Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Wen Yinong trembled all over, her heart lurching.

Turning around, she saw Mo Shaoshang standing silently behind her, having appeared without her noticing.

As if he had just finished work, he was still wearing that crisp white shirt, but the top two buttons were undone, making him look less rigid and more relaxed. Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes rested on her calmly.

Wen Yinong’s heart hammered like a drum, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around the silver earring.

The cold, angular metal bit into her palm, sending a sharp sting, but also giving her chaotic thoughts a moment of clarity.

Mo Shaoshang noticed the strangeness in her expression. His gaze dropped to the earring, then rose to meet her flustered eyes.

Wen Yinong was panicked, afraid he might think she had tampered with his personal belongings. Almost instinctively, she blurted out an explanation: “I didn’t mean to go through your things. I heard Silvio’s voice, got a little scared, and when I stepped back, I accidentally knocked over this box…”

Hearing this, Mo Shaoshang’s expression remained unchanged, showing no sign of displeasure. He replied flatly, “I understand.”

But the calmer he was, the more uneasy Wen Yinong became.

She stood frozen, clutching the earring, unsure what to do.

Return it to him? Or ask for an explanation?

Her palms grew sweaty, making the small silver object feel sticky in her hand.

In the profound silence, Mo Shaoshang stirred, then walked to the leather sofa on one side of the study, sitting down with easy grace. His long legs crossed naturally, his body leaning back slightly into the soft sofa back, but his gaze remained fixed on her, like an invisible tether.

“Ms. Wen doesn’t need to be so formal,” he said. “Sit down.”

Wen Yinong forced a nod and, steeling herself, sat down on the single sofa across from him.

They sat facing each other, silence stretched for a few seconds.

The air was filled only with the sound of their shallow breathing and the faint rustling sound.

Wen Yinong lowered her head, nibbling on her lower lip, her mind in turmoil.

In the end, curiosity and a strange impulse overcame her hesitation. She looked up at the man half-hidden in the dim light opposite her, hesitated, and spoke softly, breaking the silence of the room: “Mr. Mo, is this earring yours?”

As she spoke, she opened her palm.

A flash of silver stood out starkly against her pale palm.

Mo Shaoshang’s eyes swept over the earring. His tone was flat: “No.”

Not his?

Wen Yinong grew even more confused, her brow unconsciously furrowing. “Then…” Why was it here, kept in such a delicate box?

As if reading her question, Mo Shaoshang’s blue-black eyes looked at her, his gaze as calm as water, as if it could mirror every turmoil in her heart.

He spoke again, stating the fact without any emotion: “It’s yours, Ms. Wen.”

Wen Yinong: “…”

Sure enough.

She was completely floored.

Mo Shaoshang’s expression was languid and casual, offering a casual explanation: “The night I picked you up from the bar, you left it in my car.”

Wen Yinong blinked, her mind racing back—right, after leaving the “Queen Bee” bar that night, it was Mo Shaoshang himself who came to take her back to the manor.

No wonder the earring had been missing since then. She had thought it was lost at the bar or on the road, but it turned out he had picked it up that night.

As realization dawned, a new question surfaced.

Still puzzled, Wen Yinong couldn’t help but ask, “But since you found my earring, why didn’t you tell me?” If not for what happened today, she might never have known the earring was with him.

Mo Shaoshang’s tone was leisurely: “Lies or truth—which do you want to hear?”

Wen Yinong was taken aback by this abrupt question, momentarily bewildered. What strange logic was this? Returning lost items—did it require a distinction between truth and falsehood? After a two-second pause, she managed to force out: “What are they?”

Mo Shaoshang looked at her leisurely, saying, “After I picked up the earring, I never found the right opportunity to return it to you.”

He paused for a beat, then continued, “That’s the lie.”

Wen Yinong was curious: “Then what’s the truth?”

Mo Shaoshang: “I never intended to return this earring to you.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Wen Yinong’s heart skipped several beats, and sweat beaded on her palms, making them damp and sticky.

