Savage Kiss - Chapter 41

Shen Yanzhou said, “I’ll bring you one when I return the car tomorrow.”

“Thanks, I’ll pay for it. I’ll probably use it often.”

Shen Yanzhou gave her a meaningful smile before leaving.

Xu Qingyi was already exhausted and went straight to sleep.

Knowing she usually slept in and only went out in the afternoon, Shen Yanzhou wouldn’t come by in the morning, so she slept soundly.

But just as she was deep in slumber, a buzzing noise woke her up.

Xu Qingyi squinted and glanced at her phone, spotting the word “BOSS” on the screen. She frowned.

“Hello?”

“Good. You passed the test.”

Xu Qingyi slowly opened her eyes.

What did that mean? Was getting Shen Yanzhou back just a test to see if she really had influence over him?

How sneaky. They had agreed on it, yet he still pulled this stunt. What if she had failed? Would things have gone south?

After hanging up, she tried to go back to sleep, but her phone vibrated again.

Thinking it might be Shen Yanzhou, she checked, only for her pupils to slowly focus, then widen in shock.

It was a deposit notification from her Jing City bank account.

A full five zeros, 100,000 yuan, unmistakably!

Any trace of drowsiness vanished. Though the man was cunning, he kept his word. Ten grand just for passing a test? What if it had been something bigger?

While heating milk for breakfast, she suddenly turned back to her bedroom, grabbed her phone, and called Jing City Bank.

Purchasing gold bars required an appointment. “I’d like to buy around 50,000 yuan’s worth. Can I come in today?”

“Hello! Smaller denominations are out of stock until the end of the month. We recommend booking for early next month or purchasing larger denominations!”

Xu Qingyi scheduled an appointment for the start of the next month.

She couldn’t leave all her money in the bank, nor could she spend it too quickly because that man would definitely track it.

Who knew what that shady boss had planned for her once Shen Yanzhou truly fell for her? She needed an escape route.

When Shen Yanzhou arrived, he brought breakfast and ointment.

The milk Xu Qingyi had heated was still in the microwave. When she took it out, a thin skin had formed on top.

She loved eating that layer of milk skin, scraping it off the cup’s edge with her lips and chewing it slowly, so fragrant.

Shen Yanzhou chuckled at the sight. “Like a kid.”

Xu Qingyi earnestly suggested, “It’s really good. Want to try?”

Seeing her slightly extended neck, Shen Yanzhou had a strong suspicion she was doing it on purpose.

Not one to ruin the mood, he said “Sure” while already leaning in to catch the remaining bit of milk skin on her lips.

Seated at the dining table, Xu Qingyi instinctively leaned back from the sudden closeness.

Then her chin was tilted up. After murmuring “Delicious,” Shen Yanzhou didn’t hold back, deepening the kiss with a fervor that left them both breathless and helpless.

Shen Yanzhou had been bending over to kiss her, and when they paused, his Adam’s apple rested against her lips.

She couldn’t resist kissing it.

Under his intensely dark gaze, she smiled. “Once I’m better, you can do whatever you want with me… somewhere private.”

If she hadn’t said it, it might’ve been fine. But now, she could practically see countless ideas flashing through Shen Yanzhou’s mind.

In the end, he suppressed them all. “Eat.”

After finishing the milk and the breakfast he’d brought, Xu Qingyi was stuffed and lingered at the table.

Shen Yanzhou glanced at her.

She gave an awkward smile. “Let me add you back on WeChat.”

He merely twitched his brow, clearly exasperated by her back-and-forth antics of deleting and blocking him.

Xu Qingyi added him back herself.

Shen Yanzhou pulled out a tissue. “What made you change your mind so suddenly?”

She knew he would ask.

After all, her attitude before had been cold and resolute, while others dated, she only “dated” without any actual interaction.

Xu Qingyi smiled. “Because you’re a good person.”

Shen Yanzhou raised an eyebrow slightly.

This wasn’t the first time she’d said that. Initially, she’d even claimed he wasn’t a bad guy, yet she’d still slapped him later.

Pretending not to notice his grudge, Xu Qingyi asked, “Speaking of which, I treated you so poorly before, slapping you, falsely accusing you… why don’t you resent me?”

Shen Yanzhou smirked faintly. “Do you want the truth or-”

“Of course!”

His gaze settled on her, his words blunt and straightforward: “Because I haven’t had enough.”

“…”

No wonder.

Xu Qingyi had just entertained the thought that he might like her, clearly, she’d overthought it.

No matter. If he enjoyed being with her, that was still a good starting point.

Xu Qingyi’s back took over ten days to fully recover.

Her third product upgrade was submitted to Ke Yan.

Surprisingly, CEO Ke replied that the long-term product tester had rejected it, saying it was barely passable and not up to her usual standard!

Xu Qingyi was stunned.

During those ten days, her bones ached too much to move much. Though she’d put effort into the design, she’d also felt something was missing.

This really was her designated gold-standard tester, she couldn’t afford to slack off in the future.

[I’ll revise it.] Xu Qingyi replied.

The first product was a conventional item, the second wearable, and this third one had an internal mechanism, quite different.

For a while, Xu Qingyi was at a loss. Lacking personal experience, she could only rely on research.

With her back nearly healed, she began screening part-time gigs.

From now on, she had only two principles: first, to seek inspiration, and second, to network with high-level contacts.

She didn’t want to end up quietly erased without a trace if her boss ever decided to move against her.

Ideally, these connections would also benefit her future career. She had no choice but to aim higher.

Sunshine was a rare sight in Jing City this month.

On a particularly bright day, Shen Yanzhou texted her: [Want to go deep-sea fishing? Need an emotional regulator.]

Xu Qingyi: …

Making up professions on the spot?

She took it as a joke and replied: [Can’t. Already have plans.]

Zhou: [Can’t reschedule?]

Since when did he get to dictate her schedule? Of course she couldn’t.

In her line of work, there was a biennial designers’ exchange conference where designers under various bosses shared insights.

The principle was similar to reviewing the old to understand the new inspiration could spark through mutual learning.

Participants wore full-face masks, so no one knew who anyone else was.

Xu Qingyi had attended once before and found it quite rewarding.

Now, as she transitioned into a new field, she had much to learn. So, when CEO Ke suggested she go this time, she agreed.

Checking the itinerary, she saw it involved a yacht trip.

Three days and four nights at sea, then a return voyage sounded luxurious.

Yacht S05 set sail in the afternoon, anchoring near an island called “Tian Island” by evening.

Feeling a bit queasy, Xu Qingyi stepped onto the deck for some air. As she looked out, she spotted a large fishing boat moored by the shore.

The more she looked, the more it resembled Shen Yanzhou’s.

Just as she was thinking, someone by the shore waved at her. She looked over… wasn’t that Shen Yanzhou?

Xu Qingyi instinctively touched her face. The mask was still there. How had he recognized her?