Chapter 45 Swallowing your boyfriend right next to you, isn't that great? ...
Since the summit officially began, the psychology group that Ning Jiu and Shang Lin participated in has been very busy.
The schedule for the next few days is packed, with almost no free time. In the mornings, there are keynote lectures and research findings sharing sessions in various breakout sessions, while in the afternoons, there are case studies and interdisciplinary discussions in small groups.
After visiting the exhibition hall next to the manor, the two were taken to the conference room of the psychology sub-venue, where a well-known European professor was explaining research related to emotion processing. Since his own science group report also involved object overlap, Su Ming followed them into the conference room and sat in the last row to listen.
Halfway through the conversation, Ning Jiu's phone vibrated slightly, and she glanced at it distractedly.
It was Dou Miao's message that before the deal with Yaoxing Entertainment could even be finalized, a major new deal had already been offered to them.
Yaoxing Entertainment's previous deals were already quite large, but this new deal is even more astonishing in scale. The partner is the well-known Kailin Group, a massive company, and the cooperation fee is staggeringly high, almost ten times that of the previous deal.
Ning Jiu could almost sense the barely suppressed excitement and disbelief in Dou Miao's words. After sending the message, she also forwarded a photo of the contract sent by the other party.
It was obviously inappropriate to examine the details of the agreement at this point, but Ning Jiu glanced at it briefly and was still shocked by the seven-figure sum in the last clause, blinking in disbelief.
[Ningjiu] Stay calm, it's most likely a scam. Wait for me to come back.
Dou Miao probably didn't realize that Ning Jiu's first thought was this, and it took her several minutes to reply.
[Bean sprouts] Oh, okay, Sweet Wine Sister
The professor on the podium was getting into his lecture, speaking faster and faster, when suddenly there was a rapid knocking on the door. He didn't hear it at first, but when the knocking was on the third time, he frowned, stopped, and went to open the door.
The staff member in formal attire outside the door was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. When the professor opened the door, he quickly leaned down and whispered a few words in his ear. The old professor, who had been smiling relaxedly, instantly became serious, and his eyes showed an unusual seriousness.
With a "lecture paused" announced in German, the once quiet meeting room suddenly became noisy as everyone discussed who could possibly make this renowned and meticulously scheduled professor leave halfway through the lecture.
Ning Jiu took advantage of this break to zoom in on the contract sent by Dou Miao. The terms and details of the contract looked neat and the company seal at the end was clear and correct. At least on the surface, there was no problem.
But she never believed in free lunches, let alone such a big one.
While Ning Jiu was carefully searching for loopholes in the contract, she was completely unaware that the atmosphere around her had instantly shifted from noisy and bustling to completely silent.
Su Ming and Qian Mingzhi were auditors and could only sit in the last row. Since everyone knew each other, Ning Jiu and Shang Lin took the opportunity to sit in the second to last row. For such an important lecture, the first few rows were already full, with only a few empty seats in the last two rows.
The surroundings were so quiet that even breathing could be heard clearly. Ning Jiu's gaze fell on her phone, and she suddenly heard Shang Lin beside her gasp.
Before she could even look in Shang Lin's direction, a subtle fluctuation of energy suddenly came from behind her, and the empty seat sank slightly.
Tick-tock, tick-tock.
Time moved so slowly it felt like being stuck in a swamp.
"Mr. Qiao, a seat in the first row has been prepared for you..."
Lian Zhuoxun didn't understand why Qiao Bolin was sitting in the last row. He thought Qiao Bolin was dissatisfied with the seat he was given and was considering whether to give it up when Qiao Bolin stopped him.
"As I said, I'm just here to listen in."
A voice, both strange and familiar, came from behind her ear, and Ning Jiu felt the blood in her back freeze instantly.
We haven't seen each other for over five years.
But now she doesn't even need to turn around; with just a voice, she can instantly visualize every feature of the man's face in her mind.
Reality and dreams overlapped repeatedly, and for a moment she almost lost track of where she was.
Taking a deep breath and forcing herself to calm down, Ning Jiu realized that his tone was simple and casual, and he probably hadn't noticed that there was someone sitting in front of him.
