Savage Kiss - Chapter 2

He reminded her, “Sunday, the back door of the bar.”

Xu Qingyi instinctively looked up, her pupils dilating slightly as she recognized his face.

Him?

The bar had been dimly lit last night, and she hadn’t gotten a clear look at him. The only thing she remembered was how his body had made her sensitive.

No wonder the roughness of his fingertips had made her tremble just now, it was the same man.

Memories of the previous night flooded her mind, and she felt even more embarrassed. Gripping the doorknob tightly, she kept her expression neutral. “I don’t remember. You’ve got the wrong person.”

Her tone was calm, but her movements were lightning-fast. In one swift motion, she shoved him out the door, catching him completely off guard.

The door gap was held open for two seconds by the man’s strong palm. “My name is Shen. Shen Yanzhou.”

Who cares what your name is!

Xu Qingyi slammed the door shut. She had already humiliated herself enough, it was best not to see him again for now.

Suppressing the discomfort between her legs, she went back to the bathroom to clean up and changed into loungewear.

Staring at the broken toy on the counter, she sighed.

So annoying.

Putting down her tablet, she felt parched and headed to the kitchen for water when her phone rang again.

She picked it up casually, glanced at the screen, and answered in a flat tone, “Mom.”

The background noise was filled with the clattering of mahjong tiles before Huang Jiamei’s voice came through. “Sweetie, I sent you a bag of your favorite sour plums! I spent two whole days picking them, big and juicy!”

For someone far from home, nothing hit harder than the taste of their hometown. Huang Jiamei knew exactly how to tug at her heartstrings.

But Xu Qingyi only responded with a faint “Mm,” followed by, “Got it.”

Sure enough, Huang Jiamei continued cheerfully, “Transfer 18,000 by the 20th. I’m out of money.”

Xu Qingyi almost laughed. “You’re broke, yet you’re still playing mahjong?”

Huang Jiamei’s voice rose sharply. “I’m playing to earn money! You think I want to? If it weren’t for this family, I’d have gone out to work ages ago, I’d make just as much as you!”

Xu Qingyi didn’t bother arguing. “I just sent you 12,000 last month…”

“Your brother needs money, and so does your grandma!”

Xu Qingyi exhaled. “Fine. I’ll send 9,000. I’ll keep 200 until payday.”

Huang Jiamei hung up with a huff.

Opening her banking app, Xu Qingyi first transferred the fixed monthly savings she had set aside. The remaining balance was indeed just over 9,000.

Xu Qingyi had an older brother who had fallen into a coma due to a work injury and had been bedridden ever since.

She also had a grandmother. When she was thirteen, her father had tried to sell her to a forty-year-old bachelor as a bride. Her grandmother had broken her leg trying to stop him.

Later, her father ran away, leaving behind three women and a vegetative man.

Huang Jiamei had no choice but to stay home to care for her mother-in-law and son, leaving Xu Qingyi to shoulder all the expenses alone.

Before she turned seven, her brother had raised her. Later, it was her grandmother who had saved her. Now, she sent home every penny she earned.

But ever since Huang Jiamei had gotten hooked on mahjong and started getting too close to her male gambling buddies, Xu Qingyi had begun setting aside a fixed savings account, just in case.

Tossing her phone aside, she whipped up a simple fried rice.

After a few bites, her phone rang again.

Lately, every ringtone gave her a headache. She muted it without a second thought.

Then, glancing at the reminder on her clock app, she frowned and let out a heavy sigh.

She had completely forgotten about this month’s quarterly rent payment.

Ten days. What kind of side job could earn her 450 a day?

Her room overlooked the sea. The seaside apartment had supposedly been intended as a high-end boutique hotel, but after construction, the owner had suddenly decided to rent it out cheaply, just in time for her to snag it.

Paying 1,500 a month for a place worth 5,100, how could she possibly delay the rent?

She bit her lip lightly and finally opened a WeChat message from a few days ago.

[Business trip to Jing City. Full crab feast at the seaside restaurant. Big boss distributors will be there. Seal the deal and get an instant 5,000 yuan bonus. Future production and sales commissions will also be yours. Coming?]

Gritting her teeth, she replied: [Got it, Director Zhang!]

The response came quickly: [Dress nicely.]

Putting down her phone, Xu Qingyi took a deep breath, she had no choice but to go.

6 PM.

By the time Xu Qingyi arrived, Director Zhang and the others were already drinking, seated at a luxurious outdoor table by the sea. They looked slightly tipsy, lounging in various relaxed poses.

