Tenfold cashback: How I manipulated my ex-girlfriend on the plane

She wasn't wearing makeup, her face was bare, her skin was fair, and her features were delicate, like someone who had just stepped out of a painting. Her ponytail was tied neatly, revealing a clean and tidy face. Her eyes were still slightly swollen, but the traces of crying last night had faded considerably.

A beige sweater, light blue jeans, and faded canvas shoes. The clothes, though old, were spotless, exuding a deliberate simplicity.

This is the Lin Shiyu that Chen Mo remembers.

She was like this during her university days: without makeup, fresh and clean, walking on campus like a spring breeze.

"Have you been waiting long?" Chen Mo walked over.

"No, I just arrived too." Lin Shiyu shook her head. But her lips were already a little pale from the cold, and the tip of her nose was red, indicating that she had been standing there for quite some time.

Chen Mo didn't expose her, and bent down to pick up the two woven bags: "That's all?"

"Okay." Lin Shiyu nodded, slung her backpack over her shoulder, "The landlord said the contract is negotiable, and he refunded half of my deposit."

"half?"

"Um... If I terminate the lease early, half of it will be deducted according to the contract." Lin Shiyu lowered her voice, as if afraid that Chen Mo would feel that she had been taken advantage of and would be unhappy.

Chen Mo didn't say anything more, picked up the woven bag and walked towards the taxi on the side of the road.

They stuffed their luggage into the trunk and got into the car.

"To Riverside Mansion," Chen Mo said to the driver.

Lin Shiyu stiffened slightly upon hearing the name.

Riverside Mansion, one of the most expensive high-end residential communities in Jiangcheng, is built along the river, with an average price of over 30,000 yuan per square meter. She had once visited it with a so-called "rich second generation" when she was a model, and the memory was unpleasant.

"You... live in Riverside Mansion?" she asked cautiously.

"Just bought it." Chen Mo said casually, as if he had just bought a bottle of water.

Lin Shiyu opened her mouth slightly, but said nothing.

She looked at Chen Mo's profile, his well-defined jawline, and his straight nose, and felt a surge of indescribable emotions welling up inside her.

In college, she had a crush on this boy. Back then, Chen Mo was sunny, cheerful, and talented; he was the top host at the radio station, always attracting everyone's attention whenever he stood on stage.

But she didn't make a move then because Guan Yao beat her to it.

Later, she often wondered what would have happened if she had taken the initiative back then and been the one to ask Chen Mo to go to the movies first.

The thought lingered in her mind for a moment, then she suppressed it.

Don't think about these things.

Chen Mo is helping her now only out of friendship, sympathy, or pity. She can't afford to be presumptuous anymore.

She is no longer the campus belle that everyone adored in college.

She was a loser who worked as a hostess in a bar and dared not utter a word when older men took advantage of her.

Lin Shiyu lowered her head, her fingers gripping the hem of her sweater tightly until her knuckles turned white.

The car stopped in front of the Riverside Mansion.

Chen Mo paid the fare and got off the bus carrying a woven bag.

Lin Shiyu followed behind him, looking up at the thirty-story modern apartment building in front of her. The glass curtain wall reflected a dazzling light in the winter sun, the fountain at the entrance of the community gurgled, the security guard stood at attention, and the green belts were neatly trimmed. It was like a completely different world from the urban village where she had stayed last night.

"Let's go." Chen Mo walked into the lobby carrying a woven bag.

The lobby was resplendent with gold and silver, the marble floor gleaming like a mirror, and crystal chandeliers hanging from the three-story-high ceiling. The two uniformed staff members at the front desk immediately flashed professional smiles upon seeing Chen Mo.

"Hello, Mr. Chen."

Chen Mo nodded and led Lin Shiyu toward the elevator.

Lin Shiyu followed behind with her head down, her canvas shoes making a slight scraping sound on the marble floor, out of place with her surroundings. She felt as if she had stepped into a world that didn't belong to her.

The elevator requires an access card to select a floor. Chen Mo swiped his card and pressed the button for the 28th floor.

The elevator ascended very quickly, and I felt a momentary pressure on my eardrums.

Lin Shiyu stood in the elevator, looking at her reflection and Chen Mo's image on the mirrored wall. Lin Shiyu wore an old sweater, jeans, and had a simple ponytail. Chen Mo, though only wearing a plain jacket, stood tall with a calm gaze, exuding a natural and confident aura.

That aura wasn't something money could buy; it was a composure and confidence that emanated from the very core of one's being.

Chen Mo didn't have this kind of thing before.

Although he was sunny and cheerful, there was always a hint of unease and anxiety in his eyes. That was the inherent color of children from poor families, something that could never be erased no matter how hard they tried.

But now, that underlying tone has disappeared.

Instead, there is a profound mystery that is difficult to fathom.

Lin Shiyu wondered to herself: What exactly happened to Chen Mo in the past year or so?

28th floor, room 2806.

Chen Mo opened the door and stepped aside to let Lin Shiyu go in first.

Lin Shiyu walked in and froze.

The house was even better than she had imagined.

The living room is spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the river. Sunlight streams in through the glass, making the entire space bright and warm. There's a light gray fabric sofa, a solid wood coffee table, and a thick, plush rug that you sink into when you step on it. The TV wall is a single piece of marble, with an electric fireplace embedded below; although the leaping flames are fake, the visual effect is remarkably realistic.

The open kitchen is fully equipped with an oven, microwave, and dishwasher, and a brand-new coffee machine sits on the bar.

Both the master bedroom and the second bedroom face south. The bedding is brand new, the comforters are fluffy and soft, and the pillows are made of memory foam with an excellent feel.

The bathroom features a separate wet and dry area, and the showerhead is an imported German brand. Next to the freestanding bathtub is an unopened set of toiletries.

Lin Shiyu stood in the center of the living room, her feet on the soft carpet, feeling as if she were walking on clouds.

"This...is this your house?" Her voice was a little unsteady.

"Yes, I just bought it yesterday." Chen Mo placed her woven bag in the entryway. "You can stay in the second bedroom for now. The sheets and duvet cover are all new, so you can use them directly."

Lin Shiyu opened her mouth, but her throat felt like it was blocked by something.

She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound normal: "Chen Mo, I... I really don't know how to thank you."

"You're welcome." Chen Mo walked to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and found it empty. "I'll go to the supermarket to buy some things later; there's nothing in the fridge."

"I'll go buy it!" Lin Shiyu said immediately. "I...I'll cook. I can cook."

Chen Mo glanced at her and smiled, "Okay, then dinner is yours to take care of."

Lin Shiyu nodded vigorously, something shining in her eyes.

That was the long-lost feeling of being needed.

---

The two bought two large bags of groceries and household supplies at a supermarket near their apartment complex.

Chen Mo paid by card, a total of 1,200 yuan.

[Ding! Host has spent 1,200 yuan, and received a 10x cashback of 12,000 yuan! Current balance: 9,589,000 yuan!]

Nine million five hundred and eighty-nine thousand yuan.

Chen Mo pushed the shopping cart ahead, while Lin Shiyu followed beside him, making a menu in her notes app on her phone.

"What do you like to eat?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of cautious flattery.

"Whatever, I'll eat whatever you make."

"How about I make braised pork ribs, steamed sea bass, garlic broccoli, and a tomato and egg drop soup?"