Surging Desire.

Looking at the reply on her phone screen, Wen Yicong felt somewhat bewildered, yet her heartbeat uncontrollably quickened a few beats. She widened her eyes slightly, reading the line over and over. The meaning of this message was ambiguous; she couldn't tell exactly what he meant. Was it that the act of her sending him a message itself made him feel pleased? Or was it the content of her message that put him in a good mood? Wen Yicong furrowed her brows slightly. This person's words were always unclear, seemingly true yet not, and always easily threw her into turmoil. Her palms grew a bit damp from nervousness, and her cheeks felt slightly hot. Wen Yicong mulled it over in her mind, her fingertips hovering over the phone screen for a moment, but in the end, she didn't ask him 'why are you pleased.' After a few seconds of deliberation, she replied cautiously: 'I hope I didn't disturb you... It's getting late, good night.' The other side quickly responded: 'Good night.' Wen Yicong looked at those two words and let out a long sigh, as if she had ended a silent battle, feeling both physically and mentally exhausted. She shoved her phone under her pillow to block out the distracting thoughts and forced herself to close her eyes.

*

In the dead of night, the study was still lit. The computer screen remained on the interface of the forcibly interrupted international video conference. Mo Shaoshang sat alone at the desk, turned off his phone screen, then casually took off the gold-rimmed glasses from his nose and set them aside. He slightly closed his eyes and rubbed his temples with his fingers. An urgent matter had suddenly arisen at the European branch that evening. Starting at eight o'clock, he had been sitting in this chair, connected to the executives on the other side of the screen. In the meeting screen, a group of elites sat upright, one after another reciting reports before him like reading from a script, each face filled with tension and respect, their wording cautious. Those lengthy reports and blame-shifting rhetoric were just a few sets repeated over and over. Mo Shaoshang listened with a blank expression throughout. After receiving the final solution from the European senior management, he didn't waste any words, directly cut off the video, and ended the meeting. After the meeting, Mo Shaoshang was not in a good mood; in fact, he felt somewhat disinterested. He casually picked up his phone and lit up the screen. A new WeChat message caught his eye at that moment. The sender's WeChat avatar was a hand-drawn cartoon pattern, looking lively and playful, completely out of place with the cold, hard style of the study. The nickname 'Cheese Sweet Moon' also carried a soft, sweet childishness. At that time, after reading the line sent by 'Cheese Sweet Moon,' Mo Shaoshang raised an eyebrow slightly. He understood at first glance that this young lady had most likely sent the wrong message. But even though he knew it was probably just a mistake, his mood still brightened, as if a ray of sunlight had pierced through the gloom. How could there be such a magical creature in the world? It seemed that everything about her was novel and adorable, easily able to stir one's heartstrings. Even if she made a huge mistake, it was hard to blame her. After two back-and-forth messages, the young lady on the other end quickly ended the conversation. Mo Shaoshang lowered his eyes, sitting alone in the empty study, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the cold metal frame of his phone. After a long while, he finally turned off the screen. The surroundings fell back into silence. From childhood to adulthood, his life was like a script already written, step by step, precise and flawless, never deviating from the path set by his family. Birth, receiving the top education, returning home after studies, and smoothly taking over the vast Mo Empire. Such a life, in the eyes of others, was illustrious and unattainable, but for him, it was just a performance with a predetermined ending. Dull and