Mo Yinhe was like someone who could spot his one and only soulmate in a vast crowd with a single glance.
Discerning the fragrance, he headed straight for the bathroom door.
His long, slender hands grasped the doorknob. He gave it a push, but it didn’t open. A low, mellow chuckle escaped him. "Why hide, baby?"
Si Mingjing’s internal alarms blared. He found me this quickly? Is Mo Yinhe part dog or something? It’s a huge loss for the K-9 unit that he’s not a police dog!
Convinced his beloved woman was hiding in the bathroom, Mo Yinhe was in a splendid mood. He leaned leisurely against the wall by the bathroom door, his tall figure exuding a languid yet confident air, as if her discovery was inevitable. "Baby, you can’t hide. Come out now, or I’m kicking the door down."
"You child, why are you blocking the bathroom door?" The old lady descended the stairs, her face stern as she reprimanded him. "Mingjing is in there changing. Don’t frighten her."
"Si Mingjing?" Mo Yinhe sounded skeptical. His deep, magnetic voice deliberately took on an oppressive edge. "Who is inside?"
"Huh? What was that?" Si Mingjing’s startled cry came from inside the bathroom.
The moment she spoke, Mo Yinhe recognized her voice. His expression darkened instantly. "What happened?"
"I think I saw something... I can’t say what it was. It escaped through the window. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me... No, it was probably just my imagination."
Hearing this, Mo Yinhe seemed to reach a decision. With his long legs, he turned and strode outside.
Hearing his retreating footsteps, Si Mingjing quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness for my quick thinking, she thought.
Yet, just as she relaxed her tense nerves, a tall shadow suddenly loomed outside the window.
A voice that sent shivers down her spine came from outside. "Which way did you see ’her’ escape?"
"I-I don’t know. I just saw something flash by. It seemed to go to the left."
Si Mingjing feigned a state of lingering shock, though she was genuinely startled. Her head was pounding. This man is so hard to fool!
Mo Yinhe gave no sign whether he believed her. Standing tall and conspicuous outside the window, his gaze lingered on her for only a moment before he said sternly, "From now on, no spraying perfume in my house!"
Even from outside the window, Mo Yinhe could smell the cloying perfume, a scent he found offensive, polluting the air’s natural sweetness.
Si Mingjing laughed inwardly but kept her expression compliant. "Sorry, Mr. Mo, could you please turn around? I need to change."
Just then, Ye Shen hurried over. "Bro, Miss Si is changing, you can’t go in! Why are you sneaking around to the window to peep? Is that something a man should do?"
Mo Yinhe wanted to kick Ye Shen into next week.
He ignored Ye Shen and started walking to the left, then suddenly glanced back, giving the window a deep look.
Ye Shen immediately used his body to block Mo Yinhe’s line of sight. Turning his back to the bathroom, he explained apologetically, "Miss Si, my brother is so obsessed with finding his wife, it’s like he’s gone mad. His mind isn’t clear, and he’s been acting erratically. Please don’t take it to heart."
Si Mingjing offered a faint, noncommittal smile. His brother’s mind is perfectly clear, she thought. He’s the most exasperating man I’ve ever met. Too bad he’s got the wrong person. Alas, what a tragically devoted soul.
Si Mingjing had no time to pity others; her own crisis wasn’t over. SWISH! She decisively pulled the curtains closed.
Once Mo Yinhe was a safe distance away, she immediately grabbed the gown and rushed out, making a break for it. "Old Madam, I really should go back to the small building to try on the dress. I’ll be off now!"
Yet, no sooner had she dashed to the courtyard gate than Mo Yinhe, his search proving fruitless, suddenly doubled back. He stared at her fleeing figure, his brows furrowing slightly. "Stop right there!"