Chapter 44

Cheng Li leaned against his chest, her ears flushing red at his question.

“I didn’t,” she whispered.

Rong Qi held her tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head. His voice was low and gentle. “Grandma called and told me you spent a lot of time with them today, chatting and keeping them company.”

“That’s what I should do,” Cheng Li replied, a bit embarrassed.

“It’s something I should be doing, but I’m not doing it well enough,” Rong Qi said softly.

Cheng Li tilted her head slightly, meeting his eyes with sincerity. “That’s not true. You’re amazing. Even Ms. Ling, who was so mad at us in the beginning, seemed disappointed when you didn’t come to dinner tonight. If you weren’t such a good person, she wouldn’t have given in so quickly.”

To comfort Rong Qi, Cheng Li unhesitatingly threw her own mother under the bus.

Hearing this, Rong Qi chuckled deeply, nearly squeezing the breath out of her.

Soon, faint noises came from upstairs.

Startled, Cheng Li instinctively tried to push him away. To her surprise, Rong Qi tightened his hold instead, looking down at her. “I’ve noticed something about you.”

“What?” Cheng Li asked, confused.

He smirked, a hint of amusement still lingering in his brows. “Whenever someone else is around, you try to push me away.”

“I don’t,” Cheng Li protested, trying to defend herself.

Rong Qi lazily nodded toward her, his tone light. “Alright.”

Cheng Li didn’t expect him to let it slide so easily and felt a sense of relief.

Then his familiar drawling voice came again: “In that case, hold me tighter.”

Tighter.

It took Cheng Li a moment to realize what he meant. Of course, he was still the same petty man.

Smiling faintly, Cheng Li immediately wrapped her arms around him more firmly.

By the time they got home, it was already past eleven.

After showering, it was time for bed.

But when Cheng Li came out of the bathroom and lay down on her bed, she suddenly felt the room was colder and emptier than usual. Even the soft pink bedding lacked its usual cozy warmth.

Especially when she slid under the covers—her feet, freshly warmed from the bath, met the icy chill of the sheets.

The cold made her shiver under the blanket.

As she lay there trembling, her phone vibrated on the bedside table.

Reaching out, she grabbed her phone.

Unlocking it, she saw a WeChat message from Rong Qi.

Rong Qi: 【[Image]】

Curious, she opened the message to find a photo of his bed.

Just as she finished looking at the photo, another message popped up.

Rong Qi: [Big, isn’t it?]

It seemed he had used a wide-angle lens when taking the photo. His already king-sized bed appeared even more spacious from this perspective—like the kind you’d imagine a CEO waking up on in a 200-square-meter bedroom.

Cheng Li chuckled and replied quickly: [Very big.]

As soon as she sent the message, Rong Qi’s status changed to “typing.”

Sure enough, two seconds later, his reply came through.

This time, it was a voice message.

Rong Qi: [Don’t you think the bed feels a bit empty?]

Empty?

Cheng Li reopened the photo and examined it again.

She noticed the quilt was nowhere to be seen, making the bed look even more barren.

Before she could respond, a knock came at her door.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Realizing what might be happening, she quickly got out of bed. As she approached the door, she paused, taking a deep breath to compose herself. She tried to appear calm and unruffled.

When she opened the door, there stood Rong Qi, holding a blanket.

His brows knitted slightly, as if in mild exasperation. “The air conditioner in my room seems to be broken.”

Cheng Li stood in place, looking at him. His dark eyes were clear and unwavering, his expression open and sincere. She couldn’t help but smile lightly and nodded. “Oh, is that so?”

She deliberately paused, but Rong Qi didn’t rush her.

After a moment, Cheng Li spoke again, her tone deliberate and slow: “The air conditioner in my room is working. Why don’t you stay here for the night?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Rong Qi stepped inside without hesitation. He casually reached out and closed the door behind him.

The two walked to the bed together.

“Which side do you prefer?” Rong Qi asked, glancing at her.

“I’m fine with either,” Cheng Li replied.

“Then I’ll sleep on the outside,” Rong Qi said, moving her blanket to the inside and placing his own on the outer side.

Soon, they were both in bed again.

Unlike their first time sharing a bed, which had been filled with nervousness and tension, this time their closer relationship brought different thoughts to mind.

Cheng Li found herself recalling the previous night when they had nestled on the couch together, their breaths mingling, their lips brushing.

Especially now, in the pitch-black room, every sound seemed amplified, even their steady breathing.

