Chapter 24: Exposed

Jian Qing felt that this was the most comfortable meal she’d had since Ren Yishan arrived.
There was no father’s admonition, no Ren Yishan’s scheming, no Xiao Yuncheng’s hesitant silence.
With the lingering taste of food in her mouth and a man of striking beauty before her, Jian Qing was thoroughly at ease—
Faced with a man like Number 33, Jian Qing admitted for the first time that her resolve might not withstand temptation.

“Are you finished?”
She elegantly dabbed the cream from the corner of her lips, her lipstick blooming into a soft pink, her beauty outshining even the flowers.
Li Jingche reflexively licked his own lips, then rose and moved behind her, pulling out her chair when she stood:
“I’m not full yet. I’ll eat more when we get back.”
“There won’t be any food at home. Ren Yishan and the others have engagements tonight, so Uncle Qian will have to cook for you again.”
Jian Qing was preoccupied with Yan Jin and Miss Shuang’s jewelry designs, not noticing the covetous glint in Li Jingche’s eyes as he spoke.
He lightly tugged her hair, his words full of implication:
“A two hundred thousand yuan meal is far more worthwhile than this one.”

It wasn’t until they left together that Jian Qing realized what he meant.
Her cheeks flushed; afraid they’d run into Ren Yishan and the others, she pulled Li Jingche downstairs.
As they descended the spiral staircase, a steady rhythm of high heels echoed behind them.
Before Jian Qing could react, she was suddenly pressed against the wall, Li Jingche’s hand covering her face.
Then, his kiss fell upon her lips—delicate and lingering.
Her eyes widened in disbelief; Number 33 was kissing her so boldly in public. She struggled, but was trapped in the corner, her face ablaze, the corners of her eyes moist.

Her heart thundered wildly, and her whispered “Don’t” melted half into the wind, half into his mouth, laden with reckless tenderness and desire.

It wasn’t encouragement, yet it only emboldened Li Jingche further.

When someone accompanied by the general manager passed by on the stairs, Li Jingche finally lifted his head, savoring the silver thread that connected them, his breath heavy.

“What… What do you want?”
Jian Qing turned her face away, straightened her clothes, and acted as if nothing had happened as she continued downstairs.
Li Jingche rested one hand on the banister, strolling leisurely behind her:
“I want.”
She paused, nearly stumbling.
Turning back, she stared at him in a daze:

“What do you want?”
“You. The four hundred thousand yuan version.”
“…”
“Or higher, if you wish.”

Jian Qing sometimes told risqué jokes, but saying such things as calmly as Li Jingche did was far beyond her skill.

“You know that’s not what I meant!”
She bit her lip, admitting defeat in the end.

She dashed down the stairs, while Li Jingche lingered, watching her flee like Cinderella at midnight, his gaze following her out the door before he finally descended.

Outside, Hao Qing stood at the entrance, questioning the general manager about Li Jingche’s whereabouts. As the subject of their conversation, Li Jingche went straight to the parking lot. When the valet went to fetch Jian Qing’s car, he intercepted the keys and drove the old sedan to the restaurant entrance.

He stopped gently, but didn’t get out.

When Jian Qing came out and saw that Number 33 was driving, she took the passenger seat:

“Are you skipping work by going home with me now?”
Li Jingche nodded righteously.

“So—”
“Let’s add one more.”
“Hm?”

Just as Jian Qing was about to pay him, the shameless man uttered those four words.

“A total of six hundred thousand yuan.”

“You’re too much!”
The blush on Jian Qing’s face hadn’t faded; now even her neck was red.

“I… I need a break.”

Jian Qing had always believed that there were only exhausted oxen, not ruined fields.
Now she realized: being the field wasn’t easy either.

Li Jingche slowed the car, stopping quietly in front of a pharmacy:

“Do you need any medicine?”

Jian Qing awkwardly took out her phone, pretending to watch videos:

“Just go home.”

“Alright, wait for me a moment.”

Li Jingche got out and took the keys with him.
Jian Qing noticed: he was more careful than she’d thought.
What, afraid I’d run away?
Don’t you know who’s holding the wild cards yet?
As long as she had money, Jian Qing believed she would always have the upper hand.

Soon, Li Jingche returned.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, he searched his pockets.

“What did you buy?”
“A lunchbox.”

He handed her a blue box—
Durex Ultra Thin Zero Distance.

“In this matter, without my consent, it’s absolutely impossible. Not tonight.”

“Alright, then I’ll keep it for later.”

Li Jingche didn’t mind, simply following her lead. The woman’s temper melted away.

When they arrived at the villa, Ren Tianchuan wasn’t home. Li Jingche followed Jian Qing upstairs.

She sat on the bed, watching him place the condoms on the nightstand. Suddenly, she remembered something important:

“Tonight, Ren Yishan and the others will probab