The Cannon Fodder Roles I Play All Become White Moonlights [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 15

Fang Mo’s lips landed on Su Qingmeng’s. Contrary to his usual coldness, his kiss was fervent, awkward yet sincere.

Having spent ten years in the entertainment industry, Su Qingmeng had seen her fair share of attractive faces, but even by those standards, Fang Mo’s looks were exceptional. At this moment, with his eyes closed, his sharp features softened by a warm glow, she found herself momentarily captivated by his masculine charm,

She thought to herself, it was a good thing Fang Mo was usually so aloof and unapproachable; otherwise, how many romantic entanglements would he have left in his wake?

When Fang Mo opened his eyes, Su Qingmeng was staring at him wide-eyed, as if in shock. A flush spread across his pale face, and he quickly turned away, unsure of what to say. Then he heard the girl chuckle softly, just like when she usually teased him. She said, “Who kisses like that?”

Su Qingmeng’s hands, now warmed from his touch, wrapped around his neck. She rose on her tiptoes and gently pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips. By the time he turned back, she had already released him, smiling brightly as she said, “A favor returned.”

Fang Mo couldn’t help but pull her into his embrace. His phoenix eyes curved into a smile, and a warmth he had never shown before shone in his gaze. “Qingmeng…”

Su Qingmeng buried her face in his chest just as the subway arrived. The station announcement drowned out Fang Mo’s next words, and she didn’t catch what he said. Only after boarding the train did she ask, “What did you say just now?”

“Nothing,” Fang Mo replied, not repeating the words. But this time, he took the initiative to hold Su Qingmeng’s hand, their fingers intertwining as if they could walk this path together forever.

He accompanied her all the way to her doorstep. Su Qingmeng softly bid him goodbye, and even after the iron gate clicked shut, he remained standing in the darkness, imagining what the girl might be like inside her home. Quietly, he pulled out his phone and sent a message to Shen Yue: “What brands of down jackets do girls like?”

Shen Yue quickly replied with a large “?” followed by, “Has your account been hacked?”

Before Su Qingmeng could even change her shoes, she received a call from Ling Yuanbai. Even though he was trying to suppress it, the man’s voice on the other end was filled with barely contained fury: “Su Qingmeng, I told you not to actually date Fang Mo.”

Ling Yuanbai pressed his lips together tightly, staring at the man in the mirror. Without the barrier of glasses, the jealousy and rage in his eyes were unmistakable, laid bare for him to see. He abruptly hung up the phone and plunged his face into a basin of ice-cold water. When he lifted his head again moments later, his bloodshot eyes were filled with a sinister gloom, making him appear even more terrifying.

He laughed silently. After all, the blood of Ling Qin flowed in his veins. These eyes, so similar to Fang Tinglan’s, now held a gaze that was strikingly like Ling Qin’s. With all his strength, he punched the mirror. It shattered, and shards embedded themselves in his fist, but his body had long grown accustomed to excruciating pain. This level of sting was far from enough to sober him up.

On the final day of final exams, the campus was at its busiest.

Su Qingmeng finished her exam earlier than Lu Yaoqing and was waiting for her at the foot of the teaching building when Ling Yuanbai’s car pulled up in front of her. He stepped out and personally opened the car door, inviting her inside.

Ling Yuanbai and Su Qingmeng were both well-known figures at school, especially since their striking looks made them hard to miss. As a result, the news of Su Qingmeng getting into Ling Yuanbai’s car quickly spread and soon reached Fang Mo’s ears. Frowning, Fang Mo immediately called Su Qingmeng, but she didn’t answer.

Ling Yuanbai sat opposite Su Qingmeng, watching her hang up the call. He had switched to a pair of black-framed glasses, making it even harder to discern the expression in his eyes. Calmly, he asked, “Why didn’t you answer?”

Su Qingmeng glanced carelessly at his right hand. Though the wound had healed, it was still fresh and recent. She smiled and asked, “What do you mean, Senior Ling? Are you planning to make our relationship public?”

