After consuming that drugged wine, she had become extraordinarily excited, her body burning with heat. She felt a burning desire to pounce on any man she saw, devoid of the slightest hint of shyness.
However, this time was different. Although she was dizzy and her face was flushed, her carnal desires were not intense. In fact, when Lin Chudong kissed her, she felt a flicker of instinctive resistance and shyness.
Something wasn't right.
Hadn't Shen Fenglin drugged her? He had simply told those women to get her to drink, but he had never explicitly stated there was a drug in the wine.
"Wait a minute!"
Qin Wei suddenly pushed Lin Chudong away, her hands pressed against his shoulders. Face to face, they were both breathing heavily; Qin Wei’s lips were already slightly swollen from his kissing. This guy was truly rough as hell!
"What's wrong?" Lin Chudong was in the heat of the moment; why had this woman suddenly called for a stop?
Qin Wei said, "I think I'm fine now..."
Lin Chudong’s expression shifted slightly, and his mouth twitched. "You aren't kidding with me, are you?"
Qin Wei felt a bit awkward now, too. "I'm not kidding. It seems Shen Fenglin didn't drug me; I was just a little drunk. I’m fine now."
Lin Chudong looked speechless. "You might be fine, but I’m not. You’ve riled me up, and you’re going to have to take responsibility for that."
As he spoke, Lin Chudong leaned in to kiss her lips again. Qin Wei hurriedly blocked his face with her hands and began to struggle. "No! Let me go! I’ll get angry if you keep doing this!"
A few seconds later, Lin Chudong calmed down. He sat up helplessly to the side. "Big sister, you aren't playing with me, are you?"
Qin Wei pulled the blanket up to her collarbone, wrapping herself up tightly. "I didn't do it on purpose."
Recalling the scene just moments ago, Qin Wei was so embarrassed she wanted to find a hole to crawl into. That godforsaken Shen Fenglin—he didn't even make it clear. He just told them to force-feed her alcohol, so she had naturally assumed there was a drug in it!
Lin Chudong, meanwhile, hated Shen Fenglin with a gnashing of teeth. If he had known, he should have been more ruthless earlier. Was that bastard not adept at drugging people? Why didn't he do it this time? He was never despicable when it mattered, yet he acted like a villain when it was least called for.
The atmosphere suddenly fell into a stalemate. As the hormones in their bodies gradually subsided, calm finally returned.
Qin Wei said, "Thank you for coming to save me, but what just happened was truly a misunderstanding. I thought I had been drugged. I hope you don't mind."
Lin Chudong gave a bitter smile. He didn't mind, it was just that he’d been all worked up, and being called to a halt like that was rather frustrating. "It's fine. If you have such needs again in the future, just come find me."
Qin Wei’s face sank. "Rest assured, there won't be a next time!"
She straightened her clothes and wiped her mouth. Remembering the feeling of his passionate kiss, Qin Wei couldn't stop her heart from racing. The most critical part was that she had been completely sober; the thought that she had actually invited him to the hotel and been so responsive during their intimacy made her face burn uncontrollably.
Lin Chudong helplessly put his clothes back on. After tidying up their attire, they stepped out of the room.
"Checking out," Lin Chudong said.
The front desk staff paused for a moment and subconsciously blurted out, "So fast?"
Lin Chudong’s face went dark immediately. What kind of look was that? Were they looking down on him?
Beside him, Qin Wei’s cheeks flushed pink, and she barely managed to hold back a laugh. Seeing Lin Chudong thwarted like this was unexpectedly amusing.
"Alright, let’s go home. You’ll be staying at my place for these three months. However, you are not allowed to engage in any inappropriate behavior, understand?" Qin Wei resumed her stance as the domineering female CEO.
Lin Chudong replied, "And what if you engage in inappropriate behavior toward me?"
"How could I possibly do that?"
"Didn't you just..."
Seeing the frost on Qin Wei’s beautiful face, Lin Chudong didn't dare continue.
"My eldest sister is getting married tomorrow. My father will likely try to introduce me to a blind date. You help me brush him off."
Lin Chudong asked, "Do you mean I should just sit there without saying a word, and leave everything to you?"
