Сhaptеr 3: Тhе Gеntlеmаnly Sсоundrеl Strikes, Сoаxing Hеr tо Go with Нim
Thе mаn’s rеfined аnd hаndsomе fасе suddеnlу lоomеd largе bеfore her eуes.
Нis thin lips рrеssеd аgainst the thumb hе had plасеd оver hеr red liрs.
An icу, rеstrаinеd аura driftеd faintly through thе gарs bеtwеen his fingers, brushing teаsinglу рast thе cоrner of hеr mоuth, аs if shе had beеn liсked—not tоo lightly, nоt tоо hеavilу.
“!!!”
Qiаo Zhiyang’s heart trembled viоlentlу.
It fеlt аs if а string in hеr mind had bеen abruptlу snaрpеd, leаving her thoughts blank.
An indescribable restlessness surged through her blood, spreading to every limb and pore.
The bewilderment still written on her face was now tinged with a beautiful, rosy blush.
Outside, it seemed to have grown quiet, as if time itself had been paused.
All her senses were completely seized by the man before her, leaving her unable to think.
This… this was just too insane!
“Mr. Cen, you…!”
Qiao Zhiyang glared at him, like a little lamb bristling with indignation.
Yet the man before her met her gaze with utter candor, his expression pure and upright.
As if he were a proper gentleman who had only overstepped boundaries out of necessity to help her.
Not because of any improper, ulterior motives.
The flame of anger that had just ignited in the little lamb’s heart instantly fizzled out with a whoosh.
Actually…
If he had truly wanted to take liberties with her, he could have simply kissed her directly.
There was no need for the extra gesture of using his thumb to block her lips.
Moreover, she had been the one who acted rudely first, using him as a shield. Yet not only did he not hold it against her, he tolerated her recklessness and kindly helped her.
Cen Zhou, the current head of the Cen Family, was widely known in the elite circles of Yun Jing as the Jade-Faced Buddha.
Even she, from the Hong Kong social scene, had heard whispers of this title.
To follow Buddhism was to embrace abstinence.
Yet now, to help her, he had broken his vow.
And she had wanted to accuse him of impropriety.
The more Qiao Zhiyang thought about it, the more remorseful she felt.
The slight anger in her gaze as she looked at him faded away, replaced by a naive trust, untouched by the ways of the world.
But the little lamb had no idea—
The man before her, cloaked in the guise of a noble and refined gentleman, had never looked at her with innocent eyes.
Naturally, the subtle changes in the girl in his arms did not escape his keen observation.
Cen Zhou watched her dependent demeanor, the corner of his lips curling slightly.
Tsk.
So obedient.
As the bodyguards approached, they saw a tall man holding a girl in his arms, his head lowered, his lips close to hers.
The man’s back was turned to them, making it impossible to see his face.
His broad frame completely shielded the girl in his embrace, with only a glimpse of a water-blue skirt hem faintly visible against his suit trousers.
In an airport, scenes like this—of couples reluctant to part or reuniting—were all too common.
They glanced briefly, showing no suspicion, and quickly headed in another direction.
“The young lady isn’t here. It seems she really has run off.”
“Hurry, check over there.”
One of them suddenly thought of something, pausing mid-step and looking back with a hint of doubt.
Hiss.
Why did that figure seem a bit like that lord from the Cen Family?
As soon as the thought surfaced, he quickly shook his head, dismissing it.
Impossible.
A top-tier Beijing circle magnate like him, standing at the pinnacle of the pyramid—how could he possibly appear here so casually, without a single attendant by his side?
Not to mention the rumors that he had been abstinent for years, keeping his distance from women, never bringing a female companion to banquets, as proper as a living Buddha.There was no way it could possibly be him.
Those figures gradually walked away.
Qiao Zhiyang rested her head on Cen Zhou’s chest, separated only by the thin white shirt, her cheek clearly feeling the warmth of his skin beneath.
The powerful heartbeat, like the beat of a drum, struck directly into her eardrums, causing her own heart rate to become completely erratic.
The red lips lightly pressed by his thumb automatically warmed, growing dry.
Her vision was occupied, and she had no idea about the real-time situation unfolding outside.
Her cheeks flushed with shyness, Qiao Zhiyang finally couldn’t help but whisper, “Mr. Cen, have they left?”
His fingertip was still pressed against her red lips, and as she spoke softly, her lips moved slightly, as if kissing his fingertip.
Ah…
This is deadly.
Cen Zhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, the veins on his arm faintly bulging.
He closed his eyes briefly, slowly exhaling a sigh of suppressed frustration.
It took almost all his restraint to barely maintain the image of a gentleman in front of her.
“They haven’t left yet.”
