After going upstairs and opening one of the room doors, Ling Mo was surprised to find that there were many more people living here besides Shana and her friend.
Over a dozen young men and women instantly turned their gazes towards the door. At a glance, they were all under 20 years old. One of the female students wearing a school uniform excitedly came over as soon as she heard the door open: "Sis, you're back!"
"Oh, you brought two more people back?" The schoolgirl glanced past Shana at Ye Lian and Ling Mo and casually asked, before shifting her attention to Liu Yuhao's backpack, "How did it go today?"
"Pretty good! We just ransacked the big supermarket on South Street. There's still a lot of stuff we didn't bring back, but I've hidden it away already. We'll go get it after eating." Liu Yuhao smiled smugly, but didn't mention anything about how they had been in dire straits and nearly killed.
"Oh right, let me introduce you to two people. This is…sorry bro, I forgot to ask your name…"
Liu Yuhao had just enthusiastically started speaking when he abruptly froze awkwardly.
"Ling Mo. This is my girlfriend, Ye Lian." After sighing silently, Ling Mo introduced himself.
"Ahaha, so you're Brother Ling!" Liu Yuhao quickly regained his composure, throwing an arm around Ling Mo's shoulders and leading him to the middle of the living room. "Listen up everyone! He helped us out a lot today, so we've decided to treat him to a meal and drinks!"
The group of youths were each sitting on the sofas or floor in the living room. They didn't pay much attention to Ling Mo and Ye Lian's arrival, but upon hearing Liu Yuhao's words, they all looked at Ling Mo in surprise.
One of the men lying on the sofa immediately sat up, sizing up Ling Mo doubtfully. "How is that possible? With Shana around, there's no need for him to help."
"That's right, with big sis Shana around, how could they need an outsider's help?" Another person chimed in, emphasizing the word "outsider."
The schoolgirl from before walked over and waved her hand, saying: "Come on, it's just a meal, no need to be like that."
"Freeloading is freeloading. No need to make up excuses. Liu Yuhao, you're too nice, we barely have enough to eat as is. " The first man who spoke scoffed coldly.
Liu Yuhao's expression became awkward again. He glanced at Ling Mo but saw that he didn't have much reaction to the ridicule.
"But it's true, you don't know that when Shana fights, she gets carried away and doesn't pay attention to her surroundings…" Liu Yuhao was clearly not very good at handling this situation. Although he was trying to explain, the group of youths were looking at him with complete disbelief.
At this time, Shana also led Ye Lian over, but she didn't seem to have any intention of helping explain. Instead, she looked at Ling Mo with a hint of mockery, her eyes clearly saying: let's see how you handle this.
She's holding a grudge! This girl really knows how to hold a grudge!
It was obvious that although she had lowered her arrogance earlier, she had not forgotten about Ling Mo's retort.
However, she had clearly misunderstood. For these parasites who only knew how to freeload and were extremely unwelcoming, Ling Mo didn't even have the interest to argue with them seriously. He just coldly snorted and turned around to pull Ye Lian towards the exit: "Sorry, I have absolutely no intention of freeloading. Enjoy your meal."
"Hey now! Aren't you cocky!"
Both Shana and Liu Yuhao were taken aback, while the expression of the youth who had spoken first instantly turned ugly. He felt his face had been sweeped and even though he was humiliated and resentful, he didn't even dare to struggle or talk back. In Ling Mo's eyes, he could clearly feel the unrestrained chilliness. Based on Ling Mo's skill alone, he knew this was not just bluffing.
"Shana!"
The youth called out indistinctly. Although he was keeping a straight face, not wanting anyone to see his fear of Ling Mo, the panic in his eyes had already betrayed him.
Ling Mo's ruthless actions shocked everyone present, including Shana. But upon hearing the youth's cry, although a hint of disgust flashed through her eyes, she still walked up and said: "Ling Mo, let him go."
"Apologize." Ling Mo said coldly instead.
Shana knitted her brows: "You've already hit him…"
"Two separate matters. Apologize."
"On what grounds!" The youth had just opened his mouth when another clear slap landed on his cheek.
Shana looked at Ling Mo with complicated emotions, then turned to look at the youth whose both cheeks were now swollen. She said: "Lu Xin, just apologize. It's your own fault for being foul-mouthed."
"I…" He had been hoping Shana would stand up for him, but instead got another slap. With everyone in the room watching him, their gazes felt like needles pricking his skin. Lu Xin's expression was as if he had swallowed a fly. His heart was also filled with anger.
"I was just trying to make sure everyone could eat a bit more! Yet you say I'm foul-mouthed and no one stands up for me after I got hit!"
But under Ling Mo's gaze, Lu Xin could only swallow those words back down his throat and squeeze out three words from between clenched teeth: "I'm sorry."
As soon as those words left his mouth, his face stung as if Ling Mo had just slapped him ten times in a row.
Ling Mo disdainfully sneered, then flung Lu Xin to the ground before decisively pulling Ye Lian towards the exit.
"Wait!"
Only then did Liu Yuhao react. He hurriedly caught up and took out two cans of beer and some chocolate bars from his backpack, forcibly pushing them into Ling Mo's hands. His face was full of apology: "I'm really sorry, that was totally unacceptable…"
"Who are those people? They just rely on you and Shana to find food?" Although Liu Yuhao had duped him, Ling Mo didn't actually harbor much ill will towards him, and couldn't help asking.
"They're all classmates…we're from the same boarding school." Liu Yuhao shook his head helplessly. "That Lu Xin just now, his family is pretty wealthy, so he's used to being arrogant. Don't take it to heart. Plus, even if we let them go out to find supplies, they'd just cause more trouble. You saw it yourself, among our group only Shana is capable. I was hoping you could join us too…"
"I don't raise parasites. Don't have the energy for it." Ling Mo directly interrupted Liu Yuhao.
"I see…anyway, thanks again for today…"
Liu Yuhao hadn't finished speaking when Shana also caught up.
She looked deeply at Ling Mo, then cast a sympathetic gaze at Ye Lian. Finally, she said softly: "It'll be dark soon. Stay for the night. Even if you can handle it, I'm sure your sister can't…don't worry about that Lu Xin, he won't dare provoke you again."
Shana's tone was very sincere, but Ling Mo really had no intention of staying with this group: "No need, we can find a place to stay in the city."
"Don't go!" As soon as Ling Mo turned around, he felt his sleeve being grabbed. Looking back, it was Shana.
Seeing Ling Mo look at her questioningly, Shana actually revealed a hint of bashfulness. It wasn't until Ling Mo started getting impatient that she seemed to make up her mind and said: "I see you're quite capable and unafraid of trouble. I want to ask for your help!"