Mu Fu quietly finished her meal while Yu Mo remained silent the entire time.
When she was done, she stood up and softly said, “Let’s go. Oh, do you want to change first?”
Yu Mo raised an eyebrow. “Is there something wrong with what I’m wearing?” His voice was calm again, no longer showing the upset he’d felt earlier.
Mu Fu quickly replied, “No, you look great.” Then she added a bit vaguely, “I was just asking. Are you coming upstairs with me or waiting down here?”
She was really trying to figure out if he was going to change. If she matched her outfit to his current one, and then he changed, her effort would be wasted. They both understood her real question: was he going to go upstairs and get ready too?
Yu Mo nodded. “I’ll come up with you.”
Autumn in Xiangjiang City wasn’t super noticeable; it was still pretty warm during the day. Today, Mu Fu wore a white, short-sleeved A-line dress, Japanese style, that went just past her knees. She had a small black shoulder bag with it, making her look young, like a schoolgirl.
Her long hair was down, with soft curls at the ends, looking naturally effortless. With her delicate face, Mu Fu didn’t need a lot of makeup. She had on a light foundation and a soft rosewood color on her lips. Her bottom lip was gently smudged out at the edges, while her top lip had a thin layer dabbed on with her fingertip. After she pressed her lips together, the color looked beautiful—her lips were slightly plump, full and pink like ripe cherries, totally tempting.
Mu Fu looked at herself in the mirror and felt a rush of confidence. She was ready.
“Did you wait long?” she asked cheerfully, her smile bright as she walked toward Yu Mo.
Yu Mo’s eyes went straight to her, taking in her delicate and glowing face. His gaze darkened a bit.
“No, I just finished getting ready myself,” he replied smoothly.
Mu Fu liked how he always made things easy. Being around him felt… comfortable.
Yu Mo, always a gentleman, opened the car door for her and put his hand over the top of the door frame so she wouldn’t bump her head.
“Thanks,” she said, her eyes lighting up with a grateful smile.
They were standing really close.
As she sat in the passenger seat, Yu Mo glanced down at the sweet, well-behaved girl next to him. His heart fluttered with a strange tickle. It took everything in him not to reach out and touch her soft, pink cheeks.
Once in the car, Mu Fu reached for the seatbelt but couldn’t pull it down. She tried a few more times, but it still wouldn’t budge. Looking helpless, she turned to him for help. “Yu Mo, can you check the seatbelt for me? I can’t get it to work.”
Yu Mo’s eyes turned dark and unreadable. I gave you a chance, he seemed to think.
He turned his face slightly, then leaned in close. In an instant, they were so near they could feel each other’s breath. His gaze locked onto Mu Fu.
Looking into his amber eyes, Mu Fu suddenly felt like she saw a dangerous whirlpool—one that could pull her under, into a strange world she couldn’t escape. Her heart skipped a beat. She blinked, and the illusion was gone.
Lowering her eyes, she realized she might have underestimated him. He was more dangerous than she’d thought… and way more attractive.
Yu Mo quietly chuckled when she shyly pulled back just a little. Then, with a simple tug on the seatbelt above her, he easily fixed the problem. Click. The stubborn belt came loose like magic.
“It’s done,” he said gently.
Not quite satisfied, he double-checked the belt. His hand brushed against her cheek, her delicate shoulder, and the bare skin of her arm. Mu Fu felt strange. Every spot he’d touched seemed to tingle, as if kissed by something cool and light as a feather.
She looked up, only to find Yu Mo watching her, his eyes slightly narrowed in satisfaction.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he replied casually, giving her head a soft pat before getting back in his seat.
Driving with one hand, Yu Mo kept the hand that had touched Mu Fu resting discreetly on his thigh, his fingers quietly tracing his palm. There was a flicker of regret in his eyes. He couldn’t touch her openly yet, only steal secret moments to satisfy his craving.
Meanwhile, Mu Fu felt a swirl of emotions. She sensed she might have stumbled upon something unexpected, but she’d need to confirm her suspicions first. Neither of them said much after that. Outside the window, the scenery blurred as the car moved forward.
Mu Fu gazed out for a moment, then turned back. “A-Mo, do you have any water? I’m a little thirsty.”
“Sorry, I don’t,” he said, glancing at the GPS. “But there’s a ‘Mumu’ milk tea place up ahead. Want one? I’ll grab it for you.”
“I do! But I’ll come with you.”
Since milk tea would take a bit of time to make, Yu Mo didn’t argue.
They were going to be waiting anyway—might as well wait together. After Yu Mo found a parking spot, Mu Fu followed him out of the car.
He gestured for her to order first, and she didn’t hesitate. Standing before the dazzling menu filled with colorful drinks, Mu Fu’s eyes danced from one option to the next, slightly overwhelmed.
“What flavor do you like, A-Mo?” she asked.
Yu Mo leaned down, following the direction of her pointing finger with his gaze. “Lemon water is fine.”
When he bent down like that, his chin almost brushed her shoulder. If Mu Fu turned her head just a little, her lips would graze his cheek. Mu Fu’s lashes fluttered; she could feel the warmth of a man standing this close—too close.
