Chapter 9: Uniqueness
"What?" Yang Dongqing didn't understand immediately.
"My name."
Yang Dongqing was momentarily stunned.
Nan Mo…
He savored the name, finding it melodious and poetic. But his lack of literary knowledge left him unable to analyze its meaning like Nan Mo might.
"It's a lovely name. Is there a story behind it?"
"Lovely?" The girl seemed surprised. "You're the first to say that. My… friends think it's strange, so they usually call me Jasmine."
"No, it's beautiful."
Nan Mo smiled. This time, her smile had less caution and a hint of genuine happiness.
"'Twin fruits hang low in the plantain grove; Jasmine outshines all flowers in the southern lands.'"
"What?" Yang Dongqing was stunned again.
"Ah, it's the origin of my name, isn't that what you were asking?" Nan Mo teased him playfully.
"Really? Haha…" Yang Dongqing awkwardly chuckled and stole a glance at the girl's side profile in his arms.
"Truly outshines all flowers…"
"What did you just say?"
"Ah? Nothing, you must have misheard."
"But I clearly heard something about flowers…"
---
In a distant residential building, Su Mu lowered his night vision binoculars, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
"Well done, Nan Mo. Jasmine indeed. Reality is so much more interesting than dreams. Even the most ordinary people have their own shine. The interest isn't in reality itself but in the people who inhabit it!"
Hidden in the shadows, Su Mu had witnessed Jasmine perform her little play, even "hearing" the dialogue clearly.
He could read lips, so nothing was lost to him.
In his dreams, studying consumed mental energy, so Su Mu had focused on learning practical skills. Over time, he mastered a variety of tricks, such as making bombs, hand-to-hand combat, and even concocting poisons.
Casually tossing the night vision binoculars to Zhao Zhaoyao, Su Mu instructed indifferently, "Investigate Nan Mo. She's not as simple as she seems."
Zhao Zhaoyao stiffened and saluted, "Yes, Leader!"
---
**The Next Day**
At the Viper Gang's headquarters, Su Mu sat in his wheelchair before a towering ouroboros-embellished wall, looking pale and drained after hypnosis.
"My condition is worsening," he muttered, his face devoid of color, though his eyes burned with intensity.
"Leader, Jasmine is here," Zhao Zhaoyao announced, bringing the petite Nan Mo forward.
Nan Mo appeared tense, her gaze darting nervously at the Viper Gang members standing like statues around her.
"How's the progress?" Su Mu's raspy voice echoed across the vast hall.
Nan Mo felt as if she were facing an emperor, suppressing the urge to kneel. She quickly replied, "Very smoothly. Yang Dongqing isn't suspicious."
"Hmm." Su Mu nodded, scrutinizing Nan Mo closely. "Did you two… sleep together?"
Nan Mo stiffened and shook her head. "No, he's very considerate. He knows I've been traumatized and injured, so he didn't touch me."
As if afraid of disappointing him, she added, "I told him I was scared and asked him to stay. He slept on the floor at first, but later, fearing he'd catch a cold, I let him sleep in the bed."
Su Mu's gaze shifted to her slender, injured ankle. The redness and swelling were real, not feigned.
"You've done well. Men don't cherish things they get too easily."
Nan Mo brightened slightly. "Thank you for your praise. Honestly, I didn't do much—Yang Dongqing is just too naive."
Su Mu smiled faintly, staring at her with interest. "No need to be modest. Your acting is convincing—so real it doesn't seem like acting."
Nan Mo's smile froze. "People like me deal with all sorts of customers every day, so we learn a bit of acting."
"No need to lie. Your talent has nothing to do with your profession but your experiences. Only those who've truly faced despair can portray such resilience."
Nan Mo's expression grew stiffer. "What do you mean by that? I don't understand."
"Nothing. I had your background investigated. Interestingly, it mirrors your script quite closely—except reality is often crueler, and you're far stronger."
Nan Mo fell silent, her face pale. Her feigned air of world-weariness dissolved, leaving a trace of poignant beauty.
"In the script, the person still has their parents. But my father was beaten to death by debt collectors long ago, my mother died of illness, and my only brother cut ties with me because of my work.
"At first, I wanted to sing in bars, but without fame, I had to accept the owner's rules. Later…"
"Enough." Su Mu interrupted. "I know your story better than you do."
Nan Mo froze, a bitter smile forming. She realized this man, the leader of the Viper Gang, had no sympathy. Sympathy, she had long since learned, was a prelude to exploitation.
"Your brother works at Chengxin Machinery Factory, doesn't he?"
This casual comment shook Nan Mo to her core. "No, please don't… don't harm my brother. I'll do whatever you say, I—"
"Stop." Su Mu frowned slightly. "Have you been watching too many soap operas? Or do you have a cliché impression of me? Why would I harm your brother?
"What leverage could you possibly offer that would require my personal interference?"
Nan Mo blinked, her heightened emotions scattering. That… made sense?
"I pay you to do your job. That's all. Understand?"
"Yes… I understand. Then, about my brother…"
"I brought up Chengxin Machinery Factory because I'm proposing an alternative payment.
"The factory owes the Viper Gang money and is offering itself as collateral. It's a small workshop that we don't care to manage.
"Your brother works there, so I thought I'd transfer the factory to you as compensation and let your brother run it as the manager. A win-win situation, don't you think?"
Nan Mo felt both wary and powerless. She realized this offer wasn't out of kindness—it was a subtle warning. If the job was done well, her brother could thrive. If not, the factory might become a graveyard.
Still, she nodded, having no other choice. "I agree."
"Good. Now, I have a second task for you. But first, tell me—does Yang Dongqing have any unique traits?"
Nan Mo thought for a moment and hesitated before replying, "Hard."
"Hard?"
"Yes, he's very hard."
"Watch your mouth!" Zhao Zhaoyao interjected angrily. "Didn't you say you didn't sleep together? Then how do you know he's hard?! And what kind of unique trait is that?!"