episode 19
After a deathly silence.
"you!"
He Xun almost choked on his breath. God knows how much he didn't want to run into Mo Shilin, who was already quite cunning, in the middle of the night!
Just as he was about to raise his hand to give Song Liuguang a sharp rap on the head, Song Liuguang had already flown away like lightning, only hurriedly leaving behind the words: "Brother, I have a grudge against him! I'm leaving first!! I'll contact you later!!"
He Xun was left alone, clutching the Coke can, looking bewildered in the wind.
He met Mo Shilin's unfathomable scrutinizing gaze from afar, and for the first time in his life, he felt a deep sense of guilt.
Mo Shilin casually tossed his phone into the car, then raised an eyebrow in surprise, seemingly a little incredulous, and called out to the slender, tall, and otherworldly figure, "He Xun?"
He Xun's lips twitched immediately.
This person has really good eyesight.
It must be because I was wearing glasses.
He tried to keep his expression calm as he slowly emerged from the bushes, cleared his throat, and greeted him, "Young Master Mo."
"What a coincidence?"
When Mo Shilin saw that it was indeed his own little male servant, he let out a soft chuckle for no reason. He didn't seem to care about the Cola Meteor Shower incident; he was clearly more curious about He Xun's whereabouts.
"How can I run into you in the middle of the night? What are you doing here? On a date?"
People in the world of fame and fortune inevitably become addicted to tobacco and alcohol at a young age. Mo Shilin's voice was slightly hoarse, but his pronunciation was crisp and clear, and his light and cheerful tone was very pleasant to listen to at night.
"No need to test me." He Xun pursed his lips, his long, dark eyelashes fluttering slightly as he deftly countered Mo Shilin's deliberate pointed remark. "I'm single now."
This statement, which sounded like a declaration of loyalty to a leader, was delivered decisively, and Mo Shilin, who should have been happy, remained silent.
He crossed his arms, leaned back against the car, and silently scrutinized He Xun, his dark eyes hinting at an impending storm.
To be fair, Mo Shilin rarely puts on airs like a big shot, but when he does, it still sends chills down the spines of many.
Even though He Xun had been in the entertainment industry for many years and was a worldly person, he still felt a little unsure in front of Mo Shilin, who was definitely one of the main characters in the novel.
What if the main characters have some unknown mind-reading superpower?
He even wears books; who can say for sure?
What's more, this person is far too shrewd.
Mo Shilin remained silent, so He Xun could only patiently maintain a polite and appropriate smile, waiting for the other party to reply, remaining calm and unchanging in the face of any situation.
Much later.
Perhaps it was because He Xun appeared too calm and composed, or perhaps it was because things really couldn't be salvaged if he didn't speak up soon—after all, He Xun was inherently stubborn—that Mo Shilin's cold, almost indifferent face finally softened, revealing a slight smile. He pointed to the person next to He Xun and asked in confusion, "Oh? Did I see wrong? But why do I feel like there was someone standing here just now?"
Then why are you asking a question you already know the answer to?
He Xun cursed Song Liuguang a thousand times over in his mind.
Seeing that the atmosphere had relaxed, he nudged Mo Shilin's shoulder with a headache and said some nonsense, "You saw it wrong. Staying up late at night can easily cause hallucinations. Come on, let's go home and sleep."
Most of the time, He Xun was very well-behaved and composed in front of Mo Shilin, keeping his distance clearly and trying his best to conceal his presence. He never overstepped his bounds in words or actions, and behaved himself as a dutiful and proper male servant.
This is why Mu Xianglu favored He Xun the most among all the male servants, even though she knew that Mo Shilin might actually have feelings for He Xun.
After all, there had been instances in the past where some male servants had harbored wicked thoughts towards Mo Shilin, who was young, wealthy, and exceptionally handsome. In fact, there were more than one such person, but Mu Xianglu eventually saw through their schemes and dismissed them.
But He Xun is different; he is someone who clearly separates work and life.
Clear to the point of indifference.
It sounds vulgar, but it's enough to show that men are inherently base. It's precisely because of this that their desire to conquer is highlighted, making them alluring.
Therefore, now that He Xun has taken the initiative to make some physical contact, Mo Shilin will not refuse.
He glanced down at the pair of fair, slender, and well-defined hands on his shoulders, and without any resistance, let He Xun push him into the car.
Actually, I was thinking to myself that this person was quite good at using seduction.
Every time he tried to test something, He Xun would brush him off like this.
interesting.
However, since the other party was willing, he couldn't be ungrateful.
He wasn't a polite gentleman, so he naturally accepted this overture with impure motives without a second thought.
"You didn't bring a driver? Then I'll call a designated driver for you?" He Xun shoved the person inside and asked, tilting his head from outside the car.
