The wooden desk sat directly opposite Chen Han’s managerial desk, so Mu Fu had a clear view of his every move. Naturally, he could see her just as well. Not that she minded—he was probably too focused on work to notice her anyway.
After setting his bag down, Chen Han turned and left the office. The door closed automatically behind him, leaving Mu Fu wondering what he was up to.
He returned a few minutes later, carrying a large bag. He placed it on her desk. “These are snacks. If you don’t like them, I can get something else later.”
“!!”
Mu Fu had pictured a few snacks, not an entire bag! And given his quick turnaround, he clearly hadn’t bought them himself. He must have sent someone.
She rummaged through the bag, finding several of her favorites. “Not bad, these are all things I like! But I also want a large grape milk tea from C-shop!” Emboldened by his generosity, she decided to push her luck.
Chen Han glanced at her, his tone calm and matter-of-fact. “Milk tea isn’t healthy. You shouldn’t drink it so often.” His smooth delivery suggested this wasn’t a casual observation; she clearly drank it often.
Mu Fu pouted. “But didn’t you say I could eat whatever snacks I wanted?”
Before she could protest further, Chen Han reached out and gently pinched her puffed-up cheeks. So soft.
Mu Fu, ready for an argument, found her brain short-circuiting at his sudden touch. That was unfair! Her face flushed as she lowered her head, suddenly shy.
Chen Han wasn’t entirely satisfied with just pinching her cheek. His gaze darkened slightly. But it wasn’t the right time. He still wasn’t sure whether Mu Fu actually liked him or just found him interesting.
For the first time in his life, the golden boy felt uncertain…
Despite his lecture about milk tea, Chen Han quietly ordered one for Mu Fu. She took a sip, then glanced at him, pretending to be absorbed in his work. A brilliant smile lit up her face. Inside the office, they worked in comfortable silence, each focused on their tasks.
Lunch arrived, takeout from a private kitchen. Chen Han, a VIP, bypassed the usual reservation system, arranging for personal delivery. It was an extravagant meal. Mu Fu, oblivious to the cost, simply enjoyed the perfectly presented, delicious food. When it came to food and comfort, Chen Han never skimped.
After eating, Mu Fu grew drowsy.
Chen Han, on the other hand, was still buried in reports—completely absorbed. He deserved some kind of “Commitment to Work” award. Unable to fight her exhaustion, Mu Fu curled up on the lounge sofa and fell asleep.
Chen Han continued working, not realizing how much time had passed until suddenly, he noticed—it was too quiet. He glanced around, finding her missing from her desk. A quick scan revealed her asleep on the sofa. He’d been so absorbed in his work, he hadn’t even noticed.
The office, comfortably cool for working, was a bit chilly for sleeping. Mu Fu, now fully asleep, had curled into a small ball. Without hesitation, Chen Han got up, retrieved his usual blanket from the cabinet, and gently draped it over her.
He didn’t want to wake her. After all, he’d already roused her early that morning. Or at least, that’s what he told himself—conveniently forgetting that it had already been nine o’clock when he called her.
Now that Mu Fu was asleep, he could stare at her without restraint. His gaze traced her delicate features, from her soft, arched brows, down her graceful nose, past her charming nose wings, and finally, to her rosy, tender lips. He was captivated, unable to look away.
The refined, gentlemanly Chen Han was gone. He pressed his lips together, his eyes darkening. A storm of long-suppressed desire surged within him, wild and uncontrollable.
Finally, he lowered his head, inching closer, ever so slowly. His lips brushed against hers—soft, warm, and dangerously sweet. He had finally tasted the temptation that had been tormenting him for so long.
The moment he touched her, he knew—there was no turning back. Chen Han took his time, savoring the sensation. Her lips lips were like nectar, intoxicating and irresistible.
Just then, she let out a soft murmur in her sleep. He didn’t pull away. A reckless part of him wanted her to wake up—to catch him, to give him an excuse to dive even deeper into this kiss. But she didn’t stir. It was as if that soft sound had been nothing more than an illusion.
Chen Han lowered his gaze and finally, reluctantly, let go. Suppressing the restless thoughts stirring inside him, he forced himself to calm down. After a while, his ragged breathing finally steadied.
When Mu Fu woke up, she didn’t notice anything unusual. But Chen Han’s gaze felt… different. It made her heart race a little.
Wait—was something about to happen?
Little did she know, she had missed something big. If she had realized it, she wouldn’t have hesitated to throw her arms around him and kiss him senseless. He wouldn’t have needed to hold himself back at all! But Chen Han would never know this.
By the time he finished work, nothing had happened. Mu Fu felt utterly disappointed. Why is he so clueless?! Can’t he take the initiative for once?
Since she’d enjoyed lunch so much, Chen Han took her to the private restaurant that night to try other dishes. Afterward, they returned to he Love Cabin claiming they’d run into each other on the way. No one questioned it.
As they reached the second floor, about to part ways, Chen Han suddenly grabbed Mu Fu’s wrist. His fingers brushed against her skin—soft, smooth, impossible to let go of. Mu Fu turned, glancing at her wrist in confusion. Her clear, bright eyes flickered with curiosity. “What’s wrong?”
His voice was low, gentle. “Will you go on a date with me tomorrow?”
Mu Fu spun around instantly, her face lighting up with the brightest, most radiant smile. “Of course!”
