Chapter 18
Liang Shi turned over and woke up, feeling dizzy and unable to open her eyes. As her consciousness gradually returned, she slowly opened her eyes.
She stretched her arm out from under the covers. The air conditioning kept her warm, but the air was dry. She licked her lips, the thirst quickly bringing her back to her senses. She then realized she was lying on a double bed. The room was dimly lit and quiet, with only a bedside lamp on, making it difficult for her to tell what time it was.
She struggled to sit up, the white blanket slipped off, and she looked down and couldn't help but scream. She had actually slept naked all night?
Who helped her take off her clothes, and where is she?
Her head throbbed, and she hid under the covers again, closing her eyes. Her memories were like fragments, scattered and disjointed. Her hand touched her private parts; there was no discomfort. She had experience with this before, and Liang Shi was certain she hadn't been violated.
Moreover, the bed was very clean, with no signs of her sleeping there alone.
So, Li Junqian really came to save her?
She covered her chest with the blanket and sat up again, seeing a silver Rimowa suitcase standing quietly at the foot of the bed.
The weight lifted from Liang Shi's heart instantly. She hadn't been dreaming before she fainted last night; he really had come! But how could... how could he have found her!
She was lost in a vast ocean! He was like a god, descending upon her when she needed him most! Even TV dramas wouldn't dare to portray something like this!
Liang Shi gently called his name, but she was so thirsty that her throat was dry and hoarse. There was a glass of water on the bedside table, and next to the glass was a set of brand-new clothes, including underwear. This was Li Junqian, a detail-oriented person who had even prepared clothes for her.
She picked up her water glass, under which was a card with a message on it. The handwriting was easy to read; it was Li Junqian's, flowing yet powerful. She read it silently: "Little Shi, don't be afraid, I'm here."
The words were filled with a sense of security, and Liang Shi's tears fell without her realizing it. Her father gave her a second life, and he gave her the courage to live on.
If she really was assaulted last night, Liang Shi thinks she might actually consider suicide.
She couldn't wait to see him. Liang Shi got out of bed, picked up the pile of clothes, which were casual in style, and was about to put them on when she looked back at the suitcase.
He had brought this suitcase with him on his previous trip to Hong Kong. She remembered the combination and tried to open it, and sure enough, it opened.
He probably flew directly from Singapore to China. This suitcase contained quite a lot of things, but the most were clothes, several suits. Liang Shi thought that since their reunion, he had never seen him wear any casual clothes other than suits.
There was also a pile of French and English books, but Liang Shi had no interest in them at all. He really didn't know how this man had the leisure to read such headache-inducing things. He pulled out a white shirt and a roll of black Figueires belt from under a copy of Montaigne's Essays.
Wearing the oversized white shirt, Liang Shi felt as if she were being embraced by him. Paired with a belt, it accentuated her alluring waistline. At that moment, she completely forgot about Zhao Jiaren's words.
She loved Li Junqian; this man had been imprinted in her heart since the moment she met him when she was sixteen, and that feeling had never changed.
Wearing his clothes to see him has an obvious meaning.
It was a small yacht. Liang Shi walked from the bottom to the top and realized that he was not on the large yacht from last night.
Could Li Junqian have rented this yacht to find her on the vast ocean?
Liang Shi stepped barefoot onto the deck, feeling a bit cold, but when he saw that upright figure with his hand on the edge of the ship facing the sea, his heart was moved, and he no longer cared about the cold.
Barefoot, she made no sound. She quietly approached and without hesitation wrapped her arms around his waist. She wasn't wearing a bra, only a white shirt. Their chests were pressed against each other's backs, and Liang Shi pressed her cheek against his back, warm and resolute.
After they broke up, she thought about that scene every day. Call her lustful if you want, but who wouldn't want that kind of feeling for someone they like?
"Li Junqian, you saved me. How did you end up here? I thought I was dreaming!"
The yacht was small, with only one room. Last night, he spent a lot of effort and time just stabilizing her. He sat by the bed, holding her hand as she fell asleep. He didn't dare to sleep at all in the second half of the night, his mind filled with gratitude for his decision to travel from Dongguan to Shenzhen yesterday.
Li Junqian looked down and saw the hands entwined around his waist, and took them in his hand: "Are you dizzy? You were in a special situation last night, and there wasn't time to take you back to the hotel."
