Chapter 41

Even though Jiang Zhe had already guessed and mentally prepared himself, when he finally heard the confirmation, the shock and surprise hit him like a tidal wave.

He wasn’t ready at all—completely blindsided and left stranded.

Staring at the two people in front of him, Jiang Zhe racked his brain but couldn’t figure it out.

What was going on between them??

After a long moment of hesitation, Jiang Zhe finally managed to ask, “L-love at first sight? You two?”

Sure, the girl was beautiful—stunning enough to stand out in any crowd.

Jiang Zhe had seen plenty of women before—gorgeous, cute, elegant, aloof, or bright and bold—but there was something about Cheng Li that was entirely different.

Even in the chaos and smoky haze of a noisy gathering, Cheng Li sat there exuding an innate calmness and warmth.

That was why Jiang Zhe had stepped in to help her earlier—it wasn’t just because she was pretty.

It was because she seemed pure and untainted, someone who shouldn’t have to deal with the likes of Manager Peng.

While Rong Qi had previously mentioned being married, he had never introduced his new wife to their group. Out of curiosity, they had speculated, but without answers.

Yet Jiang Zhe never imagined the situation would turn out this dramatic.

He instinctively assumed the two had met at that bar incident.

Cheng Li quickly clarified, “Actually, Rong Qi and I were high school classmates.”

“What?” Jiang Zhe grew even more confused. “You were high school classmates?”

“Absolutely,” Cheng Li nodded.

Jiang Zhe glanced at the two of them. “Then why did you act like total strangers at the bar? Did you not recognize each other?”

This was too strange.

“We did recognize each other,” Rong Qi replied, giving Cheng Li a look. His tone was calm. “She just ran away too fast.”

Cheng Li: “…”

Jiang Zhe burst out laughing, clearly recalling that scene from the bar. Cheng Li had accidentally kicked her shoe straight into Rong Qi’s hand—it had been a rare and hilariously unforgettable sight.

Hearing Jiang Zhe’s laughter, Cheng Li felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She wanted to dig a hole and disappear.

Indeed, moments of social death never fade with time.

“So what do you call this?” Jiang Zhe mused thoughtfully. After a moment of inspiration, he grinned. “Fate across a thousand miles, united by a shoe.”

Cheng Li: “…”

Thanks, but no thanks.

“Enjoying yourself, aren’t you?” Rong Qi gave him a sideways glance.

Jiang Zhe, delighted by his own joke, refused to let the moment pass. “When you have your wedding, and people ask how the bride and groom reconnected, you should tell them this story—let it be the starting point of your rekindled love.”

Cheng Li stared at him, silently impressed.

He clearly knew how to write a script.

“President Jiang, have you ever considered a career in the film industry?” she asked sincerely.

Jiang Zhe was caught off guard but quickly replied, “I did think about it before. But as you know, we investors don’t jump into every industry. Take Junyue, for example—we mainly focus on incubating tech companies. The returns, when successful, are exponential.”

Cheng Li sighed regretfully. “That’s a shame. I think you have a real talent for screenwriting.”

Jiang Zhe, who had been speaking confidently moments earlier, was suddenly at a loss for words.

Rong Qi, sitting beside him, couldn’t hold back his laughter, letting out a quiet chuckle.

He glanced at Jiang Zhe, his expression practically shouting, See? That’s what you get for making fun of my wife.

Jiang Zhe caught the smugness in his eyes and muttered, “Yeah, yeah, keep gloating.”

Though he had many more questions, Rong Qi’s car arrived just then, and the driver got out to open the door for them.

Looking at the driver, Jiang Zhe suddenly had a realization. “Wait—don’t tell me even your driver knew who your wife was before I did.”

“Sharp observation,” Rong Qi nodded in approval. “You’ve earned that prodigy diploma.”

“…”

So what if he was a certified child prodigy?

Cheng Li climbed into the car first, then glanced back at Jiang Zhe, who was still standing outside. “Aren’t you going to give him a ride?”

“No need,” Rong Qi replied, getting in and shutting the door.

However, as soon as the car exited the club’s gate, Rong Qi’s phone rang.

He glanced at the screen—it was Jiang Zhe again.

Initially, Rong Qi intended to ignore it, but Cheng Li interjected, “Maybe you should answer, just in case it’s something important.”

“It’s not.”

Despite his certainty, Rong Qi answered and put the call on speaker.

