The suit jacket was stuck at his elbows. High-end tailoring was always perfectly fitted, and once partially undone it only added to the restraint, making it impossible to lift his arms freely and leaving him awkward and restricted.
His breathing was scorching hot, sobs clogged in his throat, and a thin sheen of sweat covered his skin.
The buttons of his shirt were undone one by one, then the fabric was lifted halfway up.
His eyes had already adjusted to the darkness, but without his glasses his vision remained unclear. In the haze, he could faintly sense the extremely weak light filtering in through the blinds beside the rollaway bed.
His carefully styled black hair was now completely disheveled, no longer carrying even a trace of his usual immaculate composure. Loose strands swayed before his eyes. His fingers rested weakly against the door, a layer of sweat seeping into his palms.
He wanted to grab onto something, but all he could leave were damp fingerprints on the smooth door panel.
Sweat rolled down from his forehead. It was too hot—so hot that even breathing felt painful, the air scorching as it traveled from his lungs to his nasal passages.
Shen Jiyuan felt like a fish laid out on a chopping board, his mind drifting.
He didn’t dare think carefully about what he was doing at this very moment.
Alone in a cramped, dimly lit lounge with the CEO of a partner company, pressed together at a distance close enough for their breaths to mingle.
If he stayed calm enough to analyze his situation right now, it would only bring more suffering. Shen Jiyuan gave up thinking altogether—he no longer had the strength to judge anything.
Just do what Shi Qing says… that should be enough, right?
This humiliation wouldn’t last long, and it would only happen this once. As long as he clenched his teeth, detached his consciousness, treated what was happening as an insignificant interruption, and endured it, it would pass…
The corners of Shen Jiyuan’s eyes reddened. He clenched his teeth tightly, suppressing the urge to let out a muffled sound.
There were no choices left. This situation was already the best outcome he could possibly maintain.
He was a man—being touched a few times didn’t amount to anything… it was fine…
Shen Jiyuan pressed his forehead against the door, his entire body trembling. Tears overflowed from his eyes and fell in rapid succession.
Perhaps from the moment he heard Shi Qing’s gentle coaxing and closed his eyes in silence, tacitly allowing her next actions, he had already sensed something deep down.
Shen Jiyuan knew he had fallen into another trap.
That brief moment of wavering shattered his resolve to resist at all costs—even if it meant mutual destruction. His defenses were like ice struck by a heavy hammer, cracking instantly into countless fractures.
His consciousness was already somewhat blurred. If he had been fully lucid, he would have realized—how had he ended up like this?
In a normal state, he would never have made such a choice.
He was the crown prince of the Shen Group, one of the nation’s top financial conglomerates. Always aloof and proud, born at the very top, fundamentally different from everyone else—like clouds compared to the ground. He had never lowered his gaze to look down even once.
He was so arrogant that he could barely muster emotion when facing others, always distant and indifferent.
Shen Jiyuan had severe cleanliness issues and always kept his distance. Even subordinates brushing against his suit jacket would be terrified.
Normally, even looking at him for too long was considered an offense.
Yet now, he was being held in this humiliating state inside a lounge, casually toyed with.
Because the person before him was Shi Qing.
He knew he couldn’t escape.
In this cramped private space, with everything already pushed to the brink, events advanced rapidly, forcing him to make choices before he had time to think.
Shen Jiyuan realized he had pushed himself into another irredeemably bad situation.
He had been coaxed by Shi Qing’s soft words, like a frightened rabbit. In order to avoid being delivered into a wolf’s jaws, he actually cooperated with her demands.
Enduring the intense humiliation, his hands trembling, he slowly lifted his shirt.
Shi Qing’s hand was like a snake—cool and soft. Shen Jiyuan shuddered from the cold. Lowering his eyes, he caught a glimpse through the loosened collar of her pale fingers clinging to his skin, elegant as if plucking cherry blossoms. He immediately turned his gaze away.
The image burned itself into his mind, lingering even after he looked away. Blood rushed to his face, his eye sockets burning hot.
He pressed his face against the door, feeling its cold surface, realizing just how hot his face had become.
How could she do this to him…
And such a debased act—he was actually allowing it, even cooperating.
Flashes of white light burst before his eyes. His body trembled uncontrollably. He could only barely support his weakening legs by leaning against the door.