Thinking this way, my turbulent emotions calmed down a lot, but my chest still felt tight and I couldn't breathe. Then I heard the man behind me speak calmly.
"Let's proceed as planned and continue."
Almost the instant the words fell, the lecture continued. Qiao Bolin said he was just observing, and he really only flipped through the documents, typing down notes when he came across good points. He had no intention of stealing the show. However, the atmosphere, which should have been lively, was inexplicably made a bit more cautious and apprehensive by his presence.
My chest felt as if it were being crushed by the sea, and I couldn't find a way to breathe.
During a break in the professor's lecture, Shang Lin secretly whispered in her ear.
"Xiao Jiu, did you notice the person sitting behind us? He's so handsome it's making my legs weak. It's the first time I've ever met someone so good-looking in the real world."
"......"
A few minutes before the end of the lecture, Ning Jiu couldn't help but stand up and leave early. Su Ming, who was behind her, immediately noticed her unusual behavior and followed her with concern. His arm accidentally brushed against Qiao Bolin, who was standing next to him, and he turned his head and whispered an apology.
"Excuse me, could you please let me pass?"
The meeting was almost over, and Lian Zhuoxun seized the opportunity to go to the last row to get his computer. His eyes swept over the back of the man helping the woman out of the meeting hall, and when he came to Qiao Bolin's side, before he could say anything, he felt that the atmosphere was much colder than before.
He involuntarily shivered and followed Qiao Bolin out of the conference room, only to realize that the latter was not heading towards the elevator.
Ning Jiu walked out of the conference room with a restless mind, her palms still covered with a layer of sweat.
She glanced down at Su Ming, who was supporting her, and was about to pull her hand away when she caught a glimpse of Qiao Bolin and Lian Zhuoxun coming out as well.
Lian Zhuoxun clearly recognized them as the couple who had just left early and greeted them politely. Qiao Bolin's eyes also turned in their direction, but there was no emotion in his eyes.
The calm of a nodding acquaintance, like that of a stranger.
He was thinner than before, and his handsome features were sharper and more distinct than I remembered. His already superior bone structure appeared even more three-dimensional, and his temperament was much calmer, carrying an insurmountable sense of distance, which made it even harder for people to look away.
It seems he has long since let go of the past. Now, in a high position and impeccably dressed, when he meets her gaze, it is just an ordinary glance in the crowd.
So what reason does she have to hold a grudge?
As her body relaxed, Ning Jiu was the first to look away, nudging Su Ming's arm as if she wanted to go back.
Before they could even turn around, Lian Zhuoxun had already come over and greeted them.
"Hello, madam and sir, I'm Lian Zhuoxun, the exhibition manager for the EZGT Summit." He exchanged a few pleasantries in a gentle tone, then casually asked, "How has your experience been at the summit these past few days? Are there any particularly memorable moments?"
Knowing that Ning Jiu was too busy to speak, Su Ming tacitly took over the conversation for her.
Lian Zhuoxun's gaze lingered briefly between the two of them before he nodded knowingly.
"Miss Ning seems to be feeling unwell. We have a rest room nearby, would you like to go in and rest for a while?"
Almost the instant he finished speaking, Ning Jiu was about to refuse, but then she heard Lian Zhuoxun continue.
"If you would like to go back to your room to rest as soon as possible, you can also take the VIP elevator with Mr. Qiao. I will send a waiter from the manor to meet you on the first floor."
He realized something, turned to observe Qiao Bailin's expression, and introduced her.
"This is Mr. Qiao Bolin, the founder of Null-J Tech and the behind-the-scenes investor of the EZGT Summit."
"......"
Upon hearing the other party's identity, Su Ming's expression changed. After the two shook hands and introduced themselves, Qiao Bolin's gaze slid past Su Ming and landed on Ning Jiu, who was standing to the side.
Su Ming thought Qiao Bolin wanted to shake hands with Ning Jiu and was about to explain that she was unwell, but Qiao Bolin just nodded politely, his expression polite but indifferent, and then looked away.
Given the choice between going to the lounge and taking the elevator with Joe Bolin, Ning Jiu would naturally choose the former.
He acted nonchalantly, as if he had already let go of that youthful, naive past. Only she remembered that heart-wrenching separation, and that was for the best.
