Chapter 23: Hunter and Prey

Mo Yichen walked to the window and looked down from the second-floor window, seeing a neat and well-maintained lawn.

The setting sun was reduced to a faint, weak glow, and the sky had turned into a deep, dark blue.

On the wooden tables and chairs on the lawn sat three women, with an empty stroller nearby.

The three women were chatting lively, and one of them, wearing a white dress, was holding a small baby. Unconsciously, Mo Yichen’s gaze lingered on this woman in the white dress.

“Young Master, what are you looking at?” Fang Boran walked over and followed Mo Yichen’s gaze. “Seems like they’re very close?”

Mo Yichen snorted coldly, “Get lost, mind your own business.”

“This is more like it. I thought you weren’t interested in women. I was afraid you’d be after me, but now I don’t have to worry,” Fang Boran said with a crooked smile.

He leaned against the window, hands on the sill. “Aren’t you going to tell her about Xiao Wen’s parents?”

A hint of gloom flashed in Mo Yichen’s eyes. “I’ll tell her when the time is right.”

Fang Boran handed him a cigarette, but Mo Yichen glanced at it. “Not today. Don’t smoke here; don’t want to ruin my clothes.”

Fang Boran exaggerated, “Young Master, being married really changes a person. You’ve become gentler and more family-oriented. You won’t even come out for a drink now, will you? You have to stay home with your wife and kids every night.”

Mo Yichen ignored him and watched the three women downstairs stand up. He checked his watch. “Let’s go, it’s time.” Mo Yichen turned and strode out.

.

The backyard had become lively. The lights along the path and the candles on the dining tables were all lit. The waiters were in place, and guests had started to take their seats.

Mo Yichen came downstairs and walked over to where Zhu Jia and Xiao Wen were.

Xiao Wen was hungry, but Zhu Jia still had to socialize with Mo Yichen. She asked Aunt Liu to find somewhere to feed Xiao Wen.

“Take him to my room on the third floor,” Mo Yichen instructed, calling a servant to guide Aunt Liu.

Although Mo Yichen hadn’t stayed at the old house in a long time, his room was still preserved there, cleaned regularly in case he visited.

“Aunt Liu, prepare 150 milliliters of milk for the baby. After he drinks, he should sleep. I’ll come up to pick him up later,” Zhu Jia instructed.

Aunt Liu nodded and followed the servant.

Zhu Jia then linked arms with Mo Yichen and sat at the main table, where Mo Ronghua’s three sons and their wives were seated. The only person of the same generation as Mo Yichen was Fang Boran, who sat with him as his close friend.

Zhu Jia politely chatted with her mother-in-law and the second and third aunts. The three women treated her with kindness. Zhu Jia, with her sweet smile, made them laugh several times.

The elderly women felt relieved. They didn’t dare speak too much in front of Zhu Jia, worried about saying something wrong.

Fortunately, the young master’s wife was easy to get along with, unlike him. She didn’t require them to maintain a superficial relationship.

The men were talking business, with Fang Boran and Mo Yichen’s second uncle doing most of the talking.

Waiters in white uniforms brought small dishes of appetizers and glasses of red wine for everyone.

It seemed like they were having Western cuisine tonight, and Zhu Jia secretly felt excited.

Mo Ronghua’s personality was hard to describe, but eating, drinking, and having fun with him was never a mistake.

The appetizer was French pan-seared foie gras, with a slightly crisp exterior and a melt-in-your-mouth interior. The flavor immediately captivated the taste buds.

Zhu Jia licked her lips, sipped the red wine, and her eyes immediately lit up. The wine was sweet and smooth, with a long aftertaste, perfectly to her liking. Without realizing, she had a few more sips.

Next came the rich cream soup, baked lobster, thick steak with red sauce, and fresh fruit salad…

Each dish was common in the market, but the ingredients were top-notch, and the cooking was meticulous.

