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Xie Rongzhuo’s gaze was too deep, so deep that it was as if he had loved her for a very long time.
This love was heavy, profound, suppressed, and restrained.
It made Shen Mi, who had only met him for less than half a year, hesitant to draw any conclusions.
Shen Mi suspected that Xie Rongzhuo was tempting her.
Or maybe his eyes were naturally deep, making anyone seem like a potential object of affection.
But Shen Mi had a strange feeling that Xie Rongzhuo’s gaze was particularly focused on her today.
She didn’t answer his question. When they arrived at the restaurant, she went into the bathroom, her heart pounding with anxiety.
Her mood fluctuated wildly as she described the whole process to Zhang Zhiqing: Tell me, doesn’t this mean he doesn’t have someone in his heart?
Zhang Zhiqing: Uh, even if he did… He must have let go!
Shen Mi: What do you mean even if he did??
Zhang Zhiqing: I was just talking nonsense, go for it, girl, get him!
Shen Mi felt like there was something more to Zhang Zhiqing’s words.
Back at their seats, the food was already served. Shen Mi put down her bag and looked up, stealing a glance. Xie Rongzhuo’s gaze swept over, “If you don’t come out, the food will get cold.”
Shen Mi felt like he was saying her heart would get cold.
She said, “Ah, sorry, kept you waiting so long.”
“Not filming today?” Fortunately, Xie Rongzhuo didn’t bring up the previous topic: “Don’t you like to take pictures first?”
“Oh.” Shen Mi picked up her phone, took a casual picture of the table and posted it on her Moments: “Okay.”
The table was filled with delicious dishes: vibrant lychee shrimp balls, crab roe steamed eggs that looked tender, and steamed fish with translucent flesh, all of which were Shen Mi’s favorites.
Xie Rongzhuo picked up the fish eye and placed it in Shen Mi’s bowl, saying, “When I was a child, my mother always gave me the fish eyes whenever we ate fish. She said it was good for the eyes, but I still ended up with nearsightedness.”
Shen Mi smiled at him: “But your eyes are beautiful.”
Xie Rongzhuo looked back at her: “Is it appropriate to describe me as beautiful?”
“I think…” Taking advantage of the topic of his features, Shen Mi openly admired Xie Rongzhuo’s handsome face, showering him with praise: “If you were in ancient times, you would definitely be a transcendent immortal.”
Xie Rongzhuo asked, “What about modern times?”
Shen Mi stared at his face and blurted out, “Cold beauty.”
Xie Rongzhuo: “Do you think I’m cold?”
Does he have some misunderstanding about his aura?
Shen Mi put the fish eye into his mouth, looked up at Xie Rongzhuo’s puzzled gaze, and nodded: “Quite cold.”
Xie Rongzhuo’s lips curved slightly: “How about this?”
He belonged to the type with cold features, seemingly born to be expressionless, and a smile without emotion was like hiding a knife, Shen Mi turned his face away: “Don’t smile, it’s quite scary.”
Xie Rongzhuo: “…”
In the time it took to eat a meal, Shen Mi’s”WeChat Moments”.(WeChat Moments) had already received over a hundred comments. Seeing many people asking if it was her boyfriend, she noticed that Xie Rongzhuo’s half-body was in the photo she had casually taken.
Ning Xinlei: Is this your boyfriend??? The watch on his hand could buy a house, quickly tell me who this big shot is!
Zhang Wenzhu replied to her: “Take a closer look, does this watch look familiar?”
Ning Xinlei excitedly said: “I got it! It’s the big boss’s!!!”
Then the two of them started chatting directly on Shen Mi’s WeChat Moments.
Below, there was also a comment from Zhang Zhiqing: “You can actually eat with my uncle? (shaking with fear)”
After a while, Zhang Zhiqing commented again: “He probably doesn’t have your WeChat, right? Will he see this comment?”
Shen Mi replied: “He does.”
Soon, Zhang Zhiqing’s comment was deleted.
“…”
Shen Mi hesitated whether to delete this post, and when she looked up, she met Xie Rongzhuo’s gaze. He seemed to have seen her thoughts: “Afraid of being seen by the people who are chasing you?”
“How, how is that possible.” Shen Mi immediately denied it, pressing her phone off and placing it face down on the table.
