The corner of his lips lifted. "You’re already doing it."
He leaned closer, so close that the scent of cedar and faint wine surrounded her. His voice dropped to a whisper. "But if you keep looking at me like that, I might stop pretending I’m unaffected."
For a moment, Yue Ning forgot how to breathe.
Her mind screamed mission, but her body — her pulse, her trembling fingers betrayed her.
Then, before she could stop herself, she whispered, "Maybe that’s the point."
Huo Feng froze. Surprise flickered across his features, then a low laugh escaped him. "You’re full of surprises tonight, Ning Ning."
"Is that a compliment?" she asked, her tone light, though her voice was husky now.
"More like a warning," he replied, brushing his thumb along her jawline, his touch both tender and commanding. "Because if you keep tempting me , I’ll make you take responsibility."
Yue Ning’s breath caught, but she smiled as though she was entirely in control. "Then I suppose I’ll take my chances."
[Mission Progress: 93%]
[Condition: Maintain emotional control.]
Yue Ning forced herself to keep her gaze steady. She couldn’t afford to fail again.
So instead of backing down, she leaned forward and pressed a faint, fleeting kiss to his cheek, light as air, deliberate enough to linger.
"Goodnight, Mr. Huo."
Yue Ning turned away before he could answer. Her robe swayed as she walked to the adjoining bathroom, her steps unhurried, calm, composed, and deliberately unbothered.
The door clicked shut softly, and the sound of running water soon filled the air, muffled but unmistakable.
Huo Feng stood there, unmoving.
He’d faced business rivals who would sell their souls for power, survived ambushes that tested his patience and wit, yet somehow, it was a single woman in silk and shadows that made his composure falter.
The faint splash of water reached him again, light, rhythmic, teasingly unaware of what it did to him.
He exhaled slowly, pressing a hand to his temple.
"She’s really testing me," he muttered, half amused, half resigned. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novel(ꜰ)ire.net
When she emerged, steam followed her — the soft glow of lamplight catching the droplets on her hair. She looked effortlessly disarming, wrapped in a thin robe that wasn’t meant to provoke but somehow did.
Yue Ning noticed the shift in his gaze. The way his composure strained for control, and she smiled faintly. "You’re still awake?"
"Hard to sleep," he admitted, voice low, his eyes never quite leaving hers.
She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Then don’t blame me if you stay up all night."
He chuckled, a deep sound that curled between them. "At this rate, I might start thinking that’s your goal."
Her lips curved. "Who knows, Mr. Huo?"
Huo Feng stared at her deeply, and his lips tilted upwards.
----------------------
The next morning, sunlight peeked into the room through the curtain blinds. Yue Ning’s eyes fluttered slightly, and she opened her eyes slowly.
She stretched softly, as she sat up. Her eyes turned to the spot where Huo Feng usually laid, and they squinted. He wasn’t there.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of water running in the bathroom, and she gulped softly.
She recalled her actions from the previous night, and a red hue stained her face.
’Why are you blushing?’ The system’s voice sounded in her mind, startling her in the process. "You are a couple."
Yue Ning’s hands flew to her chest as she steadied her breathing. "Don’t give me such a scare again."
Surely, if the system had a body, it would have rolled its eyes.
The sound of water stopped. Yue Ning’s heart raced, swallowing softly. Then—
The door clicked open. Huo Feng stepped out with a towel which was tied around his waist, dangerously low.
His attention turned to her, and his brows arched when he found her gaze was on him.
"You are awake. Did you sleep well?" he asked, snapping her out of her dangerous thoughts.
Yue Ning forced a smile on her face, touching her nose in the process. "Mm. I slept fine."
"Really?" Huo Feng drawled, amusement glinting in his eyes. "You kept turning in your sleep. I almost thought you were dreaming about something... interesting."
Her heart skipped. "I was not."
"Hmm." His gaze lingered on her face a second too long before he turned away, toweling his hair. "If you say so."
’Host’s heart rate is unstable,’ the system’s mechanic voice echoed in her mind.
Yue Ning nearly groaned. ’I’m aware.’ She screamed in her mind.
"Nothing." She shook her head quickly and stood, pretending to fix the sheets. Her robe slipped slightly off her shoulder, revealing a glimpse of skin before she tugged it back up.
His eyes flickered toward her movement—brief, restrained, but unmistakably there. "You’re really trying my patience this morning."
Yue Ning glanced at him over her shoulder, her tone soft but daring. "I’m only tidying the bed, Mr. Huo. Surely that’s not a crime."
His lips faintly curved. "Depends on how you do it."
She blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. Then, before her composure slipped further, she turned away. "I should... freshen up."
"Take your time," he said, voice low, his tone layered with meanings she tried hard not to think about.
Yue Ning quickly grabbed her change of clothes and escaped into the bathroom, the sound of running water soon filling the room again.
Left alone, Huo Feng exhaled deeply and rubbed the back of his neck.
He’d told himself to keep his distance, to let her play her little games without giving in. But that woman had a way of bending the air around her—calm one moment, dangerous the next.
The faint sound of water beyond the door teased his thoughts again. His lips tilted into a faint, helpless smile.
"She really doesn’t know what she’s doing to me," he murmured.
While Huo Feng basked in Yue Ning’s change, enemies were busy forming an alliance.
Song Kai’s Apartment>
He stood in front of his mirror as he fixed his tie. Soon, there was a knock on the door, and he muttered a low ’come in.’
An older man stepped in, and Song Kai turned to look at him.
"Boss, will you really be marrying Xu Yuelan?" His subordinate asked. "I have interacted with her, and I must say... she’s not a good person."
Song Kai smirked lightly. "I am only using her to achieve my goals, nothing more. You don’t have to worry."
"Soon... Huo Feng would be on his knees... begging me." There was a dark look in Song Kai’s eyes as he vowed determinedly.