Volume One, Chapter 96: Candlelight Dinner

"Pinch the other person's cheek."

As Yu Mo finished speaking, the director's voice rang out.

"Wrong."

Chu Xirui and Su Beican burst into laughter together. Their interactions were so frequent that it was nearly impossible to guess which was the real hidden task.

Meanwhile, Chu Muxing and Lin Yue finally completed the bubble gum kiss. Chu Muxing poured Lin Yue a glass of warm water and handed it to her personally. His gaze was filled with sparkling light, shining brilliantly.

He stared at Lin Yue’s delicate profile, met her gentle, almond-shaped eyes, and lifted his lips slightly, his voice deep and magnetic.

"Lin Yue, promise me one thing."

Lin Yue looked up.

"What is it?"

—

Next came the guessing round. Each pair had one chance to guess another group's hidden task. If they guessed correctly, the other group's hidden task would fail.

Lin Hua gently held Fu Yanting’s hand and looked toward Yu Mo and Mu Shaozhou. She opened her mouth slightly, her voice soft as a puddle.

"Yu Mo, your hidden task is to pretend to accidentally dirty your clothes and then go upstairs to change, right?"

After all, their interactions were few, so it was easy to guess.

"Wrong," the director announced.

Lin Hua frowned, lowered her face, and said nothing more. She couldn’t figure out the hidden tasks of the other couples.

Chu Xirui raised her hand high and said to Zhang Zheng,

"Chu Muxing and Lin Yue’s hidden task is to hook pinkies."

She laughed heartily after speaking. After all, their only interaction was hooking pinkies, though she hadn’t heard what agreement they made.

"Correct," the director said.

Lin Xing and Tang Xinyan failed their hidden task, and the remaining two groups were guessed by Yu Mo.

In the end, two pairs emerged victorious: Yu Mo and Mu Shaozhou, and Chu Xirui and Su Beican.

They were soon sent on their way to Xinglong Bay.

Xinglong Bay.

—

Yu Mo stepped out of the car and gazed around, unable to suppress her admiration.

It was indeed a famous tourist destination. Since it wasn’t peak season, the bay lacked the bustling crowds. The coastline wound endlessly into the distance, beneath her feet lay fine, soft white sand, and the sea was clear and blue, merging with the faraway sky. Occasionally, a gentle breeze stirred, rippling the calm surface of the water like a maiden’s serene smile, soothing away all the troubles and pain from the heart.

Not far off stood a row of tall, straight coconut trees. Their neat lines contrasted sharply with the winding coastline, as though a magnificent painting unfolded before her eyes.

Next, they were to board a yacht anchored far out in the bay.

Upon boarding, Yu Mo stood on the deck, letting the gentle afternoon breeze brush her face, like a soft veil caressing her skin, tingling lightly.

Behind her, Mu Shaozhou stood, gazing into the distance, lost in thought.

A few seagulls occasionally flew by, seeming to greet the people.

Dinner was a candlelit meal arranged by the show. The two bottles of red wine on Chu Xirui and Su Beican’s table were nearly empty.

The two of them slumped over the table, occasionally rising to take another sip.

Yu Mo chuckled quietly. Both had poor tolerance for alcohol, yet drank so much.

She left her own wine untouched; she disliked the feeling of being drunk. Last time she drank too much, she had ended up tackling Mu Shaozhou.

She dared not drink again.

Mu Shaozhou leisurely poured himself some red wine. His fair, slender fingers grasped the glass, and he tilted his head to drink.

His neck was long, his Adam’s apple moving with each swallow, more seductive than usual.

Yu Mo couldn’t help but want to bite it.

She suppressed her animalistic urge, lowered her eyes, and focused on her steak.

Mu Shaozhou gently set down his sparkling glass, sitting upright opposite Yu Mo. His black shirt was buttoned up to the very top, creating an aura both ascetic and alluring.

His broad shoulders inspired a desire to embrace him; such shoulders could provide ample security.

Yu Mo restrained her wandering thoughts and stood up, gathering the pearl-white long gown she wore.

As she passed Mu Shaozhou, her fair hand was seized tightly in his large palm.

She felt the warmth radiating from his hand, her heart trembling.

A male seductress.

Those words flashed through her mind.

She needed to keep her distance, or she might truly lose herself.

She spoke calmly.

"Mu Shaozhou, drink less. I’m going back to my room."

The staff had already arranged their rooms; hers was right next to Mu Shaozhou’s.

—

Chu Xirui and Su Beican supported each other, mumbling who knows what, as they staggered toward their rooms.

Yu Mo wanted to follow, but her hand remained firmly held. She frowned, her voice growing firmer.

"Mu Shaozhou."

Mu Shaozhou looked up, his eyes deep as a bottomless pool, a calm surface hiding an impending storm.

A bright moon hung in the sky, casting a serene, silvery light. The bay at night was especially tranquil; occasionally, the sound of waves lapping the shore echoed, like the powerful heartbeat of the sea—just like Yu Mo’s own heartbeat now.

"Take me back."

Yu Mo’s body moved before her mind could catch up, helping the ‘drunk’ Mu Shaozhou back to his room.

As they passed a corner, Yu Mo suddenly felt a strange oppressive presence.

She hadn’t felt this way in a long time. She looked up at several men standing at the corner, all dressed in black.

They wore masks and sunglasses, their faces obscured.

Yu Mo kept a wary eye on them. When they didn’t move, she relaxed a little.

She delivered Mu Shaozhou to his room, then returned to her own.

In the middle of the night, Yu Mo woke from a nightmare.

She had dreamed of Mu Shaozhou, her body covered in blood—but it all belonged to him.

She dreamed his blood drained away, and in the final moments, he said to her,

"Mo Mo, don’t leave me."

Yu Mo breathed heavily, clutching her chest as she sat for a while.

Outside, faint footsteps sounded, but Yu Mo could clearly hear them heading toward Mu Shaozhou’s room.

She threw off her quilt, pulled on a coat, and rushed out.

No one was outside anymore. Mu Shaozhou’s door was open, muffled sounds coming from within.

Yu Mo hurried into the room.

The next second, she was seized, her neck tightly locked by a powerful arm.

She tried to call out, but no sound escaped her lips.

She could clearly feel it was a man’s arm, tightening, reducing the oxygen in her lungs bit by bit.