The study fell into a brief silence. Only the dim wall lamp cast a hazy glow, elongating their shadows and casting them onto the thick carpet, blending into an ambiguous silhouette.

After a long while, Wen Yinong finally found her voice again. She heard her own voice, soft and airy, like the evening breeze brushing past the window, barely audible: “Why?”

Mo Shaoshang looked at her, his gaze dark and deep, unreadable: “I just didn’t want to.”

What kind of excuse was that?

A flush crept up Wen Yinong’s cheeks without her realizing it. She lowered her eyes, her heart tightening with every beat.

After a few seconds of thought, she took a deep breath, put the earring back in the black wooden box, and said, “Since you like it, Mr. Mo, then you can have it.”

Mo Shaoshang raised an eyebrow very slightly, a barely noticeable glint flashing behind his glasses: “Is Ms. Wen always so generous with her employer?”

Wen Yinong’s face flushed even deeper, like a ripe cherry. She replied softly, “It was just a little trinket, nothing important.”

“Thank you,” he replied, taking it in stride.

“…You’re welcome,” Wen Yinong answered incoherently, her mind a jumble.

Pushing aside further thoughts, she took another deep breath, put down the wooden box, picked up the teaching materials on the table, and refocused herself on work.

After handing Mo Shaoshang a copy of the course material titled “Improving Social Initiative in Autistic Children Through Structured Play,” she put on a bright, professional smile and said, “Let’s start the lesson.”

Mo Shaoshang’s lips curled almost imperceptibly, a slight but meaningful twitch of the lips: “Okay.”

In the following days, life at the manor went on as usual.

*

Morning light still arrived on time. She still held Ari’s rehabilitation training sessions, played with the child, had meals, and went for walks. Uncle Heng was still attentive and thorough, and the others still worked in quiet diligence.

The only difference was that Wen Yinong hadn’t seen Mo Shaoshang at all.

After several consecutive days without seeing the employer, Wen Yinong couldn’t help but find it strange. At first, she thought he was just busy with work, leaving early and returning late. But five straight days without a single encounter, not even the sound of his car engine, a subtle unease began to rise in her heart.

This state of affairs continued until Saturday.

That morning, Wen Yinong was playing on the slide with Ari in the garden. Gazing at the closed windows of the master bedroom on the third floor, she couldn't help but ask casually, "Uncle Heng, I haven't seen Mr. Mo around lately. Is he on a business trip?"

Uncle Heng's kind eyes followed Ari's movements as he replied, "Master has gone to Europe to handle some matters."

Wen Yinong pressed on, "When will he be back?"

Uncle Heng shook his head. "Not sure."

Wen Yinong lowered her gaze.

Of course, she knew Mo Shaoshang was busy. That was just how the world worked—the capable bore more burdens. With unimaginable wealth and status, the responsibilities on his shoulders were naturally far heavier than ordinary people's.

But for some reason, after learning that Mo Shaoshang was thousands of miles away with no set return date, her mood couldn't help but sink into low spirits.

A vague, indescribable melancholy. Without reason.

Though she didn't know where this strange emotion came from, Wen Yinong instinctively sensed it was troublesome. So, she threw herself even more intensely into Ari's rehabilitation, filling every moment with work to avoid thinking about things she shouldn't.

Before she knew it, it was Saturday afternoon.

As per the arrangement, Saturday afternoons were Wen Yinong's fixed break time, when Ari would be cared for by the nanny, Uncle Heng, and others.

After lunch, Wen Yinong informed Uncle Heng that she planned to go out in the afternoon.

"Alright," Uncle Heng said with a warm smile. "Please tell me your destination and departure time, Teacher Wen, so I can arrange a car for you."

"No need this time," Wen Yinong quickly waved off with a smile. "I'm just going home. I should be back after dinner, not too late. Taking a cab or the subway is perfectly convenient—no need for a dedicated car."

