Chapter 48 "Help me take it off"

Kissing feels good.

Lips met lips, breaths exchanged, and in the quiet environment, the sound of churning water could be heard.

A kiss felt like half a game had already been played.

Yu Zeheng pressed his forehead against hers and didn't move for a while. Qiao Shu adjusted her breathing, her gaze like a cat's, quietly watching him, without any intention of continuing.

He didn't want to know, so she really didn't tell him.

Yu Zeheng spoke as if to her, but also as if to himself: "No matter how far your relationship progressed before, it didn't lead to anything. Now, it's me holding you."

If it weren't for Yu Qiwen, he would have been eliminated long ago.

"It's great that you think that way," Qiao Shu smiled.

Yu Zeheng ignored the smile in her words, looked at her for a moment, and then asked, "If you could do it all over again and choose again, who would you choose, me or him?"

One is a mature, steady, and domineering CEO; the other is a rebellious and unruly young master on the racetrack.

The answer to this multiple-choice question has been around for many years.

"you."

Qiao Shu felt the hand on her waist tighten. She said, "If it were me now, I would definitely choose you, based on my emotional preference."

Even if it's fake, it's still enjoyable to listen to.

Yu Zeheng's mood had clearly improved. He thought for a moment and said, "Even if Lu Qin's incident hadn't happened, and your marriage with Yu Qiwen hadn't fallen through, it might not have been better than being with me. He's too dull and boring, and not pleasing enough to you."

"Do you like me?" Qiao Shu snorted, unable to ignore the fact that he had made her grit her teeth in anger many times.

Yu Zeheng said matter-of-factly, "At least you like doing it with me."

"..."

Yu Zeheng said with certainty, "Every time we do it, you say you're tired, but you actually tighten your grip more than anyone else. You just like me and you like my body."

Why would someone say something like that with such pride?

Qiao Shu's ears burned: "What about you? You're not any better than me. It's like I'm the one clinging to you."

Yu Zeheng pecked her lips and said happily, "I like it too, so we're a match made in heaven."

“You and Yu Qiwen are definitely not as compatible as we are.”

After going around in circles, the topic returned to Yu Qiwen: just how much he minded that her ex-husband was his cousin.

Qiao Shu placed her hand on his waist, her eyes brimming with tears: "How do you know that Yu Qiwen and I don't..."

Before he could say anything, his mouth was covered.

Yu Zeheng showed through his actions that he didn't want to hear it; just hearing the name Yu Qiwen from her mouth was enough to annoy him.

Her moist lips pressed against his palm, Qiao Shu's eyelashes curved as she grasped his wrist: "Do you want to know or not?"

If you don't want to know, you should skip the topic instead of repeatedly bringing it up, otherwise it will only make people think that he cares too much.

"Do you want to say something?"

Qiao Shu said with a laugh, "No, nothing happened between us."

It was so long ago that she barely remembered it. If she had to describe it, their relationship was like a glass of lukewarm water—colorless and tasteless.

They had only met a few times, and when they did meet, elders were usually present. They were very proper with each other, never holding hands or having any physical contact.

"If something happens between me and Yu Qiwen, do you think I'd still be able to sit down and have a peaceful meal with him?"

"Don't you know what kind of person Yu Qiwen is? He's reserved and slow to warm up, chatting with him is boring." Qiao Shu changed the subject, "Big brother, are you going to be jealous of Chen Nianfei too?"

Of course, the beginning with Yu Zeheng wasn't any more interesting.

They stumbled together by chance, and then, by another twist of fate, developed feelings for each other.

Yu Zeheng's warm breath brushed against her face, his voice firm and measured: "You have absolutely no feelings for him?"

Qiao Shu replied without hesitation, "No."

She's not stupid.

She also knows how to coax a man.

"Not at all?" He didn't believe it; he had seen them chatting happily with his own eyes.

"If it were you, I could have had a great conversation with you too. Do you think men are hard to handle?"

Yu Zeheng narrowed his eyes: "How many men have you slept with?"

She felt like she was being pushed into another fire pit.

"For example, there aren't many men worth my time, but you're the one I've put the most effort into." This statement is true; heaven knows how difficult Yu Zeheng is to deal with.

