"I had a feeling it was something like this," Gu Baotian said with a knowing look. "So, you two plan on keeping this relationship under wraps?"
"Grandpa, the way you say we're dating makes it sound so shady," Gu Ye pouted. "We're in a proper relationship, just not at the stage to announce it publicly yet."
"So when will you announce it?" Gu Baotian pressed.
Gu Ye: "We're not in a hurry, why are you so anxious?"
"Who's anxious?" Gu Baotian retorted, clasping his hands behind his back. "I just know your word isn't the final say. We'll have to listen to Xiaomo's plans."
Moving naturally involved a lot of things to pack.
Hearing that Gu Ye was moving, Wang Xia brought a few packing boxes upstairs. "Xiaoye, which things are you taking? I'll help you pack."
"No need, no need. There's not much. I can handle it," Gu Ye quickly stopped her.
"When have you ever packed by yourself?" Wang Xia said with a laugh. "I'm much faster at organizing than you fumbling around."
Gu Ye felt a bit guilty facing Wang Xia, after all, he was planning to invite her daughter to come live with him.
There really wasn't much to pack, and with Wang Xia's efficiency, it was done quickly.
As she packed, she asked, "Where's your new place?"
"Over at Yanjiang Bay," Gu Ye replied, wrapping items and placing them in a box.
Wang Xia said concernedly, "Moving in tomorrow? That place will need a thorough cleaning before you can live there. I'll get a couple of people from home tomorrow to go clean your new place."
Gu Ye waved his hand. "No need to trouble yourself, Auntie Wang. I've already hired someone to clean it."
Seeing this, Wang Xia nodded, finished packing, and went downstairs.
In truth, the place hadn't been cleaned at all, but he couldn't let Wang Xia go over, especially since he had invited Jiang Xiaomo for tomorrow.
The next day was Saturday. After breakfast, Gu Ye went to the new apartment early.
Jiang Mo arrived around ten-ish.
"Come here, let me register your face and fingerprint," Gu Ye said, coming downstairs to meet Jiang Mo and immediately setting up her access. "This way it's convenient for you to come and go."
He led her inside and gave her a tour. "This is the master bedroom, the walk-in closet. You just need to leave me about a third of the space in here for a couple of my clothes."
"This room gets great sunlight. It could be a child's room later..."
"This one can be your study or workspace. You can handle work here usually..."
"If I have to deal with work after hours or on my days off, that's a pretty tough life," Jiang Mo remarked, glancing at the empty study.
The apartment was large with many rooms. It was clear no one had lived here before; apart from the master bedroom, the other rooms were quite empty.
Gu Ye handed her a card. "Take this, for your use."
Jiang Mo was a bit confused: "Why are you suddenly giving me a card?"
Gu Ye: "Handing over my salary. You manage the household finances."
"But we're just dating," Jiang Mo mumbled, slightly embarrassed.
"Dating is supposed to lead to marriage. Dating without the purpose of marriage is just playing around," Gu Ye raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to play around with me?"
Jiang Mo reached out to feel Gu Ye's chest muscles. "Now this is playing around."
It started as just fooling around, but then Gu Ye suddenly lifted his shirt, grabbed Jiang Mo's hand, and placed it on his torso. "How's the texture?"
Seeing his abs and pectoral muscles up close, Jiang Mo's brain short-circuited.
Those broad shoulders, narrow waist, radiating pure testosterone... she suddenly remembered what he had said during their video call a few days ago.
"Anyway, this body is for you to use... to use..."
She swallowed.
Gu Ye looked at Jiang Mo's reaction with satisfaction. "Seems like someone is really craving my body."
"Who's craving your body!" Jiang Mo pulled her hand back.
Gu Ye laughed: "You are."
Jiang Mo: "I am not."
"Uh, hey... I think you have a nosebleed," Gu Ye quickly grabbed some tissues.
Feeling the wetness in her nose, Jiang Mo reached up to touch it. Sure enough, it was blood.
Jiang Mo felt like crying. Of all times to get a nosebleed, why now? It made her look like some kind of pervert.
Taking the tissue, she wiped away the blood and said in a stuffy voice, "It's an old problem I have with nosebleeds."
Gu Ye nodded seriously. "Mhm, I know. It definitely wasn't caused by craving my body."
Jiang Mo: "..."
After dealing with the nosebleed, Gu Ye returned to the topic of the bank card.
"Take the card. For the hard furnishings, furniture, and things for the house, you can buy whatever style you like."
Jiang Mo shook her head. "This is your apartment. You should buy and furnish it yourself, though I can give you some suggestions."
Gu Ye nodded: "That works too. Or if you see anything you like, I'll buy it."
It was almost lunchtime, so they decided to go out to eat and then visit a mall to shop for things.
"Remember to put on your sunglasses and hat later," Jiang Mo reminded him.
"Got it," Gu Ye replied, now seeming to agree with his grandfather's words—they really were being secretive.
Unexpectedly, they ran into an acquaintance even while grocery shopping.
Jiang Mo was intently selecting kitchenware when someone tapped her shoulder from behind. "I knew it! I wasn't seeing things. It really is you. What are you buying?"
