Give Her a Chance to Flirt! - Chapter 20.2

Chapter 20.2

Yu Yihan had not expected her to show up.

She had people monitoring Lin Momo’s movements; up until this morning, the feedback from Assistant Yu was that Lin Momo was at the Lin residence and had not come out.

According to news from the servants at Lin Yuan’s house, Lin Momo was having a rather difficult time at home as well.

Based on the servants’ reports, Yu Yihan speculated that she hadn’t used her ability to torment Lin Yuan’s family again—though she wasn’t sure if the ability had vanished or if Lin Momo had found her conscience.

But unexpectedly, Lin Momo appeared today, and she had company.

Yu Yihan straightened her posture.

Also noticing Lin Momo was Zhao Chun, who was browsing the exhibition with her father.

She immediately took a photo and sent it to Lin Jiu:

“Little Jiu, look, isn’t this Lin Momo? Guess what? She’s not at your family’s booth; she’s wandering around the Xu family’s booth with Xu Xian.”

The phone vibrated.

Lin Jiu wiped her hands, picked up her phone, and saw Zhao Chun’s message.

At the same time, the long-absent System came online.

“Host, my investigation is nearly complete. I need you to see Lin Momo one more time so I can finally confirm her identity.”

The Tea Exhibition.

Lin Momo looked at the glass cabinet beside her.

Inside lay premium Anji White Tea. Her gaze bypassed the tea leaves and fell on the reflection in the glass.

In the glass, her cheeks looked rosy, but only she knew that was entirely thanks to blush; beneath the makeup, her complexion was as pale as paper.

The Halo around her neck emitted a faint glow, which was almost negligible in broad daylight.

Struggle flickered constantly in Lin Momo’s eyes.

Xu Xian leaned in from behind:

“Momo, how is the setup here? I ordered it myself.”

Lin Momo gave a perfunctory smile, dodging Xu Xian who had leaned in too close, and praised:

“It’s quite beautiful, and the theme is very distinct.”

In truth, Lin Momo could see that, without even comparing it to the other three major families, the booth Xu Xian managed wasn’t even as good as some medium-sized enterprises.

With one glance, even she could think of a better plan.

Lin Momo felt a bit dazed. She used to love the tea industry and was often praised for being diligent and eager to learn.

When she was a narrator at the museum, she was voted the best narrator, and the director even said he’d recommend her for an internal position at the Yu Group headquarters by the end of the year…

But ever since she obtained this Halo by chance, everything had changed.

It became bizarre and muddled, yet it was addictive enough to make one unable to stop.

Lin Momo looked at her reflection in the glass again.

Taking advantage of her distraction, Xu Xian grabbed her shoulder:

“Come meet a client with me later? Hmm?”

Lin Momo shivered and abruptly broke free.

“I’m a bit dizzy. I’m going outside for some fresh air.”

She walked away quickly, her steps a bit unsteady.

Xu Xian cursed under his breath behind her:

“A mere illegitimate daughter putting on such airs. Pui!”

He paced around for a bit, thought of Lin Momo’s appearance, and a flash of unwillingness crossed his face. He called his driver:

“Do you still have that stuff? Get it ready and bring it to me. Wait in the car at the entrance, and book a room at the hotel next door.”

Hanging up, Xu Xian chased after the direction Lin Momo had left.

By the time Lin Jiu arrived at the tea exhibition, Lin Momo had disappeared.

Zhao Chun met her, sounding puzzled:

“She was just here a moment ago…”

“You said she was with Xu Xian?” Lin Jiu said. “I asked Xiao Wu on my way here; Xu Xian picked her up from her house today.”

“Now both of them are gone.”

After asking around the Xu and Lin family circles, no one knew where Lin Momo and Xu Xian had gone. Lin Jiu thought for a moment and asked:

“Then did you see President Yu?”

A female employee leaned in, her face full of gossip:

“I saw her! President Yu went to the second-floor tea restaurant with the lady from the Wen family.”

“?”

