Gu Jingxing scoffed. Ignoring the soft, warm body in his arms, he held his phone between two fingers and pushed her away.
"When you decide what you want, contact me." As he walked out the door, he tossed a business card onto the floor.
Half an hour later.
Qiao An arrived home and buried her face in her best friend’s arms. "Yan, I'm back."
Yan Shi immediately set aside her chips and pulled Qiao An close. As she leaned in, she suddenly caught the faint scent of sandalwood on her.
Yan Shi frowned. "Babe, why do you smell like... that dog of a boss?"
Qiao An recounted what had happened at the hotel.
Yan Shi’s face tightened. "You didn't sell me out, did you?"
"Of course not," Qiao An rolled her eyes at her. "I'm not stupid."
Yan Shi worked at Gu Group as an assistant in Gu Jingxing’s office and had accompanied him on this business trip to Burton. It was also she who had tipped Qiao An off that Gu Jingxing would be attending an alumni gathering before returning home.
Yan Shi gave a dry laugh. "I was just worried you might slip up."
Recalling the mistake she had just made, Qiao An offered a quiet, bitter smile, her eyes filled with self-mockery. For a while, the only sound in the room was the television.
"I’m flying back with you guys tomorrow," Qiao An said suddenly.
Yan Shi’s expression turned somber. "Do you really have to? Don't you need to prepare for your thesis and the graduation showcase? It’s just a man—can we not get so hung up on him?"
Qiao An closed her eyes and murmured, "He is more important."
Yan Shi hadn't expected her friend to be such a romantic fool. Just as she was about to talk her out of it, she saw Qiao An pull out her phone and book a ticket.
"...An'an, you’ve already slept with him. Isn't that enough? Gu Jingxing is definitely going to marry Lin Xi. What can you possibly achieve by following him back?"
Qiao An didn't even look up; she reached up and touched her empty left earlobe. "That was the past. But now that I’m here, things might not be so certain."
Seeing how stubborn she was, Yan Shi secretly sent a message to Jin Qingzhou.
"Uncle, please come save your love-struck niece!"
...
It was already dawn by the time Gu Jingxing returned to the hotel where they were staying.
The door card clicked.
When he pushed the door open, the room that should have been pitch black was brightly lit. Lin Xi was sitting on the living room sofa, wearing her pajamas.
Gu Jingxing paused, then reached back and pulled the door shut, leaving it slightly ajar. "Why are you here?"
Lin Xi’s room was next door.
"You're back?" Lin Xi stood up. "I lost my phone and was worried you wouldn't be able to reach me, so I came to check. Who knew you’d be out all night?"
"The reception just ended."
"Did you have fun?" Lin Xi stepped forward, reaching out to help him with his jacket.
"No need." Gu Jingxing stepped aside to avoid her. Seeing Lin Xi freeze in surprise, he softened his tone. "I smell like alcohol; I don’t want it to rub off on you."
Lin Xi put her smile back on.
The man added, "Your phone is with Chen Wang."
"So that’s where I left it."
Gu Jingxing took off his jacket and tossed it onto the sofa. "It's late. You should go back and get some rest. We have all day to go shopping before we head back tomorrow morning."
The suit jacket landed on the sofa. It didn't smell of alcohol, but rather emitted a faint, lingering fragrance—the scent of toiletries common in chain hotels, which was different from the one used by their hotel.
Lin Xi narrowed her eyes. "Did you shower while you were out?"
"What?" Gu Jingxing was undoing his shirt buttons and hadn't heard clearly.
"...Nothing." Lin Xi’s voice dropped.
Her gaze, however, remained involuntarily fixed on Gu Jingxing, searching for any flaws.
Gu Jingxing unbuttoned a few more, revealing his bronzed chest muscles beneath the fabric. His shirt was neat, and there were no traces of intimacy on his neck or chest.
Had she been mistaken?
Lin Xi’s long lashes flickered as she steadied herself and walked toward him. She reached out and hooked her arms around his waist. "I ran into He Li today."
He Li was their high school classmate who had immigrated to Burton five years ago.
Gu Jingxing rested his hands loosely on her waist. "Oh?"
"She’s six months pregnant. She came to see me today specifically to ask when we were planning to have a child." Lin Xi’s voice was soft and gentle, laced with a hint of grievance. As she spoke, she pressed her body completely into Gu Jingxing’s chest.
Her silk pajamas felt cool against the man’s scorching skin, carrying the scent of a ripe peach. "What do you think?"
Gu Jingxing’s eyes remained calm as he gently pushed her away. As their skin parted, his voice was low and filled with helplessness. "Didn't we say we would discuss this later?"
Lin Xi looked up at him, her pale, slender fingers tracing his chest line downward, eventually hooking onto the zipper of his trousers. She sighed, frustrated by his lack of romantic interest. "Jingxing, I’m just physically weak, not made of porcelain. You don’t have to keep holding back just to spare me. We—"
Gu Jingxing rubbed her wrists, then pressed a warm, soothing kiss to her forehead. "I don't want to risk it. Go to sleep."
Lin Xi gripped his sleeve, unwilling to give up. "Jingxing, we are engaged; sooner or later, we will—"
"I’m tired," Gu Jingxing said, leaning against her shoulder to prevent her from pressing closer. "Be good."
Seeing the resolve in his eyes, Lin Xi had no choice but to give up.
Gu Jingxing took the voice recorder out of his pocket and placed it on the coffee table. He took off his shirt, tossed it aside, and turned to walk into the bathroom.
Lin Xi watched him close the bathroom door, then looked at the recorder on the table. She hesitated for a few seconds, but ultimately didn't touch it. Instead, she bent down to pick up the shirt on the floor.
*Clack.*
Something fell out.
Something glittered in the pile of the light camel-colored wool rug.
Looking closely, it was a white moonstone earring, carved into the shape of a pomegranate flower.
...
The next morning, as soon as Qiao An arrived at the airport, she received a complaint from Yan Shi.
"Are the rich really this intense? Having a meeting while waiting for a flight!"
An attached photo showed Gu Jingxing discussing something with his staff, while Lin Xi stood not far away, looking quite displeased.
Qiao An put her phone away and dragged her suitcase into the waiting lounge.
The moment she stepped through the door, the men’s gazes locked onto her.
Her raven-like lashes fluttered gently, casting thin shadows on her cheeks. Her exquisite features, porcelain skin, large and watery eyes, and an expression of clear innocence were captivating. Even in a conservative suit, it couldn't hide her stunning silhouette. Every movement she made was alluring without being vulgar.
Pure yet seductive.
A femme fatale.
That was the only word that jumped into the men's minds.
"Boss, she’s top-tier!" Chen Wang walked over to Gu Jingxing, nudging his shoulder, and involuntarily swallowed hard. "Is she walking toward me? Oh my god, she’s smiling at me!"
Gu Jingxing’s cold gaze held a trace of disdain.
Lin Xi frowned and stepped forward, hooking her arm through his. "Jingxing, why do I get the feeling she’s... walking toward you?"
Before Gu Jingxing could answer, Qiao An had already walked up to them. Her fluffy, soft hair hung naturally, swaying slightly with her breathing.
Qiao An extended her hand toward Gu Jingxing with graceful ease. "Senior, we meet again."
Her voice was so sweet it made Chen Wang’s heart itch.
Gu Jingxing remained motionless.
After waiting in vain for a response, Qiao An tilted her head innocently and looked at Lin Xi. "You must be... the senior’s girlfriend, right? Hello, I’m Qiao An."