Chapter 110

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Chapter 110: I Fly High in the Sky, while You Chase on the Ground!

Li Yuan just passed the Chicken Coop and spotted Qi Fei through the large glass window. Not wanting to miss the chance, he turned around and rushed inside, looking to steal her away.

Lin Mo took a good look at this guy named Li Yuan. He was of average height, with a slight belly and a plump face. Dressed in an expensive white suit, he wore a thick gold chain on his wrist and a shiny necklace around his neck, sporting a smug, carefree smile that clearly showed he was in high spirits.

"I’m not doing much, just serving in the army to earn a living," Lin Mo replied lightly. He felt Qi Fei’s dislike for Li Yuan was well-founded, and he subconsciously didn’t like the guy either.

Seeing this man reminded him of the nouveau riche in the capital of the Su Lan Empire, who thought throwing money around made them invincible, not realizing they were as appetizing as a meal for a Giant Dragon.

"Big soldier? That sounds dull! Who needs clumsy soldiers? Come work with your brother Li! I just started a company, and business is booming. I need hands; if you join, I’ll pay you five thousand a month!" Li Yuan said, flaunting his gold chain, but his eyes revealed a hint of disdain.

Five thousand a month? Lin Mo recalled his own monthly income, which was about five to six times that amount. Working in the Special Forces meant intense combat missions, and the country certainly paid well for that.

"No thanks, I think being a soldier is great. I get to protect my home and country, ensuring everyone can live peacefully and comfortably!" Lin Mo smiled. He had seen regions where military strength couldn’t suppress the various evils, where the people lived in fear and suffering, and it was nothing compared to life in China. Yes, there were corrupt officials, but at least there was food and a safe place to sleep without fear of sudden violence or bombings.

"Hey, you think you’re so important that without you, no one else can serve? With that little allowance, you could barely impress a girl! Look how you’ve made our Qi Fei suffer—stuck eating in such a low-class place. Doesn’t that befit her status?" Li Yuan smoothly shifted the conversation, subtly belittling Lin Mo while attempting to win Qi Fei’s favor.

"Beautiful lady, look at this guy—you can’t expect him to buy a house or a car; he can’t give you happiness. You’d be better off dining with me and enjoying life. Even if you don’t like me now, just wait; I’ll show you I’m a responsible man." Li Yuan boasted, waving his Audi key, feeling confident that Lin Mo was no match for him.

"Hmph! I’m happy where I am, thank you!" Qi Fei declared, moving to sit beside Lin Mo. She wrapped her arm around his to assert her claim over Lin Mo and glared defiantly at Li Yuan. "Don’t think just because you have some money, you’re impressive. Our Xiao Mo will succeed too, and when that happens, you won’t be able to keep up."

Referring to Lin Mo as "our Xiao Mo" clearly signified her claim over him, leaving Li Yuan fuming. How could they be so foolish? A promising young man before him, yet she chose to cling to this useless coward.

In school, Li Yuan had always looked down on Lin Mo, who remained unnoticed and low-key in class. After graduation, Li Yuan started a small company and thrived, becoming arrogant and feeling superior, especially when he encountered the once-silent Lin Mo.

Lin Mo discreetly tugged at Qi Fei’s sleeve, trying to remind her that he hadn’t officially given up any rights. Qi Fei, however, ignored him and playfully pinched him at his side.

Lin Mo realized he had fallen into Qi Fei’s trap, acting as her shield. Feeling her soft arm against his, he kept quiet, maintaining a calm smile. Deep down, he felt a wave of confidence radiating from him, making Qi Fei briefly lose her train of thought. When did he become so handsome when he smiled? How could he say he didn’t have a girlfriend? Something wasn’t right here.

In terms of the Dragon Knight’s aura, Lin Mo was as impressive as the long-established noble families in the Su Lan Empire’s capital. As a representative of the empire’s elite fighting force, he had even received training from royal etiquette officers. His demeanor could hardly be lacking.

"Hmph! Congratulations to you two; goodbye!" Li Yuan huffed, feeling embarrassed by his own failure. He turned to leave, his earlier charm and sophistication completely gone, revealing his impatient, commercial side.

"Don’t mind him, let’s continue!" Qi Fei laughed a little, letting go of Lin Mo’s arm as she looked at Li Yuan’s back. Her expression changed, and she quickly added, "I just did that to get rid of him. Don’t get the wrong idea!"

Before Lin Mo could respond, Qi Fei’s tone softened. "If you want, I’m not against giving you a chance, but you have to show some sincerity!" She spoke quickly, her words almost a whisper. If it hadn’t been for Lin Mo’s keen ears, he might have missed it.

