Mo Tingyan narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled.
"The owner of that restaurant is Jiang Nanzhong. He didn't even plan to charge me. I felt awkward, so I insisted on paying three thousand—friendship price. As for the gifts, they were even cheaper. They were leftover promotional items from his jewelry store—old stock sitting in storage anyway. I spent a thousand and bought a batch."
Wen Zhi was surprised.
There was… actually such a thing?
But then another question surfaced—
Why was it Jiang Nanzhong again?
What exactly did that man do? Why did he seem to pop up everywhere?
Seeing the doubt in her eyes, Mo Tingyan pulled out his phone.
"Don't believe me? I can call him right now and confirm it in front of you."
Wen Zhi snapped back to reality and looked at him coldly.
"No need. Is four thousand not money? This could've cost nothing at all."
Mo Tingyan didn't get upset. Instead, he leaned back casually.
"Forget the money for now. Just tell me—when we slapped that show-off classmate in the face, did it feel good?"
Wen Zhi: "..."
Honestly?
It felt really good.
Seeing the faint lift of her brows, Mo Tingyan grinned wickedly.
"See? I knew it. I made you feel good, didn't I?"
Wen Zhi: "..."
Why did that sound so… wrong?
She shot him a glare and was about to speak when Mo Tingyan continued,
"Palm Pearl, since I made you feel that good, shouldn't you reimburse me? If you don't want to, then at least buy me a dishwasher."
Wen Zhi snorted.
"The biggest plot twist tonight wasn't your little tricks. It was Fu Xiaowei's pretentious boyfriend bragging about knowing Mingguang Group's mysterious boss—only to get slapped in the face less than ten minutes later."
Before she could finish, Mo Tingyan suddenly leaned in. He lifted her chin, his fingers gently stroking her soft jaw. His eyes curved upward, his smile dangerously seductive—like a demon that fed on souls.
"So?" he murmured.
"Did that Mingguang boss make you feel better than I did?"
Wen Zhi: "..."
Could he talk like a normal human being?!
With that flirtatious posture, he was clearly up to no good again.
Not wanting things to escalate by the roadside, Wen Zhi slapped his hand away and deliberately put on a cool, dignified expression.
"Stop talking nonsense. I'm telling you that although you helped me tonight, you still spent money—and now you even want a dishwasher? Dream on. Drive."
Mo Tingyan chuckled softly.
As long as she knew he did it for her, that was enough.
He fastened his seatbelt and started the car.
All the way home, Wen Zhi's mind was filled with one thing—
Four thousand yuan.
The meal should've been paid by Fu Xiaowei. She taught Fu Xiaowei a lesson—there was no reason to pay tuition on her behalf halfway through.
No way.
She had to get that money back.
The moment she got home and changed her shoes, Wen Zhi headed straight for the bedroom.
But before she could get far, Mo Tingyan grabbed her by the collar from behind and yanked her back into his arms.
Caught off guard, she lost her balance and fell against his chest.
A sly curve lifted at Mo Tingyan's lips as he lowered his head and kissed her—domineering and sudden.
Wen Zhi: "..."
She raised her hands to push him away, but in that position, pushing him meant she'd fall.
Forcing herself to stay rational, she finally turned her head aside and grabbed his arms, barely managing to stand upright.
Her cheeks flushed crimson as she glared at him.
Mo Tingyan leaned in again with a shameless grin. Wen Zhi immediately stepped back.
She knew that if he caught her again, she'd be done for.
This man was far too skilled at this.
Seeing her retreat, Mo Tingyan stopped—but his smile didn't fade.
"Palm Pearl, I spent money today, but I made you feel good, didn't I? So shouldn't you repay me… with yourself? That's called—returning kindness."
To hell with returning kindness!
"I'm not done settling accounts with you, Mo Tingyan," Wen Zhi said coldly.
"When two people live together, the most important thing is respect. But you always act on your own—this isn't the first time. So we're setting rules."
She looked him straight in the eyes.
"If you do whatever you want again without my consent—then don't touch me anymore."
Mo Tingyan: "..."
That was unacceptable.
He immediately surrendered with a playful smile.
"Fine. I'll change. Then now we—"
Wen Zhi snorted.
"You're being punished. The next ten days are your probation period. No touching me. If you break the rule, I move out."
Mo Tingyan: "..."
