Chapter Twelve: Do You Believe It?

For a fleeting moment, as Chen Mo sensed the murderous intent behind him, he genuinely considered emulating the Bull Demon and leaping off the rooftop without hesitation.

Yet before he could make a move, Ye Rong's gritted, venomous voice rang out from behind him: 

"My dear little Mo Mo, would you care to explain this situation? For instance, am I hallucinating, or did the young lady in your arms happen to fall from the sky?"

"Uh, she actually did fall from the sky!" Chen Mo shrugged nonchalantly, offering a truth so absurd no one could possibly believe it.

Ye Rong glared daggers at him, but when she turned and met Jiadi's icy gaze, the air between them seemed to crackle and hiss with tension.

Chache and Nuonuo immediately took the hint and retreated a few steps, feigning a sudden interest in the night sky. Even Benben sighed dramatically: 

"The stars are truly bright tonight... pity about the clouds, though."

There was no time to deal with these chattering appliances, nor to ponder why a monster would appear in a restaurant. At this moment, Ye Rong's mind was consumed by one thought: how to eliminate the sudden threat posed by this rival in love.

Almost as if to provoke her, Jiadi nestled closer into Chen Mo's embrace, presenting a pitiful, fragile image.

Just as Ye Rong's fury was about to erupt, Jiadi extended a delicate hand and said coolly, "Miss Ye, this matter is easily explained. Please, look here."

"What?" Startled, Ye Rong instinctively looked into Jiadi's palm.

In the next instant, a gentle golden light spilled forth, enveloping the entire rooftop in its brilliance.

Within moments, Ye Rong's expression of bewilderment slackened, her body swaying like a marionette before she collapsed in a slow, helpless fall.

Chen Mo reacted swiftly, catching her just in time to prevent her from striking her head against the ground.

"Don't worry, she'll be fine," Jiadi said softly, a shadow of sadness in her eyes at Chen Mo's evident concern. "I merely borrowed the goddess's power to temporarily cloud a part of her memory. It's for her own good. Besides, I have sealed off the surrounding space, so no outsiders will witness this extraordinary scene."

At her explanation, Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a quiet surge of gratitude.

Jiadi tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and walked toward the shattered wooden door. Just before her figure disappeared, she turned back with a soft smile and said: 

"Mo, if you encounter trouble, please tell me. Though the goddess's power is greatly diminished on this eastern land, if it's merely to deal with a few unruly monsters..."

With a tender, knowing smile, she vanished down the staircase without another word.

Chen Mo stood still, gazing after her for a long time, until Nuonuo sidled up to him, eager to stir the pot: 

"Boss, you're unstoppable now! Athena herself—talk about leveling up to god mode!"

"Right, and you can even summon the Twelve Gold Saints!" Chen Mo shot it a glare, frowning deeply. Tonight felt utterly surreal.

First a monster appeared out of nowhere, then a supposed envoy of the Greek gods. At this rate, wouldn't cultivators and Christian angels start showing up too? 

Was this some kind of global interfaith summit?

Almost at that moment, Ye Rong stirred with a soft moan and began to regain consciousness. The four talking appliances quickly vanished from sight as Chen Mo, keeping a composed facade, helped her gently to her feet.

"What happened? Where are we?" Ye Rong mumbled, massaging her temples in confusion. "Wait! Mo Mo, where's the thief from the kitchen?"

Seeing her anxious expression, Chen Mo exhaled in relief—her memory seemed stuck at the kitchen encounter. 

"Nothing serious," he said calmly. "Just a homeless man looking for food. He fled before we could call the police."

Still suspicious, Ye Rong looked around at the chaotic rooftop: 

"Is that really all? Then why am I on the rooftop?"

"Well..." Chen Mo answered smoothly, as innocent as a cherubic boy. "When you went into the kitchen, you tripped, hit your head, and fainted. Out of revolutionary camaraderie, I brought you up here for some fresh air. I was even about to perform mouth-to-mouth, but you woke up just in time!"

"Really? Then why does this place look like a war zone?" Ye Rong's eyes narrowed in doubt.

Chen Mo pushed up his glasses in exasperation, lying through his teeth without so much as a blush: 

"Ah, that's easily explained too..."

"You see, I got so panicked when you fainted that I ran around smashing into things... that's why the rooftop looks like a battlefield. By the way, considering how deeply I care for you, could you possibly pay my salary a bit earlier this month?"

"In your dreams!" Ye Rong snapped back immediately, any sympathy vanishing at the mention of money.

Chen Mo sighed in resignation. Even though he had only brought it up to distract her, hearing his hopes for an early paycheck crushed still left him a little melancholic.

Ye Rong stood up slowly, surveying the twisted railing and then turning her bewildered gaze back to Chen Mo.

Realizing the situation was difficult to explain, Chen Mo pressed on bravely: 

"Well, you see, the railing is of poor quality. I suspect the supplier cheated you with counterfeit materials after you scammed him."

"Little Mo Mo," Ye Rong said, massaging her temples in frustration, "do you really think I'm someone who thinks with her knees?"

Letting out a long sigh, she suddenly asked, "Do you think I would believe that? Fine then—do you believe that nothing ever happened between me and those rich suitors?"

"I believe you," Chen Mo replied without the slightest hesitation, his expression turning solemn.

Ye Rong froze, her shoulders trembling imperceptibly before she straightened up and met his gaze head-on. 

"So... you believe in me?"

"Of course!" Chen Mo nodded earnestly. Why wouldn't he? Over the past few years, Ye Rong had turned down no fewer than ten marriage proposals from prominent tycoons of South City.

Though she always laughed it off with a joke about "catching a rich man isn't worth sacrificing oneself," Chen Mo knew there were deeper reasons—perhaps to protect this restaurant, perhaps to look after the vulnerable waitstaff under her care, or perhaps... for something else.

"Alright then. I believe you too. And thank you... for trusting me," Ye Rong said with a smile, nodding slowly.

But after just a few seconds, her mischievous grin returned as she added casually: 

"However, gratitude aside, don't even think about asking for a raise!"

"Er... I was just about to bring that up..." Chen Mo muttered, rubbing his chin, inwardly lamenting how women could multitask between soap operas and economic planning so effortlessly.

Before he could reflect any further, something fluttered toward him in the breeze and landed softly in his hand—a credit card?

Without looking at him, Ye Rong spoke to the sky as if conversing with invisible deities, her voice clear as a bell: 

"I know you're saving for a house. Consider this a loan for your down payment. The password is 352236. There's fifty thousand on it—use what you need. Starting next month, your salary increases by thirty percent, but you'll have to sign a long-term contract."

Chen Mo barely registered her last words. He stood there, staring after her retreating figure, a warmth blooming in his chest.

Then, to show his appreciation in the only way he knew how, he coughed solemnly and called after her: 

"Rong-jie, personally, I think using your measurements as your card password is a terrible idea!"

"And by the way, I seriously doubt the '35' part... are you sure it's not '25'... Er, wait, don't get so murderous! If you come any closer, I swear I'll jump!"