---

But this brat is actually flirting with the intern.

I could almost create a bomb to shove into his hands and blow them both away.

But then, Huo Beiming turned his head and smiled at me.

I thought, never mind, it’s not that big of a deal, just a project.

Damn my love-struck brain.

Whoever’s got the yellow urine, come and give me a shower, wake me up.

Perhaps sensing my low mood, Huo Beiming suddenly held my hand under the table.

His fingertips brushed across my palm.

The tingling sensation from that point of contact began to spread throughout my body.

Alright, I forgive him.

Keep the yellow stuff away.

After the meeting, he came to find me in my office.

He leaned his chin on my shoulder from behind.

“Chen Qing, don’t be mad. That intern’s internship period is about to end, and she hasn’t produced any results. Her boss threatened her that if she can’t show any progress, she’d be fired.

“She has a sick mother at home who needs care, and I couldn’t bear to see her go.”

Ho’s company is a big enterprise, so of course, there are standards for selecting employees.

When that intern first came in, her qualifications didn’t even meet the standards, and it was Huo Beiming who insisted she be allowed in.

Now that her internship is almost over and she hasn’t accomplished anything, it makes sense for her to leave.

I know her boss well; he’s actually a very soft-hearted person.

Basically, as long as you can present any logical result, you can pass the internship.

This shows just what kind of good-for-nothing intern she is.

“Don’t be angry. Let me show you a magic trick.”

He shook his fists in front of me, and soon a pair of diamond cufflinks fell out.

I actually don’t like wearing suits; I find them too constraining and uncomfortable.

I had told Huo Beiming this back in college.

But it seems he has forgotten all about it.

Since six years ago, every birthday, he has given me a pair of cufflinks.

If I said he wasn’t thoughtful, every pair of cufflinks he bought suited my style perfectly.

But if I said he was being thoughtful, he only ever gives me cufflinks every year.

“I remember your birthday is next week, and I’ll make sure to celebrate it well.”

“Thank you for helping me all this time. I may not say it, but you know I’ve always been proud to have a brother like you.”

“Got it.” I took the cufflinks. “I wasn’t angry to begin with, but if you have other plans next time, you need to tell me.”

He repeatedly agreed.

I sighed again.

I know next time, he still won’t change.

Is it that those who are favored always act with such impunity?

---

7

In the blink of an eye, it was my birthday.

For this day, I carefully chose my outfit and fragrance and arrived early to pick him up at Huo Beiming’s building.

After reaching his place, he said he was at the office, being summoned by Old Huo for something, and asked me to go to the hotel first.

So, the snacks I had prepared for the journey were left in the corner.

I waited and waited.

Around ten o’clock at night, Huo Beiming finally arrived, reeking of alcohol.

After Assistant Lin dropped him off, he kindly wished me—Happy Birthday.

Time ticked away.

I sat on the edge of the sofa, watching Huo Beiming, who was half-asleep and groping around beside me.

My birthday was almost over, and yet he was sound asleep, not even offering a single birthday wish.

At that moment, I felt an immense sadness inside.

The night was quiet, and there wasn’t a single light in the room.

In the endless darkness, endless thoughts began to swirl in my mind.

I started to ponder.

In truth, Huo Beiming and I could never have a future together.

Thinking of this, I gave a bitter smile.

But didn’t I know this already? The two of us were simply impossible.

He was good to me as a brother.

We were brothers, and could only be brothers.

Yet at the same time, I thought darkly.

Was he good to me not just because we were brothers, but because I was of value to him?

I am loyal, reliable, and I wouldn’t have any objections to his decisions.

As long as he wanted it, I would go to great lengths to help him get the stars and the moon.

The cufflinks on my suit felt cold against my wrist.

Does it mean that once you bow down once, you’ll have to bow down a hundred times, until you bury yourself in the dust?

---

8

Huo Beiming moved.

He opened his eyes groggily, his face buried in my neck.

After taking a deep breath, he sighed, “You smell so good.”

I struggled to get up.

But with all his weight resting on me, it was difficult to break free.

But the next moment, he suddenly cupped my face.

His breath drew nearer, as if he was about to dive into my mouth.

His face stopped at the tip of my nose, straining to open his eyes wide, locking onto mine.

My heart raced like thunder, pounding incessantly.

Blood seemed to boil, surging through my veins.

He chuckled foolishly a couple of times.

Then, he gave me a fierce peck on the lips.

“I really like you.”

Fireworks seemed to explode in my mind, crackling and popping, making me forget where I was.

I felt light-headed.

For a brief moment, I even thought.

Even if I suddenly died right now, it wouldn’t matter.

Yet the next second, it was a thunderclap.

“Let’s get married, Si Si,” he said.

In an instant, all the boiling blood turned to ice.

From heaven to hell, it couldn’t have been more abrupt.

His face drew closer again, and then his lips covered mine with a warm, aggressive heat.

And this warmth was pushing its way in.

In the first second, I was stunned.

In the second second, I came to my senses but didn’t have the heart to push him away.

I had waited so many years, wasn’t this what I had been waiting for?

Wasn’t this what I had wished for?

Luckily, I remembered the girl named Si Si.

On my birthday, the drunken Huo Beiming still hadn’t forgotten to propose to her.

I was about to speak when Huo Beiming called my name and held me tightly: “Qing…”

He rested his chin on my shoulder.

This was the first time he was hugging me like this, face to face.

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