At this moment, the small yacht was docked at the pier. The sea was calm, and the yacht was not bobbing up or down. In addition, the sea air was refreshing: "I'm not seasick, just a little cold. I really blacked out last night. Let's go back to the room. Can you... tell me about it?"
Li Junqian used his hands to pry open her arms and turned around, not expecting her to rummage through his suitcase.
The two were in a breakup situation, and their last meeting ended badly. Now, the woman was still wearing his clothes, which was somewhat visually jarring. Besides, he wasn't stupid; he guessed that the relationship between the two wasn't exactly simple.
There may be hidden reasons behind the breakup.
Liang Shi exclaimed in surprise, not expecting to be picked up horizontally by him: "Did you carry me away like this last night?"
To be honest, she had no recollection of it at all.
"What happened to Wei... what happened to the people on that ship? Did they call the police?"
In the bedroom beneath the yacht, Liang Shi sat cross-legged on the bed, while Li Junqian, looking every bit the gentleman, brought in a chair from somewhere, acting as if he were the one who had broken up with him.
Liang Shi stared at his hands. His right hand was unmarked, but his left hand... had two red marks. Fortunately, they weren't broken, otherwise those beautiful hands would have been scarred.
"You got into a fight with them last night?"
Liang Shi wasn't worried about whether he could win or not, after all, he was a second-degree black belt in judo. But with so many people around and on a boat, she was afraid that something might really happen to him.
If she fell into the sea and became shark food, Zhao Jiaren would probably kill her.
Last night, Li Junqian met a chubby guy named Ahao who rents yachts at the dock. Ahao asked him if he wanted to go out to sea, and Li Junqian boarded the boat without hesitation. Ahao had been in this business for a long time and knew a little about it. When Li Junqian asked if he had seen a man and a woman board the boat and go out to sea, Ahao told him that the boat was unusual.
After sailing for more than half an hour, Li Junqian finally spotted the ship in the dark, boundless sea. He instructed Ahao to bring the yacht closer, and by the light from the ship's lamps, he could just see Liang Shi being embraced by that man.
Li Junqian never lost his mind, but whenever his emotions reached a peak, he would seek external help to calm himself down. For example, he would fly to laboratories in various places to develop new incense, where the quiet environment could settle his irrationality, or he would go to a boxing gym to get a set of punches, where the sweat and strength would sweep away all the negative things.
Last night, he jumped onto the ship without a second thought. He thought he was just taking her with him, but he never expected her to suddenly faint on the deck.
At that moment, he heard another man sneer: "Wei Sheng, did you give her too much medicine? Or is this woman taking medicine for the first time? Her reaction is too strong."
Li Junqian immediately lost his temper. If he hadn't arrived in time, Liang Shi would probably have...
Not long after, he rushed over. Whether it was judo or boxing, he would behave himself when sparring with others in the gym, using the techniques appropriate for the sport. But last night, Li Junqian admitted that he had gone mad.
From a distance, Ah Hao witnessed firsthand what it meant for fists to land hard. He quickly and easily knocked the two men to the ground on the deck, while the woman's legs went weak and she knelt on the ground.
Li Junqian gave an irrelevant answer: "Why are you wearing my clothes?"
He chuckled again: "Didn't you break up? Then why did you hug me just now?"
This man really does keep things separate, doesn't he?
It must have been windy; the small yacht moored on the shore couldn't withstand the wind and rocked a few times. Liang Shi felt a little dizzy, so he adjusted his position and leaned against the bed, his legs straight and crossed. Perhaps because of his sitting posture, his long white shirt was a bit too short, revealing his fair and long thighs.
Liang Shi chuckled: "And what about you? You appeared like a savior last night, and just now you gave me a princess carry? What's the meaning of that?"
Li Junqian was used to being a gentleman, and he would always keep a slight distance when taking photos with women, and his eyes were always proper. But now, his eyes couldn't leave her legs.
Liang Shi frowned and pulled the blanket over his legs: "I didn't think President Li was that despicable."
“If I were despicable, I wouldn’t have let you lie in the bathtub to wake up from the medication last night. Besides, you were the one who initiated the breakup. Saving you and hugging you were still expressions of my love for you, or more precisely, I wanted to win you back.”
