Celia could barely cope with Nathaniel Fu's "simple and rough" style anymore.
She pushed him away, flustered. "Let me go! I need to take a shower."
Nathaniel leaned in, his tall frame towering over her. "I'm not showering either. Should we go together?"
"No!" Celia snapped, retreating.
He tightened his grip on her slim waist, voice husky and teasing. "Celia, you agreed to be with me last night. I didn't push you then. But now you're rejecting me again—what exactly do you want?"
Her cheeks flushed red as his body pressed her against the wall, his intent all too obvious. Yes, she had agreed to stay with him—but more for the jade pendant than anything else. He, on the other hand, was so direct, so focused…
"I just… don't want to," she whispered.
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "Then I guess I really will be simple and rough."
Just then, his phone rang—the melodic ringtone cutting through the tension.
Like a drowning girl grabbing a lifeline, Celia shoved him away. "Mr. Fu, your phone!"
She darted into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.
Nathaniel followed, placing a hand on the knob, but it was locked from the inside.
She was guarding against him like he was some sort of predator.
He narrowed his eyes, amused and annoyed all at once. The phone continued ringing. He pulled it from his pocket—Rosalie was calling.
Nathaniel glanced at the closed bathroom door, then stepped out onto the balcony to answer.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Fu," Rosalie said sweetly on the other end, "I heard your niece has a facial birthmark. I've recently developed a new perfume blend that may help fade such scars."
Nathaniel's tone was indifferent. "Didn't you refuse before?"
That was King who refused, not her.
Rosalie responded coyly, "Well, I've changed my mind. I'd like to meet and discuss the details. Could we talk in person?"
After a brief pause, he agreed. "Alright."
They arranged a meeting. Before leaving, Nathaniel walked back to the bathroom door and knocked lightly.
No answer.
"I know you can hear me," he said, lips curling into a smile. "I'm heading out for a bit. Go ahead and sleep."
A voice finally came from inside. "Okay."
···After her shower, Celia climbed into the soft bed and soon drifted off. In her half-asleep state, she felt the bed dip beside her. A warm, strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her into a familiar chest.
Without even opening her eyes, she knew Nathaniel was back.
"Still awake?" he whispered, planting a kiss on the tip of her nose.
"Mm… Are you done?" she murmured sleepily.
"I am," he said, his lips already brushing hers.
Just as he was about to kiss her deeply, Celia dodged again.
Nathaniel hovered over her, voice low and hoarse in her ear. "Cici…"
It was the first time he'd called her that.
She opened her sleepy eyes, voice soft and pleading as she shrank deeper into the covers. "Nathaniel… don't be like this. You're scaring me…"
Nathaniel froze.
With a deep breath, he threw back the covers and headed for a cold shower.
He was starting to suspect this woman was just playing with him.
···Back at CC, Celia returned to work—and quickly learned that Sun Yiming and Chloe Zhao had officially gone public with their relationship.
Everyone in the office was congratulating them.
"Chloe, Yiming—congrats! You're such a perfect match!"
Chloe spotted Celia and smirked. "Hey, Celia! How's that ugly friend of yours, Fu Yingying? Is she okay now? She ran off crying last night… did she faint in the bathroom or something?"