Gong Youqi's movements had indeed paused for a fleeting second, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. But then, in the very next moment, she had beguiled him with another seductive smile, setting him into an uncontrollable rhythm. Her disheveled hair veiled her face, so he didn't see the tightly furrowed brows on that delicate, pretty face, or the desperate bite on her lower lip as she endured the pain.
When he finally slowed, she was too exhausted to move. All she could do was repeatedly regret why her first time had to be with this man, who'd been celibate for two years, and why she'd felt compelled to pretend she was enjoying his tiger-like ferocity. In truth, it had been agonizing, utterly devoid of pleasure. It almost made her want to swear off carnal delights forever.
Her slender waist was lifted again. A jolt of fear shot through her. He... he wasn't going to start again, was he? Meeting those unfathomable, deep eyes, her smile finally faltered. She asked tremulously, "Are... are you tired? Perhaps we should rest for a bit?"
That weak moan merely stoked the unextinguished fires of desire within him. His eyes narrowed as he stared at her: "Are you implying I lack stamina?"
"No... how dare I..." Sob, was it okay if she wanted to rest now?
He swept her up with a long arm, pulling her into a sitting position. Seeing her collapse weakly onto his shoulder, he lifted her chin, a smile in his eyes: "That's all it takes? I truly wonder how you used to endure the ferocity of other men."
Yu Xi shivered, then gave a weary scoff: "Since women can overcome hardness with softness, naturally, a frail, delicate body can endure the weight of the most ferocious man."
His teeth immediately nipped her earlobe, and his pleasant voice whispered into her ear again: "Then try to endure it a few more times."
She flinched, instinctively recoiling: "I... I'm a bit tired."
Gong Youqi moved to pull her closer, but his gaze swept over the bedsheet where she had moved, and he noticed something amiss. The crimson stain on the light orange sheet was rather glaring. His eyes shifted instantly, fixing on her like a hawk.
She suppressed her rising panic, merely glancing at it nonchalantly, and gave him a charming, seductive smile: "Do you think I look like it's my first time? The doctor told me that after the repair, it would be just like a first night. Don't men all have a virgin complex?"
Watching him stare at her in thought, she found it a little amusing. What if she admitted it was her first time? Would he really act like some ancient man and immediately take responsibility, holding her hand and rushing down the aisle? What a joke. This society lacked many things, but it certainly didn't lack heartlessness. And of course, she wouldn't use this 'first time,' which these playboys utterly disregarded, to demand anything. Since it was a mutual agreement, why entangle it with emotions?
"You've certainly gone to great lengths," he finally said after studying her for a long time.
Yu Xi immediately embraced her money-loving persona to enchant him: "Oh, I thought, if Young Master Gong is pleased, I'll benefit too, won't I?" She looked at him, smiling: "I heard Lao Feng Xiang got a limited edition sapphire earring set, very sought after, but I haven't had a chance to feast my eyes on it yet."
He reached out and pulled her closer, gently smoothing her messy hair back, his actions seemingly tender but his voice devoid of emotion: "Since you're so considerate, I certainly won't treat you unfairly."
She obediently let him stroke her long hair, a look of satisfaction in her eyes.
The next second, his words startled her: "Since you're so well-intentioned, I can't let your efforts go to waste. Perhaps we should 'exercise' a few more times, so your painstaking arrangements can be fully realized."
She didn't have time to refuse before he pounced on her again. His broken kisses landed repeatedly on her aching skin, planting 'strawberries' that left her wishing she could cry, cursing him inwardly. When he finally thrust in, she lost even the strength to curse, being tossed and turned repeatedly, sobbing softly. Finally, with his last forceful release, she collapsed, her body, fresh from its first taste of intimacy, unable to bear the extreme pain and numbness, trembling as she lost consciousness.
She opened her heavy eyelids to meet those dark, profound eyes that she could never quite read.
Perhaps his eyes were a major reason for her attraction to him. Seductive eyes made one intoxicated, sorrowful ones evoked pity, but his depth made her want to explore this man.
"Awake?" He was already dressed, standing by the bed, looking down at her, his calm demeanor as if he had been studying her for a long time.
"Young Master Gong, your prowess is a bit much for me to handle," she quickly flattered the proud man, looking at his well-toned body with a mix of hatred and adoration. She glanced down to see she was covered by a thin blanket, but the tender white skin below her collarbone still bore the marks of his fierce 'battle.' She shifted her legs, and the pain in her lower body made her gasp again. Her original backache was truly child's play in comparison.
Harsh rule is fiercer than a tiger, and a man's desires are fiercer than harsh rule. The desires of a man who has been abstinent for two years are simply unrivaled. She thought that if she hadn't passed out, she probably would have been left half-paralyzed by him.
"I can't believe modern medicine is so advanced. Not only can a woman's 'membrane' be repaired, but even the pain of the first time can be simulated so realistically." Even if he was truly wild, a woman who had been someone else's mistress wouldn't have passed out from pain after only three rounds under him.
