Later, Yu Mo tried watching horror movies, but they just didn’t hit the same way novels did. He still craved those wild, fantastical worlds.
When other people’s stories weren’t enough to satisfy that craving, he started making up his own. The bizarre worlds in Yu Mo’s head would usually scare most people. But once he wrote them down, those same people found themselves hooked, desperate to jump into his tales just like the characters. Even knowing it was all made up only made them want more.
In a world without Mu Fu, the only thing that made life bearable for Yu Mo was writing. It was like he was painting color into a life that was otherwise totally gray.
But just when he’d gotten used to this quiet, dull way of living… she showed up, bringing with her a burst of color so bright it actually startled him. The moment he saw her, he knew she was different.
Blushing a little, Mu Fu looked at Yu Mo and said shyly, “I’m heading back now. Make sure you come back early this afternoon, okay? I’ll be waiting for you.” She repeated it on purpose, making it clear she wasn’t going to let Wu Qingyi hog his time.
Yu Mo nodded. The soft blush on Mu Fu’s face made his eyes darken with emotion. He knew she’d understood what he meant earlier.
Back in her room, Mu Fu’s cheeks were still burning. Luckily, Feng Ningran wasn’t back yet.
Yu Mo didn’t actually go upstairs to change. He just went to grab a book—to give to her. When he knocked on her door, her face was still red from before.
“What is it?” she asked, her voice sweet and soft, like a gentle touch on his heart that made it tingle in the best way.
“A-Fu, here. You can read this if you get bored,” he said, a gentle warmth in his eyes.
Mu Fu took the book, nodding. “Mm, I’ll read it carefully.”
Once he handed over the book, Yu Mo left. Wu Qingyi had been waiting downstairs for a while.
Later, when Mu Fu came down in different clothes, she noticed the living room was empty. Yu Mo and Wu Qingyi had gone out. The camera showed Mu Fu pressing her lips together softly, her gaze lingering on the front door. She looked quietly disappointed, radiating a sense of helplessness.
She only seemed a little better once Feng Ningran came back.
They made it back just before the show’s 1 PM deadline. After seeing Xia Sihan and Xu Kangning leave together, Feng Ningran invited Mu Fu to the lounge on the third floor to watch a movie.
It was a coincidence that Rong Yongxin and Ding Binbing were already there. After checking with the girls, the four of them decided to watch a movie together. The two guys asked where the other girls had gone. Mu Fu and Feng Ningran just laughed it off, not mentioning that all the female guests had gone on dates that day. Once they realized they wouldn’t get an answer, the two gave up asking.
But what was really going through their minds… only they knew.
Around 4:30 in the afternoon, Wu Qingyi and Yu Mo got back.
Wu Qingyi’s eyes were really red and still a bit puffy when she walked into the villa—it was obvious she’d been crying for a while. Yu Mo walked next to her, keeping the same distance they had before they left, not too close, not too far.
Before anyone could even ask what happened, Wu Qingyi spoke up first: “I’m a little tired. I’m going to go rest for a bit.” And with that, she quietly left the living room.
Yu Mo glanced at Mu Fu and said, “I’m going upstairs to change. I’ll come find you in a bit.”
“Okay,” she replied.
Not long after, Yu Mo came back downstairs in some comfy loungewear and naturally sat down next to Mu Fu. He looked really tired, like being out all day had drained him more than a full day of work. Mu Fu felt a little bad for him.
“Do you want to rest a bit?” she asked, her voice soft and clear, like a gentle stream. “It’s still early. We can start cooking around six.”
“Mhm,” Yu Mo hummed, gently leaning his head on her shoulder. His hair brushed her neck like a whisper. “Let me just rest here for a while. I’m so tired.”
“Ah—okay, go ahead,” Mu Fu mumbled, a little stunned. Her body stiffened, and the tips of her ears turned pink.
Feeling the warmth of his body next to hers, her mind started to drift with random thoughts. She realized Yu Mo had patted her head a few times, but she’d never done it back. His hair was surprisingly soft, unlike other guys’—it was well-kept and smooth, not scratchy at all against her sensitive neck. With him this close, she could smell a light, fresh scent.
She wondered, a bit absentmindedly, what kind of shampoo he used—it smelled really good. And with those odd little thoughts swirling around, she found herself no longer pushing away his closeness.
As Mu Fu’s body relaxed, the corner of Yu Mo’s lips curved into the faintest of smiles. It was so tiny you’d barely notice it unless you were looking. His whole vibe softened in that moment, and he closed his eyes, content to rest.
Mu Fu subtly adjusted her posture so his head could rest more comfortably. She even tried to turn the pages of her book more gently so she wouldn’t disturb him.
The others in the living room were quietly watching them. And once they saw Yu Mo peacefully leaning on Mu Fu, they all found excuses to leave. They had to—staying any longer would mean they’d be too full for dinner, already stuffed with all that second-hand sweetness. And honestly, seeing how naturally cute the two were together just made everyone else a little jealous.
On camera, the handsome man was gently leaning against the sweet, soft-natured girl who was quietly reading. The golden light of the evening sun glowed on them, making their faces shine with a warm, beautiful light. It was the perfect picture of romance.