Ling Yuanbai tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, pausing for a moment before asking, “What kind of relationship do we have?”

Su Qingmeng leaned forward, gazing intently at him. As his eyes flickered, she slowly replied, “Naturally, an employer-employee relationship.”

Ling Yuanbai wasn’t surprised by this answer, but he still felt a twinge of displeasure hearing it from her lips. Pressing his lips together, he thought for a long while before saying, “Break up with Fang Mo.”

“The task you assigned me earlier isn’t finished yet,” Su Qingmeng said, resting her head on one hand and leaning slightly in her chair. Her relaxed posture contrasted sharply with his rigid composure, yet it didn’t come across as improper, instead, it carried a lazy elegance.

Ling Yuanbai averted his gaze from her, focusing on his right hand. He had waited until the bandage was removed before coming to see Su Qingmeng, yet he had secretly hoped she would notice and catch him off guard with a sharp remark. Suddenly, he looked up and met her eyes. “The task has changed now.”

“I don’t quite understand,” the girl said softly, her voice lilting upward at the end as if genuinely puzzled.

Ling Yuanbai stared at Su Qingmeng for a long time. Her peach-blossom eyes were clear and bright, reflecting nothing but confusion, devoid of any extra emotion. He almost wanted to ask her: Were all those intimate moments with Fang Mo just an act? She had even kissed him.

The thought of Fang Mo kissing her made him clench his fists, his nails digging into his palms. Yet, his expression remained as composed as hers. He smiled and asked, “You haven’t even seen what Fang Mo’s laptop looks like yet.”

Su Qingmeng tilted her head and looked at him. Suddenly, Ling Yuanbai didn’t feel like smiling anymore. He relaxed his fists and repeated, “I don’t need you to get his laptop anymore. Break up with him.”

“Is this the last task?” Su Qingmeng asked.

Ling Yuanbai curled his lips into a smile, this time with a hint of genuine, though somewhat malicious, amusement. “Su Qingmeng, do you think what you’ve done so far is enough for me to save a life?”

“Then what else do you want me to do?” Su Qingmeng sighed softly.

To Ling Yuanbai’s disappointment, he saw no anger in her eyes. He repeated once more, “First, break up with Fang Mo.”

Su Qingmeng’s phone rang again, it was Fang Mo calling. She answered and naturally said, “A-Mo, don’t worry. I’m on my way to the internet cafe to find you.”

Ling Yuanbai stood up and moved close to her, saying calmly, “I’ll take you there.”

At such a close distance, Fang Mo would undoubtedly hear him.

Ling Yuanbai parked his car in the exact same spot as last time, not an inch off.

Fang Mo seemed to have anticipated he would stop there, waiting nearby early on. The tall young man was unusually dressed in a long white down jacket, which softened his usual sharpness but added an even more aloof aura, making others hesitant to approach.

Ling Yuanbai stepped out of the car and locked eyes with Fang Mo from a few meters away. He was the first to break into a smile. “I brought your junior here.”

Fang Mo didn’t look at him. Instead, he opened the car door ahead of him, took Su Qingmeng’s hand, and thanked him expressionlessly.

Ling Yuanbai found their intertwined hands unbearably irritating, but it didn’t matter, soon enough, they would part ways.

Fang Mo seemed to sense something. He didn’t ask any questions all evening, and Su Qingmeng didn’t offer any explanations either. It wasn’t until the end of their shift that he took out a brand-new, pristine white down jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “Wear this.”

Su Qingmeng glanced down and could immediately tell it was the same style as the one he was wearing. She lifted her gaze to meet his.

Fang Mo turned his head away, but she caught sight of his reddened ears. “I read online that this is a style girls like.”

Su Qingmeng curved her brows into a smile, her tone a mix of complaint and coquettishness. “But it’s so long, wearing it feels like wrapping myself in a blanket.”

