(Damn it, that tomato site changed my tags again! Readers looking for campus or youth stories, please exit now! This is not that kind of story!!)
Morning light pierced through the thin mist, spilling over the heavily guarded Mo Family estate along the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.
The towering walls were lined with state-of-the-art sensors and concealed firing points, while armed guards patrolled the grounds in silence. In the distance, on the helipad, two armed helicopters lay dormant like sleeping raptors.
On the top floor of the main building, in the room with the best view, Ruan Chaoxi stretched lazily, her bare feet stepping onto the cool floor as she walked toward the balcony, watching the Chao Phraya River awaken in the morning mist.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
“Young Miss, are you awake?” a maid’s gentle voice inquired from outside.
“Mhm, come in,” Ruan Chaoxi replied, her voice still soft with sleep.
The door was pushed open gently, but the first to enter was not the maid. Instead, it was an exceptionally tall man standing in the morning light.
His features were handsome yet sharp, with a high nose bridge and an air of cold authority in his brow—the kind born from years of holding power over life and death. Broad-shouldered and long-legged, he wore a finely tailored military-style shirt, its sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing wrists that were elegantly shaped yet scarred with old wounds.
Samia, twenty-one years old, was the commander in charge of all the Mo Family’s armed forces in Myanmar—the sharpest blade of the Mo Family and the “older brother” who had grown up alongside Ruan Chaoxi.
He held an exquisite gift box in his hands, his gaze sweeping over Ruan Chaoxi’s bare feet. His perpetually cold eyes narrowed slightly.
“Xixi,” he spoke, his voice deep and pleasant, carrying the distinctive cadence of the Burmese language.
Hearing his voice, Ruan Chaoxi turned around and flashed him a sweet smile. “Miya Gege, weren’t you supposed to go inspect Shan State today?”
“Postponed,” he replied succinctly, his eyes lingering on her face for a moment. “Your eighteenth birthday is more important.”
He walked up to her, placed the box on a nearby coffee table, then knelt on one knee. Taking a pair of silk slippers embroidered with gold thread from the maid, he naturally lifted her ankle and carefully slipped them onto her feet.
His fingers were long and strong, their tips bearing the faint calluses from years of holding a gun. As they brushed against her delicate skin, they sent a faint shiver through her.
“The morning chill is heavy. Don’t go barefoot,” he said, looking up at her. Only in moments like this did the chilling cold in his eyes completely melt away, replaced by a focused intensity.
“Got it!” Ruan Chaoxi was accustomed to enjoying this unique care, her attention already captured by the gift box on the coffee table. “Is this my birthday present?”
“Mhm,” Samia replied, standing up and opening the box.
Inside lay a custom-made pistol, its grip engraved with delicate lily-of-the-valley patterns, and its body inscribed with blessings in Burmese and Thai.
“A modified Colt 1908 Pocket Model. The recoil has been adjusted to the maximum you can comfortably handle, and within its effective range, it’s sufficient to deal with most threats,” Samia explained as he took out the gun and inspected it with practiced ease. “Suitable for you to carry with you.”
Ruan Chaoxi took the gun, twirling it smoothly in her hand. Her smile deepened, and a flash of understanding and calmness—uncharacteristic of her sweet appearance—flickered in her eyes.
“Thank you, Miya Gege. I love it,” she said, standing on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek.Samia’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment before returning to normal. Only he himself knew that the spot she had kissed felt as if it had been scorched by flames, burning hot.
“Sir and Madam are waiting for you for breakfast,” the maid softly reminded at the appropriate moment.
When they went downstairs, the dining room was already lively.
Her father, Mo Xiaohan, sat at the head of the table, flipping through a document. He appeared to be just over forty, with sharp features, deep-set eyes, and an imposing presence that commanded respect without anger. He was the true emperor in the shadows of Southeast Asia—a few words from him could influence a nation’s economy, and a single decision could alter regional dynamics.
Sitting beside him was her mother, Ruan Xingchen, also Mo Xiaohan’s one and only true love. Time seemed to have favored her exceptionally; her beauty remained breathtakingly stunning, gentle yet with an unyielding resilience that could not be violated.
“Our little birthday girl is awake,” Ruan Xingchen smiled and beckoned to her daughter. “Come quickly, we’ve been waiting for you.”
Ruan Chaoxi walked over, kissed her mother on the cheek, then circled behind her father and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Good morning, Dad.”
Mo Xiaohan closed the document, a faint smile appearing on his stern face. “Eighteen years old—an adult now.”
“Even as an adult, I’ll still be Mom and Dad’s little treasure,” Ruan Chaoxi said, taking her seat.
Samia sat down in the seat beside her—an arrangement that had persisted for over a decade, ever since he first joined the Mo Family to accompany Ruan Chaoxi for meals.
“Where’s brother?” Ruan Chaoxi asked.
Her brother, Mo Jinchen, the crown prince of the Mo Family, was constantly traveling to handle family affairs, appearing and disappearing like a ghost.
“He’s still handling matters in Chiang Mai but will rush back tonight for your birthday,” Ruan Xingchen replied gently.
Halfway through breakfast, Ruan Chaoxi set down her spoon and cleared her throat.
“Dad, Mom, there’s something I want to say.”
All eyes at the table focused on her. Mo Xiaohan raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.
“I want to study in China.”
The dining table fell silent instantly.
Samia’s fingers tightened abruptly around his coffee cup. He looked up at her, his eyes dark as night, swirling with intense disapproval and an emotion that was almost impossible to suppress.
Mo Xiaohan’s expression remained unchanged, but his gaze deepened. “Reason?”
