Chapter 373: Very Flustered
Chapter 373: Chapter 373: Very Flustered
"Mother, Commander Yue suddenly brought up the matter of the Contract. Did you ask him to do that?" Lin Mo demanded urgently, having tracked down Lin Yuzhi after the celebration banquet.
"And shouldn’t I have?" Lin Yuzhi retorted irritably. "Whether it’s personal ability or family background, you’re not inferior to that Yu Mingche in any way. You were by Ning Xuan’s side even earlier than he was, so on what grounds should he get to overshadow you?"
"That was Ning Xuan’s arrangement. She’s the Contractor; she can arrange things however she pleases. I have absolutely no problem with it, so why are you meddling?" Lin Mo complained.
Lin Mo was now panicking. Ning Xuan had a strong and domineering personality; she hated it when people tried to tell her what to do. Not long ago, Yu Mingche had somehow provoked her and been put soundly in his place.
Now his mother had actually asked someone to pressure her into holding the Contract ceremony. ’Will Ning Xuan think I put my mother up to this?’ The more Lin Mo thought about it, the paler he grew. He wasn’t favored to begin with and rarely got to spend time with her. If Ning Xuan started to hate him over this, would he lose the chance to see her at all?
His heart pounding with anxiety, Lin Mo went to Ning Xuan’s residence, but he stood before the door, hesitating, not daring to raise his hand and knock.
He stared at the pitch-black door, pacing back and forth in front of it.
"Either come in or scram. What are you doing, loitering out there?" Ning Xuan’s cool voice drifted from inside.
"Contractor, may I come in?" Lin Mo asked uncertainly.
The door opened with a CREAK. Ning Xuan stood there, draped in a moon-white outer robe, her hair held by a single, simple hairpin. The clothes beneath her robe were a mess, completely disheveled.
During her time at the villa on Qingluan Mountain, Yu Mingche had wiped her face and hands, dressed her, and combed her hair. She had grown accustomed to being waited on. Just now, Ning Xuan had tried to change on her own and made a mess of it, leaving her rather displeased.
The sight of her slightly furrowed brow sent a jolt through Lin Mo’s heart.
"I brought Yan Fuzhen to the base this time. If you’re not going to help with things here, am I supposed to ask Yan Fuzhen to do it?" Ning Xuan said indignantly. "I worked my ass off to save you, and I still haven’t fully recovered. Did you get a promotion and suddenly decide you’re too good to serve me anymore?"
"Of course not! I am willing to serve you," Lin Mo said, his voice suddenly rising before he immediately lowered his head in vexation.
Ning Xuan turned and went inside, ordering, "Come in. Close the door."
Hearing Ning Xuan’s words, the weight on Lin Mo’s heart immediately lifted. As Ning Xuan went inside, Lin Mo followed, his eyes brightening and his movements becoming quick and nimble.
Lin Mo quickly finished helping Ning Xuan change. "Contractor, thank you for saving my life. If you hadn’t arrived in time, I definitely wouldn’t have made it." Lin Mo looked at Ning Xuan with sincere eyes.
"As long as you know. I’ve fulfilled my responsibilities as your Contractor," Ning Xuan said nonchalantly.
After that, neither of them mentioned Yue Qingtian’s question about when they would form the Contract. They avoided it by unspoken agreement, as if the topic had never been brought up.
"Contractor, Little Tiger is injured. Could you let him rest here tonight?" Lin Mo asked, holding out a white tiger cub to Ning Xuan.
Seeing Lin Mo carefully cradling something, Ning Xuan’s curiosity was piqued and she leaned in to look. It was a snow-white tiger cub. The little guy was only palm-sized, yet it already carried itself with a majestic air.
Its fur was fluffy and soft, like smooth satin, and a faint, pale-gold marking, like the one that means ’king’, was just visible on its forehead.
This tiger cub was somewhat similar to Little White in size and fur, but this cub blinked with a pair of round blue eyes, its gaze lively and a bit mischievous.
Its ears twitched slightly, as if it was sizing up its new environment.
Its paws were plump, but you could already see the sharp tips of its claws. It was currently pawing gently at Lin Mo’s sleeve, as if it couldn’t wait to jump down and explore.
The moment Ning Xuan’s gaze fell on the little creature, her originally cool expression softened a little.
Ning Xuan reached out and gently stroked the top of the cub’s head, her fingertips sinking into its soft down. It felt wonderful.
The cub had just received spiritual power treatment from Ning Xuan, so it felt a natural and irresistible affinity for her. When she stroked it, the cub immediately tilted its head back to nuzzle her palm, letting out a soft purr and flicking the tip of its tail contentedly. It was clearly enjoying her touch.
The corners of Ning Xuan’s lips turned up slightly. She reached out and took the tiger cub. "Alright. I’ll let it sleep here tonight."
The moment Ning Xuan took it, the cub immediately gave a happy roll in her arms, rubbing its fluffy head against her arm and swishing its tail joyfully.
Ning Xuan couldn’t resist the fluffy temptation. She gently booped the cub’s nose, and the little guy immediately stuck out its pink tongue to lick her finger, its eyes sparkling with affection.
"You little rascal," she murmured, her tone surprisingly gentle.
When Lin Mo saw Ning Xuan keep his Companion Spirit, he felt a great sense of relief. ’Little Tiger will definitely recover quickly if he stays with Ning Xuan.’
At the same time Lin Mo was with Ning Xuan, Lin Yuzhi was complaining to Yue Qingtian. She complained that Ning Xuan wouldn’t give her son an official title, that the heir the Lin Family had spent so long cultivating had been stolen away by Ning Xuan, and that for all that, Ning Xuan didn’t even seem to value Lin Mo very much.
"Dean Lin, if Miss Ning were willing to let Lin Mo go free, would you be happy?" Yue Qingtian asked.
"Yue Qingtian, what are you trying to say? My son and Ning Xuan are doing just fine, what nonsense are you spouting?" Lin Yuzhi said, displeased.
"Well, didn’t you just say he was stolen away by Ning Xuan? If you’re not happy about it, you can go and get him back. Lin Mo is probably at Miss Ning’s place right now," Yue Qingtian said.
Lin Yuzhi shot Yue Qingtian a glare. "They’ve already formed the Contract. Even without a ceremony, they’ve established a Spiritual Link Channel. My son and Ning Xuan have a gene compatibility of a full 96%—it was a mandatory match made by the Mastermind."
"If it weren’t for such a high compatibility, how could Lin Mo possibly have been saved from such severe injuries?" Lin Yuzhi said, full of pride.
Yue Qingtian saw Lin Yuzhi’s boastful expression and couldn’t help but look away. Deep down, however, he was incredibly envious. To be matched with a Contractor with over 90% gene compatibility—and for that Contractor to also be a High-level Spirit Controller—meant that Lin Mo could be saved by her even from the most catastrophic injuries.
It was an extra guarantee on his life that others simply didn’t have.
"If you’re so satisfied with their contractual relationship, why are you still here complaining that she stole your son? I didn’t know this before, but someone just reminded me. Yu Mingche is also Ning Xuan’s Contractor, and he hasn’t had a ceremony with Miss Ning either, right?" Yue Qingtian asked, raising an eyebrow.