Chapter Twenty-Seven
In front of strangers she wasn’t too familiar with, Shen Qianzhan would instinctively put on a bit of an act. She became sparing with her words, resorting to monosyllabic responses like “mm,” “ah,” or “oh” whenever possible. She skillfully used the same single words and non-repetitive, rich contexts to keep conversations lively and engaging.
Take, for example, the refined-looking young man before her, who seemed to have drenched every cell of his body in Hermès Terre d'Hermès perfume.
He fired off three questions in a row—
“I’ve been a member for three years, but this is the first time I’ve seen you. You haven’t participated in any association events before, have you?”
“Are you a member of the Watch Association?”
“I consider myself quite an experienced watch collector. If you’re interested, feel free to discuss with me anytime. Would you like to exchange WeChat?”
Shen Qianzhan held her breath, trying her best to block out the overpowering scent emanating from this man—so strong it could practically knock someone out.
Suddenly, she found herself missing the cool fragrance that always lingered around Ji Qinghe. When intense, it was as rich as ink; when subtle, it was as fresh as bamboo—a steady, inexhaustible scent that carried the weight of time.
Even Su Zan, that little sycophant, never overdid it with his flamboyant cologne.
She responded with a perfunctory “mm,” with no intention of adding him on WeChat or continuing the conversation.
Her cold demeanor and aloof posture clearly conveyed one message—she didn’t want to chat, didn’t want to connect, and certainly didn’t want to engage.
But the colder and more distant a beauty seemed, the more she attracted admiration. The layers of young talents surrounding her, after a brief setback, fought even harder to win her attention.
In public settings, most men were too embarrassed to openly express their intentions. First, Shen Qianzhan had already cold-shouldered one of them earlier, and no one wanted to repeat such an awkward situation. Second, being too direct would seem shallow and lacking sophistication.
Thus, each of them tried to catch her attention by circling back to watch-related topics.
Su Zan, listening from the sidelines, couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.
What a joke.
Did his Sister Qianzhan look like someone with profound knowledge who could engage in deep discussions with them? Couldn’t they see she was falling behind in the conversation and had started playing dumb?
He fiddled with his lighter, squinting as he looked out the window.
From this perfect angle, he could see the parking lot outside the cultural center at a glance.
—
The open-air parking lot hidden in a deep alley was relatively small, and the parking barrier at the entrance booth rose and fell several times.
Su Zan flicked his lighter, the blue flame brightening and dimming repeatedly. After several cycles, a domineering beam of headlights shot from inside the courtyard to the wall.
He looked up to see a business SUV parked precisely at the entrance of the cultural center.
He’s here, he’s here.
The one coming to catch them in the act is here!
Su Zan snapped his lighter shut and turned to Shen Qianzhan with eager eyes.
After chatting with Shen Qianzhan for quite some time, the layers of young talents realized they hadn’t even managed to get her full name. It finally dawned on them that they had hit an iron wall—one that couldn’t be melted by fire or carved by a blade.
Gradually, the outer circle began to disperse, leaving only Meng Wangzhou and a few persistent men seated nearby.
Once again sensing Su Zan’s urging gaze, Shen Qianzhan glanced at her watch and seized the moment to bid farewell to Meng Wangzhou. “I’ve learned a lot tonight. It’s getting late, so I won’t keep everyone any longer. I’ll take my leave now.”
Just as Meng Wangzhou was about to ask her to stay, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. Before he could confirm who it was, his body, sensing danger, began to tremble, feeling weak and unsteady.
Shen Qianzhan felt a weight settle on her left shoulder as someone gently wrapped an arm around her and took a seat in the empty spot beside her.
That hand didn’t exert much force, yet she felt as if a boulder had been placed on her, rendering her immobile in an instant.A familiar tingle shot through the back of her neck as Ji Qinghe released his grip, leaning in close enough to rest his hand on the back of her chair. "Leaving as soon as I arrive, hm?"
Shen Qianzhan felt a chill creep between her teeth, an inexplicable sense of guilt washing over her.
She shivered slightly as she glanced at him. "You... why are you here?"
Ji Qinghe offered a gentle smile. "Afraid of me?"
One hand rested casually on his crossed knee, his posture relaxed and at ease. "Did I interrupt something?"
Shen Qianzhan sensed the danger radiating from him.
