Chapter 40 The Madness Beneath His Abstinence

The rainy season in the northern part of the city has just ended, and the air is still damp and sticky.

Qu He stayed at home for several days without going out.

The bedroom curtains were half-drawn, and sunlight streamed through the gaps, illuminating the brooch on the bedside table.

The diamond on the brooch gleamed with a cold light. Qu He reached out and took it, unconsciously stroking it.

Whenever Qu He recalls that night of loss of control, intimacy, and passion, her heart pounds.

She didn't know how to define her relationship with Zhuang Bieyan, nor did she know what he meant by 'responsibility'.

She always felt that something was quietly changing between her and Zhuang Bieyan.

The phone vibrated, and Qu He tensed up reflexively.

These past few days, every time her phone made a sound, she was afraid it was a message from Zhuang Bieyan, afraid he would bring up what happened that night, afraid he would really demand an explanation for his claim of 'taking responsibility'.

Fortunately, none of them were.

It was just a live stream notification.

The video's title, in bold black font, reads: "North City Industry Summit Forum."

The live stream started playing automatically. The camera shook slightly, and upon seeing a figure, Qu He clicked on the link faster than she could think.

In the video, Zhuang Bieyan, as a special guest of the summit forum, is presenting an award on the stage.

He wore a well-tailored, dark black custom-made suit, with the same frameless glasses she had seen before perched on his nose. His gaze was calm, and he exuded a more aloof and noble air than she usually did when she saw him.

It is something that can be hoped for but not reached.

Beside him, Qian Zhaoye smiled smugly, holding a crystal trophy in his hand.

The words "Zhaoye Technology Wins Best Enterprise Representative in the New Economy" are prominently displayed on the large background screen.

After presenting the awards at the farewell banquet, Zhuang stepped down from the stage.

Whether by accident or intentional, the camera followed him all the way off the stage, completely forgetting about the winners on stage.

For more than a minute, only Zhuang Bieyan's composed figure was visible until a group of reporters surrounded him, at which point the camera slowly cut back to the stage.

In the last second before the camera switched, Zhuang Bieyan was answering questions from reporters. Under the spotlight, he looked calm and spoke in a steady tone.

Qu He's gaze fell on his bobbing Adam's apple, and the scene from that night instantly flashed through her mind.

His shirt was unbuttoned, and she, as if bewitched, leaned in and bit that patch of skin, which was burning hot!

That muffled groan, deliberately suppressed in his throat, carried a restrained desire, making him seem completely different from his appearance on the live stream.

The more aloof and dignified the banquet was on ordinary days, the more passionate and real it was that night.

The tightness of his grip on her wrist, the breath brushing against her ear, the unseen red marks...

She knew all about the burning desires he hid beneath his skin.

She seemed to have discovered another side of him, a more vibrant one.

The moment this thought crossed Qu He's mind, it felt as if an electric current had passed through her heart, and her limbs went numb.

After she realized what was happening, she immediately turned off the live stream, feeling her heart pounding and her face burning hot.

The air circulator was whirring, but Qu He found it inexplicably noisy. She went to the kitchen and gulped down several mouthfuls of cold water before she finally calmed down.

......

The summit forum venue.

A bustling scene.

Qian Zhaoye was surrounded by a group of people flattering him. He smiled appropriately and dealt with them, his vanity reaching its peak.

As they were talking, they heard a commotion coming from not far away. His gaze fell on Zhuang Bieyan, who was walking slowly towards them.

He had just finished an interview and was surrounded by a group of people.

Those who had been surrounding him and speaking well of him just moments before had mostly dispersed and were now rushing to Zhuang Bieyan's side, bowing and exchanging pleasantries with faces full of flattery.

Qian Zhaoye's hands, which were hanging by his sides, suddenly tightened.

He has worked so hard for so many years, and spent so much time and effort to get to where he is today and achieve his current status, but why is he still not as good as Zhuang Bieyan?

Why is it that, even under the same spotlight, he didn't even flinch, yet he stole all the limelight?

Just because his surname is Zhuang, does that mean he should be considered superior?

He was deeply troubled, his emotions surging uncontrollably, and he struggled to maintain his composure so as not to lose his composure in front of others.