What a sucker he was!
Wen Zhi hurried back to her room, pulled out her phone, and started typing in the class group chat.
"Classmate Fu, I don't like owing favors. I've already reimbursed my friend. Since you and your 'capable' boyfriend said you were treating, there's no reason for me to pay. Please transfer tonight's meal fee to me. @FuXiaowei"
"Of course, you don't need to pay for the gifts or the six signature dishes—that's my gift to our classmates. We haven't met in a long time; it's only right I give everyone something. Total: 12,000. How would you like to pay? @FuXiaowei"
Although the actual cost ended up being only four thousand, it was Mo Tingyan's favor that paid for it.
She had no reason to let someone like Fu Xiaowei enjoy that favor.
She wanted the full price back.
No reply came from Fu Xiaowei.
Instead, the classmates—who had just received gifts—started tagging Fu Xiaowei one after another.
In the past, Fu Xiaowei would jump out to respond the moment anyone spoke.
Now, she stayed silent.
Wen Zhi raised an eyebrow and sent another message.
"@FuXiaowei I know you're there. Don't pretend you didn't see it. If you're broke, just admit it. Then I'll consider this dinner a charitable donation."
On the other side of the screen, Fu Xiaowei was already seeing red.
She opened voice chat and lashed out,
"You opportunistic nobodies! What right do you have to criticize me? And you, Wen Zhi—aren't you just relying on your face to string rich men along? What are you even proud of? It's only twelve thousand—why are you rushing me? I'll pay it. Tomorrow."
Wen Zhi was in an excellent mood. Calmly, she sent back a voice message.
"Classmate Fu, thank you for the compliment on my looks. I've saved your voice message as evidence. Don't forget to repay the money tomorrow. I'm very particular—short me even one cent, and I'll sue you."
Fu Xiaowei: "..."
Being so angry you want to throw up blood—was this what it felt like?
If you want, next I can:
Write the full identity reveal where Mo Tingyan = Mingguang's hidden boss
Turn this into a long-running English web-novel series
Crank up the sugar + dominance + payback even harder
Just say the word 😌🔥
Here is Chapter 43, rewritten into a sweeter, sharper, ultra-satisfying English web-novel style, with higher tension, playful flirtation, ruthless face-slapping, and a clean, addictive rhythm.
Tone keywords: 爽文 · flirty banter · power couple · moral victory · clean revenge
Chapter 43: Three Rules of Engagement
Mo Tingyan narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled.
"The owner of that restaurant is Jiang Nanzhong. He didn't even plan to charge me. I felt awkward, so I insisted on paying three thousand—friendship price. As for the gifts, they were even cheaper. They were leftover promotional items from his jewelry store—old stock sitting in storage anyway. I spent a thousand and bought a batch."
Wen Zhi was surprised.
There was… actually such a thing?
But then another question surfaced—
Why was it Jiang Nanzhong again?
What exactly did that man do? Why did he seem to pop up everywhere?
Seeing the doubt in her eyes, Mo Tingyan pulled out his phone.
"Don't believe me? I can call him right now and confirm it in front of you."
Wen Zhi snapped back to reality and looked at him coldly.
"No need. Is four thousand not money? This could've cost nothing at all."
Mo Tingyan didn't get upset. Instead, he leaned back casually.
"Forget the money for now. Just tell me—when we slapped that show-off classmate in the face, did it feel good?"
Wen Zhi: "..."
Honestly?
It felt really good.
Seeing the faint lift of her brows, Mo Tingyan grinned wickedly.
"See? I knew it. I made you feel good, didn't I?"
Wen Zhi: "..."
Why did that sound so… wrong?
She shot him a glare and was about to speak when Mo Tingyan continued,
"Palm Pearl, since I made you feel that good, shouldn't you reimburse me? If you don't want to, then at least buy me a dishwasher."
Wen Zhi snorted.
"The biggest plot twist tonight wasn't your little tricks. It was Fu Xiaowei's pretentious boyfriend bragging about knowing Mingguang Group's mysterious boss—only to get slapped in the face less than ten minutes later."
Before she could finish, Mo Tingyan suddenly leaned in. He lifted her chin, his fingers gently stroking her soft jaw. His eyes curved upward, his smile dangerously seductive—like a demon that fed on souls.
"So?" he murmured.