tedious. Mo Shaoshang sometimes thought numbly that he might not be a living person. He was more like a precision instrument programmed with all operating data, destined from the first second of coming into this world to be perfect and flawless, never allowing any deviation from the program. Or perhaps, he was merely an illusion existing in this world. A splendid but hollow illusion. Dressed impeccably, noble and elegant, playing the role of a qualified Mo Family power holder in the eyes of the world. As for whether his true image was human or ghost, it didn't matter. The nights of high society were always brightly lit, like an altar devouring every soul. Having seen too much filth and dirt handled decently and cleanly, Mo Shaoshang sometimes even thought that he could no longer be called 'human.' He was a monster, a beast, a sacrifice. The past thirty years had been like this, and the future would be the same. Until the end. However, just a few days ago, on a sunny afternoon, the young rehabilitation therapist with bright eyes pushed open the heavy, oppressive door of his study. Like a ray of light that accidentally broke in, cast into stagnant water, stirring up unprecedented ripples. After sitting at the desk for a while longer, Mo Shaoshang raised his eyes, his gaze passing over the heavy night sky outside the window. There were no stars, only boundless ink-black. After a moment, he stood up and walked toward the constant-temperature glass tank in the corner of the study. He reached out and turned on the light. Under the cold, pale light, the albino silver-ringed snake lazily coiled around a piece of dead wood. Its cold vertical pupils were like glass beads, staring sinisterly at the owner outside the tank, its crimson forked tongue flicking out from time to time, its body moving slowly and eerily. Mo Shaoshang, expressionless, took out a pair of white sterile gloves, put them on leisurely, his long fingers moving elegantly inside the white gloves. Then, he opened the feeding port of the tank lid, his brows and eyes showing a nearly cruel calm and nonchalance. In a moment, a primitive drama of the strong preying on the weak unfolded inside the glass tank. The silver-ringed snake attacked with lightning speed, its cold body like a death noose, tightly coiling around the small, warm life. The mouse struggled in vain, letting out faint dying squeaks, eventually suffocating under the powerful constriction, its bones cracking. Then, the silver-ringed snake opened its jaw, which could dislocate, and wrapped the lifeless, delicious morsel, swallowing it... Mo Shaoshang watched this scene quietly, his blue-black eyes devoid of any emotion, only a void of calm, as if appreciating a nature documentary unrelated to himself. Who would believe it? In the eyes of the outside world, the Mo Family heir, raised with strict discipline and propriety, had the most violent and morbid blood flowing in his veins, with a beast imprisoned in his heart. That beast was firmly imprisoned and bound by the strict family rules and etiquette, howling and roaring painfully in the depths of his soul every day, madly trying to break free from all invisible shackles. He wanted to conquer, to occupy, to plunder all the purity and beauty that came into his sight. He wanted to completely stain that accidentally intruding holy white with his own obsessive, intense black. Before long, the silver-ringed snake finished eating, its originally slender body bulging noticeably in the middle. It seemed satisfied, coiled back onto the dead wood, perched elegantly, its vertical pupils half-closed, as if resting after a meal, only the occasional flick of its forked tongue revealing the nature of a cold-blooded predator. Mo Shaoshang took off the gloves and threw them into the trash can, turned off the light, and the venomous snake instantly disappeared silently into the darkness, like the hidden addiction in the depths of his heart and the increasingly surging desire. Then he left the room and headed straight for the underground Wine Cellar.

