Volume One, Chapter Sixteen: Slipping Into His Bed

She smiled as she closed the door, and Mo Xingyuan’s expression shifted again and again.

He had known it; that sentence would linger in her memory.

The agreement meant to bind her was, in the end, first broken by him.

A sudden restlessness seized Mo Xingyuan. He went to the liquor cabinet, grabbed a bottle, and was about to open it when Su Li pushed open the door.

“You’re going to drink?” Su Li glanced at the bottle in his hand.

Mo Xingyuan ignored her.

“You can’t,” Su Li strode over and took the bottle away. “Take care of yourself.”

Mo Xingyuan reached out, “Give it back.”

“No,” Su Li stepped back. “Even if I’m just your wife in name, I have to make sure you care for yourself during the time you’re my husband.”

“Even if there’s not much time left, there’s no reason to do anything that might shorten it.”

Su Li was stubborn about this.

If she didn’t see it, she’d let it go; but once she did, she couldn’t ignore it.

“So you want to control me?” Mo Xingyuan’s tone was displeased.

“Can’t I?” Su Li asked.

Mo Xingyuan stepped forward, trying to snatch the bottle from her hand.

Su Li raised her arm and let her fingers loosen.

Crash!

The bottle fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.

Wine splashed, scattering droplets at their feet.

Mo Xingyuan stared at the shattered glass on the floor, his heart tightening, breath catching harshly. He looked at Su Li again; her eyes were still bright, unruffled.

Their gazes tangled, each unwilling to yield.

This time, Mo Xingyuan truly felt that Su Li was not someone who could be manipulated; she was indeed fearless.

Finally, Mo Xingyuan took a deep breath, turned away, poured a glass of water, and drained it in one gulp.

Seeing this, Su Li crouched down to clean up the broken glass.

“Mo Xingyuan.”

“Take care of yourself,” Su Li said as she picked up the shards. “There is someone in this world who cares about you.”

Mo Xingyuan turned slightly, watching as Su Li gingerly gathered the glass into her palm. For an instant, something flickered through his heart.

“Hiss—”

Su Li looked at her finger, pierced by the glass. She squeezed it, and blood welled forth.

Mo Xingyuan’s gaze flickered.

“Mo Xingyuan,” Su Li suddenly lifted her head, raising her bleeding finger for him to see, “I’m bleeding.”

Mo Xingyuan frowned, thinking she would quietly deal with it herself.

She held up her finger, blood dripping onto the floor, her eyes misting over.

Mo Xingyuan didn’t think she was the sort to cry over a little wound, but the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes made him stride over, grab her hand, and lead her to the tap.

He squeezed her finger firmly; as the water rinsed it, the blood faded.

“It hurts,” Su Li blinked, and tears spilled out.

Mo Xingyuan felt a dull ache inside. He knew she might be feigning weakness, yet he couldn’t bring himself to shake her hand off.

“With such a temper, why cry over a little injury?”

Su Li wiped away her tears, trying to appear strong.

Seeing this, Mo Xingyuan’s movements softened; he turned off the water, dried her hand, fetched the first aid kit, disinfected the wound again, then wrapped it with a bandage.

“Mo Xingyuan,” Su Li suddenly grasped his hand.

Mo Xingyuan frowned.

Her hand was soft and delicate, and when she gripped lightly, it felt like a gentle current running through him.

He was about to pull away when she said, “There’s a bit of blood here.”

Her fingertip brushed the trace of blood on his hand.

Mo Xingyuan turned his palm to look—it was true.

Su Li let go immediately, without the slightest intention of taking advantage.

Mo Xingyuan went to wash his hands; Su Li crouched again to pick up the remaining shards.

“Move aside.”

Su Li looked up.

Mo Xingyuan, showing impatience, grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. “If you can’t do it, don’t.”

“You’re afraid I’ll get hurt again,” Su Li smiled at him. “Mo Xingyuan, you’re actually quite kind.”

Mo Xingyuan couldn’t be bothered to answer; he wrapped the shards in a tissue and tossed them in the bin, then carefully wiped away the spilled wine.

Su Li stood nearby, watching him clean. His fingers were long and elegant, and even such a mundane act was pleasing to the eye.

When Mo Xingyuan finished, he stood up, glanced at Su Li. She smiled brightly, “Mo Xingyuan, you’re really good-looking.”

“You’re crazy.” Mo Xingyuan didn’t look at her again, carrying the trash outside.

Su Li laughed, “Your ears are red.”

Mo Xingyuan closed the door and ignored her, heading straight to his room.

Once the door was closed, Su Li’s smile grew.

Admiring the bandage on her finger, she thought, this is a good beginning, isn’t it?

.

The next day, before dawn, Su Li was already up.

She tidied the bed and sat, waiting.

As the sky began to lighten, she heard the sound of a password being entered at the door.

She immediately darted into Mo Xingyuan’s bedroom, closed the door, and jumped onto his bed.

Mo Xingyuan was startled awake. “What are you doing?”

“Your mother’s here,” Su Li whispered, eyes fixed on the door.

Mo Xingyuan doubted his mother would really make a surprise visit, but hearing the commotion at the door, he had to accept she might do just that.

Su Li quickly took off her jacket, revealing a V-neck nightdress underneath. She pinched her neck hard, and a red mark appeared.

“What are you doing?”

“We need your mother to believe I’m really here to bear your children.” Su Li slipped under the covers, nudging Mo Xingyuan. “Go open the door.”

Mo Xingyuan looked at the woman burrowing into his bed, feeling a complex mix of emotions.

It was the first time a woman had slipped into his bed, and he couldn’t throw her out.

“If you won’t open the door, just lie down.” Su Li tugged at his sleeve, her voice growing faint. “When she sees us together, she probably won’t come back for quite a while.”

Mrs. Mo wanted a child even more urgently than Mo Xingyuan.

With the commotion outside, Mo Xingyuan had to consider Su Li’s suggestion.

He hadn’t managed to get out of bed before the door was gently opened.

Su Li quickly snuggled closer, arms wrapped around his waist.

The gesture made Mo Xingyuan’s body tense; he wanted to shake off Su Li’s hands, but Mrs. Mo happened to peer in. Mother and son’s eyes met unexpectedly.

An awkwardness passed over Mrs. Mo’s face. She quickly withdrew and closed the door.

Su Li whispered, “Has she gone?”

“Yes.” Mo Xingyuan glanced at the woman still holding his waist. “Let go.”

Su Li pouted, reluctantly releasing him.

Mo Xingyuan threw off the covers and got out of bed, heading into the bathroom.

His bedroom had its own bathroom. Su Li followed, leaning against the doorframe.

When Mo Xingyuan emerged, Su Li said, “When we go out, act a bit more intimate.”

Mo Xingyuan’s gaze lingered on her exposed neck; the red mark looked exactly like a kiss.

“I’ll go back once Auntie leaves.” Su Li’s eyes were clear. “I want you to be a little happier.”

Mo Xingyuan had heard these words from her before.

She said she hoped he would live well.

She said she didn’t want him to die.

She said there was someone in this world who cared about him.

She said she hoped he could be happier.

Mo Xingyuan’s heart was touched by her words, softened ever so slightly.