Living under the same roof as Meng Wangzhou, he couldn’t possibly be unaware of the gathering he’d organized. Judging by his tone, he clearly understood the underlying purpose of the event.
One of the reasons Shen Qianzhan had politely declined Meng Wangzhou’s invitation earlier was the thought of attending such a thinly veiled matchmaking event right under Ji Qinghe’s nose. Regardless of whether he’d read into it, she found the idea deeply uncomfortable.
But now, caught red-handed, she felt a wave of awkwardness. Her gaze shifted coldly to Su Zan, who had been trying to make himself invisible since Ji Qinghe’s arrival.
That little traitor.
She rubbed her cold fingertips, attempting to shift the focus. "I was just about to take my leave. Will Mr. Ji stay to enjoy the rest of the evening?"
Ji Qinghe let out a cold laugh, his eyes sweeping dismissively over Meng Wangzhou, who kept his head bowed. He adjusted his coat lightly. "I’ll see you out on his behalf."
—
When Ji Qinghe said he’d see her out, he meant it with full sincerity.
His business sedan was parked at the exit, with Ming Jue holding the rear door open for her, standing attentively beside the vehicle.
Seeing this, Shen Qianzhan halted in her tracks, rooted to the spot just outside the entrance.
Noticing she hadn’t followed, Ji Qinghe glanced back slightly. His eyes were clear and sharp, and when they locked onto her, there was no room for refusal.
Shen Qianzhan decided to ask directly. "Mr. Ji is seeing me off?"
"Yes." His brow furrowed slightly, a hint of impatience in his tone. "Afraid to get in the car?"
Honestly, yes.
Shen Qianzhan remained still, scanning the area for Su Zan. "I came with Su Zan. I’ll just ride back with him. No need to trouble you, Mr. Ji."
Ji Qinghe seemed to smile, though it wasn’t particularly friendly—more like he’d shed his usual facade. The hidden edge in him became unmistakable under the cover of night. "So afraid of me?"
Shen Qianzhan didn’t dare respond, thinking to herself: Do you have any idea how you look right now? Of course I’m afraid.
As the tension hung in the air, Ming Jue glanced at the growing line of vehicles behind them and reminded her, "Ms. Shen, perhaps you should get in first? The cars are backing up." Almost on cue, a series of honks echoed, high and low.
The headlights of a nearby car illuminated the ground just inches in front of Shen Qianzhan, casting long, overlapping shadows of the trees behind Ji Qinghe.
She looked up at him.
His bow tie was slightly loosened, though the collar of his shirt remained neatly in place.
Under the harsh glare of the headlights, he stood silhouetted against the light, the sharpness of his features softened, leaving only his eyes—darker than the night itself—like an abyss, holding the frost of deep winter.
Struck by his arresting presence, Shen Qianzhan’s knees nearly buckled. Resigned, she stepped into the car.
The SUV’s back seat was spacious, filled with the faint, bittersweet scent of cold tobacco.
Shen Qianzhan inhaled softly as Ji Qinghe circled the vehicle and entered from the other side. She maintained her composed, aloof demeanor for the evening.
Ming Jue quietly asked for her address, adjusted the navigation, and soon the car pulled out of the parking lot, merging smoothly into the flow of traffic.
—
Night had deepened, and the roads were noticeably quieter.After stopping and starting through several intersections, Ming Jue glanced in the rearview mirror and reminded the two in the back seat with a slightly odd tone, "There seems to be a car following us."
Shen Qianzhan turned around, leaning against the seatback to identify the car's make and license plate.
Once she recognized the license plate number, she muttered to herself that Su Zan still had a bit of a conscience while complaining aloud, "If I weren’t broke, Su Zan would probably think Mr. Ji was kidnapping me for ransom."
Ji Qinghe remained calm and unperturbed.
He was neither concerned about the unknown car tailing them nor bothered by the sarcasm in her words.
The atmosphere in the car was so eerie, it felt like sharing a ride with a stranger through a ride-hailing app—filled with a distinct, icy divide.
Shen Qianzhan simply gave up on making conversation and pretended to be mute.
—
Forty minutes later, the car arrived at the residential complex’s garage, and Shen Qianzhan got out.
After pushing the car door open, she tentatively extended one foot first. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Ji Qinghe sitting as steady as Mount Tai, with no intention of getting out at all. Finally reassured, she planted her feet firmly on the ground and closed the car door.
