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Chapter 9: Can You Please Not Be Mad?

There was no one else around Tan Qishen and Yan Man now, except for Jiang Linjin and He Cheng—two oblivious lightbulbs.

Watching Tan Qishen’s heroic rescue, Jiang Linjin teased, “Weren’t you just saying you didn’t care a moment ago?”

Just a minute ago, when Yan Man was being harassed, someone had suddenly ditched the group and rushed over like the wind.

As if he had forgotten that he was supposedly giving her the cold shoulder.

Tan Qishen furrowed his brows and cast a sharp look at him.

Then, a familiar and urgent female voice approached.

“Are you okay, Manman? I’m late. I heard that old pervert Zhang Kaihua was giving you trouble?”

Luo Xi had gone down to another banquet but rushed back as soon as her assistant told her what had happened.

Yan Man shook her head and looked up at Tan Qishen. “I’m fine.”

Luo Xi breathed a sigh of relief and said angrily, “Only castrated men behave properly.”

Hearing this, Jiang Linjin subtly glanced at He Cheng and patted him on the shoulder, pretending to comfort him.

As if to say—Bro, take care!

He Cheng brushed his hand off in disgust and pulled Luo Xi into his arms, whispering, “Wife, don’t lump all men together.”

Yan Man wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but Luo Xi seemed to stiffen a bit—as if not used to such intimate contact—but quickly returned to normal, gritting out, “Zhang Kaihua bullied Manman. Don’t let him off.”

He Cheng gently reassured her, “Qishen already sent someone. Don’t worry.”

Tan Qishen’s methods were known to be ruthless. Unless those guys drank themselves into stomach ulcers, they weren’t getting out of that room.

“Good.” Luo Xi finally calmed down.

After a few more comforting words to Yan Man and noticing Tan Qishen was still around, she tactfully left with He Cheng.

Now, only Tan Qishen, Yan Man, and Jiang Linjin remained.

Standing beside Tan Qishen, Yan Man subconsciously hooked her arm through his, but then suddenly remembered they were in public and quickly pulled back.

There were coworkers around—and even though it looked like it was just them, the media could be lurking anywhere. She didn’t want their relationship to be exposed.

Tan Qishen noticed the movement. His lips tightened slightly, and his Adam’s apple bobbed—he was clearly unhappy.

Jiang Linjin also noticed her pulling away, assuming it was because she was embarrassed with him around.

“You two lovebirds, I shouldn’t have come.”
Before leaving, he patted Tan Qishen on the shoulder and whispered, “Don’t forget what your bro said—treat Miss Yan well.”

Of all their friends, only he was still single now.

Actually, that wasn’t entirely true. Just a month ago, he’d thought he was the happiest one among them.

But now, everything had changed.

Jiang Linjin sighed and left the heart-wrenching scene.

Yan Man looked up at Tan Qishen and softly asked, “Why did you come over?”

Tan Qishen, nearly ten centimeters taller than her even in heels, looked down at her coldly. A strange anger brewed in his chest as he replied in a harsh tone, “Why? Worried someone might find out about our relationship?”

With that, he turned and walked toward the banquet hall exit.

After they started dating, Yan Man had insisted on keeping their relationship private. At the time, Tan Qishen thought she was being sensible—and he enjoyed the freedom. But now, his emotions were more complicated.

Seeing her getting bullied had made his heart clench. He hadn’t even thought before rushing over.

His eyes had locked onto her the whole time. When she threw wine at that man, his heart leapt in panic—what if he hadn’t been there?

So many consequences flashed through his mind—but none of them were ones he could accept.

The elevator that opened was a transparent observation lift in the building. It was already evening in Beijing, and a blush-pink sunset lit up the horizon. Tan Qishen strode inside, and the doors began to close—just a narrow gap remained.

Then, within that sliver of space, a flash of gold appeared.

Tan Qishen looked up to see Yan Man hurrying over, holding up her dress to walk faster.

She couldn’t match his stride in heels but came as quickly as she could—and just in time.

Through the narrowing gap, her eyes locked with his.

She reached out and stopped the doors just before they closed, making them slide back open.

Yan Man glanced at him. He still ignored her.

She remained calm, pressed the button for the top floor, then closed the doors again.

The elevator was infused with a pleasant fragrance and had a comfortable atmosphere. In this enclosed space, the familiar scent of her perfume surrounded him.

Yan Man tugged gently at his sleeve and softly said, “I didn’t mean it like that. Don’t be mad. I know I was wrong.”

She clung to his arm again. The fierce supermodel who had dominated the runway just moments ago now stood beside him, lowering herself to soothe his mood.

She looked up sincerely into his face, her long, fair fingers gently gripping the defined muscles of his forearm.

Tan Qishen finally deigned to look at her, voice still cold, “What exactly did you do wrong?”

“I shouldn’t have splashed wine on President Zhang. I caused trouble for you.”

Yan Man really thought that.

She hadn’t expected Tan Qishen to come to her defense today.

He didn’t even like her. The only reason they were dating was because she relentlessly pursued him.

The day she became a model under his company, her plan had begun.

No matter how much President Zhang offered to poach her—or what dazzling terms he proposed—she would never leave.

Yan Man didn’t become a model for fame or money.

She didn’t lack either.

But her explanation only made Tan Qishen frown deeper.

What was she even talking about?

He was mad because she hadn’t thought about the consequences. Zhang Kaihua was more than twenty years older than her—if something had really gone wrong, she would’ve been powerless.

“If it’s really bad, I’ll go apologize to him.”

Yan Man watched his expression carefully.

She was totally bluffing.

Apologize?

Not. Gonna. Happen.

“…”

Tan Qishen couldn’t hold back the anger anymore.

His woman apologizing to anyone?

“Can you please not be mad?” Yan Man looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes.

Seeing her pouty, infuriating little mouth, Tan Qishen only wanted to shut it up.

So he did.

He grabbed her slim waist with one hand, muscles tensing in his arm, pressing her against the cold elevator wall. Outside the transparent elevator, the Beijing CBD glittered in lights and tall buildings.

He cupped her neck and leaned down.

Yan Man had just parted her lips to speak—making it even easier for him to take advantage.

“…”

Her eyes widened.

His strong hand clutched her waist, and Yan Man melted against him, her legs weak. The only thing holding her up was Tan Qishen—but she didn’t forget to kiss back.

His palm was pressed to the side of her waist—right where her dress was cut out. His fingers touched her skin directly.

Until the elevator gave a soft ding.

Yan Man, breathing heavily, buried herself in his chest, her lips still parted.

Then came his deep, husky voice, “Eight months left.”

“…What?” Yan Man was still dazed, her voice soft and breathy.

“Our agreement ends.”

His hand still lingered on her waist, but his voice was completely emotionless.

That one sentence snapped Yan Man back to reality.

Yes, their breakup agreement still had eight months left.

It was a term Tan Qishen had set—the condition for agreeing to date her.

All the emotions she’d just felt came crashing down. She looked up, long lashes lifted, her eyes filled with grievance. “Do you really have to be like this?”

Her hand clutched the front of his black shirt. After that kiss, it was wrinkled and two buttons had come undone, revealing his sharp Adam’s apple.

Looking at that face so similar to Tang Qingshuo’s, Yan Man felt like she couldn’t hold back anymore.

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