Fang Mo stared at her without a word, his eyes dark and intense. Su Qingmeng held his gaze for a long time, thinking he wouldn’t respond, when she finally heard him say stiffly, “Even if you’re wrapped in a blanket, you’d still look good.”

He paused for a moment before adding expressionlessly, “When spring comes, I’ll buy you something prettier.”

The words felt oddly out of place coming from him.

Su Qingmeng couldn’t help but laugh, her eyes sparkling as she asked, “Did you read that online too?”

Fang Mo stiffened, casting a deep, lingering look at her radiant smile. Of course, he wouldn’t admit that he had specifically searched online for “how to cheer up a girl” and “how to be in a relationship.”

Su Qingmeng glanced outside at the icy, snow-covered world and ultimately changed into the thick down jacket.

Winter in the capital was truly freezing. If Su Qingmeng were willing, they could move south for opportunities, far away from the Ling family. Holding Su Qingmeng’s still-cold hand, Fang Mo entertained the thought.

But Su Qingmeng tugged at the corner of his coat and whispered, “Amo, let’s break up.”

Fang Mo snapped his gaze toward her, seeing nothing but sincerity in her eyes. In that instant, his heart plummeted into panic, and his body reacted on instinct, pulling her into a tight embrace. “I don’t agree!”

Su Qingmeng hugged him back, gently patting his back, yet she repeated, “Let’s break up. I’m tired of working with you every single day.”

Fang Mo immediately understood it was Ling Yuanbai’s doing. But no matter whose idea it was, he had no intention of breaking up with Su Qingmeng.

[Warning! The host remains the male lead’s girlfriend until death, with no breakup. Do not deviate from the plot.] The system’s untimely announcement nearly shattered the emotions Su Qingmeng had carefully built up.

She fell silent for a moment before speaking in a pitiful tone, “Amo, let me go first. I can hardly breathe from how tightly you’re holding me.”

Fang Mo took a deep breath and reluctantly released her. The next moment, Su Qingmeng blinked at him, took his hand, and slowly traced characters into his palm: “Let’s fake the breakup.”

He stubbornly shook his head.

Su Qingmeng glared at him, but he pulled a silver chain from his pocket. It looked unremarkable, except for a pendant resembling a button. He placed the necklace around Su Qingmeng’s neck, pressed the pendant, and said, “This is a jammer for bugs and trackers. Press the button to activate it, and press it again to turn it off.”

This was a skill Su Qingmeng hadn’t anticipated. She had to admit, the male lead truly lived up to his reputation.

“Ah Mo, we only became a couple to make money,” Su Qingmeng said with complete calm.

Fang Mo fell silent. When Su Qingmeng had approached him, she had been straightforward and clear. It was he who had developed feelings he shouldn’t have, he who had allowed himself to sink into her charm. Now, deeply entangled, she wanted to walk away.

He knew he had no right to ask her to stay.

But Fang Mo was never one to sit idly by. He quickly composed himself, his intense gaze fixed on Su Qingmeng as he took her hand and led her back to the internet cafe.

The internet cafe operated 24/7, and even at this hour, it was still bustling with people. Fang Mo avoided the crowd and took Su Qingmeng upstairs, where a small office area and lounge were located. The layout was quite similar to the small room in the Western restaurant.

Fang Mo gestured for Su Qingmeng to sit in a nearby seat, then pulled up a chair and sat opposite her. He sat upright, his expression stern, exuding the commanding presence of a business tycoon in negotiations.

He began, “I own 50% of the shares in the Western restaurant where we worked part-time, and the same goes for this internet cafe. Some of my money is invested in the stock market, and I have a few other miscellaneous investments. Currently, I’m working on a larger project, a software development collaboration with Professor Shen. If this project succeeds, it should be enough for me to buy a house in the city center outright and purchase a car worth a million.”

Su Qingmeng blinked. She knew the male lead was capable, but she hadn’t expected him to be this wealthy in his third year of university. While his assets weren’t enough to rival the Ling family, he was still quite affluent, even surpassing the disposable funds of many second-generation heirs.

