Chapter 16 Intentional

A faint scent of cologne lingered on his suit, the fabric smooth to the touch, exquisitely crafted, and fitting him perfectly. Lily of the Valley could tell it was custom-made; nowadays, tailored suits had become the preferred choice of successful people like him.

She glanced sideways at the man standing before the window. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets as he gazed at the slowly fading graffiti on the glass. Retracting his gaze, he turned around. Their eyes met, and he arched an eyebrow, lips curling slightly, his gaze lingering on her with a subtle, inscrutable meaning. With a practiced motion, he retrieved a cigarette case, a Givenchy lighter, and a refined gold-edged card holder from his pocket.

Lily of the Valley understood and asked, "Mr. Mo, you’re playing golf this afternoon. Shall I prepare your clothes?" Her lips parted, her voice gentle and flowing, like water rippling through the air. She looked at him cautiously, awaiting his reply.

Mo Zhicheng tugged at his tie, bent his head to unfasten his cufflinks, and answered softly, "Mm." Only then did Lily of the Valley turn around and gently inspect the wardrobe, preparing his clothes. "Mr. Mo, would you prefer lighter tones or something darker?" As she spoke again, she heard the soft knock of the door. She glanced over and saw Mo Zhicheng step into the shower, followed by the sound of running water.

Her gaze drifted to his desk, settling on the card holder. She walked over quietly; Mo Zhicheng always carried it with him, and inside should be the contacts for the most important connections in Night City. As she reached out, she glanced warily at the shower. The frosted glass reflected the silhouette of the man inside. She held her breath, fingers frozen midair. Mo Zhicheng was so guarded—would he really leave something crucial out in the open? Or was this a deliberate test? Lily of the Valley bit her lip, her slender fingers curling inward. She couldn’t rush this. She glanced at the card holder one last time before turning away to finish arranging his clothes.

The water stopped not far away.

She selected a set of clothes, folded them neatly, and placed them gently on the European-style chaise lounge. She could hear footsteps approaching from behind. Without turning, she said, "Mr. Mo, I picked out a dark-colored set of casual wear for you. Is that suitable?"

Bending down, she returned to the wardrobe. Her uniform was a fitted pencil skirt, so she moved carefully, her posture graceful, accentuating her elegant curves. Her fingers brushed over a row of simple, stylish sneakers, and something caught her eye. As she reached for a minimalist pair, the man had already bent down, his fingertips brushing lightly across her cheek, warm and fragrant from the shower, like a reptile's subtle touch. Lily of the Valley froze for a moment; Mo Zhicheng stood behind her.

She glanced sideways, catching the damp, tousled strands of his hair, beads of water clinging to his forehead. His deep eyes seemed to cut through a thin mist, clear and dark as lacquer.

His fingers continued, picking out a pair with laces, murmuring, "You don’t know my preference?"

"Mr. Mo, please tell me," Lily of the Valley replied, turning her head.

"Laces," Mo Zhicheng said offhandedly.

She immediately understood. Mo Zhicheng turned away, placed the shoes next to the clothes, and grabbed a white towel, carelessly drying his wet hair. He spoke in a low voice, "If you have nothing else, you can go downstairs—" His words emerged just as she was about to stand up.

Lily of the Valley paused, facing Mo Zhicheng. She said softly, "Then I’ll leave you to rest, Mr. Mo."

"Mm."

She exited the lounge, letting out a quiet sigh, and glanced back through the gap in the door at the man inside, lost in thought.