"I don't think you're right," she denied, kissing him on his Adam's apple.
"What we can't have is often what we want most. Once we get it, we become satisfied, and then it's not as precious. If it's not precious, we won't cherish it."
"So, I believe love isn't meant to be acted upon. Once it is, the love fades."
...
She retorted with a serious face, and it seemed to hold some truth, yet not entirely.
"So, this is your reason for stringing me along all this time?"
She certainly understood men.
By consistently playing hard to get, she had him completely under her thumb.
Many people in life fall for this tactic. Otherwise, why would there be so many simps and knights charging forward for love in this world?
Undeniably, they are brave, even admirable.
It's just that the outcome for most is not satisfactory.
...
"I'm not stringing you along; I'm just trying to find ways to keep our feelings in the best possible state."
As she refused him, she shamelessly kissed him.
Yan Jue had never thought anything could torment him.
Except for Tang Xiaomin.
She was truly wicked, driving him almost insane.
After being so cautious for so many years, what was he striving for?
Soulmates were all a load of nonsense.
Right now, he just wanted to act like an animal and have his way with her thoroughly.
"Okay, I'll listen to you. I agree with everything."
Though he said it, his hands were already on her slender waist.
They were the only two people on the island. Her dress was backless, revealing snow-white, delicate skin, at his mercy.
"What are your hands doing?" Tang Xiaomin asked, like a startled fawn.
Sensing his dishonesty, she tried to pull away.
The next moment, the world spun, and she was pulled into his embrace.
A torrent of kisses rained down on her, wild and fervent.
Soon, she was breathless, her reason dissolving.
She had no strength left, like a soulless puppet, allowing him to do as he pleased, to devour her whole.
...
After a while, he whispered hoarsely in her ear.
"Let's go back."
She nestled in his arms, shyly and lazily saying, "Carry me, I can't walk."
Just a short period of kissing had made her legs weak.
She was so pathetic.
...
One moment, it was a sun-drenched island; the next, it was hit by a storm.
Inside the island's only villa, the atmosphere was passionate, completely detached from the outside world.
Unlike the last time, which felt like a defiant assertion of her purity.
The long-suppressed feelings in her heart found an outlet.
That night, she let herself go completely.
...
A week later, they returned.
Tang Xiaomin's mood had changed.
She brought gifts for her adoptive parents and bought two small outfits and toys for her nephew.
With Zhang Meiyu gone, she moved in with her adoptive parents.
She returned to her routine of school and work, everything back on track.
Life is a process of gradual loss. Family and friends drift away in the river of time.
Until the very end, even we lose ourselves.
...
During a talk show, a sharp-tongued host presented a meme video and posed a question to Sheng Mo.
"Sheng Mo, there are many prank videos of you circulating online. What are your thoughts after watching them?"
In the live broadcast, some viewers were already cursing.
"What kind of host is this, digging up someone's wounds? So rude."
"Would you die if you didn't ask that? As a host, is that the only question you can think of?"
"This host is doing it on purpose, confirmed."
"Sigh, my brother must be feeling awful right now. He's been slandered for so long, who can understand him?"
...
As the boss, Tang Ye sat in the audience, his face grim throughout.
"I will definitely get this host blacklisted."
"What's the point of blacklisting one host? You ban one, and there are thousands more waiting to laugh at Sheng Mo."
Shu Ya felt deep sympathy for Sheng Mo.
Had he done anything heinous?
He just danced a self-choreographed routine; netizens didn't need to go this far.
Tang Xiaomin also attended, feeling helpless about the situation.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. It depends on how Sheng Mo handles it."
Just as everyone was waiting to see Sheng Mo get angry or sad.
Sheng Mo's subsequent statement was a huge disappointment.
He first watched the prank video intently and then offered his serious critique.
"First of all, this video is quite entertaining."
"Oh? How so?"
"As an entertainment video, if it can bring joy to people, then the video becomes very meaningful."
"However, the production of this video is a bit rough. If it could be improved and refined, I think the effect would be better." — Sudan Novel Network
"Therefore, I'd like to take this opportunity to urge everyone to be a bit more diligent when making videos next time."
"What!!!"
It's one thing if he's not angry, but why is he making fun of himself?
This...
Everyone was dumbfounded and utterly confused.
The host was completely stunned.
"Sheng Mo, what did you mean by what you just said?"
"Exactly what it sounds like."
...
Tang Xiaomin in the audience smiled and gave Sheng Mo a thumbs-up, showing her approval.
Walk the path of the haters, and leave no path for the haters.
As soon as the show finished recording, good news followed.
"Xiaomin, Xiaomin! A well-known international brand just called. They want Sheng Mo to be their brand ambassador next quarter."
"Sheng Mo's videos have gone viral internationally, attracting the attention of many global brands."
Shu Ya jumped for joy, happier than if she had won the lottery.
"Xiaomin, this is my first job!"
"Sheng Mo is famous, do you know what that means?"
"I'm also becoming a well-known agent, thanks to him."
...
In this era of the internet, anything is possible.
Tang Xiaomin patted Shu Ya's shoulder.
"Keep up the good work. You're cut out for this. Work hard with Tang Ye in the future, and I believe this company can reach new heights."
"What about you?"
Tang Xiaomin shook her head.
"Compared to the entertainment industry, I still prefer my profession as an embalmer."
"Alright, to each their own."
"I've always been curious, why are you so good to Sheng Mo? Without you, he wouldn't be where he is today."
Why is she so good to Sheng Mo?
Nothing happens without a reason.
"His profile resembles someone very much."
"Who?"
Tang Xiaomin smiled.
"That's a secret."
...