Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Mo Shaoshang's voice was low and gentle, like the strings of a cello, brushing against Wen Yinong's heart.

Her heart tightened. She held her breath and stepped inside.

The study door closed behind her with a barely audible click.

Wen Yinong walked a few steps deeper into the room.

This was her second time entering Mo Shaoshang's study. Unlike the afternoon of her interview, now the night was deep, and in the twilight, the study seemed to have taken on a different appearance.

The main lights were off, leaving only a few wall lamps and a vintage desk lamp casting a dim glow, making the room feel vaster and more secluded. The light barely drove back the darkness in one corner; the brightness around the desk only served to drown the surrounding area in deeper shadows.

Looking around, several tall bookshelves loomed like giants in the gloom, their shadows engulfing her. The curtains were drawn tight, cutting the space off from the outside world.

Wen Yinong unconsciously held her breath. With each inhale and exhale, she seemed to detect a faint, subtle fragrance mingling with the scent of old books—cold and oppressive.

She clenched her fingers, reflexively clutching the folder in her arms.

"Sit."

Just then, Mo Shaoshang's voice sounded beside her—a single, concise word, cutting through the silence.

Wen Yinong snapped back to reality.

Looking up, she noticed a small seating area in front of the desk and off to one side: two single sofas placed side by side, with a round table between them.

This must be where tonight's lesson would take place, she guessed. She walked over and sat down a little stiffly.

"Something to drink?" Mo Shaoshang's tone was still relaxed. As he spoke, he moved toward a small wine cabinet and sink, his figure looking even taller and leaner in the interplay of light and shadow.

"I..." Wen Yinong's voice was a bit hoarse. She tried to clear her throat. "Anything is fine."

Hearing this, Mo Shaoshang paused mid-motion and turned his head. The thin chain of his gold-rimmed glasses swayed slightly with the movement. He looked at her flushed, anxious face.

Maybe it was the dim lighting, or maybe something else, but behind the lenses, his gaze was inscrutable, carrying a faint trace of interest.

"Milk, is that okay?" Mo Shaoshang asked calmly.

"Um, yes... that's fine. Thank you." Wen Yinong nodded in reply.

Silence descended again.

Wen Yinong waited a couple of seconds, then quietly raised her eyes. She saw him take a glass and pour the milk he had prepared into it.

His fingers were slender, long and strong, set against the clean glass, giving a cold, ascetic beauty.

After pouring the milk, Mo Shaoshang walked over and handed the glass to her.

Wen Yinong quickly reached out to take it.

In those few seconds, her fingertips accidentally brushed against his fingers.

Cold, firm. Beneath the elegant, polished exterior lurked a wild strength.

The sudden contact was like an electric current, shooting from her fingers straight to her heart before she could react.

Wen Yinong's fingers trembled slightly. Keeping her eyes downcast, she tried to take the milk naturally.

But her hand accidentally jerked, and a few drops of warm milk splashed out of the glass, landing on Mo Shaoshang's hand.

"...S-sorry." Wen Yinong's face warmed. She grabbed a tissue from the side and handed it over in panic.

"It's fine."

Compared to her obvious fluster, Mo Shaoshang was completely unperturbed. He took the tissue, casually wiped the stain off his hand, then turned and sat down on the other sofa, elegantly crossing his long legs. "Let's begin."

It really was time to start. If she kept idling like this, who knew what other embarrassing things she might do...

Steeling herself, Wen Yinong took a deep breath, opened her folder, and took out the prepared materials.

Two copies: one for herself, one to hand to Mo Shaoshang.

The lesson officially began.

The professional rehabilitation therapist focused her attention, explaining the core techniques and precautions of home intervention to her sole "student."

At first, Wen Yinong's voice carried a faint, barely noticeable tremor, but as the content deepened, her expertise gradually took over—her emotions stabilized, and her tone became steady and clear.

Throughout the process, Mo Shaoshang barely spoke.

He just sat quietly on the leather sofa, holding the lesson materials with one hand, the other unconsciously tapping the desk, his eyes fixed directly on the rehabilitation teacher before him, listening intently.

Or rather, almost studying her intently.

His gaze traveled in turn over the young woman's hairline, brows and eyes, lips, neck.

It was obvious she was nervous. Her lively, bright eyes either looked at her own materials or at his, never daring to meet his gaze.

When she needed to think, she would subconsciously raise a hand and rub her earlobe with her fingertips.

This unique, endearing little action drew Mo Shaoshang's attention, and involuntarily, he found himself looking at her ear.

In the dim light, the girl's small ear turned a pale pink hue. Due to her nervousness and occasional rubbing, her earlobe showed a tempting flush, like a ripe fruit ready to be plucked.

Occasionally, when her mouth felt dry from talking, she would pick up the glass and take a sip of milk. The white liquid would cling to her lips, and then she would instinctively lick it off.

Her pink tongue flashed briefly in the yellowish light, glistening with a moist shine, like a fleeting butterfly's wing—silent, but carrying an unconscious allure...

Mo Shaoshang's gaze lingered on Wen Yinong's lips for a moment, then shifted away expressionlessly. He picked up his own glass and took a light sip.

