I Wish To Never Leave Your Side - Chapter 11

Mo Residence.

Mo Lishen, Mo Licheng, and Mo Lixian returned to the mansion one after another. Tang Huanyao, Mo Lixian’s wife, immediately stood up to greet her husband upon his return.

Before her smile could fully form, she spotted Mo Lishen behind him. Tang Huanyao curled her lips in disdain. If not for the others in the living room, she would have gone over to make that ill-omened woman uncomfortable.

Tang Huanyao’s intense dislike for Mo Lishen was not without reason. A few years ago, when she had just married into the Mo family, the seventh brother, Mo Licheng, had only recently joined the company. At that time, Mo Lixian held the dominant influence in the company.

She was well aware that the old master favored Mo Licheng, but she had never coveted his share of the wealth. Mo Lixian had promised her that once the year-end project was secured, he would buy her a seaside villa. She had already picked out the property, waiting only to sign the contract at year’s end. But then Mo Lishen appeared out of nowhere.

Fresh out of university, Mo Lishen returned to the company to take over part of the business. Yet, she deliberately snatched the project from Mo Lixian’s hands. The project funds were lost, and the seaside villa vanished like a bubble. When Tang Huanyao complained a few words to Mo Lixian, he beat her. Now, with Mo Lixian’s influence in the company waning, he took his frustrations out on her more and more frequently. She directed all her rage squarely at Mo Lishen.

Mo Lishen, however, had no time to bother with her. She casually scanned the room and noticed Mo Lihan was absent.

When they took their seats at the dining table, she sat beside Mo Yihuai. Mo Licheng was next to the old master, Mo Boren. Using his chopsticks, he placed a piece of fish into the old man’s bowl. “Grandfather, I know how much you love sweet and sour fish. A friend of mine had this specially air-freighted from his hometown. Try it and see how you like it.”

Mo Boren stroked his beard, grinning from ear to ear. “You’re always the most thoughtful.”

The other grandchildren and their spouses remained silent. The Mo family had a rule against speaking during meals, yet it seemed only Mo Licheng had the privilege of occasionally pleasing the old master at the table.

After the meal, the old master liked to have everyone sit together and chat, believing it fostered a lively atmosphere.

Mo Lishen sat in a single armchair, coldly observing this family of feigned harmony, a devilish smile curling at the corners of her lips.

Mo Licheng massaged the old master’s shoulders while stealing a glance at Mo Lishen out of the corner of his eye. He casually remarked, just loud enough for her to hear, “Grandfather, there’s a new employee at the company who excels in every way, but he used to be an actor. I turned him down.”

At the word “actor,” Mo Boren’s previously smiling eyes snapped open. His already wrinkled face contorted, making his expression even more twisted.

Mo Lishen twisted the ring on her right hand and lifted her gaze to stare at them.

“Don’t hire any of those low-class entertainers into the company. None of you should associate with such ill-omened people and bring disgrace to the Mo family.”

“Yes,” the other grandchildren replied in unison.

Mo Lishen wiped a thin blade with a handkerchief. The blade was not very long, but its design had been meticulously calculated. If thrust into the left carotid artery of a specific person, it would precisely pierce through to the right side. Of course, the thickness of fat varied from person to person, so Mo Lishen had designed it for one particular individual.

She fixed her gaze on Mo Boren’s neck, as if she could see his pulsating veins. Mo Lishen narrowed her eyes and sheathed the blade.

[Come to my study later.]

Mo Yihuai sent her another text message.

Mo Yihuai wore a jade thumb ring, his hands crossed on his lap as he sat in his chair with his eyes closed, resting.

The study door was knocked. Mo Yihuai stood up to answer it.

Mo Lishen walked straight in without meeting his gaze.

Mo Yihuai was accustomed to this kind of interaction between father and daughter. He returned to his chair and gestured for Mo Lishen to sit.

“I won’t sit. Just say what you need to say.” Mo Lishen slid her hands into her coat pockets, looking down at Mo Yihuai.

“You heard what Mo Licheng said earlier, didn’t you? Your grandfather despises actors the most. I don’t care what you do outside, but why did you have to bring an actress close to you?” Mo Yihuai lowered his voice. “If you want to inherit the Mo family, get rid of that woman immediately.”

“Hah.” Mo Lishen let out a cold laugh. “What? You wouldn’t even blink if your wife died, and now you’re concerned about who I sleep with?”

“Mo Yihuai, cut the hypocrisy. Just like you did back then, follow Mo Boren’s orders, bury her carelessly on the back hill without even a gravestone. Keep that attitude-”

“Enough.” Mo Yihuai stood up and slammed the table with such force that the jade thumb ring on his thumb shattered into two pieces.

Mo Lishen smirked disdainfully and continued, “Let’s see which of us dies first. If you die, as your daughter, I won’t leave your body in the wilderness. I’ll find some random mountain to bury you, but don’t expect a gravestone. If I die first, don’t worry, I won’t trouble you, and you won’t find me either.”

“Mo Lishen!”

Before Mo Yihuai’s voice had fully faded, Mo Lishen had already vanished from the room.

Mo Lishen hadn’t brought Bai Hua or her driver today. She first went home to pick up a few things before driving out again.

…

At the Riverside Villa, a woman in a white shirt dress, with a light mink short coat draped over her shoulders, sat gently swaying on a swing in the yard.

Mo Lishen approached from behind and said calmly, “Aren’t you cold?”

