At the night market, Lauren Shaw knocked back cold beer and munched happily on skewers. She couldn’t be more carefree at that moment.

“Did you feel out of place at tonight’s dinner?” Yancy Shaw had picked up on her thoughts.

Though she’d kept a polite smile on her face all night, the troubled look in her eyes was hard to hide.

Yancy Shaw always seemed to read her better than anyone else.

Lauren Shaw paused, her smile faltering. In truth, she’d seen at the banquet just how far she still had to go compared to those international designers—she had plenty of room to grow.

“It wasn’t so bad. It’s just that I hardly knew anyone.” Lauren Shaw spoke her mind. As a newcomer to the design scene, she would have to take things slowly and prove her strength through her work.

It takes time to blend into a new circle. There’s no point in rushing it.

After their fill, they headed home.

The beer had left Lauren Shaw’s head spinning, and when they got to the car, she simply refused to get out, acting a little spoiled.

Yancy Shaw unfastened her seatbelt, and she squinted at him, pouting, “You have to call me ‘fairy’ or I’m not getting out.”

Yancy Shaw had seen Lauren Shaw drunk before, but this playful side of her was a rare treat.

A little unreasonable, but also utterly adorable—he liked her in all her moods.

He humored her and said, “Fairy, please get out of the car.”

Lauren Shaw shook her head, full of petulance. “Fairies have to be carried out.”

Yancy Shaw could only smile helplessly. He bent over and scooped her up, and Lauren Shaw grinned mischievously, throwing her arms around his neck.

In the elevator, she stared at his perfect profile. Truly, Yancy Shaw’s face was exactly her type—handsome from every angle, not a single flaw. The more she looked, the harder her heart thumped.

Especially seeing him this close, she felt a surge of boldness.

She held tight to his neck, leaned close, and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Yancy Shaw, holding her in his arms, tensed up at once. He lowered his gaze, his deep voice coming out husky, “Sheng Sheng, don’t tempt me. We’re still in public—I might not be able to control myself.”

After stepping out of the elevator, Yancy Shaw practically rushed home. He opened the door, shut it behind him with his foot, and wasted no time before carrying her straight to the sofa.

He sat down with Lauren Shaw straddling his lap, kissing her like she was the most precious thing in the world.

Lost in each other, they didn’t notice someone else was home until—

“Ahem, ahem…” A cough broke the spell, sending Lauren Shaw diving into Yancy Shaw’s arms, startled.

Yancy Shaw shot a dark look over to find Ms. Chen awkwardly standing at the bedroom door. Her smile was frozen, and she let out a stiff chuckle. “Heh, don’t mind me. Uh, just pretend I’m not here, keep going.”

Lauren Shaw was mortified. She wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole.

Ms. Chen was just as flustered. She hadn’t known whether to stay or go.

She hadn’t meant to interrupt them—how could she have guessed they’d be in such a rush, getting started on the couch the moment they walked in, not even checking who else was home?

At her age, stumbling on a scene like this was seriously embarrassing.

Yancy Shaw tucked his coat higher over Lauren Shaw’s shoulders, covering the exposed skin.

“Mom, you could’ve warned me you were coming.”

A heads-up would’ve spared everyone this awkwardness.

Ms. Chen hadn’t come to crash their party. “I had a fight with your dad tonight. I just wanted to come talk with Sheng Sheng. I was about to call you when you two walked in.”

No need to spell out the rest—the awkwardness was self-explanatory.

Lauren Shaw wrapped herself tighter in her coat, cheeks flushed as she looked at Ms. Chen. “Mom, you all carry on. I’m going to shower first.”

With that, she bolted into the bedroom.

Her whole face was red with embarrassment—even her neck and ears were burning.

Ms. Chen, seeing her like that, turned to the unbothered Yancy Shaw on the sofa. “Is Sheng Sheng feeling okay? Her face is so red. Is she feverish?”

Yancy Shaw cleared his throat. “She’s fine. Nothing to worry about.”

That put Ms. Chen at ease—her son was a doctor, after all, he’d know better than her.

“Mom, you should get some rest,” Yancy Shaw said, getting up to head to the bedroom. Ms. Chen grabbed his arm.

“Wait, I need to ask—does your second brother like men or women?”

Ms. Chen had agonized over this question for ages. Tonight she’d finally seen a woman at his side, but he hadn’t spared the girl a single glance, leaving her to cool her heels—enough to make any mother anxious.

“You’d be better off asking him directly,” Yancy Shaw replied, leaving her to stew as he went into the bedroom.

Staring at the closed door, Ms. Chen fumed. “If he’d talk, would I be asking you? All you Shen men have such terrible tempers!”

Inside, Lauren Shaw’s blush still hadn’t faded. When Yancy Shaw entered, she was mortified all over again.

“Did Mom say anything just now?” She’d been practically wrapped around him on the sofa. As a young couple, they were used to having the place to themselves, so Ms. Chen’s unexpected visit had completely caught her off guard.

Yancy Shaw ruffled her hair, laughing softly. “We’re home. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Lauren Shaw’s eyes sparkled. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Just now, I didn’t get enough kisses.”

“Where do you want to kiss?” Yancy Shaw’s voice was low and seductive, drifting right by her ear.

She knew he was teasing. Her gaze was mischievous. “Where do you want me to kiss?”

Yancy Shaw leaned in and whispered his wishes in her ear.

Lauren Shaw blushed, half annoyed, half shy, and bit his neck.

He didn’t dodge, tipping his chin up so she could nibble as she pleased.

Lauren Shaw wasn’t about to stop—spurred on by the alcohol, her hands wandered boldly. Compared to before, she really was getting more skillful at this sort of thing.

Yancy Shaw caught her roaming hand, his voice husky. “Sheng Sheng, don’t get carried away.”

“No,” Lauren Shaw retorted, rebellious tonight, intent on teasing him for once—he always turned the tables on her.

Yancy Shaw was burning up with desire, her scent curling around him. He gripped her slim waist.

Lauren Shaw’s fingers traced lazy circles around his Adam’s apple, then danced across his lower stomach, teasing relentlessly. She really was getting bolder by the day.

A click—the sound of a belt being unfastened, as Lauren Shaw’s hand slipped further down, as if beyond her control…

Yancy Shaw seized her hand, then rolled over to pin her beneath him.

Her expensive gown—designed to drape off the shoulders—had already slipped down on one side from all the movement, revealing much more than it was meant to.

Yancy Shaw swallowed hard, unable to help himself.

Lauren Shaw’s eyes were hazy and innocent as she gazed up at him. The look in her eyes threatened to undo him completely.