Asking for a kiss

The long corridor was dimly lit by a warm light, which seemed to lack penetrating power, making the bright red carpet with its dark patterns appear somewhat dull. Two figures were hidden around the corner.

Gu Yuan casually lit a cigarette, and soon a wisp of white smoke swirled between the two of them. The latter raised his hand unhappily to disperse the wisp of white smoke, saying, "You junior, how can you be so rude, smoking here."

"Ouch, this is choking me!"

The woman's Mandarin, which had a regional accent, wasn't standard, and she looked at the person in front of her with disdain.

Gu Yuan didn't back down; instead, he became even more audacious, exhaling a large puff of smoke right in front of her. "Politeness? Do you think what we're doing right now is polite?"

He laughed self-deprecatingly, "Yu Xi—, my arch-enemy has it tough too. A widow with a child, yet she's managed to fight me to the death in the business world for so many years."

"That little vixen, I don't even want to talk about her. She suddenly appeared out of nowhere and ruined my plans."

Speaking of this matter, Gu Yuan had also heard about it. He glanced at her with interest. The woman looked furious, but he laughed and said, "If you had succeeded, there wouldn't have been any of this later."

"I'm leaving." He held a cigarette burning crimson between his fingers and walked away lazily. "After this is done, don't come looking for me again. I'm too busy to listen to your bullshit revenge plan."

"Oh dear, this child has no manners at all. Is that how you talk to your elders?"

Gu Yuan ignored the incessant chatter behind him and kept his head down as he slowly walked forward, not even noticing the person bumping into him.

"Mr. Gu, it's been a long time!"

The newcomer spoke first, and he immediately looked up in alarm, dropping the still-burning cigarette he was holding onto the carpet.

Gu Yuan stared at him, still shaken, his hands trembling uncontrollably. He tried to speak, but his throat seemed to be locked, and he couldn't utter a sound.

She could only stare at him with her mouth slightly open, not daring to look away from him for a moment. She was afraid to look directly at him, but even more afraid that he would suddenly disappear.

Chen Miao approached step by step, "President Gu, the last time I saw you was just a fleeting glimpse at Jinxuexiao. I never expected to run into you here again."

He spoke slowly and deliberately, taking a step closer to Gu Yuan with each word, until he was only a step away.

Chen Miao raised his hand and snapped his fingers near his ear. The latter seemed to be suddenly released from some kind of restraint, covering his neck with both hands and panting heavily.

He kept retreating; he had only heard that voice once, but he dared not forget it, nor could he ever forget it.

"You... are you a human or a ghost?"

Chen Miao had already guessed he would ask this, and deliberately countered, "Why does President Gu say that? Have you done something wrong that you're afraid of ghosts knocking on your door?"

Gu Yuan lowered his head, not daring to look at him, afraid that he would see something terrible on that pale, bloodless face.

As if his actions tonight had been exposed, he said angrily, "I don't care if you're a human or a ghost, if you mess with me, you're out of luck."

"Really?" Chen Miao smiled and approached, a hint of warning in her smile. "Why is President Gu saying that to me? What grudge do I have against President Gu? This is only our second meeting, and President Gu has already given me such a big gift!"

Gu Yuan rose through the ranks, his hands stained with blood, and he's always had some belief in ghosts and spirits. His vegetarianism and chanting of Buddhist prayers were partly to suppress the evil spirits and grievances, and partly just a way for him to find psychological comfort.

Therefore, he was afraid of Chen Miao's existence.

He was truly terrified that a ghost could enter his house silently, escape unscathed, and now reappear unharmed before him.

"I have no grudge against you, so why are you bothering me? It's not like I killed you."

Ignoring Gu Yuan's shouts, Chen Miao felt a surge of anger rising within him as he recalled what Gu Yuan had done to deal with Yu Xi. "President Gu must know perfectly well what he has done."

Gu Yuan was struck by his words. Something that had been trying to hide in the darkness seemed to have been suddenly torn open, and a large amount of light rushed in.

He thought he had hidden it well, but when these things were actually brought up, his heart still ached.

"Stop talking nonsense!" Fear instinctively ignited his will to survive. Gu Yuan suddenly remembered why this ghost had come to him last time. He tentatively said, "I think you should be interested in Yu Xi's matter."

Chen Miao silently clenched his fists, his eyelids slightly raised. He didn't even notice these subtle movements, but Gu Yuan saw everything.

As if he had suddenly caught Chen Miao red-handed, he continued, "Guess what good stuff she put in that glass of wine she just drank?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Miao bypassed him and walked straight ahead, where he ran into two thugs who were about to take Yu Xi upstairs in the stairwell.

He gripped the stair railing with one hand, his black-gloved hand suddenly tightening its grip, looking down at the group of people. The oppressive aura emanating from him sent chills down their spines.

The two thugs threatened, "Get lost! Can't you see I have important business to attend to? Why are you blocking my way?"

"If you know what's good for you, get out of here. How dare a waiter be so arrogant?"

