Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Wen Yinong had never expected Mo Shaoshang to say such a thing.

He had kissed her so hard.

How could he say such bold, scandalous words with a straight face?

For a moment, Wen Yinong's mind buzzed, as if she saw her employer's icy moon persona in her heart starting to waver and crack.

Wen Yinong was both shocked and embarrassed, standing still without moving or responding.

Across from her.

Seeing that she remained silent, Mo Shaoshang did not press. He still leaned against the cabin wall, staring straight at her.

Their gazes met in midair.

In the narrow aisle, the air felt thick with his presence, oppressive and heavy.

Less than half a meter apart, she could clearly see the blue-black ocean in his eyes, with a fierce focus and possessiveness lurking beneath the calm surface.

Under that gaze, the blunt, almost intimate words of concern echoed in her mind.

After barely two seconds of eye contact, Wen Yinong felt a tingling sensation crawl up her ears, as if brushed by a kitten's tail. Her heart skipped a beat, and her breathing became erratic.

She lowered her lashes, her fingers unconsciously gripping the tassels of her shawl.

Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest. After a moment, Wen Yinong took a couple of deep breaths, finally calming some of her panic, and forced herself to mumble a vague reply: "It's a little bit... but it's okay."

Hearing this, Mo Shaoshang's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He stepped forward, his cold presence instantly enveloping her: "Let me take a look."

"No need..."

Wen Yinong instinctively stepped back, flustered, wrapping herself tighter with the cashmere shawl.

Under the shawl, the skin on her collarbone where he had kissed still burned faintly, constantly reminding her of the intimate moment that had gotten out of control.

Mo Shaoshang's blue-black eyes did not waver. His calm tone held a hint of disarming concern: "There's a private doctor on board. If the pain persists, we can have him take a look."

Hearing this, Wen Yinong almost choked.

A doctor to treat hickeys?

What an absurd suggestion—only a shameless man like him could say something like that.

She cursed inwardly, shaking her head vigorously, refusing in a jumble of words: "No, really no need... I appreciate your kind offer, but I'm fine."

The young therapist's panic showed—her eyes darted around, even the tips of her ears flushed pink.

Mo Shaoshang stared straight at her, his brows lifting slightly, saying nothing.

Wen Yinong gently bit her lip.

She wanted to leave directly, but the aisle on the plane was already narrow, and Mo Shaoshang stood in the only passage to the main cabin, his tall and straight figure like a cold fir tree from the arctic, taking up almost all the space.

She was trapped, unable to leave.

Like a poor little insect caught in an invisible web.

The surrounding air grew even more tense, thinner.

Then, fortunately and suddenly, light footsteps approached from the corridor, breaking the tense silence in the aisle.

It was the head flight attendant, Marry, walking slowly from the end of the corridor.

The plane had begun its descent. Marry was making her routine rounds to remind about landing procedures.

When she approached and saw Mo Shaoshang and Wen Yinong, Marry paused, her steps faltering for a moment. But her surprise lasted only an instant. Soon, understanding dawned in her eyes, and her face returned to its usual gentle composure.

Marry said nothing more, lowering her eyes politely and smiling: "Sir, Miss Wen, the plane is starting its descent. For your safety, please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts."

Marry's appearance broke the deadlock.

The stagnant air began to move again. Wen Yinong let out a silent sigh, forcing herself to ignore the burning gaze fixed on her. She forced a smile and replied to Marry: "Okay."

With that, as if nothing had happened, she straightened her hair and adjusted her shawl, and steeled herself to brush past him, returning to the rest area.

The light music in the cabin had softened to a more soothing tune.

Wen Yinong's cheeks were hot, and her heart still pounded uncontrollably, the music doing nothing to soothe her. She sat down on the leather seat, about to flip through a magazine to distract herself, when the seat beside her dipped slightly.

At the same time, the familiar scent of frosty pine swept over her.

Someone sat down beside her.

Wen Yinong's body stiffened. She held her breath, deliberately avoiding looking or listening, focusing on fastening her own seatbelt.