……
Right on time, by 6 p.m., Mu Fu and Yu Mo went into the kitchen to make dinner. Feng Ningran joined them too, chatting with Mu Fu as she helped out. After spending time alone with Mu Fu that afternoon, Ningran had really started to like her even more. Their conversation now flowed easily, like close friends.
“Where could they have gone? It’s so late and they still aren’t back. Yu Mo and Qingyi have been back for ages,” Feng Ningran mumbled while helping in the kitchen. She was talking about Xia Sihan and Xu Kangning.
Mu Fu shook her head. “No idea. We can ask them when they get back.”
Feng Ningran pouted, clearly stumped, and then completely changed the subject. “I went to check on Qingyi after she got back, but I couldn’t get anything out of her.” She leaned in to whisper this close to Mu Fu’s ear, keeping an eye on Yu Mo to make sure he didn’t hear.
Mu Fu’s lips moved slightly. Her voice was as soft as a breath. “Thank you.”
Feng Ningran lightly bumped her arm and grinned. “No need to thank me.”
Mu Fu smiled back.
“A-Fu, do you want the celtuce stir-fried with pork, or just by itself?” Yu Mo walked over with a fresh, green stalk of celtuce in hand, accidentally cutting into their conversation.
Mu Fu thought for a moment. “Let’s add pork—it’ll taste better that way.”
Yu Mo glanced at Feng Ningran, then looked back at Mu Fu. “Can you peel it for me? I’ll cut the meat.”
“Sure.” Mu Fu nodded.
“I’ll get out of your way. No point in standing here if I can’t help anyway,” Feng Ningran said casually. But as Yu Mo looked at her, she saw a quick flash in his eyes—it felt like knives hidden behind a calm look.
She stared after him, confused. What had she done to upset him?
But then she looked at Mu Fu—and it clicked. He couldn’t stand the thought of another woman getting too close to Mu Fu. Seriously?
Feng Ningran glanced at Mu Fu, who had no clue what was going on, and felt a little sorry for her. Yu Mo even got jealous of other women—his possessiveness was seriously something else. And to think she used to be envious of how much they liked each other. Now, she was just quietly relieved she hadn’t gone after Yu Mo herself.
Just as Mu Fu and Yu Mo were finishing up dinner, Xia Sihan and Xu Kangning finally came back.
Feng Ningran was the first to stand up. “Have you two eaten? Dinner’s just ready—Mu Fu and Yu Mo cooked tonight.”
Both Xia Sihan and Xu Kangning looked at Mu Fu and Yu Mo. Xia Sihan gave a polite smile and said, “Oh, you haven’t eaten yet? We actually grabbed something outside, so we’ll skip dinner.”
“Oh,” Feng Ningran said flatly. The moment she heard they’d already eaten, she turned away and sat back down, not even looking at them anymore.
Xia Sihan added, “We won’t disturb your meal. We’ll head upstairs.” She glanced over at Xu Kangning.
He nodded. “Yeah, enjoy your food. We’re just going to drop our stuff off.” They were carrying quite a few bags, but the wrapping made it hard to tell what they’d bought.
After dinner, Mu Fu excused herself to do some work in her room, while the others stayed behind, drinking and chatting. By the time Mu Fu came back down, most of the guests were clearly tipsy. All seven of them were still there—she was the only sober one.
Maybe it was the relaxed vibe, but someone must have hit a nerve with Wu Qingyi. She ended up in tears. When Mu Fu returned, she saw Xia Sihan holding Wu Qingyi, comforting her, while Feng Ningran handed her tissues. The guys, even though they were pretty drunk, still managed to keep some composure. That said, the mood had gotten awkward—especially for Rong Yongxin, whose face was stiff with discomfort. He was the one whose words had made Wu Qingyi cry.
Yu Mo sat with one arm folded, casually sipping his beer. When he saw Mu Fu, he pulled out the empty chair next to him and looked at her, silently inviting her over. Mu Fu figured there were already enough people around Wu Qingyi—she wouldn’t be much help—so she took the seat next to him.
Curious, she leaned over. “What did you say to her? Why is she crying?”
“Hm?” Yu Mo’s gaze lingered on her soft pink lips, then lifted to her eyes, looking a little dazed. His pale neck had a faint flush—he was definitely tipsy. Mu Fu had assumed he was fine, given how calm he looked sipping his beer. She hadn’t realized he just didn’t show it on his face.
“You’re drunk?” she asked. Then she held up three fingers. “How many fingers am I holding up?”
“Three,” he said in a husky voice.
“So you’re still aware. But why did you all drink so much?” She glanced at the others—none of them had held back. She seemed to be the only one still sober.
Yu Mo pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know. We were just talking… then somehow, we all started drinking.”
Mu Fu gave him a dry look. “And someone dared to try and make you drink?”
“No… I drank on my own.”
Mu Fu took a sip from his cup. The sharp burn hit her tongue instantly, making her shudder. “Ugh, it’s spicy!” Her round eyes narrowed slightly, her delicate tongue flicking out as she tried to cool the burn. Her breath carried the faint scent of alcohol mixed with her own soft fragrance. She was never used to alcohol, nor did she like drinking. Luckily, she didn’t have to go to events where she was expected to.
Axolotl Translations 
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