But Uncle Heng was insistent. His smile remained, but his tone was respectful yet firm: "I'm sorry, Teacher Wen. Master instructed that during your stay at the estate, you must be driven in the estate's car for your safety and convenience. This is his directive, and we cannot change it."

"..."

Seeing Uncle Heng's uncompromising expression, Wen Yinong knew arguing was futile and reluctantly agreed. "...Alright, thank you for the trouble."

Around one in the afternoon, after changing into a comfortable knit dress and coat, Wen Yinong grabbed her bag and went downstairs.

A black Rolls-Royce was already waiting quietly at the main entrance. She settled into the plush back seat, letting the car glide smoothly out of the estate toward the city.

*

It had been over three weeks since Wen Yinong started working at the Mo Estate.

Having been away from home for so long, no sooner had she stepped inside than a round, fluffy white figure meowed and pounced, rubbing affectionately against her ankle.

"Taozi!" Wen Yinong's heart melted at the sight, and her gloomy mood of the past few days vanished instantly.

She bent down, scooped the hefty little cat into her arms, and scratched under its chin. Taozi, in pure bliss, squinted its eyes and let out a contented purr.

A faint sound came from the kitchen.

A familiar figure was busy at the counter—her mother, Shen Yulan.

"Mom," Wen Yinong called sweetly.

Hearing her daughter's voice, Shen Yulan turned around, her face lighting up with joy. She took off her apron, set down her work, and hurried over.

Her eyes swept over her daughter appraisingly, and Shen Yulan beamed. "Well, looks like life with the employer is treating you well. You haven't lost weight—your face seems a bit rounder, and your complexion is good." She reached out and pinched Wen Yinong's cheek affectionately.

Wen Yinong put down Taozi, tilted her head, and nestled into her mother's arms, acting spoiled like she did as a child. "Mom, I haven't seen you all this time—I've missed you both so much."

Shen Yulan was amused, patting her back gently. "If you missed us so much, why haven't you called or video-chatted more often? Every time we call, you say you're busy after just a few words."

"That's because I really am busy," Wen Yinong lifted her head from her mother's arms, eyes wide and a little aggrieved as she defended herself. "Every day, besides teaching the kid, I have to teach his parents too. It's really hard."

"Alright, alright, my precious girl works the hardest." Shen Yulan was charmed by her daughter's cute pout and took her hand, leading her to the kitchen. "Come on, wash your hands first. I've got your favorite strawberries and cherries washed for you."

As the saying goes, gold and silver homes can't compare to one's own humble nest. The Mo Estate was grand and luxurious, but it was someone else's home—full of distance and unspoken rules. Nothing beat the warmth and freedom of being at home.

After washing her hands, Wen Yinong flopped onto the sofa without any pretense, grabbed a strawberry from the bowl her mother had prepared, and popped it into her mouth.

The sweet juice burst in her mouth, bringing a wave of happiness.

As she ate, she turned her head to look around and asked suspiciously, "Hey, Mom, where's Dad? Is he working overtime at the office again today?"

"No," Shen Yulan said, carrying a fruit plate over to the coffee table. "You love fish, so I sent your dad to the seafood market. We're having fish hotpot tonight to give you a proper treat."

"Great!" Wen Yinong responded happily.

The mother and daughter chatted at home for a while. Around three in the afternoon, Shen Yulan wanted to go to the nearby supermarket for more hotpot ingredients and snacks, and Wen Yinong happily joined.

The weekend supermarket was bustling and crowded, full of lively, earthy energy.

In such a down-to-earth setting, Wen Yinong almost felt as if the isolated life at the Mo Estate was nothing more than an unreal dream.

While browsing the vegetable section with her mother, a male voice suddenly sounded in Wen Yinong's ear, tentative: "Excuse me? Are you... Miss Wen Yinong?"

Wen Yinong turned around.

