CHAPTER 126: CHAPTER 123: CAN YOU FORGIVE ME?

Qi Longbing saw that she didn’t answer the call, so he sent her a text message instead.

It was a mood, a confession, and an apology all at once; in short, it was an unbearable, aching longing in the depths of his heart, along with that unspeakable fondness...

Xiao Mo, I’m sorry, please forgive me? I will respect you, like you, cherish you, until you accept me. Love, your Bing.

Qi Longbing kept revising the text message, always feeling something was not quite right, until after several edits and deletions, only these words remained.

Qi Longbing stared at the message, tossing and turning on the bed as he read it over and over. He couldn’t help but imagine what expression she would have upon seeing it. Surprise, astonishment, disdain, or just a passing smile? Or was she secretly scoffing at his wishful thinking? But still...

Qi Longbing thought about every interaction they had had, how she had devotedly sketched a figure for him on the tower, such a concentrated look... so endearing! The more Qi Longbing thought about it, the more he recalled how he had just smiled. This intoxication was beyond compare... no adjective could describe this feeling.

He hadn’t even sent the text, but his shoulders had already slumped.

His strikingly handsome face flushed scarlet with an unusual frenzy, making him look singularly captivating.

Qi Longbing’s eyes were glazed with emotion, his shoulders felt weak. He shook his head with a wry smile, and for a long while, his gaze remained fixed unblinkingly on the ceiling.

Suddenly, "HAHAHA..." He burst into wild laughter, which lasted a long, long time before it finally stopped.

"Xiao Mo... you torturous creature, I must have you!" Qi Longbing sneered, grabbing his phone and, without further hesitation, pressed the send button.

The text message was sent straight to Hua Xiaomo’s phone, yet the person who looked at it remained silent for a long, long time.

Mo Rutian’s handsome features were shadowed by his cascading locks, but the darkness and chill in his eyes could not be obscured.

Mo Rutian’s gaze tightened as he read the message.

It was like someone was snatching a toy, but she was not anyone’s toy; she belonged to herself... But why couldn’t she make her own choices? Why did they have to resort to such despicable means to snatch her?

Suddenly, a small, icy arc etched itself at the corner of his thin lips, devoid of any trace of warmth or brightness.

He held the phone, his eyes growing dark, and swiftly, his fingers moved, composing a reply and sending it immediately.

Qi Longbing, you demon, I have never liked you! I have nothing but endless hatred for you! Please stop pestering me from now on! And give up any foolish fantasies! Goodbye.

Mo Rutian sent the text, a graceful smile playing upon his lips... This time, let’s see how Qi Longbing can be so smug. Hua Xiaomo surely won’t bother with him anymore. That way, Qi Longbing will think Hua Xiaomo rejected him, which is perfect. It spares me some trouble. Qi Longbing, you jerk, you surely won’t be able to continue your vile ways any longer. No matter what, I won’t let him succeed. My intuition tells me that guy is truly despicable, annoying, and so full of himself.

And the person reading the message on the other end was undoubtedly plummeting from heaven straight to hell!

Clutching the phone, Qi Longbing seemed frozen in that moment. She actually sent a message like this? How could she? Did she really want to say these things to me? After everything I said, why would she say this to me? It’s impossible for me to accept. Such a blow, such words... this is truly torture.

Suddenly, BANG!

He threw his luxurious Vertu phone, worth millions, as if it were a brick.

"Damn woman, so detestable!" Qi Longbing cursed coarsely as he sat up from the bed, his handsome face darkening to an unfathomable ugliness.

His hands clenched very, very tightly...

His mood had reached an unparalleled low.

...

The night was deep and silent, the moon enticingly bright. A charming light accompanied the young woman on her solitary return.

When Hua Xiaomo took a taxi back to Chaohu Alley, the headlights of a car parked by the roadside suddenly flashed.

Hua Xiaomo instinctively turned her head to look at the car, shielding her eyes with her hand.

A man quickly got out of the Mercedes and walked briskly towards her.

When Hua Xiaomo clearly saw the man’s face, she was so astonished that she was at a loss for words.

"Brother Long! How could it be you?" Hua Xiaomo’s eyes were wide with surprise.

He was not dressed in a suit as usual but wore a stylish gray trench coat, its fine quality enveloping his lean figure. His face looked exceptionally handsome and almost otherworldly.

"I’ve been waiting here for you to come back," Long Shangxuan said. His gaze upon her was profound, yet carried a subtle detachment.

"You... were waiting for me?" Hua Xiaomo’s eyes flickered uncertainly, but her heart began to pound uncontrollably.

"I heard..." Long Shangxuan fell silent for a moment, his handsome face remarkably calm as he slowly asked, "Are you dating Qi Longbing?"

"..." Hua Xiaomo was completely taken aback. Just as she had expected, the events of the afternoon had reached his ears. But she wanted to clarify, she wanted to deny it...

After a long pause, Hua Xiaomo did not speak, her gaze somewhat lost, and her expression darkened significantly again.

There were some things she did not want him to know, much less have him worry about. She believed she could handle them well on her own. At least until now, hadn’t she always managed just fine?

Long Shangxuan looked at her for a long time as she remained silent, his long, narrow phoenix eyes darkening slightly, a hint of suspicion stirring in his heart.

"Xiao Mo, I’m not trying to interfere, it’s just..." Long Shangxuan began, but didn’t finish.

"Brother Long, things are not as you imagine. Do you believe me? I am not dating him," Hua Xiaomo said quickly, looking into his eyes, her heart racing even faster.

"Mm," Long Shangxuan replied, finally smiling as if relieved. "I knew it. You wouldn’t be interested in someone like him."

Someone like Qi Longbing, how could he be worthy of Hua Xiaomo’s love? He had always thought Hua Xiaomo was an excellent girl, deserving of a fine young man’s affection, not someone like Qi Longbing. Qi Longbing was rather unlikable and made people uncomfortable. In short, he would never let Hua Xiaomo fall for that Qi Longbing.

A single casual comment seemed to have utterly condemned Qi Longbing. It was as if, compared to Mo Rutian, Qi Longbing’s character and virtues were miles behind.

Of course, only Long Shangxuan himself knew deep down who he was truly comparing Qi Longbing to.

"Brother Long, about this afternoon..." Hua Xiaomo started to say, remembering something, but then she trailed off.

"I’m sorry, I was held up by company matters at noon and couldn’t make it. Xiao Mo, you’re not mad at Brother Long, are you?" Long Shangxuan said with a warm smile.

Hua Xiaomo shook her head, a smile gracing her pretty face as well.

Long Shangxuan looked at her, a soft light reflecting in his eyes, and then he advised, "In the future... don’t come back so late. It’s dangerous for a young woman to be out alone, you know?"