Chapter Fourteen: Jealousy and Rivalry

“What? You spent a full thirty million on tipping that woman?” Li Mida exploded, utterly shocked. She had known Ma Wu favored Lin Erke, but never expected such extravagance.

“So what? Is there a problem?” Ma Wu spoke indifferently. It was his money, after all; he could give it to whoever he pleased. Who was she to interfere?

“Have you ever considered me as your girlfriend?” Li Mida couldn’t hold back any longer, loudly interrogating Ma Wu. “You actually gave money to another woman behind my back.”

“You are my woman.” Ma Wu’s gaze locked directly on Li Mida’s eyes.

The implication was crystal clear: she was his woman, but not his girlfriend.

Li Mida let out a cold laugh, grabbed her things, and stormed out. She was determined to see what kind of person could so captivate Ma Wu’s heart.

Lin Erke, was it? I’ll see what you’re made of.

“Lin Erke, our singing competition went so smoothly. Looks like we can enjoy some peace for a while,” Liu Mang said to Lin Erke.

The two of them were celebrating their victory with a party.

“Yes, it really went well.” Lin Erke replied absentmindedly.

Their victory owed much to Ma Wu. She wanted to find some time to properly meet and thank him. Yet Liu Mang kept blocking her path, preventing any meeting between them.

Liu Mang noticed Lin Erke’s unhappiness and asked, his tone becoming harsh, “What, are you still thinking about that man?”

“No, you’re overthinking.” Lin Erke replied curtly, unwilling to tangle with someone like him.

Liu Mang fell silent, his gaze darkened, a flash of resentment in his eyes. Damn Ma Wu!

“Excuse me, are you the legendary Miss Lin Erke?” Li Mida had appeared beside Lin Erke without anyone noticing.

“I’m your fan!”

At first, Lin Erke was wary of this stranger approaching, but hearing she was a fan put her at ease.

“Yes, I’m Lin Erke.” She offered a gentle smile and introduced herself, “Is there something you need from me?”

“It’s nothing much, really. I just wanted to ask you something,” Li Mida smiled, but her expression suddenly shifted.

“Do you find it amusing to seduce other people’s boyfriends?”

“Or was your mother’s sole purpose in giving birth to you to be shameless?”

With a smack, Liu Mang slammed the table, furious beyond measure.

“How did Lin Erke ever seduce your boyfriend? Explain yourself, or I won’t let this go!”

“Oh my, who are you?” Li Mida grinned, “So concerned—are you her boyfriend?”

“You have a boyfriend, and yet you’re seducing mine? Really?”

“No, he’s not my boyfriend.”

Lin Erke immediately clarified when Li Mida spoke.

Upon hearing this, Liu Mang felt a pang of disappointment. Even now, she wouldn’t let him pretend to be her boyfriend?

If only he could play the role of Lin Erke’s boyfriend, it would be easier to rid themselves of this woman.

“My boyfriend is Ma Wu. Does that make things clearer?” Li Mida cut straight to the point, not bothering with further pretense.

At that, Lin Erke immediately understood. After all, Ma Wu’s generous tipping wasn’t insignificant; it was natural for the woman at home to be upset.

“I’m sorry, Miss, but you’re mistaken.” Understanding was one thing, but Lin Erke wouldn’t allow herself to be publicly slandered.

“Mr. Ma Wu simply enjoys my livestreams, nothing more.”

“If it’s only about enjoying your livestream, then why did he invite you out for dinner last time?” Li Mida pressed aggressively.

Lin Erke responded with a polite, measured smile, “Is it wrong for someone to want to meet the celebrity they admire?”

Suddenly, Li Mida’s palm whipped across Lin Erke’s cheek.

The sound of hand meeting skin was crisp and sharp.

The slap stunned Lin Erke, and infuriated Liu Mang.

“You dare hit Lin Erke!”

Liu Mang lunged forward to strike Li Mida, but just then, a hand intervened, pushing Liu Mang several meters back.