“Do your feet get cold in winter?” Rong Qi suddenly asked softly.

Cheng Li didn’t answer.

Instead, the next moment, Rong Qi felt a pair of feet slowly inch their way over under the blanket until they touched his. A playful voice followed: “Cold?”

She was asking him.

“Not really,” Rong Qi replied evenly, seemingly unaffected by her slightly chilly toes pressed against his.

Cheng Li, however, had always been teased by Ms. Ling for being naturally cold-blooded.

In winter, no matter how warm her bath, her feet would soon turn icy.

But as Cheng Li lay there, she suddenly felt movement beside her. The man, who had been lying flat, turned toward her. Then, without warning, a hand wrapped around her, blanket and all, pulling her close to his side.

Their noses almost touched as Cheng Li found herself abruptly drawn in.

When Rong Qi leaned down, his lips brushing hers, the first kiss missed its mark slightly. Yet, he was in no hurry, letting his lips trace her forehead and brow, gently gliding down along the bridge of her nose. The soft, lingering kisses seemed to heat the air around them, as if an invisible furnace was stoking the room to a boiling point.

The dim room, cloaked in near-total darkness, emboldened them. In the obscurity, it felt as though anything was permissible, sanctioned by the silence and shadows.

For the first time, Cheng Li took the initiative, opening her lips slightly to kiss the corner of his mouth.

The unexpected boldness startled Rong Qi, eliciting a low, muffled groan from him—a sound so sultry and resonant it sent a shiver down her spine. It felt almost excessive, a sensuality that made her bones quiver.

Emboldened by his reaction, Cheng Li became even bolder. Not only did her toes sneak into his side of the blanket, but half her leg slid over as well. The loose pants of her pajamas rode up with the motion, leaving her smooth, delicate calf brushing against his.

Suddenly, Rong Qi wrapped an arm around her and, his breath hot against her ear, murmured, “Do you not want to work tomorrow, hmm?”

Caught in his embrace, Cheng Li could barely move within the cocoon of the blanket. She stifled a laugh and muttered, “What’s the point of working?”

“Oh?” Rong Qi teased, his voice tinged with amusement. “And what would you rather do?”

He hadn’t intended anything improper, merely continuing the thread of their conversation. But as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized their ambiguity.

The room fell into a shared silence. Neither moved nor spoke, as though tacitly agreeing to let the moment pass.

But instead of fading, the tension thickened. Rong Qi sensed her stirring within the cocoon of blankets he held her in, felt her shift closer, and something brushed his cheek. Before he could process what was happening, her breath tickled his ear, and in a voice as soft as a whisper yet impossibly intoxicating, she uttered two words:

“You.”

A burst of fireworks seemed to explode in Rong Qi’s mind, shattering his thoughts into scattered fragments. His mind went blank as her words echoed in the silence.

For a moment, he was stunned, paralyzed. It wasn’t the closeness or the kisses—it was the realization that he had been completely disarmed, even teased, by Cheng Li.

By Cheng Li.

The revelation left him momentarily speechless, his arms loosening their grip.

As for Cheng Li, she was even more astonished than he was. She wasn’t one to throw out such suggestive comments—she wasn’t the type to let flirtatious quips roll off her tongue without a second thought. And yet, the words had come out naturally, as if spellbound.

Mortified, she rolled away, cocooning herself in the blanket as she retreated to the far edge of the bed. Her mind raced as she tried to process what she’d just done.

When Rong Qi snapped out of his daze, he reached for her instinctively, only for her to scoot further away, taking the blanket with her. Each time he edged closer, she moved farther until she was practically teetering on the edge of the mattress.

“Cheng Li,” he called, his voice hoarse, rich with an allure she could not ignore.

Her resolve hardened as she bit back the flurry of thoughts. In a voice deliberately detached, she replied, “The person you’re trying to reach is currently offline. Please try again tomorrow.”

Her response caught him off guard. Rong Qi chuckled softly, lying back on the bed. He hadn’t anticipated such a playful twist to the night. He had his own pace in mind, yet Cheng Li had somehow taken the lead, skipping several steps ahead.

But as quickly as she had advanced, she now seemed to retreat, folding back into herself. Undeterred, Rong Qi leaned over and pulled her, blanket and all, back into his arms. This time, his hold was firm but gentle.

He brushed his lips against her ear, his voice low and intimate. “Move any further, and you’ll fall off.”

