Vital detail spotted!
Lian Que stared straight at the ring in Chen Xingjian’s hand, wishing he could snatch it right then and there to examine it closely.
Anything worn by Chen Xingjian definitely wasn’t some cheap trinket meant to fool a child.
To take a step back, even if the ring in Chen Xingjian’s hand wasn’t particularly valuable, the fact that Chen Xingjian had worn it made it vastly different.
If he listed it on a second-hand market and sold a ring worn by Chen Xingjian, someone eager to find an opportunity to make an impression in front of Chen Xingjian would likely snap it up.
The price definitely wouldn’t be low.
With a hint of flattery, Lian Que held out his open palm right in front of Chen Xingjian. “Sir, rather than letting it go to someone else, you might as well let it benefit me. I like this ring so much—I’ll definitely make sure to bring you your meals properly.”
Chen Xingjian raised an eyebrow. “Meaning, if I don’t give you this ring, you won’t be willing to bring me a bowl of soup?”
“Willing! How could I not be willing?” Lian Que nodded like a chick pecking at rice, his eyes practically glued to the ring. “I’m more than willing to bring soup to Sir. I’m even willing to wake up at five in the morning to simmer it.”
“It’s not just anyone who can bring me soup, you know.” Chen Xingjian deliberately tossed the ring up and down. Lian Que’s head bobbed up and down following the trajectory of the ring, terrified that it might suffer even the slightest bump.
Chen Xingjian slipped the ring loosely onto his knuckle, then pressed it against the side of Lian Que’s leg.
The cool sensation of the ring seeped through a thin layer of clothing into his skin, making him shiver involuntarily.
It felt as though tiny suspended particles in the air were clinging to his face along with the breeze blowing in from outside the window, making Lian Que’s skin itch slightly.
Yet he had no time to care; his entire mind and soul were pinned entirely on the ring before him.
The ring was a plain band inlaid with a few tiny, delicate diamonds. True to form, it matched the mutton-fat jade bracelet Chen Xingjian wore on his wrist—low-key and unobtrusive.
What material was it?
What was the clarity of the tiny diamonds?
Once he got his hands on it, should he sell the diamonds separately or keep it whole? Which option was worth more?
Did Chen Xingjian wear this ring frequently? If he took it out to cash it in, would he get caught?
What would Chen Xingjian do if he found out? Would he fly into a furious rage and kick him out of the house on the spot, or angrily hurl one hundred thousand yuan in cash right into his face?
Just as Lian Que was wildly daydreaming about the various scenarios between himself and the ring, Chen Xingjian’s finger still wearing the plain band slowly and leisurely moved the base of his palm down toward Lian Que’s thigh.
By the time Lian Que finally realized something was amiss, it was already far too late.
Aunt Wang was long gone, and the rich large bone soup on the table was still giving off a fragrant steam.
Chen Xingjian’s toe nudged against Lian Que’s calf at some point, loosely pushing up a section of Lian Que’s pant leg.
The folds of fabric piled up around his calf, and whether it was just psychological or not, Lian Que felt as though his leg had also picked up a faint, lingering scent of leather.
The leather shoes shone brilliantly clean, bright light spots swaying up and down with Chen Xingjian’s movements. Reflecting off Lian Que’s calf skin, the spots looked whiter than snow.
Tickled by the friction, Lian Que hurriedly tried to pull his leg back in a panic, but suddenly the chair beneath him tilted, and he and the chair together were delivered straight into Chen Xingjian’s arms.
Chen Xingjian’s arm draped casually over the back of the chair behind Lian Que, his vision filled by a broad chest, accompanied by the traditional herbal medicine scent that clung to him.
Drinking herbal medicine for health conditioning?
Chen Xingjian didn’t look frail at all; what on earth did he need herbal medicine for?
Could it be that the company’s business ventures were so vast that they had even extended their reach into traditional Chinese medicine?
TCM seemed to be a hot topic recently wonder how much money a single person like Chen Xingjian could make from it.
“Still daring to let your mind wander at a time like this?” Chen Xingjian’s gaze grew murky and dark, his vocal tone husky.
Lian Que had an ungrounded premonition that danger was approaching.
Chen Xingjian let out a breath and suddenly lowered his head, burying his face directly into the crook of Lian Que’s neck.
A sharp pain suddenly bit into his shoulder, and the danger officially arrived.
