Qiao An wore a pair of grey pinstriped trousers paired with a white, bubble-sleeved lace blouse today. The outfit was a blend of playfulness and professionalism, yet it did nothing to hide her graceful curves; it only emphasized her long legs, slim waist, and shapely figure.
Qiao An didn’t reply. Gu Jingxing simply opened the front passenger door. "Get in."
"I won't."
Gu Jingxing shot her a sharp look.
Qiao An huffed indignantly, but she climbed into the car anyway. "You’re just taking advantage of the fact that I dote on you!"
Gu Jingxing gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. As soon as she slammed the door, he stepped on the gas and sped away.
The car, a high-performance machine, arrived at a secluded club within minutes. Gu Jingxing stepped out without a word, and Qiao An followed him straight to a private suite on the top floor.
Once the door closed, the room felt cut off from the rest of the world, leaving only the sound of their breathing. Gu Jingxing sat on the sofa, resting his hands on the armrests. His dark eyes held an inscrutable light, cutting into her like a blade. "Qiao An, don't try to challenge me."
Qiao An set her bag aside and walked toward him. She rested her hands on his shoulders, rose slightly onto her toes, kicked off her heels, and sat on his lap with her legs curled.
The man’s gaze deepened.
Qiao An acted as if she hadn't noticed. "President Gu, Senior, Big Brother—which form of address do you prefer?"
Gu Jingxing remained still.
Qiao An leaned closer, pressing her abdomen against his. "Or perhaps... darling?"
"Qiao An!"
Qiao An suddenly leaned in and kissed the corner of his mouth. "Big Brother, how is that a challenge? Is it a crime to like someone?"
Gu Jingxing’s features were striking, his dark eyes revealing a cold, ascetic chill. Just as Qiao An thought he was about to speak again—
*Slap!*
A hand landed on her cheek.
He hadn't used his full strength, but Qiao An’s face was still forced to the side. A red mark quickly bloomed across her fair, delicate skin. It wasn't unsightly; in the hazy light of the suite, it even made her look pitifully adorable, as if she were begging to be tormented.
Qiao An kept her head turned, closing her eyes and taking several deep breaths to suppress her surging rage. She had been pampered like a precious gem since she was a child; when had she ever endured such humiliation? If it weren't for her revenge, she would have torn this dog of a man apart with her teeth!
Gritting her teeth, Qiao An turned back to face him, wearing a look of adoration and vulnerability once more. "Senior, I’m telling you the truth. I gave you my first time and gave up my graduation to return to the country for you. Isn’t that enough to prove my sincerity? I don't even want anything; I just want to be by your side. Can't you just treat me like a little plaything? When you remember me, you can coax me, and if you don't want to touch me, I won’t force you. Is that not allowed?"
Qiao An lowered her eyes, her long, thick lashes damp with tears, as if a single disdainful snort from him would make them fall.
The man’s bony fingers gripped her chin, forcing her to lift her head so their eyes met. Gu Jingxing’s face was filled with undisguised contempt.
Just then, Gu Jingxing’s phone rang.
Qiao An’s soft, boneless hand reached for his pocket, her fingers sliding over his abdominal muscles through the lining of his suit and shirt in a highly suggestive manner. Before Gu Jingxing could lose his temper, she pulled the phone out and held it up to him.
"Big Brother, you have a call."
The name "Lin Xi" was flashing brightly on the screen.
Qiao An’s fingers were fair, slender, and exceptionally beautiful. Her fingertips were a healthy peach-pink, with little crescent moons at the base of her nails, which were meticulously trimmed into rounded, neat, and cute arcs. She held her palms open, steadying the phone with her palms and offering it toward him.
Gu Jingxing said nothing, merely shrouding her in a silent gaze. For a moment, the only sound in the quiet suite was the buzzing of the incoming call.
After a while, the man emitted a low, hoarse, and cryptic monosyllable: "Not fighting to answer it this time?"
She hadn't been this calm back at the Zhouxi Hotel.
