Chapter 31 Asura "Or do you just like this kind of thrill?..."
When that warm kiss landed on her forehead, Qiao Yunzheng felt as if the world had suddenly been muted.
The cicadas chirping in the treetops, my mother's intermittent voice from upstairs, and the rustling of leaves in the wind all vanished in an instant, leaving only the pounding of my own heart.
Reason seemed to snap at that moment. Qiao Yunzheng couldn't even remember what Wen Hong said when they parted. She just felt that the short walk from the door to her home was like being covered with soft clouds, and that she couldn't feel anything solid when she stepped on them.
"Xiao Zheng?"
After Yao Jing called her for what felt like the umpteenth time, Qiao Yunzheng finally snapped out of her daze and found herself standing in the entryway of the first-floor living room.
"Hmm?" She looked confused, then her gaze finally focused on Yao Jing's face. "What's wrong, Mom?"
Yao Jing looked at her suspiciously: "Why are you so absent-minded? I called you so many times and you didn't respond..."
Qiao Yunzheng took off her light coat and hung it in the wardrobe by the door, replying vaguely, "Nothing... I was thinking about something just now, so I didn't hear you."
Yao Jing looked at her for a while longer, still worried, her brows furrowing slightly: "Do you have a fever? Or is it an allergic reaction? Why is your face so red, and your neck seems a little red too..."
As she spoke, Yao Jing walked over to her and reached out to touch her forehead.
Qiao Yunzheng almost instinctively avoided Yao Jing's touch, feeling inexplicably guilty.
It was as if there were bright, clear marks belonging to Wen Hong there, making it difficult to approach easily, otherwise one might accidentally reveal their identity.
Yao Jing looked puzzled, her worry deepening: "If you're really feeling unwell, have Uncle Zhang call a doctor to take a look at you."
Qiao Yunzheng quickly shook her head and refused, "Mom, it's okay, I'm just... a little tired, I'll be fine after a rest..."
As she spoke, she hurriedly kicked off her shoes, instinctively covered her forehead with her hand, and ran upstairs.
Once inside the room, I closed the door and returned to my own safe and private space, and only then did the anxiety in my heart begin to subside.
Qiao Yunzheng turned to look at the mirror beside her. Her cheeks were flushed, and even the roots of her ears had a faint pink tinge. Her eyes looked as if they had just been washed, glistening with a bright, watery sheen.
She cupped her face in her hands; it was indeed a little hot.
It's no wonder Ms. Yao Jing was worried.
Qiao Yunzheng stared at her embarrassed reflection in the mirror for a long time before finally fixing her gaze on her forehead.
Even though there were no traces there, she always felt that warm and soft touch was still there.
The faint woody scent of him seemed to linger around my nose, like cedar under direct sunlight, dry yet mellow.
And then there's his phrase, "collect some interest," which carries a deep sense of tenderness.
"I don't even know what I owe him, I have to pay interest..." Qiao Yunzheng muttered softly, then bit her lip.
After thinking wildly for a while, Qiao Yunzheng suddenly sank into the soft bed, rolled around a couple of times, and wrapped herself up tightly in the quilt like a silkworm cocoon.
"Aaaaaaahhhhh!" The sound was muffled by the blanket, with only a few faint echoes piercing through, making it difficult to hear clearly. This brief but unrestrained release calmed her frantic heartbeat slightly.
Just then, the phone rang abruptly.
Qiao Yunzheng struggled out of the covers, reached for her phone, and pressed the answer button.
As I got closer and caught a glimpse of the name on the screen, my emotions, which had just calmed down, surged back like waves.
The moment the call connected, neither of them spoke; only the faint sound of electricity coming from the receiver could be heard.
Finally, Wen Hong spoke first: "What are you doing?"
Qiao Yunzheng was somewhat relieved that Wen Hong wasn't making a video call at the moment, so he couldn't see her disheveled and embarrassed state.
She lied with a straight face: "I'm asleep."
"Huh?" Wen Hong clearly didn't believe her. "You can fall asleep?"
She understood the meaning behind his words, but pretended to be nonchalant as she replied, "Of course."
Wen Hong chuckled softly, not exposing her: "You little ingrate."
He seemed to still be outside; a rustling sound came through the receiver: "Did you get scolded when you got home?"
“No,” Qiao Yunzheng glanced toward the door. “My mom only asked a couple of questions and didn’t find anything.”
She suddenly felt that their conversation was a bit like that of high school students secretly dating and worried about being caught, and she couldn't help but laugh.
Wen Hong sighed softly, then resumed his usual drawn-out tone: "President Qiao, can't you be a little more assertive?"
Qiao Yunzheng asked, puzzled, "Huh?"
"You can't expect me to always be your clandestine lover, can you?" Wen Hong said, sounding aggrieved. "Or do you just enjoy the thrill?"
He said it in a completely joking tone, but Qiao Yunzheng couldn't help but overthink it.
Is he openly demanding recognition or recognition from her?
Thinking of this, the heat that had just faded from my face returned.
She recalled how, not long ago, when he was still uncertain about the future, he had planned everything in advance and taken her to meet his grandmother. In comparison, Qiao Yunzheng couldn't help but feel ashamed.
But Ms. Yao Jing...
Qiao Yunzheng felt a headache coming on when she thought of her stubborn stereotypes about Wen Hong and the intense emotions she expressed when mentioning him.