Cen Zhou held her in his arms, intimate and ambiguous, yet not overly tight—just the right amount of closeness.
The corner of his lips curved slightly, as if coaxing a child, calm and gentle.
“Don’t worry, let’s wait a little longer.”
Qiao Zhiyang wilted.
Help!!
Why haven’t these bodyguards left yet!
Why don’t they know to be flexible and check somewhere else!
They’re so stupid!
“Achoo—”
Far away, the bodyguards suddenly felt their noses itch and, with perfect synchronization, sneezed.
They exchanged puzzled glances.
What a coincidence?
Maybe the airport’s air conditioning was just too strong.
Time passed minute by minute.
The man’s scorching body temperature enveloped her slender, delicate frame.
Her red lips were lightly pressed by his fingertip, his warm breath teasing the seam of her lips, making it increasingly difficult for her to hold on.
Qiao Zhiyang felt as though she was almost cooked through.
She trembled her invisible little lamb horns and couldn’t help but whisper again, “Mr. Cen, are they still here?”
“Mhm, they’re still here.”
Cen Zhou looked down at her, concealing the burning intensity in his eyes, and continued to deceive her without changing his expression.
“But I think they’re about to leave. Can you hold on a little longer?”
The treasure in his arms—he had longed for her for far too long.
He simply couldn’t bear to let go so quickly.
He wanted to indulge in this a little longer.
Qiao Zhiyang: Grrr!
These bad guys!
Why haven’t they left yet!
Darn it, she’ll endure it!
After all, she was a girl who had yet to experience much of the world, pure and innocent at heart.
She had no idea about the cunning little schemes of this black-hearted schemer disguised as a gentleman right in front of her.
Cen Zhou observed the girl’s flushed face with great interest.
Ah.
So adorable.
Adorable enough that he wanted to…
Cen Zhou’s eyes darkened, and in a place she couldn’t see, like a lurking big gray wolf, his gaze grew dangerous and wicked as he watched her, his brow slightly raised.
It seemed many challenges to his self-control awaited him in the future.
So he had to hide his Wolf Tail well, continue playing the role of an elegant and upright gentleman, and make sure she never discovered—
That behind the refined facade lay a scoundrel who had long wanted to devour this “lamb.”
If she ran away, he would absolutely lose his mind.
Qiao Zhiyang had never felt time pass so torturously before.
Just as she was about to turn into a nine-tenths-cooked braised lamb, a low, seductive chuckle suddenly drifted over, lingering in the air.Cen Zhou straightened up unhurriedly, his thumb grazing her red lips almost imperceptibly before slowly releasing her. “Alright, they’ve left now.”
Although he hadn’t held her nearly long enough.
But there was no rush.
In the future, she would be locked in his embrace, unable to go anywhere else.
As his arm loosened and the distance between them returned to normal, her field of vision cleared.
Great!
They were finally gone!
Completely unaware that the bodyguards had actually left long ago, Qiao Zhiyang’s eyes brightened, her lips curving into an unrestrained, lively, and joyful smile—stunningly beautiful and captivating.
The fingers hanging at Cen Zhou’s side twitched involuntarily.
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, as if suppressing some terrifying restraint, and he glanced at the Prayer Beads on his wrist.
“Mr. Cen, thank you for your help.”
Qiao Zhiyang lifted her clear, bright eyes and looked at him gratefully. “If it weren’t for you, I would have definitely been caught by them already.”
The wariness and nervousness she had shown when they first met were gone from her gaze.
Now, her transparent eyes were filled with complete trust.
Cen Zhou’s thin lips curved slightly.
Mm.
This was good.
His brows and eyes relaxed, and instead of asking what mistake she had made, he spoke like a gentle elder offering concern. “It was just a small effort. So now, is there anything else I can do for you?”
Qiao Zhiyang shook her head gently.
Although he was her friend’s Little Uncle, it seemed he didn’t recognize her.
Besides, she had already taken up a lot of his time—how could she possibly trouble him further?
Qiao Zhiyang looked at him with bright, shining eyes and smiled. “Thank you for your kindness. My friend has already booked a hotel for me. I’ll just go out and hail a taxi later.”
“Alright.” Cen Zhou paused thoughtfully. “But—”
He shifted the topic. “I’m worried they might have stationed people outside. If you go out now, you could be in danger.”
Qiao Zhiyang: ?
That made sense.
It was entirely possible someone was waiting outside the door, ready to catch her off guard.
A hint of helplessness flickered across her expression. “Then what should I do?”
Cen Zhou allowed a faint, almost imperceptible curve to touch his lips.
“My car happens to be in the parking lot.”
He looked at her with gentlemanly poise, his voice as warm and smooth as jade, extending an invitation to her. “Miss, would you be willing to leave with me?”