“I’m sorry for disturbing the both of you.” Although An Shuyan received a blow, she still maintained a polite smile. She took a good look at the man soaking in the hot spring with Ji Nuan before abruptly turning to leave.

As An Shuyan’s footsteps finally became softer, Ji Nuan leaned her chin on Mo Jingshen’s shoulder. “Secretary An is actually rather good at tolerating. Based on her IQ and EQ, she can endure failures and grievances, but it’s clear you’ve hurt her pride. For a proud woman, her pride is her true bottom line.”

For a moment, Ji Nuan had caught a hint of dejection in the cracks of An Shuyan’s facade. Perhaps actually catching a glimpse of the two of them being intimate in the hot spring was much more painful to accept than hearing about their affections.

Mo Jingshen brushed away her wet hair from his neck, placing his hand on her collarbone. Ji Nuan turned to see the man’s approaching face.

Mo Jingshen’s tone was calm. “Do you want me to consider her pride or your feelings?”

Ji Nuan knitted her brows and bit down on his shoulders. “Why are you pushing this life-or-death question onto my lap?”

“One is a woman unrelated to me with pride unrelated to me. The other is the wife I’ve recognized; the woman who will accompany me for the rest of my life. There is a clear line between the two, but she is unable to recognize it.” Mo Jingshen rubbed her ears, his voice low and unhurried. “You know it’s a life-or-death question, and the correct answer is placed right here, yet you insist on having me say it out loud to satisfy your curiosity.”

Ji Nuan moved her lips away from his shoulder and gave him a kiss. “Looks like I have to place a stamp of approval on the world’s number one best husband!”

“You can place a stamp on it, but a kiss is too simple and ineffective.” The man held her waist under the water, deepening their kiss. “When we go back to the room, properly stamp it again. You can do it as you please.”

“Don’t mess around. This is the Mo home. It’s more important to take time to chat with grandfather tonight.” Ji Nuan spoke earnestly.

Mo Jingshen’s tone was earnest as well. “It’s also important to accompany your husband to bed.”

—-

After soaking for a long time, Ji Nuan decided to leave the hot spring and return to their room to rest. She remained inside changing her clothes.

When Mo Jingshen stepped out of the hot spring, he saw An Shuyan still dressed in her robe, her lengthy hair flowing down her back. When she heard him moving, she turned back to look at him.

“CEO Mo.” An Shuyan regarded his graceful and warm good looks unaffected by the heat of the hot spring. “This is after all the Mo family, and we’re here as guests. Thankfully, the one who entered earlier was me. If it had been Uncle Mo or my father, I’m not sure how they would think of Ji Nuan.”

An Shuyan’s meaning was clear; she was secretly hinting that Ji Nuan had seduced him here. If the two of them had been intimate, it was the same as not giving Father An and Father Mo the respect they deserved.

The only words she had yet to use were ‘offending public morals.’

“Typical husbands and wives would occasionally be a little intimate. I didn’t think we would be an eyesore to Miss An.” Ji Nuan had already changed as she stepped out. She did not wait for Mo Jingshen to speak up and approached with a smile. “Miss An has an outstanding family background and keen intelligence to boast, so your sight would naturally be set high. However, such a sanctimonious judgment should not be used to appraise us.”

Ji Nuan approached Mo Jingshen’s side and then threw another glance at An Shuyan. “We are legally wedded. Don’t just mention kissing or hugging, even if we were to really do something unrestrained, it still would not even be slightly implicated with offending public morals.”

An Shuyan had thought to borrow the opportunity to speak with Mo Jingshen alone, but she never expected Ji Nuan would appear so quickly.

And this taboo topic of ‘unrestrained matters,’ was, of course, something only Ji Nuan and Mo Jingshen could do.

An Shuyan was silent for a moment before smiling slightly. “Mrs. Mo, we have had few interactions, but I still don’t know you especially well. I’ll be leaving tomorrow. Are you sure you want to leave me with such an impression?”

Ji Nuan wanted to smile. It seemed like this An Shuyan was genuinely invested in Mo Jingshen. Even if she could not obtain his future, after returning to America, he will always remain as the evergreen tree and bright moonlight in her heart. She would not let any other woman stain her impression of him.

“What sort of person am I, Miss An, you should be most aware of this. From the first time we met in the office, you had already thoroughly investigated my background. Furthermore, I say, is the impression I leave you very important?” Ji Nuan raised her brows and lightly chuckled. “Miss An, it’s all right to be conceited, but don’t be too arrogant and place so much importance on yourself.”

Mo Jingshen coldly said, “The Mo family is Ji Nuan’s home. She is free to act however she wishes to at home. There’s no need to hide anything.”

An Shuyan turned to him and suddenly smiled. “I had always thought your feelings for Ji Nuan arose from the responsibility of marriage and a moment’s passion. After all, for someone who is always calm and rational like you, I had thought you would consider all the gains and losses when stepping into marriage and love. But I never expected you would be so serious with her.”

Mo Jingshen did not speak. His gaze remained unperturbed.