She froze at his words, realizing the precariousness of her position. Reluctantly, she stayed still, nestled in his arms.

Her face burned hot—she didn’t need to touch it to know. She lay there, tense and embarrassed, until she eventually felt his breathing slow and steady, signaling that he had fallen asleep.

Quietly, Rong Qi slipped out of bed and made his way to his bathroom. Standing there, he glanced down at the black pajama pants he wore, a wry smile playing on his lips. He chuckled softly, shaking his head.

It was as if he had hoisted a rock, only to drop it on his own foot.

*

The next morning, Cheng Li decided that feigned ignorance was humanity’s greatest emotional defense mechanism. If she pretended she remembered nothing, then nothing had happened.

She went about her morning as usual, calm and composed. To her relief, Rong Qi seemed to share her unspoken agreement to avoid the topic, maintaining a similar air of normalcy.

By the weekend, Rong Qi had gone on a business trip, and Cheng Li spent two days back at her family home. She even learned how to make fried bean cakes from her grandmother.

Come Tuesday, Cheng Li’s good mood persisted as she anticipated Rong Qi’s return. But her day took an unexpected turn when she received a call.

“Hello, is this Cheng Li, President Cheng?” The voice on the other end was steady and professional, with a deep timbre.

“Yes, speaking. May I ask who’s calling?” she replied.

“This is Wan Zichen, Investment Director at Qiyu Technologies. I’d like to discuss the acquisition of Fanhai Zhixing with you.”

Cheng Li was stunned into silence.

“President Cheng? President Cheng?” The voice on the other end called out twice, pulling her back to the moment.

“My apologies,” she said hurriedly. “I was just a little surprised.”

Wan Zichen chuckled lightly. “It’s understandable. We’ve been keeping a close eye on emerging companies in autonomous driving. Fanhai’s technology has always been impressive.”

His tone was polite and complimentary, but Cheng Li remained cautious. “Thank you for your recognition. However, I’m not the decision-maker regarding acquisitions. You’d need to speak with our CEO, Mr. Ren Kuang.”

“I’ve already contacted Mr. Ren,” Wan Zichen replied smoothly. “He mentioned that he’s in the hospital preparing for surgery and has delegated the negotiations to you.”

Cheng Li didn’t mention that she hadn’t heard about this from Ren Kuang.

It made them seem unprepared.

She smiled faintly and said softly, “Oh, I see. Recently, we’ve had several companies discussing collaborations with us, so I might have mixed up a few things.”

Cheng Li’s tone was casual, showing no sign of nervousness just because the other party was a major company like Qiyu.

Wan Zichen naturally caught her drift but didn’t seem bothered.

Negotiations are like this—both sides carry their own chips. Even if there’s urgency behind the scenes, everyone appears calm on the surface.

“Are you free today? I’d like to discuss the details of a potential collaboration,” Wan Zichen said, not betraying any urgency as he set up a meeting.

Cheng Li thought for a moment and replied softly, “I’ll need to check my schedule for today.”

“Sure, take your time. Let me know once you’ve confirmed.”

After ending the call, Cheng Li quickly called Ren Kuang.

When he heard what she had to say, he finally remembered that the other party had contacted him the day before.

“I meant to tell you but forgot. I thought they wouldn’t act so quickly. Are they really this eager?” Ren Kuang sounded surprised.

Cheng Li thought for a moment and replied, “It’s probably because of Yixing. There were already rumors in the industry that Qiyu was looking to invest in Pegasus, but it seems their negotiations fell through. Then they tried to acquire Yixing, but that deal also fell apart at the last moment.”

Ren Kuang nodded. “I guess our Fanhai was their backup plan from the start. But when Yixing was in the picture, they didn’t think much of us. Now that Yixing Tech has been embroiled in a scandal, there’s no way they’ll proceed with that acquisition, so they’ve turned to us. And coincidentally, we’re facing some issues of our own.”

Cheng Li asked, “This Director Wan has scheduled a detailed discussion with me this afternoon. What are your thoughts?”

“Go and talk,” Ren Kuang said straightforwardly. He had already been considering selling the company, and now that a major firm was interested, he was naturally on board. However, he added, “Even though we’re facing challenges, don’t give in too much on the price.”

Cheng Li asked directly, “What’s your bottom line?”

Ren Kuang didn’t mince words. “Four hundred million. The entire company for four hundred million.”

