Chapter 17

Chapter 17

At first, Wen Yinong even thought she was still dreaming. She lightly pinched her arm until the pain hit, confirming it was not a dream.

She frowned slightly, turned back to the bedside, and carefully picked up the rose.

The thorns on the stem had been meticulously removed, smooth to the touch. The petals were an exceptionally true red, like velvet, with hints of deep, dark tones at the edges, adding a touch of mystery.

Her fingertips brushed over the petals, feeling the cool moisture on them, as if they still carried the scent of morning dew.

Very fresh.

This extraordinary freshness made Wen Yinong's heart tighten suddenly.

She clearly remembered that when she returned to her room last night, the bed was empty except for her usual pillow and thin blanket.

When had this flower appeared?

There seemed to be only one answer—after she fell asleep, someone had quietly entered her bedroom and placed this rose on her nightstand.

This inference coiled around her spine like a cold snake, sending a faint shiver down her spine.

Then, the bizarre dreams from last night came flooding back. In the dream, there seemed to be cold moonlight, an icy touch sliding across her skin, and a pair of blue-black eyes burning with unsettling intensity...

Could it be?

An absurd speculation slowly surfaced from the depths of her heart, carrying an unsettling flutter.

She couldn't think about it any longer.

Wen Yinong shook her head vigorously, put down the rose, and fled into the bathroom.

She splashed cold water on her face repeatedly, trying to dispel the inexplicable heat and unease in her chest.

In the mirror, the girl's cheeks were flushed with an unnatural blush, her eyes dazed from lingering fear. She took a few deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down.

After changing clothes, she walked back to the bedside, but her gaze was still involuntarily drawn to the red rose.

After a moment of hesitation, she picked up the rose again and opened the door to leave.

The morning at Mo Manor always seemed serene. Walking down the spiral staircase, which was covered in thick carpet, she came face to face with someone at the landing—Uncle Heng.

"Teacher Wen, good morning," Uncle Heng said, his usual smile on his face. "Good morning, Uncle Heng," Wen Yinong replied with a faint, strained smile. She paused, hesitated a few seconds, then asked softly, "Have you seen Mr. Mo?"

Uncle Heng's gaze lingered on her face for an instant, then shifted away casually as he answered, "The master is in the study."

"Okay, thank you." Wen Yinong thanked him and turned to leave.

Uncle Heng's voice followed, carrying the affectionate concern of an elder: "Breakfast is ready. You can go straight to the dining room when you go downstairs."

"Thank you, Uncle Heng." Wen Yinong paused, smiled, and said, "I need to see Mr. Mo about something; I'll be down soon."

"Alright." Uncle Heng nodded slightly and said no more.

After saying goodbye to Uncle Heng, Wen Yinong took a deep breath, unconsciously tightening her grip on the rose’s stem. Then she turned and headed toward the study.

The corridor was long, lined with somber classical oil paintings. Light filtered through heavy curtains, making it dim and quiet, her soft footsteps echoing in the emptiness.

Finally, she reached the heavy, solid wood study door.

The door was closed, like a sleeping fierce beast.

She raised her hand and lightly tapped the door with her knuckles: knock, knock. The sound was somewhat abrupt in the silence.

The next second, a cool voice came from within, low and calm, with businesslike casualness: "Who is it?"

Wen Yinong's heart skipped a beat.

She bit her dry lips and tried to make her voice sound steady: "It's me, Wen Yinong."

The person inside seemed to pause for a split second before responding: "Come in."

Wen Yinong pushed open the door.

The study appeared before her. The faint morning light outside the window streamed through the floor-to-ceiling window, softened by layered sheer curtains, bathing the room in a pale golden glow.

Mo Shaoshang sat in the center of that glow, wearing glasses, his eyes lowered to the documents in his hand. His sharp black suit was impeccably tailored, accentuating his tall, upright figure, with smooth shoulders and a narrow waist. Just sitting there, he had an undeniable presence.

Hearing her footsteps approach, he paused the pen in his hand slightly, then calmly set it down.

Mo Shaoshang lifted his eyes, his blue-black gaze falling on Wen Yinong through the lenses, deep as twilight, like an unfathomable pool, revealing nothing.

"Teacher Wen, looking for me?"

