"Brother, your girlfriend just sent us some food. It’s Japanese cuisine." Qiao An’s voice was exceptionally tender at that moment.
Gu Jingxing set his pen down, his expression as indifferent as ever. "So?"
Qiao An twirled a strand of her hair with her finger, her peach-blossom eyes bright and shimmering. "She’s openly winning people over in your company. Doesn't that bother you?"
"Why would it bother me?"
Qiao An pursed her lips. "Her motives aren't pure."
As she spoke, she straightened up, walked around the desk to Gu Jingxing’s side, and sat right on his lap. "Once the people here decide she’s the mistress of the house, your company secrets won't be safe anymore, will they?"
Gu Jingxing looked at her with a sneer, his gaze hiding a cold edge. "You are trying to teach me how to guard against my own girlfriend."
"Shh," Qiao An pressed her index finger against Gu Jingxing’s lips. "Girlfriend, fiancée, wife—these are just labels. Relationships change, and people betray, but money never does."
Gu Jingxing reached out with his right hand and rested it on the small of her back. His index and middle fingers traced back and forth along the dimple above her hips. "Qiao An, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"I'm not doing anything. I just love you, Brother, and I want what's best for you." Qiao An snuggled up to him like a cat, nuzzling against his neck. "If only you could break up with her for me. But if you can't..."
"And if I can't? What do you plan to do?"
Qiao An parted her lips to capture his earlobe, pressing her body against him without a sliver of space between them. Her breath was sweet as an orchid. "If you can't, then I just hope you’ll hide me away and cherish me."
"Is that all?" Gu Jingxing narrowed his eyes.
Qiao An’s hand slid down his chest, her fingers twirling around his belt buckle. She let out a low laugh. "Of course."
That wasn't all.
Gu Jingxing laughed as he pushed her away.
But that smile was sharp and cruel, enough to make one’s scalp tingle.
Just as Qiao An was about to speak again, footsteps suddenly sounded outside, and the office door was pushed open with a bang. "Why was the door closed?"
Almost the moment the door was pushed open, Qiao An slipped under the desk like a slick fish, sliding right along Gu Jingxing’s legs.
Lin Xi walked in holding a fruit platter. "I checked downstairs and bought some blueberries and mangosteens. Have a taste."
"Alright." Gu Jingxing rested his hands on his stomach, leaned back, and looked down at Qiao An under the desk, his lips curving into a wicked smile.
Lin Xi continued, "I sent the bodyguards back. I’ll keep you company while you finish working overtime. Will you take me home later?"
"I can do that."
Qiao An tugged on Gu Jingxing’s pant leg and gave it a shake.
Seeing that Gu Jingxing didn't react, she rested her slender fingers on the inside of his thigh, moving them slowly upward along the seam of his trousers.
She raised an eyebrow, a gesture of both threat and provocation.
Gu Jingxing pulled his gaze away, picked up a blueberry with a fork, and held it to Lin Xi’s lips. "Someone came to see me just now and said that you sending dinner to the staff is just a way to win people over."
Lin Xi, who had been beaming at Gu Jingxing’s rare display of tenderness, frowned immediately.
She bit down, and the blueberry burst between her lips. "Who said that? How could I possibly!"
At the base of his thigh, a soft patch of skin was pinched and twisted, though not with full force.
Gu Jingxing lowered his left hand and clamped down on her slender wrist, continuing, "She said that a girlfriend, a fiancée, or a wife might all betray me, but money never will."
Qiao An was so angry she dug her nails into his palm. Seeing that Gu Jingxing wouldn't let go, she simply grabbed his fingers and pulled them down, biting into the web of his hand.
Gu Jingxing’s body stiffened for a second before he held perfectly still.
Lin Xi was furious and didn't notice anything unusual about Gu Jingxing. "Who is trying to sow discord between us? How could they make such malicious assumptions about me? Jingxing, call them in here; I want to confront them!"