Lin Jiu looked up.

Zhao Chun asked: “What are you looking at?”

Lin Jiu let out a deep sigh, feeling a bit melancholy.

How to put it? She felt as if a green light was shining down from above—quite refreshing.

She never expected that a “Green Tea” personified would have such a day.

But then again, they were exes meeting; she didn’t even have the status to be “cheated” on.

“President Yu probably knows. Should we go to the second floor and ask?”

Lin Jiu glanced at Zhao Chun:

“Why do you think Yu Yihan knows?”

Zhao Chun wasn’t like her; she wasn’t privy to many things. Where did she get this confidence and deduction?

Zhao Chun mused:

“Because President Yu looks like the kind of powerhouse who knows everything.”

“…”

Lin Jiu guessed that after Yu Yihan fell for Lin Momo’s trick once, she wouldn’t be without some backup plan. Thus, she wanted to find Yu Yihan to ask about Lin Momo’s whereabouts.

But what if she went up and saw Yu Yihan and Wen Qiongyin pouring their hearts out and rekindling an old flame? Wouldn’t her dreams be shattered on the spot? That would be too tragic.

Should she ask on WeChat instead?

Before Lin Jiu could decide, Lin Wen’s figure appeared at the second-floor elevator.

Lin Wen waved toward Lin Jiu:

“Xiao Jiu, come here.”

Lin Jiu walked over.

Lin Wen was straightening her suit jacket, looking every bit the elite. Beyond her elegance, her aura of maturity and steadiness was much stronger.

Lin Jiu asked: “Sister, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t think this outfit suits me very well. What do you think?”

Lin Jiu was in no mood to look at beauties right now. After scanning the outfit, she spoke the honest truth:

“You’re beautiful, Sister; you look good in anything. There are only clothes that aren’t good enough for you, not clothes that don’t suit you.”

Lin Wen nodded, her expression very satisfied.

“Come on, accompany me to lunch.”

Lin Jiu politely declined: “Actually, I have other things to do…”

Lin Wen said: “You listen to Yu Yihan when she wants to stay over, but you make excuses when it comes to having lunch with me?”

Lin Jiu didn’t hear the end before she tucked her hair back and stepped onto the elevator first: “Sister, I’m actually a bit hungry too. Let’s go up quickly.”

Since she was going to the second floor, Lin Jiu decided to just find Yu Yihan and ask her directly.

Even if there was a green light, she had to embrace life bravely.

But she didn’t expect that the “lunch” Lin Wen mentioned meant eating at the same table as Yu Yihan and Wen Qiongyin.

Wen Qiongyin was the type of beauty who grew on you; she wasn’t flashy, but the more you looked at her, the more charm she had. Her aura was quite gentle.

After seeing her in person, even though she and Yu Yihan looked exceptionally well-matched, Lin Jiu found it hard to dislike her.

“Xiao Jiu, we haven’t seen each other in years,” Wen Qiongyin exclaimed softly. “Have you become even more beautiful? You’re much prettier than your sister now.”

Lin Wen naturally sat down next to Yu Yihan, opposite Wen Qiongyin, her expression indifferent as if she were being forced to sit there.

Hearing Wen Qiongyin’s words, she gave a light snort.

Wen Qiongyin smiled: “Don’t you think so?”

“My sister doesn’t need your praise.”

“Also,” Lin Wen tapped the table and looked up at Wen Qiongyin, “We were all high school roommates. Inviting only Yu Yihan when you’re here doesn’t seem right, does it?”

After speaking, Lin Wen glanced at Lin Jiu:

“Don’t you have business with Yu Yihan? Go ahead and get busy.”

Yu Yihan, who hadn’t said much, finally moved her lips, her eyes full of inquiry:

“What is it?”

“…”

Good heavens, Lin Jiu thought blankly. So she was just a tool to lure Yu Yihan away?

But what was Lin Wen trying to do?

She couldn’t figure it out.

