The footsteps outside the door faded away.
Only the sound of rain remained in the room.
Isabella was still pressed against Jiang Lin's chest, her fingers hooked into the collar of his shirt.
The button she had undone hung loose, revealing a small patch of skin below his collarbone.
She lowered her head to look, her fingertips slowly tracing over it.
Jiang Lin caught her hand.
"Mrs. Montclair, that's enough."
"Who was it that told me to continue just a moment ago?"
Jiang Lin felt an itch in his heart and lifted her directly onto the desk.
The documents were pushed aside.
The fountain pen rolled onto the carpet.
Isabella's skirt was lifted by the edge of the desk, revealing her calves from beneath the black fabric.
She instinctively gripped Jiang Lin's shoulders.
"Jiang Lin."
"Hmm."
"This is Wendell Castle."
"And so?"
"Mrs. Wendell lives next door."
"The door is closed."
"She will hear us."
Jiang Lin leaned down and kissed the side of her ear.
Isabella's breath hitched, and her fingers tightened bit by bit.
"Jiang Lin, don't leave any marks."
"Are you meeting the lawyers tomorrow?"
"I have to meet many people."
"Then I'll leave them in places no one can see."
The look in Isabella's eyes changed instantly.
Before she could speak, Jiang Lin had already lowered his head and kissed her.
Isabella's back pressed against the desk, her shoulders tensed, but then quickly softened.
She raised her arms to wrap them around his neck, pulling him closer.
Their breaths mingled together.
Outside the window, the rain lashed against the glass.
Only one lamp was on in the room; the light fell onto the side of her face, and her eyelashes cast delicate shadows.
Jiang Lin's hand rested on her waist.
Through the fabric of her dress, he could feel the faint trembling of her body.
Isabella suddenly turned her head, dodging half an inch away.
"Stop for a second."
Jiang Lin paused.
She raised her hand, her fingertips brushing against the corner of her lips.
"My lipstick is smudged."
"I don't see it."
"Of course you don't."
She pushed herself up from his embrace, wanting to reach for her bag.
But Jiang Lin didn't let go.
"What are you doing?"
"Touching up my lipstick."
"Now?"
"A woman's dignity is important."
Jiang Lin looked at her and pressed her back against the desk.
"Dignity isn't necessary at a time like this."
Isabella's eyes were filled with lingering affection.
"Say that again?"
He lowered his head and leaned close to her ear.
"Tonight, you are my woman."
"You really know how to pick your spots."
"Where?"
"The places where I least want to be seen through."
"That's what makes it exciting."
She raised her foot, the tip of her shoe gently pressing against his calf.
"Jiang Lin."
"Hmm?"
"Don't think I'll let you win every time."
"Who won tonight?"
Isabella raised her hand and slowly undid another button on his collar.
"We'll see."
She suddenly pulled Jiang Lin down with force.
Taking the initiative to kiss him.
She tested him bit by bit, then the kiss grew heavier, as if she wanted to take back all the rhythm he had suppressed just moments ago.
Jiang Lin's hand on her waist tightened.
Isabella's body gave a slight tremble, but she didn't back down.
Suddenly, there was a sound outside the door again.
It sounded like someone had stopped in the hallway.
Both of them stopped at the same time.
Isabella looked up toward the door.
Jiang Lin whispered, "Mrs. Wendell?"
"It's not her."
Chen Qian's very quiet voice sounded from outside.
"Mr. Jiang... Mrs. Montclair?"
Isabella stiffened for a moment.
Jiang Lin let her go.
"What is it?"
There was silence outside for a few seconds.
"I, I didn't mean to disturb you. Sir Simon's documents were left at the door, and I was afraid someone might take them, so I brought them over."
Isabella looked down; her skirt was disheveled.
A few strands of her hair were loose.
Her lipstick was indeed smudged.
She lowered her voice, "You go get it."
Jiang Lin looked at her.
"I'm not exactly in a state to open the door right now either."
Her gaze fell to his open shirt collar, and a hint of annoyance finally appeared on her face.
"You did that to yourself."
"You undid one too."
Outside, Chen Qian's voice was even lower.
"I'll just leave them at the door."
Jiang Lin spoke up, "Chen Qian."
It became quiet outside immediately.
