115: Chapter 216 Sweet Disguise and Undercurrents of Suspicion

The morning light completely dispelled the last traces of the secret affair in the villa.

Yu Bo sat in the car heading to the company, the window half-open, letting the cool morning breeze brush against his cheek. He rubbed the space between his eyebrows, trying to temporarily disperse the chaotic images in his mind—Tang Guo's blurred eyes, Shen Nian's obsessive kisses, and Yin Tianxue's clear, trusting smile. His phone screen was lit, showing a message sent by Yin Tianxue a few minutes ago: a concept map the hospital's design team had rushed out overnight. The lines were smooth, full of playfulness and hope, with a note: "Hubby, look! The first draft of the children's rehabilitation area! Doesn't it look like a fairy tale castle? I'll tell you more when you get back!"

His lips curled up unconsciously, his gaze tender, as he quickly replied: "Baby, you're amazing! The idea is brilliant! I'll reward you well when I get back tonight." He clicked send and switched back to the calm, composed, and calculating CEO Yu mode.

The morning meeting was about the progress of the first batch of surgeries for the "smile project." He efficiently listened to the report from the medical team's liaison, finalizing the surgery schedule, expert invitations, and contract details for VIP wards and special care. Funds were transferred from the investment company under his name, smooth and unimpeded. Under the bright lights of the conference room, he was a reliable, generous, and highly efficient philanthropist and entrepreneur in everyone's eyes.

During the lunch break, he was alone in his office and lit a cigarette. Amidst the swirling smoke, he tapped on an unsaved number in his phone and sent a short message: "Going over tonight." Soon, Shen Nian replied with a charming emoji and a sentence: "Waiting for you, hubby~ miss you."

Yu Bo stared at the word "hubby," his gaze cold. Shen Nian's obsession carried a refined calculation, different from Tang Guo's desperate purity. He needed to maintain this relationship like a dangerous balance beam. Shen Nian was one end of the beam, providing the temptation of a mature body and a distorted proof of "being needed." But he knew clearly that this end couldn't be too heavy.

In the afternoon, he personally went to inspect the plot of land recommended by Tang Guo's friend. The location, environment, and transportation were indeed as ideal as Tang Guo had said. He took photos and videos, sent them to Yin Tianxue, and copied Tang Guo at the same time.

Yin Tianxue called back quickly, her voice as excited as a little bird: "Hubby! That land is great! It's so quiet around there, and there's a small park! Guoguo really helped a lot this time!"

Listening to her cheerful voice, the slight guilt from the morning pricked Yu Bo's heart like a fine needle again, but it was soon covered by her joy. "Yeah, thanks to Guoguo. I've looked into it; the procedures and price are negotiable. Have the team produce a detailed evaluation report as soon as possible, and I'll arrange for someone here to follow up."

"Okay! By the way, hubby, Guoguo seemed a bit unwell this afternoon, so I let her rest at home. Are you coming back for dinner tonight? I've stewed the soup you love." Yin Tianxue's tone was full of concern, for her friend and her lover.

"I have an unavoidable social engagement tonight, talking to a few people from the Foundation about subsequent fundraising. It might be late, so don't wait for me. Just save some soup for me." Yu Bo lied without blinking, his tone so natural he almost believed it himself.

"Alright then, don't drink too much and come back early." Yin Tianxue didn't suspect a thing and reminded him carefully.

After hanging up, Yu Bo looked at the passing street scene outside the car window, his gaze deep. He went to Shen Nian's apartment first.

Shen Nian had clearly dressed up carefully, wearing a sexy silk nightgown and just the right amount of perfume. Upon seeing Yu Bo, she clung to him like a vine, her kisses carrying skillful flirtation. Yu Bo responded, but his movements had an imperceptible trace of perfunctoriness and going through the motions. Physical desire was easily piqued, but psychologically, he was more like an executor completing a task.

Afterward, Shen Nian lay in his arms, her fingertips drawing circles on his chest, her tone coquettish: "Hubby, you haven't spent time with me for so long... Have you found someone new and forgotten the old?" She was half-joking, but her eyes held a hint of testing.

Yu Bo closed his eyes, his voice lazy: "Don't overthink. I've been busy lately." He patted her back. "Regarding that 'Hengtai' project, I'll introduce you to CEO Wang next week."

Shen Nian's eyes lit up, knowing this was "compensation" and "hush money." She tactfully stopped questioning and just pressed her body closer, trying to keep him with tenderness. But Yu Bo soon got up to dress, giving a sufficient reason: "I still have things to do tonight."

Leaving Shen Nian's apartment and sitting in the car, Yu Bo rubbed his temples. Dealing with Shen Nian required some effort, but it was still under control. He checked the time and drove in another direction—to a private club in the city center he often frequented. It wasn't for business; he just needed a quiet place to stay alone for a while and organize his thoughts.