The speaker was a tall, upright young man with slightly curly black hair, sharply defined features, a high nose bridge, and beautiful light brown eyes—a textbook handsome Latino guy. He was now smiling brightly at her, his eyes sparkling with surprise and a hint of uncertainty.

That face... looked very familiar.

Wen Yinong quickly searched her memory and recalled: She had met him at the banquet at the Dome Club when she accompanied Mo Shaoshang—the French acquaintance from that event.

"Mr. Sebastian?" Wen Yinong's eyes widened in surprise too.

"Yes, it's me!" Sebastian, thrilled that she recognized him, grew even more animated. His light brown eyes glittered as if filled with stars. "I didn't think Miss Wen would still remember me. I'm so happy."

He paused, glanced at Wen Yinong's shopping cart, and asked, "So Miss Wen is shopping too?"

"Yeah," Wen Yinong replied with a friendly smile. "I'm here with my mom to buy groceries." She gestured beside her.

Just then, Shen Yulan noticed the foreign boy who had suddenly appeared and walked over, asking Wen Yinong softly, "Nongnong, is this a friend of yours?"

"Oh, Mom, let me introduce you." Wen Yinong pulled her mother over and said with a smile, "This is Sebastian, a French friend I met at an event before." After introducing him, she turned to Sebastian and said gracefully, "And this is my mom."

The moment the words left her mouth, Sebastian seemed both excited and a little flustered.

He quickly extended his right hand, greeting Shen Yulan with a standard Chinese gesture, respectful and enthusiastic: "Hello, ma'am. I'm Sebastian. It's a pleasure to meet you. You look so young—standing with Miss Wen, you two look like sisters."

Shen Yulan was a bit taken aback but smiled kindly and shook his hand. "Hello, hello."

Sebastian had always felt a fondness for Wen Yinong, and running into her like this, he naturally wouldn't miss the chance to get closer.

His mind racing, he then made a suggestion, his tone sincere with a hint of plea: "Ma'am, I'd like to buy some vegetables too, but I'm not very good at picking them. You look like you really know your stuff—could you help me out?"

The comment made Shen Yulan chuckle. "You foreign lads sure have a sweet tongue. Alright, since we're shopping anyway, I'll teach you how to pick vegetables. You'll get the freshest ones!"

"Thank you, ma'am!"

Wen Yinong: “...”

Looking at the two who had come to an agreement, Wen Yinong didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and had no choice but to tag along with this newly formed “shopping buddy group.”

So, the three of them set off together.

True to his Latin roots, Sebastian was naturally warm and outgoing, witty and chatty, cracking jokes along the way, asking Shen Yulan about the names and cooking methods of various vegetables, and sharing amusing stories from his time in China, keeping Shen Yulan smiling from ear to ear.

Wen Yinong initially felt it was a bit odd to go grocery shopping with a newfound friend, but seeing her mother so happy and Sebastian sincere, polite, and friendly, she gradually relaxed, quietly kept them company, and focused on her shopping.

By the time they left the supermarket, it was nearly five in the afternoon, and it was getting dark.

Seeing that the mother and daughter had bought a lot, Sebastian immediately made a gentlemanly gesture, taking a few big bags and insisting on seeing them home.

Wen Yinong couldn’t refuse, so she gratefully accepted, since they really had bought a lot.

Chatting along the way, they soon approached the neighborhood.

Seeing they were almost at the community entrance, Wen Yinong stopped and said sincerely to Sebastian, “Alright, alright, you can send us here. Thank you so much for going out of your way!”

“It’s no trouble at all, Miss Wen. Please don’t be so formal.” Sebastian’s smile was bright, his bright teeth stood out. After a moment’s thought, he added, his eyes hopeful, “Are you sure you don’t want me to help carry them upstairs? I can take them to your doorstep.”

“No need.” Wen Yinong waved her hand with a smile. “We’ll take the elevator; it’s very convenient and not tiring. We’ve already troubled you enough today.”

“Alright.” A flicker of disappointment passed through Sebastian’s eyes, but he quickly recovered his smile. “Then, Miss Wen, Auntie, goodbye! I hope we can meet again.”