Since things had reached this point, Lin Jiu didn’t refuse. She led Yu Yihan a bit further away and asked by the window:

“Do you know where Lin Momo went?”

Yu Yihan raised an eyebrow, took out her phone, and tapped it a few times with her slender fingers:

“I’ll ask for you now. Wait a moment.”

Lin Jiu was instantly relieved.

The other end of the exhibition hall, Rest Area.

This part of the hall wouldn’t be in use until the afternoon. At this time, there was almost no one except for a few scattered staff members passing by.

Lin Momo only breathed a sigh of relief once she reached here.

When Xu Xian went to her house to find her, she hadn’t wanted to come out. But the Halo, which had been silent for a week, appeared again. This time, Lin Momo felt clearly that the Halo was not just distorting others’ psychology, but affecting her own as well!

Perhaps because the Halo’s control had weakened, her consciousness wasn’t entirely deceived.

She clearly felt the pain of being unable to control herself.

Exposed to Xu Xian’s murky and filthy gaze, she only wanted to refuse, to tell Xu Xian to stay away, to hide back in her room. But she could only watch as she agreed to Xu Xian and got into his car.

The fear of being unable to control her own body shrouded Lin Momo’s heart.

Until just now, when she finally came out for a breather.

Her heart was in turmoil, struggling endlessly. On one side were the countless conveniences and benefits the Halo had brought her; on the other was the despair and terror of being a marionette.

Two staff members walked past her, talking loudly about the details of the exhibition, their passion evident in their words.

The thought faintly floating in Lin Momo’s mind became increasingly clear.

Should she… throw away this Halo? Go back to being an ordinary person.

At the moment she wavered, a feeling of constriction—comparable to suffocation—came from her neck, as if what was around it was no longer a Halo bringing her countless dreams, but a noose.

After the Halo tightened around her neck, Lin Momo found she could no longer control her limbs.

Terror filled her eyes, her soul screaming desperately. In the reflection of the glass before her, she had her hands behind her back, smiling sweetly.

Ah—

In the glass, the chubby, tall Xu Xian appeared silently behind her like a small black mountain.

He didn’t seem to notice the glass. Clutching a bottle of mineral water, he wore a smile full of malice and anticipation.

One look at it made Lin Momo’s skin crawl.

Yet “Lin Momo” was still smiling, even more sweetly and enticingly.

“Momo, here you are. I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

“Thirsty? I bought you some water.”

Xu Xian unscrewed it for Lin Momo and handed it over.

Seeing Lin Momo take it and thinking of the room he had booked, Xu Xian’s smile widened. He licked his upper lip, the oil on his face looking as if it were about to run down.

He wasn’t afraid of the Lin family causing trouble.

Was an illegitimate daughter with a ruined reputation worth it?

Besides, Lin Momo came out to play with him willingly. They were all adults; if it was consensual, how could Lin Momo turn around and refuse to acknowledge him?

They were simply dating normally.

“Drink up,” Xu Xian urged as he saw Lin Momo stop moving after taking the water.

“Don’t!”

Xu Xian’s intention was too obvious; Lin Momo realized instantly that there was something in the water.

She trembled with rage, cold with fear, frantically beating against the shell imprisoning her soul. Her soul wept bitterly, hugging itself:

“I beg you, don’t ruin me. Please… I beg you.”

A voice Lin Momo had never heard before rang out—hoarse, seductive, and filled with a soul-bewitching evil:

“How is this ruining you?”

“My host, your thoughts sadden me deeply. A moment of weakness will ruin our future. I have no choice but to take over your body.”

“Xu Xian’s status will bring us wonderful opportunities. You’re just being his girlfriend—unfortunately, you can’t even do that. Let me help you; you just need to enjoy the results.”

Lin Momo clutched her head, her soul collapsing to the ground, curling inward:

“No, I don’t want such results. Stop it, I don’t need it! Do you hear me! I don’t want anything anymore. Release me quickly—”

The Halo gave a cold snort of utter contempt:

“What a useless waste.”