“Qi! I just realized something. When we met your wife at the bar, it was on Qixi Festival, right? But you told us about your marriage in September!” Jiang Zhe’s voice came through loud and clear, full of disbelief. “So you pulled a flash marriage on us?”

The driver in the front seat choked on his laughter, coughing uncontrollably.

Worried he might actually choke, Cheng Li quietly said, “It’s okay to laugh; don’t hold it in on our account.”

The driver, trying hard to keep a straight face, replied, “I don’t want to laugh.”

As a professional, he couldn’t let himself laugh at his boss or his boss’s friends.

Hearing Cheng Li’s voice, Jiang Zhe fell silent for a moment.

“I told you—he couldn’t possibly have anything important to say,” Rong Qi said, tilting his head slightly to look at Cheng Li.

Cheng Li couldn’t help but chuckle at his childishness.

“Hang up,” Rong Qi said, decisively ending the call before Jiang Zhe could launch into another round of questions.

Once they got home, both of them retreated to their rooms, exhausted.

After her shower, Cheng Li lay on her bed.

But soon, her mind wandered back to the evening, especially the moment when Jiang Zhe opened the door and Rong Qi appeared.

Cheng Li regretted it deeply. She wasn’t the kind of person who liked documenting moments with photos or videos.

She should have recorded that scene.

Tossing and turning on the bed for ages, Cheng Li finally picked up her phone and opened her browser.

She typed, “How to pursue a guy you like.”

Before she could finish typing, numerous suggestions popped up below.

After browsing for a while, she clicked on the first link in the search results:

“Four Tips to Win Over Your Dream Guy and Secure the Perfect Romance.”

Cheng Li read through the article carefully and summarized the key points for herself:
“Radiate your charm, increase your presence, and create opportunities for physical contact to capture his heart.”

Increase my presence?
Physical contact?

Lying on her bed, Cheng Li held her phone and let her mind wander, her thoughts slowly giving way to sleep.

As morning came, she woke up, reached for her phone, and checked the time. It was just past six. She had woken up unusually early.

She turned over, intending to sleep a little longer, but then recalled the advice from the article: increase your presence.

Making breakfast… would that count as making my presence felt?

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Cheng Li got out of bed, thinking to herself how difficult it was to woo someone.

But since she had made up her mind, she was determined to take action. Cheng Li was always someone who acted on her decisions.

When it came to pursuing someone, she knew she couldn’t be too aggressive. Bombarding someone with declarations of affection would only overwhelm them, especially someone who wasn’t prepared for it.

Though, looking at Rong Qi, he didn’t seem like someone who could be easily startled.

Even so, Cheng Li believed everything should proceed gradually, step by step.

Pursuing someone is the same; I just need to establish my presence first.

Cheng Li felt she had an inherent advantage in this regard. Living under the same roof, apart from his coworkers, she was probably the person most present in Rong Qi’s daily life.

The next step was making sure he noticed her feelings for him.

Though they were already married, their relationship wasn’t like a typical couple’s.

They were clearly following the “marry first, fall in love later” playbook.

With the “marry first” part done, it was time to focus on the “fall in love” part!

Looking at her reflection in the mirror while brushing her teeth, Cheng Li smiled at herself, her lips forming a quiet but resolute cheer: Go for it!

When Rong Qi woke up and walked into the kitchen as usual to prepare breakfast, he was surprised to see Cheng Li emerge from the kitchen holding a plate.

The moment she saw him, she greeted him with a warm smile. “You’re up! I was just about to call you for breakfast.”

Rong Qi looked at her in slight surprise. “Why are you up so early today?”

Cheng Li blinked at him innocently. “You always make breakfast. Today, I thought I’d let you try mine for a change.”

She had prepared toast and fried eggs. Knowing Rong Qi usually preferred coffee in the morning, she still suggested, “How about milk today? It’s healthier to drink milk in the morning.”

“Sure.” Rong Qi sat down at the table and glanced at the fried egg on his plate. “This triangular egg is pretty good.”

Cheng Li froze mid-pour with the milk jug in her hand and turned to look at him. “Take a closer look.”

Rong Qi examined the egg again. “Not bad. At least it’s not burnt.”

Silence.

Cheng Li sighed. “It’s a heart shape.”

Rong Qi, chopsticks in hand, stopped mid-motion.

He lowered his head and studied the egg intently. A heart-shaped fried egg?