“Ouch!” Liu Mang cried out, landing hard on the ground. Surely his backside was bruised.

“Damn it, who pushed me?!”

“I did. Any objections?” It was Ma Wu’s voice. Unbeknownst to them, he'd been uneasy about Li Mida going out and had witnessed the whole scene.

“Oh, it’s you! You can’t even keep your own woman in check, letting her cause trouble. Isn’t she deserving of a slap?”

Liu Mang wasn’t intimidated by Ma Wu; he’d harbored resentment from before, and now new and old grievances would be settled together.

“If she deserves a slap, I’ll be the one to deliver it. She’s my woman—what does it have to do with you?”

As Ma Wu spoke, he casually wrapped his arm around Li Mida’s shoulder.

“Are you Lin Erke’s boyfriend? I seem to recall hearing that you’re not.” Ma Wu’s tone grew increasingly disdainful.

“So what right do you have to be here?”

Liu Mang wanted to argue, but Ma Wu had lost interest in further discussion.

“Erke, I sincerely apologize for what Li Mida did just now.” With that, Ma Wu bowed deeply to Lin Erke.

Lin Erke, who had been angry, was taken aback by Ma Wu’s earnest apology. She began to feel embarrassed—in the end, she had always benefited from his care.

“If I have the time, I’ll come in person to apologize,” Ma Wu said, and before Lin Erke could respond, he took Li Mida away.

This man… truly has the manners of a gentleman! Not like Liu Mang…

Casting a glance of disdain at Liu Mang, Lin Erke silently complained to herself.

How could a grown man try to hit a woman?

Dislike for one person spills over into everything. Yet Liu Mang’s actions had been for her sake.

“Careful, you’re hurting me~” Li Mida whispered to Ma Wu in complaint.

“You can feel pain?” Ma Wu replied coldly, “Why didn’t you care about pain when you slapped Lin Erke just now?”

“You’re defending her?” Li Mida looked at Ma Wu in disbelief.

Ma Wu frowned, sighing, “It’s not about defending or not. Why would you slap someone in public?”

Li Mida still acted unconcerned, and Ma Wu grew frustrated.

“From today on, don’t come back to the villa. When you’ve figured things out, you can return.”

“You’re kicking me out?”

“For that woman, you’re actually kicking me out?”

A dull ache throbbed at his temples; Ma Wu explained helplessly.

“I’ve never meant that, Li Mida. Please recognize your place.”

“You’re my first woman. I do care about you.”

“I have no reason to kick you out.”

It’s often said that women in a rage lose all reason. Ma Wu had already softened his stance, but Li Mida remained unmoved.

“Men’s words—nothing but lies!”

With that, she turned and left.

Ma Wu wanted to chase after her, but his anger held him back. He couldn’t bring himself to do it, so he walked away instead.

He muttered internally, How could this woman be so ungrateful?

The discord between Ma Wu and Li Mida was witnessed by Liu Mang.

As soon as Ma Wu left, Lin Erke drove Liu Mang away.

Frustrated, Liu Mang followed along, only to catch sight of the argument between Ma Wu and Li Mida.

Li Mida, huh? How dare you lay a hand on Erke? You’ll pay for this!

“Hey there, beautiful, would you care to join me for a meal?”

Rolling her eyes at the new arrival, Li Mida was genuinely surprised. Arguing with Ma Wu was one thing—but now, another clueless fool was trying to hit on her?

Wait, this voice sounded familiar.

“Liu Mang?! What are you doing here?” Li Mida’s surprise quickly turned to disgust.

Men who hit women were utterly revolting.

“You deserve to die!” Liu Mang’s eyes flashed with malice. He pulled out a drugged, damp tissue and lunged at Li Mida.

“What… what are you doing?” Panic surged through Li Mida. No matter how strong she acted, she was still a woman, and fear crept in.

Before she finished speaking, Liu Mang had already pinned her down, clamping her mouth shut.

Her consciousness began to fade…