But even without sound or movement beside her, his presence and oppressive aura were still impossible to ignore.

It wormed its way into her nerves, thread by thread.

The metal seatbelt buckle was cold and slippery, constantly slipping between her fingers.

Wen Yinong tried repeatedly, but the buckle seemed to be working against her, sliding out several times, refusing to click in.

But the more anxious she got, the more her fingers fumbled.

The plane had already started descending, and she still hadn't fastened her seatbelt. Wen Yinong grew even more flustered, a thin sheen of sweat on her forehead.

Just then, the figure beside her suddenly leaned in.

Wen Yinong's eyes flickered. Before she could react, that crisp, cold fragrance of snow-covered pines and frozen seas completely enveloped her.

Mo Shaoshang leaned over, his arm reaching across her body, taking the uncooperative metal buckle from her hand.

In that brief moment, his slender fingertips brushed across the back of her hand, sending a shiver through her.

Wen Yinong's heart lurched. She instinctively looked up.

He was very close, close enough for her to see the thick lashes behind his glasses and the faint shadows they cast on his face. Close enough for his warm breath to gently brush her earlobe, his stiff suit fabric brushing against the bare skin of her arm.

The whole process took only a few seconds, yet it felt like an eternity.

With a click, the seatbelt fastened securely.

Mo Shaoshang slowly sat upright, but his gaze still remained fixed on her, his deep, unfathomable eyes.

The suffocating closeness was finally broken, and Wen Yinong felt as if given a reprieve. It took her a moment to whisper three words: "Thank you."

At that, Mo Shaoshang gave a faint, casual smile. "You're welcome."

*

About half an hour later, the flight ended.

The "Cloud Eagle" business jet landed smoothly on the runway of Nanjin International Airport.

As the cabin door opened, the evening breeze swept in, carrying the unique humidity and coolness of the coastal city, dispersing the awkward, heated atmosphere inside the cabin.

On the tarmac nearby, a black Rolls-Royce Ghost awaited, its body gleaming like a mirror, reflecting the bright airport lights.

Lin Ke had already gone ahead to quickly coordinate with ground staff.

Wen Yinong followed Mo Shaoshang down the airstairs. The chilly night air cleared her mind somewhat. She shook her head, pushing down the turmoil in her chest, and got into the car.

The car interior was filled with a mix of top-grade leather and a faint cigar scent. The interior was spacious, quiet, and secluded.

After Lin Ke also got in, the driver started the engine.

The car slowly drove away from the airport, soon swallowed by the dense night.

It was very quiet inside; no one spoke for a long time.

Wen Yinong quietly glanced sideways at the man beside her.

Mo Shaoshang was holding a document that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. He was looking down, expressionless, reviewing it, looking like a busy executive with no intention of talking to her.

Wen Yinong was grateful for the silence.

She let out a silent sigh, then turned her head to admire the unfamiliar scenery outside the window.

The international airport was built on the outskirts of Nanjin. The city was clearly well-vegetated; even at night, one could vaguely see the deep outlines of large green spaces. Lights from scattered villa complexes nestled among lush trees; occasional artificial lakes shimmered with silver under the moonlight.

As the car entered the city, the scenery gradually changed: skyscrapers towered, their glass curtain walls transforming into cascades of light, flowing with colorful neon. The streets were clean and wide, bustling with traffic. The flagship luxury stores had brightly lit windows, like exquisite amber display cases.

This was Nanjin, one of the country's most prosperous international metropolises, synonymous with extravagance.

As Wen Yinong was lost in thought, gazing at the sea of lights, her eyes suddenly locked onto a distant building.

It was a towering skyscraper, not of traditional square shape, but spiraling upward in a streamlined form, like a frozen silver storm, with a futuristic, sci-fi feel. The building's exterior seemed not to be ordinary glass; the light effects shifted continuously, sometimes gentle like rippling water, sometimes as dazzling as the aurora.

Among the brightly lit buildings, it looked like a living piece of art, magnificent, grand, and uniquely captivating.

