As soon as that six-word mantra was spoken, Qiu Yihe's eyes widened ever so slightly.
Although she knew Jiang Cheng wasn't saying this to her.
But at that moment, her heart couldn't help but tremble.
Damn it, why was she so easily moved?
No, no. If a man can be trusted, pigs can fly.
Qiu Yihe, wake up. He's just a heartless pile-driver. Do you really believe he could love you?
Qiu Yihe rolled her eyes at him,
intentionally averting her gaze.
"Love? You think I'd believe that? You're not stupid, so can't you just tell me the truth..."
Seeing this, Jiang Cheng retorted directly, "What I said is the truth. What the hell do you know?"
"Hah, how would I not know? Even though I've never been in a relationship, I know that true love should be Platonic—loving only one person and staying faithful to only one. Loving three at the same time? What... what kind of love is that?"
After finishing, Qiu Yihe gave Jiang Cheng a look of disdain.
Her expression clearly said, "Don't you dare try to fool me, you damn scumbag."
But to her surprise, Jiang Cheng wasn't provoked by her attitude at all.
Instead, he activated the Deep Affection Gaze skill.
Locking his eyes on Qiu Yihe, he lowered his voice and said, "Why wouldn't it count? There's no rule saying love can only be given to one person. He can give it, and they are willing to receive it. If it's consensual, what does it have to do with anyone else?"
The "mutual consent" rhetoric was very effective.
Seeing Qiu Yihe stumped, Jiang Cheng took a sip from his water glass, letting his gaze drift into the distance at just the right moment.
It was as if he were looking through the air at something else.
His tone carried a strange, complex emotion—a mix of understanding and mockery:
"Sometimes, people are bound by these 'imperfect' and 'unconventional' feelings. They know it's trouble, a weakness, a joke in the eyes of others, but they just can't let go, can't give it up."
After the Mind Perception Skill sensed that Qiu Yihe's heart was softening, his gaze returned to her face.
The affection in his eyes deepened, carrying a bewitching power as he slowly added,
"Actually, it's not just Jolins... Many people are like this; they know it's wrong, but they just can't stop their own hearts..."
The light in Jiang Cheng's eyes was far too intense. She had heard before that Tony Leung was the 'Prince of Deep Affection.'
But Qiu Yihe had seen some clips, and after watching them, she could only say they were just so-so.
However, looking at Jiang Cheng's eyes now, she could only say they were even more intense.
She had already suspected that Jiang Cheng was using Jolins's situation to give her a subtle warning.
After all, Jiang Cheng had many women around him.
These words seemed directed at her, yet also sounded like an excuse for his own philandering.
But now, that gaze caused a sense of uncertainty to rise within her.
This... Jiang Cheng couldn't actually like her, could he?
Otherwise, why would he be staring at her like this?
This unsettled feeling instantly made her heart feel a bit stifled.
She knew full well that he was never short of women around him.
She knew that his so-called "love" was likely cheap and spread thin.
Yet, at this moment, when Jiang Cheng used such a seemingly "sincere" analysis to cloak his philandering in a layer of "depth" or even "tragedy," she still felt a hint of genuineness in it.
This Jiang Cheng was truly... too cunning.
She lowered her head and forcefully stabbed a piece of slightly cold rib on her plate, not responding further.
But her heart was like a deep pool into which a stone had been thrown; the ripples refused to settle for a long time.
This man could support the mountains and rivers when serious, yet make fallacies sound enchanting when he wasn't.
After gritting her teeth, Qiu Yihe's tone softened significantly.
"It seems your influence in Tyrande is quite substantial. With Jolins missing, the people around him should have been placed under surveillance. How were you able to bring all three of them here?"
Seeing Qiu Yihe change the subject, Jiang Cheng didn't press further.
After deactivating the Deep Affection Gaze, he gave a light chuckle.
"In this world, as long as the stakes are high enough, many doors can be opened."
After a moment's hesitation, Qiu Yihe whispered, "Then... can I ask you for another favor?"
"Qiu Li's matter isn't even finished yet, and you have new trouble?"
Seeing Jiang Cheng raise an eyebrow in exasperation, Qiu Yihe quickly said, "This one is very simple for you!"
As she leaned closer, Jiang Cheng's hand naturally covered hers, which she had placed near his plate.
"Simple as it may be, I think you understand me quite well by now, don't you? Asking for my help comes with a price. Especially since this is an international matter; the cost is much higher than usual."
As the back of her hand was gently caressed by Jiang Cheng, Qiu Yihe felt as if ants were crawling over her heart.
It raced, accompanied by an unbearable itch.
Was this the feeling of being touched by someone you liked or had feelings for?
Qiu Yihe grunted softly, "I've realized you just love bullying me. You could help them build such a large factory, so why are you so stingy with me..."
After saying this, Jiang Cheng's eyebrows twitched because he noticed that Qiu Yihe hadn't pulled her hand away.
This... so this Girl has fallen?
Normally, Jiang Cheng would have said it's because he wanted to 'respond to every ball.'
But seeing the stubbornness in her eyes right now, Jiang Cheng knew she was taking this seriously.
In this situation, if he replied like that, wouldn't it ruin the atmosphere he had worked so hard to build?
But Jiang Cheng had already dropped many hints.
Then again, sometimes the more you say, the more mistakes you make.
As a good man, you have to take responsibility for your words.
In just two seconds, Jiang Cheng casually tossed the topic back to Qiu Yihe.
"What do you think?"
This move worked wonders on other Girls; they would usually follow the ambiguous hook and fall headlong into the web he had woven.
But unexpectedly, it backfired with Qiu Yihe.
Mainly because this Girl had studied criminal psychology.
Jiang Cheng's question wasn't an inquiry; it was an induction.
Classic cases from criminal psychology textbooks flashed through her mind.
Throwing the right of explanation to the other party, observing their reaction, applying pressure, or guiding them toward self-persuasion.
She was very familiar with this kind of rhetoric and had studied it extensively.
She immediately pulled her hand back and even gave Jiang Cheng a sharp glare.
"If you ask me, you're just a scumbag who falls for everyone he sees. Being stingy with me is just because you want to sleep with me, isn't it?"
Seeing his plan fail, Jiang Cheng didn't panic.
He simply decided to stop trying.
He nodded very honestly, "That's right, I do. So you know what you need to do next time you ask for my help, right?"
Qiu Yihe was so incensed by Jiang Cheng's roguish yet candid attitude that she bit her lip.
"You... Humph, I just don't understand. Are you really that interested in my body?"
Whether out of helplessness or extreme anger, seeing Jiang Cheng's eyes fixed on her chest,
she even intentionally puffed it out.
A figure score of 94 wasn't the highest among the Girls around Jiang Cheng.
But it could still be considered stunning.
Although Jiang Cheng's gaze unashamedly lingered on her again and again, he said indifferently, "I wouldn't say I'm that interested. Actually, it's just so-so..."