"Put the documents down and go back to sleep."
"Okay."
The footsteps left in a panic.
Isabella closed her eyes and then let out a soft laugh.
The laughter was low, but carried a hint of shy annoyance.
"She will definitely let her imagination run wild tomorrow."
Jiang Lin lifted her down from the desk.
Isabella had just steadied herself, but her legs were still a bit weak, so she braced herself against his arm.
"Are we continuing?"
She looked up and glared at him.
"Are you very pleased with yourself?"
"A little bit."
Isabella raised her hand and lifted his chin.
"Jiang Lin, you should be thankful that it was Chen Qian at the door."
"What if it had been Mrs. Wendell?"
"Then I wouldn't have stopped just now."
Jiang Lin looked at her.
Isabella looked at him as well.
The heat in the room that had just been interrupted returned in an instant.
At this moment, another voice came from outside the door.
Victoria.
"It seems Miss Chen has already delivered them."
Isabella's expression froze.
Jiang Lin lowered his head and chuckled.
Isabella immediately covered his mouth.
Victoria spoke slowly from outside:
"Mrs. Montclair, the documents are very important; they are needed tomorrow morning."
Isabella let go of Jiang Lin and walked to the door.
She didn't open it.
"I know."
"Do you need me to explain them to you?"
"No need."
"Mr. Jiang doesn't need it either?"
Isabella turned back to look at Jiang Lin.
He was leaning against the desk, his shirt slightly disheveled, with a trace of her lipstick still on the corner of his mouth.
She withdrew her gaze.
"He is not in a position to listen right now."
It was quiet outside for a moment.
Victoria laughed.
"Understood."
The footsteps really faded away this time.
Isabella turned around, her back against the door, her fingers pressing on the lock.
"Are you satisfied?"
Jiang Lin walked closer.
"I didn't bring this one on."
"They both know now."
"Know what?"
"Don't play dumb."
Jiang Lin stopped in front of her and looked down at her.
Isabella was leaning against the door, with nowhere left to retreat.
She could have pushed him away, but she didn't move.
"Jiang Lin."
"Hmm?"
"That's enough for tonight."
"Are you sure?"
"Sure."
He didn't continue.
He just raised his hand and tucked the loose strands of her hair behind her ear.
Isabella's initially tense expression relaxed a bit.
The next second, Jiang Lin lowered his head and kissed the side of her neck.
Her breath suddenly hitched, and she grabbed his wrist.
"You..."
"It's okay, no one else knows."
Isabella bit her lip.
"Jerk."
"Hmm."
She feigned anger and pushed him away.
"Go get the documents."
Jiang Lin opened the door.
There was a document bag on the floor outside the door.
He bent down to pick it up; the hallway was empty.
As he closed the door, Victoria's door next door opened.
She was wearing a dark bathrobe, her hair loose over her shoulders.
Her gaze fell first on Jiang Lin's collar, then on the document bag in his hand.
"Mr. Jiang."
"Mrs. Wendell, you're not asleep yet?"
"The documents have been delivered, so naturally I am at ease."
Her gaze lingered on the corner of his mouth.
"Mrs. Montclair's lipstick suits you very well."
Jiang Lin raised his hand and wiped it.
Victoria chuckled.
"Good night."
The door closed.
Jiang Lin returned to the room.
Isabella had already straightened her skirt and was standing in front of the mirror, touching up her lipstick.
She looked at him in the mirror.
"Did she see it?"
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
"She said your lipstick suits me."
Isabella's hand paused.
Then she capped the lipstick, turned around, and walked over.
"Did she really say that?"
"Yes."
"Then let her see it clearly."
Before Jiang Lin could react, Isabella had already hooked his collar again and pulled him down.
A forceful kiss landed on the corner of his mouth.
"Now it suits you."
Jiang Lin looked at her.
"Mrs. Montclair, you are very agitated tonight."
"I've been calm all day."
She picked up her shawl and draped it over her shoulders.
"Now it's someone else's turn to be agitated."
After saying this, she walked toward the door.
Jiang Lin took a step after her.
"Where are you going?"
"Back to my room."
"Taking my tie with you?"
She looked down and realized that the old tie was still wrapped around her wrist.
She must have grabbed it at some point without realizing.
