Chapter 14: Sleepless Night

Mu Zhihan ignored the woman's resistance, carrying her into the bedroom, but instead of putting her back on the bed, he placed her on the vanity.

……

This familiar location made Shen Xingman's heart skip.

The man cupped her face and softly said, "Take off your makeup."

At night you can skip a shower, but you cannot skip removing makeup; the residue of cosmetics will rot on the skin, not only clogging pores but also causing breakouts.

The little fairy cared greatly about her appearance, so whenever she was exhausted and about to fall asleep, he would help her remove her makeup.

At first he didn't know how, but after this happened many times he became skilled; no matter how uncooperative Shen Xingman was, he could always cleanse her face of makeup completely.

He understands makeup remover oils, creams, and waters better than any woman.

But Shen Xingman couldn't understand one thing: "You want me to remove my makeup with my back to the mirror?"

Mu Zhihan: "Be good, I'll help you."

"Wait," Shen Xingman suddenly grabbed his wrist and asked tentatively, "Is this free or do I have to pay?"

This male fox spirit before her was not the entertainment industry's ultimate ascetic beauty, but a deeply scheming, profit‑driven, heartless capitalist.

Wanting to fleece a capitalist without putting in any real effort??

Heh, anyone who thinks that must never have seen how treacherous society is.

Mu Zhihan said with a hidden meaning: "If we keep delaying, I really might not be able to hold back."

……

Someone sat still, behaving themselves.

Shen Xingman was exquisitely made; her bare face differed little from her made‑up one—like a lotus rising from clear water, naturally unadorned, with a graceful neck and fine figure, her skin bright and pure, her brows and eyes bearing a natural lightness, her complexion radiant and jade‑like, beautiful beyond reproach.

…It's still so easy to drive someone crazy.

Mu Zhihan's breathing grew heavier; he swept the hair from Shen Xingman's cheek behind her ear, cupped her face, and kissed her naturally.

The motion was smooth and seamless, extremely silky.

It was an unexpected kiss; the heated, oppressive atmosphere left Shen Xingman unable to breathe. She wanted to inhale, so she couldn't meet his fervent kiss, and an involuntary moan escaped her lips.

Mu Zhihan's nerves were stimulated again; his hands stroked his side neck, and the kiss continued down to his collarbone.

"Hey…… wasn't it supposed to be free?" Shen Xingman breathed unevenly, her drowsiness fading considerably.

The man moved his kiss back to Shen Xingman's lips, speaking in a breathy tone: "Can't I even kiss you?"

……

His tone wasn't joking, but Shen Xingman still felt those words were a bit insincere, hard to believe.

"Manman……"

He rarely calls her name, very rarely.

The names Shen Xingman hears most are "wife," "baby," or "madam."

"Do you think I'm annoying?"

He constantly thinks up reasons to disturb her each day, overlooking that she is always the passive one, and frequent interruptions will annoy her.

Patience is worn away bit by bit.

"No way."

Shen Xingman's reply wasn't very timely; she was usually mulling over the answer in her mind.

Mu Zhihan didn't scrutinize the truth of those three words; he just felt he'd heard the answer he wanted and felt satisfied.

This feeling was like being fed a candy, sweetness seeping bit by bit into his heart.

Shen Xingman bit her lower lip, her slender fingers reaching to his chest to fiddle, the pads of her fingers rubbing a few times, her gaze softening slightly: "Why suddenly ask this?"

Mu Zhihan smiled, lightly holding her fingers without stopping her motion, "Nothing, I'm just afraid you'll find me bothersome."

"How could that be?"

"Hmm," he nodded, "Take off your skirt and go to sleep."

"?"

Shen Xingman didn't quite grasp what he meant……

Mu Zhihan knew she was thinking the wrong thing, and replied in a low, pleasant voice: "I won't peek."

"……" Shen Xingman frowned, "Then turn away."

Mu Zhihan: "I really won't peek."

Shen Xingman was speechless: "Then why don't you turn away!"

……

Within just five minutes, the two performed a relentless push‑and‑pull.

In the end, Shen Xingman forced him to turn around, took off his formal wear, and quickly changed into pajamas.

Oh, it really wasn't easy.

It was practically—just lie down and sleep, without a hint of hesitation.

Someone also wanted to come over and join the fun, but when his wife lay before him in a slip, his Adam's apple kept rolling, his eyes filled with deep desire, and he was almost constantly torn between acting human and acting like a dog.

In the darkness, the man's long fingers reached out, then drew back restrainedly.

Those who know realize he's restraining his desire; those who don't think he's having a cramp.

The woman's legs are slender and long, her shape well‑proportioned, and her face is gorgeous beyond description, always full of charm without her realizing it.

He suffered insomnia.

Shen Xingman, however, slept as soundly as a pig.

The next day.

Shen Xingman woke up amidst a scene of blossoming flowers and moonlit evenings.

One second she was still stretching, the next a man with a perfect side profile appeared between her fingers.

He lounged on the sofa by the bed, legs crossed, his side profile glowing with a warm luster, appearing among the gaps of the luxuriant branches and leaves.

Shen Xingman rubbed her sleepy eyes, wanting to sit up, but found her mind not clear, and she fell back asleep, reluctant to leave the bed.

When Mu Zhihan was quiet, he habitually kept her locked like this.

"Awake?" He sat on the edge of the bed.

"Mm..." she mumbled, lying face down on the pillow, lazily responding.

"Wasn't it supposed to discuss cooperation?"

It's already very late; Mu Zhihan worries that if she goes back to sleep she might delay work.

Shen Xingman blinked open her eyes, still dazed: "Yeah, today's Saturday, you could actually have some fun..."

At that moment, the phone on the nightstand rang.

Mu Zhihan glanced at it; it was his wife's phone, and the caller ID showed her agent, "Qiao Qiao."

He answered and put it to Shen Xingman's ear.

"Hello."

"Manman, when are you coming back?"

"Is something up?"

"..." On the other end, Qiao Yun was a bit speechless: "Baby, I secured Xing Shuang last night; we can sign the contract today."

"Now?"

"I've arranged with the director for this afternoon," Qiao Yun said.

"Alright, I'll come over this afternoon."

"Mm," Qiao Yun on the other end nodded at the air, "but..."

"What's wrong?"

"I heard the director say that Shen Ran refused to play the second female lead."

"What?!!" Shen Xingman shot out of the blankets, instantly more awake, snatched the man's phone: "Is it true or not?"

"It's true; I've verified it."

"..."

Shen Xingman stayed silent for a moment before speaking: "Why would she refuse? There's no reason."

"Just yesterday she was working so hard to keep the investors, yet today she's changed her mind?"

"Was she threatened?"

"..."

Qiao Yun's words once again plunged Shen Xingman into silence.

Soon after, she hung up the phone.

"What's wrong?"

In her agitated state, a gentle, water-like voice from the man came through.