Meanwhile, back at the villa.

Tang Guo had been restless all afternoon. The physical discomfort was real, but it was more the feeling of being suspended in mid-air. She watched a movie and had coffee with friends, but she could never fully immerse herself. She checked her phone immediately whenever there was any activity, but other than the "Good work" attached to the land information, Yu Bo sent nothing else.

In the evening, she returned to the villa. Yin Tianxue hadn't returned from the Foundation yet. In the empty house, it was so quiet she could hear her own heartbeat. She walked to the door of the master bedroom, paused, and turned into the guest room—her own room. A bit of the morning's atmosphere seemed to linger in the room, making her cheeks flush.

She took a shower, changed into pajamas, and sat by the bed in a daze. Her phone finally rang; it was a message from Yu Bo: "Home safe, get some rest early."

Just seven short words, business-like, not even one-tenth as intimate as he usually was with Yin Tianxue. Tang Guo looked at that line of text, her heart feeling empty and somewhat cold. But soon, she comforted herself: He's busy, he has to be careful, after all, Tianxue is at home. The fact that he could send a message to say he's safe means he has her in his heart.

She held her phone, looking at that message repeatedly until the screen went dark. Late at night, Yin Tianxue returned, carrying an air of exhaustion yet satisfaction. She even specifically came to the guest room to see her: "Guoguo, are you feeling better? The soup is warming in the pot, do you want some?"

Tang Guo squeezed out a smile: "Much better, Tianxue. I won't have any. You've been tired all day, go rest quickly."

Looking at Yin Tianxue's caring and defenseless face, a huge wave of guilt surged in Tang Guo's heart, almost drowning her. She quickly lowered her head to hide the panic in her eyes.

That night, two women under the same roof fell asleep with completely different thoughts. One was immersed in the satisfaction of a successful career and trust in her lover, while the other tossed and turned amidst sweet memories, anxious waiting, and a heavy sense of guilt.

Yu Bo stayed at the club alone until late at night. He drank a little, not much, just enough to relax his nerves while remaining sober. He reviewed everything that happened today, examining the positions and states of the three women in his life.

Yin Tianxue was the sun, his anchor, the starting point and destination of all his bright endeavors. She had to be stable, with no room for error.

Shen Nian was the neon light in the night, gorgeous and tempting, but with a sense of worldliness and calculation. She was an embellishment that could be measured by interests, requiring her brightness and scope of influence to be controlled.

And Tang Guo... Yu Bo swirled the amber liquid in his glass, his gaze deep. Tang Guo was like the morning mist, intruding unexpectedly, her purity carrying a fatal temptation, with a stubborn determination hidden under her softness. She was more "troublesome" than Shen Nian because she seemed to want more than just material things and physical intimacy; she wanted emotional... status? At least an implicit, exclusive emotional confirmation. But she was also "more interesting" than Shen Nian, sparking a greater desire to control and "shape" her. Moreover, she was deeply embedded in his and Tianxue's career and life. This close connection made this dangerous relationship even more difficult to sever.

He needed to handle his relationship with Tang Guo more carefully. He had to satisfy her emotional needs (to ensure her loyalty and silence) while clearly defining the timeline and boundaries (it must never affect Yin Tianxue). This required more precise manipulation than dealing with Shen Nian.

As for Yin Tianxue... Yu Bo drained the wine in his glass. As long as he performed well enough and disguised things perfectly, Tianxue wouldn't find out. She was so simple and trusted him so much. What he had to do was protect that simplicity and trust while... enjoying the dangerous thrill of walking on the edge of the forbidden.

He left the club and drove home. The villa was dark and peaceful. He went upstairs quietly, going to the master bedroom first. Yin Tianxue was already fast asleep, her profile serene. He leaned over, kissed her forehead very lightly, then stepped out and walked toward the guest room.

He stood outside Tang Guo's door for a moment but ultimately didn't go in. He just took out his phone and sent another message: "Goodnight, sweet dreams." The recipient was Tang Guo.

Then, he returned to the master bedroom and lay down beside Yin Tianxue, gently pulling her into his arms. Feeling the warm, soft body and even breathing of his lover in his arms, the last tiny crease in his heart caused by indulgence seemed to be smoothed out.

The night covered everything. The sweet disguise continued, while the undercurrents beneath the calm surface were quietly gathering strength in an unnoticed corner. Tang Guo received that "Goodnight" in the guest room and finally fell asleep with a hint of solace, though her dreams were bizarre. In her empty apartment, Shen Nian stared at Yu Bo's cold reply on her phone screen, her gaze dark and uncertain. And in another corner of the city, the man wearing a baseball cap was organizing and archiving the photos he took today—of Yu Bo entering and leaving Shen Nian's apartment and of him lost in thought alone at the club late at night—to send to the person known as "Young Master Yang."