Chapter 478 Even if she's wonderful, she's not what I want.
But the footsteps behind her followed her closely, neither hurried nor slow.
To get from the rooftop to her office, you have to pass through the staff work area, and Zhou Mubin followed her at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
Wearing a well-tailored suit, Cui Xiao stood out from the busy employees around him, attracting whispers and glances from the side of their eyes. The whispers made Cui Xiao feel uncomfortable, and he quickened his pace.
Finally arriving at the office door, Cui Xiao stopped and turned around, her patience almost completely exhausted.
She leaned against the cold glass door, patiently looking up at Zhou Mubin who had followed her, trying to keep her tone calm. "Attorney Zhou, this is my office. It's not appropriate for you to keep following me. Just say what you want."
Zhou Mubin leaned against the door frame, his hands in his suit trouser pockets, his body slightly forward.
Her peach blossom eyes curved into a sly arc, her tone carrying a deliberate teasing yet concealing a hint of seriousness, "The ancients said that a life-saving grace should be repaid with one's body. Vice President Cui is so smart, surely you understand this principle? I think this method of compensation is much more reliable than a meal, what do you think?"
Cui Xiao's heart sank suddenly, as if a block of ice had been thrown into it, instantly chilling her to the bone.
She suddenly looked up, staring directly at him, a cold smile playing on her lips, her tone laced with undisguised sarcasm, "Attorney Zhou, you jest. Miss Lin is beautiful, from a distinguished family, and is your rightful fiancée. She is impeccable in both talent and appearance. Is that not enough for you to come and amuse yourself with an ordinary employee like me?"
Zhou Mubin's smile froze instantly, as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over his head.
His eyes quickly darkened, all traces of his earlier mockery vanished, leaving only a complex mix of emotions, a mixture of hurt, resentment, and a hint of anger at being misunderstood.
But his anger lasted less than two seconds before he suppressed it.
Cui Xiao's sharp tongue has been around for a long time, and she always manages to hit his weak spot precisely, yet he just can't bring himself to actually argue with her.
He gave a self-deprecating smile, suppressed the melancholy in his eyes, and suddenly leaned forward.
The sudden approach made Cui Xiao instinctively back away, her steps leading back to the office, her heart skipping a beat.
Taking advantage of her moment of hesitation, Zhou Mubin stepped forward and "entered the room," grabbing the doorknob behind him. With a soft "click," the office door was firmly locked.
In the enclosed space, the smell of tobacco on him became increasingly clear, enveloping her with a strong sense of oppression.
Cui Xiao tensed up instantly, her fingertips gripping the hem of her shirt, her voice trembling slightly, "Zhou Mubin, what are you doing?"
He seemed not to hear her, leaning down to trap her between himself and the door, his peach blossom eyes half-closed, staring at her reddened earlobes with a half-smile. "Why are you so agitated? I just wanted to ask you something. Were you jealous when you said that just now?"
You're overthinking it.
Cui Xiao immediately retorted, her eyes darting away from his in a flustered manner. To prove her honesty, she forced herself to praise him again, saying, "Miss Lin is already very outstanding, and standing next to you is a match made in heaven."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Mubin chuckled softly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
"She is excellent; her family background, appearance, and talent are all impeccable."
He paused, his gaze fixed intently on her eyes, his tone suddenly becoming serious, "But no matter how good it is, it's not what I want."
Before Cui Xiao could react, he moved closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear, his voice carrying an undeniable force and tenderness, "Cui Xiao, no matter how good others are, it has nothing to do with me. From beginning to end, the only person I've ever wanted is you."
Such an intimate distance caused Cui Xiao's brows to furrow instantly, her chest churning with a complex mix of emotions—panic, resistance, and a strange flutter of excitement.
She suddenly pushed hard against Zhou Mubin's chest.
When her fingertips touched his warm, hard chest, it felt like hitting an iron plate. The man was prepared, and his arms tightened as if they were iron clamps.
His palm pressed firmly against the cold door behind her, completely trapping her in the small space between himself and the door.
His gaze was intensely aggressive. Before Cui Xiao could prepare for her next struggle, Zhou Mubin leaned down and pressed his lips against hers with an undeniable force.
His warm lips pressed against hers with a touch of urgency. The sensation made Cui Xiao's mind go blank, leaving only his clear scent enveloping her completely.
Cui Xiao's brain went blank for a full two seconds before she was jolted awake by the warm touch on her lips.
The sudden impact made her stiffen, and she immediately reacted with strong resistance, turning her head sharply to avoid the overly intimate contact, while raising her hand and pushing him away with all her might.
A crisp "slap" echoed in the closed office, particularly jarring.
Zhou Mubin was pushed back half a step, while Cui Xiao covered her lips and retreated repeatedly. The warm touch of that moment still lingered on her lips, making her blood almost freeze.
"Zhou Mubin, were you born in the Year of the Dog?"
She cursed through gritted teeth, her chest heaving violently, her eyes reddening with extreme anger and a hint of unspeakable grievance, and even her voice trembling as if she were about to cry.
Zhou Mubin turned his head to the side, his face clearly marked with several red marks, which stood out against his fair skin.
But instead of showing any anger, he slowly curled his lips into a smile, his eyes filled with relief and a hint of barely perceptible doting affection.
He raised his hand and gently rubbed his slapped cheek. His fingertips paused slightly when they touched the red mark. His voice was hoarse from the beating, but it was filled with an unprecedented honesty.
"Lin Yuwei is only my fiancée in name. We are just in a contractual relationship to appease our parents. We will not get married."
He paused, looked at Cui Xiao with an open and honest gaze, his eyes devoid of any hint of jest, and said, word by word, "Also, Lin Yuwei's sexual orientation is the same as mine. We are covering for each other. This marriage is just a facade for outsiders."
Cui Xiao froze on the spot, as if she had been frozen in place, her pupils suddenly shrinking to the size of pinpoints.
The raging anger that had just been felt was instantly swept away by the overwhelming shock.
She opened her mouth, but her throat felt blocked by something, and she could only manage to squeeze out a mumbled sentence. Her fingers curled unconsciously, her nails digging deep into her palms, but she felt no pain whatsoever.
She stared at Zhou Mubin in disbelief, her gaze lingering on his face, trying to find even a trace of a joke in his expression, but all she saw in his eyes was honesty and seriousness.
"What...what did you say?" she asked again, this time her voice trembled even more, mixed with a hint of panic that she herself didn't even realize.
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