Departure

Mo Xuan rubbed his lower back and sighed, picking up a kitchen knife to chop vegetables.

He couldn’t help but wonder if he should start locking his bedroom door at night. Being constantly played around by these two sisters was becoming a bit too much to handle.

Luo Shiya lay asleep on the bed, her face still flushed with a charming blush, a faint smile lingering as she slept. Meanwhile, Mo Xuan, having already showered and dressed, reluctantly prepared to cook her a meal.

What else could he do? He had to spoil her.

The kitchen was stocked with fresh ingredients—vegetables and meat from the day—along with all the necessary utensils and seasonings. Even the tableware was disposable.

Outside, the sky remained overcast. Reflecting on how he had somehow ended up with a child, Mo Xuan felt as though it was all a dream.

The sound of boiling water in the pot snapped him out of his thoughts. Just as he was about to add the chopped vegetables to the pot, he felt a soft presence behind him and turned around.

Luo Shiya seemed to have just woken up. She had casually thrown on a robe, loosely tied, not caring that it exposed a large portion of her snow-white chest.

“Be careful, it’s cold,” Mo Xuan said, turning to carefully adjust her robe. “Why are you up so soon?”

“I can’t sleep well without you…” Luo Shiya hugged Mo Xuan, burying her face in his chest. “Aren’t you tired?”

I’m used to it…

Mo Xuan smiled wryly and pointed to the pot. “Wait a moment, I’ll make you some soup.”

But Luo Shiya reached out and turned off the stove, then clung tightly to him. Only then did Mo Xuan notice she had run over barefoot. Even though the floor was heated and the air conditioning was on, it was still winter. Mo Xuan sighed softly, bending down to pick her up in his arms.

“Why did you run over without shoes?” Mo Xuan’s tone carried a hint of scolding. “Should I carry you back to bed?”

Luo Shiya rested her head on Mo Xuan’s shoulder, her hand gently caressing his face as if tracing his features.

Over time, Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi had gradually succeeded in tying Mo Xuan firmly to their side. While Mo Xuan felt it was all surreal, Luo Shiya felt the same way.

However, Luo Shiya had her own agenda. For instance, today she had allowed Mo Xuan to meet Su Yanran.

If possible, she would have been thrilled if Su Yanran had been killed by Mo Jinpeng. In fact, upon learning Su Yanran was still alive, Luo Shiya had already prepared her next move.

But she let Mo Xuan meet Su Yanran because she wanted to confirm his stance once more. She even hoped that Mo Xuan would deliver the final blow to Su Yanran’s heart.

As for how she knew, Mo Xuan’s phone was a gift from her—a custom-made device with built-in tracking and eavesdropping features. Even though Mo Xuan was a computer science student, these functions were so deeply embedded that they couldn’t be detected unless the phone was completely disassembled.

The outcome satisfied her, but the thought of Mo Xuan meeting Su Yanran alone still left her feeling… unhappy.

“What’s wrong, Shiya?”

Seeing Luo Shiya staring at him in a daze, Mo Xuan asked softly. Luo Shiya shook her head and then wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice gentle. “Xiao Xuan, let’s leave after the New Year. I’ve already started handing over my work.”

“So soon?” Mo Xuan was surprised. “I thought we’d wait until Wei’er and Xue’er are a bit older…”

Luo Shiya didn’t respond. The deeper her obsessive love grew, the more she feared Mo Xuan might leave.

Moving abroad wasn’t just about escaping the constraints of the Capital. It was also about creating an environment where Mo Xuan would become even more dependent on them.

In a foreign land, with only her sister and their daughter, the likelihood of Mo Xuan leaving would diminish. She had stayed this long to ensure Mo Xuan was firmly under her control and to tie up loose ends at work.

Mo Xuan carried her to the sofa and even fetched disposable slippers for her. Luo Shiya quietly watched him, like an obedient child.

“Next time, no matter how urgent it is, don’t run around barefoot,” Mo Xuan said, ruffling her hair. “I’ll go finish cooking. What do you want to eat?”

“Can I join you?”