Ning Jiu let out a soft sigh of relief.
He had long forgotten that this was the best ending.
He pretended not to know her, and Ning Jiu tacitly maintained the calm that had lasted for five years. The group walked to the VIP lounge, and Lian Zhuoxun entered the password to open the door. Suddenly, they heard a clap of thunder outside the window, and the fine rain pounded against the window, making a crisp sound.
"What's wrong with the weather in Potsdam lately? It changes every day."
The one who suffers the most from extreme weather is Lian Zhuoxun. He glanced at Qiao Bolin beside him, his tone apologetic.
"Mr. Qiao, please go to the lounge and rest for a while. I'll have the driver bring the car over."
After saying that, he walked out of the room, took out his phone, dialed a number, and whispered to the waiter to drive the car to the entrance on the first floor and wait.
By the time Ning Jiu realized what was happening, Lian Zhuoxun had already neatly closed the door, leaving Qiao Bolin alone in the room with them.
"......"
"......"
The atmosphere became inexplicably tense, and even the usually gentle Su Ming straightened his back slightly.
Perhaps there is always hostility between young men, especially when the other party is outstanding in terms of status and appearance. Just thinking about how this man in front of him, who is outstanding in both appearance and temperament, has single-handedly transformed Null-J Tech from an unknown startup into a rising star in the industry in just four years, he can't help but feel a mixture of admiration and undeniable jealousy.
Fortunately, Qiao Bolin was polite and had a good sense of propriety. After sitting down, he simply worked in place, leaving them plenty of space. Su Ming's tense mood gradually relaxed, and he turned his attention to Ning Jiu, noticing that the latter's complexion was not good.
"Xiao Jiu?" Even with their voices lowered, the two could still be heard clearly in the space of the lounge. "Is your stomach hurting again?"
His familiarity with her made Ning Jiu pause for a moment, but she readily nodded, finding a good excuse to leave.
"Let's go back to the room, I have medicine in my bag—"
Before the last word could even leave his throat, a muffled clap of thunder suddenly rang out outside, and the lights in the lounge flickered violently twice.
In the blink of an eye, the shadow in the corner of the wall stretched out instantly, and the next second, the enclosed space was plunged into endless darkness.
There was a commotion outside as well, so it seemed that the power outage wasn't limited to this lounge.
After a brief moment of surprise, Ning Jiu quickly suppressed her emotions and regained her composure.
The best course of action after a power outage is to wait for the emergency power supply to start and avoid taking any rash actions in the dark to prevent bumping into things or getting lost in an unfamiliar environment.
She instinctively reached out to touch the sofa armrest, using the touch to confirm her location, while carefully listening to the sounds around her.
Almost as soon as she touched the edge of the armrest, her fingertips brushed against a section of hot metacarpal bone. The knuckles were slightly raised, and her fingers were long and strong, with the veins faintly visible.
Almost the instant they touched, he gripped her tightly like a predator catching its prey. Ning Jiu instinctively pulled away, but he didn't loosen his grip at all. The hardness of his knuckles pressed firmly against her palm, giving her the illusion that she was firmly nailed to the spot.
Before the power went out, the person closest to her was Su Ming.
But Su Ming wouldn't hold her hand with that kind of force.
Ning Jiu realized almost instantly who was holding her wrist.
My brain went blank for a moment, almost shutting down.
The pressure on her wrist was increasing, and a fine pain came from her delicate skin. He knew her constitution too well. Ning Jiu felt a slight burning sensation at the corners of her eyes, and her eyes began to moisten. She was on the verge of tears because of the pain.
She cursed Qiao Bolin inwardly for being crazy. She subconsciously wanted to break free, but because Su Ming was right beside her, she didn't dare to make any big movements. The man seemed to see through her concerns and became more and more unrestrained.
Just minutes ago, his hands were cold and serious as he typed and flipped through documents, but now they were slowly tracing the slightly protruding veins on her wrists, making circles with a tender and lingering passion, bringing out an indescribable burning and itchy sensation as they caressed her.