*

The next day, Mo Shaoshang went to the company as usual early in the morning, and the manor seemed to return to its daily order. Around four in the afternoon, Wen Yicong was giving Airi a language cognition lesson in the game room when her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket, the screen showing 'Mom.' She signaled to the nanny, walked to a corner, and answered: 'Mom, what's wrong?' On the other end, Shen Yulan's voice was clearly anxious and flustered, speaking quickly: 'Nongnong! Your grandmother just called, saying your grandfather... your grandfather suddenly fainted, and now he's been sent to Jinghai First People's Hospital!' Wen Yicong's heart sank, instantly gripped by an invisible hand. But she quickly forced herself to calm down, soothing her mother's emotions over the phone: 'Mom, don't panic first, speak slowly. Where are you and Dad now?' 'We're on the way to the hospital!' Shen Yulan's voice was tearful. 'Your grandmother was terrified on the phone, her words were all jumbled...' 'Mom, listen to me.' Wen Yicong took a deep breath, her voice as steady as possible. 'You and Dad get to the hospital first, find Grandma and Grandpa, and make sure to stay calm. Grandma is timid by nature and hasn't seen this kind of situation; the more you panic, the more scared she'll be, understand?' 'Okay, okay, I understand.' Under her daughter's reassurance, Shen Yulan seemed to calm down a bit. She agreed, then paused and asked, 'Nongnong, can you take leave today and come to the hospital?' 'I should be able to.' Wen Yicong thought for a moment and said, 'I'll ask for leave now, and once I've arranged things, I'll come over right away.' After hanging up, Wen Yicong's heart was still racing, worry entwining like vines. With a sense of professionalism, she suppressed her anxiety and focused on finishing the rest of the lesson for Airi. After the lesson, Wen Yicong handed Airi over to the nanny properly, then hurried downstairs. In the side hall on the first floor, she found Master Heng, who was checking a shopping list. 'Master Heng,' Wen Yicong said, unable to hide her urgency, 'May I ask, where is Mr. Mo now?' Master Heng looked up, seeing the rare panic on the young woman's face, frowned slightly, and said gently, 'Mr. Mo went to the company early this morning and hasn't returned yet. What's wrong, Teacher Wen? Don't worry, tell me slowly, has something happened?' Wen Yicong took a deep breath and explained the situation as concisely as possible: 'I want to ask Mr. Mo for a few hours off to go to the hospital.' Master Heng: 'Are you feeling unwell?' 'Not me, it's my grandfather.' Wen Yicong explained, 'He fainted at home just now, and now he's at the hospital for tests. We don't know the exact cause of the fainting yet.' Upon hearing this, Master Heng showed an understanding expression and immediately said, 'So it's an elderly family member who is ill. This is a big matter. You should go to the hospital now without delay. Don't worry about Mr. Mo; I'll inform him for you.' Wen Yicong was extremely grateful and quickly said, 'Thank you, Master Heng! I really appreciate it!' Then Master Heng hesitated, showing a troubled look, and said, 'However, this happened suddenly. Chen Jing left with Mr. Mo this morning, and the driver Lao Yang, who is in charge of other vehicles, is on leave today... So I might not be able to arrange a car for you.' 'That's fine, Master Heng.' Wen Yicong immediately said, 'I'll take a taxi. Thank you!' With that, she didn't bother with further pleasantries, turned around, and jogged away.

