Chapter 70 "Take off your clothes, kiss..."
In the afternoon, Jiang Nuanyu took her parents to a coffee bookstore near her workplace.
This shop is just one block away from the magazine office. Jiang Nuanyu often walks over to sit for a while during her lunch break or after get off work when she doesn't want to go home immediately. She has a cup of coffee and observes the passersby outside the window. It's very relaxing and quite interesting.
Sometimes when she encounters a task that is difficult for her and her progress is stuck, she will bring her laptop here to change her environment. Compared to her workstation or rest area, such a small change often has a remarkable effect on improving her work efficiency.
Jiang Nuanyu chose to bring her parents here so that they could experience firsthand what Paris is like for her as a professional editor, outside of her daily life, and what she is like working in Paris.
With a pot of tea and a book, the family of three spent a short afternoon surrounded by the aroma of coffee and ink in the shop.
Before her parents left for the airport, Jiang Nuanyu suddenly felt reluctant to part with them and thought of buying them something to take back with them.
Lin Zhiwei had been looking at a hardcover picture book about the London Concert Hall all afternoon, and Jiang Nuanyu, knowing her interests, brought over another book from the same series.
"Mom, should we bring a picture book back with us?" Her eyes lit up. "We can put it next to the sofa, flip through it whenever we want, and it can also be used as decoration."
"It looks nice, but it's too heavy," Lin Zhiwei politely declined.
Jiang Nuanyu then looked at Jiang Wenrui: "Dad? How about putting it in your office?"
Jiang Wenrui smiled and shook his head.
Jiang Nuanyu pursed her lips, picked up the picture book, and silently put it back.
The shop also sold some related merchandise. She picked up a canvas bag and said to the two of them, "How about this? This one is light. And next time you come to Paris, take this to the city center, and you definitely won't get targeted by pickpockets!"
Lin Zhiwei waved to her; Jiang Wenrui smiled and remained silent.
Jiang Nuanyu: "..."
After a series of failed sales pitches, she hung her head and fell silent, dejected.
The couple exchanged a glance and smiled wryly to themselves.
Jiang Wenrui said, "I saw that they were selling tea at the front desk. My dad thought the black tea we had earlier was good and wanted to take a pack home."
Lin Zhiwei quickly chimed in, "Yes, my pot of tea is jasmine tea, and it tastes quite different from what I usually drink. I'd like to bring a packet too. Pearl, you can treat us, okay?"
Jiang Nuanyu was delighted and smiled, agreeing, "Okay!"
After leaving the coffee bookstore, her parents took a taxi directly to the airport, while Jiang Nuanyu went home by herself.
When she entered the building, she took out her access card from her bag and swiped it twice without any response, then realized that the access control system was broken.
She couldn't help but recall the embarrassing scene from that morning, which was all thanks to the broken access control system.
She immediately felt embarrassed, opened the door and went inside, then turned around and came out again, angrily heading towards the apartment management office next door.
She pushed open the door and stood in the doorway.
The staff member on duty saw her and politely asked, "Hello, how can I help you?"
Jiang Nuanyu adjusted her tone and said calmly, "The access control system for the next unit is broken."
She deliberately spoke without greeting anyone to express her dissatisfaction.
The staff member, clearly unaware of the situation, smiled and said, "We are aware of the situation, but maintenance personnel don't work on weekends; you'll have to wait until a weekday. Could you please leave your apartment number? We'll let you know as soon as things are back to normal."
Jiang Nuanyu thought for a moment, then looked at the other person and said, "No need."
The two stared at each other, wide-eyed.
Jiang Nuanyu added, "I just wanted to say something."
"Oh..." The staff member seemed a little confused. "Well, thank you for informing me?"
Jiang Nuanyu was speechless for a moment, feeling that her trip had been completely inexplicable. Fortunately, she had vented some of her emotions, nodded to the other person, and turned to leave.
When she went upstairs and returned home, she opened the door to find that her parents and Liang Qi were not there. The huge difference in their presence made Jiang Nuanyu feel so lonely that she almost cried.
She stood in the entryway for two minutes until her legs went numb before taking a deep breath to compose herself and begin tidying the room.
She washed the wine glasses she and Liang Qi had used the night before, and also did the laundry. She couldn't help but laugh as she put the light purple bath towel Liang Qi had used into the washing machine.
After laughing, she felt melancholy again.
That person, I don't know where they are right now.
While the washing machine was running, Jiang Nuanyu lounged on the sofa, the fan blowing on her, staring blankly at the sky outside the window. She casually pulled over a cushion, and turning her head, she saw that Liang Qi's tie was tucked underneath it.
Well, he's not here, but he's left behind a tie to bother her.
