Chapter 45
While changing her clothes, Liang called Chen Tianyun, wondering if Josh, whom he had mentioned yesterday, had actually come to Hong Kong. In any case, she would have to take a few days off next week.
The company headquarters sent an additional vice president. She couldn't possibly leave at this juncture, since everyone who gets to this position has certain skills. Perhaps Josh, like her, is eyeing Li Junqian's previous position.
The call connected: "Leo, has Josh arrived yet?"
"We're having lunch together right now, want to come?"
If time permits, she will definitely go and meet Josh, who will soon be her equal: "Sorry, I have to fly to Singapore. I might have to take a few days off next week. If Josh starts next week, I can have Lily go and assist him."
Chen Tianyun knew she was an ambitious woman; at this crucial moment, why would she want to take a vacation?
Singapore is Li Junqian's territory.
"Even though Josh isn't that kind of person, are you really at ease?"
Liang Shi sighed: "Zeo got injured in Singapore and became good friends with me during her time in Hong Kong. I treat her like a younger sister. Karsten is very busy and hopes I can take care of her for a few days. As you know, Karsten is my former boss, so I don't think I can refuse this favor."
Chen Tianyun frowned and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray: "Zeo...is he injured?"
Liang Shi didn't elaborate: "Well, it must be quite serious, otherwise Karsten wouldn't have called me directly. Leo..."
"You can handle it yourself, don't worry about company matters."
With his approval, Liang Shi felt relieved; she trusted Chen Tianyun's character. As for whether he agreed so quickly because of Karsten or Zoe, she couldn't guess.
Upon landing in Singapore, Liang Shi became increasingly nervous. She hadn't seen Li Junqian in so long. The arrivals area was bustling with people, but someone stood out with his aura, as if there was a barrier between him and the people around him. She smiled at him.
Liang Shi never imagined that after a brief greeting and hug, they would hold hands for twenty minutes straight, not letting go while waiting for their luggage, and not even letting go while taking the elevator in the parking lot.
He was such a gentleman that he didn't even ask if he could hold her hand, and she tacitly didn't reject this ambiguous relationship. It had been so long since they had met, so long since she had felt this way, and she was captivated.
Even after getting into his car, Liang Shi didn't know how they ended up hugging and kissing passionately.
Reason brought her back to her senses; even a rabbit will bite when cornered.
Liang Shi felt a little guilty when she saw him rubbing his blood-stained lower lip with his fingertips; she had bitten it too hard!
"Li Junqian, have you forgotten our agreement? There are still half a month left!"
The man who was called by his full name laughed: "Xiao Shi, you remember it so clearly?"
Liang Shi: "..."
The implication of those words seems to be that she's also looking forward to the agreement expiring? This man knows how to get to the point.
"I don't have time to play word games with you. How's Zhou Meng?"
Li Junqian took a box from the back seat and handed it to her: "She's doing very well. I bought this a few days ago when I was inspecting the store. See if you like it?"
How could she not like it just because of the brand name on the box?
Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Moon Phase ladies' watch, wow, it's beautiful, but too expensive. This man is really generous.
"Mr. Li, do you usually give such generous gifts?"
"I'm only generous to you. Also, call me Karsten."
Liang Shi: "..."
She was at her wit's end. The agreement hadn't expired yet, and she was already being so overly attentive?
Liang Shi felt that she shouldn't have come to Singapore! Why did she feel like she had fallen into a tiger's den?
When he saw Zhou Meng again, the girl was lying on the sofa eating snacks and playing on her phone, showing no signs of injury. Just as he had said, she was perfectly fine!
When Zhou Meng saw Liang, it was as if she had seen a savior!
"Suzie, you're here!"
Li Junqian's apartment in Singapore wasn't large; it was probably provided by her company. Liang Shi went over and whispered to her, "What exactly happened?"
Zhou Meng sighed: "I'm sorry, Suzie. I felt down when I saw Leo and his fiancée that day, so I thought I'd come to Singapore to clear my head. I didn't expect to twist my ankle like that, but thankfully, I can still get around with a cane now."
Leo's fiancée?
The little girl is going through a baptism of adulthood, something that no one else can heal; she has to process it herself.
"Looking at this wonderful world might make you happier."
Zhou Meng nodded: "Okay, let's explore Singapore tomorrow!"
When Li Junqian came out of the room, he saw a beautiful scene.
The two women ate potato chips and chatted about entertainment gossip. He knew, of course, that Zhou Meng had made up a lie on the spot, but he didn't expect Liang Shi to actually pay the price for it.
He will naturally seize this opportunity. As for disregarding the six-month agreement today, it's simply because she herself proposed this so-called surprise.
