Chapter 613: I Am a Gentleman

Chapter 613: Chapter 613: I Am a Gentleman

Shen Ningning’s showdown at the Ren residence made her an instant legend.

As she led Mo Lingwei away from the main hall, her head held high, Ren Er and Ren San stared at her as if they had seen a ghost, their eyes filled with utter terror and awe.

Only after they had gone did the thunder and lightning slowly dissipate from the sky above the Ren Mansion.

Ren Er’s husband, Zhao Lei, stared at Shen Ningning’s departing figure and murmured in astonishment, "She really is something else!"

Back in their room, Shen Ningning doubled over with laughter.

"Did you see their faces? One moment they were so smug, and the next they were all ashen-faced. I told you, we don’t need you to lift a finger to deal with them. A little trick from me is all it takes to scare the daylights out of them."

Mo Lingwei leaned against a nearby pillar with his arms crossed and chuckled softly. "A little trick? You can summon lightning with a single word. If you told them you were an immortal, they would have no choice but to believe you."

’At first, he had thought that if Shen Ningning were bullied, he would certainly have to intervene.’

’But now it seemed he wasn’t needed at all.’

’The Immortal Realm that Mrs. Shen had left her was truly a source of limitless power.’

"But what Ren San said just now made me think of something. Could the first wife’s death have something to do with Governor Ren? Is that why he’s so determined to hunt down and kill Ren Liuyue?"

Shen Ningning grew pensive after Mo Lingwei spoke.

The young woman rubbed her small, rounded chin thoughtfully. "It’s possible. When the lightning struck, their panic seemed tinged with the fear of a guilty conscience. Governor Ren might have really done something monstrous. But either way, Ren Liuyue was just a child when it happened. How could she know anything? What reason could he possibly have to go after her?"

Mo Lingwei lowered his gaze. "Tomorrow, I’ll leave the mansion and see if I can find some of Great General Peng’s deputy generals."

"Should I go with you?" Shen Ningning asked, blinking. A faint blush rose to her cheeks as she added, "After all... we’re a married couple in everyone else’s eyes. Wouldn’t it seem strange if we don’t go out together?"

Mo Lingwei raised a sharp eyebrow, a handsome smile playing on his lips. "It would be strange, yes. But it’s not a good idea to bring you along tomorrow. The two of us together would be too conspicuous. We should split up."

’That made sense.’

It was getting late. When a maid came in to prepare the bed for the night, it finally dawned on Shen Ningning.

’She and Mo Lingwei would have to share a bed tonight!’

After the maid withdrew, Mo Lingwei, already changed into his nightclothes, lay down on the bed with practiced ease, taking the outer side.

For Shen Ningning to get into bed, she would have to climb over him from the foot of the bed.

A blush crept across the young woman’s face. She stood a short distance from the bed, nervously twisting a lock of hair that had fallen across her chest, unsure whether to get into bed or stay where she was.

Mo Lingwei, however, was already lying on his side, propped up on one elbow, holding a book in his other hand.

He calmly lifted his gaze to her. "Aren’t you going to sleep?"

’He knew perfectly well why!’

Shen Ningning fidgeted with her fingers, her cheeks pink. "Where am I supposed to sleep?"

Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow, an amused look on his face. He set his book down and patted the empty space beside him.

"Where else?"

Shen Ningning’s face grew even redder as she hesitated.

Mo Lingwei sat up, crossing his arms and watching her with a relaxed air. "This is the Ren Mansion. There are maids on watch right outside the door. Wouldn’t it be a bit suspicious if a married couple slept separately?"

That was true, but... Shen Ningning stammered, "But we aren’t really married yet."

"It’s only a matter of time," Mo Lingwei replied nonchalantly.

Shen Ningning shot him a glare. Mo Lingwei just smiled and patted the space beside him again. "Come on. I’m not going to do anything. Besides, this wouldn’t be the place for it anyway."

Shen Ningning didn’t understand. "The place for what?"

Mo Lingwei didn’t answer, instead standing up. "Do you want me to ask the maids for another blanket?"

’That would be too obvious.’

Shen Ningning shook her head immediately. Seeing how calm Mo Lingwei was, she couldn’t help but scold herself for being so sensitive.