Just then, he heard voices coming from outside.
“Where did President An go? He was around here just now, wasn’t he?”
“Shh—President Shen is in the lounge here. Keep your voice down, don’t disturb him—”
The voices grew closer along with footsteps. Gasping for breath, Shen Jiyuan instinctively recognized them as his subordinates.
They had come looking because Shi Qing had suddenly disappeared.
The soundproofing in the subsidiary’s lounge was apparently not very good.
Realizing this, panic surged in Shen Jiyuan’s chest. He couldn’t ignore the voices outside—not even his breathing dared to be loud.
Yet at that very moment, Shi Qing’s hand moved slowly—and then, without mercy, squeezed him.
Shen Jiyuan’s eyes flew wide open in shock. Tears slipped down instantly. His mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.
His waist collapsed, his body arching as his back tensed sharply. In the dim room, his eyes—now accustomed to the darkness—could still make out his head suddenly dropping forward against the door.
Beneath his messy black hair, his pale nape damp with sweat. Under the white shirt, his lean back clearly outlined taut muscles and the shape of his spine pushing against the fabric.
Just beyond the door were subordinates searching for Shi Qing—only a few steps away. He absolutely could not make any sound.
Yet at this moment, Shen Jiyuan completely lost control.
Separated by only a single door panel, he went blank and suddenly bit down hard on his tongue.
Years later, Shen Jiyuan would still be unable to forget this moment. The stimulation was simply too intense—paired with bone-deep shame and fear, even his toes tensed and trembled.
His tear-filled eyes rolled back for an instant. His entire body went out of control. After the long, unbearable tension, he abruptly lost all strength and went limp.
Shi Qing firmly wrapped her arms around him from behind, preventing him from collapsing to the floor.
“Don’t be afraid.”
She rested her chin on Shen Jiyuan’s shoulder, lightly kissing his burning, reddened earlobe. In a voice only the two of them could hear, she soothed him. “It’s okay. I won’t let anyone see you.”
Shen Jiyuan heard her take out her phone. The glow of the screen faintly illuminated her profile as she typed quickly.
A dozen seconds later, he heard footsteps outside. After a brief exchange, the people outside left together.
Shi Qing had messaged them away.
Shen Jiyuan was still shaken. His heart pounded violently, too fast, his hands and feet trembling, dizziness washing over him.
Shi Qing held him tightly, continuing to comfort him. Her soft lips kissed beneath his eyes, kissing away his tears. She interlaced her fingers with his, her voice gentle as water. “Did I scare you? Don’t be afraid—I’m right here with you.”
Her cloud-soft voice brushed against his ear, soothing him.
The distance was too close. Clearly, all of this had been caused by Shi Qing, yet Shen Jiyuan felt comforted. He was dazed and at a loss—filled with emotions, yet as though he had none at all.
Once he stopped trembling, Shi Qing pulled him away from the door.
Past the coffee table, supported by the sofa, kneeling on the floor—then pulled onto the sofa once more.
After such an intense experience, and having already reached this point, refusing felt meaningless. Shen Jiyuan could no longer muster any will to resist, letting himself be moved at her discretion.
Shi Qing’s hands seemed to have magic. He had never imagined that mere touch could reduce him to this state.
In truth, not much time had passed, but as it went on, the sensation of fireworks exploding in his mind and his entire body shuddering seemed to come faster and faster.
Shen Jiyuan could no longer tell what exactly was happening—yet this time, Shi Qing was exceptionally gentle.
When he cried from sensations that were almost frighteningly intense, Shi Qing would softly kiss him. Her cool, long hair draped over him, and the feminine fragrance enveloped him in that instant.
Like a small boat rocked by massive waves, her voice became his anchor, gently praising him again and again in his ear: “You’re doing very well.”
It felt like a tank filled to the brim—just one more drop would cause it to overflow.
In the end, as pleasure stacked higher and higher, Shen Jiyuan could no longer tell whether it was bliss or pain.
Still, he didn’t resist. He only curled inward, relying on the endurance forged through more than twenty years of elite training to grit his teeth and endure.
In the end, it was Shi Qing who stopped first.
By then, Shen Jiyuan’s consciousness was hazy. He swallowed air, his Adam’s apple bobbing, sweat soaking his lashes, stinging his blurred vision.
