3 – I Promise I’ll Be Good~
Qin Zhiluo only then noticed the exquisitely designed sapphire necklace around Alison’s neck—large enough, flashy enough.
To wear the store’s prized piece on one’s person was tantamount to declaring in advance that she was determined to win the Fuli partnership!
Others who had still harbored hopes of competing began to back down upon hearing this.
Qin Zhiluo held her champagne, a smile curling at the corners of her lips: “I don’t think any piece of Fuli’s jewelry looks like it came from a street stall.”
“Nor do I believe price is the only value of jewelry—it shouldn’t be used to compare one piece against another. Jewelry should bloom in a hundred varieties, respecting every form of beauty in the world.”
Having done her background research, Qin Zhiluo knew Fuli’s philosophy very well.
These words, to some extent, showed little regard for Alison’s feelings.
Alison’s face went pale as she scrambled to explain herself.
“What nonsense are you talking about? When did I ever mention Fuli’s jewelry? I was talking about you!”
Qin Zhiluo confidently touched the pearl earrings at her ears, and only then did Alison realize they were Fuli products.
She did that on purpose—absolutely on purpose!
Alison trembled with rage, the snowy peaks beneath her strapless neckline quivering along with her.
Qin Zhiluo straightened her back without backing down—what, can’t win an argument so you’re comparing chests?
Like she didn’t have one too?
Snow-white grew even more audacious against the dark crimson backdrop.
Alison stared wide-eyed, grinding her molars in fury.
“Just you wait—the Fuli partnership will definitely be mine!”
Qin Zhiluo raised an eyebrow: “Then we’ll see.”
It was at this moment that Zhuang Hezhi appeared.
The aloof, self-possessed man was different from the night before.
An impeccably tailored bespoke suit, a pair of silver-rimmed glasses perched on his high-bridged nose—he exuded the air of a gentleman scoundrel from head to toe.
The gentlemanly part was for outsiders, Qin Zhiluo thought. She had seen the scoundrel side of him when he lost control.
She knew how wild he could be, how tormenting…
He stood not far away, and when his gaze swept over, his knuckle-defined fingers pushed up the bridge of his glasses.
Devastatingly handsome!
Qin Zhiluo’s breath caught for a beat, and her legs felt a little weak.
Fortunately, Qiao Yun came over just then and steadied her: “What’s wrong? Not feeling well?”
“Heh, my shoes are a bit uncomfortable.” Qin Zhiluo gave an awkward smile.
When she looked up, her gaze collided with the man’s from not far away.
Whether it was her imagination or not, Zhuang Hezhi…
Seemed to be looking at her.
Qin Zhiluo swallowed nervously, and Qiao Yun teased her: “Stay professional—don’t go weak in the knees every time you see a handsome guy.”
“I’m not!” Let me explain…
It was mainly Zhuang Hezhi’s face—it was truly worth drooling over.
Slurp slurp~
Until he stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand, and began to speak: “Thank you all for coming. As the Chief Executive Officer of Fuli…”
Qin Zhiluo’s head buzzed, and she couldn’t hear the rest of his words.
No wonder Alison was so confident.
No wonder Xinghui had easily secured the partnership with Fuli.
Because Zhuang Hezhi was paving the way for his little canary!
She had almost forgotten—Zhuang Hezhi was Alison’s sugar daddy.
Damn!
Her background research hadn’t been thorough enough—the earrings were bought for nothing…
Like hell they were!
Giving up like that wasn’t her style.
Qin Zhiluo clenched her fists, staring at the handsome-faced man the entire time.
“Sister Qiao, I’m definitely going to win him over!”
Qiao Yun thought she meant the Fuli business deal and smiled: “Go get ’em. Do a good job.”
“Yeah!”
She’d screw him over good!
The man finished speaking and strode away with long, elegant steps.
Alison, that insufferable show-off, was too busy boasting to pay attention to Zhuang Hezhi.
Qiao Yun had also been pulled away by someone she knew.
Perfect.
Qin Zhiluo stepped on her twelve-centimeter heels and followed after him.
In the corridor outside, at the corner, she “accidentally” tumbled into his arms.
Seeing it was her, a hint of a smile seemed to flicker in the man’s dark eyes. “You’re… throwing yourself at me?”
The deliberately drawn-out tone carried a teasing edge.
Qin Zhiluo blushed at just the right moment, lifting her head from his embrace to display her innocence appropriately: “If I said I didn’t mean to, would you believe me?”