His posture was unhurried, his tone polite and gentle, but for some reason, the moment his gaze fell on her, Wen Yinong still felt an invisible pressure.

The air seemed to thicken, making it hard to breathe.

She couldn't help feeling nervous, her fingers curled slightly around the rose. After struggling and weighing her options, she seemed to have made up her mind and raised the rose of unknown origin in her hand, held it up in front of him, and said, "Mr. Mo, when I woke up this morning, I found this rose on my nightstand."

Mo Shaoshang's expression barely changed; he only raised an eyebrow slightly, signaling her to continue.

Such composure seemed to make her questioning seem rash and ridiculous.

Wen Yinong steadied herself, forcing herself to meet his gaze, and continued, "Do you know how this rose got into my room?"

Mo Shaoshang's gaze traced her face, seemingly penetrating, able to see through her feigned calm. After a moment, he replied in an utterly unruffled tone, "Last night, you mentioned that your favorite flower is the red rose. Since the roses bloomed beautifully this morning, I picked a bunch and asked Aunt Zhang to place one in your room."

Aunt Zhang?

This answer surprised Wen Yinong. She froze, almost blurting out, "Aunt Zhang entered my room this morning?" She paused, unable to keep the doubt from her voice, "Why would Aunt Zhang come in?"

The cleaning at the estate was usually handled by other staff. For no reason, why would Aunt Zhang "conveniently" enter her room to place a flower?

As her words fell, Mo Shaoshang leaned back casually in his tall frame, looking at her, and replied smoothly and nonchalantly, "To return the clothes you wore last night." He paused, then added, "The dress you left in the bathroom."

Clothes?

Wen Yinong froze on the spot, her mind going blank for a moment. Then, fragments of last night's memory came rushing back: after she showered in the poolside bathroom, she had changed out of her wet dress...

So, Aunt Zhang had already returned her washed clothes.

The truth was out.

Simple and perfectly reasonable.

In the blink of an eye, a huge wave of embarrassment crashed over Wen Yinong. Her cheeks burned as she thought to herself: Her brain must have short-circuited. How could she have had such a bizarre association?

To think that this rose was placed by Mo Shaoshang?

She had even confused dreams with reality, suspecting that he had crept into her room while she was asleep and done something to her...

Realizing she had misunderstood him, Wen Yinong was mortified. Her fingers, gripping the flower stem, turned white from the strain, and her head hung low, nearly touching her chest, afraid to meet the gaze of the man behind the desk.

The rose seemed to have become a hot potato, a reminder of her baseless suspicions.

Across from her.

Mo Shaoshang took in her embarrassment and helplessness, the corner of his mouth twitching into a fleeting, barely noticeable smile. When he spoke again, his voice was still steady, but with a faint hint of amusement: "Teacher Wen came to see me just to ask about this?"

Wen Yinong paused, then nodded hesitantly, her voice soft: "Mm."

"But you seem angry," he stated flatly.

Wen Yinong's face reddened like a ripe pomegranate, burning hot. She pressed her lips together, saying nothing, only wanting to escape this space so awkward it made her want to dig a hole and hide.

Yet at that moment, Mo Shaoshang stood up.

He was exceptionally tall, and standing created an imposing presence. He strode over to her slowly, casually, and as he approached, the scent of pine after snow—like a rime-covered forest—wafted around him, gradually filling her senses.

Cold, fresh.

It smelled wonderful, making her feel a bit dizzy.

In an instant, Mo Shaoshang stopped a step away from her, then leaned down, his breath almost brushing her sensitive ear, and asked softly, "Teacher Wen thinks I sneaked into your bedroom."

The distance between them was suddenly extremely close, so close that Wen Yinong could see the faint reflections on his glasses, his thick, dark eyelashes, and in his dark blue eyes, the flustered reflection of herself.

Her little secret exposed, she felt even more embarrassed. Without thinking, she denied it, her voice trembling slightly: "No, I didn't think that."

Mo Shaoshang looked at her cheeks and earlobes, now tinged with a delicate red, and asked calmly, "Then why are you unhappy?"

This almost intimate atmosphere left Wen Yinong dizzy, unable to think clearly. She instinctively stepped back, trying to create distance and avoid him, and defended herself weakly: "I'm not unhappy. I was just, just wondering who sent the flower to my room..."

