Chapter 48. She didn't close her eyes for a single minute all night.
When Shangqiu Zhu entered the bedroom carrying a whiskey glass, he still carried the cold and austere atmosphere left over from his work in the study. However, his gaze paused almost imperceptibly when it fell upon the scene in the room.
His black, white, and gray suits were hung on the left side of the wardrobe, while several pieces of clothing that didn't belong to him were squeezed into the right side: a pale yellow silk shirt, a light pink knitted skirt, and a dark green velvet dress, like a cluster of wildflowers that had suddenly invaded his orderly world.
On the sink, his razor and cologne were still in their original places, only now there was a row of colorful bottles and jars next to them.
A lipstick rolled to the side of his electric shaver.
His tie and her scarf were tangled together in the drawer, slippers were placed side by side, and two books of very different styles were on the pillow.
Yan Shuang, with her back to the door, was tiptoeing as she hung a white dress deep inside the wardrobe.
The hem of her skirt brushed against his custom-made suit, Shang Qiuzhu's Adam's apple bobbed, and the ice cubes in her wine glass clinked gently.
Yan Shuang suddenly turned around and found him standing in the doorway. She casually waved and pointed to the top of the wardrobe, "Put the dust bag up there for me, I can't reach it."
Shangqiu Zhu raised an eyebrow.
No one dared to speak to him in that tone.
The secretary in front of him was quite adept at directing him.
But he said nothing, simply placed the wine glass on the dresser, walked to the wardrobe, and took the dust bag.
"A little to the left," Yan Shuang directed from below, "Yes, right there."
The dust bag was properly placed.
"Thank you, Mr. Shang," Yan Shuang said playfully, using a respectful form of address.
Her fingers lightly brushed against his sleeve, touching it briefly before pulling away.
Shangqiu Zhu calmly withdrew his gaze, picked up his wine glass again, and took a sip.
The burning sensation of the whiskey slid down my throat, but it couldn't suppress another unfamiliar warmth in my heart.
He watched Yan Shuang continue packing her luggage, saw her casually tuck her hair tie into the bedside lamp post, and watched her fold her pajamas and place them next to his pillow.
These minor acts of intrusion would be considered offensive to him by anyone else.
As the only son of the Shang family, he was taught from a young age not to rely on anyone and from the age of twelve, he did not allow servants into his bedroom.
After he grew up, even his mother rarely stepped into his private space.
But at this moment, all this chaotic intimacy has quietly melted a corner of my heart that has been frozen for years.
He realized he was acquiescing.
Even more.
After washing up, Shangqiu Zhu walked out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel.
Only one bedside lamp was left on in the room.
The warm yellow light cast a soft border on the black marble floor, as if giving this cool-toned space a gentle breath.
His gaze swept over the already drawn curtains, the angle just enough to reveal the lights of the first-tier city.
The other side of the bed sank slightly, and Yan Shuang lay on her side with her back to him, breathing evenly.
Shangqiu Zhu stood by the bed for a while, then moved her pillow at least twenty centimeters to the side, giving him plenty of space.
He put on his pajamas, gently lifted the blanket, and noticed that although Yan Shuang's eyes were closed, her eyelashes trembled slightly.
She was pretending to be asleep.
He didn't say anything, he just lay down and closed his eyes.
The night was deep. Yan Shuang stared at the ceiling with her eyes wide open, her body stiff and taut, not daring to move.
She was jet-lagged and felt as awake as if she had drunk three cups of espresso, but the man beside her was breathing evenly and seemed to have already fallen asleep.
Afraid of waking him, she didn't even dare to turn over and could only lie stiffly.
"If you can't sleep, don't pretend."
A deep, cold voice rang out in the darkness, startling Yan Shuang, who turned sharply to look at Shang Qiuzhu.
His eyes were still closed, and his profile was sharply defined in the dim light, with a high nose bridge and thin lips pursed, looking no different from when he was fast asleep.
