Cao Cheng lay lazily on the sofa, his gaze fixed on Su Jinhe as she bounced her way toward him. He watched her slip off her shoes, revealing her feet wrapped in white silk, then hop lightly onto the sofa. With a playful grin, she lifted his arm, slipped underneath it, and climbed onto his body, pressing close as if she belonged there.
“Ah Cheng, what do you want to eat tonight? I’ll have Aunt make it for you,” she said sweetly.
A soft cry escaped her lips as Cao Cheng took the opportunity to wrap his arm around her slender waist. Before she could relax, her cheeks suddenly flushed crimson, her voice turning shy, “Do you want me to dance for you again…?”
Cao Cheng smirked slightly, “Dancing isn’t very interesting. I’m planning to go out for a walk. Do you want to come with me? I’ll give you a reward when we get back.”
This level of closeness made Su Jinhe feel much more at ease compared to his earlier boldness. However, the mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his lips made her instantly understand what he meant. Her face burned hot, her heart pounding wildly like a startled deer. She suddenly found herself not wanting any “reward” from him at all.
“Maybe… maybe forget it. You go by yourself. I won’t go. When you come back, I’ll dance for you, alright…?” she said, her voice soft and hesitant.
Even though she said that, Cao Cheng still invited her several more times. In the end, she grew so tense that her entire body stiffened. She didn’t even dare to look at him, wishing she could disappear into the ground.
After finally dealing with this clingy girl, Cao Cheng got up and walked out of the house. He had the driver take him to his appointment.
On the way, two notifications from the Villain System appeared in his mind. A hint of delight flashed through him. Wang Long’s efficiency wasn’t bad. The task he gave him last night had already been completed by today. Luckily, he hadn’t sent him off to Africa back then…
Still, he felt a bit puzzled. All he did was have someone expose Ye Yao. Could that really influence the plotline?
But thinking about it carefully, it made sense. According to the original novel, although Ye Yao worked at Honglangman, no one knew about it. It certainly hadn’t been spread everywhere like it was now.
When Ye Tian returned, he immediately held a grand reunion with her, then directly bought Honglangman and made her the boss. By the time others learned she worked there, she was already the owner. Naturally, no one dared to gossip recklessly.
But now, not only was her life miserable, her mental state had also taken a heavy blow, and her reputation was even worse. Who knew if she would still persist in working at Honglangman before Ye Tian returned?
So this part of the plotline would most likely not happen anymore.
Of course, it was still possible… but only if she knew how to behave.
“Young master, we’ve arrived,” the driver’s voice sounded.
Cao Cheng glanced at the tall building outside before stepping out of the car. After dismissing everyone else, he went upstairs alone and rang the doorbell of Xu Qingrou’s home… no, his own home.
Ding…
The door opened quickly.
Xu Qingrou stood there in casual homewear with an apron tied around her waist. Today, she looked gentle and captivating, even more enchanting than the last time he saw her. Although he had been watching her through surveillance these past two days, seeing her in person felt far more pleasing.
“Mr. Cao, you’re here. Please, come in,” she said warmly.
She first glanced behind him. Seeing that he was alone, she quietly let out a breath of relief. The impression Wang Long and his group had left on her was terrible, and she was still somewhat afraid of them. Now that Cao Cheng came alone, her expression softened instantly, her smile blooming as she opened the door wider and invited him in.
Her eyes shimmered like water, almost as if they could pull people in, and her gentle, mature voice carried a soft warmth that stirred something in Cao Cheng’s heart. It only strengthened the thoughts he had already made up his mind about.
Following Xu Qingrou inside, passing through the well-furnished room, Cao Cheng sat down on the sofa. Throughout the entire process, his gaze never left her.
It was as if Xu Qingrou had eyes on her back. Her swaying hips gradually became restrained and awkward. Even though she noticed his gaze, she pretended nothing was wrong. She calmly brewed tea for him and brought it over, then sat down opposite him, forcing herself to remain composed. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping . com.
“What’s wrong, Mr. Cao? Is there something on my face?” Xu Qingrou asked with a smile.
Cao Cheng took a sip of tea and replied casually, “There’s nothing. I just feel that Miss Xu looks much more beautiful than the last time we met.”
“Oh, come on… I’m already this old, what beauty is there to talk about?” Xu Qingrou said, though her eyes flickered with a trace of unease… and a hint of secret delight.