He stood with his back to the light, and the moonlight burst forth from behind him in beams, as if giving him a pair of white, illusory wings.
Mo Shilin, with one hand on the steering wheel, looked at the slender, supple waist wrapped in alluring purple outside the car and patted the back of the passenger seat: "No need, you can get in."
He Xun paused, thinking to himself, "Is this the same cunning wolf who told me to take a taxi home by myself?"
He calmly asked, "You haven't been drinking? You can drive?"
After he finished speaking, he realized that the other person really didn't smell of alcohol, but only a refreshing and light woody perfume scent, like wood that had been soaked in a forest after the rain.
Mo Shilin neither confirmed nor denied this: "I haven't drunk any. Come on up. I never drink and drive, and I always follow the traffic rules."
He Xun hesitated for a moment: "How about I drive instead—"
Mo Shilin interrupted him: "If I don't go back to sleep soon, I'm really going to start hallucinating."
"......"
The first thing He Xun did after getting into the car was to fasten his seatbelt.
If I had to pinpoint the reason for his haste, it would be that he would absolutely not leave the opportunity for the second male lead in the novel to engage in such ambiguous behavior.
The phrase "love grows over time" doesn't mean that simply counting down the days will make two people fall madly in love. Rather, it means that love is built up one little thing after another.
He had already unconsciously indulged himself several times before, and he couldn't afford to make the same mistake again when reason returned.
"Wipe your glasses."
He Xun hadn't forgotten the mess Song Liuguang had made earlier, so he took out a pack of lightly scented tissues from his shirt pocket and handed it to Mo Shilin.
Mo Shilin glanced at him through his clear glasses and saw that He Xun was still polite at this moment, offering the tissue with both hands.
So he naturally bent down and asked He Xun to serve him.
"You really are..."
He Xun's mocking words were on the tip of his tongue, but then he remembered that his current job was indeed that of a male servant, so he swallowed the rest of the "young master" and dutifully helped Mo Shilin take off his glasses, carefully wiping the frames stained with cola. While wiping, he explained, "The tissues aren't soft enough, so they might get a little smudged when you wear them later. I'll wipe them again with a cotton cloth soaked in alcohol when we get back. For now, this will do."
"Okay." Mo Shilin was quite easy to please.
He looked down quietly as his glasses were casually manipulated between He Xun's porcelain-white fingers, and he could even detect a hint of eroticism in them.
Actually, this action itself isn't a problem.
There was nothing they could do; the other person had such an alluring face that everything they did seemed like an attempt to seduce someone.
Of course, Mo Shilin also knew that this statement was quite unreasonable, just like how pretty girls in school would always be subjected to unfounded rumors.
However, unlike those disgusting and filthy people, he would not spread rumors that He Xun deliberately seduced him. Instead, he would keep the scene to himself and savor it to gain a certain sense of satisfaction.
This scene that made him fantasize didn't last long. He Xun quickly wiped his glasses and neatly put them back on his nose.
Then He Xun turned around, sat up straight, and waited for Mo Shilin to drive.
Two minutes passed, but he still couldn't hear the car start. Finally, he turned his head in confusion, staring at Mo Shilin like an innocent cat, silently asking a question.
Mo Shilin met his moist, dark eyes and called out He Xun with a hint of regret.
"What?" He Xun asked, puzzled.
Mo Shilin stared at him intently: "I think you're becoming more and more careless these days."
"...how?"
"It's on my face too, why didn't you wipe it off for me?"
"......"
"Feel sorry."
He Xun spoke gently, but his actions were anything but gentle as he wiped Mo Shilin's face with a tissue, the force carrying a hint of displeasure.
That makes sense; no one would be in a good mood after staying up this late.
Not to mention that He Xun had just had an emotional outburst at the beach, and as soon as he sat in the quiet car, the fatigue slowly crept in.
Mo Shilin rarely saw him so obviously prickly. He raised his eyebrows and stared at him for a long time, until He Xun frowned and was about to explode. Then he curled his lips, stepped on the gas and drove off.
After driving for a while, He Xun finally composed himself, suppressed his fatigue, and took the initiative to start a conversation: "I didn't expect Young Master Mo to drive so steadily."
"Thank you for the compliment." As shrewd as Mo Shilin was, he could easily detect the fatigue in his voice. He then kindly said, "If you're sleepy, take a nap. There's sparkling water in the car refrigerator in the back seat. Help yourself if you're thirsty."
"Um."
He Xun admired his composure despite the intense work and social engagements, and sincerely praised him, "Aren't you tired of doing this every day?"
As the saying goes, it's easier for smart people to talk to each other; they can understand the deeper meaning behind each other's brief words without needing to explain them.
This statement couldn't be more fitting for the two of them.
Mo Shilin gripped the steering wheel and smoothly turned the corner before chuckling softly, "What? Do you think I'm being particularly pretentious?"