After thinking it over, Qiao Yunzheng suddenly remembered that Su Ran had mentioned wanting to see Wen Hong several times before, and she came up with a compromise.
"Tomorrow is the weekend, what are your plans?"
Wen Hong hummed in response and quickly replied, "Of course."
Qiao Yunzheng was slightly disappointed for a moment: "Alright then... then when you have time next time..."
Before she could finish speaking, Wen Hong interrupted her, "Aren't you going to ask me what my plans are?"
Qiao Yunzheng paused, then changed the subject, readily asking, "So, may I ask, what are Wen Lu's plans for tomorrow?"
Wen Hong pretended to think for a moment, then said lazily, "Of course I'll spend time with my wife."
Qiao Yunzheng discovered that since returning to Kuncheng, Wen Hong's skin had become increasingly thick. Even without needing to put on an act, he would still bring up that nickname from time to time.
She had become somewhat immune to the word, no longer feeling awkward and flustered as she had when she first heard it. She could even tease him back, "She's going to see her best friend tomorrow, do you want to go with her?"
-
When Su Ran received the phone call from Qiao Yunzheng inviting her to a meeting, her scream almost pierced Qiao Yunzheng's eardrums.
"If you want to steal my Qiaoqiao away, you'll have to get past me, Su Ran, first! Tomorrow! I'll make sure he knows why flowers are so red!"
Qiao Yunzheng cheered her on, but secretly prayed that Wen Hong would show mercy to her best friend tomorrow.
The three of them booked a private room at a well-known club in Kunming.
Qiao Yunzheng and Wen Hong arrived first, chatting and drinking tea while waiting for Su Ran. However, when Su Ran arrived, she was not alone.
Behind her followed a tall, imposing man, dressed in impeccable business attire, with a pair of thin-rimmed gold glasses perched on his nose.
Su Ran stood at the door of the private room, looking unusually flustered. She waved to the two people inside, saying, "Hi," then looked apologetically at Qiao Yunzheng, "I just ran into my brother at the door..."
Su Chen was much more natural and open than his younger sister. His gaze fell directly on Qiao Yunzheng: "Xiao Zheng, I was just talking about something nearby when Ranran told me you were here, so I came to check on you."
When Wen Hong saw Su Ran, his face, which had been relatively calm, suddenly turned cold the moment he met Su Chen's gaze.
Qiao Yunzheng immediately felt a chill run down her spine.
Su Ran was unaware of the inside story, but she did.
That time at the bar, she accidentally drank some alcohol and had an allergic reaction. Su Chen took her home, and Wen Hong happened to see them. That time, the eccentric young master threw a huge tantrum.
To this day, she still remembers the scene when he pressed her against the door and kissed her fiercely.
Just thinking about it makes me shudder.
But since everyone has arrived, there's no reason to turn them away.
That day, separated by a door, Wen Hong saw Su Chen escort her home, but Su Chen outside the door was unaware of Wen Hong's presence inside. Wen Hong's hostility was so obvious that even the usually mild-mannered Su Chen frowned almost imperceptibly.
After struggling for a moment, Qiao Yunzheng spoke first to introduce the group: "Wen Hong, this is my good friend Su Ran, and this... is her brother Su Chen."
Wen Hong gave a faint "hmm," her gaze fixed on Qiao Yunzheng, not even glancing at Su Chen beside her.
Qiao Yunzheng felt a little embarrassed, but she could only bite the bullet and continue, "This is Wen Hong."
Wen Hong listened attentively, and when she stopped talking, she raised her eyebrows and naturally picked up the conversation: "Her fiancé."
Su Chen's expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recovered and politely extended his hand: "Hello."
Wen Hong's gaze swept over the outstretched hand, her own hand still in her pocket, and she turned away, ignoring it completely: "Please, everyone, sit wherever you like."
Su Chen didn't show any displeasure on his face. He naturally withdrew his hand, but gave Qiao Yunzheng a deep look.
The smell of gunpowder spread rapidly in the quiet space; a mere spark could ignite it instantly.
Even though Su Ran knew nothing about what had happened before, she could clearly sense that something was wrong.
So, as they sat down, Su Ran quickly leaned close to Qiao Yunzheng's ear and whispered, "Qiao Qiao, something doesn't seem right to me."
Qiao Yunzheng wanted to cry but had no tears. She could only hold Su Ran's hand tightly and dared not say another word.
The two men sat facing each other, one unrestrained and arrogant, the other calm and reserved, like two worlds of ice and fire.
Su Chen spoke first: "Young Master Wen, I have long admired your name."
Qiao Yunzheng remembered that Su Ran had said that Su Chen had asked someone to inquire about Jun Yu's affairs. At that time, he probably didn't know that the famous lawyer Wen was the young master of the Wen family in Kuncheng.
Before Wen Hong's identity as a lawyer was exposed, he was a notorious playboy and spoiled brat in Kunming.
Su Chen didn't call him "Lawyer Wen," but instead called him "Young Master Wen," and everyone understood the implication.
Qiao Yunzheng glanced at Su Chen again, seemingly seeing such an aggressive side in this usually calm and reserved person for the first time.
Wen Hong, however, paid no attention to his words and said quietly, "Unfortunately, I have never heard of Mr. Su's name before."
Author's Note: Thank you to "Sunshine," "Fat Mermaid," and "Succulent Grape" for the encouraging nutrient solution! I will continue to work hard! Sending love~ Mwah!
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