…
Long Fengxi took a long shower, applied her makeup with care, and stood before her wardrobe, selecting and reselecting until she finally chose the outfit she was most pleased with.
By 6:45, she was already waiting at the door.
He arrived at 6:50—not too late to keep her waiting long.
"I thought you wouldn't come out until after seven."
"I had dinner and decided to take a walk… lost track of time."
Shen Congmo gave her a smile, said nothing more, and drove her straight to Qinyuan.
He didn't stop until they pulled into the private drive of a villa.
"I've already bought the house. The interior design is exactly to my taste—though I'm curious what you'll think. The furnishings are all in place. Go have a look, see if it suits you."
"I'm not living with you."
"This is my marital home. If you won't live here with me, would you rather some other woman move in instead?"
She pushed open the car door and stepped out, saying nothing more.
The moment she stepped inside, her heart stirred with emotion. As expected, their tastes in decor were perfectly aligned.
She loved the house.
"How much was it?"
"Sixty million."
"That's outrageously expensive." Long Fengxi went upstairs to look at the other rooms. When she reached the master bedroom, her eyes widened. "Why is the bed so enormous?"
He swept her into his arms from behind, murmuring against her ear, "So we can roll around all night without falling off."
Long Fengxi struggled. "Let go…"
Instead of releasing her, he pressed her against the wall and kissed her with reckless, possessive fervor. She was his addiction—one taste, and he could never stop.
Her limbs grew soft, and she had to lean into him just to stay upright.
"Congmo…"
"Don't push me away, Fengxi. I want to be with you every day from now on—never apart again."
"Mmm…"
More than a week passed from the search for a compatible donor to the arrival of hopeful news.
The match was a married woman suffering from cervical cancer.
When Long Yubei received the update, he finally exhaled a long breath of relief. Had He Meiwei not been his ex, had she not once been in love with him, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths.
The moment she learned a compatible match had been found, He Meiwei's desire to live surged. She was so overwhelmed with joy she could hardly speak.
"I really… really… have a chance at life again?"
"Yes. The doctors are finalizing the timing of the surgery. Once everything's confirmed, you'll be operated on. I've already negotiated with the donor's side."
Tears of gratitude streamed down her face. "Thank you… thank you so much…"
"There's no need. I told you—if I could help, I would."
"But…" her voice wavered, "what if this transplant ends up like the last one, with severe rejection symptoms…"
"This time the compatibility index is high. You'll be in the hands of the best specialists. Everything should go smoothly. Now, get some rest. I'll be heading home."
"Mr. Long, could you stay and talk a while longer?" Though her voice was weak, the joy in her eyes made them shine. "I lie here day after day, with no one to talk to…"
"I've already spoken with your doctors. They'll schedule the operation soon. You need rest more than anything. Besides, I told Lili I'd return home right away."
As she watched him walk away, He Meiwei felt as if something lodged in her throat—neither swallowable nor escapable.
Lili. Lili. Always Lili.
Every visit, without fail, he brought up his wife's name.
How long had it even been since they met and married?
Could their passion really be burning this fiercely?
Hotter than any honeymoon?
He could have been her husband. He should have been.
But now, that woman had stolen everything that might have been hers.
How could she possibly accept that?
She would never accept it—not even in death.