"Do you think I didn't put effort into those flowers and clothes? You always have such a sour face, like I hit you with my car and owe you millions."

Yu Zeheng explained, "I wasn't targeting you at the time."

Qiao Shu's fingers had already slid across his lower back, lightly brushing against his firm skin, and she said in a very soft tone: "I know you're so badly injured, lying in the hospital, and about to be forced to retire. If I were you, I would just have someone throw you and the flowers off the building, and we'd all be fellow patients."

Yu Zeheng smiled: "So, how many men did you meet during the time you disappeared?"

“…” Qiao Shu pursed her lips. “How do you remember everything?”

“I didn’t see anyone else. My disappearance for a few days was also part of the effort I put into you. The more you get used to me appearing every day, the more I’ll do things differently, so that you’ll think about me, miss me, and wonder why I didn’t come today.”

In fact, this tactic did work.

Yu Zeheng belatedly realized: "So that's how you lured me in."

"So clever."

Qiao Shu quickly kissed him on the cheek, her voice sweet and gentle, as if melting in his ear, "So Yu Qiwen was chosen by Grandpa, and you are chosen by me."

It didn't matter if there was some falsehood in his words; Yu Zeheng believed him.

His eyebrows and eyes were as dark as ink, and his voice was even lower: "Help me take them off."

Qiao Shu smiled, her eyes tinged with a hint of crimson, a skill that could easily bewitch people: "We just finished eating, isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Despite saying that, Qiao Shu's hands were already all over his body, touching and pinching his muscles, as if he felt nothing at all.

"You just ate very little."

“I always eat this much.”

Yu Zeheng held her hand and placed it on the button of his trousers, his cold face serious. "Not enough? I'll feed you some more."

They've gone mad.

Clothes were piled up on the floor of the dressing room. Yu Zeheng carried Qiao Shu to the bathroom to take a shower. The steam was thick with mist, and happiness was also blurry, it was hard to tell whether it was more physical or psychological.

Rationally, I know it's impossible for them, but emotionally, I still imagine all sorts of possibilities. If I had made a single wrong step, things might not be the way they are now.

Yu Zeheng hugged her tightly from behind, with such force that it seemed as if he were erasing every other possibility.

She belongs to him, and he will only ever belong to her.

Qiao Shu's body went limp, and her arms couldn't support her, so she simply collapsed, burying her face in the soft pillow, which turned red from the heat.

He leaned down and bit the tender skin on the back of her neck, like a big cat carrying a kitten.

Qiao Shu was drenched in sweat.

Yu Zeheng whispered in her ear, "Don't eat with him anymore."

If she had any strength left, Qiao Shu would have teased him by asking if he couldn't even have a family dinner, unless she wanted to be fired again, so she kept her mouth shut.

Yu Zeheng's voice was low, hoarse, and muffled: "I don't like it."

—

Qiao Shu visited Bocheng for several days in a row.

Occasionally, after a meeting, I would stay in Yu Zeheng's office. In the meeting room, we would be at loggerheads, arguing and debating, but once I left one door, I would enter another, as if I had never existed.

This is probably thanks to the show performances he put on recently.

No matter how fiercely they argue behind each other's backs, in public they are always a loving couple who walk hand in hand through thick and thin.

She read the damaging information about Qiao Kaiyu that Guan Han had sent her.

He was already the old man's handpicked successor, and he never restrained himself in his conduct. Others were happy to flatter him, waiting to get a share of the spoils after the change of dynasty.

The team led by Qiao Kaiyu had been running rampant in the company for a long time. After the old man was hospitalized due to illness, they became even more brazen. Qiao Kaiyu pocketed all the kickbacks, and the company was already in a state of chaos.

There are countless other scandals involving him.

Qiao Shu pondered for a long time how to best utilize this negative information.

"What are you thinking about?" Yu Zeheng looked up and saw that she was lost in thought, so he asked casually.

Qiao Shu sat on the sofa with her laptop on her lap. She leaned back and propped her head up with one hand, then briefly told him about Qiao Kaiyu.

She was facing a group that huddled together for warmth and was inseparable from each other.

Yu Zeheng clasped his hands together: "Start with the most vulnerable spot, break a piece, and what's inside will be revealed."

