Chapter 42 Part 1

Time passed in a flash, and over an hour slipped by unnoticed. It was nearly five-thirty when Shi Youwan finally ended the video call and closed her laptop.

Chi Yumo faced toward Shi Youwan, her eyes closed as if she had fallen asleep.

Her earphones had shifted slightly.

Shi Youwan wanted to help her take them off so she could sleep more comfortably. She leaned in closer, but as soon as her hand touched the earphones playing a gentle melody, the girl alertly opened her eyes.

Her dark eyes were hazy with faint wisps of mist, and Shi Youwan couldn’t tell if they held lazy trust toward her or wary resistance.

Chi Yumo woke up fully and subtly shifted to the left, sitting up straight before removing the earphones herself.

She figured it must have been her “competitive spirit” acting up, making her despicably hold Shi Youwan’s hand in front of Yin Man to show off.

It had been a moment of impulse, not a declaration that she still loved Shi Youwan or that Shi Youwan was her Omega.

“Xiao Mo.” Shi Youwan called to her. “Do you have plans this evening?”

The annoyed Alpha was lost in a daze, dumbly fiddling with her backpack zipper as she scolded herself for doing something rude and misleading.

Yet what Yin Man had said was undeniably true, and it made her heart ache for Shi Youwan.

It ached so much that she greedily wanted to ask: Shi Youwan, what made you fall for me? Did you do those things back then to protect me, or to protect yourself?

But Shi Youwan, my heart is already scarred beyond repair, my life shattered into pieces that can’t be put back together.

So, stop loving me. Stop caring about me. Love yourself and protect yourself instead.

“Xiao Mo?”

Chi Yumo typed: 【Is that old famous Chinese restaurant far?】

—There was an old famous Chinese restaurant on Lingnan Road, run by an elderly couple in their sixties. She didn’t know if Shi Youwan had been there before. Would she accompany her to have dinner there?

They hadn’t yet had a proper one-on-one meal. She could consider it paying back what she owed her today.

Shi Youwan was overjoyed. “Not far.”

【Let’s agree upfront—this meal is on me. I have a job and legitimate income.】

Chi Yumo had forgotten that the day before heading out to sea, during a similar “dinner invite” conversation, she had typed “I’ll treat” but never sent it.

“Sure, you treat.”

Shi Youwan smiled and agreed immediately.

Her relationship with Xiao Mo was improving, and as long as it was something Xiao Mo requested, she would agree to any demand.

She had been deeply regretful that they hadn’t shared the carefully prepared dinner on the yacht yesterday.

She hadn’t held out much hope and figured it would be a long time before the next chance to invite Xiao Mo out. Unexpectedly, today brought this pleasant surprise.

So, Xiao Mo must have been telling the truth?

Yin Man hadn’t made things difficult for her.

If Yin Man had offended Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo would only want to avoid her even more. Why else would she proactively ask about that Chinese restaurant?

However, a pleasant dinner didn’t mean Xiao Mo had fully lowered her defenses.

…

That night, Yin Man waited at Shi Youwan’s door until she returned.

“Youwan…”

“Yin Man, I don’t want to hear a single word of explanation.” Shi Youwan heartlessly shut her out.

No matter Yin Man’s good intentions, she absolutely should not have deliberately gone behind her back to disturb Xiao Mo after Shi Youwan had explicitly forbidden it.

Even if she hadn’t verbally hurt Xiao Mo, Shi Youwan didn’t want anyone close to her ignoring her advice and causing “trouble” for Xiao Mo.

Yin Man checked out that very night and left the hotel.

It was nearly dawn when she sent a very long message.

—【I’m sorry, Youwan. I know meeting her privately would make you angry, and you have every right to be. No matter how long you ignore me, I’ll accept it. But I swear on my dignity—I didn’t threaten or force her. She’s the person you like, the one you treasure so much. How could I harm her? But Youwan, as your friend, I’ve seen the pain you’ve endured for her, the tears you’ve shed. Why can’t I speak up for you? Some things, some words—if I don’t say them, she’ll never know. But she has the right and qualification to know; she should know. She could have refused to meet me, right? Since she came, it proves she wanted to learn the truth she didn’t know. I gave her the answers as she wished—doesn’t that count as doing good for her too? So I don’t think meeting her alone was wrong. If there’s any fault, it’s just the timing wasn’t ideal. But when would the timing be ideal? Wait until you’re drowning deeper in self-blame and guilt? Until you’ve hurt yourself black and blue and can’t chase after her anymore? Or until she has someone new by her side? In my view, sooner is better. Rest assured, this is the last time. I’ve said what needed saying, and I won’t go to her again.】

Yin Man had revealed her own hidden illness to Xiao Mo to clear Shi Youwan’s name.

Yet in the whole arranged marriage matter, the one least qualified to cry injustice was Shi Youwan herself.

The one most deserving of punishment was also her.

She didn’t want Yin Man to meet Xiao Mo—not just because she worried about Yin Man’s usual “arrogant” style making Xiao Mo uncomfortable, but also because she feared Yin Man would use her own illness to vouch for the purity of their relationship.

If exposing Yin Man’s privacy was what it took for Xiao Mo to believe their relationship was innocent, then what trust or true love was there between Xiao Mo and her?

Regaining Xiao Mo’s trust and love should be her own arduous journey of self-proof and trial, not a friend sacrificing to pave a shortcut strewn with gravel.

Walking that path would hurt her friend, hurt her, and make Xiao Mo think what of them?

…

Rest and work alternated as Chi Yumo mechanically ate and drank, mechanically shot her photos, indifferent to everything and unable to muster any enthusiasm.

She had bottled herself up, turning into a wooden puppet.

Emotionless, loveless, yet full of desire and need.

But her desires no longer included Shi Youwan—they only concerned her mother.

