Chen Mo stepped out of the car. It was already 7 p.m., and the sight of his familiar home brought a smile to his face.
"Wang Hai, head back first. I can handle the luggage," Chen Mo said.
"Understood," Wang Hai nodded.
Dragging his suitcase toward the villa, Chen Mo took out his phone. "Mo Nu, is Xiao Yu home?"
"She is—reading a book."
"Good. Don't tell her I'm back. I want to surprise her."
Normally, Mo Nu would notify anyone inside the house when someone approached. This time, Chen Mo had something else in mind.
"Okay. But, Brother Mo, what does surprise feel like?" Mo Nu asked.
Chen Mo smiled. "It's hard to put into words... It's a sudden kind of happiness—something unexpected that makes you really, really happy."
As he explained, he approached the villa's door. He pressed his fingerprint and face to the scanner, then quietly pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Xiao Yu was sitting on the sofa, wearing a spaghetti-strap nightdress. Her slender legs were curled up, a book in hand, headphones over her ears. Her face was serene, focused on what she was reading.
Sensing something, she turned her head—and saw Chen Mo smiling at her.
She blinked, as if making sure it wasn't an illusion. Then, with a burst of joy, she tossed aside her book and headphones, ran barefoot across the room, and threw herself into Chen Mo's arms. She nuzzled into him, breathing in his familiar scent, a blissful smile on her face.
"You're back."
Chen Mo wrapped his arms around her, gently stroking her back. "Surprised?"
"Mhm."
She nodded against his chest, feeling like a newlywed all over again. She clung to him, unwilling to let go.
"I don't remember you being this clingy before," Chen Mo teased.
"People change," Xiao Yu said, looking up. "You spoiled me. Don't you like it?"
"I love it." Chen Mo chuckled and walked over to the sofa with her in his arms.
"You haven't eaten yet, right? You must be hungry. I'll go cook. You unpack and take a shower first. Dinner will be ready soon."
Before Chen Mo could respond, Xiao Yu slipped out of his arms and darted into the kitchen.
Watching her busy herself, Chen Mo smiled, then went to unpack and take a quick shower.
By the time he returned, the dining table was filled with steaming dishes. He sat down, stomach growling after hours of travel, and eagerly dug in.
"Slow down, no one's taking it from you." Xiao Yu giggled, eyes crinkling as she kept piling food onto his plate. "Weren't you supposed to come back later?"
"The accident investigation wrapped up quickly. The trial will resume in a few days, and there's not much I need to do right now. Plus..." He gave her a meaningful look. "I missed fishing at home."
Xiao Yu's cheeks flushed pink. She looked away, heart full.
"Anything interesting happen while you were away?" she asked.
"Yeah, on the plane ride back, the flight attendants and a few passengers recognized me. Took photos, chatted a bit. One even said the lighting was perfect and asked for my WeChat so she could send me the picture."
Xiao Yu narrowed her eyes, her voice sweet but with a touch of vinegar. "Did you give it to her?"
"How could I? None of them are as pretty as you."
"Oh?" She raised a brow, pretending to be annoyed. "So if they were prettier, you would've added them?"
"Never. To me, you're more beautiful than Xi Shi."
That flattered her enough to make her beam, but Chen Mo wasn't done yet.
"When I got off the plane, a few of the attendants even handed me notes—phone numbers, WeChat, email, addresses... Want to see?"
He pulled out a few sticky notes from his pocket, but before he could finish, Xiao Yu snatched them from his hand with a glare. He couldn't help but laugh. She was just too adorable.
Fifteen minutes later, stuffed and content, Chen Mo sat on the sofa flipping through the economics book Xiao Yu had been reading earlier.
After clearing the dishes, she joined him, snuggling into his side and pulling the book from his hands.
"Why are you reading this?" Chen Mo asked.
"As President Zhao's assistant, she gives me tasks, sometimes quizzes me on things. I can't just be a pampered canary—you're already supporting me enough. I want to grow too."
"Well, as long as it's something you like." Chen Mo reached into his bag. "Here, I brought you a gift."
He opened a delicate jewelry box, revealing a stunning jade bracelet, its color and craftsmanship clearly worth a fortune.
"Told you I'd bring something back. Do you like it?"
Xiao Yu's eyes sparkled. "Women and jewelry? Zero resistance. Of course I love it."
She twirled the bracelet on her wrist but then scolded him: "Don't spend so much on me. Even simple accessories from online are fine. I can't wear something this expensive out—I'll be too scared to lose it. But you do deserve a reward."
She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.
"Not enough," Chen Mo said with a sly grin. "I'm stuffed, but I'm not satisfied yet."
Her face turned bright red, lips trembling slightly. "W-Wait for me."
"Huh?"
"You'll see." She said it shyly, then turned and darted into the bedroom.
Chen Mo laughed to himself. "Still gets shy after all this time."
Five minutes later, the door opened again—and Chen Mo's eyes went wide.
Xiao Yu stepped out, her usual nightdress swapped for a sheer black gauze nightgown. The lacy undergarments beneath barely concealed her curves, the faintest shimmer of mystery accentuating her every move.
Her long legs were bare, her silky hair cascading down her back, and her gaze was both bashful and seductive. She radiated confidence and allure, a total transformation from her usual quiet demeanor.
Chen Mo swallowed hard.
She walked over, sat on his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered, "These are the new clothes I mentioned before. Do you like them?"
"I love them."
His voice was hoarse, his restraint strained. "What made you try something like this?"
"I wanted to show you." Her face burned red, but she didn't look away. "Tonight, I'm not your princess. I want to be your queen."
Then she kissed him.
At that moment, sparks flew—so intense even the moon hid behind the clouds.