Habits can truly be terrifying things.
In the past, Lin Mo would always send Xie Guanyan a message the moment she arrived at the villa's entrance. Xie Guanyan would reply instantly and quickly come out to open the door. But this time, there was no response from him, and Lin Mo found it strange.
"Not a single light is on in the villa. Maybe Mr. Xie isn’t home?" Shen Yihan’s voice sounded beside her.
Only then did Lin Mo look up at the villa. The massive building stood dark and silent in the night, like a slumbering beast. She hadn’t even checked if the lights were on—she’d simply assumed, out of habit, that someone would be inside.
Rubbing her nose, Lin Mo said, "I forgot Xie Guanyan is a busy man too. He was supposed to watch the basketball game with me at First High today, but he left early because of work."
It was then that Shen Yihan realized he, too, had grown accustomed to Xie Guanyan always coming out to greet Lin Mo when he dropped her off. He’d also heard from his sister that the villa’s staff left promptly at 8 p.m., so he never found it odd that Xie Guanyan personally opened the door.
"Let’s wait a bit. He’s probably in a meeting with his phone on silent."
After all, Xie Guanyan wasn’t like him—not the type to let love cloud his judgment, the kind who’d keep his phone unmuted during a meeting just for a girl he liked.
Besides, he didn’t even like Lin Mo.
Shen Yihan, his hand adorned with prayer beads, opened the passenger door and gestured for Lin Mo to get in.
Lin Mo turned around. "I should’ve gotten a spare key ages ago. I never even realized how much I was inconveniencing him!"
On the first day she moved in, Xie Guanyan had told her to message him when she got home. And so, she’d completely forgotten that as a housemate, she should have her own key.
But before she could reach the car, the villa’s entrance lights suddenly flickered on, illuminating the path before her.
Her phone buzzed with a notification.
Opening it, she saw Xie Guanyan’s reply:
[Coming.]
Lin Mo turned back just as the villa’s door swung open from the inside.
The strikingly handsome man looked like he’d just sprinted over, his chest rising and falling slightly as he steadied himself. Adjusting his glasses with a single finger, his voice came out slightly hoarse. "Sorry, I fell asleep."
He was still wearing the same white hoodie from earlier in the day, his soft hair unstyled, giving him a refreshingly youthful aura. The way he stood there, slightly breathless, was reminiscent of a scene from a campus romance—a boyfriend rushing late to meet his girlfriend, frantic and apologetic.
Lin Mo chuckled. "Why the hurry? I wasn’t in a rush. I thought you weren’t even home."
Shen Yihan hadn’t expected Xie Guanyan to come running out and immediately apologize.
Was this the same Xie Guanyan—always composed, dignified, and seemingly untouchable?
His cold gaze flickered slightly as he twisted the prayer beads around his right wrist with his left hand.
He might need to take back his earlier assumption that Xie Guanyan didn’t like his sister.
That fear of making the other person wait? He knew it all too well.
Just like the day Lin Mo had first arrived, when he’d cleared out the mall early because he didn’t want Li Huanyu to wait.
Realizing this, Shen Yihan wasn’t particularly surprised.
Falling for his sister was as easy as drinking water.
Only natural.
As his breathing steadied, Xie Guanyan gazed at the girl through his glasses, his eyes dark with something feverish.
He had been home—all day.
He just hadn’t expected her to return so early after seeing Gu Jingchuan.
During the day, he could distract himself with work. But as night fell, the restlessness grew unbearable, the urge to message her gnawing at him.
Yet he had no right to. No identity that justified reaching out.
So he’d hidden away in the secret room of his study.
Only there could he pretend—pretend that Shanshan was still by his side.
The signal in that room was terrible, so the message had been delayed.
When he finally saw it, euphoria had surged through him, and he’d bolted outside without a second thought.
Even if Shanshan had gone to see the man she loved, she’d still come back—to his home.
That was enough.
"I was home," Xie Guanyan said, his voice smooth, though his eyes never left the girl’s luminous face.
Lin Mo stepped toward the door. "I should still get a spare key. It’s not right to make you open the door every day."
"No trouble at all." His tone was gentle but carried an unshakable resolve.
Opening the door for her was a privilege. How could it ever be a bother?
He’d have to fix the signal in that room, though.
As she drew closer, Xie Guanyan caught a faint but unmistakable scent of cigarettes. His eyes darkened.
Did Gu Jingchuan not know Shanshan hated the smell of smoke?
Why would he smoke around her?
Then, his heart sank.
What was the situation between Shanshan and Gu Jingchuan now?
Had they reconciled?
Would she start coming home late from now on?
"I’ve been swamped with work lately," Xie Guanyan added quickly. "Even if you come back late, I’ll still be awake."
He couldn’t let her insist on getting a key.
He would wait for her.
No matter how long it took, he’d always be there.
Lin Mo found his persistence odd.
Was this some billionaire’s control complex?
Without a key, she couldn’t come and go as she pleased. Him opening the door was a gesture of permission—an assertion of ownership over his domain.
But Lin Mo didn’t mind.
She’d always been scatterbrained. Back home, she never carried a key—her brothers did, and there was always someone to let her in.
Xie Guanyan’s arrangement suited her just fine.
"Alright, I won’t get one then," she said.
Her peach-blossom eyes curved into crescents, the light catching her features in a way that stole one’s breath.
Xie Guanyan’s amber eyes burned with quiet obsession.
At the very least, that smile didn’t belong to Gu Jingchuan alone anymore.
Shen Yihan, familiar with his sister’s habits, still found the setup impractical. "Mr. Xie, you should still give her a spare key. You’re a busy man—business trips are inevitable. What if—"
"It’s fine. If I’m away, I’ll notify her in advance and leave a key," Xie Guanyan replied, meeting Shen Yihan’s gaze.
At his level, unavoidable trips were rare.
A single key meant they’d at least have one guaranteed moment together each day—one shared walk.
Since this was Xie Guanyan’s home, Shen Yihan couldn’t press further, even if he wanted to.
"Understood. You two rest early. I’ll head out now."
Lin Mo waved. "Drive safe."
As he started the car, Shen Yihan’s prayer-bead-adorned hands turned the wheel. His gaze lingered on the now-closed villa gates.
Even knowing Xie Guanyan might have feelings for his sister, he wasn’t overly concerned.
First, he trusted Xie Guanyan’s character—a man known for his philanthropy, gentle demeanor, and integrity wouldn’t disrespect Lin Mo.
Second, worrying was pointless anyway. Would Xie Guanyan ever allow him to move in as a chaperone?
Obviously not.
Only one question remained: What did his sister feel about Xie Guanyan?
He’d find a chance to ask.
With that, he eased onto the accelerator, the car gliding smoothly down the mountain road.
But not long after, his phone rang.
Picking it up with one slender hand, he saw an unfamiliar Beijing number.
He answered.
A stranger’s voice greeted him.
"Shen Yihan, where's your sister?"