An Shuyan tilted her head up, looking at him. “A person standing too high shouldn’t devote all his feelings. You’re a rational man, yet you choose to live like this?”

Mo Jingshen did not plan on speaking further with her. He held Ji Nuan’s hand and headed out.

The instant he moved passed her, An Shuyan abruptly asked, “Do you think the both of you will be able to be together forever?”

“We will.” Mo Jingshen turned back, returning her gaze firmly. His tone was mild, yet it heavily slammed against Ji Nuan’s heart.

“You’re sure you won’t divorce?”

“I’m sure.”

He did not have the slightest bit of hesitance or uncertainty; his tone was beyond calm, as though he was speaking of something natural.

The embarrassment on An Shuyan’s face could no longer be masked. She stared at him for a long moment before turning away to leave quickly. Her footsteps were slightly frantic.

It was as though that exchange did not impact Mo Jingshen at all. When An Shuyan was far away, he intertwined hands with Ji Nuan and walked out.

After walking for a short distance, Ji Nuan’s heart skipped a beat. Her thoughts were hazy as she suddenly tugged on their intertwined hands to hug him from the back.

Mo Jingshen’s footsteps immediately stopped.

He turned around to return her embrace. “What’s wrong?”

She tilted her head up in his arms. “Together forever without a divorce, ah. Right now, my appearance is still attractive, but when I become old and wrinkly, are you sure you won’t be tired of me?”

Mo Jingshen furrowed his brows. “When you’re old and wrinkly, I’ll be older than you.”

“You can’t say that for sure! They say a man in his forties is a flower blooming, but a woman in her forties is dried and flaky like soybean residue!” Her arms tightened around him. She joyfully refused to let go of him.

“En, even if you’re the soybean residue, I can only sacrifice myself and be the flower buried in you.”

“…”

Ji Nuan choked at his response and glared at him. Mo Jingshen poked her forehead. “What are you thinking about? Don’t be so dirty minded.”

“…”

Clearly, he was the dirty one!

“It’s almost time. This place is too stuffy, let’s leave,” Mo Jingshen said and turned to leave.

At this moment, Mo Shaoze and Elder Mo’s voices, as well as their footsteps, could be heard from outside.

“Where’s Jing Shen? He suddenly disappeared from the hot spring after chatting for a short while. He hasn’t been back since then.” It was Mo Shaoze’s ice-cold voice.

Elder Mo was unperturbed as he replied, “Jing Shen has never liked soaking in the hot spring since he was young. He must have already left.”

“He better not gone to look for Ji Nuan. The An family is still around. If that Ji Nuan dares to stick to Jing Shen, then she really does not show respect to anyone!” While heading in their direction, Mo Shaoze’s tone was clearly unhappy.

Ji Nuan could hear them from where she stood and subconsciously shoved Mo Jingshen into a small gap in the corner of the cave. The space was small and could only fit the two of them. They had to stand tightly pressed together to avoid falling over.

Her entire body was leaning on his. When Mo Jingshen lowered his gaze to look at her, she raised her hand and made a ‘hush’ gesture.

Mo Jingshen did not plan on hiding, but after seeing the little woman’s expressive face, he allowed her to press him into the gap as she pleased. He placed his hand around her waist to keep her from being hurt by the jagged edges on the side.

“Right now, we can’t confirm if Jing Shen has already gone in. Ji Nuan must have left as well. Why are you still heading in?” Elder Mo nagged while walking. “Also, I say, the little couple likes to be sticky together because their feelings are good. You can’t shake their feelings, yet you continue to try to interfere. How exactly are you dissatisfied with Ji Nuan? This granddaughter-in-law has always been pleasing to my eyes!”

Mo Shaoze sneered. ” She is a poor match just by looking at the way her family completely loses to the An family.”

“From the way you speak, only a princess from abroad would be good enough for our Jing Shen?”

“A princess? Ah, having the status but not the brains make her garbage too!”

“Aiyo, you’ve really conjured a goddess-like image of An Shuyan. From the way I see it, all the little ladies in love are the same. None of them are rational. I think she really isn’t as perfect as you say. The human heart always holds some greed. Some people are just better at hiding it.” Elder Mo sneered.

The elder and Mo Shaoze were nearing their location as their voices could easily be heard. There was the distance of a stone wall between them.

Just as Mo Shaoze was about to head over and be able to see them, he turned his head, and Ji Nuan instinctively shrunk inward but clearly only managed to push against Mo Jingshen.

Mo Jingshen lowered his gaze to watch her vexed expression of wanting to hide yet not being able to. He smiled, using his gaze to tease her.

The elder walked in front, his expression faltering as his gaze swept past the gap in the stone wall. His walking stick fell onto the ground and rolled two meters away.

“Aiya, why did my hand suddenly slip?” While speaking, the elder turned around. “I think Jing Shen and Ji Nuan must have left already. Don’t look anymore. Let’s leave now.”

Mo Shaoze’s expression was suspicious as he picked up the walking stick and handed it to the elder. His gaze flew over to the gap, and he narrowed his eyes. He was about to move in for a closer look.