As he was thinking, he heard a man he had only greeted a few times approach him and say, "Mr. Qian, I just heard that your marriage is almost settled? It seems like today is a double celebration!"

Qian Zhaoye's brow twitched slightly. He seemed unsurprised by the rumor, and even somewhat expected it.

"We do have that plan."

As he was speaking, he felt the air around him suddenly freeze.

Zhuang Bieyan had already walked up to him at some point, his amber eyes coldly staring at him through his glasses.

Qian Zhaoye felt a cold sweat break out on his back from being stared at.

I always felt that when he looked at me, there was something ambiguous about it.

Just then, someone in the crowd said, "Mr. Qian, you've won this industry representative award, you must throw a big celebration party! We'll definitely be there to support you!"

Qian Zhaoye agreed to all of them.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, looked at Zhuang Bieyan, and bowed slightly, "President Zhuang, the company is preparing a celebration party tomorrow. I wonder if you would be free to attend?"

Qian Zhaoye asked this politely, but everyone present knew it was just a polite remark.

He asked that question simply to make himself appear well-mannered and to save face in front of others.

After all, everyone in the entire North City knew that Zhuang Bieyan never attended business events of this level, and Qian Zhaoye was already prepared to be rejected.

The surroundings quieted down, and everyone's eyes were on the two of them.

Zhuang Bieyan kept his eyes downcast, looking at Qian Zhaoye. His gaze behind his glasses was unfathomable. After a long while, he finally heard Qian Zhaoye speak slowly, "Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"good."

A single, simple word stirred up a huge wave in the hearts of everyone around, instantly disrupting all the trends.

Qian Zhaoye was taken aback, and his fake smile almost faltered.

He didn't expect Zhuang Bieyan to agree.

Zhuang Bieyan seemed oblivious to his astonishment, glancing around indifferently before nodding slightly and leaving.

No sooner had he left the venue than he was met with a chorus of compliments and praises, even more enthusiastic than before.

Several business executives who had just been ignoring him suddenly changed their expressions, patting him on the shoulder enthusiastically, and several reporters were vying to book a spot at tomorrow's celebration party with him.

Every word they said reached Qian Zhaoye's ears. He felt as if something was blocking his heart, making him feel suffocated, but he couldn't show it and could only continue to smile and socialize.

He didn't know why Zhuang Bieyan had agreed, but whatever his purpose was, his willingness to come was extremely good for the company, and he had to seize this opportunity.

What's more, he has to announce a "big thing" in front of everyone tomorrow.

Baiyu Bay.

When Qu He received Qian Zhaoye's message, she was texting with Xiao Zhuangxi.

On the screen was a little girl's sweet, childlike voice: "Sister Qu, the bayberries at home are all red and ripe, come and eat some! Let's pick bayberries together!"

Qu He was surprised that the girl still remembered this after so long.

Looks like summer vacation has started, and everyone's really letting loose.

She didn't want to go to the dealer's place in the first place, and with what happened a few days ago, it was even less likely that she would go. She made up a couple of excuses, cleverly changed the subject, and quickly ended the conversation.

The message had barely been sent when a text message popped up.

It was still an unfamiliar number, but Qu He knew who it was without even looking.

"Ahe, I'll prove it to you at the company's celebration party tomorrow! Everything I said is true!"

Qu He stared at the message for a while, then deleted and blocked it without expression.

She learned about Qian Zhaoye's plan to hold a celebration party shortly after she left the live stream.

Kobayashi from the secretariat had already messaged her, inviting her to attend tomorrow, saying they wanted to witness the company's "great joyous occasion" together.

Qu He did not reply to this message.

The company is unaware that she has submitted her resignation and left the company.

Perhaps in Qian Zhaoye's eyes, her leaving all work groups and blocking contact information was just her way of throwing a tantrum.

Qu He's gaze fell on the computer screen in front of her. The video in her email was downloading, and the cover image was frozen on the frame of Qian Zhaoye and Qiao Mian being intimate in the back seat of the car.

The images are physically uncomfortable to watch.

Curved load minimizes the window.

Some things really need to be put to rest.

Since there's a 'big happy event' tomorrow, it's time for her to send out this 'gift'.