Qin Wei glared at him. "How is that possible? Do you think the hundred thousand yuan a month I’m paying you is for doing nothing? I don't care if you pretend or act; just make sure you get rid of them."
Lin Chudong nodded. "Fine, got it."
Once they were in the car, Qin Wei asked, "I didn't get a chance to ask you last time—how do you know Dr. Zhao?"
"Dr. Zhao? Actually, I don't know him; he knows me. I once saved his master's life."
Qin Wei nodded thoughtfully. "You seemed to have decent combat skills earlier."
Lin Chudong gave a faint smile. "You should know my skills quite well."
Qin Wei froze, failing to react at first. A few seconds later, the meaning dawned on her, and her face turned bright red. "Lin, that time was just an accident! Don't you ever make jokes like that with me again!"
Lin Chudong laughed helplessly and fell silent. The woman was certainly beautiful and had a certain charm, but her personality was just a bit too cold.
Upon arriving at Qin Wei’s detached villa, Lin Chudong had hoped to feel the warmth of a home, but was instead assigned to a chilly guest room. *Sigh, having too many rooms isn't necessarily a good thing.*
As he lay in the room preparing to sleep, his phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed Liu Fugui, the richest man in Jiangchuan Province. Lin Chudong had dealt with him a few times; though merely a businessman, he held his ground in Jiangchuan and made significant contributions to the national economy. Once, when he traveled to Myanmar, Lin Chudong had accompanied him. That trip had been a brush with death, and it had scared the living daylights out of Liu Fugui.
"Hello, Mr. Liu?"
Liu Fugui’s hearty voice came from the other end. "Mr. Lin, I heard you’ve returned to Jiangcheng. Why didn't you contact me so I could play the host properly?"
Lin Chudong smiled faintly. "I’m here on a mission this time, so it’s inconvenient to disturb you."
"Oh, how long are you staying?"
"It’s a longer mission this time; I’ll likely be living in Jiangcheng for a while."
"That’s wonderful! Would it be convenient for me to visit you tomorrow? I have a treasure I want to give you—you'll definitely find it useful."
Lin Chudong thought for a moment. "I’m attending a wedding tomorrow; it should end around eleven o'clock or so. That time should work. The location is..."
...
Early the next morning, Lin Chudong had just woken up when Qin Wei pushed the door open and entered. She tossed two pieces of clothing onto his bed. "Wear this outfit today."
Lin Chudong, wrapped in his blanket, was speechless. "Don't you know how to knock? Aren't you afraid I might be sleeping in the nude?"
Qin Wei rolled her eyes. "This is my house. I have the right to enter any room I choose; you are just a temporary resident."
With that, she turned and walked out quickly. When she had pushed the door open just now, she had caught a glimpse of the muscles on his body. Though she had seen them twice before, she couldn't help but take a few extra glances every time she saw his broad chest muscles. *This bastard—he really does have impressive muscles.*
Donning the expensive attire, Lin Chudong’s entire demeanor appeared more upright. However, Lin Chudong didn't really like this kind of clothing; it was too flashy. As an excellent bodyguard, the most important quality was to be low-key. The less conspicuous, the better, so he usually dressed like everyone else. Still, since today was about helping Qin Wei save face, dressing sharply was only appropriate.
Once in the car, Qin Wei gave him the briefing. "We’re going to my eldest sister’s wedding today, and everyone in our family will likely be there. My sister has a friend in the jade business named Tian Long; he’s the one my father wants to introduce to me."
Lin Chudong nodded, understanding the target for this mission.
Soon, they arrived at the wedding venue. The hall held about thirty tables, and many guests were already mingling. As they reached the entrance, Qin Wei suddenly slipped her arm through his. Lin Chudong looked back, and Qin Wei whispered, "Physical contact is necessary when the situation calls for it."
"Actually, how about I hold you? It’ll look more intimate."
"No, this is fine."
"I think holding you would look more intimate."
"Shut up!"
The moment Qin Wei appeared, she became the focus of the entire hall. She was dressed relatively modestly today—after all, it was a wedding, and she couldn't upstage the bride. She wore a blue lapel dress and very little jewelry, trying to keep it low-key. Yet, Qin Wei was naturally beautiful; even with minimal effort, her brilliance was hard to hide.
