I Wish To Never Leave Your Side - Chapter 21

Qiu Yan woke up early, applied a light makeup, and dressed in her usual attire before settling into a waiting mode.

It had been a long time since Mo Lishen had taken her out for a meal. Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, Qiu Yan couldn’t help but smile as she thought of Mo Lishen.

Not wanting to waste the morning, she dug out an old movie and began watching it from the beginning, studying the rhythm of the dialogue.

At first, her mind kept drifting to thoughts of Mo Lishen, but gradually, she became absorbed in the film, and her emotions settled.

The ringing of the phone startled her. It was Bai Hua, calling to ask her to come downstairs.

Qiu Yan hurried to the mirror to tidy her hair, grabbed her bag, and rushed downstairs.

The afternoon sun was exceptionally bright, warming her heart. She effortlessly found Mo Lishen’s car and slipped into the back seat.

As soon as Mo Lishen looked up, she saw the soft sunlight gently illuminating Qiu Yan’s delicate skin. Her smile was tender, like flower petals swaying in a spring breeze.

And in her sparkling eyes, Mo Lishen’s reflection was clearly visible.

Mo Lishen chuckled softly and opened her arms. “Come here.”

A blush spread across Qiu Yan’s fair cheeks as she slowly moved closer and nestled into Mo Lishen’s embrace.

Mo Lishen set aside her documents, wrapped her arms around Qiu Yan’s waist, and breathed in the scent of sunshine and laundry detergent lingering on her. Her mood softened in response.

When they arrived at the restaurant entrance, Bai Hua and the driver would usually go elsewhere to eat, but this time, the driver stayed in the car while Bai Hua followed them inside.

Qiu Yan’s confusion only lifted when the private room door slid open.

Inside the room were two women. One was nestled in the arms of the woman with the stronger presence, feeding her pieces of fruit.

Qiu Yan froze for a moment, then turned to look at Mo Lishen.

Mo Lishen’s expression was noticeably colder than it had been in the car. She gripped Qiu Yan’s wrist and led her into the room.

The color drained from Qiu Yan’s face. She had assumed it would be just her and Mo Lishen dining alone, never expecting others to be present.

“Oh, President Mo, you’re finally here. I’ve been waiting so long I’m starving,” Yu Xiamu said, pushing the woman in her arms aside. She rested her elbow on the table and her chin casually on her wrist, pouting at Mo Lishen. “Were you busy getting cozy with your little lover?”

“There was some traffic on the way. Let’s order,” Mo Lishen replied, not sparing her a single glance as she flipped through the menu.

While Mo Lishen perused the menu, Yu Xiamu turned her full attention to Qiu Yan, scrutinizing her from head to toe several times.

Even without looking up, Qiu Yan could feel the intensity of that gaze. Under the table, her hands clenched tightly.

Whenever Mo Lishen showed her even a hint of tenderness, she would lose herself in it, forgetting her role as a mistress and the scornful ridicule she faced in the eyes of others.

Yu Xiamu let out a disdainful laugh, smoothing her permed hair as she addressed Qiu Yan. “Little sister, dressed so conservatively today? Did President Mo wear you out last night?”

Qiu Yan’s face turned pale, her lower lip tightly bitten. The undisguised scrutiny felt like it was burning through her, and a wave of humiliation washed over her, threatening to drown her.

In truth, Mo Lishen had never touched her. But no one would believe that a benefactor hadn’t laid a hand on their mistress. Even Qiu Yan herself didn’t understand why Mo Lishen only ever caressed her upper body… and never went further…

Mo Lishen glanced up at Yu Xiamu, ordered two dishes, and handed the menu to Qiu Yan.

Qiu Yan held up the menu, trying to hide her embarrassment behind it.

“Aren’t we here to discuss the project?” Mo Lishen cut straight to the point.

“President Mo, you’re so harsh. I haven’t even eaten anything yet, and you’re already asking me to talk business.” Yu Xiamu pouted, deliberately putting on a childish act that didn’t match her age, making it uncomfortable to watch.

