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Chapter 3: Springtime Allure

“I have to be at the runway show by ten tomorrow morning.”

Yan Man’s voice was unsteady, her breath still uneven.

Tan Qishen scooped her up in his arms and walked toward the bedroom. His voice was steady as always, but the urgency in his steps betrayed him.

“I’ll take you there myself tomorrow.”

Yan Man clutched his sleeve, firmly rejecting him. “No!”

Aside from a few of Tan Qishen’s close friends, no one knew they were in a relationship.

Yan Man didn’t want to make things too public and let everyone find out. Besides, they had signed a breakup agreement—the expiration date was still a few months away.

Tan Qishen didn’t press her for a reason. Instead, his voice cooled, “Then I’ll have Uncle Nan take you.”

Yan Man didn’t argue. Refusing again might provoke another of his moods.

She agreed, “Alright.”

At worst, she’d just ask Uncle Nan to drop her off a bit farther away.

…

The chandelier above them was off, only a single lamp on the side table lit up the room. In the white light, their entwined shadows played on the wall.

Tan Qishen’s dark eyes deepened. His shirt was completely unbuttoned at some point, revealing his toned abs.

Yan Man could faintly see the black wolf tattoo on his arm. Though not fully visible now, she had seen that tattoo many times in the past, sprawling from his shoulder to his chest.

The fierce image of the wolf added another layer of danger and aloofness to his already noble and cold demeanor.

Though the moment was intensely passionate, the expression on the man’s face remained serious.

Tan Qishen was usually indifferent, his attitude toward her neither warm nor cold. But in moments like these, it was like he became a different person.

As if they really were lovers deeply in love.

The heat of desire wrapped around her completely. The intimacy escalated.

After a week apart, their longing had built up too much.

…

More than an hour later.

Yan Man lay limp in his arms like a fish washed ashore, her hair tousled.

Tan Qishen carried her to the bathroom himself. After the shower, Yan Man didn’t feel sleepy—in fact, she felt more awake.

She looked up at him, eyes charming and seductive, though no one would have noticed that in those eyes was a growing depth and clarity.

Her gaze stayed fixed on Tan Qishen’s face for nearly two minutes without shifting.

It was a face eerily similar to the one in her memories—but only just.

Though Tan Qishen was only twenty-five, he was already the youngest CEO in Tan Corporation’s history. His aura of power was palpable, his face rarely showed emotion, and his deep dark eyes were cold and unreadable.

But the person in her memory was different. Her last impression of him was four years ago when she was twenty, and that memory was starting to blur.

She wondered what he might look like if he had lived to reach Tan Qishen’s age.

Noticing her gaze, Tan Qishen looked down at her.

He leaned back against the headboard, lips slightly pursed, shirtless. His Adam’s apple was prominent, and his skin bore faint marks—but there were more on the black tattoo across his shoulder.

Yan Man met his pitch-black eyes.

He ran his fingers through her long, silky hair, playing with it slowly. “Not sleepy?”

Yan Man had been with him long enough to understand the implication behind those words—

She shut her eyes and stopped looking at him, as if trying to escape.

If it happened again, she probably wouldn’t be able to make it to work tomorrow.

Seeing her silent, Tan Qishen only chuckled lightly.

He casually grabbed the robe by the bed and got up, walking out to the balcony and lighting a cigarette.

Beijing in September was unpredictable. After a week of sunshine, the sky looked gloomy today.

Yan Man was woken by her alarm.

When she opened her eyes, the room was empty—only she remained.

At least Tan Qishen had some conscience; he hadn’t gone overboard. Her legs were just a bit weak.

The mess on the bed still spoke volumes about the intensity of the night before.

Yan Man walked out of the room to find a full breakfast on the dining table—still warm, clearly freshly delivered.

Halfway through eating, the doorbell rang.

She opened the door to find her assistant, Shen Jie, standing there. She’d been with Yan Man since she entered the industry.

Shen Jie was the only person around Yan Man who knew she was in a relationship with Tan Qishen.

In her hand were clothes that Uncle Nan had given her downstairs.

“Man-jie, President Tan left already.”

Shen Jie had arrived early at the Park Hyatt and waited downstairs until 9 a.m. before coming up.

Yan Man nodded.

She was long used to the way they interacted.

After breakfast, she changed and went downstairs.

All the clothes for both her and Tan Qishen were prepared by Uncle Nan.

The perfect fit showed this clearly wasn’t the first time.

Under Tan Qishen’s instructions, Uncle Nan was still waiting to take Yan Man to the show.

The Rolls-Royce from last night was still parked outside. When he saw her, Uncle Nan personally opened the back door.

“Miss Yan, please get in,” he said respectfully with a slight bow.

Yan Man nodded politely. “Thank you.”

Uncle Nan got in the driver’s seat. “My pleasure.”

As the car neared the show venue, Yan Man asked to be dropped off early, saying she wanted to get out there.

Uncle Nan hesitated. “This…”

He glanced at her through the rearview mirror.

Tan Qishen had specifically instructed him to send her directly to the venue—but they weren’t quite there yet.

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