He Xun's gaze drifted with the blurry scenery outside the window. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head and said, "I didn't think that way."
It was just pure curiosity.
I'm curious about the thought process of Mo Shilin, one of the main characters in the novel.
Unfortunately, He Xun was in Lushan, and the usually shrewd man forgot that his intense and inexplicable curiosity was precisely the catalyst for the emergence of a deep relationship.
While waiting at the red light, Mo Shilin thoughtfully adjusted He Xun's seat back to a comfortable height. Once the green light above illuminated, he steadily pressed the accelerator and continued chatting with He Xun: "Rather than saying I'm pretending, it's more like a mission. Don't you think only this kind of behavior is suitable for my identity?"
Why suppress yourself like this?
The seat height was perfect for falling asleep and dreaming, and the temperature inside the car was extremely comfortable. As He Xun spoke, he couldn't help but yawn, straightened his back to adjust his posture, crossed his arms over his chest, and said to Mo Shilin some sincere words that were particularly suitable for a heart-to-heart talk at midnight, "Excuse my bluntness, but with your status and achievements, you can already look down on everyone. Besides, you are still so young, which is the time to be young and impetuous."
Yes, most people Mo Shilin's age don't have such strategic thinking.
Those people are either sponging off their parents or causing trouble for their families every few days. There aren't many people like Mo Shilin who can stand on their own.
However, He Xun's blunt words did not elicit a response from Mo Shilin, not even a glance.
He thought that the other party had finally run out of pretense and was annoyed and didn't want to talk to him anymore. Fortunately, he was feeling sleepy and didn't insist on getting a serious answer. He simply closed his eyes and let the sleepiness roll around in his body, so he completely missed the dark and gloomy look that Mo Shilin turned to him.
Mo Shilin lifted his eyelids, his gaze secretly falling on the person in the passenger seat.
That look was less of observation and more of scrutiny, and even contained a hint of determination and dark possessiveness that he himself was unaware of.
He Xun curled up like a cat in the passenger seat, his delicate frame wrapped in light purple fabric, which made him look pitiful. His beautiful features were extremely cold when he was expressionless, and his sleeping face was serene. Looking at him like this, no one would imagine that as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, two cute little tiger teeth would peek out from his moist mouth.
Mo Shilin glanced at the white violet while tapping the steering wheel. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw another red light appear ahead. He clicked his tongue and, with no good intentions, pushed the steering wheel, abruptly turning the car around.
This sudden action enraged the drivers of the cars behind them. However, when they peeked out and saw the license plates all bearing the number 9, they suppressed their anger and fell silent.
Money and power can override everything, including anger.
After turning around, Mo Shilin drove straight to the side of the road where he could park, and rather unceremoniously stepped on the brakes and turned off the engine.
Due to inertia, He Xun, who was half asleep and half awake, was suddenly jerked forward, head and body. If it weren't for the seatbelt, he might have been thrown out of the windshield intact.
He was startled, instantly wide awake, and unconsciously opened his eyes wide to look at the man in the driver's seat: "What's wrong—"
Before he could finish speaking, the man leaned over, his hands quickly passing under his ears, and without a word, he firmly encircled him in a territory where only his own scent remained.
He Xun was instantly enveloped in a forest after the rain, the scene and smell making him feel dazed, unable to distinguish whether he was dreaming or in reality.
Mo Shilin's sharp, swirling pupils stared at him: "And what about you? Aren't you the same? You look so clean and respectful, yet it's as if you're hiding a million secrets."
He Xun was stunned for half a minute before he realized that this person was answering his previous question.
With the car window behind him, he had nowhere to hide. His slender, pale fingers gripped the smooth yet firm seatbelt as he calmly changed the subject: "Can I take that as a compliment on my good looks?"
As he spoke, his dark eyelashes trembled, casting a shadow on his pupils, making it look as if a butterfly was embedded in the black of his eye.
"Let me correct you, it's 'deadly good-looking'." Mo Shilin's voice was a little hoarse.
"...Um."
He Xun didn't know how to answer. His thin lips pressed into a straight line, and he suddenly felt a pang of regret for having started the conversation.
Mo Shilin noticed the change in his expression, suddenly smiled, and raised his hand to touch the small silver earring on his earlobe, which was almost invisible in the night: "What do you think of me?"
The cold, calloused hand rubbed against his ear, creating a fire that made He Xun shiver.
An indescribable atmosphere began to stir beneath the surface.
He Xun inappropriately recalled a pointless post he had come across online before, which specifically mentioned that touching someone's earring was a clear sexual innuendo.
He quickly pushed Mo Shilin's arm away, awkwardly turned his head away, and pursed his lips, feigning ignorance: "What do you mean, how?"
"Face."
"good."
