Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 121

Lu Tang was there to complete the task.

Now that the task was done, she couldn’t seriously take someone’s inn. That would be too much.

She glared at Qin Mo, slapped his hand off her shoulder, and quickly whispered, “Don’t bully people.”

Then she turned to Du Zhongming and said, “I was just joking with you, really just joking.”

Du Zhongming couldn’t muster a smile, anxiously looking at Qin Mo.

Qin Mo was still lost in the delight of Lu Tang’s recent scolding, his lips curled into a smile without saying anything.

“I actually came up to return these rewards. I really don’t plan to keep them. I have no use for them and can’t possibly take them all the way back to Qinghe County. I just joined the scramble for fun. Anyway, don’t take what just happened to heart. You two were discussing something, right? You continue, I’ll leave now.”

After apologizing, Lu Tang turned to leave, but before she could take a step, Qin Mo pulled her back by the neck, “You really don’t want them?”

Qin Mo lowered his head, staring intently at Lu Tang’s expression.

Lu Tang wriggled out of his arm, “No, why would I want someone else’s inn? If I want an inn, I’ll build one myself.”

Qin Mo burst into laughter.

So, this little fool was testing him?

To see if he would fulfill her wish? To see if he would pamper her?

Such a cunning little fool.

As soon as the five young masters of Qinshui left, Du Zhongming collapsed into his chair, “Oh my god, you scared me to death!”

Qin Mo, in a good mood, casually sat on a nearby chair, “What are you scared of? The inn is mine. If I want to give it away, I will. It’s not like I’m giving away your inn.”

Du Zhongming turned over and half-leaned on the table, “Master Qin, please be considerate of my fragile heart. Yes, the inn is yours, but without it, how will I gather information? If the inn is gone, you won’t care, but I’ll be the one suffering for it!”

Years ago, Qin Mo had come to Yuhang to handle a corruption case.

Local officials and merchants were colluding, making life miserable for the people.

Qin Mo spent two years here, stamping out the corruption, and opened an inn to monitor the local situation, help balance the local economy, and make some money for himself.

Sipping his tea contentedly, Qin Mo said leisurely, “She saved your son’s life. What’s wrong with giving her the inn? I’m the real owner and I’m willing. Why are you, the nominal owner, fussing?”

Du Zhongming glanced at Qin Mo with a look that said, “You’re crazy, and I have no cure,” and slumped back into his chair, continuing their previous conversation, “Master Qin, when are you going to catch that dog from the Xie family? I’m always on edge, afraid of his retaliation.”

When Qin Mo opened the inn, Du Zhongming was just the owner of a failing small inn in Yuhang.

He was a good businessman but refused to collude with local officials, so his inn was struggling.

Later, Qin Mo came along, appreciated his character and abilities, and bought his small failing inn. Over time, Du Zhongming only knew that Qin Mo was working for high officials but didn’t know his true identity. He always thought Qin Mo was a steward for some high-ranking official.

Qin Mo, sipping tea lazily, said, “No rush. Just do your part.”

The thing is, there’s no point in rushing.

Xie Jin was bait to catch Huang Yunsheng. If Huang Yunsheng didn’t take the bait, everything would be in vain.

Meanwhile, Lu Tang couldn’t wait.

After coming down from the second floor, Lu Tang was about to return to her room to figure out how to handle the upcoming water control test when Xu Shen grabbed her, “Little Tang, I need to talk to you.”

Liang Cheng, hearing this, was so anxious he nearly choked, hopping over on his bad leg, “About what?”

Qin Mo’s earlier antics had already made Liang Cheng jealous. Now what was Xu Shen planning?

A confession?

Liang Cheng nervously glared at Xu Shen, his heart pounding.

Zhou Shu and Guo Dawei also came over, curious, “About what?”

Xu Shen cursed internally. How could he say anything with all of them there?

This was Little Tang’s secret. After all, two men involved in such a matter was disgraceful.

He waved them off, “I just wanted to ask Little Tang when we should go to Lingyin Temple.”

Liang Cheng’s intuition told him Xu Shen didn’t actually want to say this, but since he couldn’t directly speak out, he had to go along, “Go where? Who knows what madness Xie Jin’s father might do? What if he retaliates?”

Zhou Shu immediately wailed, “Huh? But we can’t stay in the inn forever. We might as well go back.”

Guo Dawei rolled his eyes at Zhou Shu, “Go back? Xie Yu is still missing. How can we leave without confirming his safety?”

“Congratulations, Host, on completing the task. You have received a reward.”

“The reward is a reading map. The physical item is being transported. Please prepare.”

Lu Tang shivered, “You guys discuss. I’m heading back to my room.”

With that, she rushed to her room.

Liang Cheng wanted to follow, but his leg was inconvenient, so he had to give up, watching helplessly as Lu Tang left. He then turned to Xu Shen, “What were you going to say to Little Tang?”

Zhou Shu and Guo Dawei looked puzzled.

“Didn’t Brother Shen say we were going to Lingyin Temple?”

Liang Cheng ignored them, staring at Xu Shen, “Think carefully before you speak. We grew up together as brothers. Don’t say anything that will ruin our friendship.”

Xu Shen’s eyes widened. What did Liang Cheng mean? Was he warning him not to meddle in Little Tang and Qin Mo’s affairs?

Did Liang Cheng also know?

After a moment’s hesitation, Xu Shen tested, “Aren’t you going to ask?”

Liang Cheng’s heart sank. Sure enough, Xu Shen also had feelings for Little Tang. But how did Xu Shen find out Little Tang was a girl?

There was no time to think. Liang Cheng felt a mess inside. He took a trembling breath, “I’m not going to ask unless Little Tang needs me to.”

Now Xu Shen was sure, Liang Cheng knew.

“How will you know when Little Tang needs you to ask?”

“If she’s hurt, if she’s unhappy, if she has to get married.” Each situation made Liang Cheng feel worse.

Before, he thought he still had a chance, but now with Xu Shen in the picture, his chances had dropped from fifty percent to twenty-five percent.

Life is so hard.

Xu Shen nodded thoughtfully, “Alright, you’re more considerate. I was impulsive, but…”

Xu Shen wanted to say he was worried that Lu Tang and Qin Mo would get into trouble. After all, two men together could lead to disaster. But with Zhou Shu and Guo Dawei around, he couldn’t say it.

Even though they were all brothers, Little Tang hadn’t told them, so she didn’t want them to know.

He and Liang Cheng had figured it out and should keep her secret.

Waving his hand, Xu Shen smiled, “No worries. We didn’t finish our meal. Let’s go eat.”

Zhou Shu and Guo Dawei were confused, staring at each other.

Zhou Shu: “Do you understand what they’re talking about?”

Guo Dawei: “It’s normal not to understand. Don’t we often not understand what they’re talking about?”

Zhou Shu: “True!”