*

Jinghai First People's Hospital is located on the bustling West Second Ring Road. Coming from Nanjiao Manor in the southern suburbs, one had to cross almost the entire city. It was just before the evening rush hour, and traffic in the city center was already starting to show signs of congestion. The ride-hailing car Wen Yicong took moved in fits and starts, encountering red lights constantly, and her heart grew more anxious with the slow pace. It wasn't until 5:30 PM that the car finally struggled to the hospital entrance. After quickly paying the fare, Wen Yicong pushed open the door and almost rushed into the hospital lobby. Walking quickly, she called her mother again. After asking for the specific ward address, she headed straight for the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular department of the inpatient building. In the inpatient ward of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular department, the air was thick with the pungent smell of disinfectant. The corridor was dimly lit, and nurses pushing medicine carts hurried past. Wen Yicong's heart tightened even more, and she couldn't help but break into a jog. Following the room number, she found Ward 12. She stopped, took a deep breath to steady herself, then strode in. The ward was a three-bed room, a bit cramped. She immediately saw her grandfather lying on the bed by the window. The old man's usually rosy face was now unusually pale and haggard, his lips dry and cracked. An oxygen tube was inserted into his nose, and an IV drip was attached to the back of his hand, making him look very weak. Her grandmother and mother, Shen Yulan, stood on either side of the bed, both with red-rimmed eyes, their faces full of worry. 'Grandpa.' Wen Yicong walked straight to the bedside, bent down, gently took her grandfather's wrinkled hand, leaned closer, and said softly, 'Grandpa? How are you feeling?' Hearing the familiar voice, her grandfather groggily opened his eyes. Seeing his granddaughter's pretty, anxious face, the old man forced a faint smile on his pale face and said weakly, but with his usual kindness, 'Nongnong is here. You're so busy with work, why did you come...' Then he couldn't help turning his head and looking at his wife with slight reproach, scolding, 'I told you, it's just a minor dizziness from old age. Lying down for a while would be fine. I told you not to make a big fuss and disturb the children. But you went ahead and called not only your daughter and son-in-law but also Nongnong. You're just causing trouble.' Upon hearing this, the grandmother immediately muttered aggrievedly, 'I didn't...' 'Alright, Dad, don't blame Mom.' Shen Yulan said with a slightly heavy tone. 'It's such a big deal that you fainted. How could you hide it from us? Mom said you were stubborn and didn't want to come to the hospital at first, saying you'd just lie on the sofa for a while. You're the one being reckless! If something really happened, it would be too late to regret!' After hearing her mother's words, Wen Yicong was shocked, a wave of fear washing over her. She blurted out, 'Exactly, Grandpa! Luckily Grandma told Mom, and Mom insisted on bringing you to the hospital. If we had listened to you and just toughed it out at home, what if something happened? Do you want to scare us to death?' Being jointly criticized by his daughter and granddaughter, the grandfather felt a bit embarrassed. He coughed dryly, waved his hand stubbornly, and said, 'Oh, you're all making a mountain out of a molehill. I know my own body better than anyone. What could happen? I just lost my footing for a moment. It's nothing.' Seeing her grandfather's stubbornness, Wen Yicong felt both distressed and helpless. Knowing it was useless to reason with the old man, she sighed and turned her gaze to her mother, Shen Yulan. She straightened up, walked over to her mother, and said in a low voice, 'Mom, what exactly did the doctor say? Have the tests been done? Why did Grandpa suddenly faint?' Shen Yulan's brows were heavy with worry. She shook her head. 'When he was first brought to the hospital, he wasn't fully conscious. After waking up, he said he felt dizzy. The doctor ordered a bunch of tests—ECG, brain CT, blood work, etc. Most of the reports aren't out yet, and the doctor said we have to wait for the results to know the exact cause.' Wen Yicong nodded, then looked around and asked, 'Where's Dad? Isn't he with you?' 'Your dad just finished the admission procedures for your grandpa, but the nurses' station said some additional materials were needed, so he went to handle that.' As she spoke, Shen Yulan took out a few washed apples from the bag she brought. 'Take a break and have an apple.' Wen Yicong took the apple, went to the restroom to wash it thoroughly, found a fruit knife, sat on the chair by the bed, peeled the apple patiently, cut it into small pieces, and carefully fed them to her grandfather. Three generations gathered around the bed, chatting about family matters, and the oppressive atmosphere in the ward eased a little. Around evening, Wen Yicong's father, Wen Zhenhua, returned with dinner bought from the hospital cafeteria, and the family ate a simple meal. After dinner, while tidying up, the grandmother realized that when they rushed to the hospital in the afternoon, they had forgotten to bring her grandfather's usual toothbrush and washbasin. Wen Yicong then volunteered, 'Grandma, you stay with Grandpa and Mom and Dad. I'll go buy them from the supermarket downstairs, and I'll also check if Grandpa's CT report is ready and pick it up.' The grandmother nodded, her eyes full of relief and affection. 'Alright.'