"Not bad again?"
"Um."
After a brief question and answer session, the two fell silent again.
He Xun's eyes were bright and lively; he looked at the sky, the ground, the window, and the scenery outside.
He simply ignored Mo Shilin, who was right in front of him.
Mo Shilin looked at Violet, whose head and eyes were darting around, and almost laughed. The irritation and anger that had just risen in his heart subsided considerably.
He finally got up, adjusted his seating position, and restarted the car.
Upon seeing this, He Xun's expression visibly relaxed, and he turned his head to look out the window, trying to avoid suspicion.
After the car had driven for a while, He Xun looked at the increasingly unfamiliar scenery outside, hesitated for a moment, and finally couldn't help but ask suspiciously, "Are you really hallucinating because of lack of sleep? Are you sure this is the way back?"
"Excuse me, I need to go back to the office to get a document first."
"...Um."
......
When He Xun woke up again, it was already two in the morning, and he was still wearing a suit jacket.
The car was already off, facing the villa gate.
He Xun looked out with sleepy eyes and saw Mo Shilin smoking with his back to the car.
He removed the suit jacket, which still carried the warmth of the man's body, and rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
After a good night's sleep, my mind is much clearer.
He felt that they had crossed a line.
He didn't think Mo Shilin liked him that much; it was just a pretense full of testing.
It could also be teasing.
This is the natural mindset of those in positions of power who are good-looking, young, and wealthy.
He thought.
"woke up?"
Mo Shilin stubbed out his cigarette and turned to meet He Xun's gaze.
He Xun got out of the car and respectfully and dutifully helped Mo Shilin put on his suit jacket. Even Aunt Mu would be moved to tears if she saw him and awarded him a medal for best male servant of the year.
"Why didn't you call me?" he asked after he finished dressing.
"Seeing how tired you are, I just wanted you to sleep a little longer. If I didn't know you were my male servant, I would have suspected that you were out doing another mentally and physically exhausting job at night."
He Xun had long since become unfazed by this man's occasional probing remarks. He lazily stretched his arm, deftly deflecting the question: "Thank you so much, Young Master Mo, but actually, the job of a male servant isn't so simple."
To everyone's surprise, Mo Shilin gave a wicked smile, his face tinged with a sinister air: "You're welcome. Since you've had such a long journey, do you need me to carry you inside?"
"Mo Shilin!"
Unable to bear it any longer, He Xun called out Mo Shilin's name for the first time in a hoarse voice.
"Hmm?" Mo Shilin's heart skipped a beat, and he answered quickly, "I'm here."
Tsk.
It makes it sound like I'm the one being coquettish.
He Xun shoved him and said coldly and sincerely, "You're really annoying."
Mo Shilin, however, seized the opportunity to grab his hand and pulled him sharply towards him.
He Xun stumbled and fell awkwardly into Mo Shilin's arms.
"you--"
"He Xun".
Mo Shilin called him by his name affectionately.
He Xun was taken aback.
“Sometimes I can’t be that patient either, so you have to be careful.”
He Xun suddenly looked up.
His biological instincts told him that danger was approaching, and he instinctively flinched, frowning as he tried to break free from the man's grasp.
The other person, however, wrapped their arms tightly around his shoulders as if binding him, and leaned close to his ear, their expression intimate but their voice cold: "Whatever bad things you do, just don't let me catch you."
*
Qing Teng Ju, an apartment building.
From a room on the top floor, faint, unspeakable moans and groans could be heard.
The cleaning staff in the corridor only listened for a second before blushing and quickly walking away.
Soon the noise subsided, and only the man's heavy breathing could be heard.
Inside the bedroom, Mo Wenjin rolled off Ding Xiabing, panting for a while before walking into the bathroom with a satisfied look on his face.
Ding Xiabing lay sprawled on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, like a dying fish.
He didn't know how much time had passed before he dragged his aching body out of bed, carefully took a silent phone out of the lush flowerpot, and went into another bathroom.
After locking the door, Ding Xiabing closed her eyes, and without bothering to wash herself, she sent the video she had recorded that night to He Xun with trembling hands.
"I'm sorry, He Xun, the photos I took tonight aren't very clear. He arrived earlier than we agreed, and I almost didn't have time to hide my phone."
He Xun replied instantly.
Be careful in everything you do.
"It's okay if we can't get a shot. Don't force it. We have plenty of time. Your safety is the most important thing."
"Remember what I told you before? Once you get away, hide in the place I arranged for you, and come out only after everything goes smoothly."
Staring at the text that was rapidly appearing on the screen, Ding Xiabing blinked her sore eyes, and a few tears quickly slid down from the corners of her eyes, dripping onto the phone screen.
He wiped his face haphazardly and quickly typed a reply.
"Okay, I'll leave tonight."
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