Luo Shiya put on the slippers and stood up, only to realize her legs were sore and weak, almost causing her to stumble.

“Xiao Xuan, my legs are sore…” Luo Shiya looked at him pitifully. “Can you massage them for me?”

…My back is sore. Who’s going to massage me?

Mo Xuan shook his head, sat on the sofa, and placed Luo Shiya’s legs on his lap. Whether intentionally or not, her robe had slipped to the side, revealing her long, pale legs that swayed distractingly in front of him.

“Calm mind, unshaken even if the sky falls…”

Mo Xuan repeated these words in his head. Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi’s bodies seemed to have an irresistible allure for him. Earlier in the kitchen, now on the sofa—even the slightest glimpse made him feel he was losing control.

It was strange. Back when Su Yanran and he were still close, he had seen her in short skirts and summer outfits, but while he felt shy, he never felt this way.

Su Yanran’s figure wasn’t as perfectly proportioned as theirs, but it wasn’t bad either. It wasn’t that Mo Xuan had never had any thoughts about her, but he could control himself. With these sisters, however, his self-control seemed to vanish.

Even though he should be exhausted, their seemingly innocent gestures stirred something in him.

Sometimes he wondered if Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi were some kind of succubi in human form. Why did he feel so addicted to them, as if his heart and body belonged only to them?

But if they kept this up, he might really end up meeting his grandmother. After “miraculously” managing to massage Luo Shiya’s legs, Mo Xuan stood up, fetched a blanket from the bedroom, and draped it over her. “Rest well. I’ll go finish cooking, okay?”

“Alright…” Luo Shiya’s voice sounded slightly disappointed. “Oh, after we eat and rest, let’s go out for a walk. This is a scenic area, and it’s rare for it to be just the two of us. Muqi is at home, so don’t worry.”

Meanwhile, Luo Muqi, who was painting, suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of unease, though she couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong.

“Alright, whatever you say,” Mo Xuan replied with a doting smile. “I’ll go cook now.”

For a moment, Luo Shiya felt a pang of guilt toward Luo Muqi, but she couldn’t help but entertain the thought of staying in this secluded place with just Mo Xuan forever.

At the same time, in the ICU of a hospital, Mo Yingying stood wearily outside the glass, watching her father.

Qin Ni had used her own money to cover the financial shortfall, and now that the hospital was no longer an option, she had rushed to the company. Mo Yingying had returned to Mo Corporation, but the problems left by Mo Qingqing were even more significant. Her older sister was gradually taking over Mo Corporation.

Mo Yingying wasn’t as capable as Mo Qingqing, and after a series of blows, she no longer wanted to continue.

“Second Sister, have you made up your mind?”

Mo Tingting stood behind her, holding a suitcase. Mo Yingying nodded, sighing. “I’m not capable, and I don’t want to deal with it anymore. Let Mom handle her own mess.”

“But if you leave, won’t the family fall apart?” Mo Tingting couldn’t hold back her tears. “Second Sister, can’t you talk to Big Sister again?”

“What’s the point?” Mo Yingying took the suitcase. “I’ve sold everything in my name, along with my savings. I’ve also sold my shares in Mo Corporation. Here’s five million for you.”

She placed a card in Mo Tingting’s hand, then walked past her. Pausing, she turned back and said, “Tingting, make your plans early. Get out while you still can.”

“Second Sister, are you really going to abandon Mom and Dad?”

“Abandon them? How can I?” Mo Yingying couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at Mo Tingting’s words. “One of them killed his own son for the sake of his illegitimate child and drove away his youngest son. The other kept the illegitimate child by her side, giving him the chance to mix fake gold and embezzle company funds.”

“I’ve done my part. Now it’s time to think about myself.”

With that, ignoring Mo Tingting's calls, Mo Yingying walked away without looking back.

Selfish parents only raise selfish children. Starting with the old Mr. Mo and extending to the rest of the Mo family, one wrong step eventually led to the bitter outcome they face today...

And from beginning to end, Mo Xuan merely gave a push—or rather, he tore off the family's veil of pretense, nothing more...