Volume One, Chapter 10: Take Responsibility for Your Sister

Fang Mo felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

Li Haowen’s analysis seemed impeccable, with logic that left no room for doubt. Could it be… that Sister Yuelan actually likes me?

Fang Mo’s heart began to race uncontrollably.

Just then, Li Haowen leaned in and lowered his voice. "However, you’re in for some trouble. I’ve heard that President Ning is notoriously stern. Outside of her family, she treats everyone—even her business partners—with a cold, icy demeanor. She’s like a block of ice that has remained frozen for ten thousand years. No matter how stunning she looks, it’s hard for a man to feel any spark when faced with such a serious, frigid block of ice all day long!"

Hm?

Fang Mo was stunned again. Sister Yuelan is a block of ice? Who did Li Haowen hear that from? Although she did seem a bit cold toward outsiders, she had always been warm and gentle with him since they were children. Especially after everything that happened yesterday—she would tease him eight times a day and was always ready to "speed up" the relationship at a moment's notice. Thinking of this, Fang Mo’s ears burned. Was she really as unapproachable as people claimed?

***

At the Ning Group conference room, Ning Yuelan walked toward her office with a cold expression after finishing a routine company meeting. Just then, she received a notification on her phone for a transaction. Her eyes curved into a beautiful arc. It was a charge from the card she had given Fang Mo.

"My husband is finally willing to spend my money. A wife earns, and her husband spends—this is a good start."

Her secretary happened to walk into the office at that moment and witnessed a bizarre scene. The always stern President Ning was actually giggling foolishly at her phone for over thirty seconds. The secretary had never seen such an expression on her face—full of tenderness, doting, sweetness, and happiness. She stood frozen, stunned to see the "iceberg" finally bloom.

*Whoosh—*

Suddenly, the secretary felt a chill pierce through her. Ning Yuelan had returned to her usual expression, her gaze icy as it fell upon her.

"Is there something you need?"

"Gulp. President Ning, these are the proposals from the executives. Would you like to review them?"

Ning Yuelan waved her hand dismissively. "No need. Take them back and have them revise them twice. If they can’t improve the content, have them check for typos. If there are no typos, have them check the punctuation. Just make sure they don't bother me for the rest of the day."

So capricious? President Ning was a workaholic; in the office, she was like a robot, running constantly without even a sip of water. What had come over her?

"Anything else?" Ning Yuelan’s cold voice rang out again as the secretary hesitated.

"No..." The secretary quickly gathered the documents and practically ran out of the office. Although Ning Yuelan hadn't explicitly said it, she felt the word "get lost" stamped across her face. If she didn't leave now, she would likely be in for a harsh scolding.

***

A moment later, Ning Yuelan dialed a number. "Little brother, where are you?"

"Oh, Sister Yuelan?" Fang Mo was confused. It wasn't even time to get off work yet; why was she calling? Recalling what Li Haowen had just said, his heart began to pound frantically. Li Haowen leaned in to eavesdrop.

"Are you off work?" Ning Yuelan smiled, her gentle voice coming through the phone. "I just finished up. Where are you? Send me your location, and I’ll come pick you up."

"Oh! No need, sister, I can get back on my own. Don’t trouble yourself." It was rush hour; it would take ages for her to drive over.

But Ning Yuelan was persistent, teasing him, "Which floor of the Bulgari Hotel are you on? I need to go see if my little husband is fooling around with someone behind my back."

So she was checking up on him! Fang Mo found it rather amusing. The goddess held in such high regard by so many people could also have such a girlish side. And this was only the day after they had impulsively registered their marriage, before things were even fully clear between them.

Hearing that the goddess was coming, Li Haowen, who had been eavesdropping, was ecstatic, frantically mouthing to Fang Mo: *Let her come! Let her come!*

Fang Mo blushed. "Alright, come then. I’m with a friend. Oh, and sister, I have to remind you—it’s a male friend."

"Alright, got it." Ning Yuelan hung up with a laugh. Did she not know he was with a male friend? If that black card were used for hotels, spas, KTVs, or clubs, she would have received an alert with a location immediately.