On the evening of October 4th, her agent Nianhua saw her and Chen Qiuxue off at the airport to meet the organizing committee. “Once you’re in Lan Wei, follow the committee’s arrangements. We’ve spoken to the lead from back home—they’ll take extra good care of you.”

Shen Muxi had schedules in another province these two days and was too “busy” to check on her, so Nianhua relayed all the reminders.

“Don’t worry, Hua Jie. I’ll dutifully take good care of Miss Mo.” Chen Qiuxue’s English was decent enough for basic chats with international friends.

“I’m not going. You two head out—stay safe and handle everything carefully.”

Nianhua headed home, and Chi Yumo and Chen Qiuxue pulled their suitcases toward the main group.

They weren’t the last to arrive. The three contestants who had arrived before Chi Yumo had already checked their luggage—some alone, some with a companion. Companions paid their own way.

Everyone had long seen that this champion was as cold as unmelting millennial ice, so no one approached her that evening.

“Miss Mo, give me the suitcase. I’ll handle check-in.” Chen Qiuxue, bearing heavy responsibility, had researched international flights and nearby hotels, food, and transport thoroughly.

Though traveling with the team, there would be free time amid all those days.

Her first time abroad, to the beautiful and bustling Fashion Capital of Lan Wei, with generous travel expenses—her heart bubbled with delight.

The early morning airport was sparsely populated, unlike the daytime clamor. This hour brought tranquility and ease.

But day or night, the airport was a city of time, with all sorts of people shuttling through, each with their own stories and moods.

Chi Yumo wore her earphones, but no music played inside.

Since parting from dinner with Shi Youwan that day, she couldn’t listen to music anymore. The earphones were just to fool others.

“Mo Yu!”

“Mo Mo!”

“Mo Yu-jie!”

Suddenly, a small group rushed toward her with support banners, calling out various nicknames.

Chi Yumo removed her earphones and hung them around her neck, looking at them seriously.

“Mo Yu-jie, we’re all your little inkfish! We knew you were flying to Lan Wei in the early morning, so we teamed up to send you off, cheer you on, and look forward to you getting a great placing in the international contest~” The long-haired girl in the front center spoke first.

Her voice and smile were both sweet; by her height and age, she seemed like a student.

“Mo Yu-jie, we built a fan group and a super topic. ‘Little inkfish’ was voted by everyone as our fan name—it was just decided today, and we came specially to tell you~” Another short-haired girl added.

Little inkfish?

Hearing the name suddenly, Chi Yumo’s mind echoed with another gentle, half-smiling voice.

—Did sister taste what fish it was?

—It’s… little inkfish.

Yumo, Mo Yu, inkfish. So that’s how it was…

Not many fans had come—all girls around the same age, total of eight, each holding support banners. The “lead” girl also carried a stack of photos.

“We like you so, so much. This is a letter we wrote to you.” The envelope was under the photos; she pulled out the thick stack of letters first. “They’re all together, with lots of them—our true heartfelt words. Please read them.”

The girl presented them with both hands, and Chi Yumo received them with both hands. Airport send-offs were a form of fan chasing stars, but was she even a “star”?

She was just an amateur model new to the T-stage, her “fame” earned through public opinion and controversy.

What virtue or ability did she have?

“Here are ten photo prints of jie. Could jie sign them? There are lots of little inkfish sisters across the country who live far away—not as lucky as us few, living in the same city and seeing jie in real life. We’ll raffle the signed photos to the little inkfish in the fan group.” The girl looked up at Chi Yumo shyly. “Mo Yu-jie, is that okay?”

Moved by the girls’ sincerity, Chi Yumo nodded. After stowing the letters in her backpack, she took the photos and gold signing pen from the girl.

The company hadn’t designed a signature for her yet, but luckily, Grandma had supervised her handwriting practice since childhood—her neat script was attractive.

Her palms were large, holding the photos steady; she signed them in minutes and handed back the photos and pen.

“Thank you, Mo Yu-jie!” The girl happily took them, hesitating whether to ask for a group photo. It was their first time organizing an in-person fan send-off; they worried Mo Yu would find them too forward, lacking boundaries.

The other girls couldn’t hold back. One raised her camera and asked loudly, “Mo Yu-jie, can we take a group photo together?”

By then, Chen Qiuxue had returned after checking the luggage.

Seeing Mo Yu surrounded from afar, she thought there was trouble—until she got close and saw the orderly fans with support banners.

She saw such scenes often with entertainment celebs but hadn’t expected Mo Yu to have die-hard fans chasing her for an early morning send-off right after “debuting.”

Chen Qiuxue stood behind the fans, signing to Chi Yumo: 【Group photo?】

Chi Yumo had worn a mask into the airport and kept it on. She was used to wearing it out these days, preferred low-key travel, and disliked being called out by passersby.

Thanks to facing cameras in nearly every job, the girls’ phone and camera shots hadn’t bothered her.

If it wasn’t genuine support and liking, who would come to the airport in the dead of night for her?

A group photo was a “return gift” she could give.

Seeing Chi Yumo nod, Chen Qiuxue smiled and stepped forward. “Thanks for the send-off. I’m Mo Yu’s assistant, Chen Qiuxue. I’ll take the group photo for you. Camera or phone?”

“Camera! I brought a camera.” The girl beamed, unlooping the strap. “Press this button. Take a few shots, thanks Xue-jie.”

“Got it. Everyone, move over here a bit—the background will look nicer.” Chen Qiuxue directed.

Chi Yumo was surrounded in the middle as they finished the group photo. The girls excitedly took selfies with their phones, and Chi Yumo happily obliged, even bending down to match their heights.

Suddenly, a familiar voice drifted over.

“Mo Yu, I like you a lot too. I’m your fan. Can I also take a photo with you?”