Mo Shaoshang said nothing, only lowered his eyes, his gaze fixed directly on her face, deep and unreadable. It was as if he were examining her, or perhaps appreciating her fluster.

Silence hung in the air, each second feeling interminably long.

After a moment, Wen Yinong remembered something and couldn't help but murmur, "When I mentioned I liked roses yesterday, it was just a casual remark. Mr. Mo didn't have to take it seriously."

Mo Shaoshang: "But I remember it, and I can't pretend I didn't hear it."

"..."

Wen Yinong's heart suddenly jolted, as if struck, sending her heart into a flurry of confusion.

He looked at her, his gaze slowly tracing her features, and continued, "The moment I saw this rose, I thought of you."

Upon hearing this, Wen Yinong's heartbeat immediately raced out of control, like frantic drumbeats thumping in her ribcage.

Her face was burning, almost numb from the heat, her heart panicked and confused. Whether she was afraid her pounding heart would give her away or something else, she instantly lost the courage to remain in the same room with him.

"Thank you for the flower. I'll go downstairs for breakfast now. Excuse me," Wen Yinong said hurriedly, lowering her eyes as she finished, then turned and quickly walked toward the door, as if she were fleeing.

But just as her hand touched the doorknob, Mo Shaoshang's voice came from behind again: "Teacher Wen."

Wen Yinong halted in her steps, as if someone had pressed pause. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, turned around, and looked at him with confusion.

Mo Shaoshang's expression was calm and unruffled, as if the suggestive conversation moments ago had never happened. He simply said to her, "Ari will be taking a half day off today."

Wen Yinong was a bit surprised and instinctively asked with concern, "Is Ari feeling unwell?"

Mo Shaoshang shook his head and replied, "I'm taking him out for a bit."

"Oh." Wen Yinong understood, though she was puzzled, she didn't pry further, and smiled in agreement, "Okay, I understand. No problem."

*

Ari's distraction made the morning lessons tougher than usual, but they finally ended smoothly.

At lunch, Wen Yinong didn't see Mo Shaoshang. In the afternoon, Assistant Lin Ke returned to the estate to pick up Ari.

Wen Yinong helped the nanny get Ari dressed, then followed them to the front door of the villa.

A black Aston Martin was waiting quietly.

After placing Ari in his car seat, Wen Yinong bent down to look him in the eye.

The little boy hugged his favorite toy car tightly, head lowered, thick, curly eyelashes drooping, veiling his blue eyes, which were like Mo Shaoshang's but lighter and brighter.

"Ari, be good while you're out, sweetie," Wen Yinong said, with a warm smile, her voice feather-soft. As she spoke, she reached out and pinched Ari's chubby little cheek.

Ari didn't respond at all, still absorbed in his toy world, his fingers spinning the car's wheels.

Watching this, Lin Ke smiled and said, "It's clear that Ari really likes Teacher Wen."

Wen Yinong straightened up, stroking Ari's soft curls, and said gently, "They just live in their own little world. That doesn't mean they can't feel kindness from the outside. Their souls are innocent and pure—they can tell who truly cares for them and who genuinely loves them..."

She paused, then turned to Lin Ke and smiled, "Alright, Assistant Lin. You two go ahead. Have a safe trip."

"Goodbye, Teacher Wen."

"Have a safe trip."

The car door closed, separating the inside from the outside. The black sedan glided away smoothly, passed through the estate's massive iron gate, and soon disappeared at the end of the winding, tree-lined road.

It was indeed a rare beautiful day—crisp autumn air, sky clear and wide. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, warm but not scorching.

Wen Yinong and Uncle Heng stood beneath the camphor tree, silently watching the car leave.

After a moment, Wen Yinong smiled and withdrew her gaze, as if mentioning it offhandedly, "Ari seems to enjoy going out. He doesn't resist leaving at all. In future lessons, we can add more outdoor activities. Nature is very healing."

Uncle Heng simply smiled and said nothing.

Wen Yinong glanced at him.

The old butler stood erect, his graying hair immaculately combed, wearing the standard Zhongshan uniform. Time had etched its marks on his face while also giving him a calm, reserved demeanor.

Seizing the moment, she probed quietly, "Uncle Heng, you've worked for the Mo family for many years, haven't you?"

