CIATB Chapter 13 Is this the legendary return to simplicity?
Chapter 13 Is this the legendary return to simplicity?
The living room was deathly silent.
The faint sound of airflow from the central air conditioning vents seemed particularly jarring.
Zhang Yan's palm was still pressed against Nie Qingcheng's back.
That astonishing delicacy and scalding heat burned into his heart along the lines of his palm, making his fingertips tremble.
The door was closed tightly.
That loud bang just now seemed to shatter the last shred of "innocence" in this room.
Zhang Yan pulled his hand back as if he had been electrocuted, his body bounced backward, and his knee hit the carpet, leaving him in a sorry state.
"Um...Mr. Nie, this..."
He was incoherent, his face turned a deep purplish-red, his eyes darting around, and he didn't dare look at the woman on the sofa at all.
Explanation?
How do you explain that?
The posture, the sound, the atmosphere just now.
If you call it a legitimate massage, nobody would believe it.
Nie Qingcheng slowly sat up on the sofa.
She remained completely calm.
She didn't even bother to pull the shoulder strap back up immediately after it slipped halfway down.
She ran her long, slender fingers through her hair, then turned her head to the side. There was not a trace of shyness in her fox-like eyes.
It's all about playfulness.
Like a lazy Persian cat watching a mouse whose fur has been ruffled by its own teasing.
"What's the panic?"
Nie Qingcheng parted her red lips slightly, her voice still carrying the lingering hoarseness from before.
"I, the victim who was 'forced,' didn't even cry out, and you, the perpetrator, are already acting aggrieved?"
Zhang Yan almost couldn't catch his breath.
The perpetrator?
Once this label is attached to him, he's likely to spend the rest of his life in jail.
"President Nie, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want!" Zhang Yan was so anxious that the veins on his neck were throbbing. "You were the one who told me to press it! And it was you just now..."
It was you who shouted so loudly!
He didn't dare say those words out loud.
Seeing his flustered and pale face, as if he were afraid of losing his innocence, Nie Qingcheng felt inexplicably happy.
The resentment that had accumulated from days of fierce competition in the business world miraculously dissipated.
"Alright."
She extended a finger and pointed at Zhang Yan from a distance.
"Since we've been misunderstood, let's establish the facts."
Zhang Yan's pupils dilated in shock: "What?!"
Nie Qingcheng lay back down on the sofa, burying her face in the soft cushions, revealing only half of her stunning profile and smooth, jade-like back.
"I said, continue."
Her voice was languid, yet it carried an undeniable queenly aura.
"You started the fire, so you're responsible for putting it out."
"If you don't finish this, I'll have Linda issue a statement at the company tomorrow saying that you started this relationship and then abandoned me."
Zhang Yan: "..."
This woman is a devil.
Absolutely.
He gritted his teeth, but could only resign himself to kneeling back on the carpet.
This time, he dared not have the slightest distracting thought.
The book "Top Massage Techniques" was running wildly in my mind.
The finger fell again.
It is no longer a trial, but a precise and steady approach by the doctor.
Force is applied through the fingertips, penetrating the skin and reaching the bone.
Nie Qingcheng originally wanted to tease him a bit more, but as Zhang Yan's actions deepened, an indescribable soreness instantly swept over her entire body.
The aches and pains that had accumulated deep in my shoulders and neck for years melted away quickly, like snow exposed to the scorching sun.
so comfy.
She was so comfortable that she didn't even have the strength to open her mouth and speak, and could only make one or two very soft nasal sounds.
Gradually.
My consciousness began to sink.
The cutthroat competition of the business world and the pressure of forced marriage from family members were all kept at bay by these warm hands.
Ten minutes later.
Zhang Yan stopped what he was doing, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.
The person on the sofa was completely still.
His breathing was deep and even, and his sleeping face was peaceful.
Having shed her usual cold armor, Nie Qingcheng now had a very faint smile on her lips, making her look somewhat... well-behaved?
Zhang Yan shook his head, trying to banish the terrible adjective from his mind.
He stood up and stretched his sore and numb knees.