“The remaining funds are allocated for starting a software studio. The studio is registered under the Kang Corporation, and the contract has already been signed. The Kang Corporation is larger than the Ling family and has stronger connections in the capital. If the studio develops smoothly, whether it becomes independent or continues collaborating with Kang Corporation, it won’t be something the Ling family can easily dismantle.” Fang Mo hadn’t even shared these details with Shen Yue, but he laid them all out for Su Qingmeng now, hoping to convince her that staying with him wasn’t without promise.

He would strive to build a bright future for her through his own efforts. Though he knew the path ahead was thorny, with obstacles like the Ling family standing in the way, it didn’t matter. He would clear every obstacle, ensuring she saw only a smooth road ahead.

He actually had more plans, like transferring all the assets under his name to hers once things stabilized, moving south after graduation where winters were warm and Su Qingmeng could wear her beautiful clothes freely, or even establishing a foundation once his company grew, making regular donations to orphanages every year, and inviting her orphanage director, whom she regarded as a mother, to live with them.

But he couldn’t mention any of this yet. It was too soon. He was afraid of startling Su Qingmeng and even more afraid she might think he was overly ambitious. So, he only spoke of what he had already accomplished and what he was currently working on.

Su Qingmeng stared at him in a daze. The young man before her was serious and unyielding, offering no sweet words, yet he had laid bare all these assets he couldn’t yet disclose to anyone else. She chuckled softly, “A-Mo, you shouldn’t have told me this. Don’t forget, I was hired by Ling Yuanbai for money. Aren’t you afraid someone like me might betray you for profit?”

“I’m not afraid. I trust you.” He paused briefly. “If you really do tell him, that’s your right. I’d be hurt, but I’d respect your decision.”

Fang Mo turned his head away. It had been a long time since he had been so candid with anyone, and he felt an indescribable shyness. But he was even more unwilling to let go without trying.

Su Qingmeng’s smile faded in front of him, and she spoke with rare seriousness, “A-Mo, I’m not worth it. In the future, you’ll meet a better girl.”

Fang Mo turned sharply toward her, his dark phoenix eyes gleaming with stubborn resolve. “You are worth it.”

And there would be no one else for him, only her.

“I was never pretending to be your boyfriend. When I agreed back then, it was just a single ‘yes’, and that ‘yes’ meant I wanted to be your partner,” Fang Mo said deliberately as Su Qingmeng’s eyes widened. At his age, the wealth he had amassed proved he was no pushover. “And I never intended to share your money. So, Qingmeng, our relationship was never about money from the start.”

“So, you were scheming from the very beginning?” Su Qingmeng said angrily, finally understanding why he hadn’t taken the money.

“Likewise.” A smile touched his eyes as he reached out, pulling the girl into his arms. He lowered his head and captured her red lips.

Men seemed to have a natural instinct for conquest. Though he had been inexperienced the last time, now he was skilled and domineering.

Su Qingmeng froze for only a moment before retaliating defiantly. She wrapped her arms around his neck, mischievously nipping his lip. As he stiffened in surprise, she trailed downward, her teeth lightly grazing his Adam’s apple…

Fang Mo’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently. His breathing grew heavy, and he said hoarsely, “Qingmeng, don’t provoke me like this.” He wouldn’t be able to hold back…

Su Qingmeng straightened up, her peach-blossom eyes seductive and lively, shimmering with amusement. “Likewise,” she said with a grin.

Fang Mo’s gaze darkened dangerously, but in the end, he only held her tightly in his arms. “I’ll take you home.”

Su Qingmeng wasn’t in a hurry. Leaning against him, she asked, “What about the favor I asked you earlier?”

Fang Mo hesitated for only a breath before replying, “Still looking into it.”

Su Qingmeng gave a knowing smile and tapped his forehead with her finger. “A-Mo, don’t lie to me.”

