This flower has such a pungent scent that I feel a bit nauseous.
Suddenly, a plan flashed through her mind.
Fang Li was Lin Yichen’s personal assistant, so he would certainly be well-informed about the research department’s affairs. Escorting her home was perfect—she could seize the chance to probe for information. But...
As Xiao Qi opened the car door, she was in for a disappointment: President Lin was already seated inside. Could she just refuse to get in now?
Lin Yichen was tapping away at the laptop balanced on his knees. He glanced up at her and spoke in a brisk tone, “Get in quickly. I’m busy—I don’t have time to waste.”
“...”
If you’re so busy, why are you giving me a ride?
As if reading her thoughts, he said, “I have a client to meet. It’s on the way.”
So, he was implying she was just hitching a ride. Lin Yichen continued, “When I get off midway, Fang Li will take you the rest of the way home.”
Left with no choice, she obediently climbed in.
Once inside, Xiao Qi’s large eyes darted about, silently wishing the man beside her would hurry up and get out. Yichen was engrossed in his laptop, and the only sound in the car was the rhythmic tapping of keys.
She muttered inwardly, Stop typing, just leave already! I’m so anxious = =
Fang Li, driving, glanced at the rearview mirror and caught Lin Yichen’s gaze. He nodded, understanding the signal instantly.
Yichen pressed his lips together in satisfaction.
Next to him, Xiao Qi appeared calm, but her mind was rapidly analyzing the situation. When would Lin Yichen get out? Was he tricking her? What if they reached her destination and he hadn’t gotten off yet? Wouldn’t that waste a lot of her time? = =
Just as Xiao Qi was lost in thought, the car stopped.
Before she could react, the driver was already out. By the time she came to her senses, Fang Li had vanished.
Xiao Qi: “...”
These two—it was obvious they had conspired together.
Looking up, she realized they had arrived at her family’s restaurant.
No matter, she thought. Worst case, she could use her superpower for a quick return to TC.
“Um, President Lin, thank you for giving me a ride. I’ll get out now!”
She finished speaking and immediately opened the door to get out.
Just as she stepped out, her hand was seized.
Nervous and irritated again, having been tricked and now held, she protested, “President Lin, just say it—what exactly do you want?”
Yichen fixed her with a mischievous smile, “Don’t you know what I want?”
“...”
She blurted out, “Pervert!”
Lin Yichen laughed, “Desire is a man’s nature. A man without desire is useless.”
“...”
Xiao Qi felt herself on the verge of stamping her feet.
She shook her hand, “Let go.”
Yichen refused, knowing if he did, she’d run off immediately.
Xiao Qi grew truly angry, “Let go of me.”
Her words carried enough force to be heard from a thousand miles away.
Yichen, unfazed by her glare, smiled, “Don’t be so angry, or you’ll lose your beauty.”
“...”
Xiao Qi was so angry she almost laughed, “I’m naturally beautiful—no matter what, I’m still pretty.”
Yichen mused, “Not pure enough.”
Hearing that, Xiao Qi bristled, gritting her teeth, “How am I not pure and pretty?”
Yichen replied with a smile, “When compared to you, ‘pure and pretty’ sounds bland—two words are dull, three words are insipid.”
“...”
She was being praised for no reason.
Lin Yichen continued, “Compared to you, ‘pure and pretty’ can only secretly envy.”
Had he taken leave of his senses?
But being complimented, Xiao Qi’s anger dissipated.
Yichen gazed at her thoughtfully, “You look far too much like a temptress. See, you’ve already bewitched me into coming here.”
“...”
“You—you’re saying I’m a temptress?” She was so annoyed she could barely speak.
Yichen glanced at her, “A temptress is better than you. You’re better than a pig.”
“...”
Did he just call her a pig?!
“Lin Yichen, you—you’re outrageous!”
He raised an eyebrow, “Outrageous to you—got a problem with that?”
“...”
Xiao Qi was so furious she couldn’t express it in words. She wanted to thump her chest, stomp her feet, rage, even commit murder.
Ah! She wanted to kill this inhuman creature.
Watching Xiao Qi’s stormy expression, he couldn’t help but smile.
Teasing her like this put him in a great mood!
It was as if he’d gone back five years.
After a while, Xiao Qi calmed down.
Even as she raged, her mind was spinning.