His words held a double meaning, and Yu Xi, of course, understood. He was implying that she was either genuinely a virgin, or she was being incredibly pretentious.
Her heart rate quickened slightly, and her indignation was hard to suppress. She felt this man was truly getting the better of her and then still rubbing it in. She forced herself to endure, continuing to flatter: "I think it's because you haven't found the right person, so it's a volcanic eruption." Hmph, two years of abstinence for his goddess Su Yingran? If he had the guts, he should have continued. It would have guaranteed him an endocrine imbalance and self-combustion from pent-up desire.
Gong Youqi felt he couldn't quite figure this woman out. To say she was a virgin was simply unbelievable; how could such a skilled socialite remain pure? But to say she was faking it—her expression at the time didn't seem to be an act. He had been with countless women, and his understanding of the female body was far from superficial. Besides, his own senses certainly weren't mistaken. The tightness and rawness he felt when he took her, he hadn't overlooked in his passion.
He could only conclude that if she could act so realistically, this woman's cunning had reached an astonishing level.
A strange "rumble" echoed in the room. Yu Xi gave an embarrassed smile: "Do you know why I fainted? My stomach protested, and it won out."
Gong Youqi chuckled at her words, helping her sit up: "Are you saying you couldn't handle it because your stomach was too empty?"
She nodded profusely. That was one of the facts, too! From last night until now, she'd only been fed a few pieces of fruit. How could she possibly have had the stamina to engage in 'battle'?
He actually grinned, a rare, charming smile: "I've already ordered takeout. We can discuss 'endurance' after we eat."
She almost fainted again: "You-you-you... you're not going to..." She swallowed her question hard, afraid of saying too much, and said softly, her face red, "Let's eat first."
His handsome face silently drew closer, he turned her head and pecked her lips: "I think you're cuter now." He picked her up, and as she gasped in surprise, he soothed her, "Let's get you washed up first."
Watching him personally prepare the hot water for her, Yu Xi could only stand foolishly, leaning against the smooth, cold wall, clutching the thin blanket around her. In the mirror, she saw herself, more languid and seductive after their passionate encounter.
"Narcissistic?" He, too, stared at the alluring woman in the mirror, her long hair slightly disheveled, his marks still visible on her fair, delicate neck.
Yu Xi suddenly remembered that Lu Renjie always had this kind of tone. If it were another man in her bed today, would she still be so composed, and how would she feel?
Pushing the handsome man out and locking the door, she finally relaxed and took off the blanket, examining the faint red marks of their passion on her body. Honestly, she didn't like her first time. Under his excessive ferocity, it was nothing but pain. The only comfort was that her first time was finally over, and it was with a skilled, handsome man who fit her criteria.
She painstakingly climbed into the bathtub. The warm water instantly relieved much of the pain. She lay comfortably in the water, anticipating what would happen next.
Gong Youqi's relationship with her certainly wouldn't change just because they'd slept together. Especially since Su Yingran was back, he would probably spend more time with her. And she would remain merely his beautiful 'vase' for dealing with the outside world. As for how long this contract would last, it would depend on the development of Young Master Gong and Su Yingran's relationship.
She curved her lips. That was fine, too. When she eventually grew tired of this 'vase' life, she would simply find another way to live, or perhaps return to her studies. Yu Chen, that boy, hadn't even bothered to call his own sister. He was probably diligently studying, excited about graduating earlier than her and finally getting ahead.
She slowly cleaned herself, floating in the water, unwilling to move. Until Young Master Gong knocked on the door from outside, asking if she was done. She lazily answered, still lying there, but upon hearing the word "food," she quickly and painfully climbed out, grabbed a bath towel to wrap her un-dried body, and dashed out.
Gong Youqi paused, surprised that food held such immense allure for her.
Guided by her keen sense of smell, when she saw a dozen large and small food containers on the table, all her dissatisfaction with Gong Youqi vanished, replaced by tearful gratitude. She was about to pounce on it like a hungry wolf, but he pulled her back: "Slow down, the food doesn't have legs."
She mumbled "Got it, got it," and hurriedly pulled away from him, leaning over the table to grab a tender, juicy chicken wing. Before she could bring it to her mouth, he caught her hand again: "Have some congee first, slowly."
Yu Xi shot him a resentful look. Knowing he was her current provider, she obediently put down the chicken wing and used a small spoon to scoop up the congee, sipping it slowly. When you're hungry, everything tastes like a delicacy, even plain congee tasted incredibly good. As the food entered her mouth, she let out a satisfied sigh, her expression more thrilled than if she'd eaten an elixir of immortality. She naturally didn't consider that these seemingly ordinary dishes had all been ordered by Gong Youqi from expensive, renowned restaurants.
