pathological sweet tooth.
While cola was his favorite, he’d never refuse other high-sugar snacks like chocolate.
The impostor only knew about Gu Qiancheng’s love of cola—the most obvious trait—but not the deeper details. Refusing chocolate was already suspicious.
And that deliberate display with the cola came off as overacting to cover up a slip.
“So, you were sure he was fake at that point?” Chu You asked.
Lin Mo nodded and continued, “I only strongly suspected. To be sure, I patted his shoulder while he wasn’t paying attention.”
Chu You nodded again, a look of understanding.
Indeed, Lin Mo’s Oracle was the kind that upends the table—no one else gets to play.
The impostor’s shape-shifting Oracle, when touched by Lin Mo, would have its power suppressed, exposing its true form.
The truth was revealed.
Because Lin Mo saw through the body double at the sea hunting grounds in time, he was able to rush back and intercept the real Gu Qiancheng at the last moment.
“Today…” Chu You fell silent for a moment, her fingers twisting the corner of her shirt unconsciously, her voice carrying a faint shyness, “…thank you, Lin Mo.”
A bit of luck played a part in getting through this unscathed.
Xia Ji’s extraordinary performance was crucial, and Lin Mo’s last-minute return forcibly righted the tilting scales.
The whole ordeal had been nerve-wracking, to say the least.
“No need for thanks.”
But just as Lin Mo’s tone was still normal, upon hearing her thanks, his face instead darkened, his voice turning cold and distant.
“Helping Senior get out of trouble was something we agreed on before…” He slowly stood, his tone indifferent.
“That includes—other troubles as well.”
His words, clearly pointed, instantly made Chu You realize he was still holding a grudge over what she’d said when she lost control of her emotions.
Chu You dejectedly lowered her head, mumbling softly with a hint of grievance she herself didn’t notice, “I told you that’s not what I meant…”
She could already imagine it—with Lin Mo’s vengeful, grudge-holding temperament, he would definitely ignore her explanation and treat her to another round of silent treatment, just like before.
Just as she braced herself for another endless cold war and stalemate, the shadow before her suddenly closed in.
Lin Mo reached out and circled her waist, yanking her forward.
His other hand braced solidly against the wall beside her ear, trapping her completely between his body and the wall.
Chu You jolted, startled into instinctively raising her head.
Their eyes met—Lin Mo’s gaze was a churning sea of complex, unreadable emotions.
After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice low as a whisper, yet carrying undeniable force, “Then I’ll give Senior a chance to explain.”
Before he finished speaking, his arm around her waist tightened abruptly.
His grip was so strong her toes nearly left the floor, her whole body pressed against his warm chest—she could even feel his heartbeat.
Lin Mo lowered his head slightly, his breath hot as it brushed her hairline. His tone was steady, commanding.
“You can talk now, Senior.”