Chapter 16

Chapter 16

His voice carried a slight hoarseness from the damp air, tinged with an almost imperceptible playfulness.

Wen Yinong belatedly came back to reality, her cheeks instantly flushing crimson. Though this physical contact was strictly a matter of survival—an unavoidable act—the situation, the searing body heat, the skin pressed against skin, and his words... it was all too intimate.

Especially Mo Shaoshang's eyes, mere inches away, like two bottomless, icy pools, drawing her in like a whirlpool, as if one careless moment would drown her beyond redemption.

Thump, thump.

Her heartbeat had already gone out of control, thundering wildly, as if it might leap out of her throat.

Those eyes were too aggressive, too dangerous. Wen Yinong dared not meet his gaze any longer. She hastily looked away, her lashes fluttering in panic, and tried to push against his chest with her arms, pushing herself a small distance away.

She inhaled a breath of cool, damp air, struggling to keep her voice steady: "I'm sorry, Mr. Mo, for troubling you again. The pool... the water is a bit deep. Could you please help me get to the edge of the pool first?"

She paused, lowering her thick lashes even further, almost pressing her face into the towel. Her voice was barely audible, trembling slightly: "...It's so cold in the water."

The moment she finished speaking, she felt her body lift, feet leaving the ground. After a brief moment of weightlessness, the world spun before her eyes.

Mo Shaoshang had swept her up in his arms.

"Ah..." Wen Yinong gasped, instinctively tightening her arms around his neck, her dripping body practically clinging to him.

Without a word, Mo Shaoshang carried her step by step up the stairs out of the cool pool water and onto the deck.

It was autumn, and the evening breeze carried a penetrating chill.

Wen Yinong was soaked through, water streaming from head to toe. Her dress clung to her skin, outlining her graceful curves.

As the cold wind hit, she shivered uncontrollably, her teeth chattering. Instinctively, she curled her slender body into his embrace, seeking warmth.

Beside them stood a few white lounge chairs for resting, cleaned daily and pristine.

Mo Shaoshang set Wen Yinong down on one of the lounge chairs. Then, he took a clean, thick white towel, unfolded it, and draped it over her thin shoulders.

The towel was soft and highly absorbent, enveloping her cold, damp skin, driving away the biting chill in no time.

She couldn't help but pull the towel tighter, burying herself completely inside. Breathing in, she noticed a faint, unique fragrance on the towel—crisp, clean, with a touch of coolness, like the rime on pine branches in early winter.

She froze, taken aback.

This scent was exactly the same as Mo Shaoshang's.

This was...

His towel?

The realization made Wen Yinong's heart skip a beat. She instinctively looked up.

The man wore only tight black swim trunks, bare-chested by the pool. The cold moonlight poured down without reservation, casting a sheen over his broad shoulders, chest, and abs as water droplets continuously rolled down his taut, powerful muscles.

The water moistened the winding black snake tattoo on his chest, adding a mysterious, seductive edge.

An overwhelming masculine aura filled every inch of the surrounding air—breathtaking, almost too intense to look at directly.

The flush on Wen Yinong's cheeks deepened into a fiery sunset hue. Too embarrassed to stare further, she hurriedly averted her gaze, lowering her head to stare at her dripping toes.

Soon, the rustle of fabric came from behind.

When she cautiously looked up again, Mo Shaoshang had already put on a black silk bathrobe, belted casually, with the collar slightly open. His overly striking body was covered, but his imposing presence remained unchanged.

Wen Yinong bit her lip. The shock of falling into the water had now slightly subsided.

She adjusted the towel around herself, and stammered, "Well... I won't disturb you anymore. I'll be going."

With that, she prepared to get up and escape this embarrassing place.

Hearing this, Mo Shaoshang lowered his gaze, sweeping over her soaked body and trembling lips, and said calmly, "The night air is chilly. If you go back like this, you'll catch a chill."

Wen Yinong felt even more embarrassed and frustrated. Of course, she knew she'd catch a cold if she went back like this, but staying meant making a spectacle of herself here?

Despite her inner turmoil, she forced a nonchalant smile and said, "It's fine. It's not far. I'll just walk faster."

Heaven knew, all she wanted right now was a hot shower and dry clothes.

"There's a shower room next to the pool," Mo Shaoshang said succinctly, offering a solution.

Shower room?

Wen Yinong's eyes lit up instantly. If she could take a hot shower right here and warm up, that would be ideal...

But then she hesitated, frowning, she murmured, "But my change of clothes is in my room..." She couldn't exactly shower and then put the wet clothes back on, could she?

