The bathroom was filled with steam, and the girl's words lingered in Xie Guanyan's ears.
A flicker of excitement flashed in his eyes. "Hmm?"
Lin Mo suddenly realized what she had just said.
Her bent posture completely collapsed!
Damn her mouth—why had she blurted out her true thoughts?!
The steam made it hard to read the man's expression, so Lin Mo hurriedly backtracked.
"No, no, I mean I’m not a pervert! Don’t be scared, I was just checking if your right hand got wet, so I glanced a few times!"
It was one thing to fantasize about him in her dreams, but reality was a whole different story!
Xie Guanyan studied the beautiful girl through the mist, tilting his head slightly.
She seemed… quite interested in his body.
Her peach-blossom eyes had been fixed on him, almost unblinking.
As if she’d stumbled upon something fascinating.
At eighteen, curiosity was natural.
Though her gaze was torture, it also thrilled him.
At least there was something about him that captivated her!
Struggling to control his quickening breath, he replied calmly, "Alright."
Showering with one hand was inconvenient, but Xie Guanyan’s focus had shifted.
His movements were deliberate, his peripheral vision subtly tracking the radiant girl.
Her eyes kept drifting toward him, seemingly against her will.
Both her ears were flushed a delicate pink, utterly enchanting.
Once he was nearly done, he announced, "I’m finished."
The bright-eyed girl immediately asked, "Can you manage getting dressed?"
"I’ll take it slow. It’s fine," Xie Guanyan assured her.
Lin Mo blinked. "Okay."
The bathroom was warm, the atmosphere thick with tension.
Their gazes met in the steam-filled air.
His deep, glass-like eyes were slightly damp, inexplicably mesmerizing.
Lin Mo felt as if she’d been zapped by electricity—her already racing heart nearly leaped out of her chest!
A second later, she snapped back to reality, smacking her forehead. "Oh! Right, I’ll leave you to it!"
She spun around and fled like a startled deer.
She couldn’t afford to indulge her naughty thoughts any longer!
Outside the bathroom, she closed the door behind her.
She’d planned to head straight to bed, but a nagging worry remained—what if Xie Guanyan needed help?
Rushing to her second-floor bedroom, she grabbed her phone and stationed herself outside the bathroom, scrolling while she waited.
Her jade-white fingers tapped open WeChat, where a message from Shen Yihan, the "Buddha of Beijing’s elite," awaited:
[Sis, Mr. Xie seems to be struggling. Should we hire a male caregiver for him?]
That wasn’t a bad idea.
A professional caregiver would handle things better.
And it’d keep her from turning into a little pervert.
[I’ll ask him later.]
Shen Yihan replied instantly: [You’re still up? What are you doing?]
Lin Mo’s lips twitched.
If she told him she’d been watching Xie Guanyan shower, he’d never believe her.
To preserve her flawless image in her little brother’s eyes, she typed: [Watching a drama. Heading to bed soon.]
Shen Yihan wanted to be more attentive.
Even Lian Jiangtang had noticed their sister’s love for Devon Rex cats—why hadn’t he?
Guilt gnawed at him.
Back when their fourth brother lived with them, she couldn’t keep a cat. Now, she could.
He just wasn’t sure if Mr. Xie liked cats.
He’d have to ask.
Fingering the black Buddhist beads around his wrist, cool to the touch, Shen Yihan typed:
[Which drama? I’ll check it out too.]
Lin Mo: "…"
[A show for grown women. Not your style. Now, kneel and begone!]
Buddha of Beijing’s elite: [???]
Another message popped up—this time from Shen Ji’an:
[How’s Mr. Xie? The anesthesia’s worn off by now, so the pain must be awful.]
Lin Mo frowned.
He had a point.
Would Xie Guanyan be in too much pain to sleep tonight?
She replied: [He’s okay. Don’t worry.]
Shen Ji’an, also awake, responded immediately:
[Ugh, this is all my fault! If I hadn’t insisted on apologizing, Mr. Xie wouldn’t be suffering like this!]
The kid was spiraling into self-blame at midnight.
Lin Mo typed back:
[Stop overthinking. Life’s just a tangled scarf of love and hate, a scalding soup of agony, a scrambled egg of joy and sorrow, a mapo tofu of chaos, a rain-soaked bowl of tears, a boiled meat slice of calm, a sweet-and-sour fish of lucky escapes, and a triple-delight of utter defeat!]
Shen Ji’an read her reply, and his guilt instantly morphed into a craving for takeout.
A while later—
Click.
The bathroom door opened.
Lin Mo pocketed her phone and turned.
The stunning man wore short-sleeved pajamas that showcased the powerful lines of his arms, his presence undiminished even with the bandage on his right forearm.
The top button of his shirt was undone, revealing a glimpse of his pale, elegant collarbone.
His hair, freshly rinsed, was still damp, strands clinging to his forehead, softening his usual untouchable, scholarly aura.
"It’s late. Time for bed," he said, his voice warm.
"Your hair’s still wet. Need help drying it?" Lin Mo offered with a smile.
Her mom always said sleeping with wet hair caused headaches!
Besides, she’d promised to take care of him, yet here she was, being visually spoiled instead.
She expected him to decline, but this time, he didn’t.
Instead, his cultured voice replied, "I’d appreciate that."
Lin Mo was more than happy to assist a handsome man!
"Sit on the couch, then. I’ll grab the hairdryer!"
The beautiful man settled onto the sofa, his posture straight, the defined curve of his waist accentuated.
Lin Mo stood behind him, blow-dryer in hand, fingers threading through his damp hair.
But her eyes—traitors that they were—kept drifting toward the open collar of his shirt.
Blame it on her inner mischief-maker.
Warm air flowed over his scalp, her delicate fingers combing through his locks.
Xie Guanyan’s body tensed, the heat he’d barely suppressed surging back with a vengeance.
He’d wanted to refuse, but he couldn’t.
Adjusting his seated position subtly, he glanced sideways.
Through the glass balcony door, he caught Lin Mo’s gaze fixed on his exposed neckline.
Excitement flared in his eyes.
Confirmed—Lin Mo was very interested in his body.
A rush of adrenaline from the realization loosened his tongue.
"Lin Mo," he murmured, "do you want to touch me?"
