By the time Qian Meng woke up the next morning, Mo Qingchen was already up. He got up and left her to sleep a couple more hours.

  When she finally did wake up, she went and took a shower and then ventured downstairs where Xiong Hua had set up a plate of breakfast for her.

  "Where is he?" Qian Meng asked.

  "Mr. Mo is outside," Xiong Hua said without pause. Qian Meng took the mug of iced tea that Mo Qingchen had left for her and went to go find him.

  Out front, at the end of the winding driveway, there was a truck. Two burly men stood next to it, talking to her husband. The men walked away as Qian Meng approached, one of them going to take a ladder out of the back of the truck.

  "Good morning," she said as she stopped at his side.

  "Hello," he answered, turning to her as she stretched up to kiss his cheek. "Did you get some more sleep?"

  "I did. What are those guys here for?"

  Mo Qingchen didn't need to look over to know what she was referring to. "The security cameras."

  "That was fast." She was extremely surprised, actually. She had mentioned it pretty late, so getting someone out here so early to get cameras fitted…


  "I may have provided a little financial incentive to get them out here in a timely manner," he shrugged.

  "What is your definition of timely?" she retorted.

  "Quicker than what they originally suggested," he responded stubbornly.

  "Why so early?"

  "I realized that we needed the cameras. I thought nothing could happen, but it did. So, I am not going to spare any expenses or methods to keep you safe." He cradled her face in the palms of his hand and pressed a quick kiss on her puckered lips.

  She couldn't respond.

  "Did you have breakfast?"

  Qian Meng hummed. When he let her face go, she spoke again. "I had a light breakfast and this iced tea. Thank you for that, Mr. Mo," she smiled.

  "Does it taste better these days?"

  She nodded enthusiastically.

  "I still think it tastes like grass, so." He patted her head.

  Qian Meng remembered something and looked towards their closed garage where her car originally should have been. "What are we going to do about the car? I've never been in such a situation, I am not sure."

  "The police have already gone over it. I had someone come out yesterday and get it to the shop. You don't need to worry about a ride for now. I'll be driving you home all the time. If you need to go somewhere, just tell me," he said firmly.

  "Even when you need to work long hours?" she whispered. "That doesn't sound like a good idea."

  "You were the one who coaxed me to use technology more freely. I can drive home and work from here, too. Don't worry about it," he said.

  "Aren't you going to work today?" she asked.

  He shook his head. "I am not working from the office. I will spend some time on the phone, but otherwise, I will pick you up and drop you at work and make sure everything in the house is in order."

  "Okay," she answered plainly. "Are we bad business owners for doing these things?" she asked pitifully.

  "The whole point of having your own business is so that you can dictate your own hours. If you can't use it for your family, what else will you use it for?" Such a high-brow thing to say.

  She scoffed. "I have to get dressed and going before everyone is at work," she announced.

  Mo Qingchen urged her on. "That is a good idea. Let me know if you need any help!" He called from behind her.

  She smirked. "What help could I need to get dressed up?" From the corner of her eye, she saw the smug grin on his face. Despite the tension, they had these small moments when everything seemed alright.

  What the hell was this?

  Time flew when she concentrated and she found herself flying out of the home, calling for Mo Qingchen. "Mo Qingchen! Are you ready?" she asked.

  He emerged from somewhere behind the house, looking delicious in his pajamas. But he wasn't ready to go out.

  "You're not ready?" she accused.

  "I am going to stay in the car, so no one will see me. I won't disgrace you. Come on," he urged. He took her by her wrist and deposited her into the car.

  He took a detour and checked the car, from the trunk to the hood before coming in. In doing so, he rolled up the sleeves of his t-shirt, giving her a free view of his skin.

  Qian Meng couldn't help but admire the impressive muscles in his forearm as he turned and walked away and headed for the driver's seat.

  They were the same muscles that she enjoyed admiring when she would look down and watch him as he used his fingers to make her whimper and beg for him.

  "I love the look in your eyes, Qian Meng. But it's no time for that!" he announced, pulling her away from her dirty thoughts as he closed the door behind him.

  Qian Meng laughed and shook her head. "Dream on," she whispered. After laughing for a minute, Mo Qingchen started the car.

  When it was time to get off, Mo Qingchen surprised her by wrapping his arms around her much more tightly than she had expected. It was a long embrace.

  Qian Meng felt awkward as time went on. She wasn't used to such affection from Mo Qingchen. When would she get used to it? They were extremely close, just not in this way.

  "Be alert," he told her.

  His tone was what made it more awkward.

  "I know, Qingchen. I'll get off, now."

  He hummed. "Wait for me to pick you up, okay?"

  The situation was getting too mushy for her. She clearly needed to lighten the mood.

  "Geez. You should sleep a little more. From this close, the bags under your eyes look like I killed you and reanimated you."

  She felt him stiffen and it took him a few moments to answer her.

  "Well, I guess you'll have to tire me out enough to make me sleep every night." And that was that. No resolution.