"Heh, better not let the little guy know about that, or he might get annoyed that I don't trust him. But since I’m a bit older and he’s still young and sunny, I’ll just consider it a little bit of security I’ve created for myself!" Ning Yuelan tapped the steering wheel, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I’m sure my little brother won’t blame me!"

***

Ning Yuelan drove along the overpass, and as she reached the entrance of the Bulgari Hotel, she quickly put on her sunglasses. Although not a celebrity, she was a public figure, and appearing in such places often attracted paparazzi.

Back at the hotel, Li Haowen hadn't been able to calm down since the call ended. "Damn, I told you the goddess likes you! Otherwise, why would she use that gentle tone? And she’s coming to check on you!"

"You know how awkward it was when I saw her interviewed before? The host told a joke, and everyone laughed except Ning Yuelan, who remained calm. After things quieted down, she asked the host, 'Was that funny? You’ve wasted fifty-six seconds of my time.'" Li Haowen shuddered. "The atmosphere turned freezing instantly."

Fang Mo imagined the scene and couldn't help but feel a little pity for the interviewer.

Just then, a slender, graceful figure appeared behind Fang Mo. Li Haowen, not yet realizing she was there, said excitedly, "Think about it, having an icy goddess who has shut down countless men melt into a pool of water for you—and being the only one allowed to enjoy that clear spring—what an experience that must be. Hearing sexy moans from President Ning’s lips... hiss, just thinking about it is intoxicating!"

As those words left his mouth, Ning Yuelan, standing right behind Fang Mo, was dumbfounded. Was this the kind of thing guys talked about? And the subject of their lewd fantasies was actually her? She found it quite amusing and wanted to see how Fang Mo would react.

"You brat, that’s enough!" Fang Mo punched Li Haowen in frustration. "Sister Yuelan is my wife, after all. Isn't it a bit much to talk about her like that in front of me?"

Hearing this, a charming curve formed on Ning Yuelan's red lips. He had called her his wife behind her back.

Li Haowen coughed. "I had some ideas about President Ning before, but that was just daydreaming. That wild horse isn't something an ordinary person can tame! And I’ve completely given up on that now. But what about you? Why are you being shy? You’re married; you’ll be doing that sooner or later..."

Before he could finish, a crisp voice sounded from behind. "Chatting about what?"

*Sister Yuelan’s voice!?* Fang Mo was startled and spun around. Fang Mo was seated, and Ning Yuelan was leaning over behind him; their heads were nearly level. As Fang Mo turned, Ning Yuelan’s red lips happened to brush against his.

The sensation of her cool, soft lips touched him. It was only for a split second, and Ning Yuelan pulled back like a startled deer. But Fang Mo’s mind was flooded with the image of her divine face and the softness of the touch.

"Gulp. Sister Yuelan, when did you get here?" Fang Mo felt like a thief caught in the act. It was bad enough to gossip about others, but to have such an intimate encounter on top of it left him feeling uneasy.

The woman was wearing sunglasses, so her expression was unreadable. Fang Mo felt a flutter of anxiety.

Ning Yuelan pouted, looking both shy and angry as she glared at him. "You brat, I wanted to surprise you, but how could you take advantage of me like that? Now look, my first kiss is gone. How am I supposed to get married a second time?"

She felt shy because they had only been married for two days and already kissed, even if it was an accident. She felt angry because it was the first kiss she had guarded for over twenty years. Even if she had intended to save it for this little guy, it shouldn't have been given away so casually—there was no sense of occasion!

Fang Mo blinked, confused. *If your first kiss is gone, you can't marry a second time?* What kind of logic was that?

He opened his mouth. "Then... should you find someone who doesn't mind that you've kissed another man?"

*Damn! Are you a dense, block-headed man!?*

Ning Yuelan pinched him fiercely. "What are you talking about? My mom said kissing makes girls pregnant! If I’m pregnant, how can I marry someone else?"

"Pregnant? Kissing?" Fang Mo’s eyes widened. "Isn't that just something parents say to scare kids to prevent early dating? How could kissing make you pregnant?"

Ning Yuelan’s peach-blossom eyes flashed with mischief beneath her sunglasses. She leaned in, a fragrant scent drifting toward him. "Then tell me... how does a girl get pregnant?"