At the threshold of light and shadow, Yuan Shimo slowly ascended the stairs.

Qin Muye held out a hand to stop him. "What are you doing here?"

’Wasn’t he in a meeting? How did he get back so fast? Did he teleport?’

As if he hadn’t seen him at all, Yuan Shimo didn’t even raise his eyes as he bypassed him and continued up the stairs.

At this, Qin Muye quickened his pace and hurried up the stairs.

Watching his retreating back, Yuan Shimo paused for a moment, the other man’s words echoing in his mind.

’He also wanted to know why he was here.’

It had started two hours ago, when Yuan Shiyao didn’t answer his phone. Since then, Yuan Shimo had been mired in a viscous, chilling gloom he couldn’t quite describe.

He had been standing at a podium, facing dozens of the industry’s top experts and scores of senior researchers from his field.

All eyes were on Yuan Shimo.

He explained his theories in his usual, detached tone. The audience erupted in thunderous applause, and his mentor shot him a look of gratification.

But only Yuan Shimo knew that the entire time, his mind was racing with other thoughts—

’Are Yuan Shiyao and she together right now? What have they done? What else will they do...’

Yuan Shimo’s nerves had never been stretched so taut.

The moment the meeting ended, he had used his Superpower to return.

The whole time, as if he had no control, the girl’s face kept flashing in his mind. He remembered that night, how she had called him a "lecherous cat" even as she covered his eyes and placed a light kiss on his lips...

His Adam’s apple bobbed. Yuan Shimo walked to the half-open door.

As the warm light from inside fell on his face, his heart suddenly began to race.

It was as if he was anticipating something.

But before his fingers could touch the wood, someone pushed the door open from the other side. "Pardon me," a low voice murmured as the person strode past him and into the room.

The scene inside the room was now fully revealed to Yuan Shimo.

The girl, having just changed into her nightgown, was sitting on the sofa. A silver-haired young man held her in his arms, nuzzling his head against her hand.

She resignedly stroked the snow leopard’s ears, her sweet voice soft as she tried to reason with him. "It’s really not personal. Baili and I already made plans to watch a movie tonight."

"Why not watch a movie with me?" Qin Muye pressed, frowning with no real menace. "I want to watch too."

"Muye, don’t make things difficult for our female master."

Baili Jing, who had just walked past Yuan Shimo, sat down on her other side. He took her hand, smiling as he looked at her. "My room, or in here?"

Qin Muye clicked his tongue. "You can watch a movie anywhere, can’t you? Let’s go to the balcony and watch it outside. All of us!"

Baili Jing’s eyes curved into crescents. "Muye, that should be for our female master to decide. You’re being too pushy."

That lecturing tone set Qin Muye off. He took a deep breath. "You—"

Just then, Jiang Qingli noticed the other person at the door. She quickly hopped off Qin Muye’s lap and, slightly embarrassed, tugged at the hem of her nightgown before walking over.

She stopped about a meter away from Yuan Shimo and asked, "What’s wrong? Did you need me for something?"

The distance between them was greater than a typical social distance.

The light suddenly seemed terribly harsh.

Yuan Shimo’s thin lips pressed into a line. His jade-green eyes flickered, but he said nothing.

Seeing that he seemed a little down, an idea occurred to Jiang Qingli. She lowered her voice and asked, "Are you in heat again? Do you need me to perform a healing for you?"

Yuan Shimo was certain that Jiang Qingli remembered that night perfectly.

She remembered how he had lost control like an animal in heat, how he had absurdly begged for a kiss.

Yet she acted so calm, as if she’d merely been scratched lightly by a cat and thought nothing of it upon seeing the feline again.

Only he was being provoked and tormented, endlessly ruminating on the memory.

This sense of imbalance made Yuan Shimo’s chest feel heavy.

After a few seconds, Yuan Shimo spoke in a level voice. "The conference ended early. I won’t be attending for the next two days, so I’ll probably be at home. I came to report to you, female master."

Jiang Qingli blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Oh, so that’s what this is about. You didn’t have to make a special trip just for that."

Her dark eyes curved into two bright, new moons.

Yuan Shimo felt a strange wave of dizziness. The tips of his ears began to burn, and his whole body felt awkward.

He dropped his gaze as if he’d been burned, trying to avoid the source of his unease.

"Alright," Yuan Shimo said quietly. "I’ll report by text from now on."

After he spoke, he heard Jiang Qingli laugh again.

"You don’t have to report everything to me, you know. It makes us sound like a boss and a subordinate." Jiang Qingli pointed to her own face. "Do I look like a control freak?"

Yuan Shimo raised his eyes. His gaze swept over her stunning face before landing on her glistening lips.

The young man’s breathing deepened without him realizing it. A few seconds passed before he heard himself say, "No."

"If not, then hurry up and g— hurry up and get out."

Qin Muye’s impatient voice came from behind.

’Yuan Shimo knew he didn’t belong here.’

Ordinarily, he was tactful to the point of being aloof.

’But today, for some reason, he didn’t want to leave.’

’But... she’ll definitely kick me out, won’t she?’