Cheng Li felt utterly defeated.

Since the house didn’t have a heart-shaped egg mold, she had painstakingly cut the fried egg into a heart shape using a knife. And yet, he thought it was a triangle?

Where were his eyes?!

“This heart-shaped egg…” Rong Qi scrutinized it a while longer, then nodded solemnly. “It’s very… heartfelt.”

Cheng Li handed him his glass of milk, hiding her exasperation.

Then, she grabbed her phone and quickly opened Taobao, searching for heart-shaped egg molds.

Order placed.

“All done,” Cheng Li said happily after putting her phone down.

Rong Qi looked at her curiously. “What’s done?”

“I bought something,” Cheng Li said confidently. “Next time, I’ll make you a perfect heart-shaped fried egg.”

This embarrassing failure had to be corrected!

“Why does it have to be a—” Rong Qi placed his glass of milk gently on the table, his tone casual, but he emphasized the words deliberately—“heart-shaped egg?”

Cheng Li rolled her eyes playfully, then responded in what she thought was an adorably sweet tone, “Eating a heart-shaped egg made by your wife in the morning, doesn’t that make your whole day feel full of energy?”

Rong Qi glanced at the egg, then looked up at her, his gaze steady and contemplative. After a pause, he asked, “Did you mix in some kind of stimulant?”

Cheng Li was dumbfounded.

How did this man even manage to get married with a mouth that sharp?!

“Will you make it again tomorrow?” Rong Qi finished his egg and lifted his gaze toward her.

Cheng Li blinked, caught off guard.

Then he added, “I’d like to start my day with that same energetic feeling again.”

At that moment, Cheng Li had to resist the urge to bury her face in her hands.

Why did she use such childish words and tone? So embarrassing!

After breakfast, Cheng Li returned to her room, grabbed her coat and bag, and stepped outside, only to see Rong Qi exiting his room at the same time, holding a black necktie in his hand.

A necktie!

Cheng Li’s eyes lit up as she fixated on the tie in his hand.

“Do you have an important event to attend today?” she asked.

Rong Qi replied, “Yes, it’s a significant occasion.”

Cheng Li eagerly volunteered, “How about I help you tie it?”

A wife tying a tie for her husband—it was only natural. Besides, this sort of task offered a perfect opportunity for casual physical contact, an ideal scenario for her.

Before Rong Qi could object, Cheng Li had already reached for the tie in his hand. Fortunately, he didn’t resist, loosening his grip slightly. The tie slipped into Cheng Li’s hands.

But as she held it, an urgent problem dawned on her: How do you tie a tie?

She vaguely remembered that her father’s ties were the pre-tied kind—just slip it around the neck and zip it up. But this one? A single strip of fabric with no shortcuts.

“Would you mind if I looked up how to tie this right now?” Cheng Li asked nervously, twirling the tie around her fingers in embarrassment.

Rong Qi’s gaze dropped slightly to her hands. With a soft chuckle, he said, “Why not just ask me?”

“Huh?” Cheng Li looked up at him in surprise.

Before she could react, he gently clasped her hand and raised it to his collarbone. Her gaze followed the movement until it met his dark, clear eyes.

“Place it around my neck,” he instructed.

His warm breath brushed against her nose as he spoke.

Cheng Li obediently lifted her hands, draping the tie over his neck. Rong Qi’s hand captured hers again, guiding her fingers. His slightly calloused fingers brushed against hers, sending a tingling sensation through her fingertips. Her hands grew warmer with each light touch.

Rong Qi began to instruct her in a steady, magnetic voice. “Take the narrow end and place it under the wide end. Hold the knot firmly with your left hand—don’t let go—and then wrap the wide end around like this…”

Wrap? How?

Cheng Li, unsure of her next move, tilted her head to look up at him. Their eyes met again, and for a moment, it felt like something unspoken lingered in the air. Even the crisp morning atmosphere seemed to grow thick with a subtle intimacy.

It’s just tying a tie. Just tying a tie, she reminded herself, her trembling fingers betraying her nerves.

“Like this,” Rong Qi continued, clasping her hands more firmly to guide her step by step through the process. His touch remained constant as if he was carefully walking her through it.

The closer they got to finishing, the shakier Cheng Li’s hands became. Her heart thudded wildly, as if it might leap out of her chest.

This was the kind of physical closeness she had hoped for—but it was also far more overwhelming than she had anticipated.

