She walked out without looking back, while He Ping pointed at her retreating figure, cursing furiously.
Qiao Kangcheng held He Ping back, preventing her from giving chase. Watching Qiao Ling leave, he felt torn, his lips twitching slightly, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to call out and ask her to stay.
Lu Yinhua stood at the corner of the hallway, enjoying the spectacle. Seeing Qiao Ling approach, she quickly wiped the smile off her face, replacing it with a concerned expression. “Lingling, it’s already dark outside, and it’s raining. Where are you going?”
“Even if Second Aunt misunderstood you, didn’t you explain yourself? There’s no need to actually run away from home!”
“Second Aunt, since everything’s been laid bare, why are you still wearing a mask when you speak?” Qiao Ling glanced at her with a half-smile, her tone meaningful. “I heard you’ve signed up for a membership card at Yilanxiang and even splurged on an apartment for some handsome young man. But if you’re going to give gifts, you should go all the way. Remember to throw in a luxury car—that’ll make the young man’s smile even brighter.”
Lu Yinhua froze in place, her smile stiffening on her face, a mix of embarrassment and panic flashing in her eyes. “You—what nonsense are you spouting!”
“I was just trying to give you some friendly advice. Why aren’t you taking it?” Qiao Ling shrugged, smiling as she strode away.
Outside, the drizzling rain had finally stopped.
Qiao Ling walked along the street, the streetlights stretching her shadow long and thin. A cold wind blew, causing the hem of her skirt, embroidered with silver threads, to flutter, shimmering with scattered specks of light.
Having left the Qiao Family, she naturally headed to Ziyuan.
Located in the northern district of Shengjing, Ziyuan was what people called the affluent neighborhood. Detached villas and high-rise residences stood on either side of the estate. Qiao Ling loved scenery and enjoyed sitting on the balcony in the summer, feeling the evening breeze, so she had bought a high-rise apartment.
On the twenty-eighth floor, her large duplex apartment offered a view of the entire Shengjing from the balcony.
Yu Wanli actually owned a three-story villa in Ziyuan, a birthday gift from her father. But she disliked the house and, even more, her father, so she had sold it immediately and would often come to stay at Qiao Ling’s place instead.
However, she usually returned late at night, like now, when entering the building required facial recognition.
Qiao Ling didn’t visit often, so she wasn’t registered in the security system and didn’t have the contact information for the building’s manager. The new security guard at the entrance didn’t recognize her and refused to let her in.
With no other choice, unable to enter the building, she sent a message to Yu Wanli and sat down in the pavilion downstairs to wait.
Water dripped steadily from the pavilion’s eaves. Thick, dark clouds drifted slowly apart, allowing a soft beam of moonlight to spill through. The rustling leaves swayed gently, and the scent of fresh grass mixed with damp earth filled the air.
After waiting for a while, Qiao Ling grew bored and lit a cigarette. Suddenly, a beam of light shone from behind her.
She turned around, half of her face illuminated by the light. The soft contours of her profile glowed, and her thick, long eyelashes caught tiny, sparkling glimmers, making her look like a divine maiden.
Qiao Ling had assumed it was Yu Wanli or a passerby, but upon seeing the familiar license plate, she realized it was none other than Zhou Jinyue.
The young man stepped out of the car. Unlike the aloof, noble, and handsome figure he cut in his black formal attire during the day, dressed in black loungewear, he exuded a different kind of approachability. His good looks were undeniable, but the faint aura of mischief that clung to him was ingrained in his very bones.
As he walked toward the pavilion, the air gradually filled with a pleasant, light woody fragrance, mingling with the fresh scent of damp earth. For a moment, it felt as though they were deep in a mountain forest.”What are you doing here?” Qiao Ling wasn’t surprised. She knew that the Qiao Family’s butler, Lin, was Zhou Jinyue’s man. It was likely that as soon as she left the Qiao Family, Butler Lin had already called Zhou Jinyue.
