She obediently closed her eyes.
Feeling the warm palm leave her eyes, she instinctively tried to open them.
“Don’t open them.”
Chi Jin’s low command came before he turned and walked away.
“Playing quite the game.”
Rose muttered under her breath but kept her eyes closed as instructed, lounging lazily on the bed with a hint of excitement in her expression.
She was eagerly anticipating his method of disinfection.
Had she misunderstood something?
Chi Jin found it both amusing and exasperating but didn’t bother to correct her, turning instead to retrieve the medical kit from the drawer.
After some rustling sounds, a stinging sensation spread across her wounds.
Rose opened her eyes in surprise and saw a cotton swab soaked in iodine disinfecting her injuries.
“Is that it?”
She asked with a strange expression.
“What else?”
Chi Jin raised an eyebrow, smiling.
“Never mind, do as you please… You clearly don’t see me as a woman anyway.”
Rose voiced her dissatisfaction.
He didn’t refute her words. Neither spoke further, yet the atmosphere remained warm.
After disinfection, a white ointment was applied to her wounds, gradually absorbed into her skin under his gentle strokes.
Broken moans escaped Rose’s lips—whether from pain or something else, it was hard to tell.
Was she completely numb?
Not exactly.
At the very least, his hands grew increasingly warm, soon glistening with a thin layer of sweat.
The coolness of the ointment and his scalding fingertips created a contrast of ice and fire, soothing her battered skin.
“Done.”
After a long while, Chi Jin’s unusually deep voice broke the silence.
Rose slowly opened her eyes, her plain face tinged with a faint blush. She shook her head and mumbled, “There’s more.”
More?
A flicker of surprise crossed Chi Jin’s eyes.
Under the warm yellow light, Rose’s body flushed with an ambiguous pink as she slowly spread her legs under his gaze.
His spine stiffened instantly.
His eyes darkened with complex, indecipherable emotions.
There was shock, anger.
And a hint of hidden desire he hadn’t even noticed!
“Sleep. I’m going to wash up.”
Putting down the medicine, Chi Jin fled to the bathroom like an escape.
Behind him, Rose curled her lips into a smile, her eyes gleaming with determined ambition.
Occasional games of push-and-pull weren’t so bad…
She enjoyed the process of her prey fleeing and struggling!
In the bathroom, Chi Jin frowned slightly as he washed the ointment from his hands.
The distinct medicinal scent had faded, but the memory of that excessively soft, damp warmth lingered on his heart, leaving an indelible mark.
When he emerged from the bathroom again, Jiang Xiaoman, who had taken over his bed, was already fast asleep.
Chi Jin walked to the bedside, covered her with the kicked-off blanket, and gently stroked her head. His usually impassive face now bore a complicated expression.
Fetching a blanket from the closet, he lay down on the sofa.
His body was exhausted, but he knew tonight would be sleepless.
When he woke in the morning, the bed was empty.
After a moment of daze, Chi Jin headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
At 8:10 AM, the room service delivered breakfast to each vacation villa. By 10 AM, representatives from both countries held a routine meeting in the resort’s conference room and signed a contract under media scrutiny.
With the key agenda completed, this trip to Vietnam was considered a success.
The afternoon schedule was more relaxed, with personnel from both nations touring the nearby area. The Vietnamese side would brief their Chinese counterparts on future development plans for the region.
Building just one trading port was clearly far from sufficient; the surrounding cities’ population growth and infrastructure development also needed to keep pace.
This was an enormous undertaking, but once fully developed, it would significantly impact Vietnam’s GDP.
Facilitating this cooperation also added a remarkable achievement to the Vietnamese official’s political record—a contribution great enough to be recorded in history.
“You’ve all worked hard these past few days. My apologies for any inadequacies in our hospitality. I must return to the capital early tomorrow to report this to the president. If time permits, feel free to stay another day and relax at the resort.”
The Vietnamese official’s words served as a perfect conclusion to the trip.
He then looked expectantly at Rose, who stood behind Li Xue.
Clearly, he was very satisfied with Rose’s services from the previous night—having tasted the sweetness, he longed for more.
“Director Li, I’ve heard Xiaoman is skilled at massage. I’ve been feeling unwell lately—may I borrow her?”
Chi Jin suddenly spoke up.
Li Xue was taken aback and instinctively glanced at the Vietnamese official nearby.
Both were surprised that the famously upright Councilor Chi also had such tastes.
Though it was a pity, he couldn’t afford to offend a Chinese councilor over a mere plaything.
As long as the girl remained in Vietnam, there would be plenty of opportunities later, wouldn’t there?
“Councillor Chi knows how to enjoy life. Xiaoman’s services are indeed exceptional—absolutely worth your while.”
Previously somewhat reserved, the Vietnamese official now completely relaxed, winking suggestively while patting Chi Jin’s shoulder like he’d found a kindred spirit.
“Then I’ll look forward to it.”
Chi Jin smiled faintly in agreement.
Ran Yuan noticed the medicated patch on Rose’s neck, her expression growing complex and inscrutable.
She felt some sympathy for Rose’s plight.
But she also understood, as A-Yan had said, that this was Rose’s own choice—no one else could be blamed.
As for whether Councillor Chi had taken a liking to Jiang Xiaoman?
Her answer was no.
The councilor was merely helping her out of a difficult situation.
Having been by his side for so many years, she’d seen countless women aspiring to become the councilor’s wife, yet she’d never witnessed him developing feelings for any of them.
“Thank you.”
Rose gently tugged at Chi Jin’s sleeve, whispering her gratitude in a voice only they could hear.
He responded with a warm smile, ruffling her hair—some things needed no words.
The Vietnamese official had originally planned to stay another night, but with Chi Jin claiming Jiang Xiaoman, there was no further reason to remain. He departed via private jet that same day.
After dinner, Li Xue summoned Jiang Xiaoman to her office again.
“Xiaoman, I’m truly grateful for the sacrifices you’ve made for me. Whatever requests you have, just name them. Within my capabilities, I’ll help you achieve them.”
She now genuinely regarded Jiang Xiaoman as one of her own.
Years of medication had damaged her health beyond bearing children naturally.
She had originally planned to adopt a child in a few years.
But now she’d changed her mind—she would groom Jiang Xiaoman as her successor!
With sufficient resources, Jiang Xiaoman could achieve even more than she had. One day, she might climb to greater heights and look down upon the world!
“I want to return to China and take over my father’s business. Will you help me?”
Rose stated her plan without hesitation.
Li Xue had naturally investigated Jiang Xiaoman. Those well-kept secrets of her family were practically common knowledge now.
A live-in son-in-law had entered the household, only to ultimately betray them, eliminating his father-in-law and wife to seize control of the entire conglomerate. He successfully installed his true love and their child in power, and to clear all obstacles for his precious daughter, he severed all father-daughter ties with Jiang Xiaoman.
It could be said that Jiang Xiaoman’s current predicament was entirely orchestrated behind the scenes by her father—he never intended for her to return to China alive!
“I’ll establish a subsidiary company in China and put you in charge. But China isn’t where my influence reaches. How far you can go from there will depend entirely on yourself.”
Li Xue sighed, feeling somewhat reluctant. She hadn’t even had time to develop a bond with Jiang Xiaoman before they had to part ways.