*
Liang Qi was invited to a luncheon at a century-old private winery in the suburbs of Paris. The winery's owner was the chairman of a long-established local football club.
Just at the beginning of the month, the team had just finished a ten-day preseason training session at a resort in Southern Europe.
The entire training camp was sponsored by Yunjing, which not only provided accommodation, catering, and training venues, but also took care of exclusive reception and transportation services for the players' families.
Liang Qi did this not because he had too much money to spend, nor was it related to his personal feelings for the team.
He never makes meaningless investments.
In the expansion of Cloudview Europe, Liang Qi did not place all his bets on the project of deep cooperation with Conti.
For him, football is another part of his strategy for promoting the resort brand.
Yunjing operates more than a dozen resorts overseas, and its services and facilities have reached or even far exceeded international standards. However, in the highly competitive European market, what truly determines a brand's level is the resources that can provide implicit endorsement for the brand.
In Europe, the influence of football needs no further explanation.
A preseason training session, the exposure of the team and star players, the updates from sports reporters, and the sharing from social media influencers among the "wives and girlfriends" will all bring Yunjing a continuous and effective penetration into the European market.
This was Liang Qi's true purpose.
The banquet was held under grapevines on one side of the estate, surrounded by a large expanse of lush green lawn. The long tables were covered with white tablecloths, and people gathered in twos and threes under the trellises, all dressed elegantly but not ostentatiously.
Aside from the club's top executives, most of the guests were influential figures in the local political and business circles. Guests carrying champagne frequently followed their gazes to Liang Qi, either nodding or approaching him to strike up a conversation; some exchanged pleasantries and probed, while others discussed cooperation, all of which Liang Qi handled with ease and confidence.
Although it was called a luncheon, it didn't officially begin until almost afternoon tea time, and the guests were still there by evening.
The team president specially took Liang Qi to the Hall of Honor on the west side of the main building. The room was not large, but the decorations exuded the weight of time.
The wooden floorboards gleamed with an old patina, and the walls were covered with autographed jerseys, commemorative medals, and various trophies, as well as silhouettes of newspapers from decades ago that had turned yellow.
“This is the most important and soulful space in the entire winery.” The chairman pointed to a black and white photo in the middle and proudly shared, “That was when I was nineteen years old, playing my first official match.”
Liang Qi looked at the photo. The young man in the photo was thin and slender, running with the ball on the field. He was quite different from the somewhat overweight old man he was now.
"Fortunately, we won that match," the president recalled. "That night, the whole of Paris was ablaze with fireworks. It was a day I will never forget."
The old man looked at Liang Qi and said with a sigh, "Important moments in life always make us want to commemorate them and look back on them later, right?"
Liang Qi's gaze fell on the "past" on the wall, and as he listened to the Chairman's words, a faint, meaningless smile played on his lips.
The phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated. Liang Qi chatted with the chairman for a few more minutes, then took it out to look at it. There was a new message on the screen.
Jiang: "Mr. Liang, you left your tie with me~"
The smile on Liang Qi's lips remained unchanged, but a gentle look flashed in his eyes. He stared at the words, as if he could imagine Jiang Nuanyu's expression and tone when she said them.
She didn't ask him where he was or what he was doing, nor did she inquire when he was leaving Paris or whether they would meet again today.
tie……
Liang Qi shook his head slightly, typed a few words and sent them, responding to her silent invitation.
"What would you like for dinner? I'll be downstairs in about forty minutes."
*
Jiang Nuanyu had initially thought that when she reunited with Liang Qi at the art gallery, he chose to have her book the restaurant because he wasn't familiar with Paris. But later, she realized she was completely wrong; Liang Qi not only knew the city well, but he knew it even better than she did.
From then on, except for restaurants she particularly wanted to go to, Jiang Nuanyu let Liang Qi decide where to eat. Although he would still politely and considerately ask about her preferences, she only needed to casually mention a general direction, and he would be able to pinpoint the exact spot.
Beyond the environment and atmosphere, most importantly, the food at every restaurant is consistently excellent.
Tonight, Liang Qi took her to a Mediterranean-style seafood restaurant.
The two sat by the window, where the sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was just right. The twilight had not yet completely set, and the afterglow shone on the exterior walls of the Parisian buildings, making the asphalt roads seem to gleam with a layer of gold.
A navy blue tablecloth sets off a white porcelain plate containing freshly grilled lobster and white fish marinated in lemon juice.
Jiang Nuanyu was so nervous during lunch with her parents that she didn't eat much, but she had a good appetite now.
She forked a piece of fish, dipped it in garlic-flavored olive oil, and was immediately struck by its freshness, so she couldn't help but eat another piece.
She was wearing a sexy long-sleeved mini dress, which she had just bought last week and had specially changed into that evening to see Liang Qi. The black dress was made of fine mesh from the chest up to the sleeves, except for the small stand-up collar.
