Volume One, Chapter 4: She Was Never Embarrassed to Seduce Men
Li Mo tapped the back of her hand. “You’ve been so clingy all this time, just for that student of yours?”
Zhao Xinran had managed to get a summer internship at the newspaper thanks to Su Li, who had pulled some strings through Li Mo.
“What kind of spell did she cast on you to get you to help her so much?” Li Mo frowned and asked.
“The factory’s environment isn’t as good as your newspaper. Surely, some people don’t want to go there. I’m just lending a helping hand when you’re in trouble!”
Li Mo curled her lips. “Do you know who this follow-up interview is about?”
“Oh, it’s just about Shao Ting’an,” Su Li said calmly.
In the previous life, with the advent of the new harvester, Shao Ting’an had received significant attention from both the provincial and municipal authorities. The Pingjiang Newspaper had continuously followed up for over half a month until the machinery factory officially announced the production of the new harvester.
Shao Ting’an gained great recognition from provincial and municipal leaders for designing a harvester with strong operational capability and high mechanization, winning both fame and fortune!
Li Mo was taken aback. “Li’er, how do you know about this?”
Su Li quickly smiled, not wanting to trouble Li Mo. “At the machinery factory, Ting’an is the most capable. The first new harvester designed by him will be showcased soon. The leaders at the city’s Agricultural Bureau all know about this. Besides interviewing him, who else could it be?”
Li Mo shook her head in slight helplessness. “With your pride, this follow-up interview is really just a tracking report. Not only the city but the province is paying attention. If your student studies hard under him, she could indeed gain quite a lot.”
“You arrange it however you want, errands, odd jobs, anything. Let her tag along, but she can’t steal your credit. She’s purely just there to help you out,” Su Li said.
Li Mo knew she was afraid of gossip. “This girl’s lucked out having a good teacher like you. It must be ancestral virtue.”
Su Li smiled faintly, her eyes cold as she lowered her gaze. She had truly been sincere to her in the past life, but this time, things were different.
Like poison coated in honey, once swallowed, it would have to be repaid sooner or later.
Raising her eyes again, Su Li’s smile was gentle yet insincere. “If we can help, we will. I get along with her, and she’s had a tough life too.”
“Alright, leave it to me,” Li Mo said, patting her chest with a bold and carefree air.
Su Li felt a sting in her nose, fighting back the tears welling in her eyes.
After chatting for a while, Su Li’s mood eased considerably. “I want to buy a camera to learn photography. Doesn’t one of your colleagues know about these things?”
Su Li smiled sweetly, those two dimples at the corners of her mouth adding a playful touch to her radiant appearance.
In just a few seconds, Li Mo suddenly widened her eyes. “Buy a camera? Do you know how much a camera costs?”
Su Li raised two fingers, looking pitiful. “I know. If I eat nothing and drink nothing, it’s at least two years’ salary.”
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“Then you still want to buy it? If you want to take photos, we can go to a photo studio. Why buy a camera yourself? Besides, if you buy a camera, you’ll need film and developing. Don’t tell me you want to switch careers and open a photo studio.”
Li Mo thought Su Li wasn’t usually so reckless and pressed, “Why the sudden urge to buy a camera?”
“To be a multi-talented woman of the new era, keeping pace with the times, positive and passionate about life.”
Su Li borrowed words Li Mo had once said to her—not to always revolve around Shao Ting’an—and deliberately exaggerated them.
She smiled. “I think what you said before was right. I can’t always orbit around him; I should have my own interests.”
“Oh, looks like Comrade Su Li has made some ideological progress recently. It’s rare to hear such words from you! Finally, you’re starting to look like a woman of the new era.”
To Li Mo, Su Li was the epitome of a devoted wife—besides teaching her student, the rest of her time was all about Shao Ting’an.
Su Li looked at her friend and sighed inwardly. Having died once, how could she not change?
“That kind of ambition comes at a high price!” Li Mo rolled her eyes. “Our newspaper’s resident photographer—let me introduce him to you.”
“Great! Let’s go, introduce me.”
Having lived through a previous life, Su Li knew exactly what she had to do. She was steadily moving toward her goal.
Those photographs would be her most powerful weapon on the road of revenge.
Thanks to Li Mo’s introduction, Su Li met Zhang Qiang, a young man with black-rimmed glasses and a shy demeanor.
Zhang Qiang loved photography and was very knowledgeable about cameras. He explained in detail how to use and master the camera and recommended two models with the best cost-performance ratio at the time.
Before leaving, he quietly pulled Li Mo aside and asked, “Mo, does your friend have a boyfriend?”
Li Mo just smiled and shook her head, telling him not to overthink it, then hurried after Su Li.
“Didn’t expect such a small camera to have so many intricacies.”
“Now you know. Different fields are like different mountains. Don’t rush in and spend all your money just because you’re interested.”
Seeing Li Mo’s worried look, Su Li patted her hand. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. Keep this a secret for now. I don’t have enough money yet, and a camera isn’t something ordinary; not everyone can just buy one.”
Li Mo couldn’t shake the feeling that Su Li was different today. She couldn’t help but ask, “Has your Shao Ting’an gotten rich?”
“Why can’t I make money myself?”
Shao Ting’an’s salary wasn’t low, and he had no bad habits. The twenty yuan the family spent each month on groceries was enough; the rest was hers.
If she didn’t spend it, was she supposed to leave it for some other woman?
From now on, she wouldn’t waste her own money, but Shao Ting’an’s money...
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After lunch, Su Li went straight to school. Sure enough, someone was anxiously waiting.
Thinking of this, a smile grew on Su Li’s lips as she leisurely rode her bike, enjoying the warm breeze brushing her face—a rare moment of ease.
Her pace was deliberately slow.
As expected, from afar, she spotted the figure etched in her mind, pacing anxiously at the school gate.
Seeing Su Li riding her bike so leisurely, Zhao Xinran hurried over.
“Teacher Su, you finally came.”
Her beautiful apricot-colored eyes were rimmed with tears, cheeks flushed red. She must have been standing there for quite some time.
Su Li looked at her pitiful expression and bit her back teeth silently, but her face remained full of concern.
“In this heat, why are you standing here? Your face is all sunburned.”
Zhao Xinran bit her lip, holding back tears, looking aggrieved. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Waiting for me? But class hasn’t started yet,” Su Li feigned ignorance.
“Teacher Su, I...” Zhao Xinran’s hands hung in front of her chest, nervously twisting the hem of her plain white shirt, a little pudding stain at the bottom.
Su Li’s heart trembled. Yesterday she wore such a beautiful outfit; today she looked like this.
Trying to look pitiful? Too late!
When she flirted with men or held Shao Ting’an’s hand, she never seemed this shy.