When he finally came back to himself, he realized he was leaning against Shi Qing.
His eyes, now accustomed to the darkness, could clearly make out her silhouette.
Backlit, the beautiful woman looked down at him. Her black hair fell softly over her shoulders, her features refined and graceful, carrying an almost sacred gentleness. Her lashes were lowered, her dark eyes fixed on him.
She had already taken off her jacket. Beneath it was a silk blouse, its cool texture brushing against his cheek.
With his back resting against her legs, Shen Jiyuan realized that Shi Qing was sitting on the sofa while he lay there in her arms.
Even through the blouse, he could feel her body heat. Born aloof and disliking physical contact, he had never known that a woman’s embrace could be so soft.
The top button of Shi Qing’s blouse was undone, revealing her straight collarbones. Her neck was pale and slender, with a few strands of hair falling along her cheek.
Shen Jiyuan felt as though he were buried in rich fragrance, his mind a muddled haze.
“Are you okay?”
Shi Qing’s voice was gentle, tinged with concern. “We’ve been here too long. If we don’t leave soon, others will notice something’s wrong.”
She took a disinfectant wipe from her coat pocket and slowly wiped her hands clean. Shen Jiyuan stared at her blankly until Shi Qing noticed his gaze and looked down, curling her lips into a smile.
Only one thought repeated endlessly in his mind.
Shi Qing had actually kept her word—she meant what she said.
After wiping her hands, Shi Qing pulled out another wet wipe and patiently cleaned Shen Jiyuan’s face.
His usually cold, indifferent face had completely changed. The corners of his eyes and the tip of his nose were flushed red, his face filled with the lingering warmth of arousal. His hair was messy, his eyes shimmering with moisture.
He had been far too obedient today.
The aloof, untouchable figure who always seemed distant—when he became compliant, he was clumsy in a way that stirred deep affection.
His endurance, his frightened expressions, all made her tremble with long-missed excitement. He suited her tastes far too well—
Shi Qing pressed her cleaned fingers against Shen Jiyuan’s lower lip.
The thin lips of the ice-cold CEO were naturally pale, now tinged with light pink from being kneaded. His skin was very fair, the flush cool-toned and faint.
Shi Qing couldn’t help but smile, rubbing his lower lip until it turned a deep red.
After reddening his lips, she deftly pried his mouth open and pinched the tip of his tongue.
Shi Qing had noticed that whenever Shen Jiyuan was enduring something, he would bite his tongue. Earlier, when he lost focus and parted his lips slightly, she had caught a glimpse inside his mouth—and that dazed expression had immediately excited her.
Shi Qing’s fingers slipped into his mouth, stirring his tongue.
The scent of disinfectant alcohol spread inside his mouth, reaching his throat. The sharp sensation made Shen Jiyuan shudder violently. He couldn’t understand the purpose of this act and frowned at Shi Qing.
Saliva was stimulated and secreted, the wet sounds echoing loudly in his head. He felt nauseated and wanted to swallow, but his jaw was firmly held. Shi Qing’s thumb pressed against his lips, preventing him from closing his mouth.
If this continued, saliva would spill from the corner of his mouth.
The thought of such an embarrassing scene jolted Shen Jiyuan’s muddled mind awake.
He still couldn’t derive any sensation from what Shi Qing was doing at this moment—only that the prodding made him want to gag.
The physical sensations ebbed away like a retreating tide. At last, he sensed how wrong this state was. Every hair on his body stood on end, like a startled cat with fur bristling.
Just as Shen Jiyuan was about to push Shi Qing away, Shi Qing held his hand.
Her cool fingers intertwined with his, their palms overlapping in warmth. She lowered her head and naturally kissed the corner of his mouth. “Let’s go eat?”
Shen Jiyuan froze on the spot.
When he reacted, his resistance and vigilance surged dozens of times stronger than before. He couldn’t explain why, but a strong sense of danger was overwhelming him.
He refused outright, frowning with a faint look of disgust on his face. “It’s over already. I’m leaving!”
It was agreed that this was just once, and it was already over.
“Yes, it’s over,” Shi Qing nodded with a smile. “I won’t bother you anymore, nor will I force you.”
Shen Jiyuan was momentarily speechless; the warning words stuck in his throat, making him feel a bit tight in his chest.