"Mm." Perhaps affected by the young woman's bright, warm smile, Uncle Heng also relaxed a bit, looking toward the distant garden scenery and saying casually, "I began working for Mr. Mo's father when I was in my twenties. I know every blade of grass and every brick and tile here like the back of my hand."

Wen Yinong listened and couldn't help but add, "Then you must know Mr. Mo quite well too?"

Uncle Heng was sharp and sensed something right away. He turned his head and looked at Wen Yinong calmly, asking, "What does Teacher Wen want to know about Mr. Mo?"

His gaze wasn't sharp, but it made Wen Yinong feel a guilty feeling of being found out. She quickly averted her eyes, coughed dryly, and denied, "Oh, nothing. I was just chatting with you. I didn't mean to pry into Mr. Mo's affairs."

Uncle Heng's expression didn't change at all, still retaining his smiling demeanor. He skillfully changed the subject: "Since that's the case, I'll get back to work. Please feel free to stay, Teacher Wen."

"Alright, Uncle Heng, go ahead." Wen Yinong breathed a sigh of relief.

After bidding farewell to Uncle Heng, Wen Yinong took a stroll alone in the garden.

The autumn garden still held vibrant colors, with chrysanthemums competing to bloom, and a faint scent of grass and wood lingering in the air. Yet her mind was wholly absorbed in the peace.

That misunderstanding about the rose, and Mo Shaoshang's somber blue-black eyes, kept intruding upon her thoughts unbidden.

The turmoil in her heart wouldn't settle, so she headed back to her bedroom.

Once inside, Wen Yinong flopped onto the bed and started scrolling on her phone. As she idly scrolled through short videos, a few crisp chimes announced two new WeChat messages.

She tapped the green app icon and saw a contact named "Jiang Shu" at the top of her chat list.

Jiang Shu: "Teacher Wen, are you busy?"

Jiang Shu: "I've been on a business trip the past few days, just got back to Jinghai."

Seeing the name, Wen Yinong felt a moment of confusion, her mind blank for a few seconds before it clicked who it was.

She instinctively scrolled up through past chat records, then recalled: this was the "great catch" her friend Su Wanxin had introduced her to earlier.

Unsure how to respond, she hesitated a moment and sent back an emoji out of politeness.

Within two seconds, Jiang Shu replied: "I was in Jincheng for work. They just had a cold snap there, a big temperature drop. Coming back to Jinghai made me feel alive again."

Wen Yinong glanced at the screen and, out of politeness, casually replied: "I went to Jincheng once two years ago. There's an old brand salt-baked chicken place there. It's pretty famous. Really tasty."

Jiang Shu: "Haha, really? Guess I didn't do my homework. My trip was too tight, meetings all day, no time to explore and try the local food."

Jiang Shu: "If there's a chance next time, I hope we can visit it together, Teacher Wen."

This message was clearly flirtatious, showing no hesitation in expressing his enthusiasm and liking for her.

Wen Yinong looked at the screen and felt a bit awkward, unsure how to respond without giving the wrong impression. After much hesitation, she once again resorted to her go-to solution: an emoji.

They had a bland chat for a bit, then Jiang Shu got to the point.

He asked: "Teacher Wen, are you free tonight? I know a newly opened Italian restaurant with a great atmosphere."

Wen Yinong was snuggled under the soft covers, rubbing her cheek against the comforter. After a moment's thought, she made an excuse to decline: "Sorry, I have a class tonight."

Jiang Shu: "I understand. Work is important."

But he didn't seem ready to give up easily, and pressed further: "What about tomorrow night? Or the weekend? Which day works for you? We can arrange ahead of time."

Wen Yinong felt helpless, so she continued her white lie: "Probably none. My schedule is pretty packed lately. I'm very busy."

Jiang Shu: "Could you give me a shipping address? I brought back some specialties from Jincheng, some famous pear blossom pastries."

Wen Yinong: "I appreciate the kind thought ^_^, but you should keep them for yourself or give them to an elder or friend."

Jiang Shu: "It's just a small token. I hope Teacher Wen won't decline. Think of it as a small gift from a friend."

Jiang Shu was persistent, insisting on sending the pear blossom pastry to her.

Wen Yinong held her phone, feeling a bit helpless.

She didn't want to take advantage, nor did she want to drag things out ambiguously, giving hope only to disappoint. After much deliberation, she decided to make things clear.

