Chapter 9
The competition between online and offline channels remained fierce during Double Twelve, with major brands employing various innovative strategies. As a result, Liang Shi worked countless overtime hours. Seeing that sales exceeded headquarters' estimated targets, she sighed and leaned back in her executive chair.
Her door was open, and her colleagues who had been working overtime with her came over to say goodbye before leaving. Liang Shi was also preparing to pack up and leave work when her phone rang.
She had been expecting Li Junqian, but it turned out to be Fang Tong, who had asked her out to dinner many times but never succeeded.
It is already midnight.
I've been so busy I haven't eaten a single bite. I'm so hungry I'm practically collapsing. I don't even want to drive, let alone think about what takeout to order.
When the phone rang a second time, Liang Shi answered it, preemptively saying, "Mr. Fang, you know Shanghai well, can you take me to some good late-night snacks?"
Finding a driver and a food guide in the middle of the night is not easy, and it just so happens that Fang Tong happened to be there.
"He must be a rich kid, spending so extravagantly on a late-night snack. Seafood hotpot, two or three thousand per person." Liang Shi thought to himself, "This man really knows how to go all out for a woman."
Liang Shi didn't stand on ceremony with him; she ate whatever he ordered. She had a good appetite today and ate quite a bit.
Fang Tong rested his chin on his hand and searched for Li Junqian's name on WeChat with his other hand. Tsk, he had to drink two jugs of baijiu at a dinner party to get Li Junqian's WeChat. Everyone said that Li Junqian was kind and a gentleman. Ha, Fang Tong was the first to not believe it.
He's a kind person, but he might get drunk over a casual joke at the dinner table.
He found a good angle, took a picture, and sent it to Li Junqian. Sure enough, the other party's name immediately showed "typing..."
Liang Shi was somewhat full when he looked up at Fang Tong, who was staring at his phone, seemingly laughing at something.
"Aren't you going to eat something? What are you looking at that funny?"
Fang Tong placed his phone face down on the table and picked up the cup beside him: "I'll use tea instead of wine to thank Ms. Liang for giving me the opportunity to treat you to dinner."
Liang Shi also raised his glass, pretending to be polite, and said, "I should be thanking Mr. Fang. I really don't have the chance to eat such an expensive and delicious hot pot normally."
The two chatted back and forth, with Fang Tong mostly talking about things in the entertainment industry. Liang Shi wasn't particularly interested in that, and she mostly just nodded in agreement. Seeing that it was getting late, Liang Shi suggested, "Mr. Fang, it's getting late, why don't you go home and rest? I'll treat you to dinner next time?"
Fang Tong glanced at his phone; Li Junqian had replied with three words ten minutes ago.
Don't touch her.
Although he really only wanted to have a meal with Liang Shi today, seeing those three words made him want to see what Li Junqian would do if he made a move on her.
Will he still be a refined gentleman? Ha.
As Fang Tong approached the door, he saw a car—a Bentley. "Tsk, so someone really did come."
When Li Junqian got out of the car, Fang Tong immediately grabbed Liang Shi's hand: "You're wearing so little, your hands must be really cold. Don't take a taxi, I'll take you home."
Liang Shi was sobered up by his groping touch and quickly shook off his hand: "No need, we're not going that way, so I won't trouble Mr. Fang..."
"Xiao Shi, come here."
She had just finished speaking when she heard a familiar voice. She looked around and saw Li Junqian wearing a white shirt in the dead of winter.
Liang Shi didn't care at all why Li Junqian was here in the middle of the night; all she wanted to do was get rid of this man who was touching her inappropriately!
"I'm sorry, Mr. Fang, there's an emergency at the company. My boss is on his way to the company and will pick me up on the way. I have to go now. Thank you for the hotpot, Mr. Fang!"
Fang Tong watched Liang Shi's retreating figure and sneered.
After the car had driven a short distance, Liang Shi finally realized, "You...how did you know I was here?"
Moreover, Li Junqian's white shirt was unbuttoned at two buttons, and his fair neck made Liang Shi glance at it a few more times before she quickly looked straight ahead.
