I Wish To Never Leave Your Side - Chapter 6

Mo Lishen wasn’t wearing a suit today, but she still had on a dark-colored trench coat with a white scarf wrapped around her neck, making her face appear even smaller. Her ink-black hair cascaded down, bathed in the warm golden glow of the sunset outside the window, softening the aloof aura she usually exuded.

Mo Lishen reached out and pulled Qiu Yan into her embrace, closing her eyes and nuzzling her nose against Qiu Yan’s ear.

“Are you cold?” Mo Lishen leaned against Qiu Yan’s shoulder and asked in a near-whisper.

Qiu Yan glanced at Bai Hua and the driver sitting in the front. Being held like this by Mo Lishen in front of others made her feel a little embarrassed.

But Bai Hua and the driver remained expressionless, as if she and Mo Lishen didn’t exist.

Qiu Yan quickly realized that Mo Lishen had had so many lovers before that they were already accustomed to such scenes. Perhaps they had witnessed even more intimate moments.

Qiu Yan bit her lip, adjusted her mindset, and answered Mo Lishen.

“I’m not cold.”

Mo Lishen wrapped her hands around Qiu Yan’s, transferring warmth to her.

“What would you like to eat?” Mo Lishen gently stroked the back of Qiu Yan’s hand.

“Anything is fine,” Qiu Yan replied, lowering her head.

Mo Lishen glanced at Qiu Yan’s reddened ears, chilled by the cold, and spoke softly, “Let’s have hotpot to warm up.”

The group arrived at the hotpot restaurant. Bai Hua and the driver went to eat elsewhere, leaving only Mo Lishen and Qiu Yan in the private room.

Mo Lishen handed the menu to Qiu Yan, signaling for her to order.

Qiu Yan ordered enough for two people and returned the menu to her.

“Can you handle spicy food?” Mo Lishen flipped through the menu.

“Yes,” Qiu Yan replied. In truth, she loved spicy food, but she rarely had the chance to eat it since she usually had to take care of Yuanyuan.

Mo Lishen added a few more dishes before handing the menu to the server.

While waiting for the food, Mo Lishen personally rinsed a cup for Qiu Yan and initiated conversation.

“Are you usually busy with work?”

“Not too bad. This film crew is wrapping up soon, so it’s not too hectic.”

Qiu Yan was so used to taking care of others that she felt somewhat uneasy being on the receiving end of such attention.

She lowered her head and took a sip of the water Mo Lishen had handed her, trying to mask her discomfort.

When the food arrived, Mo Lishen used serving chopsticks to cook meat for Qiu Yan, placing it in her bowl.

Whatever Mo Lishen served her, Qiu Yan ate.

It reminded her of how she had taken care of Yuanyuan at noon.

By the end of the meal, Mo Lishen hadn’t eaten much, while Qiu Yan had stuffed herself.

After leaving the restaurant, Mo Lishen took Qiu Yan’s hand and tucked it into her coat pocket.

“Would you like to take a walk to help digest?”

“Okay.” Qiu Yan maintained her compliant attitude toward everything Mo Lishen did.

Mo Lishen held her hand and walked slowly under the streetlights. Qiu Yan dared only to look down at their occasionally overlapping shadows. Somewhere deep in her heart, a place she had never ventured into seemed to be gently stirred, sending ripples through her.

Suddenly, Mo Lishen stopped and turned to look at Qiu Yan.

Qiu Yan raised her head to meet her gaze, only to see Mo Lishen unwrapping the scarf from her own neck and gently wrapping it around Qiu Yan’s.

As Mo Lishen leaned down to adjust the scarf, Qiu Yan stared into her eyes. She hadn’t been mistaken that day, there was indeed a trace of sorrow hidden in Mo Lishen’s gaze.

Beyond that, all Qiu Yan could see and understand was tenderness.

After securing the scarf, Mo Lishen looked down at her, cupping Qiu Yan’s chilled, reddened earlobes with her hands and gently rubbing them.

Before long, Mo Lishen pulled Qiu Yan into her embrace, resting her chin on Qiu Yan’s shoulder.

Hugging was the most frequent interaction between them, and Qiu Yan had always been the passive recipient.

But this time, under the streetlights, Qiu Yan reached out and hugged Mo Lishen back.

