"In your dreams." Yu Xiaoxiao curled her lips into a half-smile as she looked at Jiang Cheng. "I'm swamped today—I've got a meeting to attend.
With that, she flicked her hair and turned to leave.
But before she could take a step, she glanced back and added, "Why don't you go find Wanwan yourself..."
The words rolled off Yu Xiaoxiao's tongue so naturally there wasn't the slightest trace of reluctance.
Jiang Cheng, sharp as ever, caught the subtle shift and felt a stir inside.
Yu Xiaoxiao had turned down his request to pin Su Wan down, yet this was the first time she'd told him to go see Su Wan right in front of her.
And he could sense no discomfort in her as she said it.
Did this mean things had taken another step forward?
In their current state he could've forced the two women together, no problem.
But there was no need—after all, a melon twisted off the vine isn't sweet.
If he wanted that kind of fun, he could pay for two or three girls without breaking a sweat.
Bottom line: these were his women, and Jiang Cheng respected them.
Yu Xiaoxiao had also been the first woman to hit 100 favorability with him.
At her words Jiang Cheng's eyes narrowed, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. His already strong hands clamped down again, as though to mold her right into his body.
"Oh, playing hard-to-get, are we? Feeling itchy again, need a lesson?"
As he spoke he deliberately pressed a finger lower.
The sudden move made Yu Xiaoxiao shudder.
Seeing his hands start to roam, she paled and cooed in protest, "Hubby, stop, I can't take any more~~"
But her feeble resistance only fanned Jiang Cheng's desire.
By now they'd reached the window; a fierce showdown was about to erupt.
Brilliant sunlight streamed through the glass, flooding the room.
Yu Xiaoxiao braced one hand against the window while the other tried to push Jiang Cheng away.
Her beautiful eyes were wide with fear and helplessness, yet laced with an indescribable thrill and anticipation.
She glanced nervously at the cars flowing beneath the office building, a strange feeling surging inside—like she might plunge headlong into the abyss at any second.
The mix of terror and excitement made her heart race and her breath come in short gasps...
Over half an hour later the fiery entanglement finally wound down.
Only after they were fully dressed did the two of them walk out side by side, heading toward the floor where Xingchen Entertainment was located.
When the elevator doors slid open, Yu Xiaoxiao seemed to flip a switch: the shy softness vanished, replaced by a cool, stern expression.
All along the corridor employees greeted them.
Yu Xiaoxiao answered with a curt nod, her icy gaze enough to send shivers—no trace of the passion they'd just shared.
"Wow, look—Manager Yu and Chairman Jiang are such a perfect match. Rich guy, gorgeous girl. I'm so jealous; I wish I could stand beside Chairman Jiang."
"Chairman Jiang should come to the office more often. When work gets exhausting, one glance at a CEO hunk lifts our mood and boosts productivity. The company can only get better."
"Right? Ever since I saw Chairman Jiang, I can't even enjoy those domineering CEOs in dramas anymore..."
They'd only taken a few steps when they saw Su Wan walking slowly outward with her agent and a couple of staff.
At that moment Su Wan's gaze met Jiang Cheng and Yu Xiaoxiao head-on.
Surprise flashed across her face; she hadn't expected to run into them.
After waiting more than two hours, she'd figured the pair might stay upstairs all day and had decided to leave.
Today Su Wan looked completely different from usual.
With her soaring popularity, her style had become ever more distinctive, radiating unique charm.
A loose sports jacket hung open over a tight white bandeau that traced her slim waist and alluring curves.
It boldly bared her sexy navel, gleaming like a pearl and drawing every eye.
Below, she wore casual floor-skimming trousers whose hems brushed the ground, adding a free-spirited air.
A black wool beanie lent warmth and playfulness.
Her gorgeous face was hidden behind huge sunglasses.
If she hadn't taken them off, it would've been hard to recognize her at first glance.
Su Wan gracefully removed the shades and, with the others, greeted them respectfully.
"Chairman Jiang, Manager Yu."
Jiang Cheng asked, "You're leaving?? Got work?"
Su Wan shook her head with a smile. "No, I'm off today and tomorrow. I just came to finalize an itinerary and discuss looks for upcoming events."
Yu Xiaoxiao's beautiful eyes slid toward Jiang Cheng.
Then, smiling slightly, she turned to Su Wan and said softly, "By the way, you were looking for me just now, right? Chairman Jiang happens to be here. Bring the script and come to my office."
The moment the words left her lips, delight lit Su Wan's pretty face and she nodded eagerly. "Okay, I'll come right away."
She turned to her agent and said crisply, "Sister Miao, hand me those scripts we just looked at."
Lin Miao, standing quietly nearby, first flicked her gaze toward Jiang Cheng.