As soon as Qin Wei arrived, many relatives and friends came to greet her. Seeing her jade-like hand hooked into Lin Chudong’s arm, everyone was quite surprised.
"Weiwei, who is this?"
"My boyfriend, Lin Chudong."
The expressions of those present turned intriguing. Qin Wei was beautiful and a female entrepreneur; there were many eyes on her, and relatives and friends constantly tried to set her up. A boyfriend appearing out of nowhere surprised them.
"Weiwei, does your father know about this?"
Qin Wei said, "That is exactly why I’m introducing him to my father today."
With that, she walked with Lin Chudong toward the family table. They sat down, and Qin Wei said, "Dad, this is my boyfriend, Lin Chudong."
The middle-aged man’s expression shifted instantly. "Qin Wei, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?!"
The middle-aged man looked somewhat similar to Qin Wei around the brows. It was her father, Qin Zhenghao. Seeing that Qin Wei had actually brought a man, Qin Zhenghao’s face was extremely ugly. He had specifically invited Young Master Tian today to introduce him to his daughter. Bringing such a stranger here—how could she be so indecent?
Qin Wei clung to his arm, leaning her head toward him to present an intimate image. "I’m not spouting nonsense. He really is my boyfriend; we’ve already consummated the relationship."
The people at the table changed expressions, and Qin Zhenghao’s eyes widened. "Insolent!"
Qin Zhenghao was furious, but in front of so many relatives and friends, he couldn't scold Qin Wei properly. Just then, a young man walked over and said, "What’s wrong, Uncle Qin? Why are you so angry?"
Seeing the young man, Qin Zhenghao’s expression softened. "Ah, Xiao Tian, you’re here. Sit down."
This was the boyfriend Qin Zhenghao intended for her—Tian Long, a wealthy second-generation heir in the jade trade. After Tian Long took his seat, Qin Zhenghao explained the situation. Tian Long’s expression turned unpredictable, and he stared at Lin Chudong with a hint of hostility.
"I didn't expect Miss Weiwei to have a boyfriend so quickly. I wonder, where does this gentleman work?"
Before Lin Chudong could speak, Qin Wei answered first, "He used to work abroad, and now he’s back to help me at the company." She had prepared the excuse beforehand to prevent Lin Chudong from being the target of their fire.
However, Tian Long was not satisfied with this explanation. "It seems this gentleman is planning to live off a woman?"
Lin Chudong smiled faintly. "Soft rice isn't bad. My doctor told me my stomach isn't good, so I can't digest hard food."
Tian Long let out a cold snort, feeling as though he’d punched into cotton; he was extremely displeased. "As Weiwei’s boyfriend, I wonder, what gift did you give her when you first met?"
Qin Wei said, "There’s nothing I want, so he doesn't need to give me gifts."
Tian Long pulled out a small box and said, "That won't do. How can there be no gift for a first meeting? I have a small token here; please don't refuse it, Weiwei."
Tian Long didn't hand the gift over directly. Instead, he opened the small box to show everyone at the table.
"This is a jade earring. Our Tian Family Jewelry has many branches across Jiangchuan Province. To pick this gift for Weiwei, I traveled to several cities and finally selected this pair."
"These earrings are made from jade excavated during the Ming Dynasty. This piece of jade was used to create only two items: a jade hairpin worn by Empress Ma, and this pair of earrings. It is said that the carvings on the hairpin and these earrings can fit together perfectly. The hairpin is an imperial artifact, so even our Tian family couldn't get it, but this pair of earrings is equally precious. Jewelry for a beauty—only a woman as stunning as Weiwei can carry these off."
With that, he handed the box toward Qin Wei. The relatives sighed in admiration.
"Young Master Tian is too generous; these earrings must be priceless."
"Weiwei is truly blessed; hurry up and thank Young Master Tian."
"I think you two are a perfect match. Marriage is a major life event; it must be between equals in status."
The relatives all spoke in Tian Long’s favor, as they were aligned with Qin Zhenghao. Qin Wei’s expression turned grim; she hadn't expected all the relatives to side with him.
At this moment, Tian Long wore an expression of triumph, looking at Qin Wei with feigned sincerity. "Weiwei, you should take the advice of your uncles. Marriage isn't child's play; family status is very important. If we were to marry, I would invite Liu Fugui, the richest man in Jiangchuan Province, to be our marriage witness."