This price was sixty million less than their previous valuation during the last round of financing.

It was clear that Ren Kuang had made up his mind to cash out and retire early.

As the largest shareholder, his word carried weight. Moreover, the acquisition wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing for Fanhai. Aligning with a well-funded and well-connected company like Qiyu would only bolster their market competitiveness.

Cheng Li wasn’t one to hesitate. Once a decision was made, she immediately called over Liu Mingyi.

As the company’s marketing director, Liu Mingyi was someone this matter couldn’t be hidden from.

“Qiyu wants to acquire us?” Liu Mingyi’s excitement was evident.

Cheng Li said, “You were involved in previous financing negotiations, so you’ll come with me to this meeting.”

“Alright.”

Cheng Li quickly returned Wan Zichen’s call, letting him know she was available in the afternoon.

When deciding on a venue, Wan Zichen chuckled, “Why not meet at Qiyu’s headquarters? Consider it an early chance to familiarize yourself with the office environment.”

His remark left Cheng Li momentarily stunned.

Throughout the conversation, she tried not to think about Rong Qi.

But the thought of potentially working in the same company, possibly in the same building as him, sparked an odd feeling in her.

Especially considering that just days ago, they had shared a sudden kiss under an umbrella outside the convenience store across from his company’s building.

Cheng Li tried hard to suppress the memories and keep her thoughts from wandering further.

“Alright,” she agreed.

At 2 PM, Cheng Li arrived punctually at Qiyu Technology’s headquarters.

Beforehand, she had casually looked up some information online about Qiyu Technology.

The latest news, from two years ago, reported that Qiyu had purchased a plot of land in Shanghai’s Xuhui district for 4.5 billion yuan, intending to build a new headquarters.

The plan included a skyscraper over 150 meters tall, surrounded by seven or eight standalone office buildings.

It had become a trend for major tech companies to buy land and construct impressive headquarters, much like the tradition of giving employees unique nicknames.

Any company worthy of being called a tech giant had its own iconic headquarters.

The new Qiyu headquarters was nearing completion and would soon be operational.

This meant that the current building might no longer serve as Qiyu’s main office for much longer.

“This entire building belongs to Qiyu,” Liu Mingyi remarked in awe as they entered. “Talk about deep pockets.”

After registering at the front desk, they headed to a conference room on the 34th floor.

Wan Zichen personally greeted them at the elevator.

The group entered the conference room and began discussing the acquisition.

Qiyu’s sincerity was evident, particularly regarding the offer. Cheng Li had expected them to heavily undercut Fanhai’s valuation, given its recent failed financing round.

Surprisingly, the offer was 420 million yuan—a full 20 million above Ren Kuang’s bottom line.

Cheng Li, however, didn’t let her delight show. She continued to negotiate without giving in too easily.

Both sides clearly aimed to reach an agreement. By the end of the two-hour meeting, the atmosphere remained amicable.

As they wrapped up, Wan Zichen accompanied them to the elevators.

Just as they reached the elevator, another group of people approached from a hallway on the other side, chatting and laughing in a relaxed manner.

“Our project team’s vacation this year—could we change it to Bali?” A woman’s melodious voice, laced with laughter, asked.

A voice that Cheng Li was all too familiar with replied, “Ask your General Manager Liu. That’s not under my control.”

The woman added with a smile, “General Manager Liu listens to you.”

The familiar voice gave a low chuckle. “General Manager Liu, what’s your take?”

The group clearly shared a close camaraderie. Judging by their relaxed postures and laughter, they had just finished a meeting as they made their way over.

When they reached the elevator, they finally noticed Wan Zichen and the others waiting.

Wan Zichen greeted warmly, “President Rong.”

The people behind Rong Qi also greeted him while curiously eyeing Cheng Li and Liu Mingyi. Although the company was large and they might not recognize every face, the 34th-floor meeting room was reserved for middle management and above.

Cheng Li and Liu Mingyi were unfamiliar faces.

Rong Qi stopped and glanced briefly at them. His gaze swept over them, including Cheng Li, with a disinterested air.

Wan Zichen leaned in slightly and whispered to him, “These two are from Fanhai.”

Rong Qi gave a faint nod. His expression didn’t change, as if the matter was of little concern. And it made sense—why would the president of Qiyu personally oversee the acquisition of a small company? It was a task easily left to subordinates.

The elevator on the left arrived first.