Lin Xi’s eyes grew red, her face flushed with the shame and anger of being misunderstood. "You know what kind of person I am. If it weren't for worrying about you being busy with work, I wouldn't have stepped foot in the Gu Group even once.
"I’m just a painter; why would I need to win people over? So your staff can help me mix pigments and set up easels?
"Whoever said that is just too bullying."
As she spoke, the corners of Lin Xi’s eyes grew damp, tears threatening to fall, looking both stubborn and wronged.
Gu Jingxing extended his right hand and pulled her fingers toward him.
Once she was close, he lowered his head and kissed the back of her hand, sighing, "It was just a joke."
From the gap under the desk, Qiao An saw his movement and bit down even harder.
Gu Jingxing’s thumb moved, his fingertip pressing firmly against her upper lip, pushing down.
Qiao An was forced to open her mouth slightly, releasing his hand, which was now damp with saliva.
Nearby, Lin Xi pulled out a tissue to wipe her tears. "Who makes jokes like that?"
Gu Jingxing laughed and rubbed her fingertips with his right hand.
It was a gesture of intimacy, of comfort.
Lin Xi’s expression softened, the tears in her eyes dispersing, replaced by a touch of shyness.
Gu Jingxing withdrew his hand and pointed to the corner of his own eye. "Your eye makeup seems to have smudged."
"Oh," Lin Xi blinked rapidly, covering her eyes with her hands like a child. "Really? Does it look bad?"
"Not bad, but..." Gu Jingxing smiled, "Do you want to go touch up your makeup?"
Lin Xi nodded quickly, turned, and ran into the lounge hidden behind the bookshelf.
The moment she was gone, Gu Jingxing’s smile vanished. He pulled back his left hand, grabbed several tissues, and wiped away the smear of lipstick on his hand.
Qiao An folded her hands over Gu Jingxing’s knee, her voice coy and wheedling, "Brother, you aren't being very honest."
Gu Jingxing looked down at her. "How so?"
"Were you trying to scare Miss Lin?"
Gu Jingxing watched her in silence for a moment, then shifted his gaze and pushed her aside with his foot.
Qiao An had been squatting on the floor for a while, and her legs were numb. When he pushed her, she tumbled to the floor.
"Get out," Gu Jingxing said coldly.
Qiao An pursed her lips, muttered "How boring," and crawled out from under the desk.
She didn't leave immediately, instead leaning against the desk to massage her leg.
She deliberately hiked up her skirt, exposing her long, fair legs, and let them sway in Gu Jingxing’s peripheral vision for a long moment.
"Take this with you," Gu Jingxing said suddenly.
Qiao An turned her head. "Hm?"
"This," Gu Jingxing pointed at the fruit platter on the desk with his pen, "take it away."
"But Miss Lin bought that especially for you."
Gu Jingxing’s tone was as harsh as ever. "Eat it if you want, throw it away if you don't."
Qiao An arched a brow and picked up the platter. "Then, I’ll take it?"
Gu Jingxing didn't even look at her.
Qiao An gave his cheek a quick kiss and walked out with the platter.
...
Inside the lounge.
As soon as Lin Xi entered, the shyness and tenderness on her face vanished, her gaze turning exceptionally dark.
She walked to the sink and looked at her expressionless reflection in the mirror, taking several deep breaths to suppress the anger roiling in her heart.
It took her a few minutes to calm down. After quickly fixing her makeup, she pushed open the door and stepped out of the lounge.
Her face had returned to a dignified and indifferent expression.
When she walked to the desk, Lin Xi noticed the fruit platter she had bought was gone.
"Oh? Jingxing, where is the fruit I bought for you?"
"Jibai took it to eat."
Lin Xi smiled. "If he wanted some, he could have just asked. I would have bought an extra portion instead of him stealing yours."
Gu Jingxing pulled her to his side, his arm around her waist. "Mm, you can talk to him about it later."
Lin Xi leaned into his lap, resting against him.
Standing outside the door, Qiao An watched through the sliver of the ajar door. Her red lips curled upward as she reached out and popped a blueberry into her mouth.
With a light bite, it burst.