His gaze swept over the clothes rack next to him, and after hesitating for two seconds, he took down a cashmere blanket.
The movements were very gentle.
With the blanket covering her, Nie Qingcheng unconsciously rubbed against it, like a contented kitten.
Zhang Yan looked at her, his feelings complicated.
This woman is a queen when she's awake, but when she's asleep, she's just an ordinary person who's afraid of the cold.
He sighed and turned to leave.
……
Outside the villa.
The night breeze was slightly cool.
Linda stood under a streetlamp, clutching the multi-billion dollar merger and acquisition documents, looking dazed.
She didn't leave.
As the chief secretary, her professional ethics did not allow her to leave when her boss might be in "danger"—even though he seemed to be enjoying it just now.
Click.
The door opened.
Zhang Yan came out.
Wearing a white T-shirt and black trousers, he had a tall and straight figure, but his hair was slightly messy and his forehead was sweaty.
Upon seeing Linda, Zhang Yan paused in his tracks.
Eyes facing each other.
An awkward atmosphere, difficult to define, filled the air.
"Um..." Zhang Yan opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but found that any explanation seemed pale and powerless at this moment.
Finally, he could only nod reluctantly and quickly disappear into the night.
Linda stared at his retreating figure.
His steps were unsteady, his expression hurried, and his sweat was still damp...
It's confirmed.
This is definitely not as simple as just getting a massage!
Linda took a deep breath, composed herself, and gently pushed open the villa door.
Only one floor lamp was on in the living room.
The light was dim and yellowish.
Nie Qingcheng was lying on the sofa, covered with a blanket, fast asleep.
Linda's gaze fell on the blanket.
That was a limited edition Hermès bag, which Mr. Nie usually wouldn't even let anyone touch, but now it was covered up completely.
Most importantly, Mr. Nie was smiling.
Linda had never seen that kind of genuine, unguarded relaxation in the five years she had been with her.
"Oh my god..."
Linda covered her mouth, quietly placed the acquisition proposal on the coffee table, and retreated like a thief.
Back in the car.
She turned on her laptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
Retrieve personnel files.
Zhang Yan
[18 years old, a freshman at Jiangnan University, an orphan.]
[Work-study job as a food delivery driver.]
Looking at the somewhat immature ID photo on the screen, Linda's worldview was shaken like never before.
A penniless young man?
On what grounds?
Is this what they call... returning to simplicity?
The Queen, accustomed to delicacies, suddenly craved simple porridge and side dishes.
No.
Linda recalled the look in Zhang Yan's eyes when he left.
Clear, clean, without the greed of currying favor with the powerful.
In the materialistic city of Jinghai, such a gaze is perhaps the rarest luxury for a big shot like President Nie.
"This is hardly like finding a lover."
Linda closed her laptop and muttered to herself.
"This is clearly a haven of peace."
……
The next morning, on the top floor of the City of Beauty Building.
Morning light streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the black walnut wood desk.
Nie Qingcheng held a cup of black coffee in her hand, standing by the window overlooking the entire Jinghai.
She wore a white business suit today, her long hair was styled in a high bun, and she exuded a powerful aura.
But Linda keenly noticed that the boss looked remarkably well today.
Her skin was radiant, her eyes showed no signs of fatigue, and even her usually taut jawline had softened.
"Mr. Nie, here is the merger and acquisition proposal from last night, and today's schedule."
Linda carefully put the document down.
Nie Qingcheng turned around, took a sip of coffee, and seemed to be in a good mood.
"Linda."
"exist."
"The boy from last night is named Zhang Yan."
Nie Qingcheng put down her coffee cup and tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, making a rhythmic, crisp sound.
Linda's heart skipped a beat.
coming!
Are you going to seal it up?
Or should we pay hush money?
"Go and check on his situation at school."
Nie Qingcheng's voice was indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger.
But the next second, she raised her eyes, and a chilling protectiveness and domineering glint flashed in her fox-like eyes.
"I need to know everything, big or small."
"I don't want my man to be bullied by some blind bastard outside."