Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Wen Yinong almost thought she had misheard.

Frozen for a few moments, she finally found her voice, replied cautiously and hesitantly, "Mr. Mo, for such a formal social occasion, it might be more appropriate for your girlfriend to accompany you."

Mo Shaoshang said, "I don't have a girlfriend."

This answer caught Wen Yinong off guard once more. She instinctively looked up at the man across from her—with such striking good looks, a prominent family, and extraordinary ability, even if he wasn't yet thirty, he had to be at least twenty-seven or twenty-eight... and he was still single?!

He seemed to be a real workaholic, too busy with work to have time for romance.

Wen Yinong thought silently and continued, "But given your social standing and resources, finding a suitable date for the banquet shouldn't be too hard."

She meant it sincerely, not as flattery.

Mo Shaoshang's expression stayed calm and unruffled as he replied, "I don't like lively occasions and I'm not good at socializing. I don't have many friends to ask for help, so I'm making this bold request to you, Teacher Wen."

Well, how should I put it?

His words sounded natural and honest, making them quite credible. After hearing this, Wen Yinong pursed her lips thoughtfully and said, "I see."

She lowered her eyes, weighing the matter carefully. Her thick lashes fluttered like tiny fans as she thought.

Mo Shaoshang remained still, taking in every subtle change in the girl's expression without speaking or hurrying her.

After a moment, his gaze fell to the teacup in his hand, and he spoke in a tone that was calm, unreadable, yet carried a hint of thoughtful concession: "This request is indeed bold. I have no intention of putting Teacher Wen in a difficult position. If you find it inconvenient or are unwilling, there's no need to force yourself to do it."

"..." This made Wen Yinong even more torn.

She was naturally soft-hearted and easily swayed. If he had been forceful, acting like an employer, she might have hardened her heart and refused.

But instead, he was so polite, admitting he wasn't good at socializing and had no friends, laying out his predicament plainly while leaving the choice entirely in her hands.

The words of refusal lingered on the tip of her tongue, caught in hesitation, unable to come out smoothly.

Wen Yinong's mind was in turmoil.

On one hand, she felt this was beyond her job description; on the other, she couldn't help thinking that with his status and wealth, if he truly had no better option, why would he resort to "drafting" her, his rehabilitation therapist?

After all, Mo Shaoshang was her employer, akin to her boss. If her boss politely asked for a favor, she could refuse, but it would likely make their future interactions awkward.

And...

On second thought, accompanying him to a banquet for a few hours didn't seem like an impossible task, did it?

She could just treat it as broadening her horizons and gaining some experience.

Thus, after an intense internal struggle, Wen Yinong finally gritted her teeth, made up her mind, and looked up at Mo Shaoshang. "I can do it. But..."

She paused here, her expression turning serious and earnest as she reminded and confirmed: "Mr. Mo, I must make it clear beforehand—I'm just an ordinary special education teacher. I know nothing about business matters, and socializing is completely beyond me. Accompanying you, I might not be able to help at all, and I could even cause trouble by not knowing the proper etiquette. Are you sure you want to invite me?"

Hearing this answer, Mo Shaoshang's lips curved almost imperceptibly as he said, "Having Teacher Wen as my companion is already my great honor."

Wen Yinong felt her cheeks warm slightly, took a deep breath, and nodded. "Alright. As long as you don't mind, I can do it."

*

After leaving the tea room, Lin Ke, who had been waiting outside, approached. "Teacher Wen, please follow me for a moment."

Wen Yinong was puzzled but didn't ask questions, silently following Lin Ke through the corridor to an elegantly decorated reception room.

A woman was already waiting inside.

She was a foreign beauty, appearing to be around thirty years old, wearing a well-tailored dark green cheongsam that perfectly accentuated her graceful figure. Her soft blonde hair was casually pinned up in a bun, and her features were refined and striking, exuding an air of distinction.

Lin Ke gave a subtle nod.

The next moment, the foreign woman in the cheongsam smiled and stepped forward. Holding a soft measuring tape, she said to Wen Yinong in slightly accented but fluent Chinese, "Miss Wen, please stand still. I need to take your measurements."

