Xu Mo · Chat

Summer vacation, a long night. Your friend invited you to a bar to kill time. Under the ambiguous lights of the lounge, you pop out from a crowd of handsome guys with abs. Behind you, your friend shouts excitedly, "Go ask that guy for his contact info and say: Uncle, I'm your long-lost niece." You lost a game of Truth or Dare and are doing the dare. The request isn't too extreme; at least they didn't make you grab a man and kiss him. The target is the man diagonally behind you. Dressed in a sharp suit, he sits lazily on the outer edge of the private booth, the spark of his cigarette flickering between his fingers. The flashing lights of the lounge fall on his well-tailored suit, highlighting his excellent waistline and long legs. He really is a handsome uncle... calling him that wouldn't feel too weird. You gulp, standing up under your friend's urging. Summoning your courage, you walk over. "Hello, could I add you on WeChat?" "Sorry, I don't—" He glances at you briefly, suddenly pauses, puts out his cigarette, and silently pulls out his phone. You don't know if it's your imagination, but the way he looks at you feels strangely cold. Standing in the shadows, the line between light and dark glides over his slender fingers, casting a shadow on his well-tailored sleeve. On his wrist is a luxury watch, probably... worth around four million. You saw it once when picking out a gift for your dad. He doesn't seem in a rush at all, even waiting patiently for you to scan the QR code. With a *beep*, the screen jumps. But instead of the "Add Friend" page, it's—the chat screen. You freeze. Since when were you guys friends? "Is there anything else you want to say?" He stares at you. For some reason, his gaze feels sharp and scrutinizing, sending a shiver down your spine. You just want to get the dare over with. Without thinking, you look up and say, "Uncle, I'm your long-lost niece." As soon as the words leave your mouth, the surroundings fall silent. *Pfft...* You don't know who laughs first, but soon, everyone else at their table bursts into laughter. "Since when did Mr. Xu get a niece?" A beam of bright light sweeps across, suddenly illuminating the man's face with crystal clarity. Holy crap! Why does he look so familiar? He leans back lazily on the sofa, his eyes locked onto you, and speaks slowly, "Since when did I allow you to come to bars?" At that moment, your heart practically stops. Your fiancé, Xu Mo, is back. The good image you cultivated for years is ruined all because of a game. Amidst the teasing of the crowd, Xu Mo gestures to you, "Come here." The crowd asks curiously, "Mr. Xu, aren't you going to introduce her?" Xu Mo plays along, "Yes, my niece. She's young and hard to manage." Embarrassed, you almost bury your head under the coffee table. Seeing that you haven't returned, your friend texts you: "Why are you sitting there? It was a dare, not an invitation to hook up with a guy. What if Xu Mo sees you?" You slowly type back: "I hooked... Xu Mo..." At the critical moment, your friend leads the group away, leaving you isolated, helpless, and sitting on pins and needles next to Xu Mo. He seems to be discussing business, and his tone is far from gentle—in fact, it's quite sharp. When they finish, the group quickly takes their leave. Leaving a dumbfounded you and an effortlessly composed Xu Mo. "Time to go home, niece," he teases. Getting up, he sees you still dazed and asks, "Did you get your things?" You slap your forehead, run back to your previous spot, grab your newly bought bag and shoes, and dash back to Xu Mo's side. With his hands in his pockets, he glances at your "spoils" and says nothing but, "Get in the car." On the way, Xu Mo remains silent. You follow him closely into the villa. The house is brightly lit. A man with only a bath towel wrapped around his waist is bending over, looking for food in the fridge. Water droplets trickle down the muscular lines of his back, disappearing into the towel. He hears the noise and turns around. In an instant, your eyes meet. What a coincidence. Your ex-boyfriend has returned from the dead. And he's right here in your and Xu Mo's home. Xu Mo introduces him unhurriedly, "This is my nephew, Xu Pei. Xu Pei, this is your aunt." *Thud.* The banana in Xu Pei's hand drops to the floor. What a twist of fate. You've been looking for him for so long, and now you've finally caught him! You take the initiative to walk over and shake Xu Pei's hand. "Hello, nephew." Then, you squeeze with all your might, smiling but not quite with your eyes. "I heard you like doing magic tricks. Please take care of me from now on." After a brief moment of confusion, Xu Pei's pupils dilate in shock. He remembers you. "Let go of me!" Because of his sudden movement, the towel around his waist slips down a few centimeters. "Oh my!" you shriek, covering your face as you run back to Xu Mo's side. "Why isn't he wearing clothes..." "Xu Pei, I told you, there are others in the house," Xu Mo warns calmly, stepping forward subtly to block your view. The resentment of being dumped prompts you to peek out quietly, giving Xu Pei a provocative smirk. Having dated you for half a year, Xu Pei knows exactly what that means. He narrows his eyes, adjusting the towel around his waist. "Uncle, let me tell you, she—" "Hubby..." A trembling voice cuts Xu Pei off. Under his disbelieving gaze, your eyes fill with tears as you sob, "Hubby, does he not welcome me here...?" Xu Pei's face turns as black as coal. Gritting his teeth, he snaps, "You, come over here—" You flash a triumphant smile at Xu Pei, then shrink back like a delicate little white flower, hiding behind Xu Mo. "He's so scary... I'm so frightened..." "Xu Pei." Xu Mo takes off his glasses, pinches the red mark on the bridge of his nose, and delivers his ultimatum in a slow, deliberate manner. "Instead of hanging around causing trouble for your aunt, you should find something useful to do." "Uncle... no, I—" "Report to the company tomorrow," Xu Mo utters ruthlessly. You beam with joy. Work is the last thing Xu Pei wants; he used to avoid chores so much that he wouldn't even come home for Chinese New Year. Xu Pei freezes for a second. "Fuck!" He glares at you in exasperation and stomps upstairs. "Satisfied?" Lost in the joy of playing a prank, you look up to find yourself locking eyes with Xu Mo. The scrutinizing gaze behind his glasses carries an all-knowing clarity, as if saying: *Nice acting.* Silence returns to the living room. Embarrassed, you rub your nose and let go of Xu Mo's arm. His once perfectly smooth shirt now has fine wrinkles at the elbow. Xu Mo averts his gaze, a barely perceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Go to sleep early," he instructs. With that, you watch him walk straight into the master bedroom... Wait, the master bedroom? Isn't that the room you've been staying in? Tonight? Ahhhhh! You dash up to the second floor and push open the door. You see Xu Mo with his back to you—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and arms strong enough to swing from. Because his physique is so outstanding, when he picks up your camisole with one hand, it looks... exceptionally tiny and fragile... Your... VM limited edition... A few pure white feathers on the back are brushing against Xu Mo's muscles. The visual impact is so intense that your brain completely short-circuits on the spot. Xu Mo turns around, revealing a blood-pumping view, and raises an eyebrow slightly. "Hmm?" "..." "I'll take a shower first." "Oh..." Lowering your head, you hear the bathroom door close...