Savage Kiss - Chapter 37

Shen Yanzhou remarked, “You can even tell that?”

He stepped forward, stopping in front of a bright red sedan. “What about this one?”

Xu Qingyi shook her head. “Too flashy. Doesn’t suit my vibe, I’m more low-key.”

The corners of Shen Yanzhou’s lips curled up completely.

Xu Qingyi was baffled. “What’s so funny?”

He reined in his smile slightly, but the amusement in his eyes remained. His earlier bad mood seemed to have vanished entirely.

As he walked up beside her, he lowered his voice and said, “Not sure about low-key, but I’ve only seen you at your… highest.”

After delivering the line, he wisely stepped back and picked out another car for her, adopting a professional tone again.

“Miss Xu, how about this one?”

Without even looking, Xu Qingyi walked away.

She had overlooked something, having worked part-time here delivering cars to clients, she knew most vehicles were high-end brands. Finding a cheap, no-name used car for a few thousand was practically impossible.

Shen Yanzhou followed her out. “I’ll help you look these next couple of days. I’ll try to find something before I leave for my business trip.”

Xu Qingyi wasn’t sure what that had to do with his trip, but it reminded her to mention something.

“That intruder confessed. Someone hired him to scare me, his employer had a minor conflict with me before.”

Shen Yanzhou’s brow furrowed. “You’re sure he wasn’t there to kill you?”

The punches had been ruthless, with no intention of holding back.

If not for his own combat skills, he wouldn’t have been able to subdue the man.

“An admirer?” Shen Yanzhou’s eyebrow lifted slightly.

Xu Qingyi let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Don’t overthink it. No normal person would ever like me.”

Shen Yanzhou strongly disagreed, most people would probably adore her.

“If you want to call me abnormal, just say it outright.”

Xu Qingyi chuckled. The only thing he liked was her body. “I should get going. Need to check on the apartment, been staying at your place for over a week now.”

Her landlord was probably too busy to even update her on whether the flooring was fixed.

Shen Yanzhou walked her to the awning outside the repair shop entrance.

Xu Qingyi glanced at him. “You must get hit on by girls all the time. Don’t you know how to turn them down?”

The topic shift was abrupt, but Shen Yanzhou waited to hear where she was going with it.

She lowered her voice. “Just tell them you’re small, quick, and useless. They’ll run faster than you can blink.”

Shen Yanzhou frowned. “Are you helping me or ruining my reputation?”

Xu Qingyi grinned. “It works, though. Once word gets out, no one will bother you, and I won’t have to think about replacing you.”

Shen Yanzhou suddenly fell silent.

She had no idea what he was looking at, but his gaze stayed fixed on her.

Just as Xu Qingyi was about to leave, he finally asked leisurely, “From the sound of it, are you planning to keep me long-term?”

Xu Qingyi had indeed been considering it.

But only if he was willing.

After all, she had no plans to date or marry, but she couldn’t dictate his choices.

“Good,” Shen Yanzhou said at last.

Xu Qingyi headed to her apartment.

The old and new access systems downstairs were both fully installed, and the security guard had been replaced with a sturdier-looking man in his early thirties, far more reassuring than the previous sixty-something.

She registered again, received the activation code for the new access card, and went upstairs.

The door to Unit 601 was solid, the keypad lock left open as cleaners wrapped up their work inside.

When Xu Qingyi stepped in, she barely recognized the place she had rented.

Everything had been renovated and redecorated, exuding a luxury she felt she didn’t deserve.

Her first question to the landlord was: [Is the rent for 601 going up?]

[Don’t worry, no plans to raise it for the next ten years unless I go bankrupt.]

Xu Qingyi quickly showered him with flattery: [May you top the richest list!]

The landlord sent her a “hahaha” emoji in response.

One good thing after another, Xu Qingyi was in a genuinely good mood.

She had asked the landlord, and the materials used in the renovation were all safe, so she could move in right away without waiting.

The next day, Xu Qingyi moved back from the yacht to the apartment, thinking she ought to treat Shen Yanzhou to a meal.

Over the past couple of weeks, he had indeed helped her a great deal.

But they’d have to eat in the city, it seemed like everyone in the coastal area knew him.

Standing in the hallway, Xu Qingyi called Shen Yanzhou.

He picked up quickly, but there was the sound of a car in the background. [You’re out?]

Then the car noise faded into silence.

Shen Yanzhou: [You first. What’s up?]

[I moved back to the apartment today. Since I’ve been bothering you so much, I wanted to treat you to dinner.] She kept her tone deliberately casual to avoid giving him the wrong idea.

Shen Yanzhou replied coolly: [You actually have a conscience?]

Xu Qingyi: [“…”]

He added: [Come down. I’m waiting for you in the garage.]

Huh?

Honestly, Xu Qingyi hadn’t thought about where to take him yet, she had planned for tomorrow, and it was already almost dark today.

But since he was already here, he probably had something to discuss with her. Might as well do it today.

Shen Yanzhou was in the apartment garage when he hung up Xu Qingyi’s call, and another number happened to ring right after. He answered it without thinking.

[Hello? Future richest man, greetings!] The voice on the other end was teasing and playful, laced with laughter.

Shen Yanzhou was ready to hang up at any moment. [Spit it out if you’ve got something to say.]

He turned off Bluetooth, and the voice on the other end cut off abruptly. Whatever was said next, Shen Yanzhou listened briefly, gave a couple of vague responses, and hung up.

Xu Qingyi stepped out of the elevator and searched for him in the dimly lit underground garage.

Not wanting to shout, she pulled out her phone to send a message.

Just then, Shen Yanzhou sent her one first: [Straight ahead, then left.]

Following the directions, she turned the corner and saw Shen Yanzhou leaning out of a car, waving at her.

It was a black SUV: tall, imposing, and sleek.

Xu Qingyi circled the car before walking to the passenger side. “Your car?”

Shen Yanzhou looked at her from inside. “Yours.”

She didn’t take him seriously at first, running her hands over the car, inspecting it from all angles. She wanted to ask if there was a used version of this model, she kind of liked it but was afraid she couldn’t afford it.

“What kind of car is this?” She didn’t recognize it.

“Qihu. Never heard of it?”

When she finally processed what he had said earlier, she eyed him suspiciously. “What do you mean, mine?”

Shen Yanzhou gestured for her to try the back seat. “See if you like it. If not, I’ll sell it to someone else.”

“The original owner was lovesick, customized it for his girlfriend. After they broke up, he sold it secondhand for dirt cheap. Eight thousand.”

Xu Qingyi found it hard to believe.

This car? Eight thousand?

She climbed into the back. It was so spacious that when the seats were folded down, they seamlessly connected with the trunk, she could practically roll around and sleep in it.

Curious, she asked Shen Yanzhou: “Did the original owner modify it like this to live in the car?”

Shen Yanzhou turned sideways, leaning toward her as she lay there. “Not sure about that. But it was definitely modified for doing things in the car… young people chasing thrills.”

When he said that last part, Xu Qingyi couldn’t shake the feeling he was making a veiled jab at her.

She didn’t bother with false modesty and replied, “That sounds just like me. Life’s too short, if you don’t pursue fun and excitement, what’s the point of living?”

Xu Qingyi propped her head up, in a playful mood, teasing him, “If you’re not pursuing it, then get out first. I’ve never done it in a car before, I want to experience it. If it’s not exciting, I won’t buy it.”

Shen Yanzhou obediently listened, actually unbuckling his seatbelt and stepping out of the driver’s seat.

But in the next moment, he pulled open the backseat door and climbed in. “Doing it alone would be too dull.”