Chen Miao didn't waste any more words with the two men. He stepped forward and punched one of them hard in the face. His hand was still burned and he was wearing a black glove.

The pain that had been nagging at times before now seemed to have completely disappeared.

But as a ghost, one shouldn't have the ability to feel pain.

The man was startled by Chen Miao's actions. He stood at the stairwell connection, facing them directly, and with a heart full of anger, he viciously kicked at the retreating man again.

That imposing aura made the remaining person dare not approach at all, and even subconsciously fled at the speed of light.

"Brother, I was wrong, please stop hitting me." The man begged for mercy readily. He had taken Gu Yuan's money, but he didn't dare to risk his life.

Chen Miao seemed not to hear him, and instead tightened his grip, as if he wanted to vent all his anger.

He could accept the vicious curse that his soul would be scattered and he would never be reborn as a human.

But I can't bear to see Yu Xi get hurt, yet I can't help her at all.

For a long time, from before his death to after his death, this feeling continued to torment him; mental torment is far more destructive to a person than physical torment.

"Chen Sanshui, stop hitting me!" Yu Xi cried out with all her might, her body limp and powerless.

Chen Miao was like a robot out of control. After hearing the developer's instructions, he obediently stopped what he was doing and bowed his head to admit his mistake like a child who had done something wrong.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Yu."

Yu Xi squatted on the ground, not caring about anything else, and spoke again in a commanding tone, "Quickly help me up and go upstairs."

Seeing the flush on her face and her in a state of confusion, Chen Miao immediately understood what Gu Yuan meant.

Using a girl's innocence as a pawn in the business arena—such tactics made Chen Miao want to punish Gu Yuan right now.

He carefully helped Yu Xi up and then scooped her up in his arms.

Her forehead was pressed against Chen Miao's chest, and she gripped his suit jacket with one hand. The suppressed heat in her lower abdomen was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. In her confusion and passion, she couldn't hear what Chen Miao was saying at all. She just subconsciously reached up and cupped his face in her hands, looking up at Chen Miao.

Such a pair of affectionate and captivating eyes would move anyone who saw them, let alone those who already deeply loved her.

Chen Miao remembered that she had mentioned her own private rest room when she arrived, and he remembered the room number.

Just then, the door to the room was ajar. He pushed it open gently. The curtains inside were closed, and the ambient lights were on, casting an ambiguous pale purple glow, making the air feel hot and stuffy.

Chen Miao gently placed her on the bed, turned around, poured a glass of water and brought it to her lips, then took off his silver-white high heels adorned with pearls. He didn't stop for a moment.

He was somewhat at a loss and flustered. Given their current status, it would be inappropriate for him to stay here for even a second longer.

"Mr. Yu, I'll go get you a doctor." Just as he turned to leave, Yu Xi grabbed his wrist.

With her eyes half-closed and her mind in a daze, Yu Xi saw Meng Chou standing by her bedside, saying he was leaving. All the grievances welled up in her heart at once.

"Don't go!" she said in a coquettish tone, pulling him over and making him kneel by the bed. She looked down at him closely, her long hair brushing against Chen Miao's neck as she leaned down, a faint touch.

It was too close. At this distance, he could clearly see himself reflected in Yu Xi's eyes. The next second, soft lips covered his, constantly demanding from him, as if complaining about not seeing each other for so many years.

The deliberate teasing shattered the last line of defense in his heart. Yu Xi began to explore relentlessly, like conquering a city. However, there was no one to rely on behind him, so he could only hold onto his shoulders with both hands, putting all his weight on him.

Slowly, from his lips to his ear, little by little, until a kiss landed on his Adam's apple. Surprise flashed in his eyes. He wanted to let things continue, but reason was fighting fiercely within him. Chen Miao clenched his fists, not daring to touch her.

Yu Xi loosened his tie and deftly ripped off his suit jacket. Her lipstick stains were already on the collar of his snow-white shirt, and the buttons on the shirt were easily pulled open by her.

Her toned abs, the result of long-term exercise, were now on full display, along with her well-defined V-line and energetic-looking waist and abdomen. Yu Xi couldn't help but swallow hard.

"It's been so long, Meng Chou, you've still been exercising, that's great!" She was about to move on to the next step when Chen Miao pushed her away.

The latter retreated repeatedly, while Yu Xi, unable to stand steadily, continued to follow closely behind, pressing forward step by step.

Why are you avoiding me? Is it so hard to ask you this once?

"Or are you no longer capable?"

At that moment, he desperately wanted to say, "It's not that I can't do it," and a thousand voices in his mind were saying no, but he dared not utter a word.

Yu Xi pinned him against the door, one hand braced against the doorframe, the other lifting his chin, and said teasingly, "What? You don't want to?"

"If you don't want to, then I'm even happier. I love seeing you like this."

What she saw before her now was Meng Chou's face, his appearance.

"Meng Chou, you've always been by my side, haven't you?"