’This was all just part of the act, wasn’t it?’

She climbed onto the bed from the foot, scurried over to the inner side, and wrapped herself tightly in the quilt.

Mo Lingwei went to blow out the candles, plunging the room into darkness.

The sudden darkness was unsettling, and Shen Ningning tensed. "Why did you put out the lights?"

Mo Lingwei’s tall silhouette had already reached the bedside. "Are we supposed to sleep with the lights on?" he countered.

’That was a good point...’

’She felt so flustered she’d forgotten something so basic.’

She said no more. A rustling sound came from beside her as Mo Lingwei lay down as well.

The bed wasn’t large, and the sound of their breathing seemed incredibly close.

Shen Ningning closed her eyes, forcing herself to ignore the warmth radiating from the man beside her.

Suddenly, Mo Lingwei leaned closer.

In the darkness, Shen Ningning’s eyes flew open. By the moonlight filtering through the window, she saw Mo Lingwei tilting his head, watching her with that same relaxed amusement.

The dim room, his intimate gaze... The heat that had just subsided rushed back to her cheeks.

"What are you doing!" she asked, her voice tight with nerves.

"You’ve rolled up the entire quilt. What am I supposed to sleep under?" Mo Lingwei asked, raising an eyebrow. His tone was deceptively innocent.

Shen Ningning paused, then looked down. Sure enough, in her haste to scurry to her side of the bed, she had taken the entire quilt with her, wrapping herself up like a cocoon.

And Mo Lingwei was left with nothing.

The early autumn nights at the border were bound to be cold.

Shen Ningning quickly unwrapped herself and magnanimously offered him half of the quilt.

"Don’t you dare move any closer," she warned in a low voice.

Mo Lingwei agreed with a smile. In the darkness, he could see her eyes glittering, like those of a nervous kitten.

Lying side-by-side, sharing a single quilt, the space between them quickly grew warm from Mo Lingwei’s body heat.

Shen Ningning couldn’t fall asleep. Beside her, Mo Lingwei’s breathing was even; she couldn’t tell if he was already asleep or not.

She didn’t dare to turn over for fear of waking him.

"Actually," Mo Lingwei said suddenly in the darkness, his eyes still closed, "you don’t need to be so nervous. If I wanted to lose control, you wouldn’t be able to stop me. Besides, I’m more of a gentleman than you think. I won’t do anything inappropriate. You’re tired. Get some sleep."

His sincere words of reassurance made Shen Ningning slowly open her eyes, her long lashes fluttering as she peeked at him in the dark.

She mumbled, "I wasn’t worried about anything... But I am tired. Sweet dreams, then."

Reassured by Mo Lingwei’s words, Shen Ningning did indeed fall asleep quickly.

Only when he heard the sound of her steady breathing did Mo Lingwei open his eyes, wide awake. In the deep darkness of the night, they glinted like the eyes of a predator.

He turned his head, his gaze burning as he looked at Shen Ningning.

’This girl is far too trusting,’ he thought. ’It’s a good thing I’m the one lying next to her. Any other man, faced with such beauty, would find it impossible to remain still.’

Propping himself up, Mo Lingwei gently placed a kiss on the space between her eyebrows.

’I can’t touch her, but a little kiss should be all right, shouldn’t it?’

In her sleep, Shen Ningning seemed to stir. She furrowed her delicate brows and rolled over.

Mo Lingwei’s expression changed in an instant. He immediately lay back down, turned his back to her, and feigned being fast asleep.

Thankfully, the young woman didn’t wake. Breathing in her faint, sweet scent, Mo Lingwei soon fell asleep for real.

「The next morning」

Before Shen Ningning had even woken up, Mo Lingwei left the mansion alone.

The gatekeeper asked if he should arrange for servants to accompany him, but he declined.

Shen Ningning knew that although Mo Lingwei appeared to have left by himself, his Hidden Guards would be following close by. He would be safe.

After she woke up, she went directly to Mrs. Ren’s chambers.

’As the saying goes,’ she thought, ’the more someone fears you, the more you should flaunt yourself in front of them to make them even more afraid.’