Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Mo Shaoshang spoke in a casual tone, as if he were merely discussing the weather, but it sent Wen Yinong into a sudden panic, making her cheeks and ears burn.

"No..." Her eyelashes fluttered for a moment as she lowered her gaze and murmured defensively, "It's nothing. I was just asking casually."

Mo Shaoshang sat across the table, still staring straight at Wen Yinong.

In his line of sight, her cheeks were flushed, her earlobes pink, and beneath her lashes, her clear dark eyes were a mix of panic and guilt, like a fawn whose tail had been accidentally stepped on.

She quickly stuffed a mouthful of cake into her mouth, then unconsciously raised a hand to rub her earlobe.

Mo Shaoshang's gaze behind his glasses sharpened slightly.

After several days of acquaintance, he had become familiar with many of her habits.

Rubbing her earlobe was a habitual gesture of this young woman, often appearing when she was nervous and uneasy.

Clearly, she was very tense now.

Because she was trying to cover up.

It was unusually endearing, bringing a feeling like a feather gently brushing against his heart.

Mo Shaoshang subtly curved his lips, placed the silver butter knife back on the table, and the blade accidentally clinked against the edge of the bone-china plate, producing a very soft "ding," the sound subtle yet crisp.

Wen Yinong's heart raced even faster.

She could only pick up her juice glass and take a light sip.

The cool liquid slid down her throat, finally calming the flames of embarrassment inside her.

A moment later, after finishing the juice, Wen Yinong collected herself a bit, then took a deep breath, cleared her throat, and composed herself to speak: "Sorry, it's too warm in here. I think I'm a bit foggy-headed, not thinking clearly..."

She paused, then added, "That question was indeed a bit out of line. Mr. Mo, if you're not comfortable answering, just pretend I never asked."

Wen Yinong regretted it now.

It was true, she was curious.

Curious about who "Miss Qiao" was, and what her relationship was with Mo Shaoshang.

But curiosity was one thing; she had no right to demand that her employer satisfy her curiosity.

It was too out of line.

Wen Yinong originally thought that by sincerely apologizing, the topic of "Miss Qiao" would end there. But to her surprise, the next second, the stern man sitting across from her suddenly spoke up and said something like this.

"The Qiao family elder and my grandfather are old friends, with close ties." Mo Shaoshang casually picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth, saying calmly.

This response left Wen Yinong stunned.

She hadn't expected him to actually answer her. Surprised, she instinctively lifted her eyes to look at him.

Mo Shaoshang: "If my judgment is correct, the 'Miss Qiao' you mentioned would be Qiao Mingyi, the granddaughter of Elder Qiao."

Wen Yinong more or less understood.

Elder Qiao and Mo Shaoshang's grandfather were good friends; with the two elders close, it was highly likely the children from both families grew up playing together...

Childhood sweethearts?

Wen Yinong blinked, saying nothing, her mind involuntarily beginning to imagine.

Mo Shaoshang watched her, his blue-black eyes like two deep seas, and added, "Miss Qiao and I have very little personal interaction. Last time I lent her my business jet was only out of obligation due to the relationship between the two elders."

Meeting those eyes as deep as twilight, Wen Yinong's heartbeat suddenly quickened a few beats. After a moment, she pursed her lips and said softly, "I shouldn't have asked that question in the first place. I already told you that you didn't need to answer. You don't need to explain that much to me."

Mo Shaoshang said, "It's necessary."

Wen Yinong froze, a confused look in her eyes.

Mo Shaoshang stared at her, adding, "I don't want you to misunderstand."

"..."

Wen Yinong sometimes wished she could have a thicker skin.

Otherwise, she wouldn't always be flustered and blushing just by his casual remarks.

The enclosed cabin was heated, the warmth intensifying molecular motion, and the scent of floral fragrance in the air was becoming more pronounced, wisps drifting into her nose, making her mind fuzzy and dizzy.

In this charged atmosphere, Wen Yinong's head felt heavy, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.

Not knowing what to say, she decided it was better to say nothing.

