Chapter 82
Wen Shao Ze, after a long moment, finally processed this shocking revelation. He hadn’t expected the incident that had baffled him to be so easily resolved by Shen Yiqiu. He wanted to ask more about her abilities, but seeing Qin Qianrou’s subtly protective demeanor, he changed his mind.
“Shen Yiqiu, you’re truly amazing, not just anyone can do that, I’m impressed.”
Shen Yiqiu wasn’t sure how to respond, but Wen Shao Ze was a good person, and Qin Qianrou’s relative, so she naturally wouldn’t treat him as an outsider.
“Shao Ze-ge, I only discovered this recently myself.”
Wen Shao Ze stood up, putting on his coat, nodding repeatedly, “No rush, you’ll become even more powerful in the future, maybe you’ll even be able to fly and turn invisible.”
Shen Yiqiu was startled by his imagination, he was even more imaginative than she was.
If that happened, she would practically be Superman.
After seeing Wen Shao Ze off, Shen Yiqiu returned to the living room and was surprised to find Qin Qianrou sitting there quietly.
“Jiejie, what’s wrong?” Shen Yiqiu could sense her unhappiness.
“Come sit.” Qin Qianrou, still sitting with her arms crossed, looked up slightly, gesturing for Shen Yiqiu to sit beside her.
Shen Yiqiu happily walked over, and as soon as she sat down, Qin Qianrou practically leaned against her.
“Tell me honestly, are those new abilities of yours… obtained through your blood?”
“No, I was just anxious at the time, that’s why my nose bled, there’s no connection.”
Qin Qianrou raised an eyebrow, confirming again, “Really?”
“Really.”
Qin Qianrou was worried. Although she was happy that Shen Yiqiu’s abilities had become stronger, Li Wan’s words had made her incredibly uneasy.
“Don’t let yourself get hurt again.”
She was afraid that if Shen Yiqiu discovered the special properties of her blood, she would use it to resolve dangerous situations.
“But…” If we encounter another dangerous situation, this would be the quickest solution.
“No buts. Your safety is just as important to me.”
Qin Qianrou’s usual assertiveness returned. She could pamper and indulge Shen Yiqiu, she could allow herself to lean against Shen Yiqiu, enjoying the sweetness of being her girlfriend, but when Shen Yiqiu became irrational, she had to remain level-headed, to guide her.
Seeing Shen Yiqiu’s silence, her pursed lips, clearly unwilling to agree so readily, Qin Qianrou realized she had changed, at least she couldn’t help but soften her stance when seeing Shen Yiqiu’s stubborn little face.
She leaned against Shen Yiqiu, placing her weight on her, then gently kissed her cheek. “Still not going to agree?”
Shen Yiqiu’s hand slid down Qin Qianrou’s back, and she chuckled. “Is this allowed? Then it’s not enough.”
The earlier serious and slightly tense atmosphere gradually dissipated, replaced by a sweet and intimate warmth.
Qin Qianrou glared at her playfully, not truly angry.
They looked at each other for a moment, then Qin Qianrou leaned in again, this time kissing Shen Yiqiu’s lips.
And not gently either.
“Is that enough now?” Qin Qianrou was slightly breathless, she was surprised by Shen Yiqiu’s lung capacity.
“Jiejie, I’ll agree to anything you say, when have I ever disobeyed you?” Shen Yiqiu’s eyes were half-closed, clearly enjoying the feeling.
She leaned in again before Qin Qianrou could even catch her breath. Ever since Qin Qianrou returned from the hospital, Shen Yiqiu had been incredibly attentive, taking care of everything, afraid of hindering her recovery.
Gentle kisses and warm embraces before bed had become their most comforting ritual.
The warm heating only added to Shen Yiqiu’s growing restlessness, her breathing becoming uneven, her initial caution gone, their unspoken understanding allowing them to communicate their desires without words. Shen Yiqiu loved this feeling of closeness, the tangible sense of possession finally dispelling her anxieties.
A soft moan escaped Qin Qianrou’s lips, yet it didn’t interrupt their intimate exchange.