Mo Shaoshang said flatly, "Have Aunt Zhang bring them to you."

That was a solution.

Wen Yinong thought it feasible and beamed, replying, "Alright. Then please tell Aunt Zhang that my loungewear is on the bed—the beige set. And please ask her to bring a knitted cardigan for me. Thank you."

With that, she looked around but saw no sign of a shower room, so she had to ask, "Where is the shower room?"

"Follow me," Mo Shaoshang said, turning and walking toward the other side of the pool.

Understanding, Wen Yinong pulled the towel tighter and quickly followed.

Before long, the two figures walked into a white minimalist building.

Mo Shaoshang casually flicked the switch, and the room instantly flooded with soft light, dispelling the darkness.

Looking around, the space was very spacious and stylishly designed.

Though called a shower room, it felt more like a refined private suite. The entrance was a simple vanity area with various toiletries neatly arranged on a smooth counter. Further in, a separate shower stall was partitioned by frosted glass, and beyond that, a small lounge area with a single sofa and coffee table.

The most striking feature was the massive floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside, the night garden was in full view. Beside the window were a few sleek, uniquely shaped leather Barcelona chairs, giving the entire space an understated luxurious feel.

As Wen Yinong took in the surroundings, a worry crept in: This shower room was right next to the pool—though it looked private enough, what if some of the estate staff came in while she was bathing?

At that moment, Mo Shaoshang, walking ahead, seemed to read her thoughts. Without pausing or turning, he said calmly, his voice cool but gentle in the empty room: "This is for my personal use only. Without my permission, no one else will come in. Miss Wen can feel at ease."

"...Flustered, Wen Yinong flushed slightly and quickly nodded, "Alright. Then please tell Aunt Zhang to bring my clothes."

"Yes." Mo Shaoshang acknowledged.

Without further ado, Wen Yinong hurried into the shower stall and closed the door behind her.

Inside the bathroom, the heating system had already been on for a while, dispelling the lingering chill in the air.

She leaned against the door, letting out a long sigh, her tense nerves finally easing.

Stripping off her soaked clothes, Wen Yinong turned on the showerhead. The warm water cascaded down, enveloping her icy skin, and comfort soaked through her entire body.

She tilted her head back, letting the hot water wash over her face.

She refused to dwell on the confusing and unsettling events from earlier.

*

Outside the bathroom.

Mo Shaoshang walked over to the phone in the lounge area, picked up the phone and dialed a number.

Inside the bathroom, steam quickly rose and filled the space, coating the mirror with a layer of white mist. The sound of running water surrounded her, creating a safe, enclosed space that muffled all outside sounds.

Wen Yinong carefully washed her body in the hot water, her limbs gradually warming up.

After a few minutes, she turned off the shower, rinsed off the suds from her hair and body, grabbed a clean, fluffy white towel, dried off, and wrapped it around herself before stepping over to the sink.

The mirror was foggy. She wiped it with her hand, and saw her reflection: clean, gentle, with a fresh-out-of-the-bath glow, rosy cheeks, slightly moist eyes, and lips redder than usual—a vivid peach color with a hint of allure.

Staring at her reflection, Wen Yinong’s mind played tricks on her again, replaying scenes from a little while ago—a man bursting out of the water like a wild leopard, his tall, imposing figure full of strength and beauty. Water droplets rolled down his muscular contours, with tight abs and a narrow, powerful waist and hips, every contour perfectly sculpted, exuding a primal, dangerous appeal.

Her fingertips could still recall the warmth of his chest and arms, and the solid, firm feel of his muscles...

In just a few seconds, Wen Yinong snapped back to reality. Her face grew even hotter, and she shook her head vigorously, covering her burning cheeks, forcing away all those lingering thoughts.

Just then, a soft knock came at the bathroom door.

Knock, knock.

Wen Yinong steadied herself, cleared her throat, and asked with a hint of doubt and caution, “Who is it?”

A gentle, pleasant female voice answered from outside, “Teacher Wen, I’ve brought your clothes.”

It was Aunt Zhang’s voice.

Wen Yinong let out a quiet sigh of relief, her heart calming down. She walked over and opened the bathroom door a crack.

Aunt Zhang smiled and held out neatly folded beige loungewear and a light gray knit cardigan.

“Thank you so much, Aunt Zhang. I really appreciate it.” Wen Yinong took the clothes and thanked her repeatedly, her tone full of thanks.

“You’re welcome.” Aunt Zhang chuckled, paused for half a second, then asked, “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

Wen Yinong quickly shook her head. “No, that’s all.”

“Alright, feel free to let me know if you need anything.” Then she turned and left.

