Su Mo had entered the Elite Camp using Lin Qianye’s identity to gain Hai Ou’s trust and then legitimately participate in the Shrine Secret Realm in Japan.
Of course, he didn’t need to impersonate Lin Qianye for any of this. The main reason he used this identity was to disgust them and gain some benefits along the way.
According to Nangong Xuan’s original words: “As long as we don’t lose out and they are the ones at a disadvantage, that’s all that matters. Nothing else needs to concern us.”
Guided by the principle of “no loss for us, losses for others,” Su Mo formulated his next steps:
First, of course, was to bide his time within the Elite Camp, striving to improve himself while simultaneously earning Hai Ou’s trust.
Second, Su Mo felt it was necessary for him to make more “friends.” Who knows, they might come in handy later?
Finally, he set a small goal for himself: to plant the third Jade Seed within three months.
This time, he chose the liver as the location. The reason was simple: Water nurtures Wood.
Last time was the Water attribute Jade Seed, so this time he would follow the Five Elements’ generative cycle rule. He couldn’t always defy the natural order, could he?
Naturally, he had his own considerations.
The liver has detoxification functions. Implanting a Wood attribute Jade Seed would inevitably enhance this ability. Next time he encountered someone trying to drug him, at least he wouldn’t end up in such an awkward state.
With his goals set, Su Mo felt the pressure, but he enjoyed this feeling of being challenged rather than drifting along aimlessly and idly.
As for the task Hai Ou had given him, Su Mo wasn’t worried. At worst, he could just reveal his true identity and have Hai Ou pretend to have been drugged by him.
He didn’t think it would be that difficult.
The next day.
Su Mo proactively invited Ye Qingyi to watch matches at the martial arts arena, and she readily agreed.
Although they hadn’t explicitly revealed their identities to each other yet, both were fully aware. Thus, there wasn’t much awkwardness when they spent time together.
However, rumors had been circulating outside that “Su Mo” had a very beautiful and powerful girlfriend. Now, with this situation, some inevitably started calling “Su Mo” a scumbag, accused of being never satisfied and always looking for the next best thing.
That alone was bad enough, but the key issue was that even the goddess of the Elite Camp, who wasn’t part of this existing dynamic, seemed to have a crush on him, and in a somewhat lovesick way.
One could easily imagine the feelings of the male comrades in the Elite Camp at this moment.
Simultaneously, the female compatriots on Starry Sky Island were also launching all sorts of verbal attacks online.
But their target wasn’t “Su Mo” or “Lin Qianye”; they were attacking those who dared to criticize their idol.
Reasons didn’t matter to them. If you dare insult our ‘gege’, bring it on!
This was the first time Su Mo personally experienced the sheer size of Ye Qingyi’s fanbase. Sitting in the spectator stands of the martial arts arena, he asked her, “Why do you have so many fans?”
Ye Qingyi stealthily slipped him a key card. “I’ll tell you tonight.”
Su Mo immediately feigned shyness. “That… wouldn’t be appropriate, would it…”
Ye Qingyi leaned closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. “What’s inappropriate about it? It’s not like it hasn’t happened before.”
Her last sentence was very soft, so soft that only Su Mo could hear it.
A girl nearby happened to witness the entire exchange. She gnashed her teeth, wishing she could tear Su Mo to pieces.
But she ultimately knew her place. How her idol chose to act wasn’t something she could influence.
Sigh. Better to just admire him silently.
Just then, a chubby young man walked over and sat down next to Ye Qingyi, though he maintained a certain distance.
“Mo-ge, got some free time? Let’s go play pool together. We can call Qingqing and the others. Wu Heng is coming too.” The chubby youth was none other than Zhuge Zhi, the one who had caused Su Mo to lose money.
Su Mo had already suspected that Ye Qingyi was helping this guy throw matches, and now it seemed confirmed.
Good grief! My Qingyi is such a pure girl, and she’s been corrupted by you, you dead fatty!