Pain and itchiness intertwined; Ning Jiu bit her lips until they were swollen and alluring, barely suppressing a soft moan from her throat. Her wrists, however, were weak, and she could only let Qiao Bolin guide her hand upwards, little by little, until—
She touched something warm and soft.
Terrified, Ning Jiu tried to pull her hand back, but it was too late. Her nimble, burning lips and tongue pressed against her wrist, her skin gripped by the intense heat and urgent temperature, her pulse throbbing. Her lips and tongue, with an almost obsessive force, rubbed and tore at her, as if trying to imprint her very bones and blood into her memory.
Su Ming, who was standing to the side, seemed to sense something and called out Ning Jiu's name somewhat uncertainly.
"...Xiao Jiu, what's wrong?"
Ning Jiu felt as if all the blood in her body had frozen.
The grip on her wrist suddenly loosened, and she hurriedly took a few steps back to keep her distance from Qiao Bolin, but she was pulled back as soon as she took a step back. The man's strong and powerful hand then gripped her slender waist.
The scent, which was mixed with sandalwood, had somehow acquired a hint of smoky aroma. Ning Jiu was momentarily stunned by the familiar smell emanating from him, and he seized the opportunity, his tall and imposing figure completely enveloping her.
In the darkness, Su Ming's questioning voice was close at hand. Ning Jiu opened her lips to respond, but felt her earlobe being gently bitten.
The next instant, the fine bites and wet licks repeatedly tormented her, the tips of her teeth gently biting down, the tongue slowly grinding over her thin, tender skin, with malicious patience, slowly absorbing every tiny tremor of hers.
Not to mention speaking, Ning Jiu now felt that every breath she took was evidence of her crime.
His hot breath traveled up her neck from behind her ear and stopped at the corner of her slightly reddened eyes. His tongue didn't rush to touch her, but just lingered on that delicate skin until tears welled up in her eyes from the slight sting. Qiao Bolin tasted the slightly salty, cool sensation on his lips and chuckled softly.
"Your boyfriend is right next to you," he said, his voice low and husky, gently nibbling at the thinnest, softest part of her skin. "Is it good?"
Ning Jiu had thought countless times about how to meet Qiao Bolin again.
I've thought about it countless times.
But I never expected that he would go to such a crazy state the first time we met.
Even the strongest will couldn't overcome the physiological reaction; her eyes stung, and tears streamed down her face. At such close range, Ning Jiu could even hear him deliberately swallowing, and her ears gradually began to burn...
A tingling sensation spread from the corners of her eyes to her nerves, making them flush red. For a moment, she almost didn't care whether Su Ming was there or not, and wanted to confront Qiao Bolin on the spot. However, her legs went slightly weak because of his licking and biting, and the force she used to press against his chest gradually decreased, eventually becoming a kind of response.
The commotion outside gradually subsided, the emergency power was activated, and the rest room, separated by just one door, became even quieter. Su Ming, unable to get any response when he called Ning Jiu, grew restless and began to grope his way towards her in the dark.
With a snap.
The lights came on.
Su Ming immediately looked in the direction Ning Jiu had been sitting. The girl was sitting a little further away than before the power went out. There was nothing unusual on her face, except that the corners of her eyes were flushed an abnormally, as if she had just been crying.
But that's normal, Su Ming thought.
Many girls are afraid of the dark; she was probably frightened by what just happened.
Meanwhile, Su Ming glanced at the man in the suit on the other side.
He remained seated upright on the opposite sofa, a considerable distance away from them, seemingly unaffected by the power outage.
His cool and composed face revealed nothing amiss. He crossed his long legs and put away his laptop. Seeing that the power was back on, he politely nodded to the two of them. His gaze briefly fell on the corner of her eyes, which held a hint of allure, and just then met Ning Jiu's unintentionally raised, light pupils.
In just a second, the two of them turned away coldly, their eyes never meeting again.
-----------------------
Author's Note: The male lead will be a bit eccentric and slutty in these chapters.
-
As I mentioned before, there's a section about imprisonment that I've skipped; it will be interspersed in the urban flashbacks later, and a complete version of the side stories might also be released.
In short, this guy has completely dropped the pretense; his thought process is now beyond what a normal person can comprehend. The next chapter will be the same. [Heart emoji]
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