Li Junqian has been busy lately. She was about to go to sleep when she saw Fang Tong's message, but she was having dinner with a man like Fang Tong, who was scheming, at this time.
He was afraid Fang Tong might do something to Liang Shi, so he just threw on a shirt, grabbed his car keys, and came over. Only now did he realize he was a little cold. He turned on the air conditioning, his tone angry: "Didn't I tell you to stay away from Fang Tong? Having dinner together so late at night? He just touched your hand?"
Liang Shi was startled; in her memory, Li Junqian rarely lost his temper. She couldn't help but look at him curiously. Could this man have come so late at night on purpose? Was he worried about her?
But she remained calm and pretended to be indifferent, looking out at the dark road: "I'm working so hard for the company until midnight, and someone is offering me a meal as a last resort. Of course I'll accept."
This was the first time Li Junqian had ever been this angry. When the yellow light flashed, he accelerated and sped past. Liang Shi was instantly tense by the solid push against his back.
"Are you out of your mind? Drive carefully!"
Li Junqian gripped the steering wheel with one hand and rested the other on the car window, sneering, "Did I come here unnecessarily? Did I interrupt your good time?"
Liang Shi hadn't had much contact with Li Junqian and had never seen him so fierce. She originally wanted to continue arguing with him, but after thinking about it, she decided against it. She couldn't understand Li Junqian at this moment.
"Think what you want." She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes to sleep.
The two of them fell silent. As soon as the car stopped, Liang Shi got out, and the man behind her followed her into the car.
"It's too late, Mr. Li, surely you don't really need to come upstairs for a glass of water?"
The elevator was mirrored, and she could clearly see the man's handsome face and perfect figure.
"I am indeed thirsty. Can't I go upstairs and get a glass of water?"
It was just a cup of water, and Liang Shi didn't bother arguing about it; he just considered it repaying the coachman's favor.
When they got home, Liang Shi quickly poured him a glass of warm water. When she touched his hand, she was startled – his hand was so cold!
"you……"
Li Junqian drank his water, watching her silently.
Liang Shicong took a blanket from the sofa and handed it to him: "Although it's a bit indecent, no one will see it at night. It's cold outside, so you should put this on."
Li Junqian placed the cup on the coffee table and smiled, "Xiao Shi, you're concerned about me?"
Liang Shi felt his gaze was intense, so she quickly looked away: "This is a critical time. If your boss gets sick, how can we work properly, right?"
Li Junqian took the pink blanket and saw that the clock on the wall showed it was already two in the morning, which was indeed too late.
"Xiao Shi, I'm doing this for your own good. A man like Fang Tong..."
Here we go again. Liang Shi felt like his ears were about to fall off from hearing it so many times.
"Li Junqian, is it any of your business what kind of man I date? Who are you to me? What right do you have to tell me what to do? You're up in the middle of the night, coming to pick me up. What, are you really concerned about me? Or do you also have romantic feelings for me?"
When Li Junqian heard the first half of the conversation, his hand clenched into a fist. But when he heard the second half, his heart tightened. Yes, why was he so nervous after seeing that photo, and why did he rush to find her without thinking?
Fang Tong won't tell him where she is? But he's eaten at that restaurant a few times and knows where it is. But what if the photo doesn't show where it is? What if Fang Tong does something even more inappropriate than holding her hand?
He couldn't think about it too much. Luckily, he found her.
Li Junqian looked at Liang Shi. The woman's face was somewhat different from the little girl's face she once had. She had matured and become more refined, but her eyes still revealed the innocence of those days.
Liang Shi felt that Li Junqian had backed down and was a little angry. He pushed him, but unexpectedly, Li Junqian grabbed both of his hands and pressed them against his warm, heaving chest.
The two were so close that Liang Shi was too scared to even breathe loudly.
"Li Junqian, you want to kiss me again, don't you? And then run away after kissing me? You know how irresponsible your behavior is... um..."
