The birthday party was still in full swing.
Some guests mingled with drinks in hand while others danced gracefully across the floor.
The professional band played enchanting melodies as the evening breeze swept through at just the right moments.
It was easy for anyone immersed in such an atmosphere to forget their worries and simply bask in the present joy.
Lin Mo was part of it all, yet not entirely.
When Xie Guanyan finally mastered the ballroom dance and they began moving together,
she should have been enjoying the dance.
But as their hands intertwined,
she couldn’t help but focus on the warmth of his palm,
the striking definition of his fingers—pale, slender, and undeniably strong.
She could hardly imagine just how thrilling those hands would feel in other contexts.
Outwardly, she appeared composed as she danced with Xie Guanyan,
but her mind was flooded with decidedly indecent thoughts.
This wasn’t new. Often, just gazing at his breathtaking beauty would send her imagination spiraling into the gutter.
She had assumed it was merely an appreciation for male allure.
Yet tonight, surrounded by handsome men of all types,
she found herself utterly indifferent, as if they were nothing more than unremarkable faces in the crowd.
After seeing Xie Guanyan every day, she had mistaken her feelings for mere familiarity.
But when she heard he would be away in Europe for six months, an inexplicable sense of loss settled over her.
She dreamed of him frequently.
And when he finally returned, her mood lifted instantly.
This couldn’t just be habit.
Then came the moment Jiang Wan tried to invite Xie Guanyan for a dance.
Lin Mo realized she couldn’t stand the thought of him being close to someone else.
This, she decided, must be jealousy.
She felt possessive of him.
Putting it all together, she knew—she genuinely liked Xie Guanyan.
Not just a fleeting attraction, not just familiarity, not friendship—but real, undeniable affection.
The kind that made her want him in every way.
Now she was certain. Absolutely certain.
But she was also certain she was doomed.
Xie Guanyan would figure it out eventually. Would she even be allowed to stay in the villa then?
Zhao Ziling, listening to Lin Mo’s confession, smirked and leaned in to whisper, "You’re not doomed! He might like you too!"
Lin Mo took a sip of orange juice and shook her head. "He doesn’t."
Zhao Ziling frowned. "How can you be so sure?"
Lin Mo sighed. "If he liked me, he would’ve said something by now."
Throughout her life, plenty of boys had liked her—many had pursued her.
They confessed, made moves, gave gifts, asked her out, wrote love letters, bombarded her with messages just to stay on her radar.
Though everyone expressed affection differently,
Xie Guanyan wasn’t the silent, reserved type.
If he truly liked her, he would’ve spoken up.
So at best, she figured, what they had was friendship.
Lin Mo knew she was pretty and had a decent personality.
But surely Xie Guanyan had encountered beautiful, kind women before?
There were plenty of exceptional people in the world—he must have met some.
Yet at twenty-nine, he’d never been in a relationship, which suggested he wasn’t easily swayed by romance.
And they hadn’t even known each other long—just a few months.
It made sense that he didn’t have feelings for her.
Hearing this, Zhao Ziling took a sip of champagne and conceded the point.
True—if Xie Guanyan liked Lin Mo, why hadn’t he confessed?
From an outsider’s perspective, Zhao Ziling was convinced Xie Guanyan had some level of interest in Lin Mo.
Maybe he was worried about disrupting her studies during her final year of high school?
Or perhaps his feelings weren’t strong enough yet to warrant a confession?
Xie Guanyan was, after all, a shrewd investor who dealt in numbers daily.
He might be quantifying his emotions.
"Maybe he’s afraid of distracting you from your studies," Zhao Ziling mused. "Or maybe he likes you, just not enough to say it yet."
The mere thought of Xie Guanyan possibly liking her sent Lin Mo’s heart racing.
If he did, it wouldn’t disrupt her studies—it’d be the perfect stress reliever.
No more relying on steamy novels for release; he’d be the solution.
But she quickly steadied herself. "I still think it’s more likely he doesn’t like me."
Hope led to disappointment.
Though confident by nature, Lin Mo had a habit of preparing for the worst outcome in any situation.
That way, if things did go south, she wouldn’t be completely shattered.
Her parents’ sudden departure had left her with a psychological defense mechanism.
Unprepared blows were too painful.
She never wanted to experience that again.
Since speculation was just that, Zhao Ziling didn’t push further.
Instead, she shifted focus.
"So what’s your plan now? Are you going to pursue him?"
The evening breeze lifted the strands of Lin Mo’s hair,
stirring ripples across the surface of her heart as well.
Her gaze drifted to where Xie Guanyan stood conversing with others.
Tall, elegant, effortlessly striking, he held a champagne glass with refined grace.
Dozens approached him, eager to chat or toast,
yet no matter their status, he treated everyone with the same poised, gentlemanly demeanor.
A true jade among men—unparalleled in grace.
He was genuinely good, like flawless jade—noble, dignified, worthy of admiration.
Lin Mo had always felt her lurid fantasies about him were almost sacrilegious.
She couldn’t even picture Xie Guanyan in a relationship.
Surely he’d be just as composed and restrained, never too intense.
Even in bed, he’d be measured and gentle—no rough words, no insatiable demands.
Lin Mo tore her eyes away and took another sip of juice. "Not for now," she murmured. "If my insomnia isn’t cured and he kicks me out of the villa, I’m finished."
Between love and stability, she’d choose the latter every time.
She needed to hurry that renowned Buddhist scholar along in finding her a sleep specialist.
She preferred keeping control in her own hands.
Zhao Ziling understood.
This wasn’t a gamble worth taking.
Romance was life’s embellishment, not its foundation.
Lin Mo drank more juice before adding, "Even if I tried, he doesn’t seem like the type who’d be easy to win over."
Just as Zhao Ziling was about to respond,
a voice called out to them.
"Lin Mo, Ziling."
They looked up to see their teacher, the elegant Xu Yali, standing before them in a sleek dark qipao.
Both girls immediately straightened up,
the picture of obedience.
Xu Yali smiled. "Come, let me introduce you to my brother and nephew. It’s been years since we last met."