Gong Youqi looked at her expression, and his smile involuntarily softened. He noticed her damp, long hair dripping water, wetting her bath towel. A thought stirred within him, and he silently took a towel to help her dry her hair.
She, however, didn't feel anything unusual. Yu Chen used to dry her hair often too. To him, though, he couldn't help but wonder how many sugar daddies this woman had personally waited on. His eyes turned cold again.
After finishing the congee and gnawing on a chicken wing, she tasted a meatball and found it delicious. She speared a second one, but before she could put it in her mouth, he grabbed her wrist, twisted it, and the delicious morsel went into his mouth.
"That's mine..." she mumbled, but upon meeting his deep eyes, she quickly smiled: "You eat, you eat too!"
She went to grab another piece for herself, but he snatched it again.
She felt annoyed. He was teasing her after he was full; this man had a truly rotten conscience. Watching him chew the food he'd snatched from her with such relish, she suddenly realized: he wouldn't want her to feed him, would he? She scooped a fish ball and offered it to him. He looked at her and, as expected, opened his mouth to take it.
Yu Xi felt a shiver, disgusted. Was this handsome man going to switch roles and play the feeding game again?
"This isn't good, let's have something else," he suddenly stood up, pulled her along, and headed back to the bedroom.
"Wait... wait!" She slammed on the brakes: "I'm not full yet!" What kind of logic was that! If he didn't eat, did that mean she couldn't either? She was only half-full, and all that food going to waste would bring down a lightning strike.
Gong Youqi turned back: "You didn't make me full either, did you?"
She froze for a moment, then realized she was being lifted again, and in the blink of an eye, she was back on the bed.
The bedsheets had already been changed. They were black, with large, crimson roses adorning them. His large hand pulled away the bath towel she was wrapped in. Her milk-white, alluring body, adorned with pink 'peach blossoms' (her marks), created a scene that intensely stimulated the visual nerves.
He stared at her for a long time. His dark eyes, after heating up intensely, suddenly plummeted to freezing point.
She froze for a moment, then realized she was being lifted again, and in the blink of an eye, she was back on the bed.
The bedsheets had already been changed. They were black, with large, crimson roses adorning them. His large hand pulled away the bath towel she was wrapped in. Her milk-white, alluring body, adorned with pink 'peach blossoms' (her marks), created a scene that intensely stimulated the visual nerves.
He stared at her for a long time. His dark eyes, after heating up intensely, suddenly plummeted to freezing point.
She felt a little bewildered, looking at his hot-and-cold gaze again, and inexplicably felt a bit scared. What had he discovered? What had he confirmed?
"Young Master Gong..." Her seductive smile was somewhat strained.
Gong Youqi unhurriedly unbuttoned his own clothes, his gaze never leaving her expression.
"Can't wait?" His body swayed, already pressing down on her, his hands teasing her sensitive skin, his eyes remarkably calm as he met her gaze.
"I think you're quite something," he bit her lip, watching her tremble slightly, then curved his lips: "Now we'll play a game. You have to answer my questions. If you don't answer well, there will be punishments."
"What questions?" She didn't understand what he meant.
"For example, what is your true identity? You seem to know about Su Yingran and me, how did you know? Was approaching me truly accidental? You've cleverly avoided these questions before, but now, you'd better tell me the truth."
Her personal file was oddly simple: in an orphanage before age seven, then a blank slate, with only "Xinyue" listed as work experience. When Gong Youkai exposed that she wasn't the woman meant for the contract, she had explained that she had indeed always worked at Xinyue. But did she really have no other identity? Could someone with limited education behave so gracefully in high society? He admitted she was a decent contract partner, but if she had ulterior motives or a questionable background for approaching him, he wouldn't let it go.
Especially last night, she had even mentioned Su Yingran was waiting for him. How did she know that?
Yu Xi's entire body tensed. This wasn't a game; it was clearly an interrogation on a torture rack. The room was still filled with the passionate scent of the afternoon, and they remained in their intimate position, but the feeling was starkly different. Gong Youqi, this man, was far more formidable and complex than she had imagined. She had originally thought he was just a clever, trouble-free rich young master, and an ambiguous game between them would just be two idle people having fun.
She had been attracted by his somewhat unusual contract, and of course, his good looks. But if she had to worry too much, she would find it annoying. At worst, they could just part ways gracefully. She could afford to play, and she could let go. She strongly disliked people who insisted on investigating everything thoroughly. They were just two small fish who occasionally met in the deep sea. It was enough to simply play together; why insist on knowing each other's species and the river they came from?
"Answer me," he gripped her chin, pressing most of his weight onto her.
Yu Xi immediately felt the pressure. Her hands propped against his chest, her smile unwavering: "Young Master Gong, why do you keep asking the same questions? Haven't you already investigated everything thoroughly? After I left the orphanage, I was adopted by the boss of Xinyue and stayed there. I've always been a guest performer at the masquerade ball, and thanks to everyone's support, I've even gained a few small fans." She then blinked, trying to change the subject: "Are you perhaps jealous? Then I'll tell you who else admires me, and you can go deal with them one by one."
