Su Li froze for a moment as Mrs. Mo continued, “You’re a married couple. You can’t just go on living apart.” “I was going to have you move back to the family estate, but then I thought, young people don’t want to live with us old-timers, so I dropped the idea.” “You know what I want, and you understand my struggles. I need you to have Xingyuan’s child, and soon.” Mrs. Mo had finally gotten to the point. Of course, Su Li knew. It was the promise she had made from the start. “Auntie, I want to, I really do, but Xingyuan…” Su Li trailed off, certain that Mrs. Mo understood what she couldn’t say. “Don’t you worry about him,” Mrs. Mo said. “The process doesn’t matter, only the result.” Su Li could feel the sheer force of Mrs. Mo’s desire for a grandchild. It made her fear that Mo Xingyuan truly didn’t have much time left. But even if she were willing, it took his cooperation to conceive. And he was dead set against it. “Forget everything else. You’re moving in with him today.” Mrs. Mo’s tone was final. “That settles it.” Su Li’s heart screamed no. Living with Mo Xingyuan… life would be a constant war zone. “Auntie, I don’t have a problem with it, it’s just that Xingyuan…” “You don’t need to worry about that.” Mrs. Mo’s voice was gentle but firm. “I’ll speak to him. No matter what, you are his wife. A husband and wife shouldn’t be living apart.” Hearing this, Su Li fell silent. It didn’t matter. Even if Mo Xingyuan let her stay for now, he’d just kick her out later. There was no way he would actually live with her. Standing in the living room of Mo Xingyuan’s apartment, Su Li felt like an intruder in a stranger’s home. “A Li is your wife. You need to start acting like a husband.” Those were the words Mrs. Mo had delivered before turning on her heel and leaving Su Li to face him alone. The silence that followed was suffocating. Mo Xingyuan leaned against the dining table, an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips. He idly spun a metallic lighter in his hand, his dark, piercing eyes fixed on her. His gaze was so intense Su Li found herself curling her toes inside her shoes. “Quite the operator, aren’t you.” Mo Xingyuan flicked the lighter to life, lit his cigarette, and took a long drag, eyeing her with contempt. “Using my mother to get to me. Smart.” The raw sarcasm in his voice left Su Li speechless. Defending herself was pointless. He saw her as nothing more than a social climber, a woman desperate to have his child and lock down the life of a rich man’s wife. Su Li forced a tight smile. “If you don’t want me here, I can leave.” “No need.” Mo Xingyuan brought the cigarette to his lips, and a thin stream of smoke drifted across his face. Su Li blinked, thinking she’d misheard. He braced his hands on the edge of the table, his eyes never leaving hers. “You plotted and schemed to get this far. Kicking you out would be pointless. You want to live here? You live by my rules.” Su Li wanted to say he really didn’t have to bother. “Go on.” “Be home by ten every night. I don’t like hearing any noise after midnight.” Su Li’s brow furrowed. A curfew? Still, her life was simple. She didn’t have many friends or social engagements. It wouldn’t be difficult. “Fine,” Su Li said. “Anything else?” Mo Xingyuan’s eyelids lifted, his gaze cool. “While you’re in this house, you’ll do what a wife is supposed to do.” An idea sparked in Su Li’s mind. A slow, deliberate smile spread across her lips. “Does that include having a baby?” Mo Xingyuan’s hand trembled, dislodging a column of ash that fell onto the table. Seeing this, Su Li’s smile widened. “In your dreams!” he snarled, stubbing out his cigarette. Su Li’s eyes twinkled. “Yes, in my wildest dreams.” Mo Xingyuan scowled. Her own smile faded. “Well then, I guess I’m moving in.” “Drop the act,” Mo Xingyuan said flatly. “Your feigned adoration is nauseating.” “…” Su Li made one last attempt. “Why is it so impossible that I might actually admire you?” He scoffed. “Admire what?” “You’re handsome, you have a great body. It’s easy to like someone like that.” “Superficial.” “…” Su Li had to admit, she was superficial. But didn’t most things start from the surface and go deeper? Visually, developing a crush on Mo Xingyuan was ridiculously easy. She just had a thing for beautiful people. . In a private room at a club, Mo Xingyuan swirled the liquor in his glass, a dark mood clinging to him like a shroud. “To think you actually let her into your life. She must be something special.” The man sitting across from him adjusted his silver-rimmed glasses. Dressed in a suit vest, he had handsome features and a gentle, scholarly air, with kind eyes that seemed to smile on their own. He Xinyan had heard about the marriage shortly after going abroad. If he hadn’t been tied up with work, he would have flown back immediately to meet this woman. The minute he’d landed, he’d heard she had moved into Mo Xingyuan’s place—and with his consent. He’d come straight here without even changing. “Have you been talking to Chi Mu often?” Mo Xingyuan’s voice was quiet, but the displeasure was unmistakable. He Xinyan snatched his glass and downed it in one gulp. “I’m just concerned about you.” Someone had to be, since Mo Xingyuan refused to share any gossip himself. Mo Xingyuan couldn’t be bothered to reply. The mere thought of another person in his apartment made his scowl deepen. “Just don’t fall in love with her,” He Xinyan said cheerfully, pouring himself another drink. Mo Xingyuan shot him a look. “Are you insane?” He Xinyan shrugged. “A woman, living with you, who’s now part of your life… it’s not a long way from there to your heart.” “If you don’t have anything sensible to say, then don’t say anything at all,” Mo Xingyuan snapped. He Xinyan smiled. “Just because I don’t say it, doesn’t mean it won’t happen.” Mo Xingyuan shot him a glare that could kill. He Xinyan just grinned and took another sip of his drink. . At that very moment, on the other end of a video call, Lu Jing was frowning, her face covered by a sheet mask. “Just don’t fall in love with him.” Su Li sat at the dining table, slurping noodles. “You don’t have to worry. I won’t.” “But you’re living together!” Lu Jing lamented. “Sparks could fly! You could lose control!” “Seriously, I won’t,” Su Li said, taking a sip of broth. “I’ve tried. I can be sitting on his lap and he’ll still push me away. He wouldn’t lose control even if I stood naked in front of him.” Of this, Su Li had no doubt. Mo Xingyuan might talk a big game, but when it came down to it, he couldn’t perform. With any other woman, Lu Jing might have her doubts. But with Su Li, you didn’t even need the nudity. Any normal man sharing a room with her would struggle to remain a gentleman. “Don’t you worry. If anyone’s going to lose control, it’ll be me first.” Su Li finished the last of her soup and set down her bowl. “He’s incredibly handsome, and his body is amazing. Having a baby with him would be a beautiful thing.” Lu Jing burst out laughing. “Then go have one with him.” Su Li grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth. “I’ll give it a try when he gets back.” Suddenly, a sound came from the front door. Su Li quickly ended the call with Lu Jing. It was better to be a little more restrained in Mo Xingyuan’s presence. He didn’t even glance her way. He shrugged off his jacket as if she were invisible and walked past her. He hung the jacket on a rack, unfastened his cufflinks, and slipped off his watch. Then he went to the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and stood directly behind her to drink it. He couldn’t believe he’d let this woman into his home. This duplicitous, scheming woman who was, in name only, his wife. Mo Xingyuan downed the water in one go, his frustration palpable. He slammed the glass down and turned to head for his bedroom. “Mo Xingyuan.” His body went still. He turned around. Su Li tilted her head, her smile bright and utterly guileless. “So, are we sleeping together tonight?”