By the time Chen Xingjian lifted his head after having his fill of inhaling against Lian Que’s shoulder, a stark, glaring tooth mark was left imprinted on his skin.
“I hate you!” Lian Que’s expression darkened.
The red marks on his body hadn’t even fully faded away yet, and now a fresh bite mark had been added. When he went to work, everyone would know what was going on, and there was no telling how people would look at him behind his back.
Lian Que, who usually recited the self-cultivation guide of a canary by heart, finally lost his temper for once, his tone carrying a soft, fluffy hint of fierceness.
“Really?” Chen Xingjian’s fingertips brushed against the tooth mark he had left behind, looking thoroughly satisfied, like a predator marking its territory within its hunting grounds.
Lian Que pulled his collar upward to cover his exposed collarbones, holding his breath as he declared, “I’m genuinely angry! I swear on diamonds!”
Even a canary would peck people when it got mad. What was Chen Xingjian’s deal?
Did he think he was a lump of soft cotton that never got angry?
Chen Xingjian let out a dry chuckle. This time, Lian Que was genuinely angry he was even swearing on diamonds.
“Apologies. When you say you hate me, it sounds an awful lot like flirting.”
Though Chen Xingjian apologized with his words, there wasn’t a shred of apology on his face. Instead, his gaze darkened by another few inches as he raised a hand to pinch Lian Que’s cheek. “What do you think? It’s flirting, right?”
Lian Que was dumbfounded. Chen Xingjian was simply too aggravating.
Once words like that were spoken, he had zero room left to talk back.
Besides, who would be bored enough to flirt with him for no reason?
“Why the long face looking like you’ve got a blood feud? I’m taking you home tomorrow. Are we going to stay as distant as this?”
“Who’s being distant?”
Lian Que retorted out of sheer reflex, until he followed Chen Xingjian’s line of sight down and realized he was currently draped across Chen Xingjian’s lap in a bizarre posture.
The distance between their faces was extremely close, but the rest of their upper bodies were practically miles apart thanks, of course, to Lian Que unilaterally pulling away.
Lian Que awkwardly shifted his backside, shuffling a bit closer to Chen Xingjian.
“Sir, it must be because your aura is just too noble and refined, making me feel so inferior all by myself that I didn’t even dare get close to you.”
“You’re the kindest person to me in this entire world. I never expected that you would actually sign a marriage agreement with me; I originally thought I was just a dispensable object to you. I’m truly touched.”
Chen Xingjian tilted his head, watching the soft wisps of hair atop Lian Que’s head bounce up and down with the cadence of his speech, smiling to himself in leisurely amusement.
He really was a master of sweet-talking flattery.
“Does that mean you should thank me for putting so much thought into you?” Chen Xingjian let a teasing smile touch his lips, lowering his head to examine Lian Que.
Lian Que grunted twice, his fingers stealthily creeping toward Chen Xingjian’s hand and brushing against the plain ring resting on his fingertip.
“I like the ring. If Sir is willing to give it directly to me, I’ll be even more grateful.” Lian Que raised his head, looking full of expectation while his fingertips rhythmically grazed Chen Xingjian’s palm.
“Not feeling too great today. Not giving it to you.”
Chen Xingjian lightly pushed Lian Que away, then turned and headed upstairs by himself, leaving Lian Que sitting alone in his chair questioning his entire existence.
What the hell kind of bad mood? A moment ago he was smiling warmly down at him and rubbing against his calf, practically acting like a fish hooked on the line.
Only a useless financial backer would be stingy about giving gifts.
Lian Que gave a sharp crack, slamming his fist down onto the square table in front of him, and took a few deep breaths to barely suppress the rising anger in his chest.
If he won’t give it, he won’t give it! Fine by him!
He refused to believe that with looks like his, he couldn’t conquer a mere Chen Xingjian.
Once he conquered Chen Xingjian, both Chen Xingjian and all the money in his hands would belong to him alone.
Standing at the upstairs landing, Chen Xingjian stared down at Lian Que throwing a clumsy, pitiful little tantrum all by himself downstairs, and chuckled good-naturedly.
“Put away those little tempers. It’s time for bed.”
Bed?
Lian Que’s spine stiffened rigidly as the soreness from the previous night rushed back to swarm his body in a competitive frenzy.
Him and Chen Xingjian?