With her clothes in hand, Wen Yinong hurried to put them on.

The dry, soft cotton fabric against her skin brought a deep sense of security. She picked up the hairdryer and carefully dried her wet hair, then combed it smooth.

Once she was done, Wen Yinong folded the used towel neatly and placed it in the designated laundry basket. She then checked the bathroom thoroughly, making sure all her items were packed up and no personal traces remained. After that, she smoothed out the slightly wrinkled hem of her clothes and opened the door.

Gently closing the door behind her, she turned around and looked up.

Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the clear autumn moonlight streamed in silently, spreading a layer of silvery frost across the floor.

Outside the window lay a calm night sky and blurred tree shadows.

And on the Barcelona chair by the window, a figure sat quietly.

Mo Shaoshang had apparently showered as well, now wearing a black silk shirt with the buttons loosely fastened, revealing a hint of his fair chest. His short black hair was no longer dripping, but soft and slightly damp, falling casually over his forehead.

He sat there, relaxed yet dignified, his long legs crossed casually, with a few books beside him, his gaze fixed on the vast night outside the window.

The whole scene looked like a frozen movie frame—serene, quiet, cool, and with an indescribable sense of solitude.

Wen Yinong was surprised.

Why was he still here? She had thought he’d gone back long ago.

At the same time, hearing the soft sound of the bathroom door opening, Mo Shaoshang turned his head slightly, shifting his gaze from the window to Wen Yinong.

In his view, the girl who had just bathed, free from her earlier soaked state, now looked like a pearl washed clean by water.

Without makeup, pure as water, yet more beautiful and soft than any carefully applied cosmetics. Her slightly upturned eyes were the finishing touch, giving her a natural allure—like a jasmine flower steeped in sweet spring water, tempting without even realizing it.

Moonlight and lamplight flowed quietly as their eyes met.

Mo Shaoshang said nothing, just looked at her in silence. His gaze was deep, calm, with an air of inquiry, and perhaps something else lurking beneath the surface.

After a few seconds of surprise, Wen Yinong’s long eyelashes fluttered, and she came back to her senses.

Slightly uncomfortable under his stare, she instinctively avoided his gaze and asked softly, “Mr. Mo, do you have something else to discuss with me?”

Otherwise, why would he be waiting here specifically for her?

Mo Shaoshang spoke calmly, his expression normal. “I’m not sleepy. I wanted to chat with Teacher Wen.” He paused, then his tone turned polite and gentle, with a hint of inquiry, “I wonder if Teacher Wen is free.”

Wen Yinong subconsciously glanced at the clock on the wall.

It was just past nine.

Good, not too late.

“I’m not exactly busy,” she replied, but her mind was already racing: this was a good opportunity to properly discuss the incident that had arisen during Ari’s class that afternoon.

Mo Shaoshang gave a barely perceptible smile. He gestured to the other chair next to him. “Please, have a seat.”

Wen Yinong followed his gesture and sat down beside him, sitting a bit stiffly.

After a moment of thought, she took a deep breath, feeling that jumping straight into the main topic would be too abrupt. So she chose a safe topic to start, trying to lighten the mood. “Mr. Mo, do you like swimming?”

“Occasionally,” Mo Shaoshang replied. “I make it a point to exercise every day.”

“Oh,” Wen Yinong nodded, then casually asked, trying to keep the conversation going, “Besides swimming, what other sports do you enjoy?”

“Martial arts, rock climbing, horse riding,” he listed, his tone flat, as if he were talking about the weather. “I do them all.”

No wonder his physique was so impressive.

Wen Yinong thought to herself.

The two chatted about this and that for a while, sticking to safe topics. When the moment felt right, Wen Yinong cleared her throat and began to steer the conversation toward the main subject.

Her expression grew a bit more serious, and she straightened her posture. “Well... Mr. Mo, there’s something I need to tell you. This afternoon, during Ari’s language intervention class, he had an emotional meltdown that lasted about ten minutes.”

At this point, she paused for a breath, as if to give Mo Shaoshang a moment to digest the information, but before he could respond, she quickly added in a reassuring tone, "But don't worry, I intervened in time during the process, and he didn't cause any harm to himself or the surroundings. I was able to calm him down afterward."

After listening to her words, Mo Shaoshang's expression remained largely unchanged, calm and composed. He simply replied softly, "I know."

Wen Yinong was taken aback for a moment, then quickly understood.

Ari is a special child. Although his daily care is meticulously handled by a professional live-in nanny, to ensure the child's absolute safety, his bedroom, play area, and all the rooms where intervention and rehabilitation classes take place are equipped with a monitoring system.