“Goodbye, and thank you, Xiao Sai.” Shen Yulan also smiled and bid farewell.

After thanking him and saying goodbye, Wen Yinong took the plastic bags from Sebastian and walked toward the community gate with her mother.

The sun was dipping lower, and the sky was filled with beautiful sunset colors.

Carrying their shopping, the mother and daughter strolled leisurely along the neighborhood path.

At that moment, Shen Yulan turned back and glanced in the direction Sebastian had left, then leaned closer to her daughter and lowered her voice, “Nongnong, what do you think of that foreign guy?”

“Sebastian?” Wen Yinong, already looking forward to the fish hot pot for dinner, replied casually, “He’s fine.”

“Mom thinks so too. Even though he’s a foreigner, he likes Chinese culture, speaks Chinese pretty well, and I heard he has a good job. He’s warm, cheerful, lively, and looks fit…” Shen Yulan paused, then added with a nosy, gossipy tone, “Does he like you?”

“Mom.” Wen Yinong found it amusing, interrupting her mother’s wild imagination. “Where did that come from? Don’t be ridiculous.”

Seeing her daughter’s speechless expression, Shen Yulan cleared her throat and said, “Okay, okay, Mom won’t talk nonsense. But you know, having more friends opens more doors. It’s always good for young people to interact more…”

Wen Yinong smiled helplessly and didn’t respond.

The setting sun gradually stretched the shadows of the mother and daughter until they disappeared at the entrance of their apartment building.

Across the street.

Under the dense shade of a tree, a pure black Rolls-Royce looked completely out of place.

Driver Chen Jin sat in the driver’s seat, having witnessed the scene. Recalling Uncle Heng’s instructions before departure, he thought for a moment, took out his phone, typed out a text, and hit send.

*

Eating fish hot pot, listening to her parents’ chatter, Wen Yinong felt happy and content, as if completely refreshed and healed. After dinner, she watched some TV with her parents and reluctantly said goodbye when it was almost nine.

She got into the car waiting outside the community and returned to the Mo Manor.

The manor at night was shrouded in a silent darkness. From afar, only a few lights in the main building flickered, like the eyes of a giant beast quietly opening in the shadow of the mountains. The autumn wind rustled through the treetops, bringing a rustling whisper, swirling a few withered leaves through the air before they silently fell.

A night rain was coming, thick clouds churning, the air filled with a heavy, damp stillness that felt oppressive.

The Rolls-Royce entered the manor gates and came to a stop.

“Thanks for the trouble.” After thanking Chen Jin, Wen Yinong opened the door and got out.

The manor at night felt even more empty and silent than during the day, with only the tap of her shoes on the stone steps.

Wen Yinong headed toward the staircase to the third floor, when a voice stopped her.

“Teacher Wen.”

Wen Yinong stopped and turned around. It was Lin Ke. Dressed in a suit, he appeared from somewhere, a smile on his handsome face that held a certain aloofness.

“What is it, Assistant Lin?” Wen Yinong smiled and asked.

Lin Ke lowered his gaze slightly and said casually, “Teacher Wen, Mr. Mo has been waiting for you for a while.”

Hm?

Wen Yinong’s eyes widened a bit, a flicker of joy she didn’t notice spreading in her heart as she blurted out, “Mr. Mo is back?”

“Yes,” Lin Ke nodded.

“So where is he now?” Wen Yinong asked.

Lin Ke replied, “The wine cellar.”

The wine cellar? What kind of place was that?

Wen Yinong looked puzzled.

“Please follow me.” Lin Ke made a guiding gesture, elegant and refined, then without waiting for a response, he turned and led the way.

Though curious, Wen Yinong didn’t ask much and quietly followed.

She saw Lin Ke not go upstairs but walk through a corridor on the first floor that she rarely set foot in, to a hidden door, which he then pushed open.