“So, what are you still afraid of?”
Shi Qing smiled, her eyes curved softly, lips maintaining their gentle arc. “I said I won’t do anything else to you, so now we’re just ordinary business partners. Let’s just have a meal together. Don’t you want to be polite?”
Shen Jiyuan was stunned for a moment, realizing Shi Qing’s other identity — the boss of An Corporation, a company whose status was comparable to Shen Group.
He gritted his teeth, trying to figure out how to reject her.
Shi Qing’s hand naturally moved to his abdomen, and she leaned closer to his face. “Your stomach will feel uncomfortable if you don’t eat on time. Come on, have a meal with me.”
Their skin touched. The warmth from Shi Qing’s palm made Shen Jiyuan almost jump as if he was burned. Shi Qing seemed to notice his reaction, smiled lightly, and then withdrew her hand.
This touch was very brief; Shi Qing didn’t do anything else, but Shen Jiyuan still felt a sourness deep in his teeth.
His dark eyes stared tightly at Shi Qing without a word, studying her as if weighing something inside.
Shi Qing had already said this much. If he kept refusing, it would seem like he was afraid of her…
Besides, what could she do to him in front of so many people?
Earlier, Shi Qing said she wouldn’t do anything more to him and later actually followed through. Shen Jiyuan had started to somewhat believe that Shi Qing might not be someone who would go back on her word…
Shen Jiyuan struggled violently inside, weighing his options.
Shi Qing, acting as if unaware, carefully cleaned Shen Jiyuan’s glasses and put them back on his nose herself.
“Shall we go?”
Ten minutes later, the cold-faced Shen Jiyuan appeared in the corridor together with Shi Qing.
The subordinates from both companies were gathered, seemingly ready to depart. Seeing Shen Jiyuan and Shi Qing, they were somewhat surprised.
Shi Qing spoke simply, “We just met. Little Boss Shen said he’s feeling much better now. Let’s go eat something together?”
Shen Jiyuan remained silent beside her.
Everyone around thought, “Is Little Boss Shen really feeling better?”
If earlier Shen Jiyuan had just looked a little pale when leaving in a hurry, now even his steps were a bit unsteady, and he seemed barely able to stand.
The Shen Group employees were worried; they knew their young master’s personality. Even if he was unwell, he would force himself to hold on without showing any sign.
Shen Jiyuan felt all the gazes on him, clenched his fists tighter and tighter, and shot a resentful glance at Shi Qing.
Shi Qing crossed her arms, slightly curled the corners of her lips, and smiled at him.
Shen Jiyuan was very patient—she had known since three years ago that for some inexplicable pride, he would eventually agree to eat with her.
His subordinates brought his clothes, but it was Shi Qing who helped him change; she was in a great mood, gently buttoning his shirt and tying his tie.
Compared to her, Shen Jiyuan’s mood was far less pleasant.
He still hadn’t figured out what kind of person Shi Qing really was. When they first met, she was like a hurricane crashing into his world, destroying everything and then disappearing without a trace.
That night when they met, a series of events happened that altered people’s fates. Because of this, Shen Jiyuan felt extreme fear, disgust, and resistance.
In his mind, Shi Qing wasn’t a concrete person but an image — a terrifying force of nature.
But now, upon reuniting, he realized Shi Qing might not be what he imagined; he didn’t really understand her…
His mind was a mess, emotions extremely complicated.
The dinner was at an upscale restaurant Shi Qing booked. Though she was from out of town, she acted very familiar with the local dining and entertainment scene. The food was expensive but exceptionally delicious.
She ordered for everyone and specially ordered extra dishes for Shen Jiyuan. When she wanted to liven the atmosphere, she could make everyone happy.
She controlled the whole table’s atmosphere firmly. For a while, there were toasts and laughter, everyone joyful.
Shi Qing even opened a bottle of wine worth 800,000 yuan.
When the wine came out, the subordinates voluntarily filled their cups and slightly bowed to toast. Shi Qing politely declined, “I have to drive later.”
Since she said she wouldn’t drink, no one dared to insist, and the toasts switched to Shen Jiyuan.
Before Shen Jiyuan could say anything, Shi Qing spoke first, covering his wine glass, “Little Boss Shen isn’t feeling well, so he’s not drinking tonight.”
The subordinates were stunned.