The purified water had long gone cold.

His Adam's apple moved as he swallowed.

The cold liquid slid down his throat, temporarily easing an unnamed heat.

Time slipped by in a subtly tense atmosphere.

About half an hour later, Wen Yinong finally finished explaining the first part. She let out a small sigh of relief.

"Okay, Mr. Mo, that covers the content on mindset adjustment and positive attention." Wen Yinong looked up at Mo Shaoshang. "Do you have any questions for me?"

Mo Shaoshang gave a slow shake of his head. "No."

A short pause, then he added, "Teacher Wen's explanation was very clear."

His affirmation made Wen Yinong feel a little more at ease, and she smiled. "Thank you for saying that." With that, she tentatively suggested, "How about we take a five-minute break?"

"Alright," Mo Shaoshang agreed.

Wen Yinong immediately put the materials on the table, stood up, and started walking around as if she were taking a casual stroll.

Though it seemed like she was loosening her tight shoulders and neck, she was actually just looking for an excuse to escape the reception area for a moment and get a bit further away from Mo Shaoshang.

His presence was overwhelming—sharp and aggressive. Being too close to him made her uncomfortable.

After taking a few steps, Wen Yinong raised her eyes slightly, her gaze unconsciously drifting to the nearby bookshelf.

The shelves were densely packed with books in various languages, covering a wide range of topics, with philosophy, social science, and history making up the majority. Many of the spines looked old but were in excellent condition.

Curious, Wen Yinong couldn't help but say in a low voice, "Mr. Mo, have you read all these books?"

This astonishing collection was practically a small library in its own right.

Hearing this, Mo Shaoshang followed her gaze briefly and replied, "Mm-hmm."

"Wow," Wen Yinong blurted out, her tone full of genuine admiration. "You must read an enormous amount."

"I don't have many hobbies," Mo Shaoshang said calmly. "Reading is one of them."

"I really admire people who love reading." Wen Yinong turned around, a slightly embarrassed smile. "I've always fallen asleep reading since I was a kid, especially with really deep books."

Mo Shaoshang looked at her, noting her more relaxed and animated expression. "Just different interests."

This brief chat lightened the atmosphere in the study slightly.

But then, a sound came from somewhere, shattering the brief comfort.

Hiss... rustle...

Wen Yinong initially thought it was her imagination and ignored it, until she heard it a second time.

Hiss... rustle...

It sounded like something alive sliding across a smooth surface.

Wen Yinong frowned, puzzled, listening carefully for a few seconds. Then she turned to Mo Shaoshang and said in a low voice, "Mr. Mo, did you hear something?"

Mo Shaoshang asked, "What sound?"

"It's a kind of... rustling sound." Wen Yinong tried to describe it as precisely as possible. "Like something crawling? It seems to be coming from over there."

With that, she pointed roughly toward the source of the sound.

It was a dark, shadowy corner of the study.

After hearing what Wen Yinong said, Mo Shaoshang paused, as if thinking. Then he spoke calmly, in a faintly reassuring tone: "Don't be afraid. It's my pet."

Pet?

Wen Yinong's eyes widened in surprise, and she looked around instinctively. "You have a pet too?"

As she spoke, an image of Peach's round, chubby little face came to mind involuntarily.

Wen Yinong naturally assumed Mo Shaoshang's pet was some fancy, well-groomed cat or dog, and she was still looking around curiously, expecting to see it. Until the elegant, refined man shifted slightly and casually turned on a wall lamp that had been off in the corner.

In an instant, light spilled out, illuminating a dark corner of the study.

A custom-made, huge temperature-controlled glass tank suddenly came into view.

She froze in place.

It wasn't the fluffy, cute creature she had imagined...

It was a snake, eerie and unnaturally pale.

Its scales were delicate, with the matte sheen characteristic of cold-blooded animals, like a lifeless, intricately carved jade piece, yet exuding the chilling aura of a living creature. As if disturbed by the sudden light, it slowly shifted its body, revealing jet-black, vertical pupils. They were cold and indifferent, silently reflecting Wen Yinong's startled face.

"..." After a few short seconds, Wen Yinong snapped back to reality, gasping in shock and stumbling back a few steps.

But her foot caught on something, and she lost her balance, falling backward uncontrollably.

Wen Yinong let out a low cry.

Yet the expected pain never came.

In a flash, her arm was grabbed by a hand. A large, powerful hand appeared out of nowhere, halting her fall.

The distance between them abruptly shortened. A cool, crisp fragrance rushed toward her, like cedar or the deep sea, taking over all of Wen Yinong's senses.

"Be careful," Mo Shaoshang said.

"...Thank you."

As if scalded, Wen Yinong brushed off his hand, hastily pulling away from his grip and stepping back a few paces. Her heart pounded like thunder, a mix of shock and embarrassment.

Mo Shaoshang withdrew his arm, his fingers that had touched that delicate skin subtly rubbing together.

The girl's flushed, radiant face was right in front of him. He observed her expressionlessly, then suddenly said, "Compared to the snake, Teacher Wen seems more afraid of me."