Xu Mo, Stirred by Memories of the Past

"Can you stay here tonight?" After hesitating for just a few seconds, Queen Lin blurted out the words she most wanted to say.

If she missed this chance, there wouldn’t be another.

No matter what.

Tonight was something she couldn’t afford to let slip.

Xu Mo thought for a moment.

This didn’t seem entirely appropriate.

Though the "female tyrant" wasn’t home tonight.

He didn’t particularly want to go back either.

Most likely, he’d just crash at one of his own hotels.

Or find somewhere else.

With his status,

he could find a place to stay anywhere.

That wasn’t really a concern.

As for Lin An’an’s feelings—

he sensed them clearly.

Xu Mo smiled faintly, teasing, "You really want me to stay here? Well, it’s not impossible. Your place is pretty big—are you clearing out a spare room for me, or an entire empty house?"

His words left her no room to retreat.

Damn.

The foolish woman was already halfway there.

And now another one.

Even if Xu Mo was in full "laissez-faire" mode,

this was happening way too fast.

He was a man who belonged to the "female tyrant"!

Lin An’an’s cheeks, flushed from the wine, suddenly bloomed into a radiant smile. She shot him an exasperated but charming glare. "No empty house, just my room. Don’t worry, it’s plenty big."

Her thoughts at this moment were easy to understand.

Once she set her heart on someone,

it was nearly impossible to change.

Besides,

Xu Mo was brilliant, genuinely talented.

In their careers,

they were strikingly similar.

He could act,

write songs, play all kinds of instruments.

They even shared the same interests.

Honestly,

Lin An’an had no idea where else she’d find a man this exceptional.

The night grew deeper.

"Your room is big?"

"Mhm, mhm."

"Alright, then you sleep there by yourself."

Xu Mo made as if to leave.

Lin An’an wasn’t about to let him go.

"Xu Mo, get back here!"

Xu Mo: "Aren’t you tired?"

"At least finish the champagne first."

Lin An’an planted her hands on her hips.

Seeing there wasn’t much left—

just over half a bottle—

he agreed.

"Fine. We’ll drink, then sleep."

"Don’t be like that. The night is long, and sleep is far away. Let’s talk a little."

"Alright, you talk, I’ll drink. Whatever you want to discuss."

"Only now am I realizing just how brilliant you are. I want to explore something deeper with you!"

Xu Mo frowned slightly.

Something about that phrasing felt off.

But he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

"Too late. Tomorrow."

Xu Mo feigned a yawn for effect.

With his current constitution,

tiredness was impossible.

But he could fake it.

Well, you know what they say—

you can never wake someone who’s pretending to sleep.

Lin An’an took a deep breath, her voice soft but intense.

"Clear skies stretch over Hanyang’s trees, lush grass blankets Parrot Isle. To betray neither the Buddha nor my heart—if you don’t speak, and I don’t speak, no one will ever know."

Xu Mo was stunned.

Since when did Queen Lin talk like some classical poet?

It threw him off a little.

If this were ancient times, she’d definitely be a literary prodigy, right?

Fortunately, Xu Mo knew a thing or two about poetry himself.

"A golden needle pierces the peach blossom’s heart, too shy to cry out, yet brows knit in secret? Miss Lin, let’s not speak of this again."

Hiss!!!!!

Lin An’an sucked in a sharp breath.

This man was terrifying.

Absolutely terrifying!!!

He’d laid everything bare.

Queen Lin, unable to restrain herself, pleaded, "Xu Mo, if you reject me again, I’ll kill myself! I mean it!"

Her tone brooked no argument.

A woman of talent,

with beauty to match,

humbling herself over and over—

yet still being refused.

Once or twice was bearable.

But after a while,

any woman would start questioning her worth.

It wasn’t that beauty entitled her to anything,

but they’d reached that point.

Only a single layer of paper remained.

If she was cast aside now,

Lin An’an would have nothing left to live for.

The "female tyrant" had already given her approval.

And from their last two encounters,

Lin An’an could clearly sense

that Xu Mo wasn’t entirely opposed to her.

If he had been,

she could have endured the pain,

burying her feelings forever.

But he wasn’t.

And now,

she was lighting the final spark.

Of course,

if Xu Mo still refused,

she’d keep her word.

She was, after all, a free-spirited modern woman.

Bold in action,

unafraid to chase happiness,

even if it meant letting go of everything she had now—

everything!

Xu Mo froze.

After a few seconds, he chuckled.

"Do all of you love threatening people?"

"I... I’m not... I just want what I’ve set my heart on..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. It’d be easier if you had two guns."

"Why guns?"

"You could point one at yourself and one at me, then declare like some heroine: ‘If you refuse, I’ll shoot you first, then myself.’"

"......"

Lin An’an stared at him. After a long pause, she voiced her suspicion.

"You’re mocking me?"

Xu Mo smiled and nodded. "Yep."

Lin An’an’s composure shattered.

She threw herself into Xu Mo’s arms.

This time, he didn’t push her away.

Words could wound deeper than blades.

So sometimes,

silence spoke best.

The sage does not speak.

In the beginning, there were no words.

The first language was touch.

Now, they returned to that primal understanding.

Faced with the utterly clueless Queen Lin,

Xu Mo’s lips twitched slightly.

Her actions reminded him

of a big yellow dog he’d once owned

before crossing into this world.

He’d called him "Old Huang."

Old Huang was a lovable fool. Every time Xu Mo came home from school, he’d rush over, nuzzling his legs affectionately.

When feeling particularly playful, Old Huang would roll onto his back, tongue lolling out,

waiting for Xu Mo to pet him.

Usually, Xu Mo would bring bones—

Old Huang’s favorite.

That always made him ecstatic.

With bones in the equation,

he’d transform into the most docile, dopey dog.

Adorably foolish.

What had dredged up this long-buried memory?

Love?

Or the collapse of humanity, the distortion of morality?

No—it was Queen Lin. Lin An’an!!!

Yes, you guessed it.

It was all because of her.

To explain why,

we’d have to start with her behavior.

Back then,

Old Huang also loved pouncing on Xu Mo,

licking him all over,

leaving saliva everywhere.

Thankfully, Queen Lin had no idea what Xu Mo was really thinking.

Otherwise, he’d already be—

a dead man.

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