“I want to see what the outside world is really like,” Ruan Chaoxi said earnestly, word by word. “Not as the young lady of the Mo Family, but as an ordinary student—without attendants or bodyguards… just me, living alone for a while.”
Ruan Xingchen set down her black tea, frowning slightly. “Xixi, all by yourself… Mom is worried.”
“Why China?” Samia spoke up, his voice low. “Singapore or Europe would work. We have enough arrangements to ensure your absolute safety. China is not within our sphere of influence.”
To him, “China” meant leaving the range of the Mo Family’s influence, venturing into the unknown with potential dangers.
The thought of letting her leave his sight, going to a place he couldn’t control, and spending day and night with strangers whose backgrounds were unknown—just imagining it made him almost lose control.”Because you all always manage to be ‘foolproof’,” Ruan Chaoxi rested her chin in her hand, her dark grape-like eyes fixed on Samia before turning to her parents. “Ever since I was little, wherever I go, the people following me—both openly and secretly—outnumber the tourists on the streets. I’ve never even been able to stroll through a shopping mall on my own.”
She paused for a few seconds, then continued in a tone tinged with longing and cunning: “I’ve already learned seven languages, mastered combat and firearms, can identify over three hundred types of poison, and can unlock handcuffs in under thirty seconds—all things you taught me. Now, I want to experience ‘ordinary life,’ learn how to… ride the subway, queue in a cafeteria, wander through night markets… Besides, China has good public security and is close to Southeast Asia. It’s the most suitable place.”
“Nonsense!” Samia’s jaw tightened, his tone uncharacteristically firm. “You were never born ‘ordinary.’ Your face, your demeanor, the habits you’ve cultivated since childhood—they’ll all give you away! A truly ordinary person isn’t something you can just pretend to be—”
“Samia.” Mo Xiaohan’s deep voice cut through, carrying absolute authority and halting Samia’s nearly overflowing anxiety.
He looked at his daughter, his sharp gaze seeming to pierce through her sweet facade. “You just want to experience ‘ordinary’ life?”
Ruan Chaoxi met her father’s gaze without flinching. Deep within her clear eyes was a calmness and insight that belied her age. “I want to know how far I can go relying only on myself. After all,” she smiled, revealing two shallow dimples, “I can’t live under your protection forever, right, Dad?”
These words struck a chord deep within Mo Xiaohan. His daughter shouldn’t just be a princess meticulously sheltered; she should also be a luminous pearl capable of weathering storms alone.
After a moment of contemplation, he spoke slowly, his words decisive: “Fine.”
“Mr. Mo!” Samia abruptly stood up.
Mo Xiaohan raised a hand to silence him, then continued speaking to Ruan Chaoxi. “You want to experience ordinary life? Fine. But there are a few conditions.”
Ruan Chaoxi’s eyes lit up. “Go on.”
“Three months.” Mo Xiaohan held up a finger. “I’ll give you three months for this experience. We’ll arrange your school and accommodation properly, but all the details of daily life will be up to you to manage. If you feel you can’t handle it, change your mind, or if we assess the risks as too high, you must return immediately.”
“Second,” his gaze swept over Samia before settling back on his daughter’s face, “you must have a fixed-time video call every night with your mother or Samia to confirm your safety. That is the bottom line.”
Ruan Chaoxi knew this was already the greatest concession her father would make. Three months would be enough.
She stood up, walked around the table, and hugged her father. “Thank you, Dad!”
“Don’t celebrate too soon.” Mo Xiaohan patted his daughter’s back. “You can go experience the ‘ordinary,’ but remember, you will always be a daughter of the Mo Family. These three months are the ‘freedom’ you want, but they are also our ‘test’ for you.”
Filled with joy, Ruan Chaoxi nodded vigorously. “I know!”
Samia looked at her radiant smile, forcibly suppressing his worries and that intense sense of possessiveness deep within. He said nothing more, merely downing the now-cold coffee in his cup in one gulp, the bitter taste spreading.
Three months. Ninety days.He must ensure she remains unharmed.
He must endure that, for now, her world does not include him.
＊＊＊
【Reading Guide】
If you have read my books, you will know that my stories never shy away from shadows, just as light never avoids darkness.
This story is no exception.
The first part is a lighthearted and warm slice-of-life campus story, while the latter half delves into dark themes based on reality (particularly in Southeast Asia). This is not a pure, sweet romance. With great responsibility comes great duty—career, growth, and love are all equally important. If you are here solely for sugar, please look elsewhere.
If you choose to stay, I would like to say to you:
Remember, the world is vast and not a vacuum! The darkness you have not seen does not mean it does not exist! Reality is often more silent and complex than any story!
This book is merely a story! A story! A story! It is not a documentary on law and order!
The world and human nature are complex—a single book cannot bear their weight!
Do not seek the foundation of your values in this book. It is only a story, not the answer to life.
And do not measure the world solely by your own experiences. What you have seen and felt may only be a glimmer of light on the tip of the iceberg.
Behind the neon lights of Bangkok, deep within the mountain mists of the Golden Triangle… such realities are silently written anew every day, with blood as ink. We merely happen to live on this sheltered page.
Under the scorching sun and torrential rains of Southeast Asia, there are no fairy-tale filters, no “destined” perfect love, and no “heaven-sent” riches.
After reading, gently place it back on the shelf.
Do not get carried away, and do not search for reflections of fiction in reality.
The life you are living right now is the fairy tale most worth writing seriously!
Read rationally, stay clear-headed, and cherish life!
Thank you. (ω)