You dare to kiss me while you're jealous?

She possessed all five of these qualities. Disbelief washed over her as she recalled her sharp words to him earlier that afternoon, only then realizing that this nameless emotion was jealousy.

She stared blankly at the computer screen; in the darkness, only the blue light reflected off her stunned face.

Just as she was lost in thought, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her. The man’s hot breath, mingled with a faint, mellow scent, brushed against her fair neck. She startled.

"Baby, what are you looking at?" Mo Zhicheng kissed her neck, his arm barred across her chest. As his other hand reached for the laptop in her lap, she felt as if struck by lightning. She slammed the computer shut, clutching it tightly to her chest.

She glanced at him and saw the faint intoxication in his eyes. He had been drinking again? Knowing his stomach was fragile, he still drank? All for the sake of his so-called sister?

A stifling anger burned in her heart. Mo Zhicheng kissed her hair, then reached over to switch on the floor lamp. Through the soft glow, she saw a hazy, amused glint in his eyes.

When Mo Zhicheng moved to embrace her, Linglan instinctively recoiled, causing him to grasp at empty air. She didn't want to talk to him, didn't want to deal with him, and certainly didn't want him to touch her.

Mo Zhicheng narrowed his eyes, reaching for her wrist, but she dodged again.

Linglan stood up to leave, but before she could take a few steps, Mo Zhicheng suddenly hugged her from behind. "Linglan!" he murmured. She was trapped in his firm hold as he kissed her neck and shoulders.

The slick, warm sensation sent her heart into a flutter. She struggled in his embrace, but the more she moved, the tighter he held her. She said calmly, "I’ll pour you a glass of water, but you have to let me go."

"No!"

He frowned in displeasure, his hand reaching out to touch her chest, kneading gently. He loved her body; he loved how she bloomed beneath him, just as she had that night. But the woman, annoyed beyond measure, struggled fiercely to break free. Mo Zhicheng turned her around and forced her to sit on the coffee table. He leaned in, bracing his hands on either side of her, and scrutinized her.

Under the soft light, she was as beautiful as a flower, her skin like powdered frost. "I don't want water," he whispered.

Linglan froze. Seeing his firm tone, the fire in her chest blazed brighter. "Fine, don't drink it. I'm going to sleep, move aside." The coldness of her own words surprised even her.

Sensing her sudden detachment, Mo Zhicheng frowned, using one hand to clamp her chin and force her to meet his gaze.

Only when he saw her arched brows and the glistening moisture in her pupils did his breathing grow rapid. "Master Chen said you didn't let him drive you home tonight. Where did you go?"

Trapped in his grip, she couldn't speak, yet a trace of stubbornness remained in her eyes. She met his gaze, confronting him.

The wall reflected their intimate, inseparable silhouettes, but the silence between them grew eerily heavy in the air.

He leaned closer, brushing his lips against hers. His breath was scorching, and his furrowed brows remained dashing and charming. He murmured, "You were distracted during the meeting today. What were you thinking about? Thinking so intently, so deeply, hmm?"

Her eyes grew unfocused. He slowly loosened his grip, his eyes dropping to study her pale lips. He tasted them, his voice lowering. "Do you know that when I received your text reply, I really wanted to drag you out right then and there and settle this?" He opened his mouth, biting her lip, watching her with a hazy expression.

She suppressed her frustration. "And you? You received some message during the meeting, and your expression changed instantly."

Mo Zhicheng lifted her chin, gazing at her as if she were a flawless work of art he couldn't bear to put down. "Want to know what the message was?" He smiled, finding her beautiful face under the soft light even more adorable.

"I'm not curious." She lowered her eyes, refusing to look at him. The next moment, the man gently blew on her long, thick lashes.

His breath was hot, carrying that faint, mellow fragrance. She shivered slightly. Mo Zhicheng leaned to her ear and whispered, "Then I'll tell you something else."

"..." She stiffened. He had already kissed her earlobe. "At the meeting, I was suppressing the urge to drag you out, but that was when I wanted to kiss you like this." His hand moved to the buttons on her chest, undoing them gently. "If you don't accept that money," his lips trailed downward, biting the delicate skin of her neck, "I will kiss you here," landing on her collarbone, "and kiss you here," his deep voice filled with infinite sensuality, "and kiss you here." His lips returned to her chin, "Here," and finally to her lips, "and here."

Bewitched by his voice, she slowly raised her eyes. Mo Zhicheng had already reached out with his other hand, hooking her neck to deepen the kiss. "Mmm..."

He kissed with passion, his low, ragged breathing seemingly forced into restraint. Yes, he had always suppressed his emotions, never allowing the slightest deviation, but... the kiss grew more and more intense. He nearly pressed her onto the coffee table, his grip showing no sign of lightness.

He kissed her, his whole being seemingly intoxicated by a strong desire. His tongue explored her mouth, sweeping up her sweetness. He murmured her name, "Linglan... Linglan..."

Ye Linglan was dizzy from his kiss. Her hands pushed helplessly against his chest. She was clearly unhappy, uncomfortable, and carrying many nameless emotions she hadn't vented—how could he still bully her?

