The Helpless Arrangement of Fate

Jiang Yunlu and Zhou Youbai had successively shown their stance, which was like dropping a bombshell in their little circle.

In terms of family background, no one in the room could go toe-to-toe with those two families.

Not to mention that Tianyun Century had more than doubled in size.

This kind of class suppression was all-encompassing. Since both young ladies were protecting him, these second-generation heirs, who were used to changing their sails with the wind, had no choice but to rein themselves in.

Their looks toward Lin Mo were much less blatantly contemptuous and carried more scrutiny instead.

In their eyes, stories of poor boys climbing the social ladder mostly only had one ending.

The only reason Lin Mo could stand here now was that Jiang Yunlu's novelty with him hadn't worn off yet.

Once Miss Jiang got tired of him, this poor boy would naturally be kicked out of the circle and fall harder than anyone else.

Now, facing their attitudes, the others looked at Lin Mo and knew that this man was not someone to mess with for the time being.

If they really wanted to provoke him, they'd have to wait until Jiang Yunlu dumped the poor boy first.

Almost everyone was convinced Lin Mo would get dumped.

But just then, Jiang Yunlu looked at Lin Mo, as if seeking his opinion.

Lin Mo patted her shoulder.

"Go have fun. Don't worry about me."

Jiang Yunlu didn't move, still staring at him.

"Alright, we'll be down soon."

Zhou Youbai couldn't stand it anymore. She reached out and grabbed Jiang Yunlu's arm. "Look at you, like a little doting wife. Can he run away if you look away for a second?"

Lin Mo found that funny. His laughter hadn't even spread before he got a fierce glare from Jiang Yunlu.

But that glare carried no threat at all. Instead, it was full of the kind of intimacy only lovers shared.

To outsiders, though, it just looked like a couple's playful banter.

And really, that's what it was.

Lin Mo watched the two go upstairs, then casually lifted the teacup beside him and took a sip.

His spiritual sense silently covered the entire hall.

That group didn't come near him again, but their mouths sure didn't rest.

Zhou Youbai had only taken Jiang Yunlu upstairs. The rest of the girls naturally drifted over to the boys' side.

Lin Mo was happy for the peace. But he was a little curious, so he pricked up his ears to hear what they'd cook up about him and Jiang Yunlu.

"Tsk, back then, wasn't Zhou Youbai and that Ye Haoran the same story of a rich girl with a poor boy?"

"The worst thing about poor boys is that fragile pride of theirs. Super sensitive. This guy probably isn't any different."

"Just wait and see. Jiang Yunlu and Zhou Youbai really are besties. Their taste in men is practically carved from the same mold—falling into the same pit twice."

They were chattering away, completely forgetting it was Zhou Youbai's birthday today.

Backstabbing the birthday girl was something they did with practiced ease.

This kind of circle's friendship was as thin as paper. They kept a polite facade but secretly loved to dig up each other's dirty laundry and chew on it over and over.

They thought their voices were low enough, never realizing that every word fell perfectly into Lin Mo's ears.

Listening to these harsh comments, Lin Mo felt nothing inside.

He even found it a little ridiculous.

These second-generation heirs prided themselves on their assets and status. But in the face of an absolute gap in power, it all seemed childish and laughable.

"Speaking of which, that certain someone hasn't shown up yet," one boy's voice dropped even lower. "If that certain someone sees Jiang Yunlu brought a loser like this, today's show will be something to watch."

Lin Mo put down the teacup, his thumb rubbing along the rim.

That certain someone?

Still another tough guy today?

Little Yunlu, little Yunlu, how many little troubles have you prepared for me?

Lin Mo chuckled softly and drained the tea in one gulp.

Then he waved over a server.

"Excuse me, could you top up my tea?"

When the server walked over, Lin Mo tilted his head, his tone casual but intentionally lowered. "What are you doing here? This is Zhou Youbai's birthday party, you know."

Ye Haoran took a deep breath, a little surprised that Lin Mo had recognized him after only meeting him once. Helplessly, he replied, "I didn't know either. I only realized it was her birthday when she came down just now."

The catering service and venue setup were naturally outsourced.

Ye Haoran had managed to win Zhou Youbai's affection partly because of his good looks.

Though Ye Haoran also attended that elite school, he was only there as a showpiece for academic prestige. His background was very ordinary. Thanks to his decent physique and appearance, he worked as a server at a company specializing in private event catering.

By sheer coincidence, he ended up here.

Lin Mo couldn't help but sigh at how chaotic fate could be.

The worst part was that Ye Haoran couldn't leave this area, since it was the section he was assigned to.

So whether he'd be discovered by others was really up in the air.

Ye Haoran poured Lin Mo another cup of tea. The tea leaves here were high-end stuff, costing several hundred for ten grams.

Though it wasn't the absolute top grade, for an occasion like this, it was already quite good.

Lin Mo didn't say anything more to Ye Haoran. His presence alone might only make it easier for Ye Haoran to be exposed.

So he took the initiative to move away from him.

Ye Haoran cautiously raised his head to watch Lin Mo walk off. He wasn't stupid—he knew exactly why Lin Mo was doing that.

So he quickly threw himself back into the role of a server.

His main priority was to avoid that bunch of schoolmates.

He wasn't in the same class as that group, but his face among them stuck out like a sore thumb.

Upstairs, Zhou Youbai sat in front of the vanity.

"So nice—you've already got him wrapped around your finger, huh?" Zhou Youbai grinned, turning to look at Jiang Yunlu.

She still remembered the two girls who had been standing next to Lin Mo before.

Jiang Yunlu didn't know what Zhou Youbai was thinking, but a smile tugged at her lips. "It's okay, I guess. I do wish he'd be more proactive, but he's just not that into being proactive. Or maybe he's proactive in ways I don't see."

Only Jiang Yunlu herself understood what that meant.

Zhou Youbai sighed.

"You're lucky. Ye Haoran won't talk to me anymore. I thought I didn't care, but... it turns out I care a lot."

Jiang Yunlu took out a necklace and fastened it around Zhou Youbai's neck.

"Then why don't you try to win him back?"

"I said so many harsh things. He won't listen to me now. And besides... I know what pride means."

In plain terms, Zhou Youbai understood how hurtful her words had been. Even if they were just for showing off, to the one who loved her, those words were knives stabbing straight into the heart.

Jiang Yunlu knew just how much Zhou Youbai regretted it.

She also wondered if she would have regretted it as much as Zhou Youbai if she had simply given up on Lin Mo from the start.

Would Cai Junhuang regret cutting ties with Fang Jun?

Lost in these thoughts, Jiang Yunlu finished fastening the necklace she had designed onto Zhou Youbai.

"So beautiful! I love it!" Zhou Youbai's thoughts were pulled back by the necklace.

And her voice yanked Jiang Yunlu back from her own reverie.