Pretending not to notice, she turned her head to confirm, “So, you want thi—” Her soft lips brushed against his cheek mid-sentence. Startled, she froze. Her entire face flushed a brilliant red, eyes turning glossy with embarrassment.
Yu Mo felt it too—the soft warmth against his skin. He turned his face slightly, and just like that, their lips met without warning. Soft against soft. Mu Fu’s round eyes widened like a startled deer, stunned into stillness.
Meeting her dazed gaze, Yu Mo’s lips quirked in a subtle smile. Before she could react, his tongue playfully darted out, grazing the lips he had longed for. Mu Fu felt the wet warmth on her mouth, and her breath hitched. Her heart pounded wildly as if out of her control.
It felt like time stretched forever, but in truth, it was only a fleeting moment. He pulled away swiftly—so swiftly, even the nearby camera crew missed it entirely.
Mu Fu cupped her lips with trembling fingers. “You… You…”
Faced with her incredulous expression, Yu Mo replied lazily, “What’s wrong?” Then he bent down again, leaned close to her ear, and covered his mic with his hand. His voice dropped to a low, intimate murmur, “Next time we kiss, remember to breathe. Though… I don’t think this one counts.”
Mu Fu’s heart skipped a beat. It was the first time she’d heard him speak in that lazy, teasing drawl—equal parts sexy and dangerous. Her face burned scarlet.
Even after they got back in the car with their drinks, the blush on Mu Fu’s face hadn’t faded. Head bowed in embarrassment, she let him buckle her seatbelt, just like before.
Through the rearview mirror, Yu Mo easily saw her pressing the chilled milk tea to her cheek, trying to cool down. The corners of his lips lifted slightly, his expression relaxed. Their little encounter earlier hadn’t gone as far as he might have liked, but the restless feeling inside him had finally found a sliver of satisfaction. It was enough to calm the chaos in his heart, for now.
“A-Fu,” he asked casually, “don’t you like the milk tea I got for you? You haven’t even taken a sip.”
Honestly, Mu Fu had been so overwhelmed by everything earlier that her thoughts were completely jumbled. She hadn’t even registered what drink she was getting. Yu Mo had ended up choosing for her. When he asked what she wanted, she’d casually said, “Anything’s fine.” So technically, the one she held was based on his taste.
Startled, she quickly stopped cooling her face with the drink and stammered, “…I do like it. I was just about to drink it.” As if to prove her point, she took a huge gulp from the straw.
Yu Mo chuckled. “No rush. You can have mine if you want.”
“…Thanks.”
Even when they got out of the car, the air between them remained oddly charged—subtle, but undeniably intimate.
Once she was no longer trapped in a confined space with Yu Mo, Mu Fu discreetly let out a breath. She’d been way too tense in the car. She’d wanted to ask him why he’d done that—why he’d kissed her—but she was afraid of hearing something like, “It was an accident.” Whatever the reason, she wasn’t sure she could handle the answer.
The sushi place they arrived at—Junzhao Sushi—had been Mu Fu’s favorite back when she used to date Xu Kangning. At the time, she had been overweight, often drawing unwanted attention wherever she went. But this place had elegant, bite-sized portions that made eating feel less messy, more graceful—and the smaller portions helped her worry less about gaining even more weight.
Every other place Xu Kangning picked had been a disaster: hotpot places loaded with calories, or fancy, upscale restaurants full of slim, fashionable people who made her feel like she didn’t belong. A chubby girl like her stuck out like a sore thumb in those environments, and she hated the stares. Junzhao, on the other hand, was tucked away in a quiet area outside the city center—a peaceful little spot, perfect for a date.
Yu Mo had booked a high-end suite. Mu Fu had never picked this kind of package before. As she walked in, the first thing she noticed was the tatami mat flooring. A low dining table sat neatly in the middle, and just beyond, the sliding doors opened onto a balcony that overlooked a private courtyard. The doors were open, letting in the fresh air.
The layout reminded her a little of a Japanese inn. Inside, there was a separate bedroom with a wide, plush bed. Outside, steam rose from a small pool, carrying a faint smell of sulfur on the breeze.
“Is that… a hot spring?” she asked in surprise.
Yu Mo nodded. “Yep, there’s a private one in the courtyard. We can soak a little after dinner, once we’ve rested.” He paused, then added casually, “You’ve never tried the hot spring here before?” His tone was light, like he wasn’t trying to find out anything specific.
But secretly, the idea of Mu Fu having once been naked in this very place with another man made his chest burn with jealousy.
“Nope, never. I only came here to eat in the past. I love it here,” she said, her eyes lighting up as she looked around.
The moment she said that, Yu Mo felt better. So this experience was something they were doing for the first time together.
“Can we go in now?” Mu Fu turned to him, hopeful.
“No,” he replied flatly. “You can’t soak on an empty stomach. And even after eating, you need to wait at least an hour.”
She blinked at him with wide, pleading eyes. “Can I just soak my feet?”
“Still no,” he answered, completely unmoved.
“Oh.” Her face fell a little in disappointment.
Yu Mo felt a bit guilty, but reminded himself it was for her own good, and stood firm.
Axolotl Translations 
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