"My woman doesn't need to work so hard."
Those words buzzed in Shen Weiwei's ears like a pebble dropped into a still lake, ripples spreading outward in widening circles.
He had said, "my woman."
Shen Weiwei lowered her head, twisting the hem of her skirt until her knuckles turned white.
Her heart raced as if it might leap out of her throat, and her face was hot enough to fry an egg.
She secretly glanced at Lin Mo.
He was focused on driving, his profile sharply defined, his jaw slightly tense. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a faint golden glow over his face.
"Y-you mean that?" Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
Lin Mo glanced at her. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
Shen Weiwei bit her lip, her voice growing even quieter. "Then... where would I live?"
"The Earl's Mansion is huge. Pick anywhere you like." Lin Mo turned the steering wheel, and the car entered a narrow alley.
Shen Weiwei gave an "oh," tracing circles on her knee with her finger before suddenly looking up again.
"Then... if I live with you, would I be causing you trouble?"
"What trouble?"
"I mean... the people around you... would they think I..." She stammered, unable to continue.
The corner of Lin Mo's lips curved slightly. "Are you afraid someone will eat you?"
Shen Weiwei's face reddened again. She muttered softly, "I'm not afraid..."
"Then what are you afraid of?"
Shen Weiwei said nothing. She only lowered her head, twisting her fingers even tighter.
The car turned into an even narrower alley, with weathered old walls on both sides and a dense web of electrical wires overhead.
Several electric scooters and bicycles were parked downstairs, while an old man sat on a small stool basking in the