The trail of smoke was scattered by the wind.
Zhou Jinyue stopped in front of her, lowering his gaze to stare at her, his voice deep, “You left the Qiao Family, and Butler Lin was worried about you, so he gave me a call.”
He took the cigarette from her lips, then asked, “Why aren’t you going up?”
“Waiting for Wanli.” Qiao Ling looked up, her gaze falling on the slender cigarette he was bringing to his lips. On the filter remained a faint ring of lipstick, and his crimson lips happened to press right over that pale red mark.
Involuntarily, a suggestive image of lips and teeth intertwining flashed through her mind, and Qiao Ling suddenly felt a slight warmth on her own lips.
…
She really must be out of her mind.
As she thought this, a shadow suddenly fell over her head.
Qiao Ling watched as he leaned in close, his flawless features reflected in her eyes, his handsome face now inches away. She turned her head aside and asked in a flat tone, “What are you doing, Brother Jinyue?”
“Your hair is messy.” Zhou Jinyue chuckled softly, reaching up to smooth her long, silky hair resting on her shoulders. His willow-leaf eyes, half-filled with autumn waters, held a hint of teasing. “Lingling, did you think your brother was going to do something to you?”
The warm breath brushed against her skin, sending a tingling sensation through her heart. Qiao Ling pursed her lips, looked up to meet his gaze, and said, “Stay away from me. I’m not in the mood for jokes right now.”
“Tsk, you ungrateful little girl.” Zhou Jinyue’s eyes flickered. He glanced at the slender shadow on the path beside the pavilion, straightened up, and leaned lazily against a pillar, his voice hoarse and mocking. “Last night, when you kissed me and said you wanted to sleep with me, you were all fiery passion. Today, you’re as cold as a stranger.”
“Lingling, I know I was wrong, but you…”
“I was drunk yesterday.” Qiao Ling interrupted him, shifting to a more domineering sitting posture. She rested her slender arm on the beauty couch, crossed her legs, and lifted her chin slightly, smiling gracefully. “Don’t misunderstand, Brother Jinyue. Even if it were someone else, I’d be just as passionate. Kissing you and saying I wanted to sleep with you was just the desire of an adult, or perhaps my lack of virtue after drinking.”
“What? Brother Jinyue, you didn’t think I was interested in you, did you?”
Zhou Jinyue raised an eyebrow, flicked the ash from his cigarette, and said in a deep tone, “Hah, the desire of an adult…”
He laughed, but the laughter didn’t reach his eyes.
The atmosphere instantly turned somewhat delicate.
“Crack—”
The crisp sound of a dry branch snapping suddenly rang out, followed by the sight of a tall figure emerging from behind the lush yew tree.
Yu Wanli swung the car keys on her finger, walking with light steps as if she hadn’t noticed anyone in the pavilion. Humming a tune, she headed straight for the entrance.
“Wanli.” Qiao Ling called out to her.
Yu Wanli stopped in her tracks, turning toward the pavilion at the sound of the voice. She said in surprise, “Huh? I was wondering why that car at the entrance looked so familiar. So Brother Jinyue is here. Anyway, it’s pretty cold down here. Shouldn’t we head up?”
“Let’s go up, Lingling.” Zhou Jinyue extinguished his cigarette, one hand in his pocket, his expression gentle as if the earlier tension had been nothing but an illusion.
Qiao Ling hummed in agreement, picked up her backpack, and walked toward the entrance.”Drive safe, Brother Jinyue.” Yu Wanli said as usual, then hooked an arm around Qiao Ling’s neck and affectionately led her into the lobby.
As they walked, she glanced sideways at Qiao Ling and asked out of the blue, “Ling Ling, were you and Brother Jinyue just kissing in the pavilion?”
Provided by the great author Boluonian, “The Wild Rose’s Tempting Kiss: The Sickly Bigshot Clings to Me Addictively”