The Importance of Personality
After entering the supermarket, everyone quickly grabbed large bags of food.
Xu Mo was no exception.
But when he tried to pay, he was embarrassed to find every card showed an insufficient balance.
He already knew the original owner's finances weren't great, but he hadn't expected them to be this bad.
The balance on the card was barely enough for a single lunch.
No wonder the original owner hadn't planned to join the expedition—going out with this little money would have meant starving in the next town.
Still, Xu Mo had to admit the original owner had some nerve. Even in this situation, he'd had time to seduce the neighbor's young wife—and actually succeeded.
There were some tricks to admire in that.
Xu Mo felt awkward as the cashier stared at him innocently while holding the useless card.
He hadn't worried about money in years. Considering his wealth and status in the Marvel world, spending was something he barely thought about anymore.
Left with no choice, Xu Mo reached into his backpack. To outsiders, it looked like a casual motion. In reality, his hand slipped through a hidden spatial portal, into the secret compartment behind an American congressman's bookcase.
When he pulled it back out, he held a stack of bills—over $100,000.
He knew where the congressman kept his stash because this politician also existed in the Marvel world. Xu Mo had once dealt with him during film-company disputes, and learned the vault's location from his wife.
Why she told him? Best not to elaborate.
Last night, Xu Mo had stumbled across this congressman's profile while browsing online. Out of curiosity, he decided to check. To his amusement, this world's version of the man hid money the same way.
"I wonder if his wife in this world also has a mole on her thigh," Xu Mo thought idly as he tucked the cash away, then pulled out just enough to pay.
When he finally left the supermarket, the others were already waiting outside.
Seeing everyone gathered, Captain Carl said simply: "Set off!"
They returned to their cars.
But when Xu Mo approached his own, he noticed Dina—the provocatively dressed girl—waiting near a Ferrari. She caught his eye and said, "I want to ride with you."
Her boyfriend, Blake, looked furious. He stepped forward, glaring. "Are you Xu?"
Blake wasn't close with the team; he'd only joined because Dina insisted on coming. He didn't even believe in supernatural stuff.
Xu Mo met his expression and suddenly had a bad premonition. Had he somehow gotten tangled up in another mess? Given his history in two worlds, it wasn't impossible.
Dina walked up confidently, standing in front of Xu Mo. "What do you want to do?"
Xu Mo sighed inwardly. The way things stood, there was at least a sixty percent chance his suspicion was right.
Blake's anger boiled over. "So I was right! You really are involved with her!"
"What nonsense are you spouting?!" Dina snapped.
Blake shouted, "Nonsense?! You called out his name in your sleep just now in the car!"
Everyone froze—including Xu Mo. Dina's face flushed with embarrassment, but then she exploded.
"Yes! We're together! Not only that, but we've slept together—more than once! In my heart, you're not even worth as much as him. What do you think of that? And from now on, we're done!"
She brushed past Blake and climbed into Xu Mo's car.
Blake stood stunned. "We've been dating for over a month, and you never even let me hold your hand… yet you're with him…"
Carl rushed over to diffuse the situation. "Blake, maybe you misunderstood. Dina's just upset. Xu used to be her boyfriend, maybe she just hasn't let go."
Xu Mo stared at Carl in disbelief. Brother, if you don't know how to comfort someone, don't make it worse.
But it was true: the original Xu Mo hadn't joined this team just because of money. No man could stomach seeing his ex-girlfriend flaunt affection with someone else.
Sure enough, Blake's face twisted further with rage. He charged at Xu Mo, fists raised.
Xu Mo didn't hesitate. Though he wasn't sure of the full truth, he wasn't about to stand still and get hit. One swift kick dropped Blake to the ground.
He didn't follow up—until things were clearer, he couldn't be sure whether he was truly guilty or just caught in the crossfire.
The others pulled Blake away. Red-faced, he stormed back to his car and drove off alone, clearly unwilling to stay.
Watching the taillights vanish, Xu Mo shook his head. Blake's resentment was heavy enough that, unless something unexpected happened, he wouldn't survive the night.
No one commented. Only Julie glanced at Dina, then silently returned to her own car.
Jason, seated in the passenger seat, tactfully moved to Carl's vehicle, leaving Xu Mo and Dina alone.
Once they were on the road again, Xu Mo glanced at Dina. Strangely, she looked calm—almost pleased.
Her expression made him pause.
Then Dina smiled faintly, her tone sharp. "Do you know who Blake's father is?"
Without waiting for an answer, she continued, "He's a senior member of America's number one mafia family."
Xu Mo's eyes narrowed.
"So… everything you just did—was an act?"
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