Chapter 43: Entering the Trap

Inside the sunroom.

Lin Ting looked at Shang Moting.

Because she was facing the sunlight, his eyes appeared a shade lighter than usual under the sun's rays.

They also gave off a sharper, more ruthless impression.

Though a faint trace of a smile lingered in the depths of his eyes.

"It was me," Lin Ting said. "I was the one who planted the items, and I was the one who had someone report Yuesheng Mansion."

Shang Moting looked at her, paused, and asked, "Where did you get those items?"

Lin Ting keenly perceived the shift in his emotions.

It was just like last night when he asked her why she was at Yuesheng Mansion.

Serious, vigilant.

"What if I don't tell you?" Lin Ting put down the glass of milk in her hand, leaned back, and rested against the sofa.

"You should know a thing or two about this place. If I don't allow it, you won't be able to walk out of here," Shang Moting said.

Lin Ting raised an eyebrow and then replied, "I don't believe it."

Shang Moting smiled slightly. The hand resting on the sofa armrest suddenly moved.

From Lin Ting's perspective, his fingers seemed to brush against something underneath the armrest.

Immediately, Lin Ting sensed something hurtling toward her from behind.

It was moving very fast, aimed right at her neck.

Not just one, but several.

Subconsciously, Lin Ting's mind calculated their speed and distance.

She knew the things behind her were about to strike her.

At that moment, Shang Moting suddenly stood up, pulled her up, sheltered her in his arms, and dodged to the side with her.

Lin Ting hadn't expected him to make a move. When he gathered her into his embrace, she was stunned for a split second.

Then she glanced out from his arms.

The things that had attacked her from behind looked very much like vines.

Three in total.

As Shang Moting dodged away with her, he used his hand to deflect one of them.

As for the rest, upon hitting their targets, the vines curled backward, wound around, and locked tight.

Two of them locked onto the legs of the coffee table, while one grasped at empty air.

After securing their hold, they even gave a sharp tug backward.

The force behind it was not insignificant.

Standing off to the side, Lin Ting looked at the pulled coffee table and raised a hand to touch her own neck.

If she had been caught by those, even if it wouldn't cut off her breath instantly, that suffocating sensation would still have been deadly.

"You've got quite the nerve, not even bothering to dodge." Shang Moting lowered his gaze to look at her, his voice somewhat cold and his expression less than pleasant. "Don't you want your life anymore?"

He had been certain she would be able to dodge out of the way.

Lin Ting raised her gaze to look at him, blinked, and said, "How did President Shang know I wouldn't dodge?"

Shang Moting frowned, his pupils contracting slightly.

Lin Ting continued, "President Shang, your heartbeat is a little fast."

Shang Moting released her and took a step back.

Lin Ting smiled and said, "Actually, even if you hadn't helped me, I was just about to get up and dodge anyway. But... President Shang just couldn't keep his composure."

Shang Moting remained silent.

He seemed to have been a bit nervous.

He had been nervous the moment she didn't make a move right away.

"Were you really that afraid of me getting hurt?" Lin Ting stepped forward and looked up into his eyes.

Looking into his deep, dark eyes.

"Actually, you know as well that even if it choked me for a bit, it wouldn't be fatal. At worst, it would just be uncomfortable for a few days," Lin Ting said.

Shang Moting looked at her bright, smiling eyes.

He had fallen straight into her trap and lost the initiative.

Seeing that he remained silent, Lin Ting smiled again, took two steps back, and said, "The things I left at Yuesheng Mansion were given to Yue Mingzhou to place in my hotel, inside the vase in my office."

Shang Moting looked at her.

Lin Ting flicked a leaf of the fortune plant nearby and said, "Two drug addicts also checked into the hotel. According to their original plan, yesterday's trending searches should have been 'Interstellar Hotel Conceals Drugs,' 'Interstellar Hotel Owner Engages in Drug Trade,' and 'Interstellar Hotel Provides Venue for Drug Use.'"

Lin Ting let out a laugh as she spoke, straightened her hair, and lifted her chin. "But, I am so smart—how could I let something like that happen? With a quick flick of my wrist, I resolved that tense situation in no time, and then! I gave them a taste of their own medicine."

After running into those two people who smelled of drugs yesterday, she had hotel staff tail them.

She had also hacked into both of their phones.

She discovered that the person pulling the strings behind them was none other than Yue Mingzhou.

Actually, she hadn't anticipated at first that they were aiming to harm the hotel; she had merely wanted to trace the source and cut off their supply chain.

She hadn't expected them to target the hotel itself.

Therefore, she had swiftly dealt with every aspect to ensure the hotel's safety and make sure the mastermind behind them was brought to justice.

"Yue Mingzhou's girlfriend is the daughter of Jiang Sheng," Shang Moting said.

Lin Ting nodded.

Jiang Sheng was part of the management team at the Interstellar Hotel and one of the individuals disciplined this time.

"Jiang Sheng has had an office in the Beijing Interstellar Hotel much longer than you have," Shang Moting said. "It would be very easy for him to plant something in your office."

"Yes," Lin Ting said. "The one who planted the items was his man."

"Yue Mingzhou targeted you for the sake of his girlfriend," Shang Moting said.

"This guy is quite devoted, isn't he?" Lin Ting offered a brief evaluation, then added, "Now that my matter is settled, shouldn't we talk about yours?"

"The Yue family's influence is deeply rooted and complex. You should know that something like this probably won't do much to them," Shang Moting said. "A scapegoat will appear very soon, and Yue Mingzhou will walk out safe and sound."

Lin Ting tilted her head slightly and looked at him. "Isn't President Shang here?"

Shang Moting narrowed his eyes slightly. "What do you know?"

Lin Ting said, "What are you guys investigating? Would you consider what I did as presenting you with an opportunity?"

Shang Moting said, "You know even more than that."

Lin Ting smiled. "I did uncover a little something. I just don't know if it will be of any use to you."

As she spoke, she took another step forward, looked at him, and said, "It's your turn now. Please be honest."

"There is a drug-trafficking syndicate, and we suspect the person in charge on the domestic side is Yue Mingzhou," Shang Moting said. "However, there is no definitive evidence."

"Originally, I intended to use what I found to deal with them myself, but now..." Lin Ting said, "I suppose I don't need to."

"What evidence?" Shang Moting asked.

"A very confidential transaction list," Lin Ting said. "It points directly at Yue Mingzhou. The kind that could get him the death penalty."

Shang Moting looked at her.

"Don't forget. Aside from auctions, what else does Wangyue do?" Lin Ting asked.

"Where is the transaction list?" Shang Moting asked.

"On its way," Lin Ting said. "The original copy."

"Is it safe?" Shang Moting asked.

Lin Ting replied, "As long as no one leaks this matter, it will be very safe. Of course, I don't mean you."

"You trust me that much?" Shang Moting asked.

"I am the boss of Wangyue, after all. I still have a certain understanding of you," Lin Ting said, raising a hand to pat his shoulder. "Chief An's secret weapon."

Shang Moting smiled faintly.

"So before the items arrive, you'd better not mention this to anyone," Lin Ting said. "For now, let's just pretend we don't know anything."

Shang Moting agreed with her.