He took her words as evidence. She clearly still had feelings for him, but she always said one thing and meant another. Fortunately, today's hand-holding and kissing made him even more certain that they had a bright future together.
"Going out for dinner?"
Liang Shi hadn't eaten much of the airplane food and was quite hungry, but she was more concerned about her accommodation than food.
"Mr. Li, you're familiar with this area, do you have any recommendations for hotels nearby?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Meng quickly grabbed her arm: "Sister Suzie, my room is quite big, and the double bed is also very big. Shall we sleep together? I have a lot to tell you."
In Zhou Meng's mind, Liang Shi was merely Li Junqian's subordinate, so how could she possibly live here with him!
"Isn't that a bit inappropriate? I'll just find a hotel nearby..."
"Please stay here. I'll need your help taking care of Zhou Meng these next few days. There are some things I'm not comfortable doing."
Zhou Meng added fuel to the fire by her cousin's words: "Yes, even though they are relatives, it's still inconvenient to be of the opposite sex."
Liang Shi found it hard to refuse: "Okay. Shall we go eat?"
To be honest, Singaporean food wasn't really to her liking, being a bit bland. The brother and sister, on the other hand, seemed to really enjoy it.
"No appetite?"
When Liang Shi met the concerned look in the man's eyes, he immediately drank half a bowl of bak kut teh: "It's probably because I just got off the plane..."
Before he could finish speaking, Li Junqian stopped a passing waiter and ordered a few more dishes.
Chili crab and durian dessert instantly made her taste buds salivate.
This man knew she liked spicy food and strong-flavored foods like durian.
"Oh, Suzie, I'm so sorry. You went to the restroom and I forgot to ask what you wanted to eat, so I just ordered some random things. Neither my brother nor I eat spicy food. You two used to work together, so my brother definitely knows what you like to eat. I should have asked him earlier."
"It's okay, you don't really need to order any more, we can't finish it..."
Someone placed a curry shrimp on her plate: "You can take it to go."
Liang Shi: "..."
Isn't it a bit too ambiguous to serve food to his sister in front of her?
Fortunately, Zhou Meng was oblivious and continued eating her laksa.
In the evening, after washing up, Zhou Meng chatted with her, still about the same issues as before.
Zhou Meng showed Liang Shi her WeChat chat with Li Shihao. Liang Shi sighed, "They're just young people after all; their way of expressing their feelings is so simplistic and immature."
However, Liang Shi admired her greatly. After all, many people don't have that kind of courage. Like her, for example.
"It depends on how you think about it."
Zhou Meng, nestled in her blankets, said, "He has confessed his feelings to me several times. I think he's a great guy, but I feel like I only see him as a friend. I'm so conflicted."
For Liang Shi, love requires sincerity, and not just anyone can make it happen. She only has feelings for Li Junqian, which is why she has never accepted a confession from another man over the years.
"Since it doesn't reach the level of romantic love, then just be friends. Zhou Meng, you should be more resolute. Although dating isn't marriage, you shouldn't try something new without thinking it through. Besides, you haven't known each other for long. Perhaps you could explain to him that your feelings for him haven't reached the level of romantic love yet?"
Actually, Zhou Meng wouldn't have thought about these things at all. But that day, she lied to Chen Tianyun to save face, so she was considering whether she should make that lie true.
"Actually, I also like Leo, but he's getting married."
Leo has a fiancée and is getting married. Liang Shi was unaware of this, but she was somewhat surprised. Based on their previous interactions, she could sense that his feelings for Zhou Meng were special, but perhaps these feelings hadn't reached that level yet.
After all, there's an age difference between them, and even a difference in their life experiences.
"Don't be sad, you're still young, maybe your true love hasn't appeared yet."
Zhou Meng sighed: "I hope so. Suzie, has your true love appeared yet? You said last time you had someone you liked, so how did it go, did you win them over?"
She ended the relationship herself. To be honest, during that time in Hong Kong, facing immense work pressure and loneliness after work, she deeply regretted pushing him away because of Zhao Jiaren's threats, and regretted her lack of resolve.
"Not yet. I'm so busy, I don't have time. I'll try my best when I get back to Shanghai in a while."
Zhou Meng smiled and offered her congratulations: "You're so beautiful, any guy who doesn't say yes must be blind!"
Really? Li Junqian has excellent eyesight.
"Okay, go to sleep now. Your brother said the doctor told you to get some rest. We're going shopping tomorrow too."
Zhou Meng was tired after playing games all day, so she tossed her phone aside and said, "Okay!"
As soon as his phone was plugged in to charge, a message popped up on WeChat, and Liang Shi's eyes narrowed.