All four or five men at the table were male. The moment Xu Qingyi hesitated, Director Zhang spotted her. “Xiao Xu? Come, come!”

The men all turned their gazes toward her, their intentions unmistakable. They muttered teasingly to Zhang Jinsi:

“Director Zhang, you’ve got good taste!”

Zhang Jinsi chuckled. “Don’t talk nonsense. She’s our product designer, not my woman!”

“With your charm, Director Zhang, isn’t that just a matter of time?”

Xu Qingyi walked over, pretending not to hear, and greeted them politely. “Hello, everyone!”

“Hello, hello!” Their eyes practically drilled into her chest and under her skirt. “Everything about you is just perfect!”

Peals of laughter followed.

Xu Qingyi inhaled softly, forcing herself to endure.

Director Zhang ordered her, “Xiao Xu has nimble hands. Go peel a crab for Director Chen?”

Before she could react, Director Zhang pulled her over and pushed her down next to Director Chen.

Director Zhang shot her a meaningful look, if she got up and left now, Director Chen would lose his temper on the spot, and she wouldn’t see a single penny of her design fees, let alone any commissions.

Xu Qingyi had no choice but to stay seated. She steered the conversation toward business, addressing Director Chen directly. “Director Chen, your business is truly impressive. Director Zhang’s products have the highest industry ratings, you’ve made the right choice partnering with him!”

Director Chen leaned back in his chair, his neck flushed from alcohol. Tilting toward Xu Qingyi, he said, “I’m not just big in business, you know.”

His voice carried clearly, and the others burst into laughter. “Director Chen’s legendary prowess is well-known!”

Xu Qingyi’s fingers clenched in disgust, the crab shell piercing through her glove. She gasped, “Ah!” and pulled her hand back.

Director Chen sat up and grabbed her hand. “Did it hurt? Take the glove off. I don’t mind.”

His gaze was blatant. “Just feed me directly…”

As he spoke, he brought her hand to his mouth, lips parting to suck the crab meat from her fingers.

Xu Qingyi felt a wave of nausea. She scrambled for a way out.

Just as Director Chen’s mouth was about to close around her fingers, only two centimeters away, she yanked her hand back. “Director Chen, I’m bleeding. It’s not safe like this.”

Then, without waiting for any reaction from the bosses, she added, “I need to go clean up!”

Shen Yanzhou had just arrived at the restaurant. His gaze swept the room, pausing on that table with a frown.

He took a few steps in their direction just as Xu Qingyi rushed past, head down, nearly crashing into him. He steadied her, but before he could speak, she had already fled inside in a panic.

Xu Qingyi locked herself in the restroom, torn between leaving immediately or risking termination and losing everything.

Her phone buzzed, Director Zhang had sent her the 5,000 yuan bonus, set for delayed transfer.

Xu Qingyi closed her eyes. She had to go back. She needed the money too badly.

At a distance where she couldn’t hear, the men at the table were making crude remarks about her.

“That tiny waist and perky ass, one squeeze and you’d ascend to heaven. You really haven’t tried her yet, Director Zhang?”

Zhang Jinsi raised his eyebrows with an air of mystery, leaning in slightly and lowering his voice. “You’re still too green. How do you think her designs became such a hit? Practice!”

“She’s got plenty of tricks up her sleeve, way more than just ‘ascending to heaven.'”

He spoke as if he’d already tried them all.

The men chuckled with even more suggestive grins.

Director Chen stroked his lips and said to Zhang Jinsi, “The collaboration is negotiable!”

Zhang Jinsi understood instantly.

Turning to Xu Qingyi, who had just returned, he commanded, “Sit on Director Chen’s lap.”

Xu Qingyi froze, forcing herself to remain polite. “Director Zhang… that’s inappropriate.”

The seaside dining area was dimly lit, with only the table lamp casting any light. What happened beneath the table was anyone’s guess, but…

Boss Chen scoffed. “If I don’t mind, why should you?”

He patted his thigh imperiously. “I have high standards for both products and designers. Let’s test those hands of yours right here. If I’m satisfied, we’ll collaborate. Don’t you get it?”

Zhang Jinsi moved to pull Xu Qingyi over, ready to force her onto Director Chen’s lap.

The next second, a shadow loomed over them. Zhang Jinsi’s wrist was seized in a crushing grip, making him yelp in pain before letting go.