Qiao Shu thought so too; by peeling back the layers, one could always make sense of things.

"But what is so fragile?"

"With so many girlfriends in your brother's family, there must be one or two involved."

Qiao Shu thought about it and remembered someone, but he wasn't sure yet and needed someone to investigate.

"I'm leaving." She closed her notebook and prepared to grab her bag and go.

Yu Zeheng suddenly said, "Come over tomorrow to sign the contract."

"Um?"

Qiao Shu was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant, "Are you serious?"

Yu Zeheng leaned back in his chair: "Chairman Yu has already agreed and signed the document, so I have nothing to object to."

Yu Dong, Yu Xunli.

He has already agreed, so the project is a done deal.

Qiao Shu could tell that Yu Zeheng was partly to blame; they had discussed it for so long because he knew his father's standards.

"After signing the contract, shouldn't you treat me to dinner?"

Qiao Shu chuckled lightly: "I've been able to tolerate you for months, and it's already a favor that I haven't spilled coffee on you."

Several times she had this urge. Although she kept her personal and professional life separate, when she got home she couldn't help but deliberately cause him trouble. For example, she would hold his hand tightly and kiss him. When he came close to her, she would say that her period had come early.

How come she never realized he was so difficult to deal with before?

Yu Zeheng, who could both attack and defend, said, "Then I'll treat you to dinner."

Qiao Shu went to get her coat, tossing her thick, long hair over her shoulder with a bright and generous smile: "Okay, I can consider it, but you might have to wait in line. Too many men want to treat me to dinner."

"Who serves you every night? Don't I have any special privileges?"

"Being able to climb into my bed is already your greatest privilege." Qiao Shu folded her coat and draped it over her arm, smiling gently. "You should be content."

She shuffled out of the office in her high heels.

The person had long since left, but a faint sweet scent lingered in the air. Yu Zeheng smiled slightly, then lowered his head to continue his work.

Qiao Shu didn't go back to the company; instead, she asked Song Yue to come out for dinner.

No one is more suitable than her to investigate certain people and events. She is outside the Qiao family and her identity will not arouse suspicion. Qiao Shu wants her to investigate Zhou Wanying, the accountant. There are rumors in the company that the two have an overly close relationship. Some colleagues have seen the two having dinner alone in private. However, these are all rumors and there is no substantial evidence.

Song Yue, while eating her spare ribs, readily accepted the offer. She had been sidelined by Qiao Shu for too long: "Don't worry, I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly for you."

Qiao Shu smiled and chatted with her about other things for a few minutes.

Speaking of auction houses, Song Yue grabbed a tissue, wiped her mouth, and said, "Aren't auction houses collaborating with a few artists lately? Do you know who I saw?"

Qiao Shu's intuition told her: "Lu Qin?"

"How did you guess?" Song Yue knew Qiao Shu was busy, so she hadn't mentioned it before. "She came to me on her own initiative and mentioned that she wanted to meet you sometime. I thought you two didn't have any contact, so I didn't take it to heart."

Qiao Shu thought of the slender girl's figure again: "Tell me next time she comes."

"OK."

We didn't actually meet until a week later.

Lu Qin is now a well-known painter. Compared to her works, the outside world is more concerned about her appearance and love life, as if a beautiful and spirited girl always has a rich and colorful love life.

When Qiao Shu met Lu Qin, she didn't yet have these accolades.

It was raining that night. Uncle Qin was driving her back to the Qiao family home when a figure stumbled out. Uncle Qin slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting it. Qiao Shu, who was inside the car, was thrown forward due to inertia and looked quite disheveled.

Lu Qin stopped the car and said she had something to say to her.

She was soaked to the bone, her long black hair clung to her pale, thin face, and her beautiful eyes looked as if they had been soaked in rain, filled with sorrow and helplessness.

Qiao Shu felt sorry for her and let her get into the car, where there were spare towels and blankets.

Lu Qin told her a story about her innocent and naive love in college. After graduation, she stayed for the boy. She knew that his family was well-off, and she tried her best to match him. Later, she found out that his family was one that she could never reach in her life. The breakup came too suddenly but was also reasonable because the boy wanted to accept the girl his family arranged to marry.

Seven years of love is less precious than today's rain.