"...How did you know I wasn't asleep?" she asked softly.
Shangqiu Zhu finally opened his eyes, his dark pupils turning to her, his voice slightly hoarse: "You're lying there like a mummy."
Yan Shuang: "..."
Shangqiu Zhu suddenly rolled over and got out of bed.
Yan Shuang was taken aback, thinking he was about to leave, but then she saw him walk to the window and suddenly pull the curtains open completely.
The night view of Los Angeles poured in instantly, the city lights spread out like a galaxy in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, so dazzling that it took your breath away.
Shangqiu Zhu walked back, lay down again, stretched out his arm, and pulled her directly into his arms.
Yan Shuang leaned against his chest, staring blankly out the window.
Her gaze fell on the twinkling city lights in the distance, but her attention was completely occupied by something else.
Shangqiu Zhu's heartbeat was steady and strong, transmitted through the thin fabric of her clothes.
After a long while, it was unclear who made the first move.
He lowered his chin slightly, resting on the top of her head, and his warm breath brushed against her forehead.
She unconsciously shifted in his arms, her fingertips brushing against the hem of his pajamas.
It's like a silent signal.
Shangqiu Zhu's arms around her waist tightened suddenly, and in the next moment, he turned over, his tall shadow completely enveloping her and blocking out most of the light from the window.
Yan Shuang's breath hitched, all her thoughts were instantly drained, and she could only stare blankly at him.
He didn't give her any time to prepare before the kiss landed.
Shangqiu Zhu's palm gripped the back of her neck, his fingertips caressing the soft, stray hairs at her hairline, his hot breath brushing against the corner of her lips.
The kiss deepened, and his hand slid up her waist, his fingertips unbuttoning her pajamas. The cool air touched her skin, and Yan Shuang shuddered, suddenly waking up.
"Wait, wait!" She pressed against his chest, her breath unsteady. "I have to go to the company tomorrow... I can't stay up late..."
Shang Qiuzhu paused, staring intently at her with his dark eyes, and said, "My secretary is truly dedicated."
Yan Shuang nodded vigorously, her face full of righteous indignation: "That's right! We can't let important matters get in the way!"
Shangqiu Zhu narrowed his eyes, suddenly released her, and sat up.
"You're right." His tone was calm, even with a hint of approval. "Since Secretary Yan is so passionate about her work..."
He scooped her up from the bed, carried her horizontally, and strode toward the door.
"Now go to the study and go over tomorrow's proposal."
? !
Yan Shuang's eyes widened, stunned speechless by his sudden action.
"Now? Two in the morning?"
"What?" he asked slowly and deliberately, "Didn't you say 'we can't let work be delayed'?"
Yan Shuang was so angry she wanted to bite him, but she couldn't argue back. So she angrily hugged his neck and tilted her head back to kiss him hard.
Shangqiu Zhu raised an eyebrow, picked her up, and turned to walk back.
In a daze, she heard Shangqiu Zhu's low laughter.
Yan Shuang then realized that she had fallen into a trap.
That unscrupulous businessman!
The expensive silk pajamas had been removed at some point and had slipped carelessly down to the foot of the bed, piling up on the cold carpet.
Outside the window lies an endless, prosperous world; inside, body temperature rises sharply and breathing becomes chaotic and disordered.
Yan Shuang couldn't help but curl up, but he forcefully pushed her back open.
In the darkness, she could hear his heavy breathing in her ear and feel the speed at which his heart pounded against her chest.
Tears of reason welled up in the corners of her eyes, but he quickly kissed them away with his burning lips.
Yan Shuang abandoned all futile resistance and surrendered herself completely to the turbulent waves he had orchestrated in the depths of the Los Angeles night.
She lost count of how many times she had looked at the clock by her bedside: 3:17 a.m., 4:46 a.m., and now 6:08 a.m.
She didn't close her eyes for a single minute all night.
Meanwhile, the culprit was standing in front of the full-length mirror in the dressing room, slowly and methodically tying his tie.