Wen Yinong took a deep breath, her fingertips tapping on the screen as she weighed her words carefully: "Mr. Jiang, thank you again for your interest and kindness. But I'm sorry... I don't think we're quite compatible. I'm really sorry."

After the message was sent, the other side fell silent for a few seconds.

Then Jiang Shu replied: "Did I do something wrong that upset you? If I said something inappropriate or didn't do enough, please tell me. I'll change."

He attributed the problem to himself, which made Wen Yinong feel even more uncomfortable. She quickly replied: "It's not your fault. You're a great guy. I just think our personalities or chemistry might not click."

Then she added: "It's fate that we met. We can still be friends, can't we?"

After this message was sent, the silence on the other end stretched longer. After a while, the chat box showed "typing..." before finally responding with a single word:

"Mm."

At last, that was cleared up.

Wen Yinong felt a huge relief, letting out a long sigh. Just as she was about to close the chat window and continue watching her short series, Jiang Shu sent another message.

Jiang Shu: "Teacher Wen, did you reject me because of the person who picked you up that night?"

This sentence pricked her like an invisible needle, catching her off guard.

A strange sense of guilt spread quickly through her. Her fingers trembled slightly as she quickly typed a denial: "No, it's not."

Receiving her definitive denial, Jiang Shu didn't say more, only replying: "Mm, I see."

With that, that was the end of the conversation.

Wen Yinong set her phone aside and lay on her back, staring at the ceiling.

Did rejecting Jiang Shu have anything to do with Mo Shaoshang?

Almost involuntarily, Wen Yinong recalled Jiang Shu's question, and a wave of turmoil swept through her mind, leaving her unable to untangle her thoughts.

She had to admit that Mo Shaoshang's appearance, temperament, and physique were incredibly attractive to any woman. She was just an ordinary person, and her eyes were inevitably drawn to him—that seemed excusable.

But he was her employer.

Wen Yinong hadn't forgotten that she came to this manor to treat a child with autism, and he was the manor's owner, the child's guardian.

How could she let her mind wander about him? How could she have such inappropriate thoughts about Mo Shaoshang?

It was too inappropriate, too unprofessional.

Her thoughts were tangled like a mess of threads, impossible to sort out. Wen Yinong groaned, rolled around on the bed hugging her pillow, then sat up abruptly, grabbed her phone, and opened her chat with her friend Su Wanxin.

Wen Yinong: "I've cleared things up with Jiang Shu."

As an internet addict and gossip enthusiast, Su Wanxin replied almost instantly: "?? Ah? Cleared up what?"

Wen Yinong: "I told him we're not compatible and can only be just friends."

Su Wanxin seemed disappointed with the result, replying with a string of exclamation marks: "Ugh!!! My dear Teacher Wen, you're way too honest! A great catch like that—handsome, rich, with a career—even if you don't feel that spark yet, you don't have to cut things off completely. Keep him on the hook... I mean, get to know him as a friend first! Why are you shutting the door so early!"

Wen Yinong sighed, responding honestly: "I think Jiang Shu is a nice person. Precisely because he's a good catch and has shown interest in me, I shouldn't string him along as a fallback. That wouldn't be fair to him. I can't bring myself to do that."

Su Wanxin clearly didn't know what to say, replying: "Heh."

Su Wanxin: "You came to me just to tell me this?"

Wen Yinong: "No..."

She mulled it over, carefully choosing her words, and after several rounds of editing, finally typed out a line and sent it: "I want to ask you, um... between a man and a woman, does sending flowers usually have a special meaning?"

Su Wanxin: "Sending flowers? Oh, that can mean a whole bunch of things. It could indicate pursuit, affection, care, condolences, respect, or even just basic politeness and gentlemanly manners."

Su Wanxin: "Anyway, the meaning is very broad. It depends on the specific situation, the specific person, and the specific context."

So many possible interpretations.

Wen Yinong reflected on Su Wanxin's words, instinctively looking up, and her eyes fell again on the bedside table.

There sat a clear glass vase filled with water, holding the single red rose in isolation.

Stripped of its foliage, it bloomed alone in the vase, enchanting and bright, passionate as fire, yet carrying a sense of solitary self-admiration.