She couldn’t let Xie Rongzhuo misunderstand any longer. This “love rival” stimulation method wasn’t working at all, she had to turn the page on this.
“Actually,” she said seriously, “I don’t like people who chase after me.”
Xie Rongzhuo: “You prefer chasing others?”
Shen Mi didn’t know how to answer.
But Xie Rongzhuo just looked at her, as if determined to wait for an answer.
She could only nod: “Yes.”
Then she started to pull in a ridiculous direction: “The more I can’t get, the more it excites my desire to conquer. I prefer a little excitement.”
Xie Rongzhuo, probably accustomed to her occasional unconventional behavior, remained expressionless: “For example?”
If she had to give an example, it would be inappropriate for children.
Shen Mi was actually very nervous, but she wasn’t used to showing weakness. To disguise her nervousness, she cupped her face and pretended to be shy, throwing a flirtatious glance at Xie Rongzhuo: “For example, Master, our relationship like this, if we were to have an affair in the office—”
Xie Rongzhuo: “?”
Shen Mi: “It’s pretty exciting.”
“Aren’t you ashamed?”
“You were the one who asked first.”
“…”
On the way back, Xie Rongzhuo’s expression was cold. He strode towards the elevator with long legs, not speaking to Shen Mi the whole way. He was so aloof that it made people want to tease him a little.
Shen Mi thought, “Oh no, I went too far.”
Would Xie Rongzhuo think she’s not dignified?
No, what’s there to pretend about? Xie Rongzhuo already knows what kind of person she is.
“Master!” Shen Mi called out softly, taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, “Wait for me.”
In front of Xie Rongzhuo, Shen Mi was becoming more and more natural.
“Wait for me to do what?” He didn’t turn around.
Shen Mi chased after him, “I want to—”
Xie Rongzhuo suddenly stopped and turned to look at her, the black eyes behind his glasses were so deep that they made her heart beat wildly.
“Want me to play something exciting with you?”
Shen Mi: “…?”
He chuckled, brushing away the hair that had fallen on her shoulder, and leaned down, his voice low in her ear, “The office won’t do.”
???
What does he mean!!
Is he flirting with her?
Xie Rongzhuo was definitely flirting with her!
Shen Mi’s nerves were on edge. She could still feel the faint trace of Xie Rongzhuo’s breath on her face, and each hair on her head felt like it was standing on end.
She stood there for several seconds, unable to recover.
“Not coming in?”
Xie Rongzhuo pressed the elevator button.
Shen Mi quickly stepped in, her eyes scanning left and right to make sure no one had seen. She took a deep breath.
“Didn’t you want to have an affair? What are you nervous about?”
Xie Rongzhuo looked down at her, his eyes filled with amusement.
“…”
Is there anyone who has an affair as openly as he does!
Shen Mi remained silent, her standing posture looking a bit odd; from Xie Rongzhuo’s perspective, it seemed like she was facing the wall.
“Ding”—
As the elevator doors opened, Shen Mi quickly turned around, stepping out briskly in her high heels and hurriedly escaping.
“Shen Mi.” Xie Rongzhuo called her from behind.
Shen Mi had to stop in her tracks, not daring to turn around, only slightly tilting her head: “What is it?”
Xie Rongzhuo brushed past her, his tall figure stopping in front of her. He turned back and raised an eyebrow: “If you really like it in the office, it wouldn’t be impossible.”
“…………”
That night, Shen Mi lay in bed: I feel like Xie Rongzhuo is flirting with me!
Zhang Zhiqing: Could it be a misunderstanding? You need to tell me the details so I can figure it out.
It was obvious she just wanted to hear gossip.
Shen Mi wasn’t falling for it: “Maybe I was overthinking it.”
Zhang Zhiqing: “?? Don’t say that! He has already hugged and kissed you; he must be interested in you! Hurry and tell me what happened during lunch!”
Shen Mi sat up and quickly typed: “I told him I don’t like people chasing me and that I prefer something exciting, like having an affair in the office with him as my master…”
Zhang Zhiqing: “How dare you???”
At that moment, Shen Mi was eager to clarify that no one was chasing her, not thinking too much about it. Now that she reflected on it, it was indeed quite bold.
Zhang Zhiqing: What did he say?!
