Huo Jingmo looked at the girl in his arms, her eyes rimmed red, and gently stroked her soft, dark hair with his large hand.
“Once you’re discharged from the hospital, we’ll go get our marriage certificate,” the man’s deep, mellow voice sounded by her ear, steady and firm.
Lin Nianxi’s cheek pressed against the hard buttons of his shirt, beneath the fabric lay the outline of his solid chest muscles.
Her ears burning, she nodded slightly. “Mm.”
At that moment, the hospital room door was pushed open.
A nurse walked in carrying a treatment tray. After checking the bedside card, she deftly removed the IV needle from Lin Nianxi’s arm and pressed a medical cotton swab against the spot.
“Mr. Huo, Miss Lin’s various biochemical indicators have returned to normal. She can be discharged now,” the nurse said, collecting the IV bottle. Her gaze shifted between the two of them, and she paused. “However, Miss Lin has a weak constitution, and with the tearing injury this time, she must apply medication on schedule after returning home. Also… for the time being, you absolutely must not engage in marital relations. She needs at least half a month to a month of rest.”
The room was so quiet that the faint sound of residual liquid dripping in the IV tube could be heard.
Lin Nianxi’s slender, pale hands pulled the blanket over her, and she curled up completely under the covers. She covered her face with her hands, wishing she could find a crack in the floor of the luxurious hospital room to crawl into.
Huo Jingmo nodded to the nurse. “Alright.”
After the nurse left, Huo Jingmo looked at the girl hiding under the blanket, only a pair of dark, almond-shaped eyes peeking out. Amused, he reached out and pulled the blanket away from her. “Alright, she’s gone. You can come out for some air now.”
Staying hidden under the blanket for too long—what if she suffocated herself?
Lin Nianxi slowly revealed her flushed little face, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
“Wait here for me. I’ll go handle the discharge procedures,” Huo Jingmo said.
After speaking, he stood up and walked toward the door.
Lin Nianxi secretly peeked through a gap in the blanket, her gaze involuntarily following his retreating figure.
The man’s figure was tall and straight, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His tailored dark gray suit was impeccably fitted, accentuating his superior proportions to perfection.
His steps were steady and composed, each stride carrying an innate sense of nobility and control.
Morning light slanted in through the corridor’s floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a thin golden edge on his profile—his high nose bridge, deep-set brow bones, and sharply defined jawline. He looked like a figure stepping out of a Renaissance oil painting, every contour so exquisite it seemed almost unreal.
Once he disappeared from sight, Lin Nianxi covered her burning cheeks with her small hands.
—For the time being, you absolutely must not engage in marital relations.
The nurse’s words echoed repeatedly in her mind.
She turned over, wrapping herself into a cocoon, but her heartbeat refused to calm down.
“So embarrassing…”
What must those nurses think of her…
A little over ten minutes later, the hospital room door was pushed open again.
Lin Nianxi slowly poked her head out from under the blanket and saw Huo Jingmo walk back in.
He was carrying two deep black Chanel gift boxes, which he placed on the edge of the bed and pushed toward her.
“Change into these clothes.”
Lin Nianxi was taken aback for a moment before sitting up. Hesitantly, her fingertips touched the lid of the box.
Inside the first box lay a set of deep black lingerie with pink lace trim.
The moment she saw the lingerie, Lin Nianxi’s face flushed bright red.
Unconsciously, she thought of her own pitiful polka-dot panties that had been torn apart by the man.
She thought of the madness, the frenzy of their time together, those raging hormones, those ambiguous scenes…
Her small face grew even hotter.
Lin Nianxi opened the second box. Lifting the lid, she parted the layers of thin paper lining to find a dress lying quietly inside.
Made of ivory-white haute couture tweed fabric, the collar and cuffs were adorned with a row of exquisite pearl buttons. The skirt hem tapered slightly, with an overall cut that was simple and elegant yet retained a youthful charm.
Under the hospital room lights, the fabric emitted a warm, gentle glow. Even just folded there, it exuded a sense of refined luxury.
Lin Nianxi flipped over the tag hanging on the side. The number that met her eyes made her freeze.
One hundred and fifty thousand!
She looked up, her expression somewhat flustered. “Mr. Huo, this… this is too extravagant. Could you have someone bring me an ordinary set—”
Huo Jingmo’s deep eyes met hers as his low, rich, and sensual voice sounded. “This amount means nothing to me.”
“Good girl, you need to learn to adapt.”
In the future, what he would give her would only be more, and more expensive.
Lin Nianxi’s slender, pale fingers caressed the soft fabric of the dress. Biting her lip, she nodded.
To a poor student like her, one hundred and fifty thousand was an astronomical price, but to Mr. Huo, it was merely insignificant pocket change.
In his eyes, one hundred and fifty thousand might be equivalent to fifteen yuan for an ordinary person.
“Then…”
Her voice was soft. Raising her flushed face to look at him, her eyelashes trembled slightly.
“Could you… turn around first?”
