C17 You Have Your Own Room
Qiao Yiyi scanned the room and asked, "You mentioned he would come here tonight?"
"Not here. You have your own room," Mo Siyu gestured invitingly. "Please, follow me."
A chilling basement flashed through Qiao Yiyi's mind, and she remained rooted to the spot.
Mo Siyu walked to the door, glanced back at her, and urged, "Come on!"
"I..." Qiao Yiyi licked her parched lips, "I'd rather stay here."
"This isn't the place for you," Mo Siyu reassured her with a smile. "Come now, you'll appreciate your own room."
After a brief hesitation, Qiao Yiyi decided to follow. Here, compliance meant avoiding hardship.
Mo Siyu led her upstairs. The staircase wound elegantly upward, with each level connected by a deep corridor that seemed to stretch into infinity, like the gaping maw of a beast ready to consume her.
Breathless from the climb, Qiao Yiyi wondered why such a wealthy household lacked an elevator.
At last, they arrived at the top floor. Mo Siyu brought her to a room at the end of the hallway, opened the door, and said, "See if it meets your approval. I decorated it myself."
Qiao Yiyi's mouth fell open in astonishment. The room was not the grim chamber she had envisioned but a cozy expanse of pink—bed, curtains, vanity, sofa—all bathed in the hue. The furniture was brand new, emitting a pleasant scent of wood.
"Do you like it?" Mo Siyu asked, her head tilted in a somewhat smug manner.
Qiao Yiyi was torn between amusement and dismay. Though she was a young girl, she wasn't overly fond of pink to such an extent. It felt a bit juvenile, and the color was straining her eyes. A light green would have been more restful, even beneficial for the eyes.
"It's fine," she nodded and stepped inside.
The air was laced with a subtle perfume. Qiao Yiyi noticed a large vase of vibrant flowers on a tall table, a mix of red, white, yellow, and purple blooms nestled among green foliage, strikingly beautiful.
She couldn't help but exclaim, "These flowers are truly gorgeous!"
"I planted it myself," Mo Siyu said with a smug look on her face.
Qiao Yiyi couldn't resist asking, "You're the eldest daughter of the Mo family. Why do you do everything yourself? Don't you have any maids?"
Mo Siyu gave a faint smile. "I enjoy being hands-on."
Alright then, Mo Xiling has a thing for women's scents, and Mo Siyu likes doing household chores. The rest of the Mo family people probably aren't too far off from normal either.
"Is Mo Xiling your older or younger brother?"
Mo Siyu sidestepped the question. "He is Patriarch Mo."
Qiao Yiyi tried a different angle. "Who was the one who took me from the dance last night?"
"Mo Qingze."
"And there was someone named Zinuo..."
"Mo Zinuo. He has a twin brother, Mo Ziyu, whom you'll meet later."
Qiao Yiyi was trying to understand the relationships among these people, but Mo Siyu clearly wasn't in the mood to elaborate. She walked over and opened the wardrobe. "I picked out these clothes. See anything you like?"
The wardrobe was filled with soft hues: predominantly pink, with splashes of yellow, orange, blue, green, and purple – all incredibly vibrant. The styles were cute with a hint of sexiness. Qiao Yiyi wasn't opposed to wearing them, but the sight of lace, frills, and bows left her feeling helpless.
Was Mo Siyu planning to dress her up like a sultry kitten for Mo Xiling?
"Don't like them?" Mo Siyu inquired, noticing Qiao Yiyi's furrowed brow.
"It's not that I don't like them," Qiao Yiyi admitted, "I'm just not used to wearing this type of clothing."
"What do you usually wear?"
"Jeans, shirts, or T-shirts."
"Xiling isn't fond of those. He thinks they lack femininity."
Gazing at the wardrobe full of clothes, Qiao Yiyi hesitantly asked, "I thought I was only staying for a few days. Why so many clothes?"
"A woman dresses to please," Mo Siyu said with a shrug. "You need to win Xiling's favor. Honestly, I'm not even sure what he prefers women to wear. It's best to be prepared."
Qiao Yiyi was left even more speechless. It was all the same style; what good was being prepared for that!
