The lounge felt just as big as the women’s dorm. Creamy cushions covered the whole floor, and there were beanbag chairs and fluffy pillows all over the place. A low tea table sat in front of the couches, with a projector right across from it. Near the window, there was a small bar, perfect for grabbing a drink and enjoying the ocean view.
It was definitely the kind of spot designed for people to kick back and hang out.
When Mu Fu saw the bar, she immediately thought it would be a great place for her and Yu Mo to work together.
Once they were both settled, a weird wave of nostalgia hit Mu Fu. It felt like being back in high school, sharing a desk with a guy. Back then, there was always that clear line down the middle of the desk. But now, between her and Yu Mo, there was no line at all.
She snuck a peek at him. He was almost thirty, but he didn’t look it in the least. His skin was as fair as hers, though she had her “system” to thank for that. His face had sharp, refined features, and those lips—full and shiny—looked incredibly kissable. If she’d been a little bolder, she might’ve leaned in back in the kitchen.
What really got her was how he’d managed to hold back and do absolutely nothing in such a charged atmosphere.
Mu Fu’s lips curved into a tiny smile. Fine, she thought. Let’s see just how much self-control he actually has.
Earlier, after going back to her room, she’d let her hair down. Her long, silky hair cascaded around her shoulders, looking full and healthy. Before coming back out, she’d even curled the ends a bit, which made every move she made seem alluring. But with her naturally innocent face, the whole look was a stunning mix of pure and sensual.
The space between them was tiny, barely half a meter. Close enough that one raised hand could cover the distance.
After about ten minutes, Mu Fu started getting antsy. With a man like him sitting so close, actual work wasn’t the top priority—getting his attention was.
She pretended to casually flip through some papers, spinning a pen between her fingers. But she must have used too much force because the pen flew right out of her hand, heading straight for Yu Mo.
Her expression instantly changed. Panicked, she turned to him. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! Did it get on your shirt? I swear I didn’t mean to!”
Yu Mo let her fuss over him, checking his clothes. Sure enough, there was a noticeable black smudge on his crisp white shirt, and the pen had already rolled to the floor.
Seeing how upset and apologetic she looked, Yu Mo said softly, “It’s fine. I’ll just change later.”
Mu Fu bit her lip, her eyes full of guilt. “Yu Mo, I really didn’t do it on purpose.” (Well, maybe just a little.) “Please let me replace it for you, okay? That shirt’s ruined now. You have to let me—I insist.”
Yu Mo’s eyes darkened, becoming unreadable.
“Alright,” he said. To put the sweet, flustered girl at ease, he gently patted the back of her pale hand.
The cool touch of his fingers on her skin sent goosebumps up her arm. There was something about it that gave her the chills, like she’d brushed against something soft and sticky.
Yu Mo noticed right away. “Are you cold?” he asked, concerned. “Maybe the AC’s too low.” With that, he grabbed the remote and turned the temperature up a few degrees.
Mu Fu nodded. “Yeah… a little. Your hand felt cold too. Are you okay?”
Yu Mo smiled playfully. “Did I scare you?”
As he spoke, he finally lifted his hand from hers, though before pulling away completely, his fingers lingered just a moment, brushing gently against her skin.
Looking at how calm and collected he was, Mu Fu couldn’t help but wonder if she was just imagining things.
“My body temperature is a bit lower than most people’s,” he said.
“Then your girlfriend must save a ton on air conditioning in the summer,” Mu Fu replied, casually covering her mouth with her hand.
The words were out before she even realized what she’d said.
Yu Mo just looked at this adorable, flustered girl, who was clearly embarrassed and regretting her slip-up.
He clenched the hand that had just touched her soft skin, fighting the urge to reach out again.
“You’re not wrong,” he said gently. “But most people probably prefer a boyfriend who feels warm to the touch.”
There was a hint of sadness in his voice, like he’d touched on an old wound that hadn’t quite healed. He was implying that many people didn’t like how cold he felt, how he didn’t seem entirely… human.
Mu Fu felt a little pang in her heart.
“How could that be?” she said. “Physical warmth isn’t as important as emotional warmth. A lot of people prefer boyfriends who can make them feel cared for in their everyday life.”
“You’re one of them?” Yu Mo’s voice dropped to a soft whisper, like something intimate shared between lovers.
“Huh?” Mu Fu blinked, not sure she’d heard him right.
“I asked—do you like guys like that?”
“Of course.” Her voice wavered with embarrassment, as if she’d just spilled a private secret.
Yu Mo was practically drowning in the scent of the girl next to him. It was strong and intoxicating—one taste wasn’t enough. It stirred something dark and hungry deep inside him, something that wanted more.
“You’ve got a little mark here,” he said suddenly.
A breeze seemed to blow her way, and before she could react, Mu Fu instinctively closed her eyes. Her lashes fluttered like butterfly wings.
“Where… where is it?” she asked.