Drawn by this architectural marvel, Wen Yinong quickly took out her phone from her bag, pointed it at the window, adjusted the angle, and tapped the shutter button.

Looking at the frozen image on the screen, she couldn't help exclaiming, "That building is so beautiful, its design looks really special."

In the passenger seat, hearing this, Lin Ke turned and followed Wen Yinong's gaze, then smiled and said, "Miss Wen has good taste. That's the Nanjin branch building of the Mo Group."

"Nanjin branch?" Wen Yinong was startled, confused. "Which Mo?"

Lin Ke smiled gently and replied, "There are many people with the surname Mo in the world, but there's only one 'Mo Family'." Pausing, he looked at the shimmering building and added, putting it more simply, "In short, this building you find so beautiful is Mr. Mo's property."

Wen Yinong was astonished. "Really?"

"Of course it's true," Lin Ke said with certainty. "When the Nanjin branch building was constructed, Mr. Mo not only personally chose the location and investment but was also deeply involved in the concept design. The spiral structure, the intelligent light curtain wall—these initial ideas were all proposed by him. After completion, this building even won the International Future Architecture and Sustainable Design Golden Ring Award."

Wen Yinong was speechless. She looked back at the magnificent building standing in the night.

She knew her employer came from a distinguished background, could paint, cook steak, and make wine, and had many talents. But business magnate and architectural design...

That was too much of a stretch, beyond her imagination.

A mix of shock and admiration welled up in her. Almost unconsciously, she murmured to herself, "He's so versatile, so impressive."

The words had barely left her mouth when a low voice broke the car's silence.

The voice said calmly, "Thank you, Miss Wen, for the compliment."

"..." Wen Yinong snapped back to reality.

Realizing her admiration had been heard by the man himself, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She coughed lightly, then turned her head back to the window, falling silent.

At that moment, the building changed its light display, and the smart curtain wall showed an abstract giant eagle.

It stood high above, overlooking the entire bustling city of Nanjin, silently proclaiming the influence of this vast business empire.

The dazzling nightscape continued to recede outside the window.

Something occurred to Wen Yinong, and she glanced sideways again at the man beside her.

Mo Shaoshang's attention had returned to the document in his hand. The chain of his gold-rimmed glasses hung at his cheek. He looked handsome, noble, calm, yet with a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.

In fact, he wasn't much older than her, still quite young.

To have to manage such a huge business empire at such a young age must be tough, right? Plus, Aunt Zhang had mentioned that Mo Shaoshang had long suffered from headaches and poor sleep...

Wen Yinong frowned slightly.

Something in her heart softened, and a strange, almost tender emotion brushed over her gently.

Shortly after, the car slowed down and approached the entrance of a top hotel in the city center.

The hotel building was magnificent, blending classical and modern styles. A huge crystal chandelier illuminated the porch as bright as daylight. Steps covered with dark red carpet extended to the revolving glass doors. Uniformed doormen stood at attention, poised and meticulous.

*

The Rolls-Royce came to a stop. Lin Ke got out first and opened the rear door, his expression respectful.

A long, straight leg in impeccably tailored trousers stepped onto the immaculate red carpet.

Mo Shaoshang stepped out.

He stood by the car but did not immediately leave. Instead, he bent slightly and extended his right hand into the car, palm up.

An exceptionally gentlemanly yet utterly non-negotiable gesture.

Inside the car, Wen Yinong was about to get out, adjusting her skirt, when she saw this. She was momentarily stunned.

The bright lights outside outlined the man's upright silhouette and his outstretched hand. The gesture in such a public place felt very formal and quite eye-catching.

At first, Wen Yinong hesitated. But soon, she realized they were at the entrance of the auction venue, surrounded by countless gazes.

As Mo Shaoshang's companion for the event, having been entrusted by him, it was both proper and respectful not to refuse such a gentlemanly and elegant invitation.

Thinking this through, Wen Yinong took a deep breath to steady herself. Then, she raised her hand and gently placed it in that strong, lean hand.

The palm of this hand was warm and dry, yet the fingertips carried a hint of the night breeze's coolness, a strange, contradictory sensation.

