After Flirting with the God-Tier Beautiful Tycoon - Chapter 25.1

Chen Yi squatted down, not rushing to pull her hand away, but gently stroked Shen Xiaojiang’s head with her other hand. “Be good, I’ll be back soon.”

Shen Xiaojiang let go, watching Chen Yi walk out of the bathroom.

Her palms were sweaty, shimmering in the candlelight.

Oh my god, what did she just do?

Shen Xiaojiang’s face flushed, and she shyly buried her face in the crook of her arm.

The door opened, and He Zhong’s hand, which was about to knock, hung in mid-air.

His eyes blinked guiltily.

“Something wrong?” Chen Yi’s expression was icy.

He Zhong lowered his head, avoiding her gaze. “Seventh Mistress, I know I shouldn’t have come up on my own, but…”

“Mhm, get to the point.” Chen Yi’s tone was rigid.

He Zhong respectfully began, “I just received word that Old Master Bai has asked you to go over.”

Chen Yi’s brow slightly furrowed. She raised her hand to check her watch and asked, “The Old Master isn’t asleep at this hour?”

He Zhong nodded.

He had no reason to lie to her using the Old Master, nor did he have the guts.

Old Master Bai was Asia’s largest real estate magnate, holding the fate of property markets across Asia. In Nancheng, he was undeniably the richest man.

Anyone who dealt with him would certainly show him respect.

Anyone he helped would undoubtedly rise to prominence.

Chen Yi belonged to the latter.

Therefore, she had to go, out of respect for him.

She contemplated for several seconds, her furrowed brow gradually smoothing out. “Did he say what it was about?”

He Zhong shook his head.

Old Master Bai never conveyed his messages through others.

Chen Yi glanced toward the bathroom, and reluctantly said two words: “Alright.”

She told He Zhong to wait in the lobby downstairs.

She returned to the bathroom herself.

The smell of smoke had faded, and the scent of the scented candle grew stronger.

Shen Xiaojiang had sobered up considerably. She was kneeling where Chen Yi had knelt, testing the water temperature.

“Little one, I have to go out for a while. Can you take a bath first by yourself?” Chen Yi’s voice was soft and gentle, much warmer than when she spoke to He Zhong.

Shen Xiaojiang’s hand paused, stopping its movement.

Blue foam from the bath bomb clung to her hand.

She turned around, Chen Yi’s eyes were curved in a faint smile, her expression serene.

After all, Chen Yi wasn’t a student living in an ivory tower like her, she must be very busy in real life.

Shen Xiaojiang expressed her understanding, nodding obediently.

Chen Yi turned to leave.

Just as she took a step, she paused, slowly turned back, tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, and her gaze slowly shifted, “You can use anything here, don’t be shy with me.”

“Mhm.” The blush on Shen Xiaojiang’s face had mostly faded.

This time, Chen Yi really left.

Shen Xiaojiang closed the door and returned to the bathroom.

After Chen Yi left, Shen Xiaojiang felt like she was in an unfamiliar space.

With one person missing, these things lost all special significance, they were just things themselves.

Shen Xiaojiang quickly finished washing and put on the clothes Chen Yi had gotten for her.

A set of grass green satin pajamas. The wash tag indicated the brand name, BV, the same as Chen Yi’s jacket.

The fabric felt cold at first, but quickly became warm and smooth.

She glanced at the slippers on her feet, also BV. It seemed Chen Yi really liked this brand.

Shen Xiaojiang simply blew dried her hair and then noticed the dressing table was covered with all kinds of high-end skincare products, some she recognized, some she didn’t.

This place felt very lived-in.

It was clearly a long term residence.

Chen Yi was a local, so why was she living in a hotel?

Before she could think too much, Shen Xiaojiang’s phone rang.

She put the hairdryer on the shelf and, with a lingering dampness, left the bathroom.

It was Sun Jiabao calling.

“Hello…”

Before Shen Xiaojiang could speak, the other person cut in: “My goodness, where are you now?”