Soul Exchange: This School Belle Is Not So Aloof – Chapter 237: The Scumbag Judgment Squad (Part 2/2)
He shot Zhuge Zhi a meaningful glance. The other party couldn’t help but shiver and looked over just as Su Mo was blushing, looking down without saying a word.
Ye Qingyi readily agreed. “Sure, just the thing. Qianye wants to go too, let’s bring her along.”
Zhuge Zhi looked hesitant. “Mo-ge, you’re really brave… Does our ‘saozi’ know about this?”
Ye Qingyi put on a serious face. “It’s just hanging out together, it’s not like we’re doing anything. My ‘wife’ would understand.”
Zhuge Zhi was utterly impressed by Ye Qingyi’s scumbag behavior. As he left, he didn’t forget to remind her, “I hope you can stay this calm when our ‘saozi’ finds out. Hahahaha!”
He ran off laughing.
Ye Qingyi’s hand, which was resting on Su Mo’s shoulder, gently brushed his cheek. “You’re not jealous, are you?”
Su Mo blurted out without thinking, “What’s it got to do with me?”
As he said this, he brushed her hand away and moved further aside. To an outsider, it looked no different from someone feeling jealous.
Su Mo just hadn’t expected Ye Qingyi to be such a “scumbag.”
Just yesterday they agreed on no strings attached, and now she was flirting with him again.
For the entire afternoon, Su Mo couldn’t focus properly on the matches. He only knew that Li Tianke and Lei Wu Yinuofu were trading blows evenly; he didn’t even notice who won or lost.
Well, what could he do? There was a rogue sitting right next to him.
After watching the matches, Ye Qingyi met up with Zhuge Zhi as agreed at a nearby pool hall.
Shortly after they arrived, Xia Qingqing and Huo Jingshuo showed up too.
Their gazes were sharp, making Su Mo feel extremely uncomfortable all over. He felt like running away.
“Su Mo, Qingyi just went on a mission and is temporarily absent, it’s not like she’s gone forever. How could you do this? If she found out, she’d be so heartbroken.” Xia Qingqing started complaining to Ye Qingyi the moment she arrived.
Ye Qingyi quickly explained, “It’s a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. The reason I asked you here is actually to clear things up.”
Under their unfriendly stares, Ye Qingyi explained the whole story from beginning to end. The gist of it was:
There was a woman named Xiao Mei who was drugged and in critical danger. A man named Xiao Shuai happened to save her. Although nothing happened, Xiao Mei, feeling grateful, wanted to pledge herself to him. Xiao Shuai refused because his heart belonged to another. So, Xiao Mei had no choice but to drop it, suggesting they just be ordinary friends.
Xia Qingqing asked suspiciously, “Really?”
Ye Qingyi raised three fingers. “I swear to heaven, if I dare be unfaithful to Qingyi, may I be struck by lightning.”
Seeing her earnest expression, Su Mo almost believed it himself. Xia Qingqing had little choice but to believe her for now, but still issued a warning: “I’ll believe you this time. But if I hear even the slightest rumor again, Jingshuo and I won’t let you off easily!”
As a good best friend, she felt it was her responsibility to help keep an eye on her friend’s boyfriend.
Zhuge Zhi’s eyes shifted slyly; he had seen how affectionate the two were that afternoon.
Forget it, better not say anything. Speaking up would just cause a big scene.
But he felt conflicted, always feel he shouldn’t let it slide.
Just then, Wu Heng suddenly spoke.
He was addressing Ye Qingyi: “Xiao Mo, we’re all men here. I understand having needs. But if you dare be unfaithful to Qingyi, don’t blame me for not warning you before I punch you.”
His tone was low. After finishing, he quickly added, “We’re all friends, that’s why I’m saying this to you. No other meaning intended.”
This last addition actually made it more likely to be misunderstood.
After all, everyone present knew that he also had feelings for Ye Qingyi. Although his affection was different from others’, comprising more respect and admiration, Essentially it was still a form of liking.