Lin Mo felt somewhat awkward; could it be that Qi Fei truly wanted to give him a chance?

"Ha ha, I can’t afford to take care of you! Just a lowly soldier, it’s hard enough to take care of myself!" But Lin Mo wasn’t easily fooled. After spending this little time with Qi Fei, he understood that this quirky girl was no innocent little girl. Anyone who thought she was would be making a tremendous mistake.

"Hmph, how unromantic!" Qi Fei huffed a few times but didn’t sit across from Lin Mo again. Instead, she plopped down next to him and began happily grabbing chicken from the soup, humming to herself.

"Are you free this afternoon?" Qi Fei asked, tilting her head toward Lin Mo.

"Free? Why do you ask?"

"Just come spend time with me; it feels lonely by myself."

"You don’t really want to pursue me, do you? You should know, I’m a pilot, flying high in the sky while you chase on the ground! Isn’t that tiring for you?" Lin Mo slurped some of the delicious chicken soup, watching Qi Fei.

"You wish! This is just a friendly outing between the captain and a team member!"

Qi Fei rolled her eyes at Lin Mo, surprised by how quick-witted he was.

"Aren’t you supposed to be working?!"

"I’m a freelancer now, doing design work for others. I take jobs when they come and rest when they don’t, using the downtime to study and develop my skills, so I’m perfectly capable of supporting myself."

"Can’t tell at all!"

"Of course not! Otherwise, how could I be your captain? Still into cosplay?”

“People’s hearts have scattered, and it’s hard to lead the team now. All I can do is look at old photos and reminisce. I can also make some short animations to fill the gaps at anime conventions. But enough about me; where are you flying as a pilot right now?!”

“Well, um, sorry, that’s confidential.”

“Confidential?! How boring! I’m full!”

Qi Fei suddenly seemed angry and dropped her chopsticks, no longer wanting to eat.

“It really is a secret. If I told you, you might be in danger. I’m serious, I’m not kidding.”

Lin Mo hurriedly explained.

“I get it, I get it. I believe you, okay? You sound like you’re joining a terrorist organization! Hey, have you eaten enough? If you’re full, come take a walk with me.”

“Um, alright! Waiter, bill please!”

Lin Mo reluctantly set his chopsticks down. To be honest, the place Qi Fei chose was both high-quality and low-priced; the meal for the two of them only cost a little over a hundred yuan, which was quite economical and suited Lin Mo’s taste.

“What about the others in the squad?” Lin Mo asked as he followed Qi Fei along the West Lake for a while, unable to resist breaking the silence that had hung over them since they left the Chicken Coop.

“Everyone’s going their own way! Those of us into Cosplay only had time for it while we were in school. Once we graduated, we had to face the pressures of life directly. Ding Tuo went to work in a foreign company as a sales representative, dealing with medical instruments. Qian Xuan went to a software company, developing office automation tools. Xi Ming Shan took over his dad’s shop in the Huanbei market, becoming a small boss. Chen Ying is still a professional makeup artist, doing bridal makeup in studios, and occasionally takes outside gigs for wedding makeup.”

Lin Mo opened the conversation, and Qi Fei finally started talking more, like a teapot that had just been uncapped.

“Lin Mo, it’s you who’s been so mysterious! You don’t seem like the Lin Mo I used to know. Has something happened to you?”

Women’s natural sensitivity made Lin Mo’s neck hair stand on end. Could it be that she suddenly saw through his disguise as a new version of himself?

“Haha, no! Just that the military has many rules, and I’ve gradually gotten used to them,” Lin Mo said, trying to conceal his unease.

“Have you thought about what you’ll do after retiring?!”

“Maybe I’ll fly as a captain in civil aviation!”

Lin Mo gazed at the rippling lake water. In fact, he had a long flying life ahead of him, and his excellent physical condition would allow him to have a longer flying career than the average pilot.

“Will you return to Hangzhou?”

“Maybe!”

“When are you planning to hold the wedding? Don’t forget to invite me. Even if I’m abroad, I’ll come, since you’re my Cosplay team member!”

“Absolutely!”

Lin Mo and Qi Fei exchanged smiles.

Suddenly, a few sharp whistles sounded, followed by a deep, rumbling engine roar.

Lin Mo and Qi Fei turned to look.

They saw Li Yuan driving a black Audi TT, parked by the roadside, waving at Qi Fei and Lin Mo. “Hey! Don’t just stroll the West Lake along Route 11. Want to get in the car? I can take you for a ride!”