Then...
She tilted her face up, “Did you know? I overheard someone at your company calling you inhuman!”
He responded calmly, “Who?”
Xiao Qi threw his words back at him, “Not telling you—got a problem with that?”
“No problem,” Yichen smiled wickedly, “If they call me so handsome I’m not human, I certainly don’t mind.”
“...”
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Indeed, this guy’s skin was thicker than a city wall.
Well, he really was absurdly handsome = =
Yichen took her hand and headed toward the restaurant, “Come on, I’ll walk you in.”
Xiao Qi pulled back, “I don’t want to...”
“Want to do something right here?”
“...”
Yichen continued, “Not like you don’t do it often—still shy?”
???
Xiao Qi didn’t immediately understand what he meant by “do.”
Yichen, noticing her confusion, clarified, “I mean skin-to-skin contact.”
“...”
Xiao Qi’s face flushed instantly, and she grew angry again.
“You—you—you’re slandering me!”
She was so flustered she could barely speak.
Yichen replied composedly, “Slandering you, so what?”
Xiao Qi: “...”
She couldn’t match his shamelessness, but she wasn’t going to take it lying down.
So...
In the next moment!
Xiao Qi, furious, bent down and bit his wrist.
He didn’t even flinch.
Yichen looked at the bite mark, pondered a moment, then smiled, “Hmm, I’ve stamped you several times—you ought to return the gesture.”
Then, he pressed his lips to the mark, “Returning the stamp.”
Xiao Qi: “...”
She was utterly defeated, “President Lin, do you realize how thick-skinned you are?”
Lin Yichen nodded serenely, “I didn’t, but now that you’ve told me, I do.”
“...”
Yichen saw her face was nearly askew with frustration and smiled, returning to business, “Anyway, tonight I’ll take you out for your favorite foie gras.”
What?
Why suddenly talk about food?
Yichen looked at her, “Not agreeing?”
Definitely a threatening tone.
Mention food, and Xiao Qi immediately agreed.
But this man was a wolf—a lecherous wolf, at that.
She wanted to say no, to show some backbone...
Yichen wasn’t annoyed. He said leisurely, “In my office, you voluntarily stamped me. I’m a magnanimous CEO, so for your voluntary stamp, I must return it, double, as befits a leader.”
???
Before Xiao Qi could process his words, Lin Yichen extended his long arms and pinned her against the car door.
“You—”
Before she could say anything, he sealed her lips.
Although he’d hugged, held, and kissed her by force before, never against a car door... and out in the open...
Luckily, no one was around.
She struggled with arms and legs, but it was futile.
There’s a saying:
When two clash, the brave wins; when the brave meet, the wise prevails.
With Lin Yichen’s strength and cunning, Xiao Qi was powerless to resist from start to finish!
She could only let him do as he pleased, and then end it as best she could.
Just as Xiao Qi felt her waist would snap and her lips go numb, Lin Yichen finally released her, still reluctant.
Xiao Qi immediately bit his hand hard.
As if she wouldn’t stop until she drew blood.
But she couldn’t really dare bite that hard—she only left a clear dental imprint.
Yichen looked down, seeming quite satisfied with the bite mark, fingers rubbing the spot, “Isn’t it always tit for tat, stamp for stamp? Did you stamp the wrong place?”
Xiao Qi: “...”
Why did she have to run into such a CEO?
Yichen ignored her thunderous anger and, a bit sternly, said, “This time, you bit me—I, as a magnanimous CEO, won’t hold it against you. But I’m a businessman, and businessmen never make a loss, so from now on, every time you bite me, I’ll kiss you once. It’s a good deal—you profit.”
“...”
Clearly a cold, aloof CEO—why was he so shameless and teasing with her?
Xiao Qi was nearly spitting blood in anger.
Lin Yichen smiled, finally letting go of her hand, “Alright, I’m busy, no time to fool around. I’ll pick you up tonight—go inside!”
“...”
Still fuming, Xiao Qi went in.
Yichen watched as the lights came on in her room, then looked away.
Teasing her like this—wonderful!
Xiao Qi flopped onto her bed, thinking, Why get so angry? I’m not Ye Xiyang, so his lewdness isn’t aimed at me—no need to get upset.
Then she remembered the signal device. Since he’d already taken advantage of her, she couldn’t let it go to waste.