Shangqiu Zhu was wearing a brand-new dark blue suit, his hair was neatly styled, and he looked as energetic as if he had just returned from a resort.
Yan Shuang struggled to sit up, the silk sheet slipping off her shoulders.
After a whole night of commotion, he was perfectly dressed and acted like nothing had happened, while she looked like she'd been run over by a truck and was completely broken up.
Yan Shuang turned her face away, not wanting him to see her disheveled state.
"Get up and eat." Shangqiu Zhu picked up the watch from the bedside table and put it on.
Yan Shuang let out a long sigh of relief only after hearing his footsteps disappear into the corridor.
She dragged her aching body into the bathroom, and as the hot water washed over her skin, scenes from the previous night uncontrollably flashed through her mind.
How Shangqiu Zhu's slender fingers unbuttoned her clothes, what his deep voice whispered in her ear, and the almost suffocating pleasure...
Yan Shuang turned off the tap and vigorously dried her body.
She shouldn't dwell on these things; it was just a deal, a humiliating agreement she was forced to accept.
After getting dressed, Yan Shuang slowly descended the stairs, holding onto the handrail.
The open kitchen connects to the dining area, where an exquisite breakfast is laid out on the marble countertop: Eggs Benedict, avocado salad, smoked salmon, and freshly baked croissants.
Shangqiu Zhu was already seated at the dining table, browsing financial news on a tablet computer, with a cup of black coffee beside him.
Yan Shuang stood in front of the dining table, looking at the exquisite but cold Western-style breakfast, and twitched.
She has never liked raw or cold food since she was a child, and prefers hot Chinese breakfast.
Yan Shuang pulled out a chair and sat down, forcing herself to pick up a piece of salmon and put it in her mouth.
After finishing their meal, the two of them went out together.
Lin Sheng was already standing at the door, dressed in a sharp gray suit, holding two tablets and a cup of takeaway coffee.
"Mr. Shang, Secretary Yan, good morning." He nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the two of them, his expression as calm as if seeing his boss and female subordinate in the same room was the most common thing.
Yan Shuang's prepared remarks got stuck in her throat.
She originally intended to come up with a plausible reason for the morning meeting.
But Lin Sheng's nonchalant attitude made her feel that the lie seemed a bit superfluous.
Lin Sheng stepped aside to make way, and handed the coffee to Shang Qiuzhu. "There's a multinational video conference in seven minutes. The legal department has already sent a summary of the acquisition to your email."
Shangqiu Zhu took the coffee, and Yan Shuang followed behind him.
She stole glances at Lin Sheng's profile, trying to find any trace of surprise or gossip, but he was focused on swiping his tablet, looking at a data chart with a slight frown, his professionalism was breathtaking.
Lin Sheng opened the back door, and Shang Qiuzhu got in first.
Yan Shuang followed closely behind.
After the car entered the morning rush hour traffic, Lin Sheng habitually glanced at the rearview mirror.
Yan Shuang was already asleep. Her head swayed slightly with the movement of the car body, eventually resting naturally on Shang Qiuzhu's shoulder.
Even more shockingly, Ms. Shang only glanced at it slightly before continuing to process the emails on the tablet with one hand, and even adjusted her posture with the other hand to make her more comfortable.
Lin Sheng immediately turned his gaze back to the road ahead.
When the car stopped in front of the Shang Group building, Lin Sheng hesitated for a second before softly reminding, "Mr. Shang, we've arrived."
He saw in the rearview mirror that Shangqiu Zhu gently patted Yan Shuang's cheek.
"Hmm...we're here?" Yan Shuang opened her eyes groggily, suddenly realizing where she was leaning against, and instantly jumped away.
Lin Sheng immediately got out of the car, went around to the other side to open the door, and pretended not to see Yan Shuang's flushed cheeks and the obvious wrinkle on Shang Qiuzhu's shoulder.
But in his heart, he had already classified today's discovery as top secret.
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