Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 88

From the bandits’ hideout to Sihe Town, Qin Mo spurred his horse at full speed.

He didn’t even know why he was so excited, feeling an endless supply of energy coursing through him. All the way, he kept imagining how the little fool would thank him once he arrived in Sihe Town.

And what did he find?

After nearly exhausting his horse, he arrived to see the little fool sitting there, hugging another man.

“You, come out here!”

His anger shot straight to his head, and Qin Mo glared at Lu Tang with gritted teeth.

Lu Tang shivered under his gaze, feeling as if this man wanted to devour her alive.

Shrinking her neck, Lu Tang let go of Xie Yu and slowly stood up.

Why was he back?

When did he get back?

Before she could fully rise, Xie Yu’s large, strong hand pressed down on her shoulder, causing her to sit back down with a thud.

Xie Yu stood up abruptly, his face bristling with anger, glaring at Qin Mo, “What do you want?”

Qin Mo: !

What did he want?

Was this guy trying to stand up for the little fool?

His anger flared, and Qin Mo sneered, “What, you want to fight?”

Xie Yu, looking unfazed, tilted his head and cracked his neck, making a series of popping sounds. He took a step toward Qin Mo.

Frightened, Lu Tang hurriedly stepped in to block him.

“What are you doing? Why fight? This is a civilized society; can’t we talk things out?” Lu Tang grabbed Xie Yu’s arm. “You focus so much on studying, but why do you get so angry and want to fight?”

Xie Yu, who seemed very obedient to Lu Tang, stopped when she pulled him, looking into her eyes seriously, “He wants to bully you. With me here, I won’t let anyone bully you.”

Qin Mo’s fists clenched, making cracking sounds, and he took two steps forward, grabbing Lu Tang by the neck.

As his fingers touched her neck, Lu Tang shivered from the coldness of his hand and turned to look at Qin Mo.

Qin Mo glared back, “Let go.”

Lu Tang glared back at him, “You’re the one grabbing me!”

Was this man crazy?

Who provoked him? He kicked open the guest room door and started yelling.

Qin Mo felt like he was about to explode with anger. Without saying another word, he grabbed Lu Tang’s wrist with one hand while the other still held her neck. Applying a bit of force, Lu Tang, feeling the pain, let go of Xie Yu’s arm, and Qin Mo swiftly pulled her behind him.

Blocking Lu Tang protectively, he faced Xie Yu. “Who are you to him?”

Xie Yu puffed out his chest, his presence almost overpowering Qin Mo’s aura.

“I’m Young Master Lu’s friend. If you bully my friend, you’re bullying me. As long as I’m here—”

Qin Mo interrupted with a cold laugh, “Friend? I’m his father!”

With that, he turned and dragged Lu Tang away.

Xie Yu immediately panicked, reaching out to stop them and shouting at Qin Mo, “What are you doing?”

Afraid they might actually fight, Lu Tang hurriedly explained to Xie Yu, “He’s not bullying me, really. He just needs to talk to me. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Already fuming, Qin Mo grew even angrier as Lu Tang stopped to explain. Without thinking, he bent down, scooped Lu Tang up, and carried her in his arms.

Lu Tang’s last words turned into a startled cry.

Before she could scream, Qin Mo growled, “Shut up. If you say another word and I end up killing someone, it’s not my responsibility.”

Lu Tang: !

Carrying Lu Tang, Qin Mo didn’t spare another glance at Xie Yu and headed straight to the third-floor guest room.

Xie Yu stood there, dumbfounded.

Should he go up and stop them?

But it seemed that Young Master Lu and this man had a closer relationship than with him.

Being carried away, Young Master Lu didn’t struggle.

So, even though Young Master Lu agreed to be his friend, was he just an ordinary friend to Young Master Lu?

For a moment, Xie Yu felt a bit hurt.

Third Floor

Qin Mo only hesitated for a moment before kicking open the door to Lu Tang’s room, carrying her inside. He kicked the door shut behind him, walked a few steps to the bed, and threw her onto it.

Despite the soft bedding, there was a hard plank underneath. Lu Tang felt like she had nearly been killed by the impact.

Tears sprang to her eyes, and she scrambled to her feet, glaring at Qin Mo, “What are you doing?”

Qin Mo didn’t expect Lu Tang to cry.

Her fair face, with a hint of red at the corners of her eyes, was tear-streaked. Her eyes were misty as she sat on the messy bed, looking up at him with red lips and white teeth.

Qin Mo felt something brush across his heart, leaving him a bit parched.

He even had the urge to make the little fool cry some more by hurting her a bit more.

Was he missing the battlefield and killing?

Damn!

Was he crazy?

Annoyed, he grabbed the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea, downing it in one gulp. “Why are you crying?”

His tone wasn’t great, but it was better than it had been downstairs.

Lu Tang wiped her tears with the back of her hand, “If you were thrown onto the bed and hit like that, wouldn’t you cry?”

After downing three cups of cold tea, Qin Mo’s anger subsided a bit.

He pulled out a chair, straddling it with his long legs, and said to Lu Tang, “Where did you get hurt? I’ll massage it for you.”

Lu Tang immediately fell silent.

Her chest was hurt.

Was that something he could massage?

Seeing her silence, Qin Mo scanned her up and down, recalling the force he had used and the way he had thrown her. He realized that her chest must have taken the brunt of the impact.

That height would cause pain but wouldn’t cause injury.

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, Qin Mo said, “You’re so delicate. As a man, you can’t even handle a little bump. I told you to eat more, but you wouldn’t listen. If you had more meat on your bones, would you be crying over a little bump?”

Lu Tang: !

Isn’t it because of the meat that it hurts?

If I were as thin as you, would it hurt?

You fool!

Rolling her eyes inwardly, Lu Tang snapped at Qin Mo, “Why were you so angry just now? You hadn’t even spoken to him before, where did all that anger come from?”

Qin Mo’s smile vanished, and he replied stiffly, “I was bored!”

Lu Tang: !

You’re not bored, you’re crazy.

“You—”

“You—”

They both fell silent for a moment, speaking simultaneously.

“You first,” Qin Mo said, downing another cup of tea.

Lu Tang glanced at him. How long had it been since he drank water to be this thirsty?

Originally, Lu Tang wanted to ask how long he planned to stay this time, but the words stuck in her throat.

“Do you know Xie Chengnian?” Lu Tang asked instead.

Qin Mo paused in his tea drinking, “Xie Chengnian? Why?”

“Do you know him?”

Lu Tang didn’t explain why she was asking, and Qin Mo studied her for a moment before replying, “Xie Chengnian, from Yuhang, was the top scholar of his year. After five years in the Ministry of Works, he was promoted to Minister of Works at twenty-five, the youngest in history, highly favored by the late Emperor. However, less than three years into his tenure, he resigned and returned to his hometown, never to re-enter officialdom.”

Lu Tang knew Qin Mo worked in the government, so she asked him about Xie Chengnian.

She didn’t expect him to be so knowledgeable about Xie Chengnian.