Li Junqian: Come to my room.
As night deepened, the man's wicked thoughts began to surface.
Liang Shi: ?
Li Junqian: Let's talk.
Liang Shi: It's very late now. If you want to talk, you can do it tomorrow.
Li Junqian: Then let me put it another way.
Li Junqian: I missed you when I was little.
The text was too direct, and Liang Shi didn't know how to edit it for a moment.
She missed him terribly, constantly thinking about him. They say work can numb you, but there's always a moment when work ends. Even when she's physically exhausted, there's still a part of her mind screaming that she wants to see him...
And now she has come to him, and even lives under the same roof.
She silenced her phone and placed it beside her pillow, then lay down quietly. After a long while, she heard Zhou Meng's breathing become steady beside her.
In the darkness, she softly called Zhou Meng's name, but there was no response.
Reason and impulse were like angels and devils pulling at each other. As Liang Shi walked out of the room, he kept asking himself why his willpower was still so weak after all these years. That devil must be Li Junqian. She was walking step by step toward hell.
As if on purpose, the door to the room was ajar, and it was very quiet inside, but she could see the constantly changing light and shadow.
He was probably watching TV, waiting for her?
Liang Shi took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and entered. The air was chilly, and the room's layout was almost identical to Zhou Meng's. The man was leaning against the bed watching a movie. From the moment she walked in, his eyes were glued to her.
Direct and intense, Liang Shi could hardly bear it, and his gaze fell on the screen.
They watched Anne Hathaway's movie together.
"Mr. Li, why don't you watch a silent film instead?"
Li Junqian got off the bed and approached her step by step in his leather slippers. Liang Shi's face was expressionless, but her heart was in turmoil.
Then, the man walked past him, picked up a glass of water from the table, and drank it.
Liang Shi swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed the water.
So sexy.
He knows exactly what she's thinking! She must have done it on purpose!
As the cup clattered against the table, he looked at her and said, "Nice nightgown."
Liang Shi wore a robe of the same material over her nightgown. The room was extremely cold, and even her arms crossed didn't help. Was this man that hot?
Or was this intentional?
"Really? Your pajamas are nice too."
His silver-gray silk pajamas perfectly complemented his youthful and talented demeanor.
Liang Shi's heart pounded under his gaze, and she took a half step back: "Mr. Li, please speak frankly."
Someone gave an irrelevant answer: "Is it cold?"
"I thought Mr. Li's sense of touch had failed him..."
She had barely finished speaking when he pulled her into his arms, the warmth of which helped her fight off the chill.
"Xiao Shi, I miss you so much, and I think you miss me too. Otherwise, why would you really come looking for me?"
When you're with a smart person, you don't need to say much or hide anything; their thoughts have already been seen through.
Aren't you afraid Zhou Meng will find out?
Li Junqian brushed a strand of hair from the corner of her eye: "If she wasn't asleep, why would you come over? I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Liang Shi: "..."
She wondered if anyone else had ever seen the true face of such a shameless man!
"Li Junqian, when did you become like this? If others knew that the elegant, calm and composed CEO Li was so sexually frustrated in private, they would probably be wide-eyed with surprise."
As Liang Shi spoke, he pointed his index finger at his chest, as if making an accusation.
Her wrist was grabbed without any surprise, and instantly her feet left the ground as he lifted her up in his arms. As for what was about to happen, well, she had anticipated it the moment she decided to come to his room.
"Do you have that? I don't want to take medicine."
Li Junqian gently put her down and kissed the corner of her lips: "Xiao Shi, I was a bastard before, but I won't be anymore."
Zhou Meng rolled over. She had eaten too much salt for dinner and was incredibly thirsty. She went to get some water, but to her surprise, she found that there was no one next to her.
Where's Suzie?! Where did she go in the middle of the night?
She slipped on her slippers and felt her way out of the room. There seemed to be a sound in the quiet space. Zhou Meng followed the sound and stopped a meter away from her cousin's door.
Zhou Meng wasn't exactly a novice, so she naturally recognized what the sounds inside were! She quickly covered her mouth, afraid of making a sound and being discovered.
Her brother and Suzie have this kind of relationship!
She didn't even notice!
No, she should have noticed sooner!
What former boss would call someone "Xiao Shi" (a term of endearment for someone who is young)? What former boss would be so polite as to serve food to someone?
Zhou Meng shook her head; she was really slow-witted!
This is terrible! She can't stay in this room any longer! How can she continue sleeping like this?! All sorts of inappropriate images are flashing through her mind!
She grabbed her keys and cane and went out.
Out of sight, out of mind!
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