Bai Hua stood nearby. She had prepared herself early on and hadn’t glanced in Yu Xiamu’s direction since they arrived, merely listening to the conversation.

Mo Lishen, however, was different. She let out a sigh, leaned back in her chair, and grew increasingly irritated by the person across from her.

Suddenly, the scent of laundry detergent from Qiu Yan drifted over, like a gentle breeze sweeping across a meadow, carrying a faint, fresh fragrance. The discomfort in her heart seemed to ease slightly.

Mo Lishen casually wrapped an arm around Qiu Yan’s shoulder, pulling her closer. Hmm, that felt even better.

Qiu Yan bit her lip and softly ordered a dish. Hearing this, Mo Lishen took the menu, added a few spicy dishes, and handed it back to the server.

Yu Xiamu’s eyes widened. “President Mo, I thought you didn’t eat spicy food. Could it be that your little lover likes it?”

“Miss Yu, do you know me that well?” A flicker of displeasure crossed Mo Lishen’s eyes.

Not wanting to push Mo Lishen’s buttons, Yu Xiamu picked up the menu and ordered a few dishes as well.

“President Mo, the reason I didn’t attend the banquet that day was because my father insisted I go home for my grandfather’s birthday. I didn’t stand you up on purpose.” The thought of it still weighed heavily on Yu Xiamu’s mind.

She had gone to great lengths to persuade the organizers to specify on the invitation that guests should bring a female or male companion, hoping to attend the banquet with Mo Lishen. But her father had unexpectedly dragged her away, causing her plan to backfire. Not only did she miss the banquet, but Mo Lishen ended up taking another woman.

What made it worse was that this “lover” had already been by Mo Lishen’s side for over a month.

Yu Xiamu gritted her teeth. This little bird was indeed somewhat attractive, but she had no money or influence. She refused to believe that someone like Mo Lishen would genuinely care for her.

“Hmm.” Mo Lishen picked up her glass and took a sip of water, clearly uninterested in the topic.

Yu Xiamu knew Mo Lishen’s temperament well. She wasn’t in a hurry. She understood what Mo Lishen wanted most, more projects, and she happened to have the connections to make that happen. That was Yu Xiamu’s leverage.

When the food arrived, Yu Xiamu’s lover eagerly picked up dishes for her with chopsticks, practically ready to feed her by hand.

Across the table, Qiu Yan simply ate her own food without even looking up.

Yu Xiamu sneered, “President Mo, you’ve really spoiled her. Do you think you brought her here just to eat?”

Qiu Yan had been forcing herself to eat all along. As soon as Yu Xiamu spoke, her chopsticks suddenly felt as heavy as lead, impossible to lift.

Then, a piece of fish landed in her bowl.

“Take your time, no rush.” Mo Lishen used her own chopsticks to serve Qiu Yan, a gesture that felt like a sharp slap to Yu Xiamu’s face.

Qiu Yan lowered her eyes and obediently ate the meat Mo Lishen had given her.

Yu Xiamu was so furious she could almost hear her molars grinding. How could she possibly eat anything now?

“President Mo, what kind of lover are you planning to find next? I know a few women, would you like to take a look?” Yu Xiamu’s eyes remained fixed on Qiu Yan.

Qiu Yan’s face gradually paled, and her movements grew increasingly stiff.

“You’re not a fledgling anymore, it’s been over a month, time for a change. Tomorrow, I’ll have a few fresh ones sent over, guaranteed to be tender.” Yu Xiamu crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “I’ll push a few more projects your way. You’re quite the looker, why not lend me this little bird for a few days?”

Qiu Yan’s chopsticks clattered onto the table. She looked up at Mo Lishen, feeling as cheap and disposable as a knockoff trinket from a street stall, the kind you get as a freebie with purchase.

Mo Lishen set her chopsticks down and was about to speak when her private phone rang.

It was Mo Lihan.

Stepping out of the private room to take the call, Mo Lishen left behind a Yu Xiamu who no longer bothered to hide her disdain. She glared down at Qiu Yan with open contempt.