“Once is an accident. Twice as well?”
“Mmm… why wouldn’t it be?”
“Heh~”
Qin Zhiluo caught the mockery in his tone.
Damn, she was being rejected!
Just wait—sooner or later, I’ll have you on your knees singing “Conquest” for me.
She straightened up in Zhuang Hezhi’s arms, pitching her voice sweetly: “Actually, there’s something I’d like to tell Mr. Zhuang.”
“What?”
Qin Zhiluo glanced around. “It’s not appropriate to say here.”
Zhuang Hezhi narrowed his eyes, letting the young woman grab his arm and pull him into the empty lounge nearby.
Her small hand was soft, slightly moist, carrying a faint fragrance of gardenias.
All in all, he didn’t dislike it.
As the lock clicked shut, Qin Zhiluo pulled out her phone and brought up a video for him to watch.
“Watch this first.”
In the frame, two figures in an extremely ambiguous embrace clung to each other, exchanging flirtatious words.
Zhuang Hezhi heard the voices and immediately realized something.
He didn’t even look at the video—he raised his hand and pushed her against the door, pressing forward. The cold, crisp scent of cedar quickly invaded her senses.
His handsome face drew close, and the breath he exhaled brushed gently against the artery in her neck.
As if he might kiss her at any moment.
Qin Zhiluo was so nervous her hand trembled.
“What are you scared of?”
The man was a head taller than her. He calmly raised his hand, steadying the phone beside her trembling fingers.
As he spoke, his gaze happened to land on her lips.
“You weren’t scared when we did it. Why are you this nervous now?” She’d deliberately brought him here, hadn’t she—just to seduce him?
That’s different!
Qin Zhiluo took a deep breath and looked up to meet his teasing eyes: “Alison stole my boyfriend. The two of them are dating.”
Only then did Zhuang Hezhi notice the two protagonists in the video, a flicker of awkwardness passing over his face.
“So?”
“Aren’t you angry?”
“Why would I be angry?” Zhuang Hezhi’s gaze swept past the video before settling on her.
The young woman seemed to think of something. She tilted her head, her bright eyes shimmering with rippling light, her pearly teeth gently biting her rosy lips, glossing them with a dewy sheen.
It made him inexplicably thirsty.
He let out a low “Mm?” as if asking with mild impatience.
Qin Zhiluo: “Your little canary is hooking up with another man, putting a green hat on your head!”
Zhuang Hezhi’s brow twitched. Was she misunderstanding something?
He and Alison…
In that moment of hesitation, Qin Zhiluo boldly wrapped her arms around his waist, pecked the corner of his lips, then burrowed into his embrace, tracing circles on his chest with her finger.
The cramped space instantly grew charged with intimacy.
“So, Mr. Zhuang, are you interested in swapping for a new canary?”
Her sweet, soft voice was like a kitten scratching at one’s heart.
“I promise, I’ll be good~”
Stroke by stroke, she tugged at his very soul.
Zhuang Hezhi’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he lowered his gaze, his peripheral vision catching a glimpse of her delicate collarbone, trailing downward…
Pale, smooth, supple…
The cutout design at her waist revealed just a sliver of her defined waistline.
A pair of shallow dimples sat above her hips, dazzlingly conspicuous under the cold white light.
Sure she’d behave?
How could he not doubt that?
The silence stretched on unusually long. Qin Zhiluo felt uneasy under his icy stare and instinctively stepped back.
She was chickening out.
The man’s hand suddenly wrapped around her waist, pressing her back against the door, their heartbeats searing together.
Nowhere to run!
Using his height advantage, Zhuang Hezhi easily pinned her between the door and his muscular frame.
Like a challenge from the stronger party.
Refusing to back down, Qin Zhiluo tilted her head up, meeting his gaze head-on.
Zhuang Hezhi stared at her, his cold voice laced with frost, chilling beyond words: “Don’t you have a boyfriend?”
In her nose was the scent of his pheromones, mingled with a faint hint of cedarwood.
It smelled wonderful.
Her legs felt weak.
He lowered his head, his thick lashes casting shadows over his eyes, gazing into hers with depth and allure.
“Ex-boyfriend.” Qin Zhiluo swallowed hard, explaining, “The moment he got hooked by Alison, I cut him off cleanly.”
“Mm.”
Mm?
What did that mean?
Agreeing to the switch?
Or just acknowledging what she said?
Qin Zhiluo’s little head was filled with big questions.
As her mind wandered, he pulled a bank card from his pocket.