Wen Yinong glanced inside; it was a spiral staircase leading downward, with dark carpeting and dim lighting.

“Mr. Mo is inside,” Lin Ke stopped at the entrance and said with a smile. “Teacher Wen, please go in on your own.”

With that, before Wen Yinong could respond, Lin Ke, as if seized by a strong sense of dread, lowered his eyes and silently turned away.

The sound of his footsteps faded.

Watching Lin Ke’s retreating back, Wen Yinong felt puzzled and uncertain, hesitating to step forward.

Though this place was also part of the Mo Manor, she had never been here before… And this passage was so deep, seemingly endless.

Why would Mr. Mo wait for her here?

…No use overthinking.

She should just go and meet him.

Perhaps he had something urgent to tell her, maybe related to Ari…

After pondering for a few seconds, Wen Yinong finally puffed her cheeks, let out a breath, steadied her nerves, and took a step down the stairs.

Walking down the spiral staircase, after seeing the interior of this underground cellar, she was taken aback.

She'd been at the Mo Estate for so long, she had never known that beneath the main building lay such a vast wine cellar.

The cellar covered an extensive area, seeming to stretch on forever. Tall dark wooden wine racks stood in neat, dense rows, magnificent in their arrangement, displaying countless bottles of various wines, their glass bodies glinting dimly under the faint light.

The air was thick with a rich aroma—a blend of oak barrels and aged wine that seemed to intoxicate with just a few breaths. The lighting came mainly from a few spotlights on the walls, casting down to focus on the racks and specific areas, leaving most of the space shrouded in dim shadows.

At the deepest part of the cellar, there was a half-open solid wood door.

Wen Yinong craned her neck, weaving through the narrow aisles between the racks, her gaze sweeping over the impressive scale of the wine collection, her steps light.

The deeper she went, the stronger the wine aroma became, making her head spin and her heart beat faster.

Lin Ke had said that Mo Shaoshang was waiting for her here.

But where was he?

Wen Yinong pondered, her gaze involuntarily drifting toward that door.

Was he in there?

After a few seconds, she took a deep breath, approached the door, gently pushed it open, and stepped in.

This room was a stark contrast to the wine cellar outside.

It looked like an art studio.

The lighting was even dimmer, focusing only in the center of the room. A massive easel stood there, holding a large sheet of drawing paper. Under the faint light, she could see abstract, twisted, chaotic lines on the paper, their colors dark, exuding a sense of oppression and frenzy.

The air, besides the wine aroma, was mixed with the distinct smell of turpentine and paint.

The paint on the palette nearby was still wet, and several brushes were casually placed, suggesting the artist had just stepped away.

Or perhaps... had not left at all.

"Mr. Mo?" Wen Yinong tried to call out softly, her voice echoed in the empty studio.

Silence followed.

Then, from within the silence, a barely audible sigh came, as if from the room's deepest shadows.

Wen Yinong started, instinctively turning around.

A tall, imposing figure sauntered out from that dense darkness.

The man wore a black shirt, its collar slightly open, the black snake tattoo on his chest partially visible. A few strands of disheveled hair fell across his forehead, partially shading his stern brows and eyes. He held a wine glass, its dark red liquid swirling in the crystal.

His blue-black eyes stared straight at her, giving off a decadent, dark beauty, like a piece of art about to shatter—intensely aggressive, perilously dangerous.

"..."

Recognizing Mo Shaoshang, Wen Yinong swallowed dryly, forcing herself to stay calm, and called softly, "Mr. Mo."

Mo Shaoshang looked at her without a word. He strode over until he was just half a step away, then stopped and leaned in close, the rich smell of alcohol mingled with his cool breath hit her flushed nose.

"Little Teacher Wen."

He called her by that name, his voice gentle, tender and intimate, as if tinged with slight intoxication, murmuring, "You're beautiful, kind, smart, gentle, a top-notch professional, and amazingly perfect."

"But why does Teacher Wen always have to make me worry?"