Shen Jiyuan’s fist on his lap suddenly clenched tightly. He looked at Shi Qing silently but fiercely. Shi Qing met his gaze and smiled, curling her lips slightly.
The subordinates were sharp; anyone with eyes could see that Shi Qing was particularly taking care of Shen Jiyuan at the table, seemingly showing some interest in him.
Yeah, they were about the same age, both unmarried, and both outstanding in the younger generation.
The senior executives of Shen Group exchanged a few silent glances.
Shen Jiyuan’s face turned completely dark. Shi Qing hadn’t touched him like he feared, but what did her behavior mean now?
The employees who visited the subsidiary with them were all old Shen Group staff. Their expressions had changed somewhat earlier. Shen Jiyuan believed the events at the table would spread quickly, and maybe by the next day, his parents would know.
She hadn’t broken the promise “not to bother him anymore,” but seemed to cleverly exploit a loophole to associate them together.
If his mother knew such an excellent young woman like Shi Qing was interested in him, she might really be moved…
Shen Jiyuan ate his meal tastelessly.
Afterwards, Shi Qing naturally stood with him, “I’ll see you home.”
“No need!”
Shen Jiyuan refused without thinking, cold-faced, and prepared to walk ahead.
Shi Qing didn’t give him the chance to leave and smiled, blocking him. “You didn’t drive. How do you plan to get back?”
She even knew that—when did she find out?
Shen Jiyuan’s voice grew colder, “I’ll ask my subordinates to send me. No need to trouble Boss An.”
“Do you think that’s why I opened wine today?”
“…I’ll call a driver.”
Shi Qing grabbed Shen Jiyuan’s wrist and squinted, staring at his long lashes behind his glasses. “Do you want everyone here to think Shen Group and An Corporation don’t get along?”
Shen Jiyuan’s breath caught. The place she held felt like it was burning. He hurried to shake off Shi Qing but was afraid the movement would attract attention from others.
The subordinates were at the hotel entrance, and Shi Qing had already arranged cars and drivers for them. He and Shi Qing were still stuck in place. If they delayed a few more seconds, people would surely notice.
Shen Jiyuan’s ears reddened, and he forced out through clenched teeth, “I know. Let go!”
Shi Qing looked innocent, released his hand, and turned to announce to the subordinates, “You guys go ahead. Little Boss Shen, I’ll see you off.”
Shen Jiyuan was so angry his fingertips went numb.
But in the end, he got into Shi Qing’s car and sat in the back seat, cold-faced, not saying a word.
Shi Qing glanced at him in the rearview mirror.
Under the shadows in the car, Shen Jiyuan’s eyes were slightly red—angry.
His glasses perched on his nose made his handsome face look even sharper. He pressed his lips tight, dark-faced, enough to scare any Shen Group employee into quitting on the spot.
Shi Qing didn’t talk to him and started the sports car.
They drove silently and soon arrived at the Shen family villa.
Shi Qing asked Shen Jiyuan to get out. Before she could say anything, Shen Jiyuan quickly got out, then stopped by the passenger window, polite but distant, “Thank you for the hospitality today.”
It seemed he had rehearsed this speech countless times in the car, trying hard to make his words cold yet courteous.
Shi Qing laughed when she heard this opening line. The man she had tormented like this still thanked her—he was really something… She propped her chin up and looked at Shen Jiyuan.
Their eyes met, and Shen Jiyuan stiffened for a moment.
He looked away, making his voice colder, “Are the things you said before still true?”
“Hm? What?”
Shi Qing reacted and realized that Shen Jiyuan was referring to “not bothering you anymore.”
She understood but teased him on purpose, “What?”
Shen Jiyuan was silent for a second, clenched his fingers, and said, “…Don’t come looking for me anymore.”
He seemed to deliberately emphasize it to Shi Qing, “The dignified boss of An Corporation wouldn’t break a promise, right?”
He had already agreed to such a harsh request… If this humiliating memory happened again, he would really go crazy.
His tone was heavy. Shi Qing felt his deliberate emphasis was somewhat self-deceptive and couldn’t help but smile, “Okay, okay, I got it.”
She was a very trustworthy person and didn’t need to emphasize it so many times. Once promised, she wouldn’t break it on her own.
Shen Jiyuan didn’t expect her to agree so easily, and his face darkened again.