For a moment, Chen Han just stood there, mesmerized. Her smile had a magic to it, slipping past his defenses and settling into his heart.
“Anything else?” she asked, tilting her head.
Chen Han’s lips curled into a smile. “No, that’s all.”
“Then, see you tomorrow!”
Reluctantly, he let go of her wrist. “See you tomorrow…” he murmured, his voice tinged with reluctance.
As he watched her walk away, he whispered under his breath: “Tomorrow hasn’t even come yet, and I already miss you.”
……
How were the other male contestants faring with their date invitations?
Kang Jiadong kept things simple—he invited Ding Minqi out after work, and she immediately said yes.
As for Han Jin… things were more complicated. Since the previous night, he and Cheng Cixin had barely spoken. He’d instead spent considerable time with the new female contestant, Qi Yali.
Cheng Cixin hadn’t initiated any contact with Han Jin since their last interaction. Han Jin, on the other hand, had attempted to talk to her twice, but her cold demeanor quickly ended both conversations. By today, they had completely stopped interacting—it was almost like a cold war.
Qi Yali, however, seemed oblivious to the tension. She continued chatting and laughing with Han Jin as if nothing was amiss. After dinner, Han Jin invited Qi Yali on a date.
Meanwhile, in her room, Cheng Cixin applied her skincare, oblivious to the drama unfolding outside.
In the text message round, Mu Fu and Chen Han chose each other, as did Ding Minqi and Kang Jiadong. Cheng Cixin selected Han Jin, while Qi Yali also chose Han Jin, and Han Jin chose Qi Yali.
That night, Cheng Cixin once again chose Han Jin.
……
Day 9 in the Love Cabin.
As usual, Cheng Cixin left for work shortly after 8 AM. The rest of the house stirred, preparing for the day ahead.
Chen Han had planned a special date with Mu Fu. He was taking her to a technology exhibition in the city, hoping to share a glimpse of his world with her. Early that morning, he waited patiently outside the door.
Mu Fu stepped out, her adorable little backpack slung over her shoulders, ready for the day. With a bright smile, she set off for what promised to be an interesting date.
Chen Han also carried a backpack, a simple black one filled with water, tissues, and other small essentials, all prepared for Mu Fu.
Mu Fu had dressed up for the occasion. She wore a white short-sleeved bubble dress that ended just above her knees, paired with black round-toe leather shoes and white sheer knee-high socks. The outfit gave off a soft, Japanese-inspired aesthetic, making her already striking features even more delicate and sweet.
Seeing her like this—so innocent, yet subtly alluring—stirred something in Chen Han’s heart.
Mu Fu looked up at him with a bright smile. “Where are we going today?” she asked.
Chen Han’s voice was soft as he replied, “To the city’s Technology Exhibition Hall. There’s a robotics competition happening today.”
Mu Fu was pleasantly surprised—she hadn’t expected a tech-related date. But since it was related to his work, she was more than happy to explore it with him. She couldn’t wait.
Although it was a weekday, the exhibition hall was bustling with visitors due to the competition. It was a nationwide robotics design contest for university students, where participants showcased their creations and competed for awards. That part didn’t really matter to Mu Fu—what caught her eye immediately was a robot demonstration.
A guide was explaining a machine that could partially transform into Optimus Prime from Transformers. It wasn’t fully functional, but it could at least shift from a vehicle into a humanoid form—which was impressive enough. Mu Fu’s eyes lit up with excitement! She absolutely loved that movie.
Then, the guide announced that anyone interested could try out the transformation feature under their supervision. Mu Fu rushed to join the line without hesitation!
From that moment on, she immersed herself in every hands-on activity available at the exhibition, eagerly trying out different robotics experiments. Chen Han followed her the entire time, watching her with a quiet, affectionate smile.
Luckily, Chen Han had brought water. Otherwise, with Mu Fu’s boundless energy, she would have been completely exhausted. The exhibition hall didn’t sell drinks, only the vendors outside did.
Chen Han turned to her and asked, “How are you feeling?”
Mu Fu beamed with excitement. “So happy!”
That was all that mattered. As long as she was happy, the trip was worthwhile.
After leaving the technology exhibition, they went for lunch.
“What’s the plan for the afternoon?” Mu Fu asked.
Chen Han noticed she looked a bit tired, so he suggested, “How about a movie?”
Mu Fu, assuming he wanted to watch a movie, agreed without hesitation. A break sounded perfect—the morning had been exhausting!
Since it was a Friday afternoon, the theater was relatively empty, with plenty of open seats. They picked a romantic film.
As soon as Mu Fu settled into the plush theater seat, she started to feel sleepy. The comfort of the seat wrapped around her like a warm embrace, and before she knew it, her eyelids grew heavy. The voices from the movie and the soft background music faded into a blur. She had used up all her energy that morning.
Chen Han kept an eye on her. When he noticed her head nodding off like a sleepy little chick, he reached out and gently guided her toward him. Mu Fu’s head naturally came to rest on his shoulder.
Chen Han adjusted his posture, making sure she could sleep more comfortably. As the movie played, he found himself barely paying attention to the screen. Instead, he focused on the soft rhythm of her breathing. A faint, sweet fragrance lingered around her—her natural scent. At that moment, he wished time could stop right there…
Axolotl Translations 
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