The kiss was so forceful that Liang Shi had trouble breathing. Taking advantage of the chaos, she bit him: "You bastard!"
Li Junqian still had one hand around her waist: "Xiaoshi, I'll take responsibility."
With just those six words, Liang Shi was captivated. She never imagined that one day a man would leave her so bewildered.
Later, Li Junqian carried her to the bedroom. She didn't know how she ended up lying under him. Her consciousness was hazy, and she experienced both pain and pleasure. She was exhausted that night.
When Liang Shi woke up again, she felt as if her whole body was falling apart, especially her lower body, which ached terribly. She tried to turn over, but couldn't move. She tried to push herself away and felt a warm embrace!
Even though he hadn't been drinking, he seemed drunk. Liang Shi looked up and saw Li Junqian's chin, which was slightly covered with stubble, giving him an indescribable sexiness and masculinity.
She slept with Li Junqian. Last night he was both gentle and savage. Liang Shi felt like Li Junqian had a split personality.
It's unbelievable, yet an undeniable fact. She had a relationship with Li Junqian.
People are at their worst mental state in the middle of the night. Yesterday, Li Junqian said he would take responsibility. Was he just saying it or was he serious? Liang Shi was getting dizzy thinking about it. If it was true, then their relationship would be doomed from the start, because Fan Ning was wary of office romances, especially since one of the parties involved was the boss. If it was false, then she would definitely get someone to beat up Li Junqian and then resign to find another job.
After all, she gave him her virginity, and if this man was just playing around, she certainly wouldn't be polite to him.
"woke up?"
A hoarse yet steady voice came from above her head, and Liang Shi froze. Warm hands were placed on her back, then moved up to her waist. Liang Shi thought he was going to do something again, so she quickly grabbed his uneasy hand.
"Li Junqian, let's pretend that last night never happened. Even though it's the weekend, it's already midday, you should go home."
After saying that, Liang Shi broke free from his embrace. Just as she was about to get out of bed, she realized she was naked! She kicked him: "Li Junqian, get off me!"
Li Junqian found her reaction adorable, and even laughed after being kicked by her: "Xiaoshi, I said I would take responsibility. What happened last night happened, and I won't deceive myself. I think neither will you."
Liang Shi glared at him: "Then how do you plan to take responsibility?"
Li Junqian reached out and tidied her disheveled hair: "Be my girlfriend."
Liang Shi laughed: "Li Junqian, didn't you say you were my brother? What, have you changed your mind now?"
Li Junqian's eyes darkened: "Back then, I didn't think I would have feelings for you. But recently, after spending more time with you, I've found that my feelings for you are becoming more and more obvious, and I don't want to hide them anymore. Since we've come this far, let's just let things take their course."
Liang Shi knew Li Junqian's character; once he made up his mind, he rarely looked back. However, in their Li family, there was a woman she hated the most.
Although being Li Junqian's girlfriend has been her wish for every birthday for the past ten years or so.
But she still had to sabotage him.
"Given Fanning's rules and your mother's dislike for me, do you think we can be together?"
She stared at his slightly furrowed brows and the quiet atmosphere; he hadn't considered these things after all.
Ignoring whether she was naked or not, she threw off the covers and got out of bed, only to be pulled back down by the man beside her, and forced to lie flat on her back beneath him. She braced herself against his chest, creating some distance between them.
"you……"
"Rules are rules, and besides, it's my girlfriend, it has nothing to do with my mom."
Liang Shi was impressed by his domineering answer. In fact, when he asked her to be his girlfriend, she really wanted to say yes directly, but she couldn't be too reserved.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Li Junqian was still a little anxious. He couldn't quite understand Liang Shi now and was afraid that she would refuse. But he wasn't stupid. A woman who could give her first time to a man was enough to show her heart.
"You can trust me, Xiaoshi."
Liang Shi wrapped his arms around Li Junqian's neck, not wanting to push him away for even a second longer: "You said it yourself, if you abandon me, I will definitely take revenge on you, Li Junqian, do you hear me?"
Okay. I'll do whatever you say.
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