“I don’t care what tricks you used to cling to her this long, but let me remind you, don’t get any delusions of grandeur.”

“Since you’re sitting here all comfortable, I’ll give you a heads-up: Mo Lishen has more ways to play with women than you can imagine. Plenty end up in the hospital the very next day, don’t think you’re any different.”

“You’ve got nothing going for you except a passably pretty face. What good is that? The only thing Mo Lishen truly cares about is money, and I’m the one who brings it to her.” Yu Xiamu leaned forward, palms flat on the table, her face thrust aggressively close, a picture of pure ugliness.

Qiu Yan looked up and couldn’t hold back a cold, derisive laugh.

Beside them, Bai Hua raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself: Well done, Miss Qiu.

But Yu Xiamu couldn’t tolerate being mocked by a “little bird” like this. She stood up and moved to slap Qiu Yan across the face.

Bai Hua quickly stepped between them, shielding Qiu Yan. “Miss Yu, please calm down.”

“Get out of my way.”

…

Mo Lishen strode out of the private room and answered the call.

Only Mo Yihuai and Mo Lihan had this number. Mo Lihan knew how busy she was and rarely called without reason, so Mo Lishen guessed something might be wrong.

“What is it?” Mo Lishen’s tone was as cool as ever, but a hint of urgency lingered beneath the surface.

“Nothing much. Just wanted to hear you call me ‘sister.'” Mo Lihan’s voice came through the receiver, soft and gentle.

“Are you in some kind of trouble?” Mo Lishen continued to gauge her mood.

“Can’t I call you if nothing’s wrong?” Mo Lihan feigned anger, scolding her lightly.

Only then did Mo Lishen relax. “You can.”

“You can call even if something is wrong,” she added.

On the other end, Mo Lihan was taken aback. “Haven’t seen you in a few days, and you’ve already gotten funnier with your words.”

“Psycho.” Mo Lishen’s expression stiffened again, refusing to indulge her.

Mo Lihan laughed heartily. “Hahaha!”

“Nothing’s wrong, really. I just wanted to hear your voice. Go back to work, your sister’s off to have afternoon tea.” Without waiting for a reply, Mo Lihan hung up first.

Mo Lishen shook her head at the screen, a faint smile touching her lips, then turned back toward the private room.

As she reached the door, she could hear arguing inside.

Frowning, she pulled the door open.

Bai Hua had been shoved aside by Yu Xiamu, whose hand was already swinging toward Qiu Yan’s face.

Mo Lishen moved swiftly, blocking the strike with her forearm and effortlessly pushing Yu Xiamu back.

“Bai Hua.” Mo Lishen’s voice was icy as she glared at her assistant, anger simmering in every word. “Did I hire you to stand around and do nothing?”

Bai Hua hurriedly apologized. “I’m sorry, Ms. Mo.”

Mo Lishen’s gaze towards Yu Xiamu carried an additional shade of menace. How could Yu Xiamu not know Mo Lishen’s methods? She gripped the edge of her seat tightly, betting that the resources she held would deter Mo Lishen from taking action.

“Don’t interfere in my affairs, or no matter how many resources you have, get lost.” Mo Lishen did not reveal her ring, but her voice, cold as a blade, was enough to intimidate anyone.

Mo Lishen cast a frigid glance at her before turning to look at Qiu Yan.

Qiu Yan was also frightened by Mo Lishen’s expression at that moment. She stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do.

It was Bai Hua beside her who gave her a push, quietly urging her to leave. Only then did Qiu Yan turn and walk toward the private room’s door.

Mo Lishen walked out last, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

Yu Xiamu was seething with rage. Pressing down on the face of the lover she had just thrown under the table, she slowly stood up and smashed several plates in a fit of anger.

The lover under the table quickly scrambled out, terrified that the shattered porcelain might ruin their face.

“You just wait!” Yu Xiamu thought of Qiu Yan’s face, and her anger surged again, wishing she could overturn the entire table.