Tsk, are they just waiting for her?
The implication is that, as the one who initiated the breakup, she was adamant about maintaining distance and maintaining a superior-subordinate relationship. Now, she's wearing his clothes and hugging him, which hardly suggests a colleague relationship.
Although she did think that since she wasn't in Shanghai and Zhao Jiaren couldn't see her, perhaps she could let down her guard.
But the man in front of her was so shrewd. He knew perfectly well that her behavior just now was full of love for him, yet he insisted that she say it herself.
She really didn't dare to get back together.
Liang Shi pointed to the clothes on the bedside table: "You probably didn't buy these yourself, did you? Your taste is terrible. I don't like them. Your shirt is nice, is it wrong for me to borrow it? Also, you can interpret that hug as me doing something stupid to you, a saint, because the effects of the drug hadn't worn off yet. Sorry."
She wasn't unfamiliar with that kind of thing, but she had only been taught about it before. It could numb one's nerves and make one feel numb and burning all over. She must have been a restless person last night.
He said a bathtub? Does he mean he'd strip her naked and pin her down in the tub? She has a great figure; a former colleague invited her to the beach and complimented her countless times. This man's ability to resist a woman in heat is truly... extraordinary self-control.
The person who loves her won't hurt her. Liang Shi lowered her eyes, not wanting to look into his captivating and irresistible eyes anymore. She was afraid he would see through her.
Li Junqian knew that her far-fetched words must be hiding something, but he didn't expose her. He simply told her what had happened on the ship the night before.
"So, right now, those people are at the police station?"
Li Junqian raised an eyebrow: "To be precise, it's the Public Security Bureau."
Previously, those people had received protection from certain powerful figures, but last night's incident showed that they had messed with someone they shouldn't have.
He hadn't asked his family for a single penny since he turned eighteen, nor had he ever asked them for help. But this time, he thought that some resources could be utilized, especially from those social scum.
Presumption of innocence? Ha, this time it might not be so.
Liang Shi thought they were all pretty much the same, so she didn't ask any more questions. She could probably imagine what had happened last night. But then she belatedly realized something: "You...you didn't sleep all night, did you?"
This man didn't have dark circles under his eyes even after staying up all night, and his skin was still so good. It wasn't visible on the surface, but the slight stubble that appeared made her realize it.
Li Junqian raised his hand and frowned. He had been handling business in Dongguan recently, and he was indeed quite tired from yesterday until now.
"It's alright. Now that you're awake, I'll take you back to your hotel."
"Okay, wait for me a moment."
Liang Shi couldn't stand the swaying feeling, so he got up and went to the bathroom. It was a bit messy, especially the water stains, which hadn't dried yet, and the towels.
Tsk, how outrageous must it have been last night? She tapped her head, unable to recall anything.
The basket contained her clothes, which were dry, so last night he helped her take off her clothes before throwing them into the bathtub.
She couldn't help but imagine the scene. Tsk, to be honest, at this moment, she wanted to lie to him about something.
Breakup sex.
Li Junqian still felt it was inappropriate for her to go out wearing his clothes, so he took the clothes that Ahao had helped him buy and walked to the bathroom door: "Are you sure you want to go out dressed like this?"
Liang Shi looked at the clothes in his hand and shook his head: "I said I'm not wearing them. Don't you have a leather jacket in your suitcase? Can I borrow it?"
Li Junqian did not object, because he had imagined the scene in his mind and thought it would look good on him.
"Aren't your legs cold?"
Liang Shi smiled and said, "Actually, I don't have to wear it, unless you agree to do something with me right now."
She had already planned out what she wanted to say and then pushed him onto the bed, but a phone call completely disrupted her plans.
Liang Shi heard him say one word into the phone, and then her face turned deathly pale.
Zhao Jiaren's call at this time was really timely.
She almost, almost made a mistake.
She even used her own brother's connections, which were across provinces. When Zhao Jiaren heard about it, she immediately called her son.
While Liang Shi was out making a phone call, she cleaned herself up and changed into the clothes she disliked.
Then he obediently folded his shirt and belt and put them into his suitcase.
Actually, she was very nervous. She was afraid that Zhao Jiaren would find out that Li Junqian had saved her last night, especially when Li Junqian returned after making the phone call, her palms were sweaty.