With that, the beauty skillfully began measuring Wen Yinong's shoulder width, bust, waist, and hips.

Wen Yinong passively complied, then turned to Lin Ke and whispered, "Assistant Lin, what is this for?"

Lin Ke smiled slightly. "Teacher Wen, no need to be nervous. This is Miss Linda, a designer hired by Mr. Mo. You'll need a gown for the banquet, and Linda will make one custom based on your measurements."

"Custom-made?"

Wen Yinong grew even more suspicious. "Isn't the banquet in just three days? How can a dress be ready in time?"

Hearing her doubt, the designer, who was measuring her leg length, chuckled and chimed in with a confident and playful tone: "Dear lady, just tell me your preferences and ideas for the outfit. How to finish it within the time limit is my concern—you don't need to worry."

The foreign beauty was lively and approachable, which helped Wen Yinong relax a bit. She smiled and said, "I don't have any special requests. Just something appropriate will do."

Linda's beautiful blue eyes flickered with surprise, and her expression turned slightly exaggerated. "Oh? Such a stunning beauty has no requirements for her gown? That's quite rare." She studied Wen Yinong as she spoke, her gaze full of admiration. "Your bone structure and proportions are excellent—you're a perfect fit for any outfit."

Wen Yinong felt a bit embarrassed by the praise, her cheeks warming as she said softly, "You can follow Mr. Mo's opinion on the color and style."

She thought to herself: After all, she was just a temporary companion, so her attire should naturally match the employer's preferences.

Linda flashed a mysterious smile. "Alright, I understand."

*

Over the next three days, Wen Yinong devoted all her energy to Ari, almost forgetting about accompanying Mo Shaoshang to the banquet.

It wasn't until the afternoon of the third day that a gown was delivered to her.

It was a modified cheongsam-style gown, pure white in color, made of heavy silk satin with a soft, lustrous sheen like flowing moonlight. The tailoring was exquisite, form-fitting, with smooth lines that perfectly followed the body's contours.

The upper part of the gown was embroidered with a crane motif: two cranes in graceful poses—one stretching its neck toward the sky, the other bowing its head to forage. Their feathers were distinct, their eyes vivid, as if they might take flight from the fabric at any moment. The embroidery was incredibly intricate, using Shu embroidery techniques, with every stitch showcasing masterful craftsmanship.

In just three days, designer Linda had managed to create such a delicate, beautiful, and artful Shu-embroidered cheongsam.

It was clear how much manpower and resources had been invested.

What kind of power, background, wealth, and status could accomplish such a miracle?

Wen Yinong was captivated by the gown's brilliance. It took her a moment to snap out of it, and she turned to look at the man sitting on the sofa, impeccably dressed in a suit, exuding an air of languid elegance. She said sincerely, "The designers have put a lot of effort into this."

Mo Shaoshang sat casually, one arm resting on the sofa armrest. At her words, the corner of his mouth lifted faintly. "I'm glad Teacher Wen likes it."

Just then, Lin Ke walked in, followed by several stylishly dressed young men and women.

Lin Ke said respectfully, "Sir, the styling team has arrived."

Mo Shaoshang gave a slight nod.

Before Wen Yinong could react, she was surrounded by the group and led into a room.

Inside, the stylists worked efficiently and methodically, each with a clear role.

One was responsible for cleansing and skincare routine, another for applying makeup, while another brought out curling irons and diffusers to style her thick, dark curls. The entire process was professional, efficient, and bustling.

The world outside the room was utterly silent.

Mo Shaoshang maintained his original seated posture, occasionally glancing down to check his emails, while otherwise sitting silently, as if he had endless patience.

Time slipped by unnoticed. The sun outside gradually sank toward the horizon, the horizon bathed in broad strokes of enchanting rose-colored sunset clouds, like an overturned palette, magnificent and dazzling.

About three hours later, a soft click sounded.

The room door gently opened.

At almost the same moment, Mo Shaoshang turned off his phone screen and raised his eyes.