Huo Jingmo curved his lips. “Alright.”
They had already done such intimate things, yet she was still so shy.
He turned around, his back to her, and took out his phone from his suit’s inner pocket. His long fingers moved unhurriedly across the screen as he began handling the backlog of work emails.
Faint rustling sounds came from behind.
The blanket was pushed aside, followed by an extremely soft sound as bare feet touched the floor. Then came the subtle friction of the hospital gown’s drawstring being untied and the fabric sliding off.
Huo Jingmo’s thumb swiped past a financial report summary, his expression unchanged.
But several minutes passed, and the movement behind him came to a halt.
“Mr. Huo…”
Lin Nianxi’s voice was soft, carrying a trace of embarrassed reluctance.
“Could you… help me a little?”
Huo Jingmo tilted his head slightly. “What’s wrong?”
“The zipper…” Her voice grew smaller and smaller, like a mosquito’s hum. “My arm is sore, I can’t pull it up…”
She had already put on most of the dress, but the hidden zipper at the back ran from the waistline all the way to below her shoulder blades. She had reached back with her right hand several times, her fingertips barely grazing the zipper pull each time before slipping off. Her arm, sore and weak from last night’s exertions, had no strength left.
Huo Jingmo turned around.
The moment his gaze fell, his eyes imperceptibly deepened.
The dress’s zipper was only pulled up to her waist, leaving the upper half completely open. The ivory-white fabric parted slightly to the sides, revealing the girl’s entire back.
That expanse of skin was so pale it seemed almost translucent. Her delicate shoulder blades faintly appeared and disappeared with her subtle movements as she held her posture. The curve of her spine extended all the way from the nape of her neck downward, flowing smoothly like a shallow, clear stream. Strands of hair cascaded over her shoulders, a few wisps clinging to the side of her neck, making that slender neck appear even more fragile.
She stood with her back to him, head bowed, the tips of her ears red as if about to drip blood.
Huo Jingmo raised his hand.
Long fingers pinched the tiny metal zipper pull, but his fingertips inevitably brushed against her exposed skin.
Lin Nianxi’s back instantly tensed, as if a faint electric current had shot through her. A tingling, numbing itch spread rapidly from the point where his fingers had touched.
She unconsciously hunched her shoulders slightly.
Huo Jingmo’s movements paused.
He lowered his gaze, his eyes tracing the fine down along her smooth back before quickly withdrawing. His Adam’s apple bobbed almost imperceptibly.
His knuckles tightened.
The zipper was steadily pulled upward, the metal teeth clicking into place one by one, sealing that heart-stirring skin back beneath the fabric of the dress.
His fingers remained controlled throughout—light and steady, without any unnecessary lingering.
The sound of the zipper closing was especially clear in the quiet hospital room.
“Done.”
He withdrew his hand, fingertips curling slightly, as if still retaining the warmth from that patch of skin moments before.
—The little girl was still too delicate.
He had already hurt her last night, and the doctor’s instructions still echoed in his ears. Her fragile body couldn’t withstand much strain; she needed to be nursed back to health for a while.
Once she was better, he would take his time with her.
Lin Nianxi turned around with a flushed face, her hands fidgeting uneasily with the hem of her skirt.
She realized the clothes fit her figure perfectly.
What made her blush even more was that even the bra size was an exact match.
She was naturally small-boned with a slender waist, yet her chest was overly full. It was usually hard to find clothes that fit perfectly. But this set of lingerie perfectly encased her ample curves without any feeling of tightness.
Had he just figured out her size after sleeping with her a few times…?
Lin Nianxi’s face grew even hotter.
At that moment, the dress’s waist-cinching design accentuated her slender waist, while the neckline revealed her delicate collarbone and a small patch of snow-white skin. She stood there obediently, her dark, long hair cascading over her shoulders, pure like a blooming gardenia, yet exuding a natural, innocent allure.
The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed once more, his eyes darkening slightly.
He picked up his phone and swiped the screen. “Today is auspicious for marriage.”
Lin Nianxi froze.
Huo Jingmo turned the phone screen toward her.
On the screen was clearly a page from an old almanac. Under the “Today’s Auspicious Activities” column, the words “marriage” were listed first, marked in bright red.
“Since it’s a good day—”
He put away his phone, his deep eyes fixed on her, his voice low.
“How about we go get our marriage certificate now?”
Lin Nianxi’s heart suddenly raced.
Morning light filtered through the blinds, falling on her and illuminating her slightly flushed cheeks like ripe peaches.
She lowered her head, her eyelashes trembling, her fingers fiddling with a small pearl button on her skirt. After a long moment, she nodded gently but earnestly.
“…Mm.”
Seeing the girl’s soft, obedient demeanor, Huo Jingmo’s expression softened slightly at the corners of his eyes and brows.
Huo Jingmo walked straight to the bedside, one arm wrapping around Lin Nianxi’s slender waist, the other supporting the bend of her knees, effortlessly scooping her up into a bridal carry.