The unease came from the fact that she had deliberately asked someone to help her with her makeup. It was very light, yet she hadn’t expected Cao Cheng to notice. As for the delight… it was simply because he had said it directly to her face.
Cao Cheng smiled inwardly. After all, every woman looks at herself in the mirror. There was no way she didn’t know she was beautiful. She was just being modest.
“Miss Xu, don’t put yourself down like that. To be honest, among all the women I’ve seen, you can at least rank second,” he said.
“Then who’s first?” Xu Qingrou asked curiously.
“Of course, my mother,” Cao Cheng replied gently, a faint smile in his voice as he continued sipping his tea.
Xu Qingrou froze for a moment. When she realized what he meant, her heart began to pound uncontrollably, and her cheeks grew warm.
[Ding! Xu Qingrou’s favorability toward the host has increased by 5. Current total favorability: 66 (Heart Stirring).]
The system’s notification sounded in Cao Cheng’s mind. He wasn’t surprised at all. Women liked pleasant words… especially when they came from someone as handsome as him.
For Xu Qingrou, who had never been in a relationship, hearing such words from him planted a completely new feeling in her heart.
It was called being moved.
If before, her high favorability toward Cao Cheng was mostly out of gratitude, now… her feelings had undergone a complete transformation.
It was the same kind of feeling she had when she first saw him, drawn to his tall and handsome appearance.
Looking at Xu Qingrou’s flushed face and shy, dazed expression as she stared at him, Cao Cheng wasn’t in any hurry. After all, his goal for Xu Qingrou wasn’t just to make her like him.
He needed her to become like Luo Mu and Qin Taihou!
Only then could he deal the greatest blow to the Child of Destiny, Chu Fan, and maximize his own benefits.
“Miss Xu, are you cooking something in the kitchen?” Cao Cheng suddenly asked, catching a faint burnt smell in the air.
“Huh? Ah! Oh no!” Xu Qingrou snapped back to her senses and hurriedly ran toward the kitchen, clearly having noticed the burnt smell as well.
In the kitchen, Xu Qingrou was scrambling to deal with the food in the pot. Yet her mind kept replaying what Cao Cheng had just said.
‘Aside from his mother, I’m the most beautiful woman he’s seen?’
Because of that, she couldn’t focus at all. The dish in the pot was already starting to burn.
Cao Cheng stepped into the kitchen and looked at her slender, graceful figure, along with her current flustered state. An idea immediately formed in his mind.
Without hesitation, he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, reaching forward to help.
“Ah!” Xu Qingrou let out a startled cry, completely caught off guard by his sudden action.
Before she could react, his gentle and patient voice sounded beside her ear, “Beef brisket stewed with potatoes? It’s a bit burnt, but it can still be saved. Do it like this…”
Xu Qingrou let out a small breath of relief.
But in the very next moment, her body stiffened completely.
No matter what, she was a mother, a woman who had seen the world. Yet even so, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of unfamiliar emotions.
Their close contact was undeniably intimate. Her face turned red, her heart raced wildly, and her mind went completely blank.
She could only respond mechanically to Cao Cheng’s instructions, following his method step by step to salvage the dish.
Even after the beef brisket with potatoes was finally saved and Cao Cheng stepped away from behind her, Xu Qingrou still hadn’t fully come back to her senses.
Meanwhile, Cao Cheng felt quite satisfied. Just moments ago, while helping her, the system notification had sounded again, informing him that Xu Qingrou’s favorability had risen to 69.
Just one more point, and it would break into a completely new stage.
Looking at her stiff figure standing there, Cao Cheng spoke again, “I’m really sorry, Miss Xu. I got a bit anxious seeing such a good dish getting burnt, and I accidentally overstepped.”
Hearing this, Xu Qingrou finally snapped out of it.
“It’s… it’s alright, Mr. Cao. I know you didn’t mean it, so I won’t blame you,” she said, looking at his tall and handsome figure. Not only did she not feel offended, she even felt a faint sense of liking the moment just now…
Still, to protect the last trace of her composure and rationality, she took a deep breath, her cheeks flushed, and said, “I can handle things here myself now. Mr. Cao, please go wait outside.”
Cao Cheng smiled and nodded, then turned and left the kitchen.
He felt that today’s level of intimacy was enough. Pushing further might backfire.
However, as Xu Qingrou watched him leave so decisively, she felt both relieved… and strangely uncomfortable.
It was as if the heart that had just been awakened… suddenly felt empty again.