Gong Youqi grasped the softness of her chest, pinching it not too hard, not too soft, causing her to cry out in pain. He warned her not to play smart: "Why do you know about Su Yingran and me?" That secret was known only to the two of them and his elder brother.
She chuckled dryly, calculating that Lu Renjie was likely about to be revealed. But she also didn't want him to know she was currently studying abroad in Australia, so she pondered how to bluff her way through it.
He glanced at her darting, cunning eyes, then leaned down and took a bud into his mouth, biting it gently, punishing her for hesitating and scheming.
Yu Xi groaned. The tingling, painful, itchy sensation on her chest was both unbearable and slightly pleasurable. Her big eyes, moist and wronged, glared at him. Gong Youqi felt a hot surge in his abdomen, almost losing control.
"Speak quickly," his voice softened a little, but he remained insistent.
She wondered if tears could evoke even a slight bit of pity from him now, but then she thought, why should she test his feelings? If he was heartless, she would be unfeeling too. Entangling emotions would only ruin everything. Physical intimacy was easy, and she wasn't stingy, but the rules of the game were clear: if they wanted to continue playing, neither side could fall in love.
She decided to compromise again. However, in her heart, she was also letting Gong Youqi know that for now, she was just clinging to this game. When she grew tired of it, she would no longer be under his control.
"I'll tell you everything, just don't bully me anymore," she pouted, deliberately forcing back her tears. Under him, she looked even more pitifully alluring: "My friend who danced with me last night told me. He was Miss Su's childhood playmate and recognized her. The rest was just my own guess. You never go out with other women, so since you were willing to accompany Miss Su, your relationship must be quite close." Let him go confront Su Yingran. Even if he investigated Lu Renjie, the 'foxy' one was cunning and definitely not easy to mess with.
Gong Youqi thought about it and found her explanation quite reasonable. He then asked, "Were you and that man just casual acquaintances?" That dance had seemed quite harmonious.
"Mm, I never intended to have too much contact with him." This was also true; she had always tried her best to avoid that troublemaker. "Actually, I suspect he might have a bit of a thing for Miss Su..." Lu Renjie, oh Lu Renjie, don't blame me for spreading rumors. I only said 'might,' so let Young Master Gong shift his focus a little.
Gong Youqi's eyes flickered as he considered, then he stared intensely at her, weighing how much of her story was believable.
She pushed at the handsome man, looking pitiful: "Young Master Gong, I'm so uncomfortable being pressed down." If he wasn't going to do anything, he should just move aside. The delicious food in the living room was still calling her name.
He propped himself up, looking down at the little person who seemed to be suffering. A slight ripple stirred in his heart. He raised a hand and gently pinched her delicate earlobe: "A pair of earrings would indeed look good here."
Yu Xi understood his hint and showed immense excitement. Hooking her arm around him, she gave a "muah" and immediately flattered him: "I knew Young Master Gong was the best!"
Gong Youqi looked at her excited little face, and his mood slowly improved. Although he still had some doubts about her, no matter how much truth there was in what this woman said, as long as it didn't harm him or Su Yingran, it was fine. All he wanted was a socialite who could help him fend off gossip.
He gave her a final warning: "It's not good for women to be too clever. What you shouldn't know, you should just sleep and forget."
She understood he wanted her not to reveal his relationship with Su Yingran, and quickly said: "I don't know anything anyway." She couldn't care less. He could have private affairs with whomever he liked. She was only interested in the game itself, and for now, she simply liked the role of a 'vase.'
He smiled approvingly, which made the lovestruck woman freeze. As expected, she heard her gasp softly: "Ah... no, don't touch there..."
Gong Youqi's eyes grew fervent again. His large hand explored her private parts: "Where? Is it here? Or here?"
Yu Xi's hands were pinned. She could only clamp her legs together to resist his further exploration: "Ugh... Young Master Gong, have mercy..." Was he going to make her faint again?
He gestured to the small packets on the bedside table: "But you personally gave them to me. There are still several left."
...She just wanted to curse herself to death. She brought this upon herself, and now she had to live with it...
Her eyes blurred with tears as she looked at him, but then his lips softened, and it was an incredibly gentle, long kiss. The kiss instantly made her dizzy again, she couldn't tell north from south, even forgetting what the handsome man was doing. She just wanted to immerse herself in this rare, wonderful entanglement...
A high-necked, knee-length, tight-fitting, sea-blue dress accentuated her sexy and alluring figure. She stepped out of the taxi, squinting against the scorching afternoon sun, and smiled at everyone as she entered the company.
The receptionist politely greeted the newly appointed Deputy Director's secretary. Her tardiness seemed to be a common occurrence. Inwardly, however, she disdained this heavily made-up woman, believing she had only gotten ahead through her looks.