Qin Qianrou, as before, gently stroked Shen Yiqiu’s soft hair, her fingers lingering on the delicate strands at the nape of her neck. She had heard that people with soft hair were usually gentle, yet also stubborn, and she felt this was true for Shen Yiqiu, usually sweet and gentle, yet with an underlying stubbornness and tenacity.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Shen Yiqiu’s next move, a tingling sensation spreading through her, varying in intensity, drawing a soft moan from her lips. Qin Qianrou had initially been shy about such expressions, but after being together for a while, their kisses becoming more frequent, she had gradually relaxed, revealing her true self in front of Shen Yiqiu.
Shen Yiqiu was gentle, her touch, like her heart, always expressing her love for Qin Qianrou in the most tender way.
Shen Yiqiu was a naturally gifted gardener, patient and loving, willing to dedicate herself completely to nurturing the most beautiful flower.
Shen Yiqiu felt herself losing control, the sensations too intoxicating to stop, and she didn’t want to stop. She couldn’t bear to leave, couldn’t abandon the beautiful flower she had so carefully cultivated, she wanted to linger in this garden of earthly delights, lost in its beauty.
“Qiu…” Qin Qianrou’s usual dominance had long since melted away under Shen Yiqiu’s gentle touch, her cheeks flushed, her voice soft and breathy.
“I’m here, I’m here with you.”
Shen Yiqiu shifted their position, gently guiding Qin Qianrou to lean against her, half-reclining on the sofa, one arm supporting her waist, her movements careful and tender.
Qin Qianrou obediently followed her lead, surrendering to Shen Yiqiu’s exploration. She closed her eyes, her senses heightened, the unfamiliar sensations surprisingly pleasant.
This was the feeling of being cherished, being loved, she could sense it.
Having narrowly escaped danger, she had maintained her composure and her usual calm facade in front of others, but she couldn’t deceive herself, any woman facing such a situation would be terrified and shaken.
Qin Qianrou had been afraid, but she hadn’t wanted to show her vulnerability, yet she knew clearly that there was someone who loved her deeply, someone who would always protect her.
She wanted to be closer to Shen Yiqiu, to be one with her, to let her love soothe the lingering anxiety in her heart.
Shen Yiqiu’s lips and hands were busy, revisiting the places they had explored earlier. Her fingers gently traced Qin Qianrou’s soft, moist lips, the tingling sensation spreading through her, her heart racing.
Jiejie is so beautiful, so captivating, I don’t ever want to let go.
Their clothes were discarded on the floor beside the sofa, their bodies intertwined. The light from the balcony, filtering through the curtains, added to the intimacy of the scene.
Shen Yiqiu’s breathing quickened. She was experienced with the earlier stages, but now, she was unsure of the next steps, her hands hesitant.
Qin Qianrou also felt a growing impatience, unconsciously shifting her body, but she wasn’t experienced either. Li Wan’s words suddenly echoed in her mind.
It seemed they hadn’t prepared anything.
A sliver of rationality surfaced, pulling Qin Qianrou back from the brink. She felt adrift, her body heavy, a growing urgency to stop the overflowing emotions.
She gently pushed Shen Yiqiu away, but Shen Yiqiu, even more lost in the moment, didn’t seem to notice.
“Qiu, don’t…” Her voice was so low that only someone very close could hear.
Shen Yiqiu, seemingly not hearing her, her hands continued their exploration.
Qin Qianrou was afraid that if this continued, neither Li Wan’s advice nor her own remaining rationality would be enough to stop them.
“Don’t…” She pushed Shen Yiqiu’s shoulder more firmly.
Shen Yiqiu finally stopped, her head resting in the crook of Qin Qianrou’s neck, her warm breaths sending shivers down Qin Qianrou’s spine, almost drawing her back in.
“Jiejie, don’t you… want to?” A soft whisper by her ear, the question filled with an uncertain emotion.
Qin Qianrou didn’t answer immediately, she gently stroked Shen Yiqiu’s soft hair, pulling her closer.
“Give me some time.”
Hearing these words again, Shen Yiqiu smiled, this time without anxiety or worry, Jiejie needed time, and she would patiently wait.
Qin Qianrou had never disappointed her, and Shen Yiqiu was confident that when the time was right, she would make Jiejie very happy.
At least better than their current fumbling, she realized it was time to learn some new skills, to prepare for a more fulfilling… future.
