Lin Mo was utterly astonished.
She never expected that the aromatic diffuser could have such an effect.
No wonder she had been sleeping soundly through the night lately.
Before this, she would occasionally wake up from nightmares or be disturbed by sudden storms.
Dr. You rubbed his gleaming bald head and said, "Actually, I support its release to the market. It could improve many people’s sleep issues, and it’s completely natural with no side effects."
Lin Mo asked, "Which laboratory developed this product?"
The diffuser had been in her room since the very first day she moved into the villa.
Did Xie Guanyan know about its effects?
Dr. You chuckled. "Do you know Xie Guanyan? His company invested in the lab. I heard Mr. Xie suffers from severe sleep issues, so the team specifically developed this diffuser."
Lin Mo was certain Dr. You didn’t follow variety shows or social media—otherwise, he would have recognized her.
Did Xie Guanyan also have sleep problems? He had never mentioned it.
Then he must have known about the diffuser’s purpose.
But why had he placed it in the guest room from the start?
It wasn’t like he slept there.
"So, I just need to keep using this diffuser, right?" she asked.
Dr. You nodded, then suddenly widened his eyes as if struck by a thought. "Wait, you just said you didn’t know the diffuser was in your room?"
Lin Mo replied, "Right, I wasn’t aware of it."
Dr. You’s heart sank. "Are you living with family, roommates, or…?"
Lin Mo blinked. "I suppose… you could say I’m sharing the place."
Technically, she was cohabiting with Xie Guanyan.
Dr. You’s pupils trembled. "Is your roommate male or female?"
Lin Mo frowned. "Why does that matter?"
Dr. You’s expression darkened. "Think carefully about why this diffuser isn’t commercially available! If your roommate is male and placed this in your room without your knowledge, he could do anything to you while you’re in deep sleep!"
Lin Mo hadn’t considered this before.
The sudden implication left her stunned.
Huh? Would Xie Guanyan really do something to her while she slept?
No way!
Seeing her dazed reaction, Dr. You stood up abruptly. "Should we call the police?"
Lin Mo quickly waved her hands. "No, no! Dr. You, nothing like that would happen. My roommate is a gentleman."
Dr. You, older and wiser, scoffed. "So-called gentlemen can easily pretend! You need to be more careful!"
What had started as a consultation for sleep issues was now veering toward a potential criminal case.
Even Dr. You was sweating bullets.
While the diffuser was harmless when used properly, in the wrong hands, the consequences could be unthinkable.
And this young woman was far too beautiful—and far too trusting.
Lin Mo insisted firmly, "I’m absolutely certain. You don’t need to worry."
But Dr. You wasn’t convinced. He pulled out his phone. "Add me on WeChat. My advice is to keep this quiet for now. I’ll give you a solution to mix into the diffuser—it’ll weaken its effects so you won’t fall into such a deep sleep. If anything unusual happens tonight, message me immediately, and I’ll call the police!"
Lin Mo’s unwavering confidence eventually forced Dr. You to relent, though he insisted she test it herself.
Of course, it would be best if nothing happened at all.
She trusted Xie Guanyan completely.
But Dr. You wouldn’t back down—he threatened to call the police right then if she refused.
Reluctantly, she agreed. "Fine."
As Lin Mo stepped out of Dr. You’s office, her phone buzzed violently.
She glanced at the screen—a WeChat call from Xu Zunlong.
She answered. "Uncle Xu."
Xu Zunlong’s hearty voice came through. "Lin Mo, dear, are you free tonight? I’d like to invite you to my sister’s place for dinner."
Lin Mo missed Xu Yan’s mother. "I’m available."
Xu Zunlong hesitated. "Could you come alone?"
Before she could respond, he continued, "I won’t hide the truth from you. My wife—Xu Yan’s mother—found a targeted therapy abroad that might treat his condition."
"He’s flying out tomorrow for a long-term treatment. We don’t know when he’ll return… or even if he…"
Lin Mo quickly interjected, "He’ll definitely come back, Uncle Xu!"
Xu Zunlong, standing in his sister’s garden, choked up. "Yes, yes, of course he will. I know you’re with Xie Guanyan now, and I shouldn’t bother you."
"But Xu Yan hasn’t spoken a word all day. He’s just been staring at that group photo from the show—the only picture he has with you. It breaks my heart."
"Please come for dinner tonight. I owe you one."
Lin Mo smiled gently. "It’s no trouble, Uncle Xu. Xu Yan and I are friends. It’s only right that I see him off before his trip."
A dinner invitation wasn’t an unreasonable request.
Besides, it wasn’t like Xie Guanyan cared who she dined with.
Xu Zunlong was deeply moved. "Lin Mo, I promise the Xu family will prioritize your second brother’s company for all future projects in Jingbei."
Lin Mo spent the rest of the afternoon wandering outside with Shen Sizhan before returning home in the evening.
Xie Guanyan hadn’t gotten off work yet.
Shen Sizhan also showed no intention of leaving today, and Lin Mo didn’t feel like sending him away either.
These past couple of days, he’d been stealing moments of leisure—having just signed with a new company, he was about to plunge back into a hectic schedule.
Unlike her second and fourth brothers, whom she could see anytime.
Lin Mo looked at him and said, “I’m going to my teacher’s place for dinner tonight. If you want something to eat at home, just ask the maid to make it for you.”
Shen Sizhan replied, “Sis, let me drive you. I can wait outside for you!”
Lin Mo shook her head. “No need, a car is coming to pick me up.”
Shen Sizhan sat on the sofa and picked up Sang Biao, the cat. “Alright then. Sis, this white Devon Rex is so pretty—did you buy it yourself?”
Lin Mo also stroked Sang Biao’s head. “It was a gift from the ‘Buddha of Beijing’s elite circle.’”
Suddenly, she remembered when her previous black Devon Rex, Qiuqiu, had passed away.
To comfort her, Shen Sizhan had stood outside her door late at night, meowing like a cat for hours.
Startled, she opened the door to find him there—and promptly tied him to a tree for three days to “exorcise the demon” from him.
Shen Sizhan scratched Sang Biao’s belly. “This cat’s pedigree is exceptional. I’ll ask Second Brother where he got it.”
He’d buy one for his sister too! After all, one cat or two—it was all the same when it came to raising them.
Lin Mo went upstairs to change.
Once in her room, her gaze unconsciously drifted to the diffuser on her nightstand.
A green bottle with a few black reed sticks poking out—it looked no different from an ordinary diffuser sold in boutique shops.
After changing, she stepped out of her room.
There was still some time before her dinner appointment with Xu Zunlong.
Instead of heading downstairs immediately, she walked toward Xie Guanyan’s room.
Logically, since he struggled with sleep, his room should have the same diffuser.
Standing outside Xie Guanyan’s door, Lin Mo’s heart raced inexplicably, a nervous tension gripping her.
She reached out with slender, pale fingers and turned the doorknob.
The door opened.
With the stealth of a thief, she peeked inside.
The rooms in this old-fashioned villa weren’t very large.
A single glance was enough to take everything in.
A cool gray bed, a sofa by the window—one she had lounged on before.
A pristine nightstand, devoid of any diffuser.
Her eyes swept the room but found no trace of one anywhere else either.
Lin Mo closed the door.
She then checked the guest room—now Shen Sizhan’s quarters—but again, there was no diffuser in sight.
Which meant only her room had one.
A complicated feeling settled over her.
Could it be that Xie Guanyan had once lived in the guest room she now occupied?