So tonight’s dinner was necessary—she had to get close to him to have a chance at the signal device.
But him picking her up wasn’t ideal—her aunt might misunderstand.
Thinking this, Xiao Qi immediately called Yichen. He took a while to answer, and before picking up, she heard him say “hold on” in English.
“Hello.”
“You said you’d treat me to dinner tonight—no need to go out of your way to pick me up. Where should we meet? I’m free now—I’ll walk over, it’s good for my health!”
He easily guessed her motives.
Fine, let her have her way this time.
“East Street—there’s a lakeside there. We’ll meet there.”
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“Alright!”
Xiao Qi checked her watch—three-thirty. Still an hour and a half before he finished work.
She decided to head to East Street first.
With nothing else to do, Xiao Qi walked there.
East Street wasn’t far—walking would take at most forty minutes.
But she stopped and started along the way.
After two rounds of forty minutes, she was almost there.
Looking up, she could see East Street in the distance.
She spotted a man leaning against a car, and beside him were thick willow trees.
How did he get here already?
But driving only took ten minutes or so.
Arriving now was about right.
Seeing the scene before her, she paused. The green branches hung low, swaying gently, the setting sun lay halfway on the horizon, brilliant rays streaking out, and the man standing atop the peak looked aloof and extraordinary.
Goodness, this man was handsome beyond compare.
Lin Yichen wore a white suit, calmly leaning against the car. Even from afar, Xiao Qi could see his ink-dark hair.
Why was he wearing white today?
She remembered that his suits were always dark.
Xiao Qi moved forward, but for some reason, her pace was hesitant.
The man by the car seemed to sense her and looked up.
Their gazes met, unplanned.
Under the impact of his clear, deep eyes, Xiao Qi slowed even further.
Yichen stood quietly, and the aura in that area felt different—an elegant detachment from the world.
Willows brushed by the wind.
The man, slender and graceful as bamboo.
A calm, patient stance.
He looked like a tranquil yet wickedly charming figure, isolated from the world.
She looked up again, meeting his gaze.
He continued to watch her, his eyes clear and intent.
Xiao Qi knew he was waiting for her to approach.
Her heart felt as if something had bumped it, but she immediately smothered the feeling before it could sprout.
Don’t be so narcissistic.
In his eyes, I’m Ye Xiyang.
She looked away, but his gaze remained, and she could clearly feel it.
Unable to withstand the pressure of his prolonged attention, she braced herself and quickened her steps.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
...
She arrived.
“When did you get here?” she asked.
He merely looked at her, offering no reply.
Xiao Qi raised her eyes in puzzlement, staring up at him—sunset fragments flickered in his eyes, making them look unreal and gentle, his posture tranquil and patient...
Oh my, why was he looking at her like that?
It made her nervous, made her heart pound as if it would burst.
She spoke to him, but he didn’t answer.
Just kept looking at her—it was so unsettling!
He’d been teasing her earlier that afternoon, and now he wore the calm demeanor of a chrysanthemum.
Feeling awkward, Xiao Qi lowered her head, deeply embarrassed.
He simply watched, saying nothing. What was she supposed to do?
Should she quietly slip away?
No, no, if she left, the signal device would be out of reach.
Lost in thought, Xiao Qi couldn’t help but glance up at him again, only to see Yichen’s lips curve slightly, his dark eyes holding a hint of amusement.
Then she heard his voice.
“Xiyang, do you like roses?”
What?
Yichen walked to the trunk, opened it, and took out a huge bouquet of roses.
He handed them to Xiao Qi, “First time I’ve bought you flowers—do you like them?”
Xiao Qi hugged the massive bouquet, the vivid red petals dazzling, the scent overwhelming.
She inhaled.
Then...
She sneezed several times.
She shoved the flowers back at him, “They smell so strong, I feel nauseous.”
Yichen: “...”
Then, belatedly, he realized his face had darkened.
And belatedly, she noticed the stares around them, growing more obvious.
People were looking at them from all sides.
Yichen ignored the onlookers, shoved the bouquet at her, “Even if you feel sick, take it.”
“...”
His first time giving her flowers, and she didn’t want them.
Back in college, she always said he never gave her flowers.
He used to think, after graduation he’d marry her and give her a wedding in a sea of flowers.
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