Shen Yiqiu finally understood her teachers’ constant reminders and advice, knowledge was accumulated bit by bit, seemingly insignificant in the moment, but readily available when needed, no need for last-minute cramming.
This was a good realization, and Shen Yiqiu resolved to expand her knowledge base.
Qin Qianrou bit her lip, her heart still racing, her body tingling. The warmth of Shen Yiqiu’s embrace gradually calmed her, but the lingering sensations, the imprint of her touch, were indelible.
Qin Qianrou was more certain than ever before, she loved Shen Yiqiu, not out of pity, not out of dependence, not out of gratitude, but a genuine, heartfelt love. Her body, her heart, had accepted Shen Yiqiu completely, willingly surrendering to her exploration, her touch.
She loved being cherished by Shen Yiqiu, she loved the feeling of her lips and hands on her skin, she even yearned to reach new heights of intimacy with her, these were all new experiences, feelings she had never known before, until meeting this person, the seed of love within Qin Qianrou’s heart had finally blossomed.
She had never imagined falling in love with someone like this.
As Qin Qianrou’s thoughts wandered, her fingers unconsciously twirled a strand of Shen Yiqiu’s soft hair.
“Jiejie, I’ll wait for you.”
Before Qin Qianrou could respond, Shen Yiqiu added, slightly embarrassed, “But don’t make me wait too long.”
Shen Yiqiu’s soft lips gently nibbled on the sensitive skin of Qin Qianrou’s neck, a tender caress that didn’t ignite any further desires, but filled her with a deep sense of contentment.
**
The situation was more complicated than they had anticipated, the incidents in Hai City and Meng City seemingly unrelated. Wen Shao Ze shared the information he had gathered about the Xinting Hotel incident with Li Wan, and following the leads, they had traced it back to Hai City.
“I thought Qianrou moving to Meng City meant she had severed ties with Hai City, I didn’t expect a simple training program to cause so much trouble.”
Li Wan’s eyes were unusually cold, a stark contrast to her usual fiery demeanor.
“Shao Ze, this incident wasn’t just targeting Qianrou, Shao Qidong invested so much effort, it wasn’t just a simple warning, the more he tries to cover things up, the more it proves he’s hiding something, there’s definitely a problem with Dongsheng.”
Wen Shao Ze also disliked Shao Qidong, from a businessman’s perspective, Dongsheng’s rapid growth was unusual.
Unlike the Wen family, who had started from nothing, building their empire from scratch in just over a decade, Shao Qidong’s success story was too good to be true, others might think he was a protagonist in a fantasy novel, but those in the business world knew it defied the laws of economics.
“He’s trying to eliminate obstacles. If I’m not mistaken, he’s planning something big. Once he gets rid of those investigating Dongsheng, he can proceed with his plan without any hindrances.” Wen Shao Ze played with his lighter as he spoke, a thoughtful look on his face.
Li Wan had also considered this, but asking Zhuo Cheng for information was out of the question now.
Not only had she slapped him at the bar, practically severing ties, even if they pretended nothing had happened and continued interacting, Zhuo Cheng would still harbor illusions about their relationship.
Knowing his feelings, she couldn’t bring herself to lead him on. Even though she and Lin Shuangzhi hadn’t officially defined their relationship, Li Wan had already made her choice.
The person she liked was the team leader, she wouldn’t be ambiguous with anyone else.
“I heard Dongsheng’s overseas branch has already finalized several patent deals, generating substantial profits, they were even praised by the city government.”
Li Wan had heard this from her father, who had mentioned that Zhuo Cheng’s recent trip abroad was precisely for these deals, which had been incredibly successful, establishing a new model for overseas patent transactions, opening up new revenue streams for other tech companies in the city, and the potential market was enormous.
The city officials were naturally delighted, not only because of the increased tax revenue, but also because it represented a transformation of the local economy. This model could even be promoted province-wide, potentially boosting their own careers.
So, the city government was now fully supporting Dongsheng Group’s overseas expansion plans, even expediting their paperwork and approvals.
Li Wan was furious, but without concrete evidence, even endless arguments wouldn’t change anything.
“Shao Qidong thinks changing the management team at the television station will make us give up, he’s delusional.”
Li Wan scoffed, these vulgar businessmen, besides bribing people with money, had no real skills.
