Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 59

Having lived so many years without ever being overly humble, Qin Mo didn’t know what came over him, but the words just spilled out without thinking, “Wasn’t I just being kind?”

Lu Tang:

From his tone, he even sounded a bit wronged.

Stopping in her tracks, Lu Tang turned to look at Qin Mo.

Qin Mo’s face still looked grumpy. As soon as Lu Tang turned to stare at him, his eyes shifted away, and he half-closed his eyelids.

“People in this world are strange. They can make any unreasonable requests. If the inn’s waiter is enthusiastic and meets an unreasonable guest, at least you, the young owner, can step in. But if you, the young owner, personally welcome guests, what can you do if something happens? Can you call in someone even more powerful to handle it? You lack experience in running an inn. What’s wrong with me giving you some advice?”

Listening to his awkward reasoning, Lu Tang couldn’t help but laugh. “If you want to apologize, just apologize. Stop dragging out a bunch of useless nonsense.”

Saying that, Lu Tang sat down again.

“I’m not stupid. Can’t I tell the difference between unreasonable demands and normal customers?”

You’re the one making unreasonable demands!

Qin Mo looked at Lu Tang with a hint of sadness, “Who talks to guests behind closed doors?”

Lu Tang glared at Qin Mo. “I not only talk to you behind closed doors, but I also applied medicine to you. And you even took off your clothes!”

“Am I the same as them?” Qin Mo retorted immediately.

Lu Tang:

As soon as he spoke, Qin Mo felt a strange wave of irritation and grievance.

Did that burly man want Lu Tang to help him apply medicine too? Would she share a room with him and use her fingers to gently apply the medicine to his wounds while he took off his shirt?

Looking straight at Lu Tang, Qin Mo asked, “I helped you solve the problem with the Qiao Village. Did they help?”

Lu Tang:

Alright, fine!

It is different!

You even kidnapped me!

Qin Mo:

Didn’t you want to acknowledge me as your father?

Lu Tang:

Their eyes locked, and they stared at each other for a while without speaking. The carriage continued to move, and after a long time, Lu Tang’s gaze slowly dropped to her wrist.

“Can you let go?”

Qin Mo abruptly let go as if scalded by boiling water. His ears turned red as he looked away, grumbling, “How can a grown man be so skinny? Your wrist is not even half as thick as mine!”

And you’re short too!

Lu Tang rolled her eyes. “Why are we going to Qiao village?”

“To draw the snake out of its hole,” Qin Mo replied, feeling a strange tightness in his chest.

Meanwhile, at Lu Yuchen’s house.

Gu Yunhe was drinking tea and reading a book about local legends when a servant rushed in. “Master, the young master of the Lu family has gone to Qiao Village.”

Gu Yunhe immediately put down his book. “When?”

“He left a quarter of an hour ago,” the servant replied, bowing his head. “He went with a guest from their inn.”

When Qin Mo and Song Qingzhan checked into the Qiao Family Inn, Gu Yunhe had taken note of them.

Not because he suspected anything, but because he planned to target the Qiao family and wanted to keep an eye on the inn’s happenings.

Frowning, Gu Yunhe found it strange. Why would Lu Tang go to Qiao Village with a guest from the inn?

What for?

Unable to figure it out, he instructed, “Go tell Qiao Tiezhu to be on guard.”

The servant obeyed and left.

At Qiao Village.

Lu Tang and the others arrived just as dusk fell.

Smoke curled up from the chimneys as families prepared dinner.

The Qiao family had a large house in Qiao Village, well-staffed. Surprised by Lu Tang’s sudden arrival, they hurried to greet him.

The steward of the house, Qiao Tiezhu, a simple and honest-looking man in his forties, walked alongside Lu Tang, leading him to the main house. “Young Master, why didn’t you send word ahead? We could have prepared.”

Lu Tang smiled casually, “I was in Sihe Town nearby and wanted to eat your wife’s spicy fish, so I came.”

Qiao Tiezhu was stunned, then laughed. “You’re in luck. We caught some fish this afternoon and they’re still in the big tank, big and fat. I’ll have my wife cook it right away.”

As he spoke, his eyes shifted to Qin Mo. “Is this young master’s friend? I don’t think I’ve seen him before.”

Qin Mo was dressed in plain clothes. Lu Tang glanced at him, “No, he’s my new servant.”

Qin Mo:

Qiao Tiezhu’s eyes lingered on Qin Mo’s face and then his hands.

His hands were smooth and delicate, not like a servant’s.

Smiling, Qiao Tiezhu didn’t say more. “Young Master, you can freshen up first. I’ll bring the fish to you when it’s ready.”

【System detected a championship task. Please prepare.】

Lu Tang was about to step over the threshold when the system’s voice sounded in her mind. She turned to Qin Mo and said, “You wait outside. I’ll come find you after I freshen up. Don’t go far!”

With that, she closed the door behind her.

Qin Mo:

Qin Mo almost hit his nose on the door.

He was locked outside?

He was really locked outside?

How bold!

Then he heard the sound of the little fool bolting the door from inside.

Qin Mo:

Qiao Tiezhu glanced at Qin Mo, nodded politely, and walked away.

Feeling upset, Qin Mo stood under the eaves with a cold expression.

Inside, Lu Tang flopped onto the clean bed. “What task?”

【Please complete the task of lighting up the entire village and win the championship.】

“Lighting up the entire village?”

【Yes, you need to visit every household in the village, commonly known as paying a visit.】

Lu Tang:

“How do I win the championship? Who am I competing against?”

【The system doesn’t know. Please use your intelligence to complete the task, dear~】

“Speak plainly!”

【I really don’t know. If I knew, I would tell you. If you fail the task, I also get punished.】

Lu Tang clicked her tongue and sat up from the bed. “Is there a time limit?”

【Before dawn.】

Lu Tang rolled her eyes.

Before dawn?

Who visits houses in the middle of the night!

Why not just say before going to sleep?

With no leisure activities, villagers typically went to bed early. Not wanting to waste time, Lu Tang got up, quickly washed her face, and headed out.

As soon as she stepped out, she met Qin Mo’s grumpy face.

“Are you done freshening up, Young Master?”

Ignoring his sarcastic tone, Lu Tang walked up to him and whispered, “You said to draw the snake out of the hole. How do we do that?”

Standing close, her warm breath brushed against Qin Mo’s chin, making him feel a sudden itch. The anger in his chest seemed to dissipate a bit. He raised his hand to touch his chin and looked down at her. Lu Tang’s temples were still damp, and wet hair clung to her face.

Her dark hair made her skin look even fairer.

Why is this fool so pale? Is she sick?

Frowning, Qin Mo said, “I want to meet the villagers.”

Lu Tang suddenly understood. No wonder he wanted her to come along. Without her, Qin Mo, a stranger, asking around in the village would alarm Huang Yunsheng and Gu Yunhe, not to mention the villagers.

But

The system mentioned a competition. Is it a competition with Qin Mo?

Determined to win, Lu Tang smiled. “If that’s the case, let’s go now.”