The ride back to the mansion was cloaked in silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Lixue leaned her head back slightly, staring out at the passing city lights. The adrenaline from her performance had long faded, leaving behind a quiet exhaustion. Yet, beneath that, there was something else—a lingering warmth from the moment in Mo Ran's office, from the way he had looked at her, teased her, indulged her.
She exhaled softly, her fingers absentmindedly grazing the hem of the gown that still hugged her frame.
Mo Ran's gaze flickered toward her, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "Tired?"
Lixue turned her head slightly, meeting his eyes in the dim light of the car. "A little."
"You did well today." His voice was smooth, steady.
She scoffed lightly, turning her gaze back to the window. "I know."
Mo Ran chuckled, leaning back. "Confident, aren't you?"
"I wouldn't have stepped on that stage if I wasn't."