Her employer had clearly said he "happened to pick" a flower and asked Aunt Zhang to "happen to put it" in her room.

Since it was just "on a whim," of course it didn't mean anything special.

Perhaps, as Su Wanxin said, it was just an expression of care from the employer to the live-in therapist, or simply basic gentlemanly manners. That's all.

She was overthinking it and she almost made a fool of herself.

Having cleared that up, Wen Yinong felt suddenly enlightened. She shook her head, stopped overthinking, and replied to Su Wanxin: "OK, got it~"

*

In the evening, the sunset painted the sky a warm orange-red, like an overturned palette. The sound of a car engine grew from afar, cutting through the evening stillness of the estate.

Wen Yinong was sitting by the window in her bedroom reading a book. Hearing the sound, she got up and went to the window to look out.

She saw the familiar black Aston Martin smoothly enter the wrought iron gate, drive straight along the driveway, and finally stop in front of the main building.

It was Mo Shaoshang returning with Ari.

Dinner was French food.

The table was set with delicate silverware and crystal glasses, under soft lighting.

Ari seemed exhausted from playing and started crying after just a few bites. Wen Yinong took the child into her arms, rocking and soothing him until he finally calmed down.

After dinner, Wen Yinong and Mo Shaoshang left the dining room one after the other, heading up the stairs to the third floor.

After walking just a few steps, Wen Yinong thought about today's lesson plan, stopped, and softly called out, "Mr. Mo."

Mo Shaoshang, who was walking ahead, turned around upon hearing her voice. The light and shadows cast faint outlines on his distinct profile. His gaze fell on her, questioning.

Wen Yinong tried to clear her throat and said, "You have a lesson tonight. Are you free for it?"

Mo Shaoshang's eyes lingered on her face for a moment before he replied, "Yes."

"Alright." A gentle smile appeared on Wen Yinong's face. "See you tonight then."

*

Time passed quietly, and soon it was exactly eight o'clock in the evening.

Wen Yinong picked up her prepared teaching materials and notes, walked through the dimly lit hallway, and arrived in front of the study.

She raised her hand and gently knocked on the door with her knuckles.

Knock, knock.

There was silence inside the study, with no response.

Wen Yinong blinked, finding it strange. She leaned closer and noticed that the door wasn't locked; it was ajar, with a crack visible.

Seeing that the scheduled class time had already arrived, she hesitated for a few seconds before deciding to go in and wait.

Pushing open the heavy solid wood door, Wen Yinong stepped inside slowly.

Only a few wall lamps were lit in the study, casting a dim, soft, and ambiguous glow. The air was filled with a woody, cool fragrance, but there was no sign of Mo Shaoshang.

Wen Yinong was puzzled.

Had he been delayed by something?

Thinking this, she placed the materials she was carrying on the desk and began to pace around the room, waiting patiently. Suddenly, sensing something, she stiffened, and it felt as if the blood in her veins had frozen.

A strange rustling sound came from the air, making her skin crawl.

It was that snake named Silvio...

The image of a snake's cold, indifferent vertical pupils flashed through her mind. Wen Yinong shuddered and instinctively took a few steps away from the dark corners.

In her movement, she accidentally bumped her arm into an inconspicuous ornament on the edge of the desk.

With a soft thud, something fell to the floor, breaking the suffocating silence in the study.

Her heart raced. She turned her head in panic and looked toward the sound.

On the smooth dark wooden floor lay a small black wooden box, about the size of a palm. Due to the fall, the lid had popped open, and a small, silver-shining object had slid out, lying quietly beside the box.

Oh no, she had knocked over one of Mo Shaoshang's belongings.

She had no idea if it was broken...

Wen Yinong quickly bent down, first picking up the box, which felt smooth and warm, apparently made of precious ebony, and then reached for the small silver object.

She picked it up and looked closely.

It was silver, with a simple yet unique geometric pattern, exquisitely made. At the top was a uniquely designed pure silver ear hook.

"... "

She instinctively raised her hand and touched her own empty earlobe, her heart suddenly skipping a beat.

What?!

Wasn't this the earring she had lost earlier?

How did it end up in Mo Shaoshang's study?

Just as Wen Yinong was reeling, staring at the earring in her palm, a voice suddenly came from behind her, like a river flowing quietly in the night, low and gentle:

"Sorry to have kept you waiting."