Wen Yinong's heart gave a slight tremble.

Mo Shaoshang's fingers closed around her hand, and he firmly held it as he led her out of the car. Then turning, he walked side by side with her into the venue.

*

The auction was held in a secluded courtyard building deep inside the hotel.

As they passed through a moon gate and entered a winding corridor, lantern light and shadows swayed on the bluestone path. The main hall was spacious with a high ceiling, the walls cleverly separated by dark wooden lattice screens and plain silk panels painted with misty ink landscapes and finely detailed bird-and-flower paintings.

The guests were all impeccably dressed, exuding refined elegance.

They sat in rosewood armchairs in small groups, exchanging quiet greetings. Waiters in Chinese-style stand-collar uniforms moved silently, carrying ebony trays with either clear tea or porcelain cups of wine.

Incense curled from beast-shaped censers, filling the air with a subtle fragrance. The atmosphere was truly elegant and dignified.

Suddenly, the smooth, tranquil flow of the atmosphere briefly stalled, like a lake disturbed by an invisible pebble, silent ripples spreading.

As if drawn by some invisible force, the crowd stopped their conversations or looked up from the exhibit catalogs, turning their heads toward the door.

A handsome couple appeared at the entrance.

The girl was very young, about twenty-five or twenty-six, with an ethereal beauty and delicate features. She wore a blue mermaid-style evening gown that gracefully accentuated her slender waist and hips, with a cashmere shawl draped casually over her shoulders, stunning beyond measure.

Beside the young woman stood a man in a custom-made ink-black suit, his profile sharp and features handsome, like a walking masterpiece by a famous painter.

The man stood beside the girl, his tall and upright figure casting a shadow that gently enveloped her. Without any words or actions, he merely stood there, like a solitary peak and steep cliff, shielding her from all prying eyes.

The attention of everyone in the room was fixed on the new arrivals.

A low murmur of whispers arose.

Meanwhile,

Feeling the intense gazes from all directions, Wen Yinong grew nervous, her palms sweating, and instinctively wanted to withdraw her hand.

But the moment this thought arose, before she could act on it, Mo Shaoshang crushed that thought.

He tightened his grip, holding her even more firmly, while his slightly calloused fingertips gently stroked the back of her hand.

"Don't be afraid," Mo Shaoshang leaned down close to her ear and whispered softly, in a voice only the two of them could hear. "Just follow me."

"..."

Wen Yinong was taken aback for a moment, then looked up at him.

The man's expression was nonchalant and unshakable, as if all the noise and gazes around him meant nothing.

In that moment, Wen Yinong inexplicably had a feeling.

This might truly be the world that belonged to Mo Shaoshang—a world of scrutiny and scheming, a kingdom where he made the rules.

And tonight, he had brought her into the heart of this world, placing her under the gaze of everyone...

A few seconds of daze were broken by the sound of footsteps approaching from afar, drawing Wen Yinong's attention back.

She steadied her gaze and concentrated.

She saw a middle-aged man in a Chinese tunic suit, his face beaming with an earnest smile, walking quickly toward them. Behind him followed several younger men and women.

Approaching Mo Shaoshang, the middle-aged man slightly bowed and said with a genial smile, "Mr. Mo, what an honor to have you here. Please forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."

Mo Shaoshang's expression remained unchanged; he merely nodded slightly in response. "Mr. Li, you're too kind."

The middle-aged man, addressed as Mr. Li, smiled even more broadly, then shifted his gaze to Wen Yinong beside Mo Shaoshang.

Perhaps seeing that the young girl was beautiful and unfamiliar, a flicker of curiosity and probing passed through Mr. Li's eyes. After a moment of deliberation, he spoke again, probing with a smile. "May I ask who this is..."

Wen Yinong parted her lips to speak, but Mo Shaoshang's voice rang out before hers, instantly blasting her thoughts into a blank.

"This is Miss Wen Yinong," Mo Shaoshang said, his tone and expression calm, as if it were the most ordinary thing. "My girlfriend."