At the school gate, the driver was already waiting.
Lin Mo got into the car and replied to Zhao Zixin: "I haven’t been able to reach your sister all day."
Zhao Zixin lived in the school dormitory.
Because she didn’t want to wake up early.
Receiving Lin Mo’s message, she was overjoyed.
Even if it was about her sister.
Seeing the latest message, Zhao Zixin replied: "That’s normal. My sister often ignores messages. Sometimes she takes half a month just to reply to me once."
The car started moving, gliding smoothly down the road.
Lin Mo frowned slightly.
It was normal for close friends and family to reply casually.
But Zhao Ziling hadn’t even responded to last night’s check-in message.
That was a little unusual.
Her jade-white fingers typed: "Try calling her."
Zhao Zixin obediently called her sister.
No one picked up.
She replied to Lin Mo: "No answer. It’s so late—she’s probably asleep."
Senior year at No. 1 High School ended evening self-study close to 10 p.m.
Lin Mo’s slender fingers gripped her phone, a lingering unease in her heart.
Zhao Zixin quickly sent two more messages.
"Goddess, don’t worry. If it’s important, you can try again tomorrow."
"If you need someone to chat with, I’m here!!"
"I’ve juggled five online relationships at once—I reply lightning-fast!"
Lin Mo was amused by Zhao Zixin. "Alright, it’s late. Get some rest."
Zhao Zixin was ecstatic reading this.
The goddess cared about her sleep!
"Got it, got it~"
Lin Mo was torn about whether to go find Zhao Ziling.
She suspected Zhao Ziling might be under the control of her domineering husband.
But was Zhao Ziling resisting… or enjoying it?
Lin Mo was well-read.
She knew many things outsiders might find hard to accept.
But couples or spouses could revel in them.
Like BDSM.
Honestly, she’d always thought winter was perfect for BDSM—shoving icy hands down someone’s collar was the harshest punishment. Pulling up a sub’s sweater, thermal layer, and undershirt to trap their head without fully removing them? Instant sensory deprivation + mild suffocation!
Wait, she was getting sidetracked.
The point was, everyone had their kinks. You didn’t have to understand, but you had to respect them.
If she and Zhao Ziling had grown up together without that eleven-year gap,
she’d know exactly how Zhao Ziling felt.
But now, she wasn’t sure.
Last night, Zhao Ziling had cursed loudly, but it didn’t seem like true disgust.
Barging in now would feel like crossing a line.
Even between best friends, boundaries mattered.
The car stopped in front of the villa.
Lin Mo stepped out and instinctively opened Xie Guanyan’s chat.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, then paused.
Right—Xie Guanyan was on a business trip in Europe!
Approaching the gate, she rang the doorbell.
"Ding-dong!"
She’d only pressed this doorbell once before, the first day she came looking for Xie Guanyan.
In the quiet night, the chime sounded almost jarring.
After a moment, the door opened from inside.
The butler, wearing a bowtie, smiled warmly and took her backpack with both hands.
"Miss Lin, welcome back!"
Walking through the villa’s garden, a rich floral scent drifted over.
"Did you plant new flowers?" Lin Mo asked.
She didn’t remember this fragrance before.
The butler shook his head. "No, they’re the same as always."
Lin Mo glanced around. "Oh, I must’ve missed it."
Every other day, she’d walked back with Xie Guanyan.
Maybe his crisp, woody cologne had overpowered the flowers.
The garden fountain sprayed delicate arcs of water.
Custom lighting shimmered over it, dreamlike and beautiful.
Lin Mo hadn’t paid much attention to it lately.
Back in the day, The third would stand under this fountain for no reason, soaking wet.
He’d slick back his hair, spread his arms, and gaze dramatically at the sky.
In his mind, he probably looked cool.
To Lin Mo? Pure idiot.
Summer was one thing.
But in winter, bundled in a puffy coat, he looked like a drenched bear!
She’d smack him.
He’d scramble out, giggling. "Sis, stop! I’ll do it again! Nyeh!"
Lin Mo stretched her slender arm toward the fountain.
Tiny droplets landed on her palm, cool and fleeting.
The butler fretted. "Miss Lin, don’t play with water at night. You’ll catch a cold."
If Miss Lin got sick while the master was away, he might as well pack his bags!
Lin Mo withdrew her hand.
She couldn’t afford to be sick.
Who’d take care of her three brothers then?
…Wait. They were grown now.
Still, she didn’t touch the water again.
Inside the living room, her gaze fell on the emerald-green sofa at the center.
It was neatly arranged, untouched.
"Miss Lin, would you like a late-night snack? I’ll prepare it," a maid offered.
Lin Mo took her backpack from the butler. "Anything’s fine. Just something light."
As she headed upstairs—
"Meow."
A tiny, delicate sound reached her ears.
Lin Mo turned, scanning the room.
No cat in sight.
She rubbed her temple.
Was she hearing things?
Since when did this villa have a cat?
She took another step—then felt something brush against her ankle.
Looking down, a pure white kitten gazed up at her, tiny paws batting at her pants.
Its green eyes sparkled like gemstones.
"Holy—since when is there a kitten here?!"
Lin Mo was so excited she fumbled her words, her peach-blossom eyes shining.
She crouched, scooping the kitten into her arms.
Its tiny body was soft as cotton candy.
Her heart melted, as if she’d time-traveled back to her pre-"wicked woman" days.
(The butler had let the kitten roam earlier so it could explore. Xie Guanyan had instructed him to say it was a gift from her second brother—better for fostering attachment.)
"Your second brother sent it for you," the butler said.
Lin Mo’s grin stretched ear to ear. "Since when does he do surprises?!"
"It doesn’t have a name yet. Would you like to choose one?" the butler asked.
Cradling the kitten, Lin Mo stroked its head. "Something fierce for this little angel… How about ‘Savage Tyrant’?"
The butler’s eye twitched. "…Magnificent choice."
Her excitement dimmed slightly. "Does Xie Guanyan like cats? Will he mind it staying here?"
The butler shook his head. "Not at all. He adores animals—his company runs a rescue fund. Besides, he won’t be back for a while. Plenty of time to bond."
"A while? How long’s the trip?" Lin Mo asked without thinking.
The butler hesitated. "Six months… a year, possibly."
Lin Mo blinked. A strange hollowness settled in her chest. "That long? Did he get exiled?"
