Volume 1, Chapter 31: Sleep With Me Tonight

As the morning sun spilled through the car window and onto Ning Yuelan’s face once more, the vehicle came to a slow, steady stop. Fang Mo did not answer her; instead, he found himself lost in thought, contemplating Yuelan’s feelings. Truth be told, after the time they had spent together, he had finally confirmed his own heart.

He was in love with her.

Yet, the words Ning Shiyu had spoken yesterday still lingered in his mind. In high-society families, there was no such thing as love; for someone as exceptional as Yuelan, most marriages were merely strategic alliances between powerful clans. As for the Ning family, he was completely worthless.

Fang Mo didn’t know if Yuelan’s kindness was born of genuine love or if she was simply inherently tender-hearted—the kind of person who would treat any husband with the same affection, and he just happened to be the one filling the role. Even now, as her husband, he felt he didn’t truly understand her.

"Yuelan?" Fang Mo glanced at her.

"Hmm?"

As their eyes met, the young man pursed his lips. "Sister, will we ever get a divorce?"

He didn't want a divorce anymore. Even though their marriage had begun under such absurd and ridiculous circumstances, after the time they had shared, he suddenly wanted to be her husband for the rest of his life.

Ning Yuelan fell silent for a moment, her beautiful eyes fixed steadily on his. "Why? Why are you asking that? Brother, what’s wrong?" Her tone was uncharacteristically urgent.

*Is she panicked?* Fang Mo was taken aback. He had only intended to ask how she truly felt about him, never expecting such a raw, vulnerable reaction.

"Sister, don't be afraid. I was just wondering if you truly love me. I... I’m afraid of losing you. I don't want to live in constant doubt."

"I love you. I love you more than anyone else in this world." Ning Yuelan bit her lower lip. "I only flirt with the person I love, I only go shopping with the person I love, and I only step forward to protect the person I love. I only show affection to the person I love. So, I truly love you."

Marriage was the same. She only wanted to marry the one she loved. It was precisely because she loved him—harboring a secret crush that had deepened into an uncontrollable obsession—that she had kept track of his movements and registered their marriage.

*She really loves me?* Fang Mo’s heart tightened as he reached out to grasp her slender hand. "I understand now, Yuelan. Let’s get out of the car. The others have probably arrived, and we shouldn’t keep them waiting."

As he spoke, he tried to pull his hand away, feeling a sudden wave of embarrassment for his own insecurities. Why had he ever doubted her?

"No." Just then, Ning Yuelan gripped his hand firmly. The man stiffened, unsure of her intentions. He felt her intense, glowing gaze fixed on his face, making his cheeks burn. The atmosphere inside the car suddenly became thick with desire.

Her rapid breaths brushed against his face, tickling him. As if terrified that he might leave her at any moment, she moved so close that her exquisite face was nearly pressed against his.

"Brother, may I kiss you?"

Fang Mo was momentarily stunned. Before he could respond, her passionate lips pressed against his. Her delicate fragrance instantly filled his senses. Fang Mo’s eyes widened; he hadn’t expected her to be this bold. Her lips were cool, with a faint, sweet scent.

In his eyes, Ning Yuelan had always been like a celestial being—cold, brilliant, incomparably talented and beautiful, and an older sister seven or eight years his senior. He had held her in such high regard that it surpassed even his respect for his elders. And now, this goddess was within arm's reach, the iceberg melting, leaning against him like a clear, flowing spring.

"Yuelan..."

Fang Mo opened his mouth, and to his surprise, she skillfully slipped her soft tongue inside. He completely forgot to breathe, sitting there like a statue, letting her explore his mouth.

About half a minute later, she pulled away, her face flushed. It was her first time french kissing, and unlike Fang Mo, who had forgotten to breathe, her respiration was rapid and heavy.

"Are... are we okay?" Fang Mo gasped for air, his eyes wide.

Ning Yuelan’s face was so red it looked as if it might bleed. "You fool, why were you holding your breath the whole time? Don't you know you could suffocate? Remember to breathe next time; I don't want to lose my husband just because we kissed."

Fang Mo nodded blankly. Suddenly, Ning Yuelan let out a sharp gasp.

"What is it, Yuelan?"

As he looked over, she pointed a finger, with a strange expression, toward the window on his right. There, four faces were pressed against the glass, watching them with knowing, mischievous smiles. It was none other than her three close friends and Li Haowen.