Top-quality dishes paired with top-quality wine—Zhu Jia indulged in a hearty meal.

By the end of the meal, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her clear eyes sparkled with a seductive glint. Mo Yichen subtly furrowed his brow.

After dinner, Zhu Jia, Mo Qingqing, and Linlin gathered again. Linlin’s belly had grown bigger, and she needed to walk after meals to aid digestion.

“Walking is good during pregnancy. Her blood sugar is a bit high, so the doctor said she needs to control her diet and exercise daily. I’m always making sure she doesn’t slack off,” Linlin’s husband, Mo Yichen’s second uncle’s son, had arrived.

He hugged Linlin’s waist, looking at her with affection.

Linlin blushed, her cheeks turning red.

“Second brother and second sister-in-law are always so lovey-dovey. It’s a bit nauseating,” Mo Qingqing teased with a laugh.

“You two go ahead for a walk. I still have something to discuss with Dad,” Linlin’s husband said, squeezing her hand and adjusting her thin jacket. “The night breeze is strong; don’t catch a cold.”

He turned to Zhu Jia and Mo Qingqing. “Big Sister, Qingqing, please take care of Linlin.”

Zhu Jia nodded with a smile. “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her.”

Linlin’s face turned as red as a tomato, and she quickly pushed her husband out.

The three of them strolled through the garden, unknowingly reaching the edge of the curved swimming pool.

The pool glowed with a faint blue light, the early summer night air was cool and gentle, and the streetlights were dim. A few children around elementary school age were playing and chasing by the pool, their laughter echoing.

“This weather is perfect for a walk at night, not too hot or cold,” Mo Qingqing said, walking ahead.

Zhu Jia and Linlin followed behind. “Big Sister, have you had too much to drink tonight?”

Zhu Jia’s cheeks were noticeably flushed, and her eyes were slightly dazed from the alcohol. “The red wine was really good tonight. I had a couple more glasses,” she said, rubbing her forehead, though her head was starting to spin.

Suddenly, Zhu Jia and Linlin heard the sound of running and laughter behind them. They both turned to look.

In the blink of an eye, a child was suddenly pushed from behind by a companion. The child lost control and tumbled forward, directly into Lin Lin, who was in front of him with her round belly!

Lin Lin’s pupils contracted in shock, and she had no time to dodge.

Zhu Jia reacted quickly. Gritting her teeth, she lunged towards the child, trying to intercept him. In the end, the two collided under the intense impact.

Zhu Jia, wearing high heels, twisted her ankle, losing her balance and fell into the pool with a splash. The child, with a rebound effect, collapsed by the poolside, dazed.

Lin Lin and Mo Qingqing were both terrified by the series of events and screamed, “Someone has fallen into the water!”

They ran to the poolside and saw Zhu Jia struggling in the water.

Zhu Jia couldn’t swim, and the pool was deep, with no footing!

She struggled desperately in the water but kept sinking further. She was gulping down water, her nose filled with it, and a painful sensation of suffocation overwhelmed her.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and at that moment, a round, little face with bright, innocent eyes and tiny fists filled her mind…

Despite the pain in her lungs, Zhu Jia still fought to swim upwards. She had a strong will to survive, and even with just a breath left, she wanted to fight until the end!

But things didn’t go as planned. Her strength gradually faded, and soon she couldn’t even stir the water. Despair filled her eyes.

Just then, a figure leaped into the water and swam toward her, grabbing her tightly just as she lost consciousness…

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At dinner, Mo Yichen had been entertaining some uncommonly seen relatives. When he returned, he found that Zhu Jia was no longer in her seat.

He recalled that Zhu Jia had drunk a few more glasses that evening and noticed the sweet scent of alcohol lingering when she left her seat. Mo Yichen frowned.

He glanced around but didn’t see her. He then walked along the garden path. Before he had gone far, he heard a scream from the direction of the pool.

Mo Yichen was startled, and a bad premonition rose in his heart!