The car was parked right at the entrance of her building. Shen Qianzhan turned around, about to thank Mr. Ji and Assistant Ming for their charitable act of sending a lonely, single woman home like modern-day Lei Feng.
Then Ji Qinghe got out of the car and instructed Ming Jue to wait for him there.
With his hands in his pockets and draped in the night, he walked into the building entrance first.
Shen Qianzhan was stunned.
Her mind went blank for a rare moment, and she stood frozen for several seconds. When she finally snapped out of it, she hurriedly turned and chased after him.
Her floor had a large area, and the one-elevator-per-household design made the layout of the basement level particularly complex.
Following the sound of Ji Qinghe’s footsteps, she had just reached the side door of the emergency stairwell when her wrist tightened. In a sudden, disorienting whirl, she was pinned against the wall by Ji Qinghe, who held her wrist firmly.
This man, with a faint, wicked smile curling at the corner of his lips, looked every bit the refined gentleman under the moonlight, yet he had her trapped securely between him and the wall.
Shen Qianzhan only had time to feel the brief chill and pain as her back pressed against the wall. Before she could fully process it, his grip on her wrist loosened, only for him to take hold of it again, leaning in close.
Half the light in her field of vision was instantly blocked by him. Ji Qinghe stopped just a breath away from her.
Shen Qianzhan’s breath hitched. The tingling sensation caused by his proximity spread from her heart to her entire body, leaving her utterly weak.
She held her breath quietly, not daring to move, like prey feigning death in the grip of a predator, only allowing herself to breathe softly.
Ji Qinghe sniffed lightly near her and asked, "Whose perfume is this, hmm?"
His voice was deep, like clear spring water echoing in a well.
Shen Qianzhan was struck by the magnetism in his voice, her ears burning as a surge of wild heat rushed through her.
Trembling, she tried her best to stay calm. "I advise you to stay away from me."
Ji Qinghe looked at her, his gaze teasing and almost seductive, completely igniting the restless desire simmering within her.
She threatened, "Be careful, or I’ll make you so weak in the legs you won’t be able to go home."
Ji Qinghe stared at her without blinking and asked, "Are you serious?"
Having just delivered her bold threat, Shen Qianzhan instantly lost her nerve. "Just kidding." She twisted her wrist, signaling for him to let go. "Can we talk properly? If someone sees us like this, I’ll have to sell my apartment before I’ve even finished paying off the mortgage."
Ji Qinghe lowered his gaze, his eyes landing on her lips. The intensity of his stare felt almost tangible, and she immediately fell silent.
Though she knew perfectly well that Ji Qinghe was just trying to scare her, she couldn’t push his limits just because she felt fearless. This dog of a man would truly bite if provoked."Someone moved in next door?" he asked.
Shen Qianzhan, fearing he might get any improper ideas, quickly nodded. "Yes."
Ji Qinghe chuckled softly, deliberately teasing her. "It doesn't have to be next door. This complex was probably handed over less than two years ago—there must be plenty of vacant units."
Seeing his expression didn't seem like a joke, Shen Qianzhan bristled instantly. "Ji Qinghe, I advise you not to even think about it."
Ji Qinghe's gaze shifted upward, from her lips to her eyes, meeting her stare. "Scared?" He let out another low laugh, his voice deep and husky, as if veiled in a cold mist. "Tonight, I've been on edge too."
His words carried an insinuation, unreasonably provoking that nerve of hers. She narrowed her eyes, her tone instantly dropping into an icy abyss, chillingly cold. "What exactly do you mean?"
Shen Qianzhan was the type who, unless willing, would activate her self-defense mode—truly unleashing a volley of arrows, each one tipped with poison.
Yet Ji Qinghe paid no mind to her bristling wariness. He lowered his head, his eyes dark and profound.
Lowering his voice, he warned her, "If you want to cut ties with me, don't break the rules right under my nose. I have a strong possessive streak. Try getting another man's scent on you again, and see what happens."
Author's Note: Sister Qianzhan, why not give it a try? I wonder which of you would end up more unsteady on your feet.
Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated with nutrient solutions between 2020-02-28 18:33:08 and 2020-02-29 20:00:36~
Special thanks to the little angels who cast rocket launchers: Self-Indulgent Tofu Flower, Ye Qianlan (1 each);
Thanks to the little angels who cast grenades: Mu Hanhan's Little Shadow Mio, The Guy Named Time, Weiyi hhh, Across the Galaxy Universe, Chen Chen, Wanting to Meet You·, Iris Rose, Purple Little Shell (1 each);
Thanks to the little angels who cast landmines: Zhao Xiaoxiaoqi, Yue Banban (3 each); Bei Zi's Little Monkey, 42345556, Most Beloved Bei Qing's Jing Bai (2 each); 41301102, Wangwang Lifts the Quilt!, Glass, Beng Ni Ge Ding Ding, Kudo Shinichi, G-Dragon's Little Wife, Zhang Zhang Zhang Zhang Ping, Lion King Xiu Xiu 007, You Have the Moon in Your Eyes_, Xi Jiu, Pudding Peach Lord, Miao Miao Miao Miao Miao Zai Jiang, Jin Zhao Yao Sui Sui, Hu Bei Yi, Yu~ Mo, Luka_Jia, A Liang Add Milk No Sugar, Dudu's Mom, Xiao Shi 1437, 2b Gege, Zhang Yixing's Wife, Shou Shou, gloriaaaaaa, knoered, Xia Jia Xiao Si, 41159793, pikajiuu, ooooooooooo, Zhao Xiao Wu Er, Ti La Mi Su, silin, Sky and Flying Birds, Sui Xin, suasu, Yan Zi's Golden Nest, Buddhist Little Sister 33, ?Timid Clumsy Bear, Miao Yin lovely, pinki1y, Wen Zhuo, 27123643, Mu Yan daily, Dortmund Quietly? (1 each);Thank you to the little angels who nourished me with nutrient solution: Jinzhao Yaosui, haley (50 bottles); 17026669, wjny, A Liang Jia Nai Bu Jia Tang, Wan Xiao Fan (30 bottles); lixxy?? (29 bottles); 24095706 (28 bottles); susanrc (25 bottles); Zhang Jia Jia Qian Ceng Dan Gao, Qing Qing Zi Jin (20 bottles); jhbyysj (15 bottles); Chen Chen (14 bottles); Shi Guang An Ran, Yi Dong Mian, Tu Che (12 bottles); Fei Ling, Qian Xi Jia De, Bao Gai Tou De Mu Xiao Jie, Bu Ding Nai Tang 00, Chen Jie, Wu Zhu, Jiu Qi, 6666, Yi Meng Zui Qian Cheng, Wu Mei A Lv, wyq, Liu Liu Jin, Jiang Shao, Shan Hua De Xiao Ke Ai cc, Li Tai Rong De Xiao Jiao Qi, Wei C, Ning Meng, Duo Duo (10 bottles); Oh Ye Ye Ye (9 bottles); Su Yu_, Yue Ban Ban (8 bottles); Mo Mo, Yi Zhi Yang (7 bottles); Lu Ren Bing (6 bottles); Ni Hao Hao Xiang Xiang, Ju Ju Yu Yi Bo, little, Yi Shi Jiu, 111 Hao Xiao Hai, suasu, 41301102, Xin Shang You Feng Sheng Lue Guo (5 bottles); Wu Tong Xue Zhang Ni Zai Na, chrisacc, Shan Hu (4 bottles); Xiao Meng Meng, Chu Jian, Qi Bao, Nan Shan Ke Ji Ren-, Xiao Xiao (3 bottles); Yu Yan, Shi Xiao Du Zi Ya～, Mian Shen Me Mian, ～～Bai Lu Wei Shuang, Sha La La, 29613602, Huang Gang Xiao Zhuang Yuan, Mei Yan Ru Si, Xiao Mu Mu Zui Ke Ai, Zhuan Chong Nv Wu, kkkk, Nuan Mou Sen Guang, Mu Yi, Hua Zi Jun, Bing Gao (2 bottles); Xiao Tu Dou, Yue Lai Yue Hao, Xue Zi, Mu Yang, Bai Tao Shen Xian, Xi Xin Bu Guo q, Bo Bo, Liu Yuan Lao Po, villkan, sixsix66, Tuo Tuo, Yan Yan, Hui Lai Zhai Xing Xing Gei Ni, q, Yin Xing Ye, Rong Xi, duya, Liang Gua, wx, Nan Ju hj, nd, farewell, Ji Xiao Guai Er, Da Fan Yang Le Duo De Mao, Chen Hao, li guan, Chu Wu Yan, gloriaaaaaa (1 bottle);
Thank you all so much for your support, I will continue to work hard!
OpenNovel