When Tian Long finished, everyone was startled. "Xiao Tian, you know the richest man?"
Seeing their shocked expressions, Tian Long looked smug. "Of course I do. Not only do I know him, he’s my godfather!"
He had to put on a good show for Qin Wei today. Although he was exaggerating, none of the people present actually knew the richest man, so no one could expose him. As long as he could make Qin Wei feel he was superior and make this fellow surnamed Lin lose face, he would win.
Qin Zhenghao was brimming with excitement. "Xiao Tian, you truly are full of surprises. I never imagined you had that kind of connection. Rest assured, I will make the decision regarding you and Weiwei!"
Qin Wei’s expression changed instantly. "Dad, what nonsense are you talking about? By what right do you make decisions for me?"
Qin Zhenghao snorted. "The commands of parents and the words of matchmakers have been the natural order since ancient times! Enough, say no more. The boyfriend you found—our Qin family will never acknowledge him!"
Qin Wei clenched her fists, her face flushed red. She hadn't expected that even after claiming they had already "cooked the rice," she still couldn't escape the fate of a family political marriage!
Just then, Lin Chudong smiled faintly. It seemed he had to intervene. He pulled out his phone and dialed Liu Fugui’s number. "Hello, have you arrived? You can come in now."
Hearing Lin Chudong make a phone call in front of everyone, Qin Zhenghao frowned slightly. "It’s one thing for you to come here and freeload for food and drink, but you’re bringing friends along too? Do you have no respect for the Qin family at all?"
Lin Chudong replied, "A boss is coming to deliver a gift to me. If you mind, I’ll have him leave in a moment."
Tian Long scoffed, "Who the hell are you that a boss would be delivering gifts to you? Are you here to give us eggs or local produce? Don't you dare bring that to the table; it’ll lower our status."
Qin Wei frowned, a look of worry on her face. Lin Chudong hadn't mentioned anyone coming to deliver a gift. If Tian Long grabbed hold of this, he would definitely make a scene.
Lin Chudong’s lips curled into a playful smirk. "Don't worry, it should be something good." With Liu Fugui involved, he obviously wouldn't bring cheap goods.
Two minutes later, a middle-aged man walked in hurriedly, looking around the hall. Lin Chudong raised his hand to greet him, and Liu Fugui’s eyes lit up as he trotted over. Seeing Liu Fugui’s excited appearance, Tian Long scoffed in disdain. "I didn't expect someone to still be begging you for favors; looks like this guy isn't doing too well either."
Lin Chudong found it funny. *Wasn't he claiming to be the godson of the richest man? How does he not even recognize his own godfather?*
Liu Fugui walked up to the table. "I’m sorry, am I interrupting your meal?"
Lin Chudong said, "It’s fine, sit down. Have a bite."
Liu Fugui’s face lit up with joy. It was an honor to have a meal with Lin Chudong. Back in Myanmar, he had witnessed Lin Chudong’s true strength firsthand. Being friends with Lin Chudong was something he was truly humbled by.
After Liu Fugui sat down, Qin Zhenghao was deeply displeased. "You surnamed Lin! Didn't you hear what I just said? You coming here to freeload is one thing, but this is the Qin family’s wedding banquet, not a place for you to entertain your friends!"
Tian Long sneered, "Doesn't it cost money to entertain friends elsewhere? Eating at a wedding banquet is free, and the food is high quality. Weiwei, your boyfriend’s calculations are quite meticulous indeed."
Qin Wei’s brows were furrowed. Though Lin Chudong had many flaws, he wasn't the type to bring friends to a wedding banquet just to freeload. This friend of his felt familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen him.
Lin Chudong said, "Weren't you going to give me a gift? Bring it out. I still owe my girlfriend a first-meeting gift; I’ll make up for it now."
Liu Fugui hurriedly took a beautiful sandalwood box from his chest pocket. "Mr. Lin, what a coincidence—this item is absolutely perfect for your girlfriend."
The box opened, and a deep green jade hairpin appeared in everyone’s view. Everyone knew that green jade was the most valuable; they had never seen a hairpin with such excellent coloring before.