He paused for a moment without looking at Shi Qing again, then turned to leave.
“Wait!”
Shi Qing called out to him, curling the corner of her lips as she held up her phone. “Add me as a contact?”
Shen Jiyuan immediately stopped and turned back.
His expression was even darker than before, his tone sharp. “Do you know what ‘don’t contact me anymore’ means?”
Shi Qing looked calm. “We still have 7 billion yuan worth of cooperation between us— as business partners, we should at least have a way to contact each other.”
“No need!”
Shen Jiyuan rejected her mercilessly. “If there’s really something, you can contact my secretary.”
He seemed afraid to continue talking with Shi Qing. Without waiting for her response, he quickly walked away, emphasizing once more before leaving, “Don’t show up in front of me again.”
Shi Qing watched his back disappear beyond the door and couldn’t help but smile with narrowed eyes.
She started her car and happily left the Shen residence.
Would Shi Qing really keep her promise?
Shen Jiyuan felt irritated, with an urge to yank loose his tie; he was uncomfortable all over.
This shirt — the buttons were fastened by Shi Qing, the tie was tied by Shi Qing. Just thinking about it made Shen Jiyuan restless.
What happened between him and Shi Qing in the lounge… thinking about it made him tremble all over.
He couldn’t think about it anymore!
He was exhausted from the whole day. After everything that happened today, he didn’t know how to face it.
Shi Qing’s coaxing, his silent consent, Shi Qing’s inexplicable gentle attitude, and his cooperation…
Shen Jiyuan felt so humiliated that he wished he had never existed in this world.
Why didn’t he refuse? How despicable!
But luckily, Shi Qing really did keep her promise — she didn’t do anything more excessive… But what was with her attitude afterward?
She promised not to bother him again but was so attentive to him at the dinner table — what he wanted from “not bothering” was acting like they didn’t even know each other, preferably not even speaking.
But Shi Qing had so many valid reasons; with the cooperation between their two companies, their paths were destined to cross.
Shen Jiyuan couldn’t maintain his cold expression. His fingertips pressed into his palms, causing a slight sting he didn’t notice.
Was Shi Qing truly unintentional, or was there another motive? What was she planning next? Would she really let him go?
Shen Jiyuan hated relying on others, but he had no choice.
Anxiety and agitation intertwined. He couldn’t judge Shi Qing’s attitude, and the more he thought, the more uneasy he became. Finally, he bit his lip and shoved all the messy thoughts aside.
Right now, he just wanted to go back to the bathroom and wash himself properly.
As soon as he stepped into the house, hurried footsteps rushed toward him. Shen Shu ran up, excited, “Daddy!”
Seeing the child’s innocent face, Shen Jiyuan felt a little relaxed.
He reached out and patted the child’s head. Shen Shu looked up, his big eyes shining, “Daddy, I just saw a sports car outside the window!”
Shen Jiyuan’s brow twitched slightly.
“Daddy, whose car is it? Why haven’t I seen it before?”
Shen Jiyuan took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Shu, Daddy is very tired today. Go play with Aunt Wang, okay?”
Shen Shu paused, hesitating as he looked at Shen Jiyuan’s expression.
The child didn’t ask further. Shen Jiyuan hurried back to his room.
The empty living room left little Shen Shu alone.
“Daddy, what’s wrong? Is he not feeling well?”
“Why did he leave just like that without asking anything? It’s like he didn’t want to answer… I even forgot what I wanted to say.”
He had seen through the window — Shen Jiyuan talking to someone, and also the lady sitting in the driver’s seat.
That was the lady he had met at the banquet before, the one he thought looked a lot like his mommy—
She actually went home with Daddy. Could she really be his mommy?
Shen Shu was extremely excited. But since Shen Jiyuan wasn’t feeling well, he couldn’t disturb him now. It’s okay. He had even seen the license plate of that sports car and could investigate it himself!
Shen Shu ran back to his room, grabbed his kid’s computer.
Daddy was afraid he’d get nearsighted, so he set up a child lock on the computer — only 30 minutes a day, but that was enough!
He turned on the computer, fingers flying over the keyboard, hacking into the traffic system to investigate the owner of the license plate.
He missed Mommy so much that he couldn’t wait until tomorrow to ask Daddy.
He wanted to find Mommy!