Volume 1, Chapter 55: Getting Jealous Isn't That Just a Sign of Care?

After heading downstairs, Ning Yuelan wrapped her arms around Fang Mo with an apologetic expression.
"Little brother, I'm sorry. I had no idea that woman Jin Shijia would be here today. We've never really gotten along. If I had known she was going to be present, I wouldn't have brought you here to be snubbed no matter what."

As she spoke, the woman even brushed her generous bosom against Fang Mo's arm.
Although Ning Yuelan's figure might not be as wildly provocative as Ning Shiyu's, she possessed a mature charm characteristic of a young, sophisticated woman—a scent that held immense temptation for a man of Fang Mo's age.

Fang Mo blushed deeply, instantly throwing whatever had happened in the private dining room to the back of his mind.

Right at that moment, Ning Shiyu quickened her pace to catch up with her older sister and brother-in-law.
"By the way, Fang Mo, what did you mean by those last few words you said before we left?"
"Something about planning to find where the bugs originate to patch the vulnerabilities... Wait, aren't you clueless about computers?"

Hearing this, Fang Mo's heart skipped a beat. *Did the sister-in-law really have to pay attention to such minute details?*
*If you keep this up, I'm going to blow my cover...*

Ning Yuelan's beautiful eyes also clouded with suspicion as she looked at him.
That's right, what did her little brother's parting remarks actually mean?
Did he really understand computers?

"Fang Mo, that hacker friend you mentioned... It wouldn't happen to be yourself, would it? Isn't it a classic guy move to 'invent a friend out of thin air'?"

Cough, cough...
Fang Mo coughed violently a couple of times. *Damn it, does Ning Shiyu have to be this sharp? I can't hold out much longer!*

"How is that possible?"
The next moment, Fang Mo hurriedly adjusted his expression and explained.
"I just heard about it from an internet friend of mine. He seemed to have dealt with similar issues before. Things like transaction flows and billing statements all fall under data information streams, and these things are generally prone to chaos caused by a single bad account."
"If you're using Win10, you can only start from the bank's own app and web interface. Plus, since I heard that 'Whirlwind' uses the Linux system, I could basically be certain that the person Lin Xihan brought in was just a charlatan riding on the coattails of the Hacker King."
"Besides, given Elder Jin's connections, the number of Tsinghua and Peking University elites he could find is countless. They definitely would have already tried such a crude method."

"Crude method?"
Seeing that Fang Mo had slipped up again, Ning Shiyu poked him in the arm. "Then what is the smart method?"

"Programming, obviously."
Fang Mo shrugged. "You guys should be able to see this on short video platforms online as well. Naturally, whenever a system crash or similar problem occurs, you rely on programming to fix it."
"Isn't that just common sense? It's just like how when our computer's response speed slows down, all you have to do is save all your important files to the C drive and reinstall the system."
"I'm a web novelist, which basically makes me a half-baked coder. Is it really that hard to believe I'd know these things?"

Hearing Fang Mo rattle off such a continuous string of explanations like a machine gun, Ning Shiyu blinked her large eyes. What he said actually sounded a bit reasonable!
Even if Fang Mo, as a writer, wasn't exceptionally skilled with computers, he still more or less made a living relying on them. It wasn't hard to understand why his basic common sense in this area might be slightly better than the average person's.

At this thought, Ning Shiyu sighed in frustration.
"Still, the attitudes of Jin Shijia and that Lin Xihan person were really infuriating. It would be great if you could slap them across the face today, Fang Mo."

Hearing this, Fang Mo let out a soft chuckle.
The sister's four eyes were instantly fixed on the young man.
"What are you laughing at?"

"Anyway, since that 'Whirlwind' won't be able to solve the problem, Elder Jin will most likely take the initiative to contact us again later. Don't worry, there will be a chance to get back at them."
Fang Mo grinned. "If my dear sister-in-law is feeling upset, we can just make Jin Shijia and Lin Xihan apologize to your sister face-to-face when the time comes..."

"Apologize to me for what?"
Ning Yuelan gave Fang Mo a sideways glance. This guy made it sound so effortless.
Even if those parting words could shock those people after 'Whirlwind' failed, Fang Mo didn't know anything about computers, so he wouldn't even have room to perform if pushed into a corner!
At best, he could just quietly feel a tiny bit vindicated behind the scenes.

With that thought, Ning Yuelan parted her crimson lips.

"Even if they come begging at our door again, you still don't know how to program."

She hadn't expected Fang Mo to reply so casually.
"I can learn!"
Fang Mo grinned widely.
"When we get back today, I'll ask my friend how he resolved a similar mess, and I'll learn on the fly and apply it immediately. Knowledge is something you keep acquiring until you're old. Consider it my way of helping Sister Yuelan repay this favor to Elder Jin."
"He is, after all, a senior who has helped my sister quite a bit in the business world. Since this favor can be repaid, we should return it if possible."