A graceful figure reflected in his dark-blue eyes.

The Chinese girl wore a moon-white cheongsam with a crane pattern. The fitted design, rendered in satin fabric, hugged her curves perfectly. Her waist was so slender it seemed barely fit in a hand, while the curve of her hips was round and full, giving her an enticing waist-to-hip ratio. The dress featured a slit at the hem, revealing glimpses of her fair, shapely legs as she moved—thin but not skinny, each inch of skin glowing with a plump, healthy luster.

Then, looking up at her face.

A few slightly curled strands of hair fell by her ears and neck. Her long, swan-like neck looked even whiter and more elegant. Her face bore exquisite makeup, her brows and eyes were like a painting, lips a vivid red. She seemed like a beauty who had stepped out of an old painting—enchanting and radiant, incomparable and utterly charming.

Mo Shaoshang’s gaze fixed straight on Wen Yinong, lingering, unmoving.

Sensing his stare, Wen Yinong’s cheeks involuntarily flushed. Her eyes lowered, not daring to meet his, as if she didn't know what to do with her hands or feet.

Silence hung in the air.

After a moment, Mo Shaoshang finally spoke. His tone was still calm, but his voice had a hint of hoarseness: “Sei molto bella.”

—You are very beautiful.

Wen Yinong was slightly taken aback.

This wasn’t the first time she had heard Mo Shaoshang speak Italian, but her previous memories were far less vivid than this moment.

Italian is supposed to be passionate and exuberant, but this man’s voice was naturally deep and low, filtering through his vocal cords to give those words a cold edge, like a forest shrouded in thick mist.

Strangely dangerous.

Wen Yinong’s heartbeat quickened. A thin flush spread from her cheeks to her ears and neck. She could only lower her eyes and reply politely, “Thank you for your compliment.”

After that, the space fell silent for several seconds.

Soon, Lin Ke brought over a traditionally crafted purple sandalwood box and opened the lid in front of her.

Wen Yinong’s gaze instinctively fell upon it.

Inside, on a black velvet lining, lay a necklace—

A jadeite necklace.

The beads were full and round, their color a lush, vivid green, translucent and glossy. Exhibiting the finest imperial green hue and texture, they shimmered under the lamplight with a warm yet captivating luster.

Wen Yinong blinked, feeling puzzled. She was about to ask Lin Ke something when Mo Shaoshang rose from his seat beside her.

The man, his gaze lowered behind his gold-rimmed glasses, took hold of both ends of the necklace between his slender fingers, their knuckles pronounced, then moved unhurriedly behind Wen Yinong.

In an instant, a masculine aura flooded all her senses—cool, clean, yet overwhelmingly present, like an invisible net that enveloped her completely, leaving her no room to escape.

Her heartbeat grew erratic, rapid and flustered.

Wen Yinong stood dazed, confused and panicked, until the cool jade beads touched her neck. She snapped back to reality, stammering as she tried to refuse: “Mr. Mo, what are you doing? This necklace is far too valuable. I can’t wear it…”

Actually, it wasn't that she couldn't. She didn't dare.

How could she casually wear such a priceless piece of jewelry?

If she accidentally damaged it, she couldn't afford to replace it even if she had ten lifetimes…

Then, Mo Shaoshang’s voice came from behind her, his tone casual, as if discussing the weather.

“This is for you.”

“For me?” Wen Yinong was dumbfounded, blurting out, “Why?”

A few moments later, the man’s cool, firm fingers brushed lightly, almost imperceptibly, over her delicate, warm neck, sending shivers across her snowy skin.

The gold clasp was fastened.

The necklace was in place.

Mo Shaoshang slightly moved and circled around to stand in front of Wen Yinong, lowering his gaze to study her with a casual yet intensely focused gaze.

The rich green of the jadeite made the skin on her collarbone and chest seem to glow faintly.

“Because it suits you.”

As if particularly satisfied with how the necklace looked on her, Mo Shaoshang curled his lips slightly and said calmly, “Teacher Wen, you look even better wearing it than I imagined.”