Yu Xi naturally couldn't guess what others thought of her, and she couldn't be bothered to try. Another ordinary and wonderful day! She entered the empty elevator, pulled out a small mirror to admire herself. Her small face was still heavily made up, silver-white eyeshadow covered the signs of her lack of sleep, and her high collar concealed the lingering intimate marks.
The moment she sat down at her desk, she noticed a small red satin gift box next to her computer. Her face brightened. Indeed, the box contained a pair of crystal-clear sapphire earrings. She lowered her head, pretending to examine them closely, burying her head behind the partition, a smirk on her lips as she muttered silently, "The compensation came quickly."
Last night's ordeal had completely changed her initial impression of Gong Youqi. That seemingly cold and polite handsome man was actually a cunning, manipulative, and ruthless individual, no less formidable than Lu Renjie. His selfish enjoyment last night, regardless of her agony, was enough to leave her with lingering trepidation for days.
However, he was also absolutely fair in rewards and punishments, and generous with his money. Looking at those earrings, which were difficult to buy with mere cash, she knew this man was very skilled. Such a challenging man excited her more than he frightened her. It seemed the game was still heating up. After a night of entanglement, his later gentleness had almost enchanted her, but she wasn't so foolish as to believe it meant anything profound. Gong Youqi was merely using her body to vent his suppressed desires, and she, too, harbored a trace of curiosity and longing for sexual matters, but she absolutely must not overthink it.
Emotion leads to chaos. If she, like the previous Secretary Lin, had fallen in love after receiving a small favor, she probably wouldn't have been able to continue this game and would have gained nothing herself. Fortunately, she was only a little boy-crazy; she wouldn't be flustered by a single night of passion.
The internal line suddenly rang. She saw it was the Deputy Director's office number. She pressed the speakerphone and heard his voice: "Come in."
She strutted in with cat-like steps. She wasn't doing it on purpose; her legs still felt weak. After being pressed down so many times, her waist actually hurt less. Fortunately, he was considerate enough to allow her to rest for half a day extra after leaving late last night. She had, of course, dutifully complied.
Gong Youqi was sitting on the sofa. He glanced at the earrings she was already wearing, and as a matter of routine, complimented her: "Very beautiful, they match your outfit perfectly."
She smiled sweetly, nestled next to him on the sofa, and purred, "Of course, I also have to thank you for your generosity. I specially chose this blue dress." Meaning, she had been waiting for those earrings.
He turned her chin, looking at this seductive face, completely unlike her fresh, pretty bare face from yesterday. A smile in his eyes, he said: "Your makeup skills are excellent. Is there any special meaning to you hiding your true face?" If he hadn't discovered her true face, he probably would have continued to be deceived by this false facade. If she had only worn light makeup, she would have been even more captivating.
Yu Xi touched her heavily powdered face and, feigning mystery, rambled: "Young Master Gong, you wouldn't know, but this is an unspoken custom in our circle. In the old days, dancers and singers would always wear heavy makeup when they debuted. Only when they met someone they could trust and left the profession would they wash away the makeup. A bare face was only for one's beloved."
"Oh? Is that so?" He looked at her thoughtfully.
Yu Xi immediately guessed what he was thinking and shrugged with a smile: "You don't need to worry, I'm not that foolish. Even if you've seen my true face, it doesn't mean anything. I understand your rules perfectly. Rest assured, I absolutely will not fall in love with you."
But he showed no joy: "So you're very confident in your self-control?"
"Naturally," she said. She lifted her hand to adjust his collar, hesitated, and then boldly touched the handsome man's face. To her surprise, he didn't resist. She secretly delighted in her advantage. "Although I'm quite infatuated with Young Master Gong's handsome face, I'm even more infatuated with the glistening money in your pockets."
Gong Youqi narrowed his eyes: "Truly a gold-digger through and through."
"Isn't that precisely what you want?" She took it as a compliment. "Isn't money the most practical thing in this world? It can buy anything."
Seeing he didn't speak, she added: "Of course, they say friendship is priceless, which is why you're so determined not to let your mistress fall in love with you, right? Because you also know that emotions are hard to quantify with money, and when it comes to feelings, rich men like you find it troublesome. If I were to fall in love, I probably wouldn't get a penny from you."
He looked deeply at her. Just last night, he thought he had finally figured her out, but now he felt she was somewhat inscrutable again. She was very good at assessing the situation and hadn't tried to use last night's passionate encounter as a bargaining chip for favors. She kept silent about it, showing remarkable poise.
She saw the invitation on the desk, opened it, and spoke with surprise, yet also excitement: "This 'Huan Tai' company's new CEO is actually Miss Su? She's invited you to her inauguration banquet, will you go? Hmm, of course you should go, right? Aren't you very keen to..."
"You're being clever again," he interrupted her coldly.