Lin Nianxi hadn’t expected him to suddenly pick her up. She gasped softly, her hands instinctively hooking around the man’s neck.
She was completely enveloped in his broad embrace. Through the thin fabric of his shirt, the warmth of his chest transmitted directly to her, making her fingertips tremble slightly.
“Mr. Huo…” Lin Nianxi lifted her porcelain-white face, her dark, glistening almond-shaped eyes gazing at him with a hint of panic, her voice soft and gentle. “I can walk on my own.”
Huo Jingmo glanced down at her, his deep, ink-black pupils carrying an unquestionable steadiness.
“You’re injured,” he said in a low voice. “Are you sure you can walk?”
Lin Nianxi knew exactly what he meant by “injured.”
Her face flushed a shade of begonia pink, even her small, round earlobes tinged with a faint crimson, like ripe cherries.
Behind them, Chen Ming followed silently, carrying a thermal container, a medicine bag, and a change of clothes, his gaze fixed straight ahead, expression unchanged. Having worked for Mr. Huo for so many years, he knew exactly when to be an invisible presence.
Mr. Huo had never had a woman by his side all these years—until he met Miss Lin. It was like an iron tree finally blooming.
This Miss Lin was truly different to Mr. Huo.
Huo Jingmo carried the girl in his arms through the long corridor.
The VIP floor of the private hospital wasn’t crowded, but the doctors, nurses, and occasional passing family members couldn’t help but glance their way.
A man in a tailored suit, exuding a cold and imposing aura, holding a delicate, beautiful girl in a beige dress—the scene was too striking.
A young nurse covered her mouth in a soft gasp, while someone else discreetly raised their phone to take a photo. Chen Ming shot them a subtle glance, and they quickly put it away, startled.
Feeling the gazes from all directions, Lin Nianxi grew shy and flustered. She pursed her lips, burying her face against the man’s chest, her forehead pressed against the firm muscles below his collarbone. Her dark, soft hair cascaded, brushing against his neck.
She tried to use his broad chest to hide her burning face.
At that moment, the girl’s warm breath happened to brush against the half-open collar of his shirt, carrying the sweet, soft scent unique to a young woman, sweeping over the thin skin of his neck.
Huo Jingmo’s steps faltered almost imperceptibly for a brief moment.
The person in his arms was soft and light, like a freshly made marshmallow, pressed against his chest, emitting a faint floral and fruity sweetness. The scent drifted into his nostrils, then seeped into his bloodstream with each breath, stirring a faint tightness in his lower abdomen.
Now, her warm breath seeped through the fabric, like a kitten gently scratching at his heart.
Huo Jingmo’s Adam’s apple slowly rolled.
He lowered his gaze, his eyes sweeping over the girl’s fair nape and the curve revealed by the collar of her dress. The skin there was so delicate it was almost translucent, faintly revealing the light blue veins beneath.
The heat in his abdomen intensified.
He took a deep breath, his slender fingers tightening slightly.
Heaven knew how much self-control he was exerting.
Her face rested against his shoulder, her ear pressed close to his chest. Through the fabric of his shirt and vest, she could clearly hear the sound of his heartbeat.
Thump, thump, thump.
Steady and powerful, each beat heavier than the last.
It was the most reassuring sound she had ever heard in her life.
His embrace was warm and dry, his arms firm and strong, holding her as if she weighed nothing at all. Even though she was already an adult, in his arms, she felt like a child being cradled in the palm of his hand.
She thought that if reliability and a sense of security had a tangible form, it would likely be Huo Jingmo’s chest and the warmth of his embrace.
Passing through the glass revolving door of the hospital lobby, the cool breeze of early autumn greeted her face.
Parked at the entrance was that understated yet immensely valuable deep black Maybach, its paint shimmering with a steady luster under the sunlight.
The driver had already opened the rear door in advance.
Huo Jingmo bent slightly, placing Lin Nianxi into the back seat with utmost care. One hand shielded the top of her head to prevent her from bumping against the door frame, while the other cushioned her lower back, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a fragile piece of porcelain.
Once Lin Nianxi was settled, she looked up and met the man’s gaze as he glanced down at her.
Backlit, the sharp contours of his deep-set features became even more pronounced, his jawline as cold and hard as if carved by a blade. The half-open collar of his shirt revealed a glimpse of his well-defined and firm chest muscles. With one hand braced against the door frame, he leaned slightly forward, the scent of fir mingling with the mature masculine pheromones spreading through the confined space.
Suddenly, the man beside her leaned closer.
His broad shoulders blocked the light from outside the window, his shadow enveloping her entirely. He leaned in so close that his straight nose almost brushed against her cheek. The overwhelmingly aggressive pheromones of a mature man washed over her, wrapping her tightly in their presence.
Lin Nianxi’s breath caught, her heart pounding like a drum.
In the mingling of their breaths, she could even see the reflection of herself in his thick lashes and deep pupils.
Was he going to kiss her?