Sun Jiabao didn’t know about her and Chen Yi yet, and Shen Xiaojiang wasn’t planning to tell her, since they hadn’t actually done anything.

She checked the time, it wasn’t yet past the dorm curfew, so she breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m busy.”

“Busy, busy, busy, all you know is busy, I don’t believe you for a second. I have something very important to tell you,” said Sun Jiabao.

Over the phone, a thick air of gossip permeated.

In Shen Xiaojiang’s impression, Sun Jiabao never had anything serious to talk about.

“Let’s talk when I get back,” Shen Xiaojiang yawned.

She had to admit, soaking in the bath was really comfortable; every cell in her body was relaxed.

“No, no, I have to tell you now!” Sun Jiabao’s voice lowered. “Do you remember Lin Qianqian?”

Shen Xiaojiang, who had been lethargic moments before, suddenly stiffened her shoulders.

“Lin… Qianqian?” Her voice trembled slightly.

“Yes, guess what, she broke up with her boyfriend.” Sun Jiabao finished and chuckled. “She totally deserved it. I couldn’t stand her in high school, with her manipulative talk and pretentious attitude.”

Shen Xiaojiang certainly remembered Lin Qianqian, who was her and Sun Jiabao’s high school classmate, in the same grade but a different class.

She was a delicate girl who cried easily, with a pair of round, glistening, beautiful eyes.

Although Shen Xiaojiang had always been single, that didn’t mean no one pursued her.

She was pretty and her grades were good. Ever since the military training ended in the first year of high school, people constantly slipped love letters into her desk drawer.

Lin Qianqian was one of the many who sent her a love letter.

It was the first time she had received a love letter from a girl, so Shen Xiaojiang remembered it quite clearly.

However, Shen Xiaojiang matured late, and with her mind focused entirely on her studies, she didn’t take it seriously.

Afterward, Lin Qianqian often brought Shen Xiaojiang snacks and drinks, changing her narrative to say she only wanted to be Shen Xiaojiang’s best friend.

Goodness, this line really angered Sun Jiabao at the time.

There was a difference between friendship and love.

Sun Jiabao, a master of detecting insincerity, felt that Lin Qianqian was being dishonest and inconsistent.

“She broke up, so don’t get involved, okay?” Shen Xiaojiang wasn’t interested in things that didn’t concern her.

“Do you think I want to get involved? I’m worried she’s going to come looking for you,” Sun Jiabao retorted angrily.

Shen Xiaojiang smiled. “She won’t, relax.”

Sun Jiabao: “How can I relax? Which time did she break up without coming to you to cry?!”

Her phone battery was low, so Shen Xiaojiang urged, “Be good, that’s enough talk.”

“Where are you having a nice time? Are you coming back or not?” Sun Jiabao asked.

Shen Xiaojiang’s heart sank, and she said guiltily, “What are you talking about? Of course, I’m going back.”

“Then what time are you coming back?” Sun Jiabao asked again.

Shen Xiaojiang thought for a moment and replied, “Later.”

The less said, the better. Shen Xiaojiang hung up the phone first.

The huge suite instantly fell silent.

Shen Xiaojiang thought of the kiss with Chen Yi in the bathroom moments ago.

Her earlobes involuntarily flushed red again.

Shen Xiaojiang got up to pass the time by exploring the entire suite.

Beneath the laser TV was a solid wood TV cabinet, which held some decorative items and liquid aromatherapy diffusers.

Shen Xiaojiang suddenly spotted a trimmed photograph in the trash can next to the TV cabinet.

She didn’t mean to pry into someone else’s privacy, but the girl in the photo looked very much like Chen Yi.

After some internal debate, Shen Xiaojiang bent down and picked up the photo.

Standing next to the girl was a man, but the man’s face was obscured because it had been smeared with lipstick.

The lipstick shade seemed to be the same one Chen Yi wore.

Without thinking too much, Shen Xiaojiang flipped the photo over. Two words were written on the back in black marker: Hate you.

