Multicolored lights spilled over the man’s strikingly handsome face. Qiao Ling curved her red lips, her drunken eyes hazy as they met his dark, turbulent gaze, swirling with unreadable emotions.
She had looked at this face for twenty-two years, dreaming of it countless times. Yet no matter how many times she saw it, it was still hard not to be moved.
Zhou Jinyue lowered his gaze. Before the arm around his neck could withdraw, he reached out and wrapped his hand around the girl’s slender waist. His tall, imposing figure leaned forward as he braced one hand against the wall, completely encircling the girl in his embrace. His voice was deep and low. “Lingling, you’re drunk. I’ll take you back.”
“Alright.” Qiao Ling flicked the ash from her cigarette, tilting her head slightly with an ambiguous smile. “To your place?”
Zhou Jinyue glanced at her but didn’t respond. Instead, he took the cigarette from between her fingers and placed it between his own lips. Then, he swept her up into his arms and strode out of the bar.
Qiao Ling felt this dream was more vivid than any before. The man’s dangerously captivating face was no longer blurred, and the warmth of his body felt unmistakably real.
As they reached the entrance, the security guard glanced at the two of them. His eyes inadvertently caught the green bamboo tattoo on the girl’s ankle, and he froze for a moment. Wasn’t that Miss Qiao? Who was that man? Her boyfriend?
He had worked at Insomnia for two years, but this was the first time he’d seen Miss Qiao so intimate with a man.
Miss Qiao had strong principles and a high tolerance for alcohol—nothing like the other wealthy young heirs!
But this man…
No, no, no.
Miss Qiao was the treasure of Young Master Chi and the others. If anything really happened, he couldn’t bear the responsibility. He had to go in and let them know!
With that thought, the security guard hurried back inside.
Meanwhile, in a corner booth of the bar, the atmosphere was lively and boisterous. Yu Wanli, noticing that Qiao Ling had been gone for so long, grew worried. Just as she was about to pull Chi Nian along to check, she saw the security guard rushing over in a panic.
“Miss Yu, Young Master Chi.” The guard pointed toward the entrance and said to them, “Just now… just now, a man carried Miss Qiao out!”
Hearing this, Yu Wanli and Chi Nian exchanged a glance. Their drunken haze instantly faded. Grabbing their belongings, they hurried out, with the security guard following closely behind.
But once outside, there was no sign of Qiao Ling.
“Damn it, who the hell has the nerve to lay a hand on Lingling?” Chi Nian cursed, his face dark with anger as he turned to the guard. “Did you see what the man looked like?”
The guard shook his head. Afraid the two would lose their temper, he quickly led them to the surveillance room.
…
In front of the large monitor, the two stared intently at every person appearing on the screen. When the man who had approached Qiao Ling came into view, their eyes widened in disbelief.
Yu Wanli nudged the young man beside her with her elbow. “When did Brother Jinyue come back?”
“I don’t know!” Chi Nian was dumbfounded, stammering in shock. “Am I… am I seeing things? Did Lingling really… kiss… kiss Brother Jinyue?”
Yu Wanli swallowed hard. “Lingling… is really drunk.” With a mischievous smile, she rewound the surveillance footage, took out her phone, and recorded the “scene of the crime.”
“Should we still go look for Lingling?” Chi Nian asked.
Yu Wanli thought for a moment, then shook her head and whispered, “Brother Jinyue will probably take Lingling back. Tomorrow is the seventh day of mourning for Grandpa Qiao. We’ll be going to pay our respects tomorrow too. Let’s head back for now.””Are you sure?”
“Absolutely!”
The Maybach sped smoothly and swiftly along the road.
Inside the dimly lit car, Qiao Ling leaned lazily against the man, her hands resting on his shoulders, her slender chin propped on the back of her hand as she stared intently at his breathtakingly handsome profile.
“Brother Jinyue,” she called softly.
The man’s dark eyes grew even more profound as he turned his head, his thin lips inadvertently brushing against the girl’s forehead. His voice lifted slightly, “Hmm?”
“Can you tell me what’s in France? Why were you so reluctant to come back from there?” Qiao Ling’s delicate, almost boneless hand caressed his exquisitely handsome face, her fingertips tracing the finely sculpted lines of his brows and eyes. A faint smile played on her lips. “Never mind, you won’t answer anyway. You only know how to tirelessly…”
As she spoke, she seemed to recall something and suddenly withdrew her hand, falling silent.
“What do I only know how to tirelessly do?” Zhou Jinyue lifted her stunningly beautiful face, his mischievous eyes holding a barely perceptible hint of anticipation. His slightly rough thumb brushed against the corner of her lips, stained with a faint trace of lipstick, his low, husky voice tinged with temptation. “Hmm? Lingling, what does your brother only know how to tirelessly do?”
That elusive dream, both real and illusory.
The man’s dangerously captivating face was now inches away. The effects of the alcohol surged to her head, and Qiao Ling blinked dazedly, staring at him for a moment before suddenly murmuring to herself, “Strange, why are you still here?”
With that, she closed her beautiful eyes, tilted her head slightly, and pressed her cheek against the man’s cool palm, ready to drift off to sleep.
Qiao Ling had a high tolerance for alcohol. Usually, she was as cool and distant as autumn rain, always carrying an air of aloofness that kept others at bay. Only when drunk would she reveal the delicate, charming tenderness of a young girl.
Yet, whether it was this version of her or her usual self, Zhou Jinyue was utterly captivated and obsessed.
Zhou Jinyue gently kissed her soft lips, his low chuckle filled with affection. “You heartless little girl.”
During his three years in France, he had longed to return to the country, to return to the little girl’s side. Fortunately, he had made it back just in time.
Upon arriving at Qinshan Mansion, Zhou Jinyue cradled her in his arms as if she were a precious treasure, his careful demeanor putting the household staff on high alert.
The only person who could make their Young Master hold her so dearly in his heart was Miss Qiao!
The faint sound of the door closing roused the already drowsy Qiao Ling, and she opened her eyes fully. Leaning against the man’s chest, she stared blankly at the familiar room she had visited countless times in both reality and dreams.
“Lingling, not sleeping anymore?” Zhou Jinyue placed her gently on the edge of the bed and asked softly, “Would you like some water?”
Qiao Ling looked up at him silently for two seconds before suddenly reaching out, grabbing his collar, and pulling him down. Then, she pressed her lips against his.
The rich aroma of strong liquor intertwined with the refreshing sweetness of her breath as the girl’s kiss grew passionate and domineering.
The two tumbled onto the soft, plush bed. At some point, the dark green thin strap on the girl’s shoulder slipped down to her elbow, and the man’s meticulously buttoned shirt was completely undone.
The faintly ambiguous atmosphere gradually intensified.
Suddenly, a cold breeze blew in through the window, lifting the fine strands of hair on the girl’s forehead. Her dazed, beautiful eyes instantly cleared.
This wasn’t a dream?
Realizing this, Qiao Ling glanced down at the man buried in the crook of her neck, her eyes darkening as she abruptly pushed him away.Zhou Jinyue was caught off guard and pushed to the side. Glancing at the ceiling, he propped himself up halfway and looked sideways at the expressionless girl beside him. With a slight curve of his lips, he asked in a low, magnetic voice, “Lingling, aren’t you going to continue?”