Qiao An was slightly startled, then her face filled with grievance. She looked at him with a timid, accusatory gaze, her lips pressed tightly together. She looked as if she were being bullied.
The phone continued to buzz.
Just as Qiao An was about to speak, Gu Jingxing finally moved. The man’s dry, large palm, radiating scorching body heat, covered her mouth, while his other hand tapped the side of his ear. The phone screen immediately switched to an active call.
"Hello."
Qiao An realized then that Gu Jingxing had been wearing an earpiece the whole time. Oh, guarding against her, were you?
Qiao An wasn't annoyed. Instead, her eyes curved into crescents. She kept supporting the phone with her left hand and reached out with her right index finger to tap the screen. The phone immediately popped up mode options: Earpiece, Handset, Speakerphone.
Under Gu Jingxing’s gaze, Qiao An openly and decisively tapped "Speakerphone."
Lin Xi’s voice instantly rippled through the suite.
"Jingxing, why haven't you come back yet? Auntie and I have been waiting for you for so long." The woman’s sweet voice was laced with a sugary, coquettish complaint.
"I’m busy. I'll be back later."
The man’s gaze was locked on Qiao An’s face, and his voice remained his usual calm, waveless self. He was lying through his teeth, yet he sounded as steady as if he were presiding over an academic conference.
That simply wouldn't do.
Qiao An raised her right hand to his shoulder. A second later, Gu Jingxing felt his palm go wet—warm, small, repetitive touches.
Gu Jingxing’s aura plummeted. He tightened his grip, his thumb pressing firmly against Qiao An’s chin to force her to keep her mouth shut. His eyes were fierce.
Lin Xi continued, "Don't push yourself so hard. Work is never-ending. Are you caught up in something? You’re usually so punctual... huh?"
She paused for a few seconds. When she spoke again, her voice held a hint of suspicion. "Jingxing, are you at... Starlight?"
Starlight Club was exactly where they were.
Qiao An felt Gu Jingxing’s breath hitch. A few seconds later, the man released his grip on her. He took the phone with one hand, while the other quickly switched back to earpiece mode and began tapping the screen. His eyes flashed with a flickering light, as if he were scrolling rapidly, his fingers dragging down the screen repeatedly.
Qiao An’s eyes darted, and she leaned forward onto his shoulder. A glance at his screen revealed that Gu Jingxing was quickly browsing his app library, stopping only when he found a couple-location app with a hidden icon.
He long-pressed it and deleted it.
*Hmm?*
The legendary "perfect couple" didn't seem so harmonious after all. Qiao An’s mood improved subtly.
She tilted her head, leaned in, and opened her mouth to capture the red mole on his throat.
Gu Jingxing was distracted for a moment and didn't notice her action. When his skin was enveloped by her warm, moist mouth, his body felt like dry firewood ignited by a spark, and dormant memories rushed back in an instant.
Almost subconsciously, Gu Jingxing reached up to grab the back of her neck, wanting to tear her away from his embrace.
Qiao An moved first, wrapping her arms tightly around his shoulders, even bolder than before. The patch of skin at his throat felt like it had been doused in lava, the heat leaving him with a desert-like thirst. The tendons in his hand stood out, and his eyes, usually cold and dead, were now burning with a Raging Fire.
For a moment, he couldn't tell if he wanted to tear her off or press her closer.
Yet, the more intense his physical reaction became, the calmer his mind grew.
A moment later, Gu Jingxing released her neck. His right thumb flicked against his index finger, and the wide black ring he had worn for years slid off.
"How did you know I was at Starlight?"
His body was burning like a fire, but his voice remained as harsh as a blizzard.
In the few seconds before Lin Xi replied, Gu Jingxing withdrew his right arm from behind Qiao An’s back and inserted it between them. As his right hand brushed her chin, his forearm applied force.
Qiao An was instantly pushed out of his embrace, her body instinctively arching backward. She reached out to grab his right hand to steady herself, but Gu Jingxing seized the opportunity to twist his wrist, using his index finger to push the warm, wide ring into her mouth.