Judging by the handwriting, it didn’t look like a woman’s.

She flipped the photo back over. Some of the lipstick had been rubbed off, and the man’s face became clearer.

Shen Xiaojiang frowned slightly. The man’s features looked very similar to Chen Yi’s.

Just then, a sound came from the corner of the sofa.

Shen Xiaojiang cautiously put the photo down, staring intently in the direction of the noise.

The next second, a fluffy creature darted out.

“Princess!” Shen Xiaojiang exclaimed.

“Meow”

Princess meowed softly, stretched luxuriously, and then rubbed against Shen Xiaojiang’s legs.

Shen Xiaojiang suddenly remembered that Chen Yi brought her here today because she wanted her to check on Princess.

She almost forgot the real reason.

She rolled up the sleeves of her pajamas and scooped up Princess.

“You silly cat, how could you scratch your owner? She’s such a good, good person,” Shen Xiaojiang muttered while examining Princess.

The deworming was thorough, and there were no other obvious issues.

She was just a little gassy.

Meng Jie had taught her a set of exercises for gas relief during her induction training.

Shen Xiaojiang performed the maneuvers seriously, and Princess soon began to purr contentedly.

On the other side, Chen Yi arrived at Nancheng Mansion, where the largest villa belonged to Old Master Bai.

The security was tight, separating people and cars.

Chen Yi had to get out of the car and walk in.

She followed the secretary, navigating winding corridors and waterside pavilions, and finally met the elderly man in front of a traditional opera stage.

“Old Master Bai.” Chen Yi’s voice was low, and her entire demeanor was subdued several degrees compared to normal.

Old Master Bai loved Kunqu Opera and was bobbing his head along with the rhythm.

“Mhm, sit,” he said, fiddling with the jade beads in his hand.

“How are those two girls?” he asked.

Chen Yi looked up toward the opera stage.

The two girls looked very young, with good skin and slender figures.

“Beautiful,” Chen Yi replied.

Old Master Bai stopped fiddling with the jade beads and tossed out a casual remark: “They were groomed by Xiaobai. She said they’d bring me some cheer.”

Xiaobai was Old Master Bai’s biological granddaughter, Bai Jie, known to outsiders as the future leader of Kaihua Group.

Old Master Bai was the chairman of Kaihua Group and also the president of the Nancheng Chamber of Commerce.

Although the two positions were not necessarily linked, the common saying was that whoever controlled Kaihua controlled the world.

Since he controlled the world, it meant he was the boss, naturally making him the best choice for the Chamber of Commerce president.

While Old Master Bai doted on Bai Jie, he also valued Chen Yi.

However, it was difficult to treat two people equally.

This was true for his own family, and even more so for those outside the family.

Chen Yi knew that every word Old Master Bai said to her was a test.

“General Manager Bai is thoughtful.” Chen Yi didn’t like Bai Jie, but she couldn’t show it.

“Mhm, she is thoughtful.” The beads Old Master Bai was fiddling with paused.

He looked kind and benevolent, but Chen Yi felt like she was sitting on pins and needles beside him.

“However, it’s better to do fewer of these superficial things. Your library donation project, though, was well executed,” Old Master Bai said with a bland smile.

Others might have thought it was happiness, but Chen Yi knew it was just a mask.

Having learned from the Old Master for so long, she had a similar mask herself.

Then, Old Master Bai closed his eyes and stopped talking, humming along to the opera softly.

Chen Yi also remained silent, attending to him by pouring tea and massaging his shoulders and legs.

The Old Master’s words just now weren’t a genuine compliment to Chen Yi rather, they were a subtle warning for Chen Yi not to do meaningless things like Bai Jie.

For example, the Nancheng University library donation project.

It seemed that trying to please Old Master Bai with charity projects wasn’t a sustainable long term strategy.

The Old Master liked to do charity, but that was his own business, unrelated to others.

Chen Yi’s mood felt heavy.

By the time she left Nancheng Mansion, it was already half-past nine.