So Wen Yinong forced a smile and said, "Mr. Mo, please take your time. I'll go to the restroom."

With that, she stood up to escape.

But fate seemed determined to play a trick on Wen Yinong.

During her meal, the plane had been as steady as a floating castle. Yet just as she stood up and passed by Mo Shaoshang, it was as if a giant had stepped into a void in the clouds, and the entire aircraft suddenly lurched downward.

Caught off guard, Wen Yinong let out a short, startled cry, stumbled, and saw the world around her begin to tilt and spin.

She fell off balance.

But she didn't hit the cold cabin wall, nor did she fall onto the carpet.

At the critical moment, her wrist was seized by five long, strong fingers, and then her whole body was gently pulled by that force, falling into a warm embrace.

Time seemed stretched by the violent jolt, and her senses heightened.

The cashmere shawl on her shoulder had slipped off at some point, and under her evening gown, a large expanse of bare, snow-white back was exposed, pressing without reservation against the man's cold, stiff suit.

Her skin was warm from the cabin heat.

The moment her back touched him, Wen Yinong shuddered.

Then she felt a man's arm wrap around her slender waist, holding her firmly, while the other cradled the back of her head, his palm warm.

The violent jolt continued unabated.

The roar filled Wen Yinong's eardrums, but at that moment, in that small space, his embrace was the calm eye of the storm that stirred up huge waves.

So close…

This was far too intimate.

She was sitting on his lap, held in his arms, completely possessive in his embrace.

Her hair was slightly tousled, her forehead pressed against his angular jaw during the turbulence. The tip of her nose almost touched his Windsor knot, and a cold scent, mingling the faint aroma of rime and his body heat, enveloped her.

She could feel the tightness in his arm muscles and clearly hear his heartbeat, steady and powerful, rhythmic.

A stark contrast to her own racing, chaotic heartbeat.

Wen Yinong slowly lifted her face.

Affected by the turbulence, the cabin lights flickered, casting shifting shadows over the man's deep-set eyes and brows.

Mo Shaoshang dropped his gaze, watching her calmly, his blue-black eyes mirroring her flustered face.

The jolts kept coming, one after another, and the overhead lights flickered wildly.

Then, in the next instant, they died completely.

In an instant, the entire space plunged into darkness.

...

This bout of rough air was just a minor episode during the flight. In a few minutes, the cabin lit up again.

Power was restored.

Once this wave of turbulence passed, the lead flight attendant hurried quickly to the dining area, her heels muffled by the thick carpet.

She reached the entrance of the dining area, pressed the call bell, and then waited patiently.

After a long moment, a man's voice came from inside, low and casual, betraying nothing unusual: "Come in."

Marry took a deep breath and stepped inside.

"Mr. Mo, Miss Wen." Marry said, her tone apologetic and reassuring, with a smile. "Please don't worry. The plane just encountered some turbulence, and the main lighting circuit in the dining area has a slight connection issue. We'll fix it once we reach stable cruising altitude. Currently, backup lighting has been activated. I hope it hasn't caused too much inconvenience for you both."

Mo Shaoshang showed no reaction, merely nodding faintly: "Mm."

Seeing that the big boss had no intention of scolding her, Marry felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders. She exhaled silently, then bent down and quietly began clearing the table in front of them.

As she tidied, something caught her eye.

"Huh?" Marry's eyes widened slightly, her hands stilling. Then she frowned gently and asked with concern, "Miss Wen, why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell?"

As her words fell, the blushing girl in front of her stiffened noticeably, stammered, "I'm fine, thanks for asking," then stood up, wrapped her shawl tight and hurried down the corridor.

Entering the restroom, she closed the door and locked it with a click.

Marry watched that delicate back as she all but fled, still a bit uneasy.

After thinking a moment, she turned to look at the man at the head of the table, choosing her words and asking carefully: "Mr. Mo, is Miss Wen alright? Should I ask Dr. Cheng to come and check on her?"

Their boss was looking down, scanning the proposal in his hand.