Qiao Shu realized that in this story, she was the girl arranged by the boy's family.

Why did you come to see me?

"I don't know. Maybe he's still unwilling to accept it, wanting to see what you look like, what kind of person you are. Or maybe he's abandoning his pride and begging you not to marry him." Tears streamed down Lu Qin's face. "Do you like him?"

"I've only met him a few times." So it's impossible to say whether I like him or not.

"I like him. He's the first person I've ever liked. I never thought we'd break up." Seven years is a long time; every cell in your body would be replaced, yet she still fantasizes about being with this person forever.

"I didn't know Yu Qiwen had a girlfriend." Qiao Shu turned her face away to look at the rain outside the window. She was a little angry, angry that Yu Qiwen had put her in such an awkward position.

How dare he hide his relationship and discuss marriage with her?

"Ex-girlfriend".

Lu Qin gave a bleak smile: "We broke up two months ago."

Qiao Shu asked a very practical question: "If I don't marry him, he might still marry another girl. What do you plan to do then?"

Lu Qin silently shed tears, feeling both sad and ashamed. She was several years older than the girl in front of her, yet she had so rudely come to her door.

She kept shaking her head, covering her face in anguish, as memories of the past replayed in her mind. How easy it was to give up!

Qiao Shu asked Uncle Qin to drive to a nearby hotel and book her a room: "Take a hot bath and get some sleep. Although I don't understand feelings, it's like taking medicine when you're sick. There will always be a day when you feel better."

Their only interaction was that one night.

Later, Qiao Shu confronted Yu Qiwen, broke off the engagement, and had a falling out with her family, but these were all her own affairs.

When they met again, Lu Qin was no longer the helpless girl in the rain. Time had given her maturity and confidence. She raised her hand from afar and greeted Qiao Shu with a smile.

"haven't seen you for a long time."

"haven't seen you for a long time."

It had been a long time since the incident, and they weren't exactly close. If they were to reminisce, it would seem like they were getting too carried away with their casual acquaintance. Qiao Shu went to see Lu Qin's paintings, which were consistent with her own style: gentle and beautiful, shrouded in a touch of melancholy from a rainy season. They were works that could calm people down and were imbued with spirit.

They discussed the artworks and the auction process, and finally signed a three-year contract with the auction house. After that, all of her artworks would be managed by Song Yue.

After discussing work, we had afternoon tea near the auction house.

Lu Qin cut a piece of pastry: "I've been thinking that I'm actually quite sorry to you. If it weren't for me, none of these things would have happened."

"I should be thanking you. If it weren't for you, I would still be in the dark. I'm fine now. I'm very satisfied with my current partner. The only downside is that when I see Yu Qiwen, I have to call him 'cousin'."

This is very frustrating, and it's Yu Zeheng's problem.

Lu Qin chuckled to herself.

She still remembered the first time she met Qiao Shu. She had met other rich girls, but Qiao Shu exuded an air of pampered luxury from head to toe. She was the first one, with undeniable beauty. Her misty blue dress was a vibrant and luxurious flower.

Years have passed, her temperament has matured, and she remains as radiant as ever.

Lu Qin had tried to blame part of the reason for the failed relationship on her, but found that she couldn't bring herself to hate her. That night, she lay in the hotel, unable to stop crying, and felt ashamed of her thoughts.

Qiao Shu stirred her coffee, the ice cubes swirling, and finally asked, "Is there still a chance for you two?"

"That's it. I'm tired after all these years. Let's end this relationship here."

Qiao Shu nodded in understanding.

Some wounds don't heal over time; they do scab over, but the rough scars serve as a reminder of the wound's existence.

Qiao Shu went to Bocheng the next day to sign the project.

The moment she signed her name felt great. The monetary amount in the project was just a string of numbers; what she liked was achieving the results she wanted through her own abilities.

Yu Zeheng booked a restaurant in advance to celebrate.

It was the same restaurant where she had once treated Ethan to dinner, the same spot, but with a different person sitting across from her.

"From now on, when you think of this restaurant, you'll only remember that you came here with me." Who is Ethan? Sooner or later, he'll be like a stone thrown into the river of memories, making no ripples.

"You're so childish," Qiao Shu said with a light sneer, resting her chin on her hand.