This pool was specifically designed for the men of the Mo family, with a depth ranging from two to three meters. Mo Ronghua and his brothers, along with the younger generation, were all strong swimmers, holding various swimming competitions here every year.

Mo Yichen’s tension escalated as he hurried towards the pool.

“Big Brother! Big Sister-in-law fell into the pool!” He heard Mo Qingqing’s terrified shout before he got close, while Lin Lin was wiping her tears, unable to do anything.

Without hesitation, Mo Yichen jumped into the water and swam towards the struggling figure. He pulled Zhu Jia out of the pool, holding her tightly in his arms.

Fortunately, the drowning had lasted only a short time. As soon as Zhu Jia was on shore, she vomited a large amount of water and gradually regained consciousness. Her face was pale, her body soaked, and she lay weakly by the poolside.

By now, many people had gathered around the pool. Mo Yichen picked her up again without a word and headed for the house.

He carried Zhu Jia back to the third-floor room, where Xiao Wen was sleeping soundly.

Aunt Liu, who was watching over Xiao Wen, was startled when she saw the two of them, drenched.

“Young Master…”

“Aunt Liu, take Xiao Wen to the next room to sleep. She won’t be coming back tonight,” Mo Yichen’s voice sounded rougher than usual.

Aunt Liu immediately took Xiao Wen and left the room, casting one last worried glance at Zhu Jia.

Although Zhu Jia’s mind was clearer now, she had no strength left in Mo Yichen’s arms and couldn’t even open her eyes.

She felt him dry her off with a large towel and lay her down on the bed.

A voice came from the doorway: “Young Master, the clothes you requested are here.”

Mo Yichen took the women’s pajamas and, seeing Zhu Jia lying with her eyes closed, his brow furrowed.

“Zhu Jia, are you awake?” He gently tapped her face. Her eyelashes fluttered, but her eyes stayed shut.

Mo Yichen opened the towel, revealing her soaked white dress. The thin fabric clung to her body, revealing every curve, with a hint of pink lingerie visible underneath.

Mo Yichen’s breath caught in his throat, his eyes darkening. He quickly averted his gaze, found the invisible zipper of the white dress, and decisively pulled it down. In just a few seconds, he had removed her dress.

It was like peeling a lychee, revealing the tender, white flesh beneath, inviting one to taste.

Mo Yichen kept his gaze straight ahead, but out of the corner of his eye, he couldn’t help but notice the deep cleavage tightly wrapped in pink lace, which pressed together, forming a deep valley.

Such an impactful image inevitably made one want to explore the depth of this cleavage.

Though she was cold and wet, Mo Yichen felt a wave of heat surge through him, and a surge of desire began to form.

He wanted to put the new clothes on her, but before he could, she opened her eyes with difficulty, looking at him in shock and embarrassment.

“Mo, Mo Yichen, why are you taking off my clothes?” Zhu Jia’s voice was hoarse, and in an instant, her fair skin flushed bright red, like a shrimp with its shell peeled off.

She instinctively covered her chest, trying to hide, but it was pointless. Her attempt to conceal only made it more apparent.

Her panicked expression, combined with her embarrassed gaze, only made her more alluring in Mo Yichen’s eyes.

A dangerous excitement flashed in his eyes. He stared at her without hiding his desire, and beneath his cold exterior, the fiery passion within him was ready to break free.

Fortunately, the strange and frightening side of Mo Yichen only lasted for a few seconds. He quickly suppressed his overwhelming presence and returned to his usual composed, aristocratic gentleman demeanor.

“Change your clothes, or you’ll catch a cold,” he said, placing the new clothes beside Zhu Jia and standing up calmly, turning to leave the bedside.

Zhu Jia grasped the clothes tightly around herself. Could she have misunderstood? Mo Yichen’s actions were just out of concern for her health, right?

It must have been a mistake on her part. She shook her head, forcing the image of the unfamiliar Mo Yichen from earlier out of her mind.