*

The supermarket on the basement level of the hospital wasn't crowded. Wen Yicong quickly bought the toothbrush, washbasin, towel, and other necessities. Then, carrying the plastic bag, she went to the self-service printer for imaging reports on the first floor. She took the barcode from the report bag and aligned the QR code with the scanner. With two beeps, the scan was complete, and the screen showed that the report was being printed. Wen Yicong stood in front of the machine waiting. Just then, a voice came from behind her, magnetic and pleasant, with a gentle tone: 'Hello.' Wen Yicong was startled and instinctively turned around. Behind her stood a young man in a white coat. He was tall, with a well-proportioned and upright build. The white doctor's uniform made him look even more broad-shouldered and long-legged, with a refined temperament. He appeared to be around thirty years old, with handsome features and a clear bone structure, inexplicably evoking a line of poetry: 'A gentleman as flawless as jade, unparalleled in the world.' The admiration in Wen Yicong's eyes flashed briefly, then she tentatively replied, 'Hello. Can I help you?' The man gave a polite, faint smile, extended one hand with the palm facing up, and said, 'You dropped something.' Wen Yicong looked closely and saw a small cat keychain lying quietly in that clean palm. It was her keychain. 'Ah, thank you.' Wen Yicong felt a bit embarrassed and quickly took it, adding, 'I didn't even realize when I dropped it... Thank you for your trouble.' 'You're welcome. It was nothing.' The man replied with a gentle smile. The next moment, his gaze inadvertently swept over the patient's name displayed on the self-service printer screen. He paused and said, 'Are you a family member of Shen Ruiqing?' Wen Yicong blinked, a bit surprised, and nodded. 'Yes, Shen Ruiqing is my grandfather. Do you know my grandfather?' The man still wore a calm, pleasant smile and said, 'I am your grandfather's attending physician. My name is Pei Xizhou.' 'So you're Dr. Pei.' Hearing this, Wen Yicong felt pleasantly surprised, as if she had found a pillar of support. She quickly asked further, 'Dr. Pei, how is my grandfather's condition? Are the test results out? It shouldn't be serious, right?' Pei Xizhou's tone remained gentle as he explained, 'Based on the initial assessment and the old gentleman's chief complaints after waking up, he likely has Vertigo. This is a common condition among the elderly, usually related to dysfunction of the inner ear vestibular system or insufficient blood supply to the brain. At present, it doesn't seem too serious; his vital signs are stable. However...' At this point, Pei Xizhou shifted his tone, maintaining the rigor of a medical professional, 'For a final diagnosis, we still need to wait for all the test reports to come in and conduct a comprehensive evaluation. The possibility of other concurrent diseases cannot be ruled out either.' Hearing the words 'not too serious,' Wen Yicong's hanging heart finally settled a bit. She let out a long breath. 'I understand. Thank you, Dr. Pei.' At that moment, the CT report finished printing and slowly emerged from the output slot. Wen Yicong was about to reach for it, but Pei Xizhou took the lead, naturally picking up the report and the accompanying imaging films, lowering his eyes to examine them carefully. Wen Yicong had no choice but to stand there and wait quietly. After a moment, Pei Xizhou quickly scanned the report, placed the report sheet and films into a special bag, and then said to Wen Yicong, 'I'll take this directly; it will be filed in the medical records.' Wen Yicong nodded. 'Oh, okay.' Pei Xizhou held the bag, his gaze sweeping over the plastic bag in Wen Yicong's hand, and asked politely, 'Is it heavy? Would you like me to help you carry it to the ward?' 'No, no,' Wen Yicong quickly waved her hand to decline, moving the bag behind her. 'It's just some toiletries, very light. I can carry it myself.' Seeing her insistence, Pei Xizhou didn't press further. Wen Yicong then said, 'Then Dr. Pei, you go ahead with your work. I'll head back to the inpatient building.' Pei Xizhou said, 'Actually, I'm heading to the inpatient building too.' Wen Yicong looked surprised. 'At this hour, aren't you off work yet?' Pei Xizhou smiled, a hint of helplessness and self-mockery in his tone, and said slowly, 'Who says I'm on duty today? There are a few more patients in the inpatient building I need to check on.'

