That night lasted until the light outside seeped through the gaps in the curtains. Only then did the battle on the bed finally come to an end.

Mu Wan was utterly exhausted, barely able to open her eyes. She had truly come to understand what people meant by a “spring effect”—the more suppressed it is, the stronger the rebound. Apparently, this principle applied to the bedroom as well.

Kuang Ye’s pent-up desires, suppressed to their limits, had burst forth like a flood, overwhelming everything in their path once the gates were opened.

He kissed Mu Wan’s weary face with a trace of guilt in his eyes, though there wasn’t a hint of regret.
Jiejie was the one who pushed him too far.

After carrying Mu Wan to the bathroom to clean her up, he diligently changed the dirty bedsheets and duvet cover. Only after completing these tasks did he nestle into the fresh, laundry-scented bedding with her in his arms.

Watching his beloved’s serene sleeping face, Kuang Ye bent down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Good morning, Wan wan.”

—

When Mu Wan finally woke up completely, it was already 4 p.m. Her arms still felt weak and sore, and she thought to herself that she had unlocked the “Rag Doll 2.0” achievement.

Last night had been more intense than any time before, and she was starting to regret provoking the fire she couldn’t handle.

Dragging herself downstairs, she noticed freshly laundered sheets hanging on the balcony to dry. In the kitchen, Kuang Ye was bustling around. When he saw her, he raised a spatula in greeting.

“Wan wan, how about steak for dinner?”

Mu Wan: “…” Dinner again?
“Sure!”

She opened her phone and scrolled through Weibo, spotting numerous posts congratulating ST for their championship victory. Reading all the praise for ST’s players made her unconsciously smile.

However, a particular comment in the replies caught her attention.

Someone claimed that Kuang Ye hadn’t played in two matches during the finals because of a hand injury. They even swore they were an insider from the league and had overheard the news backstage.

Most people didn’t believe it, flooding the person with insults. But Mu Wan couldn’t help feeling concerned.

“Ah Ye, if news of your hand injury get known to fans, what will happen?”

Kuang Ye placed the freshly cooked steak on the dining table.
“It might affect sponsorships for the global tournament. After all, if the team’s main player is injured, there’s a risk of early elimination. Sponsors wouldn’t achieve their advertising goals if we can’t make it to the end.”

“But for now, it won’t be a big issue.”

Mu Wan frowned in confusion. “Why not?”

Kuang Ye: “ST has already won the Spring and Autumn^[1]Fall and Autumn is the same. championships this year, and we’re directly advancing to the finals of the global tournament. Even if there’s some impact, it won’t be significant.”

This was one of the reasons Kuang Ye had to win the Fall championship. His hand injury was like a ticking time bomb, and he needed to minimize any potential negative effects for ST.

Just as Mu Wan was about to cut into her steak, Kuang Ye naturally swapped her plate for the one he had already cut into bite-sized pieces. Mu Wan accepted it without hesitation, picking up her fork.
“When will you go to D-country for treatment?”

Kuang Ye thought for a moment. “Next week.”

The global tournament starts on the 10th of next month. Although ST has already secured a spot in the finals, they still have to participate in the earlier elimination rounds. It’s similar to students with guaranteed college admission still taking the national exams—it’s a good opportunity for O Lan to gain experience.

After dinner, Mu Wan hesitated for a moment before asking, “Yesterday was your birthday. Did Uncle and Aunt call you?”

She had just seen on her social media feed that they had hosted a grand birthday party for Kuang Shuyu at their villa, inviting many business associates and putting on a big show.

Kuang Ye understood what she meant. Pinching her cheek, he replied nonchalantly, “Uncle, Aunt, and my brother-in-law all sent me red envelopes.”

As for his biological parents, he had already come to terms with their behavior. Receiving a gift from Kuang Xingran yesterday was already an unexpected surprise.

Mu Wan pouted, feeling indignant on Kuang Ye’s behalf, and then suggested, “Why don’t you just do what Xingran joked about and marry into the Mu family? My parents would definitely treat you like their own son.”

Kuang Ye smiled. “Sure. If we have kids in the future, they can take your surname.”

Mu Wan’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

Kuang Ye tapped her nose playfully. “Of course. It’s not like I have a royal lineage to preserve.”

Mu Wan nodded thoughtfully. “True. I may not have a royal title, but at least there’s a company for them to inherit. Taking the surname Mu makes sense.”

Kuang Ye chuckled. “Fine. After we get married, I’ll change my surname too—call me Mu Ye. It actually has a nice ring to it.”

Mu Wan burst into laughter. “Aren’t you worried people will say you’re living off a woman?”

Leaning in, Kuang Ye gently bit her cheek and pretended to chew. “Living off you tastes delicious.”

Mu Wan couldn’t stop laughing.

After some playful teasing, the two went to the open balcony and enjoyed the sunset together. As Mu Wan gazed at Kuang Ye standing by her side, her eyes sparkled with joy. At that moment, she felt she finally understood the saying: As long as you’re with the right person, every moment is beautiful.

—

The Next Day: A Café Near Flourish Mansion Residence

Mu Wan almost didn’t recognize Li Shuqin, who was bundled up so tightly that only her eyes were visible.
“Shuqin, you didn’t have to come all this way. You could’ve just mailed me the signed copy.”

It wasn’t until the afternoon that Mu Wan had seen Li Shuqin’s message in their group chat, replying to her request for an autograph for Liu Xue’er. Shuqin had said she happened to be in S City for an event today and could deliver it in person.

Removing her hat and mask, Li Shuqin smiled. “It’s no trouble. I happened to have a half-day off and thought it’d be nice to catch up with you.”

“I’ve been dying to watch a certain movie. Would you go with me?”

Li Shuqin was about the same age as Mu Wan, but she had spent countless hours and effort establishing herself in the entertainment industry. As a result, she didn’t have many friends.

Even if she connected briefly with someone while working on a project, being in the same circle often turned acquaintances into competitors. Friendships could sour into rivalries, which only made things more awkward.

That’s why Li Shuqin tried to keep her distance from others in the industry.

But Mu Wan was different. She was an outsider, and her personality clicked with Shuqin’s. Shuqin genuinely enjoyed spending time with her.

Mu Wan liked Shuqin as well, so she didn’t hesitate to accept her invitation. “Sure! What movie?”

Li Shuqin smiled mysteriously. “You’ll find out when we get there.”