“Hm.” With her eyes shut, all her other senses sharpened. She could clearly feel Yu Mo’s warm breath on her neck—it was gentle, yet somehow unbearable.
Mu Fu tilted her head slightly, trying to move away from his face. She didn’t realize that by doing so, she was only exposing her long, delicate neck even more.
She heard his breathing shift, growing heavier right next to her ear. Her eyelashes trembled even harder.
In that moment, just out of reach of the surveillance camera, Yu Mo’s eyes swept over her pale, flawless neck with a dark, hungry stare. His eyelids slid shut, and the corners of his mouth curled into a wicked, triumphant smile.
No one knew what was going on in his mind right then.
He wanted to pin this woman—who trusted him so completely—right against the cold marble bar. He wanted to trap her wrists while she struggled beneath him and press his warm, damp lips to the very neck that had teased him over and over. He wanted to leave his mark there, deep rose-red traces only he could make.
She might look up at him with those dewy eyes, silently begging him to let go. But how could he possibly let her go? He’d already given her a chance to walk away. She was the one who kept tempting him, again and again. The increasingly intoxicating scent clinging to her skin was all the proof he needed.
He definitely didn’t remember her smelling like this on the first day. No way he’d forget a scent like that.
Yu Mo slowly opened his eyes, their depth and sharpness daring anyone to meet his gaze.
He still had to hold back. To wait. Now wasn’t the right time—he’d only scare her off.
Meanwhile, Mu Fu’s face was starting to freeze from waiting. Inside, she grumbled: I’m ready. Why aren’t you making a move already?!
If she had any idea how much Yu Mo wanted her—way more than she could ever imagine—she might’ve jumped him first. After all, stirring desire in someone so cool and guarded… wasn’t that something to be proud of? She wanted to savor the prize she’d won.
Mu Fu slowly opened her eyes and met his. In them, she caught a flicker of a fire just starting to burn, only to watch him quickly put it out.
“Is the mark on my face that hard to get off?” she asked, leaning back a bit. Her fingers brushed her cheek, but she didn’t feel anything weird. No stain, no smear.
Yu Mo’s eyes darkened the moment she instinctively pulled away. But he managed a calm smile.
“Yeah, it’s a little stubborn. Looks like you accidentally got some ink from a gel pen on your face. If we try to scrape it off, it might sting a bit.”
She did have a habit of getting ink on herself when she worked. Before, there was never anyone around to notice. But now, that wasn’t the case anymore.
A fairy like her couldn’t have even the slightest blemish.
“Can you help me get it off, Yu Mo? I don’t mind if it hurts.”
“Sure.” See? She really did trust him. Whatever he said, she believed it.
His eyebrows relaxed a little, a faint, natural smile playing at his lips.
“A-Fu—can I call you that? It just rolls off the tongue a little easier. And you can call me A-Mo too, if you want. Funny how both our names are just two syllables, huh? A-Fu, can you close your eyes? The mark’s just under the corner of your eye.”
His voice was soft as mist, cool and steady, with an unspoken authority that left no room for refusal.
Mu Fu: “……”
He said it all without waiting for her answer—clearly not a question, just a gentle command disguised as one.
Still, she didn’t mind. Getting closer to him was what she wanted too. Especially since the other women in the villa seemed to have their eyes on him as well.
“…Okay.” She closed her eyes, her cheeks flushed pink. But the way her eyelashes trembled said it all—her heart was nowhere near calm.
Mu Fu’s skin was absolutely perfect, like porcelain—so fair and smooth that you couldn’t see a single pore, even up close.
Yu Mo’s eyes burned as he looked at her face. Her delicate eyebrows, graceful eyes, cute upturned nose, and those full, rosy lips that looked incredibly soft—every part of her was tempting, an invitation to just lose control and taste her.
He tried to calm his pounding heart. No rush. There’s time. The chance will come.
Every time he got close to her, he felt like a different person. From the moment he first saw Mu Fu, he knew—she was going to be special.
And now, she was the only one who could stir up a storm in what used to be the calm waters of his soul.
Mu Fu felt his fingers on her skin—cool at first, but not too cold. Still, it was lasting a little too long. The spot under her eye started to sting a bit. He’s not actually trying to scrape off a layer of my skin, is he?
Yu Mo couldn’t help himself; his fingers lingered a moment too long. The tender skin under her eye was starting to turn red.
He felt a sudden pang of guilt. It wasn’t on purpose. Her skin… it was just too easy to get lost in.
Clearing his throat softly, he murmured, “All done.”
When Mu Fu opened her eyes again, she saw a faint black smudge on his fingertip.
Tilting her head up, her bright, clear eyes met his. “Is there still any left?”
“No.” Yu Mo quickly looked away, unable to hold her gaze—those eyes could pull a man in and never let go.
Honestly, there had never been any ink on her face. The whole thing was a lie. A harmless little excuse… just to get close to her.
Axolotl Translations 
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