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The next morning, just before dawn, the sky still blanketed in darkness, Lin Mo woke early. The sun hadn't yet crested the horizon, and the world outside was quiet and still.
Last night's simulation had taught him something valuable: rather than getting woken up by Xu Wanxue's usual method of a swift kick to the bed, it was better to wake up on his own. Besides, it never hurt to make a good impression.
And his effort paid off. When Xu Wanxue groggily stumbled out of her bedroom, rubbing sleep from her eyes, she was greeted by an unexpected sight—her little brother already in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.
She stopped dead in her tracks, blinking in disbelief before playfully calling out, "Well, what do you know? The sun's rising in the west today!"
Lin Mo rarely got up this early, let alone voluntarily. His sister's first thought was to wonder what had brought on this sudden change. Then she remembered their conversation the night before—the rare, heartfelt moment they shared. Maybe, just maybe, it had made him reflect a little, made him grow up.
That thought brought a small smile to her lips as she approached him from behind and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her long, silky hair brushed against his back as she rested her chin on his shoulder. Dressed in a loose, flowing nightgown, Xu Wanxue looked like an ethereal figure, delicate yet strong.
But Lin Mo didn't react at all. With a calm expression, he turned around, scooped her up effortlessly, and carried her back to her bedroom.
"Go back to bed!" he said flatly, placing her back onto her mattress with zero ceremony and closing the door behind him.
Xu Wanxue lay there for a few moments, completely bewildered.
...
After breakfast, Xu Wanxue retreated to the balcony with a steaming cup of coffee. The gentle morning breeze toyed with her hair, making it flutter as she reclined in a chair. Her lace-trimmed robe shifted with the breeze, and for a moment, she seemed to melt into the serene backdrop of the estate—a picture of quiet elegance.
Her reflection shimmered in the pool beside her, the early light casting a warm glow over the scene.
Lin Mo, however, was already moving on to the next part of his day. Leaning against the balcony railing, his eyes were fixed on the distant sky. He was watching a black speck grow larger, closing in on the estate. The unmistakable shape of a large cargo drone emerged, its jet engines roaring softly as it descended into the parking lot.
Xu Wanxue noticed the notification pop up on her optical display—awaiting her approval for the drone to land. She dismissed it with a quick thought, recalling how, as a child, Lin Mo had always stared at his new "toys" with the same level of intensity.
"Why are you still standing there? Your fancy new toys have arrived," she teased with a smile.
Lin Mo cast her a brief glance, then looked back toward the gate. Thanks to last night's simulation, he knew what to expect. The ripperdoc handling the bio-mods was about to arrive, and it wouldn't be long before the real action began.
"Don't worry," he said dryly. "My most precious treasure is still you, Sis."
Xu Wanxue rolled her eyes and, with a laugh, grabbed a nearby water gun. She pointed it at Lin Mo, ready to shoot.
Without missing a beat, Lin Mo vaulted over the balcony railing, effortlessly avoiding the water spray as he dropped to the ground below. He landed with the grace of a panther, not even bothering to look back as he made his way toward the gate.
"Idiot!" Xu Wanxue shouted from the balcony, torn between relief and frustration. "Be careful, next time!"
...
Lin Mo reached the front gate just as a loud car horn blared from outside. Whoever was waiting had no intention of sitting quietly, and the persistent honking was already starting to grate on his nerves.
With a press of a button, the gate swung open, and a sleek, dark gray Mizutani Shion MZ2 shot past him, tires screeching as the driver performed a series of reckless drifts along the estate's driveway. The car finally came to a stop in the parking area with a sharp turn, kicking up dust in its wake.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed, driving like that on my property?!" Xu Wanxue's voice rang out from the balcony. She had changed into a sharply tailored suit, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement as she watched the scene below.
The Shion's gullwing door swung open, revealing a striking figure. Out stepped a woman in a crisp white coat, her fiery red hair cascading over her shoulders in perfect waves. She was tall, poised, and undeniably commanding—until she stumbled forward, clutching her stomach as she dry-heaved onto the lawn.
"Not on my grass!" Xu Wanxue groaned in exasperation.
Fortunately, the woman didn't actually vomit. She composed herself after a few moments, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. With an apologetic smile, she straightened her coat and looked up at Xu Wanxue.
"Long time no see, Xu. You look as radiant as ever," she called out with a grin, clearly unbothered by the earlier mishap.
Xu Wanxue wasn't having it. "If it weren't for my brother needing those bio-mods, I wouldn't let you anywhere near my place, Liu Ruoying."
Ignoring the jab, Liu Ruoying's eyes gleamed as she spotted Lin Mo approaching from the gate.
"Ah, and here's the man of the hour," she said, flashing a wide, flirtatious smile.
Lin Mo approached with his usual calm demeanor, the early morning light casting a soft glow on him as he walked forward, the perfect balance of poise and precision.
"Good morning," Lin Mo greeted, his voice smooth, his hand extended in a polite gesture. "Lin Mo. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Liu Ruoying's gaze locked onto him. Her high-end Kiroshi optics zoomed in automatically, enhancing every detail of his face. For a brief moment, her world narrowed to just him—his striking features, the way the light played off his skin.
Recovering her composure, she took his hand in both of hers, smiling brightly. "Liu Ruoying. Kang Tao's chief ripperdoc."
Then, without missing a beat, she added with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "So... you free for marriage, or what?"