As the child's guardian and employer, it was only natural that Mo Shaoshang would check the footage to understand the situation.

Wen Yinong guessed that he had probably already watched part of the recording from the afternoon class.

After a moment's thought, she continued, "I'm telling you this not to cause you anxiety or convey negative emotions. Please understand that it is our professional duty and responsibility to promptly and accurately report to parents the real situations and challenges children face during interventions."

Mo Shaoshang looked at her and said, "I know."

"In fact, lately, Ari has been making overall progress, with many bright spots." Wen Yinong raised her voice slightly, her tone becoming more positive. "What happened this afternoon might just be an accident, a setback in our intervention progress. We should face it, analyze the cause, find a solution, and not blow it out of proportion."

"Mm," he responded, indicating he was listening.

"So, please continue to have confidence in Ari," Wen Yinong said, looking at him with clear and determined eyes. "And please continue to have confidence in me."

Upon hearing this, the corners of Mo Shaoshang's mouth lifted into a faint smile. "Of course."

After that, Wen Yinong continued to share with Mo Shaoshang some of Ari's recent specific performances and rehabilitation progress, including his improvements and the challenges that still remained.

Thus, the two of them talked and listened, letting the time pass quietly in the serene atmosphere.

"Through deeper contact recently, I've found that Ari is very interested in car-themed toys. This could actually be a great teaching opportunity."

When the conversation turned to relatively light and interesting topics, Wen Yinong's expression relaxed. Recalling some of Ari's mischievous yet adorable moments in class, she couldn't help but smile. Suddenly remembering something, she added enthusiastically, "You know? Once during a cognitive class, I was wearing a top with small flower patterns on it. He looked at the pattern on my clothes and actually made a sound that sounded like 'flower'."

Mo Shaoshang's gaze was fixed on the young woman before him.

At that moment, Wen Yinong's smile was bright and sincere, a sparkle shining deep in her eyes, bright and sparkling, like the countless stars in a summer night sky, full of infectious energy.

After hearing her story, Mo Shaoshang raised an eyebrow slightly, looking particularly interested. "And then?"

"Then of course I seized the opportunity." Wen Yinong said with a bright smile, recounting it vividly. "I immediately found many different kinds of flower picture cards and pointed them out to him one by one... I wanted him to be exposed to richer vocabulary and images."

Upon hearing this, Mo Shaoshang lowered his eyelids, his gaze pausing for a moment, then returning to normal. He looked up, his expression back to normal, as if asking casually, "Did Ari recognize those flowers?"

Wen Yinong smiled and shook her head, saying, "These categories are still too detailed for Ari at this stage; it's a bit hard for him. My main purpose in showing him various flower pictures was to give him more diverse visual stimuli, which has a beneficial effect on the development and connection of his brain neural network."

As her words ended, the room went silent.

Only the faint sound of the wind outside could be heard.

After a moment, Wen Yinong pulled herself out of her thoughts, realizing she had talked too much, almost turning the conversation into a personal teaching sharing session. She was embarrassed.

Her cheeks grew hot, and she lowered her voice to apologize, "Sorry, Mr. Mo. This was supposed to be a chat with you, but I ended up doing most of the talking, wasting your time..."

Mo Shaoshang: "Listening to you speak is a pleasure for me."

Wen Yinong: "..."

Wen Yinong froze, her eyes wide open as she looked at him blankly, as if she didn't understand what he meant.

Mo Shaoshang observed the subtle changes in her expression and said lightly, "Your voice is very pleasant, and your expressions are so vivid, expressive, and cute when you speak. I enjoy listening to you talk, Ms. Wen."

As his words fell, Wen Yinong's face instantly flushed bright red.

The blush spread from her cheeks to her ears and neck; in the blink of an eye, her whole head turned into a ripe tomato.

In her memory, this man had already praised her more than once in such a direct, unabashed manner.

Was it due to cultural differences? Mo Shaoshang, on the surface, always seemed restrained, polite, elegant, and adhering to the strictest etiquette.

But deep down, he was quite direct, frank, even somewhat blunt, and didn't understand the concept of being subtle or beating around the bush...

Thump, thump, thump.

Her heartbeat grew faster and louder, almost bursting out of her chest.

For no reason, Wen Yinong felt the air around her seemed to heat up, making her skin feel hot and prickly, as if countless invisible little bugs were crawling on her.

Her eyes unconsciously swept to the clock again.

The hour hand was pointing to the number "10".

Finally, there was a legitimate reason to leave.

"Well," she said, trying to hide her panic, clearing her throat and speaking as if nothing had happened, "It's already ten o'clock."