*Pfft—*

Fang Mo felt his ears turn bright red. When had they arrived? Had they seen the entire kiss?

"I’m a girl and I’m not shy, you blockhead. What are you blushing for?" With that, she pushed the car door open and snapped at the group outside, "Have you seen enough? Haven't you ever seen a movie, or have you never seen a man before? Must you stand there and watch other people kiss?"

Wu Jiabei chuckled, pinching her fingers in a mocking gesture and imitating Yuelan’s gentle tone from moments ago: "Brother, I don't want to lose my husband just because we kissed."

*Pfft!* Both people in the car blushed.

"Tsk, Yuelan, I didn't know you had such a wild side. We really underestimated you. If we hadn't been standing outside coughing, were you two planning on starting the 'make-a-baby' project right here in the car?"

Ning Yuelan’s face turned crimson, and she retorted angrily, "Get lost!"

"Alright, Wu Jiabei, stop teasing our CEO. She’s thick-skinned; teasing won't hurt her. You should tease her husband instead. Look, the poor kid’s neck is red!" Song Yu teased with a grin, earning a roll of the eyes from Yuelan.

...

After stepping out of the car, Fang Mo realized how unique this place was, especially as Li Haowen began to chatter incessantly. "My god, isn't this the famous hot spring resort in Jiangcheng? Rumor has it this is the gold standard of the hot spring industry."

"I've never been here. Usually, you need at least a three-day reservation just to get a room, and even that’s not guaranteed. If you're unlucky and a VIP cuts in line, you have to start the process all over again..." Li Haowen was stunned, never expecting that the "dinner" Wu Jiabei mentioned would be at a place like this.

Song Yu’s eyes flashed with pride as she offered a modest smile. "Don't let it flatter you. The outside world exaggerates things; it's just a common hot spring resort."

*A common resort?* This was one of the Song family's top money-making assets. Was this "common"? The annual revenue of this single resort could crush eighty percent of the businesses in Jiangcheng.

"Wait, Sister Song Yu, does your family own this? No way, really? The owner of the Song family resort is standing right in front of me?" Li Haowen’s jaw dropped.

Fang Mo was surprised. Was it really that exaggerated?

"Alright, enough with the commercial flattery," Wu Jiabei said, feeling a bit jealous as she pushed Song Yu aside and dragged Li Haowen toward the entrance.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Isn't someone getting a little too into their role? Are you already getting jealous?" Song Yu remarked. "Li Haowen hasn't even agreed to be with you yet, has he? Who knows, maybe in a couple of days, he might become my little boyfriend. Why are you so jealous, Wu Jiabei?"

Hearing this, Wu Jiabei started clawing at her in frustration. Song Yu ran off with a laugh, presumably to ask the manager to arrange their accommodations. Fang Mo and Li Haowen exchanged looks and wiped cold sweat from their foreheads. Why did these four powerful, independent women have such unfiltered tongues when they were together?

Before long, Song Yu returned with several room keys. "Alright, everyone, decide how you're sleeping tonight."

Wu Jiabei immediately insisted that Li Haowen stay in her room, claiming she wanted to discuss the suspicious points of the Li Wenhan car accident with him all night. But she was met with ruthless glares from the other women. *You little vixen, do you really think we don't know what you're thinking?*

After Song Yu collected everyone's ID information, Fang Mo tugged at Yuelan’s sleeve as he took his key. "Sister, are we not going back tonight?"

"No, we aren't," she replied, her beautiful eyes twinkling as her red lips curled. "What’s wrong? Are you afraid of sharing a room with me? If so, I’ll just have to ask the other three..."

Before she could finish, the three women frantically waved their hands in disgust. "No, no, no! We don't want to sleep with you. You’re married; what kind of look would it be for you to sleep with your girlfriends?"

"Exactly! What if your husband comes looking for you in the middle of the night? We aren't married, but we don't want to seduce someone else's husband!"

"Exactly, who would dare touch the CEO’s man? I’m sure she’d have our heads by morning!"

Fang Mo felt his face burn. Ning Yuelan immediately adopted a pitiful expression, blinking her eyes innocently at him. "It seems I’ve been rejected. Nobody wants me anymore. I guess I’ll just have to sleep outside tonight. Maybe I’ll run into a kind, handsome stranger who’s willing to take me in for the night..."

*What!*

Hearing this, Fang Mo grabbed the room key without a second thought. "Don't! I'll take it!"

"Sister, sleep with me tonight. I’ll take the sofa, and you can have the bed."