“Does love have anything to do with age?” Zong Yanxi asked him instead with a tough attitude. “If you don’t let me go, President Jiang, I’ll sue you for harassment.”
Jiang Mohan let out a throaty chuckle. “You resemble her with your silver tongue.”
Zong Yanxi turned her head away in a panic. “You look like a gentleman, but it turns out you’re a hypocrite who bullies a woman!”
Jiang Mohan leaned in to press his lips against her ear. The moment their skin touched, Zong Yanxi widened her eyes as goosebumps ran through her skin.
Smirking, he said in an alluring voice, “Ms. Lin, you have to make some sacrifices if you want to achieve your goals. If you can be my girlfriend, I’ll gladly give you what you want.”
Zong Yanxi refused firmly, “I’ll never betray my boyfriend!”
“I don’t believe you.”
After speaking, he let go of Zong Yanxi.
He was certain that she would definitely go to him.
Zong Yanxi shot him a fierce glare. “Shameless!”
“Since you think so, I won’t refute it.” Jiang Mohan sat on the sofa and poured himself a glass of wine.
He tilted his head back and downed it. When he put down the glass, he added, “I look forward to your new proposal, Ms. Lin.”
Clenching her fists tightly in anger, Zong Yanxi replied coldly, “I’ll definitely come up with a proposal that you’re satisfied with, President Jiang!”
After that, she strode out of the cabin and went down the ramp. Tian Qifeng was seen leaning on the lamppost, seemingly waiting for her.
“Didn’t I tell you to leave? Why are you still here?” Zong Yanxi frowned.
“I’m responsible for protecting you. Although you ask me to leave, I can’t actually leave. Let’s get in the car. I’ll take you back to the hotel.” Unlocking the car, Tian Qifeng walked toward the car and opened the door.
Zong Yanxi walked over and got into the car. Suddenly remembering that she had to arrange for Guan Jing to meet Gu Xian today, she asked, “What time is it?”
“Nine o’clock,” replied Tian Qifeng as he started the car.
He checked the time a moment ago as he was planning to go inside to find Zong Yanxi if she still did not come out.
“It’s nine o’clock?” Zong Yanxi hurriedly took out her phone. She was worried that Gu Xian would be anxious as they were supposed to meet Guan Jing for dinner.
“Are you calling Mr. Guan?” Tian Qifeng looked at her from the rearview mirror. “If so, I can only tell you that he’s already left. He couldn’t reach you on your phone, so he asked me to pass you the message.”
“What? He’s left?” She took out her phone, but the screen wouldn’t light up as it had turned off automatically when it ran out of battery.
No wonder I didn’t receive Gu Xian’s call, either.
I promised to let him meet Guan Jing but I stood him up. He must be worried now that he can’t get in touch with me.
She told Tian Qifeng Gu Xian’s address; she wanted to find him first.
However, Gu Xian was not home when she reached his place. And given it was long past working hours, there was also no one was in his office except for security guards.
“Why don’t you explain to him tomorrow?” Tian Qifeng suggested.
Having no other options, Zong Yanxi could only return to the hotel first and have her phone charged before she called him.
The car soon arrived at the main entrance of the hotel. When she got off the car, she saw Gu Xian sitting by the fountain at the hotel entrance, looking dejected.
She hurried over to him.
“Gu Xian.”
As Gu Xian looked up and saw her, he stood up in surprise but fury soon took over his face. “Zong Yanxi, what are you trying to do? You’ve promised to let me meet him. I started preparing in the afternoon, deciding on the clothes to wear and thinking of what to say. Although I was nervous and hesitant, I still wanted to see him and talk to him. But when it was time, I couldn’t reach you at all. If you don’t want me to meet him, you can just tell me directly. Why lie to me again and again?”
When he could not find her, he was worried sick that she might be in danger.
Yet, when he saw her standing before him perfectly fine, he thought of how insignificant he was to her.
She had known that person from the beginning, but she did not tell him. When she later explained herself to him, he expressed his understanding.
What about this time round?
Does she have my interests at heart?
“I treat you sincerely as my friend, but you’ve deceived me again and again!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I was caught in something unexpected.” It was her fault that she messed up. “I’m sorry, Gu Xian. I’m really sorry.”
Since she apologized, Gu Xian did not think he should continue berating her. However, he was still displeased deep down as he felt that she did not care about him.
“I’ll give you a chance to make up for it. I want to meet him at noon tomorrow.”
“Gu Xian…” Zong Yanxi really felt bad for him. “He has already left, so you won’t be able to see him tomorrow…”
“Zong Yanxi!” Gu Xian was truly angry at her now. “Are you messing with me?”
“No, no.” Zong Yanxi stepped forward and took his hand while she explained, “I really didn’t mean it. I was delayed by Jiang Mohan who found fault with me.”
Gu Xian looked at her. “What did he find fault with?”
“My proposal.”
Gu Xian knitted his brows. “Isn’t that proposal done perfectly?”
He knew the significance of that proposal, as well as the fact that Zong Yanxi was trying to set up Jiang Mohan.
“Did he become suspicious?” Gu Xian asked.
Zong Yanxi did not know, either. What happened tonight seemed very unusual, yet she could not tell whether he knew it or not.
She shook her head. “I have no idea what he’s up to as well.”
“He’s a tough nut to crack. Maybe he’s plotting something in secret.” Gu Xian knew Jiang Mohan’s character——it was widely rumored that the latter was extremely ruthless. Considering that he could get to where he was today on his own, his ability could not be underestimated.
“Let’s go up.” Zong Yanxi was feeling a growing sense of uneasiness because of what happened tonight.
Gu Xian followed her upstairs.
After entering the room, Zong Yanxi sat on the sofa, feeling down and restless. If Jiang Mohan realized that this was actually a trap, he definitely would not jump right in, and her plan would amount to nothing.
She didn’t want to rely on her parents, but she couldn’t get anything done on her own.
Gu Xian was angry initially. Seeing her like this, he put away his anger and comforted her. “If he knows something, he will definitely stop collaborating with you and won’t bother to nitpick on your proposal. There may be some details that we’ve missed out on. We can just redo it.”
Zong Yanxi rested her head on Gu Xian’s shoulder. “You know, Gu Xian, I really hate him.”
Gu Xian’s body stiffened as he slowly turned his head to look at her. At such a close distance, he could smell her fragrance.
He raised his arm wanting to wrap it around her shoulder, but paused mid-air. After hesitating for a long time, he still didn’t dare to put his arm on her shoulder. He quietly withdrew it instead.
“I will help you, so just tell me if you need me.”
“Why are you so good to me when I couldn’t help you at all?” Zong Yanxi looked up at him. “Gu Xian, I’ll definitely arrange for you to meet him.”
“Alas.” Gu Xian heaved a sigh. “Forget it. Maybe it’s not the time yet, which is why it hasn’t worked out. I won’t blame you anymore, and…”
He cast his eyes down to conceal some of his emotions as he went on, “We’re friends, so of course I have to be good to you.”