Shen Mi: He said, if I really like to have an affair in the office, it’s not impossible.
Zhang Zhiqing: ???
Shen Mi: Do you think he’s teasing me?
Zhang Zhiqing replied: He’s seducing you!!
Zhang Zhiqing stood at the door, holding a gift box, staring at the chat history, thinking, “Uncle, you’re done for.”
She put away her phone, reached out and pressed the doorbell.
The door lock opened, and she walked in with a smile: “Uncle, this is the red wine my mom brought back from her business trip, I’ll put it in the wine cabinet for you.”
Xie Rongzhuo hummed in response and walked towards the study.
“Close the door when you go out.”
“Okay.” Zhang Zhiqing took a few steps, then seemed to remember something: “Uncle, do you know that investment company that’s recently partnered with Sister Bi Jinglin?”
Xie Rongzhuo: “I don’t know.”
“Then do you know this person, Ke Zhan?”
Xie Rongzhuo turned around: “Why?”
“He pursued Mimi for a long, long time, and they even had a…”
“Is this what you want to say?” Xie Rongzhuo interrupted her, his face dark: “I’m not interested in her past.”
“No, no,” Zhang Zhiqing quickly waved her hand: “What I want to say is, Ke Zhan is also inquiring about our project. I suspect he wants to cooperate with Mimi. He hasn’t given up yet! Mimi is so capable at work, if she’s tricked by a wild man, it’s you, Uncle, who’ll suffer the loss.”
Xie Rongzhuo sneered: “With him?”
Such a coward, he’s not worthy of competing with him for her.
“He’s not that bad, right?” Zhang Zhiqing said: “Ke Zhan was the school’s recognized heartthrob back then, and he’s from a wealthy local family. Girls lined up to chase after him.”
Xie Rongzhuo mocked: “Heartthrob? Who crowned him that?”
“He was the best-looking in their year, but compared to you, Uncle, he’s still far behind!” Zhang Zhiqing wasn’t deliberately flattering him. Ke Zhan did look good in his student days, but after graduation, he was just a pretty face, a bit like a vase.
Back then, Xie Rongzhuo was the undisputed heartthrob in the school. Not just in terms of looks, but in terms of aura, Ke Zhan was miles behind Xie Rongzhuo.
But now, she wanted to “praise others and belittle her own.”
Zhang Zhiqing continued to stir the pot: “After all, he was the first city friend Mimi met. I’m afraid she’s too sentimental, and if Ke Zhan sweet-talks her, she’ll change her mind.”
“Is she that easily swayed?”
Zhang Zhiqing deliberately added fuel to the fire: “Girls, they’re easily soft-hearted, especially when it comes to first love.”
After saying that, Zhang Zhiqing turned and quickly walked away, afraid that if she lingered for a moment longer, she’d be frozen to death by Xie Rongzhuo’s icy stare.
…
Xie Rongzhuo poured himself a glass of red wine and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window.
The lights cast a thin layer of golden mist on his hair, the hazy light enveloped his features, making his expression look unnaturally lonely.
The neon lights outside shone through the glass, casting a thousand holes in the once-delicate window lattice.
The geometric shadows falling at Xie Rongzhuo’s feet were chaotic, and his heart followed suit.
He raised his head and looked out the window, suddenly laughing.
That man was her first love, so what was he?
Shen Mi went to Zhao Balisa’s office to help organize some materials, and it was almost ten o’clock when she returned to the apartment complex.
The square next to the complex had been built, and a group of older ladies were stepping in time, their movements perfectly synchronized, by the brightly lit flowerbeds.
The landscaping extended from the square all the way to the entrance of the complex, and the street was clean and tidy, completely transformed.
There were small stalls with lights set up selling fruit and flowers by the street. Shen Mi went over and bought a rose, sniffed it, and was about to go home when she heard a slightly familiar voice behind her.
“Shen Mi, why are you working late?”
Ke Zhan stood under the shade of a tree at the intersection, his face looking a little tired.
He glanced at the flower in Shen Mi’s hand: “You like flowers now? Then I’ll buy you some more.” He was about to go buy flowers.
Shen Mi was very averse to being entangled, and she said bluntly: “I just don’t like the ones you give me.”
Ke Zhan stopped in his tracks, his expression looking like he was in pain. He nodded and walked up to her: “I’ve been waiting for you here for over two hours. Can you give me ten minutes to finish what I have to say?”
