The heavy door of the study clicked open from the inside. Butler Lin and Jiang Pei abruptly stopped their conversation, both turning their heads in unison.
Ye Mochen stepped out, his gaze sweeping across the hallway. Not finding the person he was looking for, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
He looked at Jiang Pei, his voice calm and detached.
“Where is she?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Pei replied, “Miss Ran went to the pharmacy to process the newly arrived medicinal herbs.”
The word “she” had now become a specific reference within the manor, and no one would mistake its meaning.
As soon as the words were spoken, Ye Mochen strode toward the pharmacy, his long legs carrying him directly there. His retreating figure showed no hesitation, as if even a second’s delay in seeing her was unbearable.
The pharmacy was filled with a rich and complex aroma of herbs. Sunlight slanted in through the high windows, illuminating the fine dust particles floating in the air.
Ran Weiyi was completely absorbed in grinding a medicinal herb, her wrist moving evenly and firmly. The rhythmic rustling of the mortar filled the space.
Her awareness of her surroundings had dropped to its lowest point, fully immersed in her own world. As a result, she didn’t notice the shadow falling at the doorway or the deliberately light footsteps, almost drowned out by the sound of grinding.
Ye Mochen stood quietly not far behind her, watching.
He watched her focused profile, the fair wrist revealed beneath her rolled-up sleeve, and the sunlight dancing on the tips of her hair.
The scents in the entire space belonged to her. This was her domain, yet he, the intruder, felt an unprecedented sense of peace.
Finally, he stepped forward without making a sound.
His tall figure loomed over her from behind as he extended his arms, placing his palms on either side of the medicine table in front of her, forming a solid enclosure.
He didn’t press against her, but he firmly encircled her within the reach of his presence.
The sudden warmth at her back and the familiar scent of pinewood made Ran Weiyi’s grinding motion come to an abrupt halt. Her spine stiffened, and she knew without turning around who it was.
Such a strong and domineering presence belonged to only one person in the entire manor.
She tilted her head slightly, her dark hair brushing against his jaw.
“Why are you here?”
Ye Mochen lowered his head, his nose almost touching her ear, his warm breath fanning against the side of her neck. Breathing in her unique and pleasant fragrance, his voice was low and direct.
“I missed you.”
Two words, without any preamble, yet they felt like a stone dropped into the calm lake of her heart.
Ran Weiyi lowered her head and smiled. Ye Mochen’s way of expressing longing was just this direct and straightforward.
He seemed to think this distance wasn’t enough, so he gently rested his chin in the hollow of her shoulder, closing his eyes in a posture of utterly defenseless dependence. His weight pressed against her, heavy and solid, as if entrusting her with all his trust.
Far from feeling uncomfortable, Ran Weiyi instinctively straightened her back, allowing him to lean against her more comfortably.
[Doudou: Ding! Affection value +5%! Possessiveness level remains consistently high. Sis, he didn’t come to find you—he came to recharge. You’re his human-shaped mobile charging station!]
Ran Weiyi smiled helplessly in her heart.
She stopped what she was doing, letting him lean against her like this.She could clearly feel the tense lines of his body gradually easing and relaxing as he held her in this moment.
“Work not finished yet?” she asked softly.
“Not important,” Ye Mochen’s voice carried a muffled tone. “Not as important as you.”
After speaking, he nuzzled against her neck again. This unreserved dependence and affection softened Ran Weiyi’s heart.
She set down the tool in her hand and without hesitation, turned around. Due to the limited space, she practically pressed against his chest to complete the movement. Looking up, she could only see his sharply defined jawline.
His eyes were closed, long eyelashes casting a small shadow. The usual coldness and aloofness had dissipated, leaving only a nearly pure exhaustion.
She raised her hand, somewhat awkwardly and tentatively, and patted his broad back. The motion was gentle, as if comforting a large, wounded animal.
Ye Mochen’s body noticeably stiffened for a moment. That brief rigidity felt like a system freeze before rebooting.
The next second, his eyes snapped open, deep pools swirling with intense emotion.
Before Ran Weiyi could react, the arms that had been braced on the medicine counter retracted like lightning, tightly encircling her slender waist.
A powerful force pulled her fiercely toward his chest. She was pressed entirely against him, her nose bumping into the fine fabric of his shirt. The scent of pinewood, carrying his body warmth, instantly enveloped her.
“Mmm…”
She was squeezed breathless, her ears filled with the drum-like pounding of his heartbeat—heavy and rapid, one beat after another.
[Doudou: Male lead’s possessiveness value instantly skyrocketed +5! Sis, with just one comforting pat, you fried his CPU!]
Ran Weiyi felt both amused and exasperated inwardly.
This man’s way of expressing emotions was always so straightforward and intense, and she happened to love him for it.
She raised her other hand and wrapped it around his back as well. This time, the comforting touch of her palm was no longer tentative but firm and gentle.
Feeling her response, Ye Mochen’s arms around her seemed to tremble slightly before tightening even more.
He buried his face deep into the crook of her neck, greedily inhaling her sweet fragrance, and let out an extremely soft, satisfied sigh.
Meanwhile, at the South City Film Studio.
“You there! The extra blocking the shot! Can’t you walk properly?”
The assistant director’s roar pierced through the noisy set. Chen Caiwen jolted, quickly shrinking back half a step and nearly bumping into a prop box behind her.
Half a month—this was the “freedom” she had gained after avoiding Ye Mochen.
During the lunch break while picking up her boxed meal, she was jostled from behind, stumbling as half the vegetable soup in her container spilled out.
No one apologized, and no one spared her a second glance.
Silently, she walked to a corner, crouched down, and picked at the meager remains of her rice.
Her phone vibrated—a message from her agent. Another audition for a supporting female role in a web drama had failed. The other party found her appearance too plain, unable to carry the character.
Looking at these words, she felt surprisingly little turmoil in her heart, instead harboring a twisted sense of calm.
This was the life she was meant to live.
She, Chen Caiwen, an illegitimate daughter unfit for proper society, was always meant to struggle in the mud.
Everything Ye Mochen had given her in her previous life was like a dream that didn’t belong to her—too illusory, too terrifying.Now that the dream had shattered, standing on solid ground—even if that ground was covered in gravel—made her feel grounded.
She even felt that the hardships she was enduring now were far more “fair” compared to the humiliation and slaps her half-sister Chen Xue had once given her.
At least here, the suffering came with a clear price tag. A day of working as an extra could earn her a hundred yuan and a box of unappetizing boxed meal.
But in the Chen family, everything she endured was simply because of her background.
A girl who was also working as an extra came over, looking enviously at her face. “Your skin is so nice, not like mine, covered in acne. But honestly, with your looks, there are too many like you in this industry—no distinctiveness, hard to stand out.”
Chen Caiwen didn’t say anything, just forced a smile that looked worse than crying.
Yes, no distinctiveness. Someone like her deserved to be lost in the crowd.
She stuffed the last bite of food into her mouth, as if trying to swallow all these messy thoughts along with it.