Her eyes stole another glance at Rong Qi. He was completely focused, his lips slightly pressed together. Even from this unflattering angle, he looked undeniably handsome.

Her heart swelled with a sense of triumph: Totally worth it.

When they finally finished tying the knot, Cheng Li exhaled deeply in relief. The tension gripping her chest didn’t ease entirely, though. She wanted to flee the scene but hesitated, noticing his shirt collar still standing upright—something she’d intentionally done earlier to make it easier to tie the tie.

Reaching up to smooth it down, her fingers accidentally brushed against the skin of his neck.

Rong Qi froze, his body stiffening as if jolted by a shock. Reflexively, he grabbed her hand.

Caught off guard by his sensitivity, Cheng Li chuckled. “Is this your weak spot?” she teased.

But as Rong Qi’s sharp eyes darted toward her, she suddenly realized what she’d just blurted out.

Weak spot.

Had she really just gone there so early in the morning? Without any brakes, she’d gone straight into dangerous territory.

Thankfully, Rong Qi didn’t say anything in response.

After tidying up, the two left the house together.

*

Cheng Li hadn’t expected Rong Qi’s suggestion from last night to yield such remarkable results.

By morning, Liu Mingyi had come to inform her that several investment firms had reached out, expressing interest in meeting with them.

“Prepare the materials. Regardless of the outcome, we have to put our best foot forward,” Cheng Li decided on the spot.

Whether Zhuo Lian Capital’s suspension of funding was temporary or permanent, Cheng Li wasn’t about to let her company, Fanhai, remain stuck on this unreliable branch.

She reached out to President Ren for his advice, and unsurprisingly, he supported her plan. Cheng Li promptly had Liu Mingyi start scheduling discussions with the interested investors.

Despite the brief upheaval, the company regained its composure quickly. The setbacks from the scandal didn’t seem to hinder their car factory project, which continued to progress smoothly.

Meanwhile, the drama involving Gao Zhihe and Zhao Yihan gradually lost steam. Netizens had lambasted them for days, but when neither responded, the public lost interest and moved on—it wasn’t a rare story in the entertainment industry, after all.

However, there was no news from Mrs. Gao.

Ge Ru mentioned hearing that Mrs. Gao had taken her children on a vacation.

Cheng Li felt a pang of helplessness upon hearing that.

Later that afternoon, as the workday wound down, a minor commotion stirred within the office.

Cheng Li, engrossed in her tasks, paid it little mind until Qingqing softly interjected. “Boss Cheng, did you check WeChat?”

“What’s going on?” Cheng Li replied, her eyes still fixed on the data she was reviewing with an engineer from the lab.

Qingqing hesitated, lowering her voice. “It’s nothing.”

Moments later, Cheng Li received a call from Meng Yuange.

“Get to the point,” she answered briskly, pinning her phone between her ear and shoulder as she continued typing.

Meng Yuange was a little shocked. “Aren’t you being too indifferent? Your husband’s company is in trouble, and you’re not even curious?”

Cheng Li immediately held the phone in her hand and asked, “What happened?”

Meng Yuan exclaimed, “How do you always end up being the last to know? Our friend circle is buzzing with it—you should check your feed.”

Cheng Li put on her earphones, keeping the call with Meng Yuange active while opening her WeChat.

Before long, she pieced together the entire story.

“Yixing Technology fabricated data to deceive investors. A disgruntled former employee, fed up with the company’s exploitation, decided to burn it all down by exposing the truth online just as Qiyu Technology was about to acquire Yixing. It’s explosive news! Is your tech industry always this lively? At this rate, I won’t have to worry about meeting my KPIs next year.”

Meng Yuange rattled on, but the more Cheng Li listened, the more her headache grew.

“Why are you so quiet?” Meng Yuan asked.

Cheng Li sighed. “He must be feeling awful right now.”

Although she didn’t name him, Meng Yuange understood she was talking about him.

“You two must’ve offended some celestial powers this year. First, your company runs into trouble, and now your husband’s company gets caught in a mess.” Meng Yuange sounded sympathetic but soon laughed. “On the bright side, you got the worse end—losing financing means losing money. For him, this is a blessing in disguise.”

Meng Yuange added, “A whistleblower just saved him from walking into a trap. If Qiyu had gone ahead with the six-billion acquisition, they’d have been the ultimate suckers. The board would’ve come after him for sure.”