“Lin Momo?” Xu Xian urged impatiently.

“Lin Momo” smiled at him and said coquettishly:

“I just spaced out. Don’t be in such a rush.”

Xu Xian was dazed, utterly enchanted:

“Alright, alright, whatever you say.”

Lin Momo watched this scene in despair, the light leaving her eyes.

The moment the mineral water was about to flow into “Lin Momo’s” lips, a strong hand reached out and snatched the bottle away!

Water splashed out from the bottle’s mouth, soaking “Lin Momo.” Her voice was sharp:

“Who is it!”

She was even more annoyed than Xu Xian himself, whose “good deed” had been interrupted.

When she turned around, it was an old enemy. She ground her teeth and said:

“Lin Jiu, so it’s you.”

Inside the dark shell, Lin Momo’s soul seemed to see a light; she slowly opened her eyes, her face full of disbelief.

As “Lin Momo” spoke, Yu Yihan and Lin Jiu walked up.

The one who had just snatched the mineral water was one of Yu Yihan’s bodyguards, and another bodyguard beside her had just finished recording this video.

The bodyguard showed the mineral water bottle, still more than half full, to Yu Yihan. Yu Yihan directly instructed Assistant Yu:

“Take the video and the mineral water bottle and call the police.”

Xu Xian panicked.

If others said they’d call the police, he would dare to intimidate them and dismiss them with money. But this was Yu Yihan.

Looking into Yu Yihan’s eyes, which were like cold stars, his knees went weak, and he almost knelt:

“President Yu, we’re just a couple playing around—Momo, isn’t that right?”

He hurriedly signaled Lin Momo.

Inside the body, the rescued and overjoyed Lin Momo’s heart went cold again.

She was controlled by the Halo, and the Halo would definitely shield Xu Xian.

Lin Momo gritted her teeth, wishing she could put this damn ring on Xu Xian and let him feel how disgusting it was to be unable to control oneself while being “pushed” by a pig!

Just as “Lin Momo” was about to speak, a cup of unknown tea was thrust to her lips.

Lin Jiu somehow had immense strength; “Lin Momo” couldn’t break free and was forced to swallow a large gulp of green tea.

The moment the tea entered her mouth, the Halo was like a flame doused by a bucket of ice water—it was extinguished completely with a pssh.

Lin Jiu let go, and Lin Momo slumped weakly to the ground.

Lin Jiu handed the tea to the bodyguard and clapped her hands.

The nearby Xu Xian was stunned.

He had never seen such a move—stuffing green tea into someone else’s mouth. Looking at Lin Momo slumped on the ground, he shouted:

“You’re the one who drugged that tea!!”

Yu Yihan said coldly: “Xu Xian, watch your words and actions, otherwise this matter won’t be so simple.”

You’re about to get me thrown into the station and it won’t be simple???

Xu Xian panted with rage but didn’t dare speak.

Damn it, even his father respected this woman, Yu Yihan; she was known for being ruthless. If he got into trouble now, his family might still protect him, but if he truly angered Yu Yihan and she suppressed his family, then there would really be no way out.

But why was Yu Yihan protecting this Lin Jiu so much? Lin Jiu wasn’t even her sister. Something was fishy!

Lin Jiu asked curiously:

“You didn’t even record a video, and no one here is helping you. How much use will your statement be?”

“I’m not stupid. Why did you force-feed Lin Momo tea just now? You were afraid she’d speak up for me!”

After saying that, Xu Xian saw Lin Momo on the ground move.

“Lin Momo? Say something! Was it Lin Jiu who bullied you?”

Lin Momo looked up, slowly stood up, and walked in front of Xu Xian. Her hand swung high—

Slap!

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Several slaps made Xu Xian’s face swell, with blood streaks from her nails. It was a miserable sight.

Lin Momo hated him to the core and spat:

“You dead pervert, you’re dreaming. You drugged me and expected me to speak for you? I’m going out to call the police right now.”

Xu Xian was about to burst into a torrent of abuse when the bodyguard quickly gagged him.