Yu Xi quickly stuck out her small pink tongue: "Sorry, I got a little excited." She continued to stare intently at the paper.
"You want to go?" He discerned her anticipation.
She looked up, but held back her impulse: "I only follow Young Master Gong's arrangements."
He stroked her long, coiled hair, frowned, then dropped his hand. He had no interest in sticky hairspray: "Next time, wear your hair down, don't make it like steel wool."
She paused, then immediately smiled and agreed.
"You can go out now. Tell Guo Qiang to come in." He remained in his pose, watching the gold-digger walk out with slightly unsteady steps. Last night seemed to have genuinely been a bit much for her. His eyes softened slightly, then returned to their usual depth.
She was well aware of her situation and was indeed very good at controlling her emotions. She was even so confident that she wouldn't fall in love with him... That actually sparked a hint of curiosity in him.
So, he would just distinguish between truth and falsehood a little, and test her confident 'declaration of not falling in love.'
A scorching summer day, perfect for a nap. Although the office was fully air-conditioned, she felt drowsy in the afternoon with nothing to do. Since Guo Qiang had asked her to print that document last time, he had barely given her any more tasks. He was probably awed by her snail-like speed and didn't dare trouble her again. She didn't mind. Now, at most, she helped Young Master Gong make coffee and deliver contracts. She spent almost the entire day glued to her seat, barely moving.
Such a leisurely life truly felt unaccustomed. She scrolled through company information online, finding that the business world was very optimistic about MJ's prospects. Gong Youqi was even recognized as one of the outstanding young business leaders. A thought stirred, and she searched for his gossip news. Sure enough, it was almost non-existent.
He truly was a good man with no scandals. She couldn't help but smile. He put so much effort into Su Yingran, she wondered what the beautiful Miss Su thought about it. Although Lu Renjie also said Su Yingran cared about Young Master Gong, since she was already engaged, such entanglement wouldn't be easy. Did Su Yingran's fiancé have no idea at all? She had just seen the invitation and simply wanted to properly meet the beautiful Miss Su, to see what kind of woman she was, to have captured Gong Youqi's heart and made him wait for two full years.
She recalled the information Aunt Xin had later found for her. The socialites of the upper class had long since categorized the young masters of the wealthy families. Their wealth and power went without saying, but they had even ranked the handsome ones as the "Four Young Masters of High Society," divided by age, with Young Master Gong being the youngest. Yu Xi always took a second look at handsome men, and she had already collected handsome photos of the four young masters, each with their own unique charm. However, it was said that "Diya" CEO Han Mo, ranked third, had surprisingly announced at the end of last year that he was ending his noble bachelorhood, admired by countless women, and had walked down the aisle. She stared at the photo of that cool, domineering, sharp-eyed man, lamenting with all the socialites, yet also curious about what kind of woman could be worthy of Young Master Han. (For the story of the domineering Young Master Han and his Cinderella Qin Luo, dear readers, please find it in the synopsis. My first completed "High Society Fairy Tale" series, "Happiness Without Guilt," welcomes you.)
With one arm propping her chin, she squinted at the exquisite small gift box, fiddling with the ribbon. How many infatuated women wished to marry into a wealthy family? As for the love fairy tales of those rich young masters, Yu Xi felt they were like magnificent mirages, seemingly grand but whether real or fake, bitter or sweet, only those involved truly knew. High society life, heh, how many wealthy men were willing to be devoted solely to their original wives? Being a beautiful, resentful woman guarding an empty room was far less enjoyable than her current carefree life as a favored mistress.
She endured until it was almost time to leave, then received an internal call from Gong Youqi: "Dinner together."
She, of course, happily agreed. She knew without asking that Gong Youqi was merely trying to pamper her a little and give her some sweetness because of last night's events. He acted as if last night was normal, so she didn't need to dwell on it. Although it was a small "level-up" in her life, she didn't need to be concerned about it.
Getting ready to leave, first, organize the documents on the desk... Hmm, no documents. Alright, she moved the empty folder from the left side to the right, moved the coffee cup from the top shelf of the side stand to the bottom. Finally, she considered her pre-leaving organization complete. So boring. Tomorrow, she should proactively ask Guo Qiang for something to do.
She waited impatiently for the last few minutes before closing time. She was very punctual, always. Although she was often forced to be late, she would never leave early.
The desk phone suddenly rang, startling her. She curiously looked at the external line, which had never made a sound before.
Usually, external calls would go directly to Guo Qiang next door. He was probably out of the office, so the call was diverted to her. Guo Qiang did both assistant and secretary work; she was merely a decoration. Now, this nominal secretary position was not much different from her previous work in the public relations department. She, this 'vase,' had merely been moved from one office to another.
A little more curious, she decided to be a diligent secretary and answer the incoming call. A call just before closing time probably wasn't important, right?
