Chapter 21: The Shock Collar Is Removed

For the past two days, Xia Yuan had stayed at Yuxiang Mansion, where she spent her time playing the piano, writing lyrics, and learning how to make cakes.

Qin Mohuai’s birthday was approaching, right after National Day.

On a tranquil night, Xia Yuan received a call from Zhou Mao, who was thrilled to inform her that the song “Rainy Days” had topped all major music charts.

Zhou Mao, excited, asked, “Yuan Yuan, can I request a few more lyrics from you?”

Xia Yuan replied, “Sure. But love songs aren’t my specialty, so I can’t guarantee how well the next one will do.”

There was a brief silence from Zhou Mao.

That was quite a humblebrag!

“Yuan Yuan, as long as the lyrics come from you, I’ll sing them!”

After chatting a bit more, Zhou Mao hesitantly asked, “Are you at home?”

She was referring to whether Qin Mohuai was there.

Xia Yuan replied, “I’m not at Shenghai Manor. I’m staying elsewhere for a couple of days due to some matters. Is there something you need from Qin Mohuai?”

Zhou Mao said, “No, no, it’s just…”

She wanted to be friends with Xia Yuan rather than just maintaining a business relationship. However, as a friend, she felt uncomfortable directly reporting Qin Mohuai’s whereabouts, fearing it might stir up trouble.

After some hesitation, Zhou Mao finally said, “Someone saw Mr. Qin at a nightclub. Do you know if he went there?”

At this point, a bodyguard entered with dinner, and Xia Yuan signaled for him to stay.

“Thank you for letting me know, Mao.”

After hanging up, Xia Yuan stared at the bodyguard with clear, bright eyes, as if no filth could hide from her gaze.

“Today is the anniversary of Qin Mohuai’s parents. During this time every year, his temperament changes drastically. He becomes unrecognizable. I thought his madness meant wild partying at a bar. Qin Qi, am I right?”

Qin Qi was the name of the bodyguard in front of her.

Qin Qi quickly shook his head, “Mr. Qin’s behavior varies each year. The year before last, he almost crashed off a cliff while speeding. The year before that, he nearly demolished the old residence. The year before that, he disappeared for an entire night… Mr. Qin seems to be partying, but he’s actually very sad and needs some stimulating activities to distract him.”

Xia Yuan reluctantly accepted his explanation until she saw a video Zhou Mao sent.

In the video, the man was unmistakably Qin Mohuai, dressed in blue work pants and a white tank top, the middle section damp and sticking tightly to his abs. His unruly gray-blue hair covered his brows, and he had a lollipop or cigarette in his mouth. He looked nothing like the refined, elegant man in a suit. Instead, he wore a roguish grin, exuding a carefree and seasoned aura.

The ten-second video looped many times on Xia Yuan’s screen, and the bodyguard naturally saw it too.

Xia Yuan set aside the tablet and ate her dinner with a blank expression.

System: “The affection value for the deranged male lead hasn’t dropped, but that doesn’t mean it won’t. What are you planning to do?”

Xia Yuan chewed on her beef vigorously. “Honestly, I don’t know what to do.”

Worried, Qin Qi stepped aside to make a discreet phone call, but he couldn’t reach Qin Mohuai.

He tried calling his contacts, and while he got through, the noise from the nightclub made it impossible to hear clearly. Qin Qi didn’t dare to speak loudly, so after a brief and confusing conversation, he ended the call.

Seeing Xia Yuan put down her chopsticks, Qin Qi, steeling himself, said, “No matter what happens tonight, please stay indoors. Mr. Qin will come to get you in the morning.”

Xia Yuan calmly replied, “I don’t plan to go out.”

Qin Qi was taken aback. “Huh?”

---

Qin Qi scratched his head, feeling that tonight wouldn’t end so smoothly.

After Xia Yuan finished her bath, she turned on Fatal Women and watched the episode where Beth Ann plotted to kill her cheating husband.

At that moment, the doorbell rang.

Xia Yuan, sitting at the bar with her fair, slender legs crossed, looked calmly towards the door.

Qin Qi had been gone for a while, and he was used to knocking rather than ringing the bell.

If it wasn’t Qin Qi, who could it be at this hour?

It could be a neighbor. She had never seen any neighbors in Yuxiang Mansion during her previous stays.

But she was in no mood to greet any neighbors, so she turned her attention back to the tablet.

The knocking in the show and the knocking at the door seemed to overlap.

The persistent knocking at the door forced Xia Yuan to pause the TV show and check the security camera at the entrance.

Seeing someone on the camera, Qin Mohuai looked towards the lens and smiled gently, “Wife, open the door.”

What was he doing here?

Xia Yuan furrowed her brows.

Qin Qi had told her to go to bed early and not to open the door for Qin Mohuai, but now Qin Mohuai was here, dressed in a suit, looking like his wild nightclub antics were a thing of the past.

Tch.

Xia Yuan pretended to be asleep and didn’t open the door. His expression and voice were off.

System: “Aren’t you trying to redeem the male lead during his breakdown?”

Xia Yuan shivered, “He’s too strange right now. I can’t handle this.”

System: “Take a chance—sometimes risks lead to rewards! Open the door and let him in; it might boost his affection for you.”

Xia Yuan was already comfortably lying in bed.

System: “…”

Lazy girl!

However, Xia Yuan didn’t sleep soundly. She dreamed of Qin Mohuai cheating and heard knocking noises. Parched, she groggily got up to drink water. Usually, she just needed to tap Qin Mohuai’s chest, and he would get her water without her having to open her eyes or get up. Her sleep quality was usually good.

But now that Qin Mohuai was outside acting crazily, Xia Yuan had to get up herself. As she lifted the covers, she seemed to see Qin Mohuai sitting at the edge of the bed. It must have been a nightmare, as she was the only one who knew the password to the front door, and Qin Mohuai couldn’t get in.

Until Xia Yuan finished drinking water, Qin Mohuai embraced her from behind, his veins bulging as he gripped her delicate neck. Xia Yuan let out a short, panicked scream.

Under the dim orange light of the bedside lamp, Xia Yuan saw Qin Mohuai’s sinister, smiling eyes. His arms around her upper body felt like an iron barrel, and his gray-blue hair brushed against her nightgown, tickling her soft flesh.

Xia Yuan was startled, scared, and itchy. Her fair legs struggled to get away but only brushed against the black trousers of the man.

Qin Mohuai caressed her smooth calf, pulling her to his waist. His voice was husky and hot, “Why didn’t you open the door for me?”

“Why should I open the door for you? You know what you’ve done!”

Xia Yuan was spoiled by Qin Mohuai. Although she knew the task was important, she couldn’t let go of her resentment.

Qin Mohuai pressed his forehead against hers, his anger subdued, pleading softly, “Sorry, baby. I’m not in the right state of mind right now, and I’m not sure what I did. Please don’t make a fuss, just be with me…”

Xia Yuan firmly said, “I, won’t.”

Curiously, she touched the black collar around Qin Mohuai’s neck. What was this thing?

With the correct fingerprint, the electric shock collar was unlocked.

Qin Qi and others arrived at the mansion and saw the door was open. He thought something was wrong.

Qin Mohuai must have figured out the door code, but it was alright because he was wearing the shock collar. Xia Yuan should be safe.

Just as Qin Qi was about to close the door, he heard Xia Yuan’s scream.

Oh no!

Could it be that Qin Mohuai’s shock collar was removed?!