"Did that Mingguang boss make you feel better than I did?"
Wen Zhi: "..."
Could he talk like a normal human being?!
With that flirtatious posture, he was clearly up to no good again.
Not wanting things to escalate by the roadside, Wen Zhi slapped his hand away and deliberately put on a cool, dignified expression.
"Stop talking nonsense. I'm telling you that although you helped me tonight, you still spent money—and now you even want a dishwasher? Dream on. Drive."
Mo Tingyan chuckled softly.
As long as she knew he did it for her, that was enough.
He fastened his seatbelt and started the car.
All the way home, Wen Zhi's mind was filled with one thing—
Four thousand yuan.
The meal should've been paid by Fu Xiaowei. She taught Fu Xiaowei a lesson—there was no reason to pay tuition on her behalf halfway through.
No way.
She had to get that money back.
The moment she got home and changed her shoes, Wen Zhi headed straight for the bedroom.
But before she could get far, Mo Tingyan grabbed her by the collar from behind and yanked her back into his arms.
Caught off guard, she lost her balance and fell against his chest.
A sly curve lifted at Mo Tingyan's lips as he lowered his head and kissed her—domineering and sudden.
Wen Zhi: "..."
She raised her hands to push him away, but in that position, pushing him meant she'd fall.
Forcing herself to stay rational, she finally turned her head aside and grabbed his arms, barely managing to stand upright.
Her cheeks flushed crimson as she glared at him.
Mo Tingyan leaned in again with a shameless grin. Wen Zhi immediately stepped back.
She knew that if he caught her again, she'd be done for.
This man was far too skilled at this.
Seeing her retreat, Mo Tingyan stopped—but his smile didn't fade.
"Palm Pearl, I spent money today, but I made you feel good, didn't I? So shouldn't you repay me… with yourself? That's called—returning kindness."
To hell with returning kindness!
"I'm not done settling accounts with you, Mo Tingyan," Wen Zhi said coldly.
"When two people live together, the most important thing is respect. But you always act on your own—this isn't the first time. So we're setting rules."
She looked him straight in the eyes.
"If you do whatever you want again without my consent—then don't touch me anymore."
Mo Tingyan: "..."
That was unacceptable.
He immediately surrendered with a playful smile.
"Fine. I'll change. Then now we—"
Wen Zhi snorted.
"You're being punished. The next ten days are your probation period. No touching me. If you break the rule, I move out."
Mo Tingyan: "..."
What a sucker he was!
Wen Zhi hurried back to her room, pulled out her phone, and started typing in the class group chat.
"Classmate Fu, I don't like owing favors. I've already reimbursed my friend. Since you and your 'capable' boyfriend said you were treating, there's no reason for me to pay. Please transfer tonight's meal fee to me. @FuXiaowei"
"Of course, you don't need to pay for the gifts or the six signature dishes—that's my gift to our classmates. We haven't met in a long time; it's only right I give everyone something. Total: 12,000. How would you like to pay? @FuXiaowei"
Although the actual cost ended up being only four thousand, it was Mo Tingyan's favor that paid for it.
She had no reason to let someone like Fu Xiaowei enjoy that favor.
She wanted the full price back.
No reply came from Fu Xiaowei.
Instead, the classmates—who had just received gifts—started tagging Fu Xiaowei one after another.
In the past, Fu Xiaowei would jump out to respond the moment anyone spoke.
Now, she stayed silent.
Wen Zhi raised an eyebrow and sent another message.
"@FuXiaowei I know you're there. Don't pretend you didn't see it. If you're broke, just admit it. Then I'll consider this dinner a charitable donation."
On the other side of the screen, Fu Xiaowei was already seeing red.
She opened voice chat and lashed out,
"You opportunistic nobodies! What right do you have to criticize me? And you, Wen Zhi—aren't you just relying on your face to string rich men along? What are you even proud of? It's only twelve thousand—why are you rushing me? I'll pay it. Tomorrow."
Wen Zhi was in an excellent mood. Calmly, she sent back a voice message.
"Classmate Fu, thank you for the compliment on my looks. I've saved your voice message as evidence. Don't forget to repay the money tomorrow. I'm very particular—short me even one cent, and I'll sue you."
Fu Xiaowei: "..."
Being so angry you want to throw up blood—was this what it felt like?