Choose for Yourself

After dinner, Wan Qing returned to the dressing room.

Though she dreaded confronting the aftermath, her academics left her no choice but to face it.

The faint trace of intimacy still lingered in the air, making her want to crawl out of her own skin. Gritting her teeth, she cleaned up the dressing table, sorted her books, and made a list of the damaged ones to hand over to Mu Tianyang.

An hour later, Ah Hua arrived with a fresh stack of books, pristine and untouched.

"Thank you," Wan Qing glanced at the clock—it was nine o'clock. Not too late, since many bookstores stayed open until past ten.

"I'll take my leave now," Ah Hua said, turning toward Mu Tianyang for further instructions.

"Go ahead." Mu Tianyang, sitting on the sofa with a newspaper in hand, didn't even lift his head. Once Ah Hua left the living room, Mu Tianyang suddenly asked, "Why aren't you wearing your watch?"

Wan Qing looked down at the digital watch on her wrist and hesitated, recalling the Vacheron Constantin he had given her. Nervously, she said, "It's too extravagant to wear to school."

Mu Tianyang frowned and let out a cold chuckle. "Perhaps I should transfer you to an elite school! A place filled with rich heiresses—everyone wearing Vacheron Constantin or Cartier. Not wearing it would make you feel out of place."

Wan Qing forced a stiff smile and quickly picked up her books from the coffee table. "I'll go do my homework now..."

Mu Tianyang tossed aside his newspaper. "Come with me."

Her heart sank. Was he planning something again? But what choice did she have? No matter the challenge, she couldn't defy him. She followed him cautiously into his study.

The study was vast, exuding a stern and composed style. The towering bookshelves on either side, combined with the black desk in the center, created an oppressive atmosphere that made her feel breathless.

Mu Tianyang gestured toward the desk. "Sit there. There's space on the shelves—find a spot for your things, but don't mess with mine."

"Understood." Wan Qing clutched her books tightly to her chest.

"Still standing there? Don't you have assignments due tomorrow?"

Wan Qing scrambled to the desk, setting her books down. Aside from a computer and a pen holder, the desk was impeccably neat.

"I..." She pointed toward the door. "I still have some books out there."

"Then hurry up!" Mu Tianyang glared at her.

She quickly ran out, collected the rest of her belongings, and returned.

By then, Mu Tianyang was seated at the desk, his computer already open.

Wan Qing hesitated, unsure where to sit. Though the desk was spacious, his presence was overpowering. The moment he sat there, it felt as though the entire desk belonged to him, shrinking to the size of a mere playing card in his domain.

"Over here," Mu Tianyang tapped the spot to his left. "Don't block my light."

Wan Qing moved to the indicated spot with her books in hand. Thankfully, there were additional chairs in the study. She grabbed one and sat down, opening her workbook to begin her assignments.

But with Mu Tianyang so close, she couldn't focus. Anxiety gnawed at her, and she found herself stealing glances at him every now and then.

Noticing her fidgeting, Mu Tianyang raised his head. "What's the matter? Do you want me to take you right here?"

"You—!" Wan Qing nearly fainted from shock. How could he say such a thing? Her face turned crimson with embarrassment, and tears of frustration welled up in her eyes.

"If you don't want me to, stop looking at me."

Biting her lip, Wan Qing finally said, "I can't concentrate with you here!"

"Why not?"

"It's... It's the noise of your typing. It's too loud."

Mu Tianyang's gaze turned icy. "The kids next door are practicing piano scales, and you don't hear them complaining! If you can't handle this, then you have two choices—focus on your work, or let me have you. Choose!"

Terrified, Wan Qing trembled slightly, hurriedly picking up her pen. Lowering her head, she forced herself to focus on the problems before her.