A warm feeling nestled in Lin Nianxi’s chest.
In the past, living under someone else’s roof, she had always been afraid of causing trouble for others.
No one had ever told her—I’m willing to handle your troubles.
Her heart skipped a few beats in that moment.
She could hear the sound of her heart racing.
Huo Jingmo gently ruffled the girl’s soft hair with his large hand. “Alright, let’s take you home.”
Home.
The word echoed in her ears, inexplicably warm.
Having lived in the Lin family’s house for ten years, she had never considered it a home. The door to the storage room had no lock because Zhao Yun said a child living under someone else’s roof didn’t deserve privacy. There was no heating in winter, and summers were stifling like a steamer. She slept in a corner piled with old cardboard boxes and mop buckets, listening to mice scurrying across the boxes in the middle of the night. She would pull the blanket over her head and tell herself to endure—it would pass.
That wasn’t a home. It was a temporary place where she could be kicked out at any moment.
Later, she rented a small house in Wutong Lane, just over ten square meters. It was shabby, but at least she had paid for it herself. She thought that counted as having a home.
But it didn’t even last a day.
Now, Huo Jingmo was telling her to go home.
Lin Nianxi lowered her head, her eyelashes hiding the moisture in her eyes. She blinked hard twice, forcing back the rising lump in her throat, and nodded.
At that moment, Chen Ming opened the rear door of the Maybach and stepped aside.
Huo Jingmo led Lin Nianxi into the Maybach.
The two bodyguards had already taken her backpack and bag of clothes to the car behind.
The door closed, shutting out the noise of the alley.
The interior of the car was clean and quiet, the leather seats comfortable against her back, making her feel drowsy.
The air still carried that pleasant scent of fir.
Lin Nianxi relaxed comfortably on the leather sofa, feeling a sense of ease she had never experienced before.
The Maybach smoothly exited Wutong Lane and merged into the traffic on the main road.
Along the way, Lin Nianxi watched the scenery flying past outside the window, feeling both nervous and excited about the life ahead.
Her new life was about to begin.
…
Half an hour later, the Maybach entered a top-tier affluent neighborhood nestled halfway up the mountain and stopped in front of a sprawling estate villa.
The black wrought-iron gate slowly opened. Inside the estate, lush trees provided shade, and a fountain sparkled with rainbow hues under the sunlight.
The butler stood at the foot of the main building’s steps with a row of servants, bowing respectfully.
“Sir, Madam.”
Lin Nianxi was stunned by the sight. It was the first time she had seen such a luxurious and beautiful house.
The house was so grand and beautiful, like a castle from a fairy tale.
She never imagined that one day she would live in such a large, extravagant castle.
Huo Jingmo led her into the villa.
The living room had an extremely high ceiling, with a massive crystal chandelier hanging from the dome—luxurious yet tasteful.
“The first floor has a temperature-controlled swimming pool, the second floor has the master bedroom, guest rooms, and a study. The third floor has a home theater and a gym,” Huo Jingmo explained as he led her upstairs. “Your walk-in closet is next to the master bedroom. It’s stocked with some seasonal clothes and daily necessities. See if you like them, and if you need anything else, just let the butler know.”
Pushing open the door to the master bedroom, a massive double bed came into view. The bedsheets and duvet covers were all made of dark gray silk, exuding a cold, rigid, and ascetic style.
Lin Nianxi stood at the doorway, her small hands clutching the hem of her skirt, her clear almond-shaped eyes scanning the room.
“Mr. Huo…” She looked up, her voice soft and sweet. “Where is my room?”
This master bedroom seemed to be the room Huo Jingmo had previously occupied.
Huo Jingmo lowered his gaze, his deep eyes resting on the girl’s porcelain-white face.
“Mrs. Huo, I have no intention of sleeping in separate rooms.” The man’s voice was low, yet carried a hint of dominance.
Lin Nianxi froze.
Did that mean that even in a contractual marriage, they would still have a marital life?
Uncontrollably, images from that night at the hotel flashed through her mind—the man’s scorching chest, his heavy breathing, and the force that had nearly devoured her whole.
Lin Nianxi’s face instantly flushed crimson, the heat spreading all the way to the tips of her ears.
Seeing her flushed cheeks, a faint trace of amusement flickered in Huo Jingmo’s eyes.
“I won’t touch you until your injuries have healed.”
His voice was low, carrying a slightly husky magnetism.
“Mhm.” The girl obediently nodded.
Huo Jingmo glanced around the cold, austere bedroom and asked, “Take a look around. Is there anything you’d like to add?”
Lin Nianxi blinked, a glimmer of light flashing in her dark almond-shaped eyes. “Can I have anything I want?”
“Of course.” Huo Jingmo walked over to the sofa and sat down, crossing his legs naturally, his posture relaxed and indulgent. “You are the mistress of this house.”
Lin Nianxi bit her tender lip.
Back at her uncle’s house, she had only been allowed to sleep in a cramped room filled with clutter, with worn-out, yellowed sheets and not even a decent pillow. She had always dreamed of having her own beautiful room.
“I want… pink bedsheets and a quilt,” Lin Nianxi mustered the courage to say. “And pink pillowcases. I like the kind… with lace trim. Is that okay?”
After speaking, she looked at him anxiously.
The style of this bedroom was cold and impersonal, not at all like a girl’s room.
Huo Jingmo was slightly taken aback.
For the past thirty years, his world had consisted only of black, white, and gray. A soft, sweet color like pink had never appeared in his life, let alone on the bed he slept in every day.
He looked at the girl’s hopeful expression before him, her moist almond-shaped eyes filled with caution.
“Of course you can.” The corner of Huo Jingmo’s lips lifted slightly.
He took out his phone and dialed the housekeeper’s internal line.
“Change the bedding in the master bedroom,” the man instructed calmly. “Replace it with pink. With lace trim.”
On the other end of the line, the well-experienced housekeeper fell silent for a full three seconds before hurriedly replying, “Yes, sir. Right away!”
In less than ten minutes, the housekeeper arrived with four uniformed servants, pushing a cart laden with brand-new bedding.
The servants worked efficiently. They removed the dark gray silk sheets and replaced them with a complete set of high-end, custom-made, light pink pure cotton bedding. The edges of the duvet cover and pillows were adorned with layers of delicate, intricate French lace.
The once cold and austere bedroom instantly gained a touch of softness and warmth with this splash of pink.
Lin Nianxi gazed at the large bed, her eyes sparkling, her heart filled with satisfaction.
Huo Jingmo leaned back on the sofa, his gaze sweeping over the pink bed before finally settling on the girl’s smiling face.
It seemed… pink wasn’t so bad after all.
“Let’s go, downstairs.” Huo Jingmo stood up and naturally took her soft, pale hand in his.
Lin Nianxi followed him down the stairs.
As soon as she reached the living room on the first floor, Nianxi was stunned by the scene before her.