The cuffs were tightly tied at the wrists, and the sleeves were rather large, making it easy to accidentally smear food on her hands. She had to eat very carefully, which affected her mood, and she spoke less than usual.
Halfway through the meal, Liang Qi glanced at her and said, "Your dress is very pretty."
Jiang Nuanyu was initially annoyed that the dress was inconvenient for eating, but after his praise, her frustration dissipated considerably.
But he seemed to only compliment the dress, and she wasn't entirely convinced. She nodded and said, "Oh." She closed her lips, raised an eyebrow slightly, and said, "It's Versace."
Liang Qi saw through her little scheme at a glance. He was willing to coax her into coming. He glanced at her again and said, "You look beautiful. You're beautiful."
Jiang Nuanyu then smiled at him with a sweet smile and said, "Thank you~"
After saying that, she savored the second half of his sentence and smiled contentedly to herself.
She was so easy to coax that she was adorable, and Liang Qi smiled with delight.
He slowly and methodically cut the sea bass on his plate, casually asking, "How was the day?"
Jiang Nuanyu paused, her fork still in her hand. Thinking about what happened that morning, a subtle embarrassment welled up in her heart again.
She stammered a reply, "Mmm..."
Liang Qi looked at her for a few seconds, then didn't ask any further questions.
Jiang Nuanyu sighed softly and said, "They've already taken the evening flight back home." Her tone was tinged with sadness as she spoke of their reluctance to part.
Liang Qi paused, then looked up at her. Jiang Nuanyu quickly said, "No, no, it wasn't because of what happened during the day that they left... They were originally planning to return to China today."
Liang Qi's expression softened noticeably, and he nodded, saying "Oh."
It almost turned into a misunderstanding, and Jiang Nuanyu found it funny, giving a weak laugh.
“Actually, even in China, they rarely come to Beijing to see me, let alone suddenly come to my house. I’m used to living alone, so…” Jiang Nuanyu rummaged through the cherry tomatoes on her plate, wanting to explain something, but not knowing how to say it in a meaningful way.
Liang Qi listened without saying a word.
Suddenly remembering something, Jiang Nuanyu frowned and said, "And the building access control! It couldn't have broken down at such an inopportune time. The whole thing is just too unfortunate."
A day later, she was still feeling guilty and resentful. Liang Qi was a little surprised by this, but he also felt that it was in line with her serious personality.
He looked at her and tried to make his point clear: "I'm fine, and I don't feel embarrassed. You don't need to feel burdened. As long as your parents don't have a problem with you because of this, it's nothing."
Liang Qi's comforting words were always effective. Jiang Nuanyu felt a little relieved and said, "I won't have any opinions about you anymore. After all, I'm not a child anymore. Even if I'm in a relationship—"
Realizing that she might have used an unconfirmed statement, she quickly stopped herself and looked up at Liang Qi.
Liang Qi lowered his eyes, his face expressionless. Jiang Nuanyu mustered her courage and added the second half of her sentence in a very soft voice: "It's nothing..."
She said that sentence too naturally; she simply couldn't control herself when her emotions were running high. As soon as the words left her lips, a sense of panic began to churn within her.
Liang Qi had never confirmed their relationship status. What if she said it like that and he felt she was arbitrarily interpreting his feelings for her? What if he didn't consider their relationship a romantic one and felt offended by her statement? ...
She had just started her string of "what ifs" when she heard Liang Qi give a faint "hmm" from across the room.
Jiang Nuanyu froze for a moment, then looked up at him. Liang Qi didn't say anything more, but he raised his eyes the instant she looked over.
The moment their eyes met, his gaze was clear, calm, and resolute, looking deep into her heart.
The turmoil he had just caused was calmed down with a single word and a glance.
Inside her chest, her heart pounded louder and louder. Jiang Nuanyu looked away and pretended to focus on the shrimp tail on her plate.
Liang Qi's "hmm" seemed to be telling her that he knew what she was talking about, and that he accepted and acknowledged that the relationship was romantic.
So...are they dating?
Yes, they did a lot of things that people in love would do.
When did it start?
She couldn't pinpoint which moment it was.
But why is this order different from what she expected? He's never said he likes her... Does he like her?
She asked herself questions and answered them in her mind, constantly confirming them, her brows furrowing and relaxing as she pondered her thoughts, without her even realizing it.
"What are you thinking about?" Liang Qi's voice suddenly broke through her thoughts.
“…It’s nothing.” Jiang Nuanyu tapped the lobster shell with her fork, changing the subject to cover up her misunderstanding, “It’s quite delicious.”
Liang Qi raised an eyebrow slightly, neither confirming nor denying.
Jiang Nuanyu pursed her lips.