Cheng Li rubbed her temples. “Thankfully.”

After hanging up, Cheng Li held her phone, debating whether to call Rong Qi.

After much deliberation, she decided not to bother him.

His situation was different from hers when she had panicked and called him immediately. This time, Rong Qi likely needed space to handle the chaos.

Still, Cheng Li decided to send him a WeChat message:

Cheng Li: Will you be home for dinner tonight?

This time, Rong Qi didn’t reply right away.

At that moment, he was standing in his office, his expression thunderous.

Opposite him stood Wan Zichen, head of the company’s investment department, looking both embarrassed and ashamed.

“I trusted your team’s capabilities, your evaluations, and your judgment.” Rong Qi’s voice grew colder with each repeated “trusted,” and with every word, Wan Zichen’s forehead glistened more with sweat.

Rong Qi picked up the documents on his desk. “But you failed to uncover even the basics before making such a hasty recommendation.”

“If not for Yixing’s internal strife and the whistleblower’s revelations, do you know how much damage your department’s oversight would’ve caused this company?”

Unable to remain silent any longer, Wan Zichen quickly said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Rong. This was our mistake. I’ll take full responsibility and ensure accountability.”

“Three months of due diligence, a six-billion acquisition deal—do you think you can shoulder that loss alone? What about the time and manpower wasted? How do you intend to compensate for those?”

Rong Qi was not a harsh boss; he was known for his leniency with employees. Wan Zichen had been one of the earliest members of the company.

The reason for Rong Qi’s fury this time was the whistleblower’s claims that the acquisition deal was tainted by collusion between Yixing and certain individuals within Qiyu. Fake data had been deliberately created to inflate Yixing’s value.

Such sophisticated manipulation couldn’t have been orchestrated by a mere low-level employee.

It had to involve at least mid-level management or higher.

“This matter doesn’t end with the whistleblower’s post. If I uncover who in this company colluded with Yixing to fabricate data and inflate the acquisition price, I’ll ensure they face severe consequences.”

Rong Qi’s icy glare landed on Wan Zichen.

Before Wan Zichen could pledge loyalty, Rong Qi cut him off. “The company will conduct an internal audit of your department soon.”

Wan Zichen’s head shot up.

“This is your chance. Don’t waste it,” Rong Qi said flatly.

Wan Zichen felt a chill run down his back but dared not say another word.

By the time Rong Qi finished dealing with the situation, it was late into the night.

At 11 p.m., most of the lights in Qiyu’s office building were off.

Even the area outside the president’s office was empty. Rong Qi finally leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples.

Outside, it had started raining.

The sound of the winter rain against the glass created a calming white noise.

Rong Qi closed his eyes for a moment of rest before reaching for his phone.

He noticed Cheng Li’s message. Without hesitation, he called her back.

Just as he thought to hang up, thinking she might already be asleep, the call connected, and her soft, drowsy voice came through: “Rong Qi.”

The sound of her voice instantly lifted the heavy exhaustion weighing on him.

“Mm,” he replied softly.

“Have you finished work?” she asked.

“Almost,” he said.

“Alright, take your time. Let me know when you’re ready to leave,” she said gently. Paired with the sound of rain, her voice made him smile despite himself.

He assumed she was waiting for him at home. “You don’t need to wait for me. Go to bed early.”

She went quiet for a moment.

“I’m not at home,” she said.

Rong Qi frowned. “You’re still at work? Wait for me; I’ll come to pick you up.”

Cheng Li panicked. “I’m downstairs at your office.”

Rong Qi, who had been halfway out of his seat, froze.

He held his phone, thinking he had misheard. After a moment, he asked softly, “You’re downstairs?”

“You didn’t reply to my messages, and I got worried. I called He Zhuoyuan, and he told me you were still at the office. So I decided to come over…”

Cheng Li seemed a little embarrassed, and after a long pause, she finally said in a small voice, “I wanted to pick you up from work for a change.”

It was always him picking her up from work.

Even if it was late at night.

This time, she wanted to pick him up instead.

“Where are you now?” Rong Qi asked, worried about her being outside in the cold.

“There’s a 7-Eleven across from your office. You know the one, right? I’m waiting for you there.”

“I’ll be right there,” Rong Qi replied, grabbing his coat and heading straight downstairs.

The late-night streets were mostly empty, devoid of cars and pedestrians. Rong Qi, dressed in a long black overcoat, strode toward the convenience store. His hurried pace made his coat billow in the wind.