Lin Momo went full “A” (Aggressive) and unleashed a barrage of slaps. Lin Jiu watched in awe—as expected of a woman who could turn a “Silly White Sweet” story into a supernatural thriller.

Looking at Xu Xian, Lin Jiu said:

“Don’t worry. This cup of tea of mine will be sent for testing alongside your mineral water.”

This cup of tea was just a tea soup Lin Jiu had brewed using the booth’s tea leaves and equipment before they came, just in case.

She hadn’t expected to run into Xu Xian being a monster.

Lin Jiu’s awareness was sharp; she could see at a glance that both the water and Lin Momo were not right. After mentioning it to Yu Yihan, they immediately arranged for the bodyguards to preserve evidence and saved Lin Momo.

At this point, led by Assistant Yu, the bodyguards—one on each side—”accompanied” Xu Xian toward the police station.

That left Yu Yihan, Lin Jiu, and Lin Momo.

Compared to the previous chaos, the scene with only the three of them was filled with a wretched silence.

No, looking at the two in front of her, Lin Momo understood that she was the only one who was wretched.

A loser from start to finish.

“Why help me? I was so…”

She had clearly done such terrible things to them.

Lin Jiu asked back: “What does the ‘before’ you mentioned have to do with what just happened?”

Lin Momo was stunned.

Yu Yihan stood by the window, glancing outside.

Xu Xian was being hauled away by the bodyguards, followed by a crowd of onlookers.

She looked at Lin Jiu, remembering just now.

Yu Yihan didn’t have Lin Jiu’s perception, but she knew Xu Xian. Realizing what was about to happen, Yu Yihan hadn’t been moved at all.

Since Lin Momo chose this path, she had to bear the corresponding risks. In Yu Yihan’s eyes, Lin Momo brought it on herself.

It was Lin Jiu who made the prompt decision, asking her to let the bodyguards intervene and save her.

Only then did Yu Yihan indulge this kindness.

Yu Yihan opened her lips:

“We didn’t help you.”

Rather, it was for… Lin Jiu’s clear conscience? Yu Yihan felt it could be interpreted that way.

Lin Jiu nodded:

“If I watched you being manipulated and remained indifferent, or even felt happy that my ‘revenge’ was served, then what would be the difference between me and you?”

“…”

Half of Lin Momo’s gratitude instantly vanished.

Watching the retreating backs of Lin Jiu and Yu Yihan, Lin Momo took a few steps back, her back against the glass wall as her body slid down.

The fear from earlier surged back into her heart, and her tears flowed uncontrollably, soon soaking her face. Yet she was grateful she could still use this body to cry freely.

Sunlight shone on her through the glass window, but her cold hands and feet felt no warmth returning.

However, when she looked up, she felt the figures of Lin Jiu and Yu Yihan, bathed in light, were warmly glowing.

Walking side-by-side with companions like that must be very warm.

Or becoming a person like Lin Jiu…

At this moment when the Halo had departed, Lin Momo suddenly remembered many forgotten details and forgotten friends.

The friend she worked with at the convenience store, who always left a warmed-up rice ball in the microwave for her when their shifts changed.

the teacher who took great care of her and invited her to their home for dinner during holidays.

The director of the museum was in poor health after retiring. She had once said she’d visit him, but the next day she obtained the Halo and never thought of him again…

Lin Momo suddenly felt she had strength again.

Light spots fell on her fingertips, and they began to feel warm.

With tear streaks still on her face, Lin Momo broke into a happy smile.

On the other side.

Lin Jiu stopped abruptly.

Yu Yihan tilted her head, her voice soft and smiling:

“What is it?”

Lin Jiu slowly shook her head.

“Confirmed: The original female lead’s Halo was contaminated by a virus, becoming a bug in the current world.”

“The Halo has not yet been destroyed; it is in a dormant period. Host must not lower your guard.”

“It must be eradicated. Emphasizing once more: it MUST be eradicated!”