*

The inpatient building of Jinghai First People's Hospital is not connected to the outpatient building where the CT examination area is located. After leaving the CT examination area, Wen Yicong walked side by side with Pei Xizhou along the corridor connecting the two buildings. Worried about her grandfather's condition and follow-up care, Wen Yicong took this opportunity to ask Pei Xizhou about some precautions during hospitalization, such as dietary restrictions and activity limitations. Pei Xizhou patiently answered each question one by one. The two chatted about her grandfather's condition, the atmosphere harmonious and natural. Suddenly, a phone ringtone broke the silence of the corridor. Wen Yicong pulled out her phone, glanced at the caller ID, and was slightly stunned. After a few seconds of hesitation, she swiped to answer. 'Hello...' Her voice was tight, and she unconsciously tensed up, a hint of wariness in her tone. 'Mr. Mo?' A low voice came through the receiver, his tone indifferent, with no discernible emotion. 'Master Heng said your grandfather is ill.' 'Yes.' Wen Yicong quickly explained, 'I'm sorry, Mr. Mo. It happened very suddenly, and I didn't have time to ask for leave in person. I hope you...' Before she could finish, he gently interrupted, 'How is the old man?' Wen Yicong was taken aback by the question, not expecting him to care about this. She instinctively answered obediently, her tone softening. 'I just asked the attending physician. The preliminary diagnosis is Vertigo. The doctor said it doesn't seem serious for now, but we'll have to wait for all the test results to come in for a comprehensive evaluation.' 'Mm.' The other end responded, indicating he understood. Then, after a brief pause, he asked, as if casually, yet with an undeniable pressure, 'Where are you?' Wen Yicong continued walking alongside Pei Xizhou as she answered honestly, 'At the hospital. I just picked up the CT report and am heading back to the inpatient building.' 'Do you need any help?' His tone was calm and measured. Wen Yicong didn't catch on and instinctively made a questioning sound: 'Huh?' 'With your grandfather,' Mo Shaoshang clarified. 'Do you need any help? For example, contacting better specialists or providing other resources.' Wen Yicong understood this time. A strange feeling passed through her heart, and she quickly said, 'No, thank you, Mr. Mo. The doctor has already handled it. Later, after my grandfather's condition stabilizes a bit, if there's nothing serious, I'll come back. Don't worry, I won't delay Airi's lesson tomorrow.' There was a two-second silence on the other end, then he said flatly, 'The car is in the parking lot next to the inpatient building. When you're done, contact Chen Jing.' Wen Yicong instinctively wanted to refuse, saying she could take a taxi back. But then she thought about it—by the time she left the hospital, it would definitely be very late. Going from the city center back to Nanjiao Manor, the road would become increasingly remote and sparsely populated. As a young woman traveling alone late at night by taxi, there were indeed safety risks. Weighing the options, Wen Yicong had no choice but to accept this kind arrangement. 'Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mo.' 'Goodbye,' Mo Shaoshang said. 'Goodbye,' Wen Yicong replied politely. The call ended with a dial tone. Wen Yicong slowly lowered her arm, put her phone back in her pocket, her expression complex—as if she had breathed a sigh of relief, yet also felt a strange fluster and bewilderment from this sudden concern. Beside her, Pei Xizhou's gaze discreetly swept over a certain spot, a thoughtful look gradually appearing in his eyes. In the shadow of the parking lot beside the inpatient building, a black Rolls-Royce sat quietly like a lurking beast. The interior of the car was dark, with no lights on. The driver, Chen Jing, sat in the driver's seat, silent, staring straight ahead without a word, his eyes fixed forward. He could clearly feel the low, cold pressure inside the car. Chen Jing lifted his eyelids slightly and quickly glanced at the central rearview mirror. He saw the man in the back seat, dressed in a sharp black suit, almost blending into the surrounding darkness. He lounged lazily against the backrest, a cigarette half-burned between his fingers, the red ember flickering in the dimness. His cold, perfect profile was caught at the boundary of light and shadow, adding an indescribable chill and dangerous aura. From tens of meters away, Mo Shaoshang's blue-black eyes clearly captured the young girl on the corridor. He saw her put down her phone, saw her relieved expression, saw her quickly compose herself, the corners of her mouth curving upward again as she smiled at the person beside her. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment. Then, his eyes shifted slightly, landing on the young doctor beside the girl. For just a few seconds. Mo Shaoshang's expression darkened, and the softness in his eyes instantly turned cold. A wave of inexplicable irritation swept over him. A venomous snake named jealousy flicked its tongue, coiling around his heart. He felt uneasy, an uncontrollable unease. And that dark desire, suppressed for too long, now so intense it was almost bursting through all rational cages... After a moment, Mo Shaoshang extinguished the cigarette in his hand expressionlessly and rolled up the car window.

----------------------- Author's note: Super assist is online. —— Random 100 red packets.