After saying this, the group walked out of the Jiangcheng International Grand Hotel.
Although Ning Yuelan was annoyed by Elder Jin's attitude today, both parties belonged to the Jiangcheng business circle, and they would inevitably run into each other often in the future. It wouldn't be good to sour the relationship completely.

"Our brother-in-law really cares deeply about my sister's affairs. It seems Fang Mo, you've truly fallen head over heels for my older sister."
Ning Shiyu stuck out her cute little tongue. "Still, Big Sis, we've walked around this whole time and haven't even eaten."
"Let's go somewhere else, then."
Ning Yuelan shrugged her delicate shoulders, a charming, ambiguous smile lingering on her red lips.

Ning Shiyu stared at her sister's pretty face, finding it somewhat unbelievable.
Based on her past understanding of her sister, every time Ning Yuelan met Jin Shijia, the two women would either exchange cold sarcasm or go head-to-head in a tit-for-tat.
Every time she came back from such encounters, Ning Yuelan would wear a dark expression, boiling with suppressed anger.

This was the first time Ning Yuelan had fired back at Jin Shijia with complete emotional detachment; in fact, Ning Shiyu faintly felt that her sister seemed somewhat... happy.
Why would she be happy?
Could it be because of what Fang Mo had just said?

Tsk...
The situation between these two was getting more and more abnormal.
Could her older sister have really fallen for Fang Mo? But what possible merits did Fang Mo have that could charm her sister to such a bewitched state?
Ning Shiyu couldn't fathom it for the life of her.

Right at that moment, Ning Yuelan's phone suddenly rang. Seeing that it was a call from Elder Ning, she answered it right in front of the two of them as soon as she got into the car.
"Hello, Grandfather."
"Yuelan, the senior executives of Kayde Culture invited you to dinner today, presumably regarding the tight cash flow issue you had the other day. It's not very convenient for me to step in and explain on your part, so you should go. The location is at the Jiangcheng International Grand Hotel, Private Room 505."

Um...
Hearing this, the jade hand Ning Yuelan had rested on the car door pulled back, and a flash of helplessness crossed her pretty face.
"Hah!"
"It looks like I really have no choice but to stay here for dinner after all. I have some matters to attend to; Shiyu, Fang Mo, why don't you two find somewhere else to fill your stomachs?"

"How can eating ever be called a problem? It's one of the great enjoyments in life!"
Ning Shiyu grumbled discontentedly, waving her small fist in protest.
"Besides, Big Sis, you haven't eaten a meal with me in ages. Ever since Grandfather started urging you to get married and you moved out, the two of us haven't sat together at the same table, except for that time Uncle Fang and Auntie Ran came over to the house."

Is that so?
Fang Mo raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn't realized Ning Yuelan was so resistant to Elder Ning setting her up on blind dates.

Hearing this, a trace of helplessness swept across the woman's delicate face. "Alright then, let's go together."
"Since Shiyu wants to tag along, we might as well bring my husband with us. With Fang Mo around, he can help deal with an annoying fly."

"A fly!?"
Fang Mo was momentarily stunned.

Ning Shiyu grinned broadly. "A fly just means one of my sister's suitors. But no matter how high-quality a male peer might be, the moment they harbor any thoughts toward her, they all seem to be uniformly categorized as 'flies' in my older sister's eyes."
"Tsk, Fang Mo, you're the only exception who's ever managed to have physical contact with my older sister."

Sister Yuelan's suitor?
No wonder she had said she wanted him to help out.
Yet why did he suddenly feel like he was being used as Sister Yuelan's human shield?
Fang Mo sheepishly rubbed the tip of his nose.

Ning Yuelan wrapped her arm around the man's arm once more, lowering her voice until she was practically biting at Fang Mo's ear.
"What's wrong? Is our little husband getting jealous?"
"Didn't you say your sister is the dream of twenty million men in Jiangcheng? It's only normal for her to have a few suitors."

That was true. Given Sister Yuelan's level of excellence, it would be abnormal if nobody pursued her.
Wouldn't that mean all the men around her were blind?

"Still, don't you worry. Sister's heart right now is entirely set on our little brother; she'd never go around flirting and fooling around. But since our little brother is so adorable, Sister is actually afraid that you might despise me one day when my youthful looks fade and decide to keep a mistress hidden in a golden house outside."

Puff—
Sister Yuelan, stop flirting. If you keep this up, my heart's actually going to flutter.
Fang Mo's heartbeat quickened by half a beat, and he hurriedly coughed.
"I... I think it's quite appropriate for Sister to bring me along after all. After all, they're suitors harboring designs on you. As your husband, I have an obligation to help you deal with these pesky bees and butterflies buzzing around."

"Oho, that excuse is a bit far-fetched."
Ning Yuelan let out a sweet laugh, deciding not to expose Fang Mo's truth about being jealous. Holding the young man's arm, she walked back into the Jiangcheng International Grand Hotel.

To be honest, Ning Yuelan actually quite enjoyed the sight of Fang Mo getting jealous over her.
If he could get jealous, didn't that just mean she held a place in his heart?