After their soak in the hot spring, Eve Vaughn and Mia Kendall returned to their room to rest.

It always seemed like the two girls had endless things to talk about.

Mia Kendall said with a wide smile, "Do you remember back when we were boarding school students? We always used to lie in the same bed, binge-watching shows and chatting. How long has it been since we’ve had a proper talk?"

At the mention of this, Eve Vaughn felt a twinge of regret. "You’re right. Speaking of which, your academic scores were great, too. You could have gotten into Rivaster University. But you just had to go to the Film Academy to study acting. Your mom and I couldn’t talk you out of it."

"Oh, come on, I’m about to graduate. What’s the point of bringing up things from back when we took the college entrance exams!"

Actually, Mia was a little regretful. During her four years at the Film Academy, she had gradually realized that she didn’t seem to have any talent in that area.

But she had already worked so hard for so long. It was the path she had chosen for herself, and she wasn’t willing to give up.

And so, she had persevered.

Just then, a few mice scurried out from under the bed and crawled onto Eve Vaughn’s slippers.

"Ah!"

Once Eve Vaughn saw what they were, she shrieked and started running all over the room.

Mia Kendall was also deathly afraid of those things, and her scream was even louder than Eve’s.

Soon, Eric Kendall and Mason Lawson rushed over.

"What happened?" Mason Lawson asked the moment he entered, feigning ignorance.

Seeing the gray mice scurrying around on the floor, Eve Vaughn was on the verge of tears from fright. She instantly leaped off the bed and ran to hide behind Mason Lawson.

"H-h-how can there be mice in this room?" Eve Vaughn stammered, terrified.

As she spoke, the mice continued to dart about, making Eve feel like there was nowhere safe to even stand.

The corner of Mason Lawson’s lip curled into a fleeting smile. He then seized the opportunity to sweep her up into his arms and said softly, "Don’t be afraid. I’m here."

Eric Kendall thought to himself, ’I’ve really learned something this time.’

’After all my years as a playboy, even my techniques for picking up women aren’t as masterful as Mason’s.’

But Mia Kendall wasn’t so lucky. She thought she’d be safe standing on the bed, but to her horror, one of the mice crawled up onto the bed as well.

"Ah! What do I do? What do I do?"

Mia hugged a pillow and stomped her feet, so scared she felt like her heart was about to give out.

’Eve got to run into Mason’s arms, but I can’t just jump into Eric’s, can I?’

Eve Vaughn, though trembling with fear herself, didn’t forget to say to Eric Kendall, "Hurry up and figure out a way to get rid of the mice! Otherwise, what’s Mia going to do?"

Eric Kendall had finally gotten a chance to pull a prank on Mia, and he wasn’t done having fun yet. How could he let her off the hook so easily?

He pretended to be troubled and said, "I’ll go to the front desk and ask if there are any other rooms. But it’s the weekend, so they might not have a vacant room."

With that, Eric walked out, leaving the mice to continue running amok in the room.

Eve Vaughn’s legs went weak with fear. She clung tightly to Mason Lawson’s neck, not daring to let her feet touch the ground.

Mason Lawson put on a serious expression as if he were genuinely considering their options. "How about this, Evie? You come to my room for now. Eric will probably have the mouse situation handled in a little while."

Before Eve could even ask what Mia should do, Mason was already carrying her out of the room with long strides.

Mia Kendall, both furious and terrified, yelled after them, "Eve Vaughn, you traitor! You chose a guy over your best friend! What about me? I’m scared of mice too!"

...

Mason Lawson carried Eve Vaughn back to his room and placed her on the bed.

The young woman clutched her chest, her heart still pounding. The thought of those disgusting creatures still made her skin crawl.

It wasn’t until she felt the man’s searing gaze on her that Eve Vaughn snapped back to her senses and quickly got off the bed.

"I... I’ll go check on Mia."

As she spoke, she tried to leave, but Mason Lawson beat her to it, standing in front of the door and locking it from the inside.

Eve Vaughn’s amber eyes filled with confusion. "Little Uncle, what... what are you doing?"

Mason Lawson’s gaze fell on the neckline of her beige, floral-print slip dress, on the expanse of her fair, delicate chest.

"You’ve never dressed so revealingly when you’re at home with me. Did you have a change of heart the moment you came out?"

Eve Vaughn froze for a moment, complaining inwardly: ’Isn’t that to guard against you?’

Under the man’s stare, she quickly found an excuse. "I wanted to wear matching outfits with Mia."

Mason Lawson hooked the collar of her dress with a long finger, his voice low and ambiguous. "You should dress like this at home from now on. It looks good."

Eve Vaughn awkwardly pulled at the neckline of her dress, her face flushed red. "Little Uncle, I... I should still go check on Mia."

Mason Lawson remained blocking the door. He suddenly reached out, pulled the young woman into his arms, and slowly brought his handsome face closer to hers. "Do you really not understand, or are you just pretending not to? Also, don’t call me Little Uncle anymore."

Eve Vaughn was startled. She tried to push him away as she asked in a panic, "Then... what should I call you? Mason Lawson? Isn’t... isn’t that a little disrespectful?"

The man let out a soft chuckle, which sounded especially pleasant in the quiet night.

He pressed his cool, thin lips to her ear and said, "If you keep calling me Little Uncle, it makes me feel like I’m being indecent with you. But what I’m clearly doing is cherishing you, don’t you think?"

Eve Vaughn felt a jolt of electricity surge through her, making every nerve in her body tremble slightly.

The arm wrapped around her waist tightened slightly, pulling her even closer into his embrace.

Mason Lawson’s other hand gently caressed her smooth cheek, and he began to kiss her lips, light and fleeting.

The young woman let out a small whimper, but he easily parted her pearly white teeth and entangled his tongue with hers.

Eve Vaughn’s head was spinning from his kiss. Before she knew it, he had carried her to the bed.

The man’s tall frame covered hers as he continued to kiss her, his other hand already slipping up under her dress.

The young woman’s soft moans were the ultimate aphrodisiac, nearly causing Mason Lawson to lose all control and take her completely.