Volume One Chapter 20: I've Endured You Long Enough

Mo Xingyuan stood at the doorway of his own home, hesitating to enter despite it being his house.

He leaned against the wall for a long time before finally entering the code and pushing the door open.

Inside, the house was silent, as though uninhabited.

His gaze swept over the sofa, and his mind involuntarily replayed what he had done there before.

What had he been thinking at the time?

Mo Xingyuan could no longer remember.

It was just that, upon seeing Su Li’s clear eyes, he couldn’t help but want to tarnish that purity.

Su Li was the woman who had been closest to him in the past year or so, the one who had spoken the most words that truly reached him.

She was hypocritical, yet at times, her words could make his heart tremble violently.

Perhaps it was the result of prolonged loneliness, or maybe his inner world had grown as barren as life itself—so that at the touch of a single warm ray, hope seemed to fill him.

Suddenly, the bedroom door opened.

Su Li stepped out, yawning as she headed for the bathroom.

Catching sight of someone standing in the living room, her yawn was cut short by surprise.

“When did you get back?”

“Just now.”

Su Li merely replied with an “oh.” “You should get some rest.”

With that, she went into the bathroom.

When she emerged, Mo Xingyuan was still there, a cigarette lit between his fingers.

Su Li frowned. “You should smoke less.”

“About what happened today…”

“It’s nothing.” Su Li cleared her throat. “I’m not going to dwell on it. Besides, honestly, your kissing skills are terrible. I didn’t enjoy it.”

Mo Xingyuan shot her a sidelong glance, the glow between his fingers dimming.

Su Li tugged the corner of her mouth in a half-smile. “I’m going to sleep. You should rest too, don’t stay up late.”

Without waiting for Mo Xingyuan to respond, she quickly retreated to the bedroom and closed the door.

She dashed to the bed, pulled the covers over herself, wide-eyed and sleepless.

She didn’t want to hear any explanations.

Some things, once they’ve happened, are better left unexamined.

Lying awake, she scrolled through short videos for an hour before finally succumbing to sleep.

In the days that followed, neither Su Li nor Mo Xingyuan mentioned that night.

When they saw each other, they exchanged greetings, and Su Li behaved as usual, but she could sense a subtle change in Mo Xingyuan.

He no longer seemed as openly hostile toward her.

With only two days left before the New Year, Su Weian had called Su Li several times, but she never answered.

She had already said there was no need to keep in touch.

Mrs. Mo called Su Li especially, telling her to come back to the old house for the festival.

She was now the Mo family’s daughter-in-law, one of their own; she should spend the New Year at the Mo family estate.

“If we go back, it’ll be impossible to avoid sharing a room,” Su Li said to Mo Xingyuan. “How about you come up with an excuse? We can leave after the New Year’s Eve dinner.”

“There’s no excuse.”

Su Li frowned. “And if they make us stay in the same room?”

“Then you can sleep on the sofa. Or the floor.”

So much for his supposed lack of hostility toward her.

Su Li pursed her lips, grabbed her coat and laptop, and went out.

The office was emptying out, and those remaining were mostly just idling away the hours.

Su Li did the same.

She chatted with Lu Jing on WeChat.

Lu Jing told her Wei Yu had invited her to a movie, so she’d gone for a beauty treatment and a manicure in preparation.

From her messages, Su Li could sense Lu Jing’s anticipation for the date.

She sent back a voice message, laughing, “Have a great date. Tell me all about it afterward.”

Lu Jing replied with an OK sticker, and their conversation ended.

At noon, Su Li went to lunch with two colleagues. As they left the restaurant, they were complaining about work being exhausting and the lack of raises.

That was the life of a wage slave: grumbling, yet still working like an ox.

A sports car pulled up by the curb just as they passed. The driver got out.

He Shuming rushed forward and grabbed Su Li’s hand. “Su Li!”

Startled, the two colleagues quickly stepped aside. Su Li’s head ached the moment she saw He Shuming.

He was like an indestructible cockroach, always turning up to disgust her.

“Let go of me!” Su Li scowled.

“Come with me.” He Shuming tightened his grip, trying to drag her toward the car.

Su Li struggled, but he wouldn’t let go.

“Do you want to end up at the police station again?” Su Li called out to her colleagues, “Call the police for me!”

Realizing the situation, one colleague immediately took out her phone.

He Shuming was utterly shameless, ignoring their protest.

“He Shuming, are you insane?” Su Li kicked and hit him, but he shoved her into the car, locked the doors, and ignored her pounding on the windows.

He then turned toward her colleagues—by now, one of them was already on the phone with the police.

“She’s my girlfriend. Mind your own business.”

With that, he climbed back into the car.

Just as the car was about to drive off, another vehicle swerved in from the side and crashed directly into He Shuming’s door.

The new car blocked the way, so he couldn’t drive off or open his door.

The sudden accident frightened Su Li and her two colleagues.

He Shuming, infuriated, shoved his door and cursed at the driver outside.

The person from the other car stepped out.

Mo Xingyuan approached, dressed in a black shirt, his pallor almost sickly, his eyes deep-set and dangerous as he strode toward He Shuming’s car.

He Shuming glared at Mo Xingyuan, gritting his teeth in hatred.

Su Li, however, was taken aback. It was actually him.

Mo Xingyuan opened the car door from the outside, seized Su Li’s hand, and helped her out.

His hand was cool to the touch, and Su Li couldn’t help but frown.

He was only wearing a shirt—wasn’t he cold?

“Get in the car,” Mo Xingyuan said, opening the door.

Su Li didn’t argue, got into the car, and watched as Mo Xingyuan rolled up his sleeves and walked over to He Shuming’s car.

With the driver’s side blocked, He Shuming climbed into the passenger seat, opened the door, and found himself face to face with Mo Xingyuan.

Su Li was nervous.

He Shuming was a madman, and she was afraid he’d try to hit Mo Xingyuan.

Mo Xingyuan was taller than He Shuming and seemed no less strong, but she still worried about his health.

“You again!”

He Shuming’s hatred for Mo Xingyuan was palpable as he swung a fist at Mo Xingyuan’s face.

Mo Xingyuan dodged easily, caught He Shuming’s arm, and in a swift motion pinned him against the car’s hood. He Shuming tried to struggle, but Mo Xingyuan’s grip was so forceful that he dared not move.

“This isn’t the first time,” Mo Xingyuan said coldly. “I’ve tolerated you long enough.”

He Shuming’s face flushed red with rage as he glared back. “I’ve tolerated you long enough too! Let go of me if you have the guts!”

“Is your head filled with shit?” Mo Xingyuan mocked him. “No wonder she wants nothing to do with you. With brains like yours, even a pig would turn up its nose.”

“You…” He Shuming was humiliated and furious, but powerless beneath Mo Xingyuan’s grip.

Mo Xingyuan patted his head lightly, as if petting a dog. “Clearly you need to be taught a lesson. Otherwise, you never learn.”

With that, Mo Xingyuan released him.

He Shuming’s arm hurt so badly he could barely lift it, but before he could retaliate, the police arrived.

As expected, they were all taken to the police station once again.

This time, it was the same two officers who had visited Su Li’s house before.

At the sight of He Shuming, both of them frowned.