Everyone around them was familiar, and Shen Mi didn’t want to make a scene at her doorstep: “Go ahead.”
“What I said before was all insincere. I know you’re not a woman who craves luxury. Shen Mi, I truly like you, I can’t let go… I think about you every night, I can’t sleep at all.”
Ke Zhan’s eyes reddened as he spoke, pleading: “Give me another chance, I promise to treat you well for the rest of my life. If my mother doesn’t accept you, I’ll stay here and live with you. You can quit your job and come to my uncle’s company, we’ll be together, okay?”
“You want to poach my corner, have you asked me?”
Hearing Xie Rongzhuo’s voice, Shen Mi turned around abruptly.
He stood by the flower stall, his expensive and aloof demeanor clashing with the surrounding everyday life. Shen Mi didn’t know how long he had been there, or how long he had been watching her and Ke Zhan.
With Shen Mi as the center, the three of them stood in a line.
The air along that line seemed to freeze.
Xie Rongzhuo lifted his eyelids, his thin eyelids like two sharp blades, coldly fixed on Ke Zhan.
His gaze was icy, and with a single sweep, Ke Zhan couldn’t bear to meet his eyes. He clenched his fists, filled with resentment, but dared not speak.
Xie Rongzhuo sneered, not even bothering to say a word to him. He lowered his gaze, gently resting his eyes on Shen Mi’s face.
Noticing that Xie Rongzhuo’s expression was off, Shen Mi looked at his ears. His ears would turn red when he drank too much.
He had been drinking.
“Boss… why did you come here?”
Shen Mi turned her head to look at Ke Zhan, then at the rose in her hand, and for some reason, she suddenly felt a little guilty.
She subconsciously shifted her body, turning her back to Xie Rongzhuo, hiding the rose.
Xie Rongzhuo lowered his head. From his perspective, he could only see the girl’s curled eyelashes and slightly upturned nose, which reminded him of the scene when he first saw her four years ago.
At that time, she was sitting at a table by the courtyard, writing, oblivious to the surrounding extravagance. She wore a hand-sewn long dress, had tanned skin, and her entire face was only remarkable for her eyes.
She wasn’t the most beautiful he had ever seen, but she was unforgettable.
She raised her pen, turned her head, and suddenly revealed a charming smile. Her eyes were clear and bright, and the surrounding luxurious scenery instantly became a backdrop.
At that moment, Xie Rongzhuo heard his heart pounding in his ears. Something hit his heart, instantly creating a thousand waves.
He couldn’t take his eyes away for a long time.
But she wasn’t looking at him. Her smile was for another man.
She didn’t even spare him a glance.
And now, she was still looking at that man.
Xie Rongzhuo, who was behind her, remained silent. Shen Mi was feeling nervous, just about to turn around when she was suddenly pulled by a force. Her feet stumbled, and she almost lost her balance.
Xie Rongzhuo’s jaw was tight, and he pulled her wrist as he strode into the apartment complex.
Shen Mi was dragged into the elevator by Xie Rongzhuo. He acted as if he was returning to his own home, pulling her all the way to the 15th floor.
“Open the door.”
Shen Mi obediently took out her keys and opened the door. The moment she stepped inside, her feet went out from under her, and she was scooped up by Xie Rongzhuo.
The door slammed shut with a “bang,” and Shen Mi was pushed against the door, her head hitting the back of Xie Rongzhuo’s palm.
Her back touched the cold surface, and she couldn’t help but shiver. “Master, you… uh!?”
Xie Rongzhuo lowered his head and kissed her.
Shen Mi’s mind went blank, her blood rushing to her head. Her body felt both freezing and burning.
Despite the anger in his kiss, Xie Rongzhuo’s touch was incredibly gentle.
He explored tentatively, tracing her lips with his tongue, then pried open her teeth and slid inside, hooking onto her to savor her taste.
Shen Mi tasted the scent of red wine on his tongue.
She gasped, calling out softly, “Master.”
“Have you ever seen me in your eyes?”
Xie Rongzhuo bit her lip, his tone domineering yet helpless. “Little white-eyed wolf.”
Author’s Note:
Xie Xiaoshu, why are you breaking the rules! Keep going!!