She picked up, saying in a sweet, friendly voice, "Hello, this is MJ Company. May I ask who's calling?"
There was a pause on the other end, then a soft, clear female voice came through: "Could I trouble your Deputy Director to take a call? I'm a friend of his."
Yu Xi recognized the voice. Her mind immediately conjured the image of that graceful beauty. She hadn't expected to be speaking to the person she wanted to meet so soon. Should she directly explain her identity and her relationship with Gong Youqi? No, forget it, lest Young Master Gong criticize her.
"Could you please state your name?" Standard procedure.
"My surname is Su." The other side was still reluctant to reveal too much.
"Please wait a moment." She pretentiously picked up the internal line, at least getting a taste of what it felt like to be a proper employee.
Gong Youqi picked up the internal line: "Can't wait?"
She chuckled: "Mm, I just wanted to know where we're eating tonight and what? Should I go back and change first?" Heh, afraid you'll take your sweetheart's call and dinner will be ruined.
"No need for such trouble, it's just a regular meal."
"I just wanted to dress appropriately to bring you honor, right?" A mischievous thought suddenly popped into her head. If her dinner was going to be ruined, she'd get a small revenge first, deliberately making the beautiful Miss Su wait a moment.
"You're already flashy enough."
"Ah, so Young Master Gong isn't quite satisfied? Is my outfit not formal enough today? You don't like blue? Hmm, maybe blue looks a bit melancholic? Melancholy isn't suitable for tonight's atmosphere. So, what color does Young Master Gong like? Steady men prefer black, it looks dignified and matches your personality. Speaking of personality, I'm guessing you're a stable, reserved Cancer, hmm, and your elder brother must be a kingly Leo. Or tell me Big Gong's birthday and see if I'm right?" She chattered on, talking about anything and everything.
Gong Youqi frowned, wondering how this woman could imagine so much. From a dinner discussion, she could talk about his favorite color, and then even veer off to his elder brother's birthday.
"You don't need to change anything. Just go directly to the garage in ten minutes and wait for me." He cut short her pointless rambling.
Yu Xi smiled triumphantly: "Really? Then I'll go wait. You have to keep your word, don't be late."
"Do I not keep my word?" His voice turned serious.
Yes, of course you do, more than once even, she mumbled inwardly, but didn't dare say it out loud. She flattered him: "Young Master Gong, you always keep your word."
Better to end the beautiful Miss Su's long wait first. She feigned a sudden realization: "Oh, I almost forgot! A lady called for you just now. Should I put her through? She said her surname is Su. Ah, could she be Miss Su from 'Huan Tai'? You see how forgetful I am. Young Master Gong, don't be angry, I'll put the call through right away." If the beauty happens to be asking you out tonight, let's see if you'll still keep your word.
She quickly hung up the internal line to avoid hearing his gnashing teeth. Then she spoke to Su Yingran on the external line: "Apologies, Miss Su, for the wait. Our Deputy Director was busy on the phone just now. I'll put you through to him now."
Satisfied, she heard Su Yingran's gentle thanks. She hung up the phone, clapped her hands, and seeing that it was just time to leave, grabbed her bag, planning to go downstairs to the supermarket to buy a few chocolates to tide her over.
She picked out a few bags of snacks, wandering around the small supermarket to kill the remaining few minutes. She spotted a bag of Australian imported shredded pork floss, and her eyes lit up. Wasn't that the kind she always liked? She hadn't eaten it since returning. She really missed it.
Just as her hand reached for the packaging, a large hand suddenly darted in from the side. With the speed and force of "stealing vegetables" from that popular farm game, she watched helplessly as the only bag of her beloved snack was snatched away.
Who! Who dared to steal her food! Unforgivable!
She turned, ready to square off, when a handsome man beside her examined the package in his hand, then smiled: "You've been eating this for a year and still haven't changed brands."
Yu Xi snatched her prey back, her voice fierce: "Where did you spring from?"
Lu Renjie meticulously scrutinized her from head to toe, his eyes showing admiration. He stroked his chin: "I can't believe you look quite convincing dressed up as a vixen."
"You're the vixen, you're the fox spirit." She clutched her food, continuing to question Lu Renjie: "Didn't you just join the company? Aren't you busy? Why are you looking for me at my company?"
He continued to look at her, making appreciative "tsk-tsk" sounds: "You're truly a different person from your usual self. Does your Young Master Gong like this seductive type now? I haven't seen Yingran dress like that." He even tugged at her high, fixed hair, his eyes full of amusement: "What brand of gel is that? The hold is excellent. You should try styling a lotus flower next time."
Yu Xi swatted his hand away, "I'll style a thousand-armed Guanyin, then!"
Lu Renjie burst out laughing, attracting the saleslady's flirtatious glances, which he ignored: "Even more creative than me. Dressed like that, why not style a peacock fanning its tail? A vivid blue peacock spreading its wings would definitely be an eye-catcher."
