Chapter 77: True Colors Revealed

At this moment, Xu Mo deliberately displayed a hint of panic, waving his hand and saying, “Miss Jianjia, there’s no need. I’ll just go home and rest for a bit myself.”

Mo Jianjia hurriedly asked, “Mr. Xu, do you doubt my skill with the zither?”

Xu Mo immediately shook his head, “No, no, you misunderstand, Miss Jianjia. I’m just concerned you might tire yourself out…”

“To play for you, Mr. Xu, I would never feel tired,” Mo Jianjia replied with certainty, shaking her head.

“But…” Xu Mo still hesitated.

Li Changsi could finally hold back no longer, chuckling as he said, “Mr. Xu, stop refusing her. It’s rare for Miss Jianjia to invite someone so proactively. The rest of us can only envy you. You truly don’t know how fortunate you are!”

With that, Li Changsi shook his head in mock regret.

Ning Yongqiang chimed in, “Exactly, Mr. Xu. Miss Jianjia rarely shows such kindness. Don’t waste her good intentions!”

Hearing Ning Yongqiang echo Li’s words, Xu Mo secretly rolled his eyes: Idiot! This is obviously a trap, and you want me to jump right in? Don’t you know that lust is a blade hanging overhead?

“Mr. Xu, please accept my invitation. Take it as if I were begging you… won’t you?” Mo Jianjia said as she gently tugged at Xu Mo’s sleeve, her voice soft and enticing.

Xu Mo saw through it—if he didn’t agree, she would never let up.

“Well… all right, then!” Xu Mo finally relented, agreeing as though reluctantly.

At this moment, Xu Mo was thinking, I’ll go and see for myself what you’re scheming.

Seeing Xu Mo accept, Mo Jianjia brightened immediately and stood up quickly, “Mr. Xu, please this way!”

Xu Mo rose slowly, taking the opportunity to glance at Ning Yongqiang and Li Changsi.

Ning Yongqiang grinned wickedly, eyes full of implication, “Mr. Xu, don’t rush. Enjoy the music and the moment. We have all the time tonight… right, Young Master Li?”

Li Changsi nodded with a smile, looking utterly envious.

Just then, Qin Wooden suddenly ran over, blocking Xu Mo’s path.

“Master, you can’t go! She’ll drain you dry!” Qin Wooden said urgently.

Mo Jianjia looked puzzled, “Mr. Xu, who is this child? Where did he come from?”

Ning Yongqiang said, “Wooden, what are you doing? Don’t ruin your master’s good fortune.”

Xu Mo quickly replied, “It’s fine, it’s fine. Let me talk to him for a moment, I’ll be right back.”

He then pulled Qin Wooden aside.

Qin Wooden was anxious, “Master, let’s go home. Otherwise, that vixen really will drain you dry!”

Xu Mo didn’t waste words and immediately whispered a few sentences into Qin Wooden’s ear.

Qin Wooden was startled, his gaze toward Xu Mo instantly changed.

Xu Mo winked at him, then raised his voice, “All right, all right, you go on home. No need to wait for me.”

Qin Wooden nodded obediently and turned to leave.

Xu Mo returned to Mo Jianjia, apologizing, “Sorry, Miss Jianjia, my new servant doesn’t know his manners yet.”

Mo Jianjia smiled and shook her head, indicating it was no bother, then guided Xu Mo toward the side door on the right.

Soon, with Mo Jianjia accompanying him, Xu Mo left the hall, the two heading toward the rear garden.

The path was tranquil, and the light dim, but it was still easy enough to walk.

A cool breeze drifted by…

Mo Jianjia suddenly spoke in a delicate voice, “Mr. Xu, I’m feeling a bit cold…”

As she spoke, she hooked both hands around Xu Mo’s elbow, drawing herself close to him, feigning shivers.

The scent of powder and perfume wafted from Mo Jianjia, though for Xu Mo, it was a touch too heavy and grew cloying with each breath.

Seeing her act cold, Xu Mo wrapped his arm around Mo Jianjia’s waist, asking gently, “Does this feel better, Miss Jianjia?”

Mo Jianjia nodded slightly, her cheeks flushed, “Much better, Mr. Xu.”

Inside, Mo Jianjia couldn’t help but sneer: Hmph! So much for acting virtuous—now that no one's around, you reveal your true nature instantly!

Xu Mo continued forward, arm around Mo Jianjia.

After a while, Mo Jianjia pointed ahead at a small courtyard, “Mr. Xu, it’s right there.”

Xu Mo glanced at the courtyard, nodded, and kept walking.

But after a few steps, Xu Mo suddenly asked, “Miss Jianjia, where’s the privy? I need to relieve myself.”

Mo Jianjia replied, “Please bear with it, Mr. Xu. There’s a chamber pot inside the courtyard, you can use that.”

Xu Mo shook his head, “No, I can’t hold it anymore. I don’t want to soil myself…”

He looked desperate, scanning his surroundings, then pointed to a nearby tree, “Miss Jianjia, wait for me. I’ll take care of it under that tree. Won’t be long.”

With that, Xu Mo strode toward the tree, pretending to unfasten his belt.

Mo Jianjia was shocked, “Mr. Xu… are you going to do your business here?”

“Yes, why?” Xu Mo looked at her in confusion.

Mo Jianjia nearly cursed aloud, thinking: How dare you ask why? Urinating here is bad enough, but doing your business here—what on earth are you thinking?

Mo Jianjia was still stunned when Xu Mo reached the tree and began to squat.

She was horrified, quickly turning away, “You… you’re really… this is too much!”

In that instant, Mo Jianjia’s disgust for Xu Mo reached its peak. Never had she encountered someone so crude and revolting.

As Mo Jianjia wavered, unsure whether to leave, a sudden sharp pain struck her neck. Her vision darkened, and she collapsed to the ground.

The moment she fell, Qin Wooden emerged from behind her.

“Master, she’s fainted!” Qin Wooden whispered.

He had only pretended to leave earlier. Following Xu Mo’s instructions, he had secretly trailed them, waiting for the right moment.

Unhurried, Xu Mo walked over to Mo Jianjia and glanced at her, then said to Qin Wooden, “Come on! Let’s stretch our legs a bit.”

With that, Xu Mo and Qin Wooden strode toward the small courtyard ahead.

Inside, the courtyard was empty. A few lanterns cast eerie, shadowy light, hinting at something sinister.

The door to the main room stood open, but darkness prevailed within.

Xu Mo halted in the center of the courtyard.

“Come out, stop hiding! I can see you all!” Xu Mo shouted loudly.

No answer. Silence all around.

Xu Mo frowned and shook his head, raising his voice once more, “I’ll count to three. If you don’t come out by then, you’ll lose your chance!”

“One!”

“Two!”

Before Xu Mo could call out “three,” six burly men burst from the room, each wielding a wooden club.

Xu Mo looked closely—behind them stood two young gentlemen, one of whom was Wu Boyi.

As for the other, Xu Mo had never seen him before.

But Xu Mo had already guessed his identity and greeted him with a cold sneer, “Well, hello there, useless Young Master Wang Shunyang!”