Chapter 10: Intimidation

On the way back to the Lin family’s residence, Lin Ting decorated Shang Moting’s car with roses. For the last one, she glanced around, then grasped the hand Shang Moting had placed on the center armrest, made him clench his fist, and inserted the flower into his hand.

“Don’t move,” Lin Ting warned first.

Shang Moting held the rose without moving.

Lin Ting was quite pleased, then turned to adjust the flower crown on her head while looking out the glass window. “Looks good.”

Shang Moting chuckled softly.

Lin Ting looked at him and asked, “Are you attending the Shen family’s engagement banquet tomorrow?”

“No,” Shang Moting replied.

“Ah?” Lin Ting asked, “Then what brings you to Jiangcheng?”

Shang Moting looked at her.

Lin Ting propped her chin on her hand, frowned slightly, and said, “Is a traitor worth you coming all the way here?”

Shang Moting said nothing, diverting his gaze to the outside.

Lin Ting studied his profile.

An extraordinary profile.

A sharp, defined jawline, a high, straight nose.

Truly perfect.

After a while, she asked, “Has that traitor confessed?”

“No. Sent to M Continent,” Shang Moting said coldly.

Lin Ting was momentarily stunned, silent.

Sent to M Continent.

Why send him there?

Because once sent away, it’s easier to deal with.

Worse than death.

A traitor under Shang Moting’s command would certainly be handled severely.

A warning to others.

Shang Moting looked at her. “Why stop asking?”

Lin Ting locked eyes with him for a few seconds, then asked, “Why send him to M Continent?”

“Skin peeled, sinews torn, tongue pulled, bones picked,” Shang Moting said.

Lin Ting had her answers and was mentally prepared.

Yet hearing those words from Shang Moting felt like a chilling wind brushing against her skin.

Especially with Shang Moting’s fiercely intense face.

When his eyes looked at someone, it was like stalking prey, ready to strike and shred it to pieces.

Lin Ting realized she had underestimated it.

The corner of her mouth twitched involuntarily.

Shang Moting saw her stunned expression and said, “Anyone who harms me will meet this fate, or worse.”

Lin Ting felt he was hinting at her.

Shang Moting clasped her wrist suddenly.

Startled, Lin Ting shivered and instinctively drew back her arm, but Shang Moting held her back.

He glanced at her wide eyes, then lowered his gaze to her arm, lightly tapping with his thumb. “Here, the sinew can be plucked out…”

Lin Ting felt a numbness in her sinews.

She tried to pull her arm back again.

But Shang Moting’s grip tightened, pulling her back once more.

Lin Ting struggled, and when he didn’t release, she patted his hand repeatedly.

Only when Shang Moting finally loosened his grip did she stop and immediately edged toward the car door.

“You’re a bad person,” Lin Ting frowned, glaring at Shang Moting.

Shang Moting raised an eyebrow at her flustered look.

Lin Ting touched her wrist.

Where Shang Moting had touched still felt warm, almost burning.

She rubbed the inside of her wrist, hesitated, then said, “Who are you trying to scare? I’m not afraid.”

Shang Moting chuckled. “You’d better not be.”

Lin Ting saw his devilish expression, snorted coldly, and looked out the window, unwilling to speak.

Shang Moting said nothing further, twirling the rose she gave him between his fingers, his gaze half-lowered, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.

Wei Zhishu drove quietly ahead.

Seeing the silence behind, he glanced in the rearview mirror.

His boss was looking down at the rose in his hand, clearly in a good mood.

Wei Zhishu silently cursed in his heart.

Just knows how to scare people.

Brings a young lady into the car, then scares her.

“If you keep staring, I’ll gouge your eyes out,” Shang Moting said without raising his head, his gaze still lowered.

Wei Zhishu shuddered sharply inside.

It felt as if his soul had been struck by a hammer.

His back stiffened as he focused on driving.

Great, now the scaring begins.

Lin Ting looked at Shang Moting, realizing he was speaking to Wei Zhishu, and whispered, “Unreasonable.”

“Why be reasonable?” Shang Moting said with absolute confidence.

Lin Ting paused, wanting to retort but found no words.

So she fell silent.

Near the Lin residence, Lin Ting asked Wei Zhishu to stop.

She took off her flower crown and placed it in the armrest box. “Don’t throw it away. Next time we meet, I’ll ask for it back.”

Shang Moting watched her, and before she got out, asked, “The Lin family’s recognition ceremony and the Shen family’s engagement banquet are on the same day. Will you go tomorrow?”

“No,” Lin Ting said. “It’s not me being recognized, why would I go?”

Shang Moting looked at her.

“Doesn’t matter. Recognize whoever you want; it has nothing to do with me. If he wants to recognize someone, he can do a new one every month,” Lin Ting said. “Besides, they probably don’t want me there either. I’m leaving now. Thanks for today…”

After saying that, she opened the door and walked toward the Lin family villa.

After a few steps, Lin Ting turned and waved.

Shang Moting watched her figure disappear outside the car window before looking away.

Wei Zhishu said, “Boss, heading back to the hotel?”

“Wait a bit,” Shang Moting replied.

...

At the Lin residence.

Lin Ting entered the living room and saw Lin Shan sitting there.

“Sis, you’re back?” Lin Shan said.

Lin Ting ignored her.

Sometimes, she admired Lin Shan.

After taking two slaps, she could still call her sister.

“Sis, Dad is waiting for you in the small lounge upstairs,” Lin Shan said.

Lin Ting went straight upstairs.

The small lounge on the second floor was surrounded by glass walls and had a glass door.

Turning upstairs, Lin Ting saw Lin Jinchuan drinking tea in the lounge.

She knocked twice on the door and pushed it open.

Lin Jinchuan looked up, and the moment he saw her, his face suddenly turned cold. “Where have you been wandering all these days?”

Lin Ting closed the door. “Did you call me back for something?”

“As your elder, I’m asking you a question. Why don’t you answer?” Lin Jinchuan said.

Lin Ting replied, “I’m staying at a hotel.”

“With whom?” he pressed.

“By myself.” Lin Ting sat opposite him.

Lin Jinchuan looked displeased and increasingly angry. “You’re back at the Lin family now, and your identity is public. Cut off all those dubious people around you.”

Lin Ting met his furious face and said, “Oh? Then if it’s public, let’s sever relations.”

Lin Jinchuan was silent for two seconds before realizing what she meant and slammed the table. “You’re insolent!”

The tea set on the table trembled slightly.

Tea splashed out of the fairness cup.

Lin Ting raised an eyebrow.

Lin Jinchuan was so angry he was breathing heavily.

Lin Ting said nothing.

After catching her breath, Lin Jinchuan said, “Tomorrow is Shan Shan’s recognition and engagement banquet. Some media will be there. You won’t attend. I’ll tell them you’re sick.”

...