Sunlight slanted across Yun Shunnian's small face as she nestled against Mu Qi.
Mu Qi, like a knight hidden in darkness, watched Yun Shunnian with gentle eyes.
A closer look, however, would reveal the dense, possessive obsession intertwined within his gaze.
Shan Gong froze for a moment, then slowly turned away.
Having spent time in the strictly regulated environment of the old manor, Shan Gong found such an uninhibited scene jarring.
Half an hour later, Yun Shunnian slept soundly, while Mu Qi was engrossed in tracing the contours of her face.
Shan Gong, meanwhile, was utterly bored.
Shan Gong furtively glanced behind him, then silenced his phone and opened a match-three game.
Feeling Yun Shunnian's rising and falling breaths and her warmth, Mu Qi experienced a long-lost sense of peace.
If time could freeze at this moment, perhaps the deep-seated anxieties within Mu Qi's heart would vanish.
But "if" was merely a fantasy.
In reality, Yun Shunnian would wake, and Mu Qi would still feel uneasy.
...
An hour later, Shan Gong’s eyelids twitched as he saw the words "low battery" on his phone.
Shan Gong cautiously glanced back, only to find that the person behind him showed no signs of waking.
Shan Gong turned his stiffened neck back.
He then spent several more hours scrolling through trending news.
Man runs two hundred kilometers late at night just to buy an ice pop?
Woman reports being stalked late at night, only to discover her dog was the culprit?
What kind of content was this big data pushing to him? So utterly boring!
Shan Gong grumbled internally, then tapped each headline to read.
Oh, so the man was wearing slippers the whole time...
Seriously, the dog stalking the woman was a husky!
Shan Gong was engrossed, and as he scrolled down, he accidentally clicked on an advertisement.
He was noble and aloof, tossing her a divorce agreement.
Three years later, he saw three children at the airport, each a perfect replica of himself!
"Shan Gong, so this is what you like?"
Shan Gong became more energized as he read, but Yun Shunnian's voice suddenly rang out beside his ear, startling him so badly he almost dropped his phone.
Fortunately, years of cultivated composure paid off. Shan Gong quickly locked his phone screen and slipped it into his pocket.
"Let's get out of the car!" Mu Qi, pulling Yun Shunnian back who insisted on seeing what Shan Gong was doing, then forcefully carried Yun Shunnian out of the car.
"Ahem, ahem." Seeing people approaching, Yun Shunnian immediately raised her hand to cover her mouth and coughed.
However, Mu Qi seemed not to notice the approaching people, his steps unwavering as he headed towards the president's private elevator.
Once inside the elevator, Yun Shunnian couldn't help but tug on Mu Qi's sleeve.
Yun Shunnian asked, bewildered, "I coughed just now, didn't you hear me?"
It would have been fine if no one knew her, but now the esteemed president and his wife were openly embracing in public. If word got out, it would greatly affect their reputations!
"I heard. You were faking it." When Yun Shunnian truly coughed, her shoulders would tremble slightly.
"Then why haven't you put me down yet?" Yun Shunnian poked Mu Qi's shoulder, even more puzzled.
Mu Qi: "My arms are the most fitting place for you."
Mu Qi's words stunned Yun Shunnian. She had never expected him to say something like that.
"Mu Qi, are you flirting with me?" While Yun Shunnian was shocked, Mu Qi had already carried her to the office sofa.
"Flirting?"
"I'm stating a fact." Mu Qi's expression remained unchanged as he spoke.
Yes, this had the authentic feel of a domineering CEO.
Mu Qi: "What is flirting?"
Seeing Mu Qi's earnest question, Yun Shunnian believed he was genuinely innocent.
"Flirting means doing or saying things that make the other person's heart race or feel shy."
Yun Shunnian explained to Mu Qi, thinking to herself how boring Mu Qi's life would be without her.
"So, did my words make your heart race, did they make you shy?"
Mu Qi's eyes flickered upwards, a smile playing on his lips.
Yun Shunnian's face flushed again, and she mumbled an affirmation.
"Why did you bring me here? I want to work with you." Yun Shunnian looked at the sofa, then towards the desk, and immediately moved towards Mu Qi's desk.
Assistant Li, who was walking by with documents, felt it was unnecessary. If she were here, it would significantly lower President Mu's work efficiency; it would be much easier for Mu Qi to work alone.
Thinking this, Assistant Li carefully approached the desk, placed the documents on it, and then quietly left.
"I've got it. You go rest for a while." Mu Qi scooped Yun Shunnian up with one arm and walked towards the sofa.
"I'm not tired. Let me help you, we'll finish faster." As soon as Mu Qi put her down, Yun Shunnian stood up and walked back.
Mu Qi embraced her by the waist and brought her back.
"You're so eager to go to the hospital to see Yao Zhen?" Mu Qi lifted Yun Shunnian's chin, his phoenix eyes unreadable.
Yun Shunnian nodded vigorously.
"What's in it for me if I take you to the hospital?" Mu Qi's expression held a hint of melancholy as he spoke.
Seeing Mu Qi like this, Yun Shunnian felt a pang of heartache. "Whatever benefits you want, you can have."
"Mu Qi, what benefits do you want?" Yun Shunnian wrapped her arms around Mu Qi's neck, her posture alluring.
What Mu Qi desired from the very beginning was only one thing: for Yun Shunnian to stay by his side.
However, only when reaching the end of their lives could Yun Shunnian truly ascertain if she had accomplished this one thing.
Receiving no response from Mu Qi, Yun Shunnian took the initiative, standing on tiptoe to lightly blow into his ear, then whispered, "You little rascal, tonight I'll teach you how to have fun."
Recalling the novel's content, Yun Shunnian bit the tip of Mu Qi's ear.
Mu Qi's earlobes instantly turned red, and the blush spread from his ears down his neck.
That's right, lately she had become obsessed with younger-man romance novels.
Younger brother?
Mu Qi repeated the words in his mind. Then he repeated the word connected to it.
Little rascal?