To Marry's surprise, after hearing her words, her boss actually curved his lips into a hint of a smile, and said: "Probably not needed."

Soon, Marry finished clearing the dishes and left the dining area.

While getting a drink of water, she happened to run into Linda, who came to report on the circuit issue.

"Marry, I've already checked it. It's just a loose connection, nothing major," Linda reported.

"Mm, as long as there's no problem." Marry set her water glass back in the cabinet, then, recalling something, added casually as an instruction, "I saw Miss Wen's face very red earlier, like she might have heatstroke. Keep an eye on her. If she feels any discomfort, go and call Dr. Cheng."

"Heatstroke?" Linda scratched her head thoughtfully, frowning and muttering, "Can't be, in this weather… even with the heat on, it shouldn't be that hot."

Marry: "Just a guess. Be extra observant."

Linda nodded: "Mm, okay, got it."

Marry looked at this new girl, remembering how she'd spoken out of turn earlier, and lowered her voice again, warning seriously: "Be careful how you serve. Say what needs to be said, and don't say a single word that shouldn't be said."

Marry's voice grew deeper, with a stronger warning: "Remember, Mr. Mo is not someone we can afford to offend."

Seeing the gravity in her eyes, Linda was startled and nodded vigorously, saying: "Marry, don't worry, I'll watch my mouth from now on!"

Hearing this, Marry relaxed a little. She patted her chest, still shaken, and said, "You don't know how scared I was just now. If we upset Miss Wen and Mr. Mo holds us responsible, the whole crew will be in deep trouble."

Linda muttered softly: "Is it really that serious? Is Miss Wen his real girlfriend?"

Marry glared at her.

Linda gave a dry cough and said obediently: "Got it. No saying things I shouldn't, no asking nosy questions."

"I heard that at this Nanjin auction, all the top-tier VIPs are attending. Do you know how exclusive an event like this is?" Marry switched to a mysterious tone, chatting with Linda. "For Mr. Mo to bring Miss Wen along shows how important she is to him."

After thinking for a moment, Linda nodded: "Indeed."

*

Inside the restroom.

Wen Yinong locked the door behind her and leaned against it, almost completely drained.

Her heart pounded like a drum, each beat hammering against her eardrums, making her dizzy.

She lifted her head and looked at herself in the mirror.

The girl in the mirror had rosy cheeks, and her eyes shimmered with a pool of spring water, moist, as if she had just been bathed in a spring rain.

After a few seconds, Wen Yinong took a difficult breath, raised her hand slightly, and removed her cashmere shawl.

The soft fabric slid down her arm, piling up on the edge of the sink.

The deep blue gown clung to her body like seawater, tracing the graceful and alluring curves.

Wen Yinong's gaze slowly moved down, landing on her collarbone.

There, a bright red mark was strikingly visible,

like a blooming poppy, or a blazing flame, branded on her fair skin.

Seemingly unconsciously, Wen Yinong gently touched the mark with her fingertip. A faint sting surged, instantly pulling her thoughts back to moments ago.

The turbulence had knocked out the plane's lighting circuit.

During the few minutes of blackout, she was held on Mo Shaoshang's lap, pressed against his chest.

The moment her vision went dark, he suddenly acted.

A man's large hand slowly moved up her spine, his calloused palm sliding over bare skin and the butterfly-shaped bone of her shoulder blade, finally gripping the back of her neck.

Like a predator seizing the throat of its prey.

The motion was not rough, even gentle, yet it was laced with a commanding dominance that brooked no defiance.

Wen Yinong's lips moved, but before a sound could escape, the man's other hand cupped her small face, tilting it upward to meet his.

In the utter darkness, she couldn't see a thing, yet she felt his breath closing in with unmistakable clarity.

“You’re always seducing me,” Mo Shaoshang murmured, his voice soft as a sigh, warm breath spilling against her collarbone as if in a dream. “Why?”

“…” Wen Yinong wanted to say something, but all words were shattered by a sudden kiss.

His lips pressed down.

Touching her skin.