As she spoke, she stood up somewhat hastily, her face flushed as she forced calm: "It's too late. I'll let you get some rest, Mr. Mo. Thank you again for your help tonight. Good night."

Before she finished speaking, she turned and walked toward the door.

Mo Shaoshang quietly watched the slender, petite figure retreating, without saying a word. At first, she managed to maintain a steady pace, unhurried, but once she stepped out of the building's main entrance and was exposed to the free air outside, she immediately quickened her pace, scurrying away like a rabbit.

Rounding the pool, she disappeared into the depths of the night, vanishing without a trace.

Mo Shaoshang picked up the glass of water on the table and took a light sip, a thoughtful expression gradually appearing on his face.

Wen Yinong jogged all the way back to her bedroom. Only after closing the door did she dare to breathe deeply.

*

Her heart was still pounding wildly, and the heat lingered on her cheeks stubbornly.

Lying back on the bed, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Staring at the pitch-dark ceiling, her mind kept replaying the thrilling moment by the pool, the intimate feeling of skin touching skin, the cool, frosty scent of the towel, Mo Shaoshang's lonely silhouette sitting in the moonlight outside the shower, and his straightforward words that made her blush...

All the images and sounds intertwined, stirring Wen Yinong's emotions into turmoil.

She remained sleepless until the early hours, finally drifting into a restless sleep.

After falling asleep, she had one strange dream after another.

In a hazy and chaotic world, she found herself back in the cold, glimmering pool, struggling helplessly in the water. A suffocating sensation coiled around her throat like vines. Just as her consciousness began to blur, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her sharply out of the water, allowing her to breathe for a moment.

But soon, the pool area began to twist and warp. The scene shifted, and she was back in her bedroom at the Mo Manor.

She lay on the bed, deeply asleep.

A large hand with distinct knuckles, cool to the touch, gently touched her hair ends. Fingertips threaded through the soft strands, bringing a faint, tingling sensation, along with an almost reverent slowness and a tenderness that made her heart tremble.

It moved slowly from the top of her head downward, gliding past the corner of her eye, lingering on her smooth cheek, neck, earlobe, and even began to gently rub the soft flesh of her earlobe...

Like caressing a rare treasure, cherishing it deep in her bones, reluctant to let go.

The touch of his calloused fingertips felt rough, forming a stark contrast with her delicate skin.

In her sleep, Wen Yinong felt an itch, stirred restlessly, and her eyelids fluttered open.

In the dim light, a cold, chiseled face came into view.

Wen Yinong was startled, but before she could even react with surprise or demand an explanation, the handsome face began to change—its skin turned icy and smooth, features blurred and elongated in an instant. Finally, he transformed into a pure white venomous python.

The giant python raised its head, its cold, reptilian eyes fixed on her.

Wen Yinong was terrified, her blood running cold, and instinctively tried to get out of bed and flee. But the white python's thick tail coiled around her with lightning speed, tightening around her body and binding her.

She struggled desperately, but it was futile. The powerful constriction made it increasingly difficult to breathe.

In her sheer terror, she watched helplessly as the white python opened its gaping maw, revealing sharp venomous fangs, and lunged to devour her—

Thud!

A dull thud, accompanied by a short, sharp scream.

Wen Yinong, terrified, fell straight off the bed, crashing heavily onto the floor.

The pain in her bottom and arm snapped her back to her senses instantly.

Wen Yinong gasped, covering her bruised forehead, and scrambled up off the floor, grimacing. She looked left and right.

Outside the window, the sky was already bright, sunlight streaming through the gap in the curtains. The bedroom was empty except for her—no sign of Mo Shaoshang or the white python.

It was just a dream...

Wen Yinong sighed wearily.

Still shaken, she pressed a hand to her wildly beating heart, sat on the edge of the bed, and took several deep breaths before finally calming her panicked thoughts.

Was it her imagination?

The fragrance in the air seemed subtly different from usual—aside from the gentle woody scent usual for the estate, there seemed to be a faint hint of frost.

Crisp, cold.

Like the scent from the white towel last night.

Wen Yinong rubbed her eyes, blaming it on her nightmare—her sense of smell still off—and didn't think much of it. After a moment, she prepared to freshen up.

As she passed a certain spot, she noticed something and stopped.

Turning her head, she saw a splash of vibrant red on the soft pillow at the head of the bed. Red against green, petals layered upon layer, delicate and dewy, like a flame that gathers all its vitality and burns.

Unrestrained, burning with reckless, desperate madness.

"..."

A single...

A rose? Appearing out of nowhere?