Jiang Lin reached out.
"Give it back."
Isabella didn't give it to him.
"Come get it tomorrow morning."
"Are you sure?"
"Sure."
She opened the door.
The hallway was quiet.
Isabella walked out and stopped suddenly at the door next door.
Victoria's door opened again.
The two ladies looked at each other across the hallway.
Victoria saw the tie on Isabella's wrist, and then saw her freshly reapplied lipstick.
"Mrs. Montclair, it seems it's going to be a restless night?"
Isabella raised her wrist, and the tie dangled from her fingers.
"Is that so?"
Victoria looked toward Jiang Lin's door.
"And Mr. Jiang?"
Isabella smiled.
"Guess?"
"I'll have someone send a new tie tomorrow morning."
"No need."
"Why?"
"His tie is here with me."
After saying this, she pushed the door open and went back to her room.
Victoria stood at the door for a few seconds, then chuckled.
When Jiang Lin closed his door, the light was still on in Chen Qian's room at the other end of the hallway.
She was sitting on the edge of the bed, hugging a pillow, her face so red she couldn't fall asleep at all.
When she delivered the documents, although she hadn't seen anything.
She had heard it.
The sound of fabric rubbing.
Low gasps.
And Isabella calling out to Jiang Lin in a suppressed voice.
She was so embarrassed she buried her face in the pillow.
A few seconds later, she lifted it again and picked up the ledger on the table.
She flipped through two pages, but couldn't read a single word.
The next morning.
Jiang Lin heard a sound and opened the door.
Chen Qian was standing outside.
Her face was bright red, she was holding the documents in her arms, and she only dared to look at the carpet.
"Mr. Jiang, Sir Simon has arrived early."
"And what else?"
Chen Qian bit her lip, her voice very low.
"Mrs. Montclair is also downstairs."
"Which Mrs.?"
Her face turned even redder.
"Both of them."
Jiang Lin took the documents.
Chen Qian turned and walked away, but after two steps, she turned back.
"Mrs. Montclair said, before you go downstairs... you should wipe the corner of your mouth clean."
After saying that, she ran off quickly.
Jiang Lin reached up and wiped his mouth.
There was a faint red mark on his fingertip.
Beside the door, Isabella was already standing there.
She had changed her clothes and looked calm, but when she looked at Jiang Lin, there was still a lingering, suppressed heat in her eyes from last night.
"Did you wipe it clean?"
"Did you do that on purpose to have her deliver the message?"
"She has to get used to it sooner or later."
Jiang Lin looked at her.
"Used to what?"
Isabella walked closer, raised her hand to press against his chest, and tapped lightly on his shirt with her fingertips.
"Used to the fact that there is more than one woman by your side."
After saying this, she turned and went downstairs.
Just as Jiang Lin was about to follow, the door on the other side opened.
Victoria stood at the door.
She glanced at Isabella's back, then looked at Jiang Lin.
"So reluctant to wipe it off?"
Jiang Lin didn't know what she meant.
Victoria stepped half a step closer and lightly brushed her fingertips across the other corner of his mouth.
"There's still a little bit here."
Jiang Lin grabbed her wrist.
"Mrs. Wendell, they are waiting downstairs."
She didn't pull away.
"I know."
They looked at each other for a moment.
Victoria withdrew her hand and smiled.
"Then let's get down to business."
In the hall downstairs.
Sir Simon, Eileen, Martin, and the lawyer were all there.
Edward was there too, his face gloomy.
Isabella sat on the left, and Victoria sat at the head of the table.
Jiang Lin walked downstairs.
Both women looked at him at the same time.
Edward sneered:
"It seems you all had a good time last night."
Isabella picked up her coffee.
"Better than you."
Victoria opened the documents.
"Let's begin."
Sir Simon placed the confirmation of transfer for the old collection on the table.
"The first item: the provenance of 'the lady in the grey dress by the window'."
Jiang Lin pulled out a chair and sat down.
Chen Qian sat opposite him, looking down at the files, her earlobes still flushed.
Under the table, Isabella's shoe tip gently brushed against him.
The next moment, Victoria's hand pushed another file in front of him, her fingertips brushing against the back of his hand.
Jiang Lin looked up.
The two ladies' expressions were normal.
The meeting officially began.