Mo Lihan turned her head and, seeing it was Mo Lishen, quickly pressed her toes to the ground to stop the swing, then stood up to face her.

“What brings you here?” Mo Lihan adjusted her coat, a lovely curve forming on her lips. “Did you miss me?”

She was always like this, no matter where she was, she wore pretty little dresses and kept herself impeccably polished. If one looked closely, Mo Lishen and she shared a slight resemblance in the eyes. Her smile was gentle and graceful, and her every movement exuded the poise of a young lady from a wealthy family.

“Tch.” Though Mo Lishen was used to her teasing, it still felt a bit cloying every time she heard it.

“They’re having dinner tonight. The butler said you weren’t feeling well and couldn’t make it, so I dropped by to check on you.” Mo Lishen clasped her hands behind her back, sounding slightly awkward. “What’s wrong?”

“Just say you came to see me, no need for excuses.” Mo Lihan pouted slightly and explained, “I’m not unwell. I just didn’t want to go back. It’s cold outside, let’s go inside.”

Only then did Mo Lishen bring out several gift boxes from behind her back.

“This is an early birthday gift for Xiao Ci.” Mo Lishen lifted the bag slightly to help Mo Lihan distinguish it. “And this is osmanthus cake for you.”

At the mention of osmanthus cake, Mo Lihan’s eyes lit up.

Since childhood, her favorite pastry had always been osmanthus cake, but she hadn’t expected Mo Lishen to remember.

Mo Lihan reached out to pinch Mo Lishen’s cheek, her eyes inexplicably reddening. “Our Xiao Shen is so thoughtful, still remembering to bring pastries for your sister.”

With both hands occupied, Mo Lishen couldn’t defend herself and fell victim to her sister’s antics once again.

Only after kneading Mo Lishen’s cheeks until they turned red did Mo Lihan finally let go.

Mo Lishen chose not to bicker with her and set the gifts aside. “Where’s Xiao Ci?”

“Xiao Ci is at piano lessons and won’t be back for a while.”

“What about Lin Yu’an? Still at the office?”

Lin Yu’an was Mo Lihan’s husband. After their marriage, Mo Boren had arranged for him to work in the Mo Corporation, where he now reported to Mo Licheng.

“Why does it feel like you’re conducting a census? Weren’t you here to see me? Why aren’t you asking about your sister?” Mo Lihan pouted, feigning hurt.

Mo Lishen opened her mouth but couldn’t find the right words. She simply sat on the sofa and remained silent.

Mo Lihan burst into laughter, then opened a box of osmanthus cakes, taking out two pieces and offering one to Mo Lishen.

Mo Lishen instinctively reached with her right hand but switched to her left mid-motion to accept it.

She didn’t care for sweets and took only one bite before setting the cake down.

Mo Lihan, however, ate with evident satisfaction, finishing her pastry in a few quick bites, her mouth stuffed so full she hardly resembled a lady of refinement.

After finishing her own cake, Mo Lihan’s gaze drifted toward the half-eaten osmanthus cake Mo Lishen had left behind.

Seeing through her sister’s intentions, Mo Lishen stuffed the remaining cake into her mouth before Mo Lihan could make a move. The overwhelming sweetness made her head ache.

Mo Lihan chuckled for a moment before pouring a cup of hot tea to help cut through the richness.

Mo Lishen felt even less inclined to engage with her and simply sipped the tea quietly.

Suddenly, Mo Lihan produced a small wooden rabbit and held it up in front of Mo Lishen.

“I carved this myself, a keychain for you,” she said, a hint of pride in her expression.

Mo Lishen examined the little rabbit: long ears drooping slightly, round eyes, and two tiny front teeth peeking out. It was undeniably adorable.

“Childish,” she muttered, taking a sip of tea and turning her face away.

Mo Lihan hadn’t expected any praise from her sister and simply reached into Mo Lishen’s coat pocket.

Mo Lihan was likely the only person who dared to treat Mo Lishen with such familiarity.

She found Mo Lishen’s car keys and attached the rabbit keychain, admiring her handiwork for a moment.

As Mo Lishen prepared to leave, she glanced at Mo Lihan’s thinly clad lower body and finally managed to say, “Be careful not to get menstrual cramps.”

With that, she turned and walked toward her car, Mo Lihan’s hearty laughter echoing behind her.

The black sedan glided smoothly along the road. Mo Lishen glanced at the rabbit keychain beside her, a faint smile touching her lips.

If the Mo family was a dark, bottomless abyss, then to Mo Lishen, Mo Lihan was a snow lotus blooming on the cliff’s edge, the only source of life and color in that chasm.

During their childhood, whenever their mother was away, it was Mo Lihan who took Mo Lishen out to play. She remembered one time when she accidentally broke Mo Boren’s teacup. Mo Lihan took the blame and was punished by copying the family rules three hundred times. Mo Lishen joined her, and the two wrote all day and night until they eventually fell asleep, only to wake up with ink smeared all over their faces.

After Su Peijiu passed away, Mo Lishen became increasingly taciturn and disliked socializing with others. Mo Lihan didn’t disturb her either, only quietly bringing her some delicious food and occasionally offering a few words of advice.

A few years later, Mo Lishen went abroad for university. By the time she returned, Mo Lihan had already gotten married, and she missed the wedding.

Later, she did look into Lin Yu’an’s background and occasionally observed and analyzed him during their rare encounters, but she found nothing amiss for the time being.

She truly was a cold-hearted person. She resented this world and harbored hatred for everyone in it, except for Mo Lihan.