Inside, Cheng Li sat quietly on a high stool by the window, looking out.

Then, through the large glass window, she saw a tall figure holding an umbrella across the street.

As the light turned green, that figure walked toward her.

Without hesitation, Cheng Li got up from the stool and headed for the door.

Outside, the rain had grown heavier, accompanied by a gust of cold wind that blew the rain sideways. Even under the store’s awning, Cheng Li was still hit by a few stray drops.

But she didn’t wait. When Rong Qi was close enough, she ran toward him.

“You—” Rong Qi pulled her into his arms, feeling the faint dampness on her coat. His voice turned urgent. “Couldn’t you have waited for me to pick you up?”

Cheng Li laughed softly, tilting her head to look at him.

She couldn’t resist reaching up to smooth the crease between his brows. With a sigh, she said, “It’s been a tough day, huh?”

“It’s manageable,” Rong Qi replied, understanding what she meant. “I’ll take care of it.”

Cheng Li smiled, exaggerating her tone on purpose. “Of course! You’re the almighty Rong Qi.”

“Let’s go,” he said, ready to lead her away.

But Cheng Li seemed to remember something and said, “Wait a minute—just one minute.”

With that, she turned and ran back into the convenience store.

Rong Qi stood outside, watching her quickly pick up something inside, then pay at the register.

When she came out, Rong Qi noticed the white plastic bag in her hand filled with cans of beer.

Just as he was about to say something, Cheng Li ran over to him again.

“I bought beer,” she said, lifting the bag slightly. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him. “I’ve always loved having a drink on rainy nights, listening to the rain while feeling a little tipsy. It’s the best feeling ever. Tonight, let’s just drink, listen to the rain, and forget about everything else.”

“Because rain and alcohol go perfectly together.”

Rong Qi lowered his gaze. In the dim light, her bright eyes shimmered like stars, the light within them ever-changing.

In that moment, there was a soft “snap” sound in his mind.

Something inside him broke.

In Cheng Li’s view, the man’s face suddenly leaned in close.

Before she could react, he bent down and kissed her.

The rain continued to fall, the sound blending into the background. The entire world seemed to be sealed off by the umbrella. Under it, he bent down, enveloping her in his presence.

The bag in her hand fell to the ground with a thud.

The umbrella tilted slightly, blocking out all external light and leaving them in a dim cocoon.

At that moment, Cheng Li slowly closed her eyes.

With her sight obscured, her other senses heightened. Rong Qi’s kiss started gently, his lips brushing hers lightly, almost tentatively. It was soft, tender, and intricate.

Their breaths intermingled, shallow and light at first. But soon, they grew unsteady, turning rapid and urgent.

No longer content with the tentative kiss, Rong Qi deepened it. His tongue grazed her lips, then boldly parted them, claiming her with intensity.

Cheng Li instinctively wanted to pull back, but his other arm caught her waist, pulling her closer.

One hand held the umbrella, while the other secured her firmly in his embrace.

The sound of the rain was relentless, but it couldn’t dispel the rising heat under the umbrella. The winter chill outside felt irrelevant against the growing warmth between them. Cheng Li’s heartbeat quickened, pounding so loudly it drowned out everything else.

Her breath was taken away by the man before her.

He controlled everything about her—her thoughts, her heartbeat, her very being.

Until her heart, too, completely surrendered to him.

Finally, the long, fervent kiss ended as Rong Qi slightly pulled away. Yet, he didn’t let her go. He gazed down at her, his always-calm and composed black eyes now tinged with a fiery red. His warm breaths brushed against her skin, heating the air around them.

“Feeling dizzy now?” Rong Qi asked, his voice low and slightly ragged, whispering in her ear.

Cheng Li stared at him in a daze but somehow managed to answer.

“Yes,” she said softly.

Her head felt light and dazed, as if she were drunk.

“Then I guess rain and kissing are the perfect match,” Rong Qi said.

Hearing this, Cheng Li’s cheeks flushed a deep red, as if they’d been set ablaze.

It was only then that she realized why he’d asked her if she felt dizzy.

Cheng Li tilted her head, her gaze moist and shimmering.

Suddenly, she raised her hand and lightly tugged at the knot of his tie.

The same tie she had tied for him that morning.

Pulling him closer, she leaned in again.

“Then let me get dizzy one more time,” she whispered as her lips met his.