Seeing him stand tall and commanding, radiating natural authority, she felt a sudden tightness in her chest.
The feeling was quickly replaced by the urge to impress the boss.
So he hurriedly plastered on a big smile and said to Su Wan in the most fawning tone, "Heh-heh, I'd better go with you. After all, I've already studied these scripts thoroughly…"
At that moment Lin Miao only wanted to seize this rare chance to show the boss how conscientious she was.
Yu Xiaoxiao, standing nearby, rolled her eyes and flashed Jiang Cheng a sly grin.
She raised the delicate watch on her right wrist with great ceremony and checked the time.
Then she cried in feigned surprise, "Oh dear, look at my memory—I almost forgot such an important meeting! Lin Miao, come with me. Su Wan is the star we're grooming; she represents Xingchen. Suddenly I think she could join this show as well."
After that she turned to Su Wan again. "Nothing's settled yet, so you don't need to come. Stay here and discuss the scripts with Chairman Jiang in my office; I'll be right back."
Lin Miao nodded without hesitation. "Got it, Manager Yu. I'll do whatever you say."
The moment the words left her lips Yu Xiaoxiao looked at Jiang Cheng and said with a smile, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Chairman Jiang."
Jiang Cheng gave a slight, calm nod. "Hard work, Manager Yu."
As she turned away Yu Xiaoxiao even winked at him.
In her mind she had just put Jiang Cheng through the most primitive form of extraction.
And it had been triple-refined.
Normally the machine would need hours of cooling before it could operate again.
Although she increasingly felt Jiang Cheng was far from ordinary,
Even if he could still move, it would be only once more at most.
Judging by frequency and order, she was already far ahead… Thinking of this, joy bubbled up in her; she lifted a hand and gently smoothed the stray strands on her forehead.
Then she waved to Lin Miao not far off, signalling him to follow.
Seeing this, Jiang Cheng, who had been watching quietly, couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
Su Wan was a professional actress, yet Yu Xiaoxiao's performance was no less convincing.
Reading the cue, Su Wan instantly pretended to be terribly busy; she snatched some documents from the desk and trotted briskly after Jiang Cheng.
Because an important meeting was in progress the normally lively office was almost empty.
Far fewer employees were present than usual.
Su Wan maintained a solemn face as she followed Jiang Cheng in silence.
They kept a careful distance—neither close enough to seem intimate nor far enough to appear estranged.
Their steps were fairly synchronized and the atmosphere looked perfectly normal.
Before long, however, Jiang Cheng suddenly quickened his pace as if something urgent had come up.
Watching him speed up, Su Wan began to struggle.
Her once-unhurried stride turned hurried; she had to break into a trot to keep up.
Ever since the "script-gate" scandal, everyone now hears the word "script" and thinks something scandalous.
At first the staff behind them assumed Su Wan and Jiang Cheng's relationship was as complicated as online rumours claimed.
After all, talk that Su Wan was being kept by the boss of Xingchen Company had been rife.
Although none of them had ever noticed the slightest sign of it while working with Su Wan,
Today, seeing the two interact at close range, they couldn't help paying extra attention.
Contrary to expectation, what they saw wasn't flirtation but Su Wan panting and desperately chasing Jiang Cheng.
The odd scene drew murmurs and sidelong glances.
Someone whispered, "Online it says Chairman Jiang is keeping Su Wan, but this doesn't look like it."
Another chimed in, "Right—look how cold Chairman Jiang is, totally ignoring her."
And Wanwan's wearing heels, yet Chairman Jiang's walking so fast…"
Sister Wan is so gorgeous, but Chairman Jiang shows no gallantry—he's not shallow after all…"
While the gossip swirled, Su Wan studied Jiang Cheng and mused to herself.
At first she naïvely thought he was rushing to avoid anyone noticing their special relationship.
But although he walked fast he didn't try to leave her behind;
Instead he would occasionally turn back and fix her with a deep, unfathomable stare.
That set her heart rippling with bewilderment.
Jogging behind him, she followed through the work area and into an empty corridor.
Pouting, she protested, "Jiang Cheng, why so fast? I can't keep up—slow down, I'm exhausted…"
She pressed a hand to her chest to calm her racing heart.
As Su Wan had noticed, Jiang Cheng's eyes were straight ahead, yet his peripheral gaze kept drifting to the full, rounded "Da Wanyin" on her chest.
The corner of his mouth curled in a half-smile as he asked softly, "Do you want the lie or the truth?"
Su Wan blinked her big wet eyes and echoed blankly, "The lie?"
"The lie is that I'm naturally fast—but you wouldn't agree with that, would you?"
At the double entendre Su Wan's cheeks flushed and she shot him a sideways glance.
Fast? Impossible—she still remembered the first time he'd tormented her for more than an hour.