At first, it was a tender brush, like the brush of a feather.

Delicate. Tentative. Lingering.

Wen Yinong shivered, her hands pressing against his chest, but she could muster no strength.

She could only endure the warmth and softness of his lips, moving with the exquisite patience of a predator on the hunt, tracing and exploring the skin of her collarbone.

“Mr. Mo…” she managed to utter, her tone trembling like a butterfly's wings.

Mo Shaoshang did not respond, but the kiss transformed.

He parted his lips.

His teeth grazed her collarbone lightly.

It didn’t hurt at all—instead, a spine-tingling sensation spread through her.

Like a weak electric current shooting through her veins, racing through every inch of her body.

In the enveloping darkness, Wen Yinong's breathing grew erratic.

Darkness erased sight, leaving hearing and touch to reign: she heard his low, heavy breaths.

She felt the wet trail his tongue left as it swept across her skin.

She sensed the pressure of the webbing of his thumb against her jaw.

Just as Wen Yinong was about to be engulfed by the darkness and this tide of senses, the kiss on her collarbone suddenly grew fierce.

No longer satisfied with a light touch, he began to claim the skin more deeply.

With lips, teeth, tongue, the pressure increased, bringing a tingling pain that verged on itchy.

Wen Yinong's whole body burned as if on fire. She bit her lower lip, struggling to suppress any sound.

But her body betrayed her will to resist.

A strange thirst awakened within her, like a flower blooming in the dark, alluring and dangerous.

Until, at some point, the lights blazed back to life, and the world regained color and form.

Mo Shaoshang's lips left her skin, and his grip slowly relaxed.

Wen Yinong came back to herself, the corners of her eyes flushed red, her misty eyes took a moment to refocus and clear up.

She staggered away from him as if fleeing, grabbing the shawl to cover her collarbone…

The memory cut off.

In the washroom, Wen Yinong raised a hand to her burning cheek, a sense of chagrin washing over her.

She clearly remembered that after breaking free from Mo Shaoshang's embrace, she had turned back to glance at him.

A strange thought had crossed her mind at that moment.

She had thought that in those seconds of passion, she was so disheveled—he couldn't have looked much better.

She had wanted to see him lost and out of control.

But it wasn't so.

Everything in the cabin was orderly. The man sitting before her was impeccably dressed, noble and aloof, his expression already back to its usual calm and self-possession.

As if that transgression in the dark had been her illusion…

How could this man be so fake?

One moment he was mauling her like a rabid dog, the next, he was cool and collected as if nothing had happened.

How could he be so mean?

Wen Yinong was both angry and embarrassed. After a while, she shook her head to clear the thoughts, turned on the tap, and splashed a little water on her face.

The evaporating water droplets carried away some of the heat.

Her face finally cooled down a bit.

Wen Yinong took a deep breath and let it out, then looked at the mirror again.

She thought she must take revenge on him. For instance, simply quit on him, tell him she wouldn't go to the auction—she didn't want to help a man who just bit her collarbone.

She should just curse him out and walk away.

But as soon as the thought came up, Wen Yinong dismissed it.

Better not.

He was her employer, her boss, and she was still on his private jet. If she cursed him out, what if he threw her off the plane in a fit?

So frustrating.

When you're under someone else's roof, you gotta bow. For now, just get through tonight, and figure things out when she's safely back in Jinggang.

With that in mind, she steeled herself again, settling her nerves, and pulled open the washroom door to step out.

But as she turned, a tall, dark shadow loomed over her.

Mo Shaoshang stood in the hallway between the washroom and the dining area, leaning against the wall, eyes lowered, staring at her with an unreadable expression.

Wen Yinong was startled but didn't show it. Thinking he wanted to use the washroom, she lowered her head, lifting the hem of her dress, and prepared to step around him.

Just as she took two steps, he said casually, a question in his tone.

“Does it hurt?”

Wen Yinong looked back in confusion. “What hurts?”

Mo Shaoshang looked at her and said flatly, “I kissed you pretty hard. It might have left a mark.”