The group that had just approached stepped inside one by one. Rong Qi didn’t enter. A stunning woman with long curly hair reached out to stop the closing doors. Smiling lightly, she asked, “President Rong, aren’t you coming in?”

Her demeanor was natural and relaxed, clearly indicating familiarity with Rong Qi.

Rong Qi shook his head. “You all go ahead. I need to discuss something with Zichen.”

The woman withdrew her hand.

The elevator doors closed in front of Cheng Li.

Cheng Li wasn’t one to compare her looks to other women’s, but for the first time, staring at the smooth elevator doors, an absurd thought popped into her mind.

Who was more beautiful: her or that woman?

Once the hallway was clear, Rong Qi stepped closer to Cheng Li. His tone was calm as he said, “President Cheng, I’d like to have a word with you.”

Cheng Li snapped out of her thoughts, startled by his formal address. While the title “President Cheng” felt unfamiliar, she forced herself to nod.

They entered a meeting room. Only Wan Zichen followed, while Liu Mingyi remained outside.

Rong Qi didn’t sit down. Instead, he walked over to the window and glanced outside.

The winter afternoon sunlight wasn’t intense, casting a mild, lazy warmth over the city.

Turning back, Rong Qi looked at her and asked directly, “Are you satisfied with the terms of the acquisition?”

“From my discussions with Mr. Wan so far, I’d say they are acceptable,” Cheng Li replied professionally, leaving room for negotiation.

Rong Qi moved forward a couple of steps. Resting his hand on the back of a nearby chair, he spun it slightly before lifting his eyes to meet hers. “That’s good. However, there’s one condition that won’t appear in the contract, so I need to inform you in person.”

His measured, deliberate tone controlled the rhythm of the conversation, leaving Cheng Li feeling a slight tension.

She pressed her lips together and said, “Please go ahead.”

“The additional condition for acquiring Fanhai is the removal of Gao Zhihe from your company.”

Cheng Li was taken aback and responded, “President Rong, Gao Zhihe is one of the co-founders and holds over 20% of the company’s shares. If he doesn’t want to sell, we can’t force him.”

“That’s your problem,” Rong Qi said with an air of finality.

His uncompromising stance left Cheng Li momentarily speechless.

Rong Qi glanced at her again and added, “This is also the reason we haven’t pressured you to lower the acquisition price.”

Cheng Li fell silent for a long time.

Wan Zichen looked nervously at Rong Qi. He had intended to bring this up more gradually, but President Rong clearly wasn’t allowing for any buffer.

“Alright,” Cheng Li finally nodded.

Afterward, she said softly, “President Rong, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Safe travels,” Rong Qi responded with a slight nod.

Wan Zichen quickly interjected, “President Rong, I’ll escort her out.”

As they exited the office, Wan Zichen tried to reassure her. “President Cheng, please don’t be alarmed. Our President Rong may come across as stern, but you know how it is—company acquisitions are a big deal. That Gao Zhihe of yours is like a bad apple. President Rong simply won’t tolerate someone like that staying on.”

“I understand,” Cheng Li replied evenly.

Even after getting into the car, Cheng Li felt like she’d just woken up from a surreal dream.

She had engaged in a brief but intense business negotiation with a man who shared the same name and face as her husband.

He was cold and powerful, leaving her completely outmatched.

That evening, Cheng Li unexpectedly left work early. Auntie Li had called to say something had come up at home and asked her to come back.

Auntie Li hadn’t elaborated, so Cheng Li headed straight home.

When she arrived and changed her shoes, she called out, “Auntie?”

There was no response. Instead, someone emerged from the kitchen.

Rong Qi, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, met her gaze.

Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly said, “Wait a moment—the pot’s boiling over.”

With that, he hurried back into the kitchen.

Cheng Li stood at the entryway, blinking in surprise.

This domesticated Rong Qi, in an apron, seemed worlds apart from the sharply dressed, imposing man from the afternoon.

Until he returned.

The apron was still on him.

“You…” Cheng Li took a deep breath but quickly lowered her eyes, avoiding his face. In a muffled tone, she asked, “Did you get off work early today?”

Yet, a vague uneasiness lingered in her heart.

The grand, towering headquarters of Qiyu Technology, the high-level executives trailing behind Rong Qi, his cold and commanding presence in the meeting room…

While she kept her head down, she suddenly found herself enveloped in a warm embrace.

This embrace was familiar to her.

“Because I needed to rush home to comfort my wife.”