She rolled her eyes at him, too lazy to argue further: "May I ask, what brings the great Master Lu the Fox here today?"
"Master Lu the Fox? Hmm, that name seems to match Yu the Peacock quite well, not bad, not bad." Seeing her glare, he didn't care. He reached out to adjust her collar, which had flipped up: "The company formalities were just completed today. I'm inviting you to a meal to celebrate my arrival—"
His voice suddenly stopped. He stared at a spot on her neck inside her collar, his eyes instantly turning icy.
Yu Xi immediately understood what he had seen. Her face flushed, and she stepped back two paces, pulling her collar up, feeling inexplicably nervous. Strange, why should she be afraid of him? She was someone's mistress; it wasn't as if he didn't know about such things. Why did he look so disapproving?
"I have plans tonight," she refused his offer.
"With Gong Youqi?" Lu Renjie narrowed his eyes, staring directly at her: "Did you sleep together?"
He had thought she was merely having a whim to change her style, and he knew Gong Youqi liked Su Yingran, so he assumed they were just playing a game, with no actual romantic relationship. But seeing that hickey suddenly made him furious. No matter how broad-minded he was, even if he didn't mind her playing ambiguous games, knowing that the woman he liked had been with another man was simply unbearable.
Yes, he liked her, though he didn't know when it started. At their first meeting, it was because she dared to give him a nickname, and he had a slight desire for revenge. Later, he found teasing her great fun. She wasn't just a pretty face; he enjoyed matching wits with her, and even more, seeing her unwilling expression when he defeated her, and watching her little tricks to avoid him and secretly badmouth him. When did he start being unable to take his eyes off that pretty little woman, her every gesture and smile stirring his emotions? He had followed her to Australia without hesitation, simply wanting to see her charming smile at all times.
Yu Xi was startled by his direct question. In such a public place, so loud, did he want her dead? She grabbed his sleeve and started pulling him outside.
He let her drag him, but stopped just before the door, gesturing at the food in her hand: Was she trying to sneak it out? Yu Xi gritted her teeth. She had intended to put the groceries down and leave, but then she thought she might not find that shredded pork floss again. She stopped and waited for the cashier to ring her up.
After everything was bagged, he paid first, giving the cashier his signature smile, which immediately earned him a sugary sweet, "Please come again, sir."
She shivered, goosebumps rising on her arms. She carried her small bag and walked out first, but he pulled her into the stairwell before letting go.
"Did you... lose your virginity?" He folded his arms, cornering her against the wall.
She had no intention of hiding it. Her silence was an admission.
Facing his stern gaze, she lowered her head, then raised it again: "Since I'm a mistress, that kind of thing is unavoidable." She looked directly at Lu Renjie. She felt the air pressure around them was very low, yet she didn't feel she had done anything wrong by him. She was the one who had 'lost her virginity,' why was he angry?
"Should I say you lack self-respect, or that you're willing to sacrifice yourself for a game?" He was clearly displeased.
"Whatever," she said, not looking at him, and pulled out her phone to check the time. "Senior, I'm playing this game very seriously, and I still like it so far. If you don't approve, just ignore me, but please don't interfere." She didn't mind if others looked down on her. The path was her choice, and she didn't need anyone's understanding or support.
But then, she suddenly felt a little panicked, afraid that his sharp gaze would penetrate to her innermost core, dissecting and criticizing her. She knew she seemed to be playing a bit too far, but she had no intention of stopping.
He took a deep breath: "Break that ridiculous contract with him."
"No," she replied flatly.
His eyes were a bit fierce. He stared at her for a few seconds: "Do you like Gong Youqi?"
"No," she replied just as flatly: "I'm only interested in the game itself."
Lu Renjie moved closer to her, scrutinizing her to see if she was lying. He was satisfied with what he saw. He frowned in thought, then placed one hand on the wall, and with the other, lifted her face: "Break the contract with him." He paused, then made another decision: "You like ambiguous games. I'll play them with you."
Yu Xi froze, unable to understand why he would say that. She remained stunned for a long while before realizing he seemed to be waiting for her answer. She giggled, patting the 'fox spirit's' shoulder: "Senior, you're getting interested in this game too, aren't you? It's really good. You put your body and mind into it, tempting others while controlling yourself. It's truly challenging. If you like it, find someone and try it out."
Seeing him about to speak, she interrupted him: "Oh, my time's up, I'm leaving. I don't want to quit this game yet. I set the role from the beginning, and I don't want to change. Don't worry, Senior, I appreciate your kindness. Although Young Master Gong is a bit of a repressed flirt and not as charming as you, overall, he's passable."
She pushed Lu Renjie away and waved: "Next time, I'll treat you to a big meal. Hehe, gotta go, gotta go." She quickly walked towards the parking lot without looking back, leaving behind the handsome man, his face clouded, staring in the direction she left, a certain glint in his eyes.