He Zhong saw Chen Yi exit the gate and quickly put out his cigarette.

Once in the car, He Zhong asked, “Mistress, did everything go smoothly?”

Chen Yi closed her eyes to rest, giving a casual affirmative sound.

He Zhong thought Chen Yi was tired and deliberately slowed down the speed, hoping she could rest a bit longer.

Just then, Chen Yi opened her eyes, looked at the time, and a hint of anxiety crossed her brow. “Drive faster.”

At the same time, she reached up and touched her lips.

The warmth of Shen Xiaojiang was still there.

She didn’t know why, but that faint warmth seemed to ward off the cold.

He Zhong sensed that Chen Yi’s mood was better now, so he dared to speak.

“Mistress, there’s something I don’t know if I should say.”

Chen Yi briefly frowned. “Then don’t say it.”

He Zhong was silent for a few seconds but couldn’t hold back. “Mistress, honestly, you really don’t need to go this far.”

Chen Yi’s tone was displeased. “What ‘far’?”

“It’s about Shen Xiaojiang,” He Zhong slowed the car down further. “I’ve never seen you act this way toward anyone. You haven’t developed feelings for her, have you?”

He Zhong was already being very tactful. “You finally achieved everything you have. You can’t let her compromise it.”

“Are you trying to tell me how to do things?” Chen Yi was starting to get angry. She didn’t think Shen Xiaojiang would hinder her.

“No, no,” He Zhong detected Chen Yi’s displeasure but chose to continue anyway. “You initially suspected she was a mole planted by a competitor near Miss Sun, but all the collected evidence shows she’s not. If you think she’s General Manager Bai’s person, isn’t that being overly cautious? General Manager Bai explicitly stated she’s not interested in the Chamber of Commerce president position.”

“Hmph. Bai Jie isn’t interested in the president position, but she’s very interested in snatching things from me. Ever since I started working for Old Master Bai, anything I want, she must have too, even if it’s useless to her.”

“But there’s no need to go this far. Don’t forget how much you sacrificed to… I’m afraid…”

The atmosphere was tense, and He Zhong dared not finish.

Chen Yi’s face was grim. She spoke word by word: “Afraid of what?”

He Zhong hardened his heart and said, “I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.”

Chen Yi tightened her hand, her knuckles turning white.

“I know what I’m doing,” Chen Yi said, guiltily looking out the window.

It was already ten o’clock when they returned to Xinghui Hotel.

Shen Xiaojiang has likely left, Chen Yi thought.

She got out of the car and headed straight for the hotel lobby, then suddenly turned back and said to He Zhong, “Where are the things I asked you to buy?”

He Zhong visibly sighed, then opened the trunk.

“Strawberry flavored,” he said.

Chen Yi looked at the jar of lollipops in her hand, a faint smile unconsciously tracing her lips.

She turned to leave. He Zhong wiped his face, his expression grave.

Chen Yi stood at the door of her room and pulled out her key card.

The card hadn’t even touched the electronic lock when the door opened from the inside.

Her body stiffened, her hand gripping the card suspended in mid-air.

“You’re back!”

Shen Xiaojiang’s voice was clear and crisp, and her face held a gentle smile.

Chen Yi was momentarily dazed.

The girl in pajamas standing at the doorway radiated a faint warmth.

Chen Yi owned more than one apartment in Nancheng but was accustomed to living in a hotel.

For the first time, someone was waiting for her in this room.

“You… didn’t leave?” Chen Yi’s eyes darted away.

She didn’t dare look at Shen Xiaojiang, afraid of letting the other person see how happy she was at that moment.

“Me?” Shen Xiaojiang stood in the doorway, poking her own chin and smiling brightly. “I promised I’d wait for you to come back.”

Chen Yi’s eyes felt stung by something, a sweet ache.

Shen Xiaojiang snapped her fingers. “Come in quickly, I warmed some milk for you.”

Chen Yi couldn’t believe it. “I have milk here?”