Yu Zeheng didn't take it seriously; this was just one of his ways of erasing traces of others.

I saw Lu Qin yesterday.

Qiao Shu then told her about Lu Qin's collaboration with the auction house and how they had had afternoon tea together that afternoon.

Yu Zeheng, holding a knife and fork, cut his steak: "Have you two been in contact all this time?"

"No, but life is sometimes just that amazing."

It was just like the saying "Life is full of unexpected encounters," that night changed their lives at the same time.

After dinner, we went home and, as usual, spent some quality time with Xiaoxi. The courtyard lights were turned on, and Xiaoxi ran around happily, looking like a bouncy cloud under the light.

The old man already knows about the project signing. Tomorrow, a lawyer will meet with Qiao Shu to transfer Shengyu's shares to her.

After taking stock of her assets, Qiao Shu realized that her house in Australia had appreciated in value and she had already put it on the market through a real estate agent. Auction houses were doing better and better, and with her other assets, she could now support herself more than enough.

No matter what happens in the future, these will be her source of confidence.

Just before going to bed, Yu Qiwen called.

Qiao Shu was playing on her phone, her head resting on Yu Zeheng's lap. The moment the call came in, Yu Zeheng saw the contact name on the screen—

Yu Qiwen.

Anyone can have a name with her, but he is just a symbol, and even the six dots "..." were changed by himself.

Qiao Shu was stunned for a moment, then turned her gaze and met Yu Zeheng's eyes.

Yu Zeheng's voice was gentle: "Answer it, it might be something important."

Qiao Shu, however, felt that there was something unusual about this gentleness.

She casually swiped to answer the call, held the phone to her ear, and politely greeted Yu Qiwen, asking him if there was anything wrong with calling so late.

The voice on the other end of the phone was low, and after a moment's hesitation, asked, "Have you met Lu Qin?"

Qiao Shu had no reason to hide it from him: "I've met him."

"I heard she signed with your auction house, thank you."

"You don't need to thank me. Lu Qin chose us, which is a good deal for us. Her work is excellent and she has a bright future."

As she spoke, a hand rested on her leg, revealing prominent veins beneath her pale skin. After she finished speaking, the hand gave her a light pinch.

He lowered his eyelids and appeared with his lips pursed, disliking her focused tone.

Qiao Shu held her phone and gave him a warning look, trying to make him behave.

Yu Qiwen said "I know" twice: "She entered university with the highest score in the college entrance examination. She has always been excellent."

Qiao Shu had no interest in listening to what he had to say anymore.

Yu Zeheng had already put down his phone. His hand slipped under his skirt, tugging at the lace trim. His warning look was useless, so she could only use her other hand to stop him and glare at him again, but his gaze seemed weak and powerless to him.

She grasped his hand, pursed her lips, and answered, "Yes, she is. Is there anything else you want to ask?"

Or, to be even more blunt, just ask him directly what he wants to ask.

After another moment of silence, Yu Qiwen asked, "Has she mentioned me?"

“No, I asked her if you two had a chance yet.” Qiao Shu recalled Lu Qin’s expression at the time, her tone icy. “She said there was no possibility. Five years should have ended long ago.”

Yu Zeheng gestured for her to hang up.

Yu Qiwen was probably also hurt; his breathing became heavier on the other end of the line. He adjusted his breathing and said, "Okay, I understand. If we meet again, please pass on a message for me."

Why aren't you hanging up yet?

Yu Zeheng tilted his head, his expression written all over his face.

Qiao Shu was also helpless: "You tell me."

Yu Zeheng easily broke free from her hand and pressed down, touching the soft, swampy ground. Qiao Shu was caught off guard and almost let out a muffled groan.

She grabbed his arm, stopping him from going any further.

The next second, he took the phone from her hand and said to Yu Qiwen, "Brother, call me next time you need to talk about these things. Given your status, you need to have some boundaries."

He has no compassion whatsoever.

"Nothing's wrong, that's all. Xiaoshu and I are going to sleep."

-----------------------

Author's note: This is terrible.

The only punishment is to make the ex-husband stand facing the wall in repentance.

(Successfully woke up early today, got up at 6 am, hope to keep it up :))

50 red envelopes, kiss kiss kiss