“Getting rid of you is one aspect, another is building his own media empire. With the internet so developed now, a single online comment can create a bigger storm than ever before, if he’s planning to expand overseas, he naturally needs to cultivate a patriotic image.”
Wen Shao Ze, when it came to public image, was an expert.
“Him, patriotic?” Selling out his country was more like it, Li Wan felt nauseated just thinking about it.
“He’ll definitely be making more moves soon, you have to be careful, don’t think he wouldn’t resort to underhanded tactics. When it comes to profit, all businessmen are ruthless, they have no conscience.”
Li Wan nodded, then, after a moment, she looked at Wen Shao Ze meaningfully. “Then do you, as a businessman, still have a conscience?”
“That’s probably why I’m not very successful in business, I’m too… human.”
Li Wan chuckled and said tentatively, “I heard you met Yuan Qi.”
Wen Shao Ze’s grip on his lighter tightened.
The tension in his face eased after a few moments, and he sighed. “We ran into each other at the hospital, I haven’t seen him since.”
“He refused to see you?”
The light in Wen Shao Ze’s eyes dimmed, and he denied it, “I didn’t dare to approach him. That day at the hospital, he clearly wanted to avoid me, I was afraid that if I went to see him, he would pack his bags and leave overnight.”
Wen Shao Ze knew Yuan Qi well, that’s exactly what he would have done.
But with Qin Qianrou’s attack, and Shen Yiqiu’s situation also uncertain, although he had initially wanted to avoid Wen Shao Ze, the urge to leave immediately wasn’t as strong anymore.
Yuan Qi, having cautiously observed for a few days, seeing no attempts by Wen Shao Ze to contact him, breathed a sigh of relief.
Recalling their encounter at the hospital, he didn’t know what to say. After all these years, he had thought he had moved on, but seeing Wen Shao Ze again, his heart still ached.
Yuan Qi looked at his reflection in the mirror as he shaved, his beard much shorter now. Wen Shao Ze, that day at the hospital, had looked much more mature than before, his face still smooth and unblemished, a stark contrast to his own weathered appearance from his years of traveling. It was as if their roles had reversed.
The story of the rich young master and the poor scholar rarely had a happy ending. Yuan Qi couldn’t help but think about their university days, a sense of inescapable fate weighing on him.
Zhuo Cheng, after being slapped, had completely disappeared from Li Wan’s life for a while. It wasn’t because he had given up, but because, unwilling to accept her rejection that night, he had wanted to follow her and explain, only to see her enter another bar.
He hadn’t gone in, just waited outside, he thought perhaps he had been too forceful, he had left so decisively years ago, how could the proud Xiao Wan forgive him so easily?
Zhuo Cheng sat in his car, smoking one cigarette after another, only to see Li Wan emerge, embracing another person. He followed them in his car and saw Li Wan leaning against the person intimately, then, after getting out of the car, they kissed, right there on the street.
Zhuo Cheng wanted to get out of the car and interrupt this absurd scene, but he felt paralyzed, his body numb. In the cold, dry winter night, he angrily turned on his windshield wipers, as if trying to erase the scene before him.
But Li Wan hadn’t left, she had followed the person upstairs, into a building Zhuo Cheng couldn’t identify, and she hadn’t emerged all night. Zhuo Cheng had driven around, waiting, the entire night.
He hadn’t expected, in his absence all these years, that his goddess, the ex-girlfriend he had vowed to win back, would be with a woman. And he knew this woman, she was Li Wan’s superior.
Zhuo Cheng felt a mix of pain and jealousy, he had missed his chance, he had achieved the status and recognition he desired abroad, but he had lost his love, meeting Li Wan during his university years had been the happiest time of his life.
Back then, Li Wan had been his light.
But his own insecurities had gradually taken over, the more outstanding Li Wan became, the more apprehensive he felt. To truly possess this light, he had strived to surpass her, to achieve upward mobility, to silence the whispers behind his back, he hadn’t wanted to be known as the “phoenix man” who had used his girlfriend to climb the social ladder.
But just now, he had seen the love in Li Wan’s eyes as she kissed the other person, undeniable even with her eyes closed, and recalling the sting of that slap on his face, watching this passionate embrace, it was truly ironic.
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