Fang Mo’s heart skipped a beat, and he had the urge to take her fingertip into his mouth, yet his expression remained unchanged. “If you want to deal with Ling Yuanbai, I can help you…”

She had previously asked him to investigate Ling Yuanbai’s private assets. Having dealt with Ling Yuanbai for so many years, Fang Mo appeared to be in the open, but in reality, he had been quietly biding his time and concealing his strength. On the contrary, he knew far more about Ling Yuanbai. However, he didn’t want to drag Su Qingmeng into this. Ling Yuanbai might not be difficult to handle, but the Ling family behind him was a formidable challenge.

“Ah Mo,” she whispered softly into his ear. Before he could let his imagination wander, her next words made his heart sink. “It’s not just about your entanglement with Ling Yuanbai. I’ve long been caught in this whirlpool. To protect myself, I must have a weapon to use against him. So, you’ll help me, right?”

Fang Mo remained silent for a long time before finally responding with a quiet, “Mm.”

————

During the winter break, Fang Mo became even busier and was rarely seen. Originally, he thought he could take his time, but now he felt an urgent need to develop the ability to confront the Ling family, as only then could he protect the person he wanted to protect.

Ling Yuanbai was also very busy. Since starting university, he had been involved in the affairs of the Ling Group. During breaks, he was often stationed at the company and even accompanied Ling Qin on a trip abroad. He had no time to seek out Su Qingmeng, and even his opportunities for surveillance dwindled. Many nights, when he turned on the listening device, there was only silence on the other end. Only occasionally, when the girl’s voice came through, did he not suspect that the bug had malfunctioned.

In truth, he somewhat suspected that Su Qingmeng might have figured something out. She was so clever, had she already guessed his ulterior motives?

On the other hand, Su Qingmeng found herself with more free time. She visited the hospital even more frequently, spending almost every day there. While accompanying her mother, Su Xing, she used the 500,000 yuan Ling Yuanbai had given her to invest in short-term stocks. Her finance skills were solid, and with Fang Mo’s guidance, she managed to earn quite a bit.

Su Qingmeng also ran into Yao Jia more and more often. Yao Jia never initiated a greeting, and even when Su Qingmeng greeted her, she wouldn’t respond. Until one day, when Su Qingmeng used a photo of Fang Mo’s back as her phone wallpaper, Yao Jia seemed provoked. She suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Su Qingmeng’s hand, and stared at the photo for a long time, lost in thought.

Yao Jia’s body trembled slightly, tears falling drop by drop. Yet, even then, she made no sound and didn’t ask Su Qingmeng who it was.

Only after her tears subsided did she slowly turn to Su Qingmeng. “You’re Yuanbai’s classmate? Why do I always see you at the hospital?”

“I’m two years below him,” Su Qingmeng replied with a smile. “My mom has been hospitalized here these past few days. What about you, Auntie?”

“Just some insomnia. I often come to chat with the doctor,” Yao Jia said, her smile carrying a touch of innocence that seemed out of place yet added a charming, carefree allure to her.

With this as a starting point, the two occasionally exchanged a few words when they met. After several conversations, Yao Jia asked, as if casually, “Is the person in your phone photo your boyfriend?”

“Yes, he also attends Jing University and is in the same year as Ling Yuanbai,” Su Qingmeng answered truthfully.

Yao Jia froze, her curiosity burning to see what Fang Mo’s face truly looked like. Yet she didn’t dare speak it aloud, knowing full well that Ling Qin was constantly monitoring her. If he discovered she had taken an interest in another man, even one as young as her own son, he would stop at nothing to ruin him.

Su Qingmeng also guessed that Yao Jia’s necklace was identical to the one she herself wore. So, she deliberately let Ling Yuanbai overhear their conversation. Sure enough, that evening, Ling Yuanbai called her: “You haven’t broken up with Fang Mo?” He was so furious he even forgot to first warn her to stay away from Yao Jia.

“I tried. He didn’t agree,” Su Qingmeng replied with feigned innocence.

Ling Yuanbai let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Su Qingmeng, you really are growing bolder in disregarding me.”