"I've packed your clothes in your suitcase."
"What were you talking about just now?"
When they both spoke at the same time, Liang Shi, no longer daring to dream of that unrealistic breakup sex, lied: "I want you to take me back to the hotel..."
Even if she didn't say it, he would still do it. But she couldn't think of any other reason for the moment.
Li Junqian glanced around the room: "Take your things, you can leave now."
Liang Shi didn't have much to take, just a bag. She had originally planned to leave the clothes behind, but then thought she'd find a bag to take them back. The bag was quite large, and her own bag couldn't hold it all.
"Can I borrow your suitcase?"
...
On the way back, Liang Shi was still very nervous. She glanced at the man beside her who was pretending to be asleep with his eyes closed, swallowed, and asked casually, "Was that... your mother's phone call?"
Li Junqian was probably very tired, but he still opened his eyes and replied, "Yes."
Did she... say anything?
This question was probably too profound. Liang Shi saw him narrow his eyes slightly, probably wondering why she asked that question.
Liang Shi knew that his question was unusual, so he cleared his throat and explained, "I haven't seen Aunt Zhao in a long time. I just asked casually. You don't have to answer."
"If you want to see me, just come back to Shanghai with me. It'll be Chinese New Year, so we can spend it together?"
Pfft, what do you mean by seeing her! If you do, something terrible will happen! And it's Chinese New Year, if she goes, Zhao Jiaren probably won't be happy this year.
"...We'll talk about it later."
He didn't go into details during that phone call, since the case needed to be kept confidential. He only said that he happened to encounter a 'hero saves the damsel in distress' incident while at sea.
Zhao Jiaren said he was too righteous, just like his father. He also told him to go home as soon as he was done with his work.
Liang Shi held his phone for a long time without receiving any messages or calls. Considering Li Junqian's reaction, it was highly likely that Zhao Jiaren was unaware of what happened last night.
Something came to mind: "Have you been in Shenzhen recently?"
"There's been a problem at the OEM factory in Dongguan."
"Then how did you know I was on that ship?"
Li Junqian turned his head to look at her. If it were in the past, he would definitely have reached out and touched her cheek without hesitation.
"I saw you and that man drive away last night. I'm so glad I saw it."
Liang Shi pursed his lips and silently expressed his gratitude countless times.
Back at the hotel, Liang Shi took a shower and had just changed her clothes when the doorbell rang. She went to look through the peephole.
Li Junqian? She opened the door for him, feigning indifference, and asked, "What is it?"
"We need to go to the station to give a statement. The police are waiting for us downstairs at the hotel."
Liang Shi: "..."
Li Junqian laughed when he saw her momentarily surprised expression: "Don't panic, it's just routine."
Two hours later, Liang Shi walked out of the imposing and dignified police station. Li Junqian was already waiting for her at the door. She jogged over and walked out of the police station gate with him.
"When I was little, I wanted to know why."
A gust of wind blew by, and she pulled her cardigan tighter around herself: "What?"
The reason for the breakup.
Liang Shi paused, raised an eyebrow at him, and said, "Didn't I tell you? I want to find someone willing to marry me, and I also want a mother-in-law who respects me. Li Junqian, you don't meet any of those criteria. Shouldn't we break up?"
"Also, I thank you for your affection; it has been a lifesaver for me. I am very grateful for what happened last night. As for what happened this morning, it was just a moment of impulse, so don't overthink it. Back in Shanghai, we will only have a superior-subordinate relationship."
It was so inappropriate to say these things in front of the police station. Liang Shi tried to leave after he finished speaking, but his wrist was grabbed.
She turned around: "What do you want?"
Li Junqian held her wrist tightly, unwilling to let go, as if she would disappear in the next second.
"I'm open to marriage."
Liang Shi glared at him, feeling like she'd heard a joke. She forcefully pulled her hand away from his: "I can take the marriage as something you're serious about, but Karsten, you can't deny that your mother will never accept me. As for spending Chinese New Year together, ha, I don't think your mother would want to see me on the most important day of the year."
Li Junqian didn't chase after him. Looking at Liang Shi's resolute back, and considering what he had just said, he seemed to understand the reason for their breakup.
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