Chapter 7: The Strange Love Drama

"My phone will make calls on its own—if someone tells you this, you'd better recommend they see a psychologist!"

Thus, when Chen Mo honestly shared this with everyone, no one could help but roll their eyes. Who would believe such a thing? This isn't some midnight horror tale.

"So, your phone called 1,028 times by itself?" Ye Rong wore an expression of disbelief, lightly resting her hand on his shoulder. "Xiao Mo, I am seriously telling you now, you won't see a single penny of your salary this month!"

"Hmm, does our restaurant have a rule that romance results in salary deductions?" Chen Mo casually glanced at her, until Ye Rong's fair skin flushed with embarrassment.

But soon, Ye Rong regained her fierce demeanor and angrily rolled up her sleeves. "Let me put it this way—there's nothing I despise more than traitors who sell out their country!"

"Excuse me?" Hearing this strange accusation, everyone exchanged puzzled glances. How do love and betraying the country relate to each other?

"What's so hard to understand? Xiao Mo, with so many beautiful women in our country, why do you have to stretch your claws outside?" As everyone watched in bewilderment, Ye Rong boldly launched into a philosophical discourse. "Disrespecting local beauties is disrespecting our homeland, and disrespecting our homeland is…"

"I'm done!" Chen Mo's head spun from the absurdity, thinking, if you keep going, I'll end up as Wang Jingwei.

"Looks like you're the Ye Rong Miss Mo was talking about?" Before he could sigh, Jardi suddenly turned to Ye Rong, her expression as cold and aloof as ever. "As expected, you're exactly as Mo described you—cunning, petty, and delighting in mistreating your workers!"

At her words, the room fell silent. Everyone present took a step back, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire.

After a third of a second, Ye Rong suddenly glared at Chen Mo, her words coming out in a slow, deliberate growl. "Very well, excellent! So in your eyes, Xiao Mo, I'm both cunning and petty, and I often mistreat you, right?"

"Er, haven't you mistreated me?" Chen Mo withstood the fiery glare, still calm, casually stroking his chin.

"By the way, family matters shouldn't be aired out, so I've never mentioned it outside. As for why Miss Jardi might have said such things… well, I think Chinese is quite profound, so misunderstanding it is normal."

He sighed dramatically, suddenly adopting the demeanor of a Sinologist, as if proposing the implementation of Chinese language proficiency exams.

Ye Rong stared at him without blinking, suddenly feeling like a hungry wolf who had caught a turtle but didn't know how to eat it.

"Yes, based on your behavior, Miss Ye, I can see it clearly!" At that moment, Jardi sighed softly, delivering a bombshell. "If Mo hadn't told me directly, I would never have believed there could be such a boss who forces workers to work until they're 35 before they can marry!"

"Pfft!" This time, the entire audience collapsed. Even Chen Mo couldn't help but sway, staring blankly at the sky.

"Er… you mean I forced Chen Mo to sign a contract, threatening him to work until 35 before he could marry?" Ye Rong paused, stunned, pointing at herself. "Miss Jardi, don't you think this is ridiculous? What reason would I have to do such a thing?"

"Because you've fallen for him!" Without a hint of a smile, Jardi coldly stated, sending the audience back to the floor in astonishment.

Chen Mo helplessly stroked his chin, thinking to himself, I'll never let Nono watch TV again. Only she could come up with such a ridiculous reason.

In fact, if it weren't for Jardi being socially awkward and always living in her own world, he might've actually advised her to see a doctor. By the way, don't they have melodramatic soap operas in Greece?

However, upon hearing Jardi's accusation, Ye Rong didn't erupt in fury. Instead, for a few seconds, a trace of panic flashed in her eyes.

After a brief silence, this beauty suddenly began to laugh lowly, much to the fear of the onlookers who thought their boss might collapse mentally and commit a violent crime right then and there.

But before anyone could consider calling the police, Ye Rong took a bold step forward, linking her arm with Chen Mo's and locking eyes with Jardi. "That's right, I've fallen for him, and we've already signed the contract! What are you going to do about it? If you have the guts, call Bin Laden and blow up my restaurant!"

"Er… Rong Jie, I think Bin Laden isn't from Greece!" Though he appreciated the close proximity to the beautiful woman, Chen Mo couldn't help but correct her.

Clearly, his words had no effect. Ye Rong snorted coldly, then turned back to glare at Jardi. Their gazes met in the air, like a silent duel of "I'll kill you with my eyes."

"I see now, I understand!" After a few seconds of silence, Jardi nodded slightly, then calmly instructed, "Sanya, have you taken care of what I asked? If you have, please let Miss Ye know."

"Yes, Your Excellency," the maid curtsied respectfully and stepped forward, expressionless as she handed Ye Rong a folder. "Miss Ye, I must bring you some bad news. Half an hour ago, our group acquired the restaurant across the street, and we plan to open it in two weeks."

"So what? Are you trying to steal our business?" Ye Rong paused, then sneered. Sanya remained expressionless, simply handing her the folder.

"That's exactly right! To put it simply, we will invest in the best chefs, the best service, the best food, the best…"

"In short, we will keep operating until your restaurant closes down. And when that happens, since your restaurant will have shut down, Mr. Chen Mo's contract will automatically become void, and then..."

And what happens next? From the look in Jardi's eyes as she gazed at Chen Mo, the answer was already clear.

The crowd exchanged glances, their curiosity and excitement peaking. It seemed today's meal was worth it—the free drama of two women fighting over a man was simply too entertaining.

But the next moment, Ye Rong, her smile freezing, suddenly exploded in anger, snatching the folder from Jardi's hands. "You damn Xiao Mo, I give you three minutes to explain this to me!"

"No! No need to explain!" Almost simultaneously, Jardi stepped forward, gently looping her arm around Chen Mo's neck and planting a soft kiss on his cheek. "Mo, I know you have your reasons! Wait for me, in two months, we can be together forever, or maybe even sooner!"

With no further words, Jardi gracefully turned and walked out, fifty bodyguards forming two rows to shield her from the gazes of onlookers.

Ye Rong trembled in fury, stomping her feet as she yelled at Jardi's retreating figure. "Damn foreign girl, do you think this will make you win? Just wait, my restaurant will never close. The Chinese people have already stood up!"

Everyone exchanged bewildered looks, thinking to themselves, it's just a love rivalry, do we really need to drag nationalism into it?

Jardi was unaffected, walking calmly through the door and onto her Lincoln car.

With nowhere to vent her frustration, Ye Rong suddenly turned, glaring fiercely at the source of her irritation.

Chen Mo blinked innocently, then picked up his helmet and walked out. "Rong Jie, I'm taking the afternoon off… By the way, do you know where to recycle old phones?"

Before Ye Rong could answer, Chen Mo hopped on his electric scooter and wobbled away. But just before leaving, he glanced back at the Lincoln car and sighed deeply.

Jardi, leaning against the car window, gazed softly at the receding figure, as though guarding a treasure only she could claim, a smile unknowingly spreading across her lips.

After a long moment of silence, she gently clasped her hands together and silently whispered a prayer from the depths of her heart. "Gods, please guide our path… and help me win Mo's love completely!"