Su Mo’s words struck Ye Qingyi like a bolt of lightning—piercing straight through her from head to toe, leaving her mind blank and her body momentarily numb.
“Y-You… are you confessing to me right now?” Ye Qingyi asked weakly, her shoulders still locked in his grip.
With nearly a ten-centimeter height difference between them, the sight of Su Mo (in her body) reaching up to grasp Ye Qingyi’s (in his body) shoulders was almost comical.
Tilting his head back to meet her eyes, he could almost see a graceful figure dancing within them—so beautiful it stole his breath.
“Yes.” Su Mo took a deep breath, his voice firm. “Even if we can’t be together now, I want to reserve the future. When we’re back in our own bodies, let’s belong only to each other. Okay?”
The street was quiet, devoid of passersby, their warm breaths mingling in the cold air.
The chill quickly brought Ye Qingyi back to her senses. In that brief moment, countless thoughts raced through her mind.
If Su Mo’s saying this, he must really like me… but he’s hung up on our current bodies…
What worried her most was: If we can switch back, great. But what if we can’t? Would we never be together?
After a pause, she voiced her biggest concern: “You’re reserving the future me—but what about the current me? If we’re never able to switch back, are we just stuck pretending forever?”
Su Mo fell silent. He had no answer.
Because she was right. Until they actually switched back, anything was possible.
Their mismatched bodies had always been the barrier between them—one they couldn’t ignore.
Only now did Su Mo realize how impulsive he’d been. He shouldn’t have said those things…
But the words were already out. No taking them back.
A sudden fear gripped him—what if his recklessness ruined everything between them?
A crushing sense of loneliness settled in his chest, heavier than anything he’d ever felt.
Watching his flustered expression, Ye Qingyi felt both amused and tender.
Gently cupping his face, she chided, “Look at you—older than me, yet acting like a kid. I’m not dumping you, so why the long face?”
“Who said anything about dumping—”
“Pfft. Don’t deny it. That look just now? Totally scared I’d leave you.” She pinched his cheeks playfully, their softness making her want to smoosh them even more.
Su Mo considered retaliating, but seeing her determination, he surrendered. “Go ahead. It’s your face anyway. Ruin it if you want—I’m not paying for damages.”
“Hah! You’re cute when you’re mad.”
“Calling a guy ‘cute’ is the ultimate insult!”
“Says who?”
Just like that, they slipped back into their usual banter—teasing, bickering, neither willing to lose.
Just as Su Mo thought the awkwardness had passed, Ye Qingyi suddenly stopped. Her fingers lingered on his cheek, her voice softening.
“Su Mo…”
“No need to apologize. I’m very magnanimous—wouldn’t hold a grudge against a woman.”
“Actually… I have an idea. One that’s fair and works for our situation.”
“Oh?” Su Mo hadn’t expected this. He motioned for her to continue.
“You said you wanted to ‘reserve’ my future, right? But that’s so unfair to me. It’s like I’m just your property, waiting around for you to claim.”
Su Mo winced. She had a point. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have—”
Ye Qingyi pressed a finger to his lips. “So here’s my counteroffer. You want my future? Fine. But first—you have to give me your present.“
“Huh?!” Su Mo’s eyes widened like a maiden cornered by a rogue, instantly on guard.
“So, Little Beauty Su Mo…” She tilted his chin up, gazing into his eyes with exaggerated sweetness. “Will you be my girlfriend? At least until the day I become yours?”
Su Mo’s brain short-circuited. His face burned crimson, his eyes darting everywhere except at her.
“No answer? I’ll take that as a yes~“
Her grip on his chin tightened as she leaned in—so close Su Mo forgot to breathe, let alone struggle.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
The black sedan from earlier suddenly returned, its horn blaring just in time to interrupt the scene.
Snapping back to reality, Su Mo seized the chance to escape her clutches.
Gasping for air, he could feel the heat spreading from his cheeks to his ears—even his neck was on fire.
Close call… Almost lost my virtue there…
Uncle Wang, you’re a lifesaver!
Wang Er stepped out of the car just in time to see the two “teenagers” spring apart, their faces red as tomatoes.
“…Bad timing?”
“No! Perfect timing!” Su Mo blurted out the truth before he could stop himself. Ye Qingyi turned away, mortified.
Really? That’s what you go with?!
“Maybe I should come back later—”
“No! Now is great! I’m dying to hear about the Green Rain Society!” Su Mo insisted, practically dragging him inside.
Wang Er scratched his ear. Sure you are. “Dying” for something, alright…
But in the end, he gave in.
Once Su Mo had cooled off (and splashed water on his face), Wang Er began his briefing.
Oddly, even Xia Qingqing and Huo Jingshu seemed flustered, quickly retreating to their rooms when the guest arrived. Ye Qingyi, though she should’ve stayed, tactfully excused herself too.
Only when Su Mo had fully composed himself did Wang Er finally speak.
“The Green Rain Society has 236 members. One chairperson, eleven directors, twenty-four department heads, and two hundred general members.”
Su Mo: “Ooh~“
“Aside from the chairperson—a B-rank—we have three C-ranks, eleven D-ranks, and the rest E or F. Our strongest is First Director Liao Yu, acting chairperson. His cultivation’s just shy of B-rank.”
Su Mo was mildly impressed.
Even without Ye Qingyu as their top fighter, the remaining 235 members alone could rival most major organizations nationwide—whether in elite strength, numbers, or average ability.
Doing the math, aside from the three super factions (North Star, Scarlet Leaf Hall, and Hundred Immortals Sect), few groups could openly boast a B-rank leader.
Factor in scale, connections, and assets? The Green Rain Society was solidly first-tier.
No wonder Liao Yu wanted to seize control. For a faction this powerful, loyalty paled next to ambition.
Deep in thought, Su Mo refilled Wang Er’s tea, eager to hear more.