She knew he didn't believe her, and she understood that he might have already seen through her thoughts.
But since he wouldn't say it—like many things between them—she shouldn't tell him directly either.
After a while, Liang Qi put the shrimp meat he had just picked out onto her plate.
Jiang Nuanyu was slightly taken aback and blinked at him.
During meals, Liang Qi would take care of her, but not to the extent of attending to every little detail; most of the time they ate separately.
Is this... a perk for dating?
Jiang Nuanyu's lips curved into a smile, and her eyes instantly brightened, filled with a joyful yet puzzled expression. Liang Qi didn't speak, but lowered his eyelids and glanced at the shrimp shell she had just knocked over.
She said it was delicious when she was trying to fool him.
After looking over, she was speechless.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Nuanyu licked her slightly stiff smile, casually picked up the piece of shrimp meat with a fork, and ate it bit by bit.
If he keeps playing tricks on her like this, she'll be quite happy about it.
She likes to be stubborn, and she enjoys it.
The music in the restaurant had changed at some point, and Jiang Nuanyu's ears suddenly caught the word "Versace" in the lyrics.
She listened intently, and then—it was incredible!
The lyrics include "Versace on the floor," "take it off for me," and "kiss till we're naked"...
Take off that Versace shirt and kiss her...
That's definitely a risqué song.
Jiang Nuanyu's face flushed when she thought about the Versace she was wearing.
She stole a glance at Liang Qi, who was drinking water from his glass, his eyes also fixed on her as he looked past the rim of the glass.
The water in his mouth seemed to transform into strong whiskey, and as his Adam's apple bobbed, it exuded a hormonal heat.
Dusk was falling outside the window.
The Parisian night was gentle; everything was breathtakingly beautiful that night.
*
After finishing their meal, Liang Qi paid the bill and walked out with Jiang Nuanyu.
The man approaching her seemed to be walking hurriedly, almost recklessly trying to pass by Jiang Nuanyu. Jiang Nuanyu had already dodged to the side, but she couldn't keep up with his speed.
Liang Qi grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to him.
Jiang Nuanyu steadied herself and glanced back at the person, but the other person seemed completely unaware of her rudeness and walked away without looking back.
She wasn't actually knocked down, so Jiang Nuanyu could only frown helplessly and turn around.
Liang Qi's hand was still on her wrist, and through the thin fabric, the warmth of his palm seemed to be transmitted to her almost imperceptibly.
Jiang Nuanyu felt reassured by Liang Qi's protective gesture and began to get used to it. Just when she thought he would let go as usual, his hand loosened slightly, slid down a few inches, and then tightened again, holding her hand tightly.
Jiang Nuanyu was stunned and let him lead her forward.
She looked up at him, but Liang Qi didn't look at her, his expression calm, as if he had held her hand countless times.
Jiang Nuanyu tried her best to be as calm as Liang Qi, looking straight ahead, but she saw her and Liang Qi's figures reflected on the double glass doors of the restaurant—
He was tall and straight, dressed in a sharp suit, exuding elegance with every step he took; she wore high heels and walked beside him, just up to his ear.
As they approached, the waiter opened the door, and the scene flashed before her eyes. But the image of those clasped hands was deeply imprinted in Jiang Nuanyu's mind.
It seems that she and Liang Qi are really together.
It's not up to Liang Qi to decide, nor is it up to her to decide.
The car stopped at a familiar spot. After getting out, Jiang Nuanyu took two steps slower and walked diagonally behind Liang Qi.
The streetlights cast a soft glow, and Liang Qi's tall, broad shoulders blocked some of the light, his shadow quietly covering her toes.
Jiang Nuanyu looked at his hand hanging by his side, her heart pounding: Should she take it? Did he still want to? Would it seem strange if she went straight for it?
As he hesitated, Liang Qi suddenly turned around.
Jiang Nuanyu pursed her lips, like a little hamster caught stealing food. She instinctively looked up at him, her eyelashes fluttering, her face full of innocence. She looked as if she was saying, "I didn't think of anything."
Liang Qi's gaze fell upon her, and he reached out to hold her hand.
Jiang Nuanyu quickly took two steps forward, offered him her hand, and he held it tightly.
She moved closer to him, and with her other hand, she took his arm. The fabric of his shirt brushed against her ear with each step they took.
He held her hand, and her heart felt as if it were being firmly grasped by him.
As they approached the apartment building entrance, she turned to look at him, and Liang Qi happened to look over as well. Their eyes met, and neither of them spoke, but their breaths exchanged.
She was extending an invitation; he was responding.
He won't leave tonight. She knows that.
-----------------------
A note from the author:
The "dirty song" in this chapter refers to the lyrics of "Bruno Mars - Versace on the floor".
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