At this moment, Chen Mo recalled the lines from Bai Juyi’s "Song of Everlasting Regret": "With cloud-like hair and flower-like face, beneath the gold-tasseled hairpin, in the warm hibiscus tent, they spent the spring night. The spring night was pitifully short, and when the sun rose high, the monarch neglected his morning court." From after eight in the morning until nearly one in the afternoon, the two had slept in each other’s arms.
Chen Mo looked at the petals of innocence scattered on the sheets and the lingering tear tracks at the corners of He Yushui’s eyes, and a wave of tenderness washed over him. He pulled He Yushui into his embrace and drifted back to sleep.
They did not wake until after five in the afternoon.
Chen Mo discovered that his cultivation base had broken through from Level 7 Meridian Opening to Level 8. As it turned out, his time with Xiao Qiao in the secret realm had also boosted his progress significantly; it seemed that such intimate acts were indeed effective for improving one's cultivation base.
He Yushui stirred and woke up. Seeing Chen Mo’s face mere inches from her own, her pretty face flushed a deep red.
"You must be hungry. Let me take you out for something to eat," Chen Mo said softly.
"Mmm. Oh!"
As He Yushui tried to sit up, she winced in pain.
"It’s all your fault," He Yushui pouted playfully.
Chen Mo saw that if she tried to walk in her current state, it would be all too obvious to others. He smiled and said, "Don't worry, let me help you."
"Oh, don't—"
A few minutes later, He Yushui realized the pain was gone and her gait was back to normal. Chen Mo had naturally used his abilities to heal her.
"Brother Chen Mo, you can't abandon me. You’re the only family I have left now," He Yushui said, hugging him with a look of vulnerability.
"Silly girl, how could I ever abandon you? In a few years, we’ll get our marriage certificate."
"Mmm, I believe you. Oh, wait—could I have... could I be pregnant?"
"Rest assured, I’ve calculated it; today is safe," Chen Mo said with a mischievous grin.
"Hmph, you just love teasing me." He Yushui held him and playfully bit his shoulder.
"Don't stay at your school dorms tomorrow. I'll pick you up after class and you can stay here," Chen Mo said gently.
"Mmm." He Yushui nodded; she certainly had no objections. Now that Brother Chen Mo was her man, Yu Haitang would definitely not be able to snatch him away. Besides, after the sweetness they had shared, she naturally wanted to be with him every single day.
The two dressed, tidied their hair, and headed out together, going straight to Donglaishun.
As they ordered several plates of mutton, Chen Mo noticed Xu Damao not far away, chatting quite happily with a woman who looked like a young widow. Because Xu Damao’s back was turned, he didn't notice Chen Mo and He Yushui.
"Brother Chen Mo, that looks like Xu Damao. Why is he eating with another woman? Isn't he afraid Lou Xiaoe will find out?" He Yushui whispered.
"Heh, it might just be a relative of his family, who knows?"
Chen Mo suspected this woman was Li Chunhua, the widow Xu Damao had mentioned. Had he not run into her here, he would have almost forgotten the matter entirely.
"I don't think so," He Yushui replied.
"Never mind them, let's eat our own meal." Chen Mo swished some mutton in the pot and placed it in He Yushui’s bowl before starting to eat himself.
...
Not long after, Xu Damao and the widow Li Chunhua finished their meal and walked out together. Chen Mo saw them exchanging flirtatious glances; they were likely heading to a hotel to get a room. The thought of this woman being the one intended for Shazhu made Chen Mo find the situation rather amusing.
"Yushui, what do you think about setting your brother up with someone?" Chen Mo remarked casually.
"No chance," He Yushui replied without hesitation. "As long as Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huiru are around, they will definitely sabotage any matchmaking attempts for my fool of a brother."
"What if we introduced him to a widow who already has children?" Chen Mo asked.
"I don't care about his business. He’d be better off staying a bachelor for life. But as long as it stops Qin Huiru and Yi Zhonghai from getting their way, even marrying a widow would be fine," He Yushui said.
Chen Mo’s mouth twitched; it seemed He Yushui’s penchant for sabotaging her own brother ran deep.
"Here is what I’m thinking," Chen Mo said. "Yi Zhonghai views Jia Dongxu as his retirement plan and Shazhu as his backup. He clearly intends for Jia Dongxu to provide for him, yet he brainwashes Shazhu into supporting the Jia Family, all while Yi Zhonghai himself doesn't spend a single cent. His calculations are truly ruthless."
"Shazhu is oblivious and heartless toward himself; the moment he sees that woman, Qin Huiru, he loses all sense of reason. If things continue this way, Shazhu will likely end up childless, drained dry by the Jia Family and Yi Zhonghai for the rest of his life."
"In that case, we might as well arrange for him to be with a widow who has a strong personality but is eager to settle down. Once Shazhu takes a liking to her and they get married, the schemes of Yi Zhonghai and the Jia Family will fall to nothing. At the very least, Shazhu will have a wife, and it would be even better if they had children."
As she listened to Chen Mo’s analytical persuasion, He Yushui’s eyes widened. She thought it over carefully and realized it was actually a brilliant idea. She didn't want Shazhu to remain a blood bag for Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huiru. Even though she felt utterly disappointed and desperate regarding her own brother, they were still siblings by blood. Furthermore, her heart was now entirely with Chen Mo, and she trusted whatever he said. She felt that doing this would truly be for the best for Shazhu, and it would serve as a way to get back at those "animals"—truly killing two birds with one stone.
"But, Brother Chen Mo, where would we find someone like that?" He Yushui asked.
"You don't need to worry about that. I’m only afraid you’ll blame me later."
"How could I blame you? You’re doing this for my brother’s own good. Even though my brother used to give you so much trouble, you’re still helping him. You’re such a good person."
Chen Mo felt quite pleased internally.
"Rest assured, I’ll definitely find your brother a widow who can keep an eye on him, so he can wake up to reality and turn over a new leaf," Chen Mo said with a smile.
"Mmm, Brother Chen Mo, you’re so good to me." He Yushui felt so happy; Brother Chen Mo was thinking of her in every aspect.
Back at the Courtyard, Secretary Li and Director Yang’s wife realized Chen Mo hadn't returned all day. Seeing how late it was, they had no choice but to leave. Chen Mo would surely go to work tomorrow, so they could just find him at the Rolling Mill then.
After dinner, Chen Mo and He Yushui returned to the Courtyard. He Yushui went straight to her own room; she had experienced the happiness of being a woman for the first time today, and it still felt like a dream. Out of a sense of guilty shyness, she didn't go to Chen Mo’s place.
Chen Mo returned to working on his *Common People's Medical Manual*. He had poured his heart into this book, as it would be his key to earning a massive amount of merit points.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
At around nine in the evening, there was a knock at his door. He assumed it was He Yushui missing him, wanting to be coddled. However, when he opened the door, he found Xu Damao standing there.