A child who had suffered too much growing up could easily be moved by even the slightest tenderness from others.

Moreover, Qiu Yan was only twenty-four years old. In other words, it was as if she had never truly been a child who was cared for.

After the embrace, Mo Lishen gently touched the teardrop mole beneath Qiu Yan’s eye and led her toward the car.

Held tightly by Mo Lishen’s hand, Qiu Yan wanted to ask why she was being treated so kindly.

Yet, at the same time, she inwardly mocked her own naive thoughts. No matter how well a patron treated their “canary,” it was merely a form of affection for a pet. And besides, she was the most inconspicuous among many such “pets.”

Complex and tangled emotions slowly spread through Qiu Yan’s heart. She allowed Mo Lishen to lead her, the cold metal of Mo Lishen’s ring gradually warmed by the heat of their clasped hands.

At the very least, this patron of hers had never harmed her.

Mo Lishen escorted Qiu Yan back to her apartment. When the car came to a stop, Mo Lishen reached out and patted Qiu Yan’s head, smiling as she said, “Go on up and get some rest.”

Qiu Yan understood that Mo Lishen wouldn’t be staying the night. She nodded and replied softly, “Okay.”

After Qiu Yan left, the smile on Mo Lishen’s face gradually faded, replaced by a layer of icy coldness.

“Let’s go,” Mo Lishen’s voice was low as she picked up the tablet beside her and began reviewing documents.

“Ms. Mo, tomorrow’s cocktail party will be held at the Wanlong Hotel. The evening gown has been adjusted and delivered to your office,” Bai Hua reported.

“Mm,” Mo Lishen responded indifferently.

…

After returning to her apartment, Qiu Yan sat on the sofa, holding Mo Lishen’s scarf.

It still carried Mo Lishen’s scent. Qiu Yan lowered her head and gently inhaled. In just a few days, she had already grown familiar with that fragrance.

She remembered how, on the first night, she had desperately tried to wash that scent away in the bathroom. But today, it seemed her feelings had shifted slightly.

Qiu Yan felt a swelling sensation in her heart, with no way to release it. She picked up her phone and sent a video call to Yuanyuan.

The next day, at the Wanlong Hotel.

Mo Lishen stood at the center of the crowd in a golden evening gown, exchanging pleasantries.

Her right hand, adorned with a ring, swirled a wine glass. A faint smile graced her lips, yet every gesture seemed meticulously crafted, flawless, yet distant and unapproachable.

Suddenly, a commotion arose in one corner.

Following the noise, Mo Lishen saw Deng Jin, the CEO of Jin Su Entertainment, with her wife Luo Xiao and their daughter.

Deng Jin’s influence extended far beyond the entertainment industry, and many were eager to exchange a few words with her. Those who approached to toast easily steered the conversation toward her daughter.

As a mother, Deng Jin loved nothing more than hearing others praise her child, especially since she was such a doting “daughter fanatic.” Whenever someone complimented her daughter, Deng Jin’s grin stretched from ear to ear. If not for her wife Luo Xiao holding her back, she would have gladly downed her entire glass of wine in delight.

Deng Jin’s younger sister, Deng Susu, also attended the party with her girlfriend, Song Suihan. A few years earlier, the two sisters had come out one after the other. At first, they had been somewhat restrained, but later, they couldn’t wait to proclaim their love to the world.

Deng Susu and Song Suihan were not as high-profile as Deng Jin. Mo Lishen had seen Deng Susu a few years ago, when she was still a young college girl, bouncing around behind Deng Jin.

Now, holding her lover’s hand, the youthful innocence on her face had completely faded, replaced by a mature and poised demeanor.

The Mo Group and Jin Su Entertainment had business collaborations, but this line had always been managed by Mo Licheng. Mo Lishen’s goal tonight was to use the cocktail party as an opportunity to strike up a conversation with Deng Jin and take over that business line.

Seeing Deng Jin confidently carrying her daughter with her wife by her side, Mo Lishen downed the red wine in her glass in one gulp, cast a cold glance in their direction, and walked away from the crowd.

She went to a secluded spot, lit a cigarette, and slowly took a drag.

After finishing the cigarette, Mo Lishen smoothed her hair and returned to the crowd.