He lowered his eyes, waiting for her dismissal.

Unexpectedly, the girl didn’t shoo him away. Instead, she asked in her sweet, soft voice, "Do you have anything else to do later?"

"No," Yuan Shimo answered, slightly stunned.

"Perfect! You can watch the movie with us!" Jiang Qingli grabbed his wrist and started to lead him out. She turned her head to the two men who were still squaring off. "Come on, let’s go to the media room."

Baili Jing agreed with a gentle tone, but he lowered his head and shot Qin Muye a cold glare.

"What are you looking at me for?" Qin Muye shrugged. "You’re the one who wanted to watch a movie."

The Prince stood up and headed out, his stride filled with a certain gloating satisfaction.

’He might not have gotten her to himself, but at least that damn fox didn’t succeed in his seduction either.’

’Basically, it’s a win!’

-

Baili Jing had chosen a romance film.

In the dim, darkened room, Jiang Qingli sat on the sofa, flanked by Baili Jing and Qin Muye.

Yuan Shimo sat by himself in a lone armchair.

Though he was less than half a meter away, it felt as if they were separated by a galaxy. He was completely out of place.

Yuan Shimo turned his attention to the large screen.

The Yuan Family’s upbringing was incredibly strict, so he rarely indulged in any form of entertainment. Even after growing up, he maintained this strict self-discipline. He could only recall watching two movies in his entire life, and only then to support his mentor, whose son was the star.

The movie’s main plot seemed simple enough.

A man and woman meet on a rainy day. Amidst the patter of rain, they get to know each other, fall in love, and grow closer.

The surround sound was incredibly realistic, and the sound of rain, carrying a sense of dampness, enveloped him.

As Yuan Shimo watched the couple on screen tumble deep into the bedsheets, he suddenly, without warning, turned his head to look at the girl beside him.

She was focused on the screen, her profile quiet and lovely.

As if sensing his gaze, Jiang Qingli looked over at him, blinking questioningly.

Yuan Shimo quickly looked away.

A few seconds later, he turned his head again, his eyes finding the girl’s profile in the dim light.

The sound of the rain was crisp and clear.

At Yuan Shimo’s feet, his shadow swayed slightly, like a kitten wagging its tail to the rhythm of the rain.

-

Jiang Qingli had originally thought that bringing Gu Nian home wouldn’t change things much.

But she was wrong. Terribly wrong!

Gu Nian was still weak after the previous night. When the doctor came on Sunday, he kept clutching pitifully at Jiang Qingli’s fingers.

Qin Muye, who had followed them in, couldn’t stand to watch and would make a sarcastic comment every few minutes.

Before long, Baili Jing used the excuse of bringing dessert to come in, and he sat down beside her, refusing to leave.

Qin Muye bit his tongue, but when Baili Jing tried to feed Jiang Qingli for the third time, he finally snapped.

The sharp-tongued snow leopard youth demanded, "Did you get fired from your film set? You seem to have an awful lot of time on your hands."

Baili Jing smiled. "I don’t work on weekends. You, on the other hand, Prince... don’t you have exams to study for?"

To this, Qin Muye had only five words: "None of your damn business."

Jiang Qingli felt the pressure from both sides mounting and quickly urged Qin Muye to go back to his studies.

The snow leopard youth left, looking back reluctantly with every few steps.

A few seconds later, Jiang Qingli received a text on her phone: [I can’t focus on my own. You need to supervise me.]

Beside her, Baili Jing was holding up a cup of water, about to give her a drink.

Jiang Qingli was speechless.

The girl snatched the cup, downed the water in one gulp, and then urged Baili Jing to go get a refill.

After both Beast Husbands had left, she thought she could finally have a moment of peace.

Gu Nian, lying on the bed, suddenly lowered his eyes and said weakly, "The others... they don’t seem to like me..."

Jiang Qingli had no choice but to pat the rabbit’s head and offer him words of comfort.

By the end of the day, she felt like she’d been spinning like a top.

So at dinner, when her Beast Husbands asked whose room she would be staying in, she pointed decisively at Yuan Shimo.

The other men’s gazes all fell on Yuan Shimo, but no one said a word.

After all, everyone knew that he and Jiang Qingli weren’t particularly interested in each other.

「After dinner.」

Yuan Shimo stood before the bookshelf, unpacking the suitcase a servant had brought over earlier that day. He took out the books one by one, carefully organizing them on the shelves by category.

The door was pushed open from the outside. The young man’s movements froze. He pressed his thin lips together before turning around, feigning nonchalance.

When he turned, however, he saw Jiang Qingli walking in, carrying a comforter.

Their eyes met, and Jiang Qingli gave him a kind smile. "Sorry, but you’ll have to make do with the sofa tonight. I’m the female master, after all. I get the bed."

Then she added reassuringly, "Don’t worry, I don’t snore."

With that, she closed the door and placed the comforter on the sofa.

Watching the girl make up the sofa, his jade-green eyes narrowed in dissatisfaction.

’Has Jiang Qingli forgotten?’

’He’s a man, too.’

’On a night filled with the sound of rain, something could happen between them, too.’