Even though I know what’s between me and Qi Ling is fake, just a commission between an employer and mercenaries.

But after today’s outing, Su Mo has unwittingly gotten a bit involved, treating it like a real date.

Hearing Qi Ling’s soft whispers at this moment, he feels his heart flutter inexplicably, instinctively holding Qi Ling’s hand, closing his eyes, and immersing himself in this tenderness.

"Ding." At this moment, Su Mo’s phone chimed with a notification.

He took out his phone and saw a group chat message from Chu Nanyi.

Su Mo: "I’ll reply to a message first."

Qi Ling: "Alright, I’ll go take a shower, you can sleep in the guest room next to the walk-in closet. There’s loose sleepwear in the closet, unisex, I’ve never worn it before, you can take it."

Su Mo: "Okay, go ahead."

After Qi Ling leaves, Su Mo goes to the guest room, sits on the chair, and opens the group chat [Leader’s Date Gossip Squad].

System prompt: [The group owner "Dongdong" has lifted your ban]

Chu Nanyi: [Leader, how far have you gotten? After a whole day, don’t tell me you haven’t even held hands yet @Su Mo]

Su Mo: [I’m staying over at her place tonight, not going back...]

Chu Nanyi: [What?]

Chu Nanyi: [Damn! Quick, come see the gossip @Dongdong@KK]

KK: [Shocked dog face.jpg]

KK: [What did I miss, this plot development is a bit fast]

Dongdong: [Already achieved 10% of Xiaochu’s prowess, this guy is terrifying]

Su Mo: [Don’t misunderstand, just purely staying over, I’m in the guest room...]

Chu Nanyi: [What?]

KK: [What?]

Dongdong: [What?]

Chu Nanyi: [Leader]

Su Mo: [What?]

Chu Nanyi: [Are you sick? I mean that kind of thing]

Chu Nanyi: [If you are, I know an old Chinese doctor, guaranteed to cure]

Su Mo: [Go away, your head is full of dirty thoughts...]

Su Mo: [Not talking to you guys, I’m taking a shower and going to sleep]

Su Mo finds sleepwear in the guest room closet, takes a wonderful shower, tosses his dirty clothes into the washing machine, and returns to the room to rest.

After playing hard all day today, Su Mo is truly exhausted and collapses onto the bed after returning to the room.

"Thud."

As soon as Su Mo lies down, he suddenly feels something’s not right.

Why is the bed not flat?

Where did this mysterious bump come from...

Su Mo lifts the quilt and is startled.

"How did you get on my bed?!

Unbeknownst to him, Qi Ling had sneaked under the quilt, and as Su Mo flopped down earlier, he landed right on her.

Qi Ling hooks an arm around Su Mo’s neck, deliberately pulling an innocent face: "Oh my, I seem to have gotten lost~"

Su Mo’s face turns red: "Hey, we agreed on separate rooms!"

Qi Ling smirks: "Yeah, we agreed you’d sleep in the guest room, but I never said I had to sleep in the master bedroom. I’m the owner of this villa, I can sleep wherever I want~"

Su Mo exclaims: "You’re setting me up!"

"That’s right, I’m not pretending anymore, I’m totally setting you up!" Qi Ling rolls over with force, pinning Su Mo beneath her.

The two are pressed closely together, with the thin sleepwear allowing them to directly feel each other’s softness and warmth.

Su Mo is overwhelmed, with his face blushing to the root of his neck.

Qi Ling’s playful smile gradually turns tender as she silently gazes at him.

In this silent gaze, gradually, the atmosphere becomes subtle.

Qi Ling brushes Su Mo’s hair off his forehead, her voice very light and gentle: "Mo Mo, can you fulfill a wish for me?"

Unknowingly, Su Mo’s heart rate has already climbed to the limit: "What..."

Qi Ling leans down, her silver hair cascading over his face and neck, bringing a silky touch and a hint of shampoo fragrance.

Her red lips slightly part, and she softly utters two words.

"Kiss me."

Su Mo’s heart is about to leap out of his throat, blushing and stammering: "Xiaoqi, this joke isn’t funny. We’re pretending to be a couple for a date, holding hands is one thing, but kissing is something real couples do...

Before he can finish, a warm breath brushes against his face, and a soft, exhilarating sensation touches his lips.

Qi Ling’s eyes are half-open, half-closed, her gaze filled with tender affection, as she kisses Su Mo’s lips.

"Thud... thud... thud..." Their heartbeat echoes together, as if time has frozen.

After a long time, they part lips.

Su Mo was frozen like a statue, his gaze vacant, utterly dumbfounded.

After some unknown period, his focus gradually returns, and he blankly looks at Qi Ling in front of him.

Qi Ling lightly bites her lip, her eyes flickering with deep affection: "What’s wrong?"

Su Mo blankly says: "My... my first kiss is gone just like that?..."

Qi Ling replies in an elusive tone: "You’re not at a loss."

Su Mo: "Huh?"

Qi Ling’s face is also flushed, as she tucks her hair behind her ear, her gaze somewhat evasive: "It was my first kiss too..."

Su Mo stands there dazed, looking at the embarrassed girl in front of him, feeling at a loss: "Then what are we... now?"

"Shh." Qi Ling places her finger on Su Mo’s lips, indicating for him not to speak.

Then she lies on the pillow, wrapping his arm, closing her eyes softly.

"Goodnight, my love."

Su Mo lies there, feeling his mind a complete mess, thoughts flying in all directions.

What is happening...

Am I dreaming...

Have I unwittingly gained a girlfriend?

No, wasn’t this just an assignment?

If it’s an assignment, why did she kiss me?

Is my concept too outdated, can today’s young people kiss casually? 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Is this all just a game or is it real?

What is she really thinking?

Young Master Chu, Young Master Chu, save me, I really can’t understand a girl’s mind.

His mind in complete chaos, Su Mo feels dizzy, and with his body exhausted, sleepiness gradually overwhelms him.

He mechanically reaches out his hand, intending to turn off the light.

"Don’t turn off the light." Suddenly, Qi Ling’s voice rings out.

"Hmm?" Su Mo looks at her.

He can feel his arm being hugged tightly.

The same Qi Ling who dared to jump out of a plane thousands of meters high without a parachute seemed a bit... nervous?

Su Mo tentatively asks: "Xiaoqi, are you... afraid of the dark?"

Qi Ling doesn’t answer, only resting her forehead against Su Mo’s arm, her voice so small it’s almost inaudible: "Don’t turn off the light..."

Su Mo withdraws his hand, gently patting her head: "Okay, I won’t turn off the light. Sleep now, goodnight."

Qi Ling: "Goodnight."

The bedroom light remains on all night, intertwining with the distant lights outside the window.

The two engulfed in pure white down duvets, quietly pass this night together.

Su Mo, having had such an exhausting day, quickly falls into a deep sleep.

Qi Ling curls up next to him like a kitten, her scattered hair brushed by gentle breaths.

Quietly, she opens her eyes.

Gone is the liveliness and playfulness in those amber eyes; only a chilling coldness remains.

She subtly turns her gaze towards the phone Su Mo left on the table not far away...