She picked up another glass of wine, a faint smile on her face, and walked toward Deng Jin.

Deng Jin was in the middle of a conversation with someone when he spotted Mo Lishen from afar. She immediately picked up her daughter, holding her securely in her arms.

Mo Lishen’s expression remained unchanged. She stopped two steps away from Deng Jin and nodded slightly. “President Deng, Professor Luo.”

Deng Jin merely looked at her without saying a word. It was Luo Xiao who broke the silence at the right moment. “Ninth Miss Mo.”

Just as Mo Lishen was about to speak, Deng Jin cut straight to the point. “I wonder if Ninth Miss Mo’s brother is here tonight. The collaboration between Jin Su and the Mo Group has always been his responsibility. I happen to have a few details about the partnership I’d like to confirm with him.”

The rejection was unmistakable.

Mo Lishen wasn’t angered by the rejection, or perhaps she was simply used to people treating her this way.

Her smile deepened as she took a step forward.

Deng Jin moved to shield Luo Xiao, her expression growing more guarded.

Mo Lishen merely gently clinked her wine glass against Deng Jin’s, producing a crisp sound.

“Perhaps you could discuss it with me, President Deng. In terms of business, I might be able to offer you far more than others.”

“Sis,” Deng Susu walked over and stood beside Deng Jin. “Songsong has a collaboration matter over there. Could you help me go and discuss it?”

Though Deng Susu was speaking to Deng Jin, her eyes remained fixed on Mo Lishen’s right hand.

“Alright.” Deng Jin shot a cold glance at Mo Lishen before leading Luo Xiao away.

Deng Susu raised her glass and clinked it with Mo Lishen’s, taking a small sip of the red wine. As if casually remarking, she said, “Ninth Sister Mo, I advise you to give up early. The piece of meat that is Jin Su, you won’t be able to swallow it.”

With those words, Deng Susu also left.

Mo Lishen stood in place, swirling the wine in her glass as she watched them walk away, a shadow of malice flickering in her eyes.

…

At Qingshui Bay Apartments, Qiu Yan was eating instant noodles while searching online for the risks associated with brain surgery.

The sound of the door lock turning made Qiu Yan immediately put down her phone and stand up to check.

Mo Lishen stood in the entryway, her face flushed, the golden gown she wore reflecting a soft glow, though it still paled in comparison to her striking beauty.

While inwardly marveling at Mo Lishen’s beauty, Qiu Yan didn’t forget to go and support her.

“Have you been drinking?” Qiu Yan reached out to steady Mo Lishen by the shoulder but was unexpectedly pulled into an embrace.

By the time she realized what was happening, Qiu Yan was already in Mo Lishen’s arms.

Today, her scent was a mix of cool perfume and the faint aroma of alcohol. Qiu Yan looked up at her jawline and couldn’t resist gently tracing its contour with her finger.

Mo Lishen lowered her head to look at her, her eyes hazy. She caught her restless fingers and brought them to her lips, planting a soft kiss.

The burning warmth on her lips sent a tremor through Qiu Yan’s heart, making her lower her head in shyness.

Mo Lishen pinched her chin, deliberately forcing her to meet her gaze.

“Why do you always avoid looking at me?” Her voice was even more captivating in the dim light.

Qiu Yan, intoxicated by the scent of her, felt her cheeks flush.

“You’re very beautiful…” she murmured, her eyelashes lowered, her voice barely audible.

Mo Lishen chuckled softly, her hand moving from her chin to the corner of her eye, gently rubbing the teardrop mole there.

“Do you… really like this mole?” Qiu Yan mustered the courage to ask.

A flicker of coldness passed through Mo Lishen’s eyes, but it vanished almost instantly.

“What did you have for dinner?” she asked, resting a hand on her shoulder as she changed her shoes and headed toward the dining room.

“Instant noodles?” Mo Lishen walked over to the table and saw the half-eaten bowl of noodles.

“I didn’t know you were coming tonight. Let me cook something for you,” Qiu Yan offered, guessing that Mo Lishen had been drinking and probably hadn’t eaten much.

“Just make me a bowl of instant noodles too.” Mo Lishen said, pulling out a chair and sitting at the table. She propped her chin on her elbow, glancing at her nonchalantly.