But, strangely, she didn't know what was wrong with her. When he told the driver to take her home, she had felt so lost; when she wandered the streets aimlessly, she felt so helpless; when she sat on the bus alone, watching the fading lights, she felt so lonely.

All those moments of loneliness could not compare to the two bodies tightly entwined right now. She could feel his breath, his heartbeat. So, he was right within reach; she just hadn't realized it.

The woman’s hands, once pushing him away, now circled his neck, returning his deep kiss. Their tongues tangled, and she followed his lead, deepening their lingering embrace. Linglan slowly opened her eyes, looking at his intoxicated expression, and her mind flashed back to him dining with Leng Tingyu. She was his sister?! Just a sister?

Linglan hardened her heart and bit down on his lip. The man’s handsome brows furrowed, but he took her small show of force as a flirtatious gesture. Seeing the faint smile in his eyes, Linglan bit down even harder, only feeling satisfied once she tasted the faint sweetness of blood.

Mo Zhicheng raised an eyebrow and asked with a soft smile, "Happy now?"

Linglan pushed him away, sat up straight, and wiped the kiss marks from his lips with the back of her hand. Mo Zhicheng laughed, stood up, and hugged her from behind, burying his head in her shoulder and closing his eyes, falling silent.

Neither of them mentioned Leng Tingyu. As she expected, three days later, Leng Tingyu was officially appointed as the Business Director of Tiancheng.

Linglan knew that crossing paths with Leng Tingyu at Tiancheng was now inevitable.

******

When Ye Shenghan walked out of the pantry, he saw that fellow Bai Yuchen looking listless, sprawled lazily on the fabric sofa. He was aimlessly scanning the Shengqi office, silent and looking as if he had lost his soul.

Ye Shenghan handed him a cigarette, but Bai Yuchen shook his head and pushed it away. "Not in the mood."

"What's wrong?" A faint smile played on Ye Shenghan's lips as he sat on the coffee table, facing Bai Yuchen. "Young Master Bai, what is it now? How is the investigation into the phone number I gave you last time going?" He had received the information Linglan sent him. Mo Zhicheng held evidence of Secretary Qin's bribery; if the Qin family's influence were eradicated, Mo Zhicheng's momentum would become even harder to control. Ye Shenghan was hesitating over what desperate measures to take.

Bai Yuchen’s thoughts were still drifting. He looked at Ye Shenghan, his sinking expression and stagnant gaze making Ye Shenghan worry. He waved a hand in front of Bai Yuchen's eyes. "Yuchen, what's wrong with you?" Seeing no response, Ye Shenghan grew more concerned. As he reached to help him up, Bai Yuchen woke from his dream and simply said, "Shenghan, am I sick?"

Ye Shenghan paused, quickly placing a hand on his forehead, and asked worriedly, "Where do you feel unwell?"

Bai Yuchen sat up and swatted his arm away. "Would you be like this toward Linglan?"

Ye Shenghan was baffled by the nonsensical question and frowned. "Like what? Bai Yuchen, can you finish a sentence in one breath?"

"Just... suddenly missing her a lot, wanting to see her, but not being able to find her, and then having to sit here and wait for her!" Bai Yuchen blurted out.

Ye Shenghan froze. Bai Yuchen realized what he had said and finally concluded, "I think I've fallen for her."

"Who?"

Bai Yuchen sighed and told Ye Shenghan everything about his encounter at Night City, but seeing Shenghan's expression darken, he knew he was displeased about his presence at the "Night City" casino. "Shenghan, I didn't mean to, it was just an emergency that day."

Ye Shenghan knew that too. "I hope Mo Zhicheng didn't notice. If he finds out your identity, he'll follow the trail."

"Probably not. The casino has a high flow of people; it shouldn't be such a coincidence that I entered their sights. It's just," Bai Yuchen sighed. Ye Shenghan saw through his thoughts and followed his lead, saying, "You want to know who that woman is? And if there's a chance to meet her again, right?"

A glimmer flashed in Bai Yuchen's eyes; Shenghan really had insight into his thoughts. "Do you miss Linglan?" he asked deliberately.

Sure enough, a trace of hesitation appeared in Ye Shenghan's eyes. It had been quite some time since Linglan had contacted him. It hadn't been like this before. Ye Shenghan was lost in thought. He withdrew his gaze and asked, "What is the origin of the number I asked you to check last time?"

"A private investigation firm."

"They've set their sights on Shengqi. Leak some false information," Ye Shenghan said meaningfully. He lowered his head to light a cigarette, but Bai Yuchen snatched it away and placed it in his own mouth, lighting it himself. Ye Shenghan glanced at him, and Bai Yuchen smiled. "Be careful with your bronchitis... you haven't fully recovered, don't touch this stuff so much," he warned.

Ye Shenghan sighed helplessly, stood up, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. Longing was an agonizing poison, eroding his will like bone-eating rot. He missed that woman so much—so very, very much. He closed his eyes gently, letting the fresh sunlight fall upon him.