They had sex and cuddled, but then day came… it wasn't the same. After the night they had, she didn't want to wake up to another awkward day of them denying everything.

  "It always is."

  "Not tomorrow. I promise," he vowed.

  "Okay."

  She scooted closer to him, cuddling against his strong body as he wrapped his arms around her.

  "Thank you," she said, burrowing her head in his chest.

  "For what?" she asked. He sounded a little sleepy, too.

  "For telling me what you did tonight."

  "Oh. That."

  She hummed. "I'm glad you told me. It was important for me to know those things. To know that we had some semblance of trust between us. That makes me feel secure/ You can share something personal with me, means a lot to me. I won't take it lightly, either."

  He pulled away to look at her. "I do. I trust you just like you trust me."

  "You gave me another part of yourself to me tonight," she claimed.

  Mo Qingchen thought about that. That put it into perspective. Qian Meng must have felt like she had given him a part of herself by telling him about her past life and insecurities. He was happy to be able to do the same for her. He was glad that it meant so much to her.

  "It sounds like a trade… Hmm… are you propositioning one, Mrs. Mo?" he asked, flashing her a playful smile.

  "Maybe."

  "Me for you?" he teased.

  Qian Meng felt bold in her happiness. So, she said it. "How about my heart for yours?" She blushed the second the words came out of her mouth.

  "Interesting proposal," he responded.

  She bit her lip as she waited for him to give a better answer. "What do you think?"

  "Can I trust you to take care of it?" he asked. It sounded like a challenge.

  She moved her arm around his neck. "Always. Will you take care of mine?"

  "Until the universe falls apart." He was earnest in his declaration.

  The air was thick with unspoken feelings. The spark was intense and Qian Meng felt the need to cut it before it turned into flames, even if it was a good thing.

  "Listen to the two of us. Could we be any mushier?" She laughed softly, stroking his hair.

  He laughed alongside her. "It must be the endorphins from all the sex."

  "That and exhaustion."

  Mo Qingchen put his hand on the back of her head and kissed her forehead gently. "Sleep, baby."——

  Qian Meng sat in front of the dresser in their hotel suite and got ready for the day. Somehow, she had woken up earlier than Mo Qingchen.

  Right at that moment, Mo Qingchen was taking a shower while she put on last touches on her lipstick. She was just about to pull her hair into a ponytail when she sat him in the reflection of the mirror.

  He was standing behind her with a smirk on his face.

  "Good morning, Qingchen," she said eagerly.

  "Good morning, baby," he whispered. His eyes were filled with adoration. He bent down and slowly caressed her hair. She looked at him in confusion as he began to straighten her hair and form a ponytail on her head without her prompting.

  She felt warm just thinking that he was helping her with her hair.

  And then he did something unexpected. He curled her hair in his fist and tugged her head back. His free hand circled her throat, his movement still gentle.

  "What are you—" She couldn't even finish her sentence.

  He hungrily bit on her lower lip. His lips molded against her and she groaned at the sensation. And then he grew less rough. He didn't bite her. Instead, he slowly caressed her lips, licked it, and lavished it with attention.

  She didn't know how long it was, but her neck felt a little sore. He finally let her go after pressing a peck on her cheek.

  Qian Meng looked at him with mock sharpness. Her eyes danced with delight as she reprimanded him. "I just finished my makeup. I'll have to touch up again."

  He looked at her with a scrutinizing eye. "You just absolutely ravishing like this," he complimented freely.

  "Everyone will know I was rolling on the bed with you," she retorted lightly.

  Mo Qingchen shrugged. "No issue for me. I'm not a jealous man, really. I sometimes feel a pang in my heart, but I don't mind men looking at you. It just means they have good taste."

  She glared. "Shut up. You touched my hair, so you tie it," she told him.

  He chuckled. "Are you sure you want my unpractised hand on your hair?"

  She nodded firmly. She could tie it again if his hairstyling was a disaster.

  She watched him intently as he smoothed down the strands of her hair and tied her hair into a low ponytail. His attention to detail and need for everything to be neat really made him good at it.

  The hairband was loose, but he looked pretty good.

  "Didn't expect you to excel at this. Did you tie Mo Yize or your mother's hair?" she asked.

  Mo Qingchen nodded. "I used to tie Mo Yize's hair when she was in elementary school. She didn't let me do it from middle school, though." He shrugged.

  "That's when most girls become conscious of their outward appearance. Not your fault." She stood up and patted him on the shoulder.

  She quickly touched up her lipstick.

  "I think I should become a product tester," Mo Qingchen said out of the blue.

  Qian Meng looked at him weirdly.

  "I mean… the product is for one person, but what if someone else kisses them? It should be tested for safety and taste, right?" he teased.

  "It's unpaid work," Qian Meng played along. "You only get to kiss me. A lot." She rolled her eyes at his delight.

  "It's settled then."

  Her phone vibrated and she looked at the screen. "The car is here. I need to head out. I have the signing and the talk with the person who leaked the photos," she informed him.