Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 68

Shen Zhibing was startled twice in succession by Qi Zheng. First, by her waking up which left her in a dilemma, and now, by her lips taking control and leaving her increasingly helpless. Yet, this kiss, with its mutual response and interaction, felt more real and stimulating than any of the previous stolen kisses.

Shen Zhibing only gave a slight gasp when Qi Zheng initially took the lead, then slowly followed her rhythm, dancing with her on their lips. Coming and going, advancing and retreating, escaping and then being hooked—back and forth, the two gradually became familiar with the inner warmth of the other.

This feeling was more intoxicating and lingering than in any dream. Qi Zheng’s hands were around her waist, holding her tightly, leaving her no space or opportunity to escape. Shen Zhibing was already leaning on her, but this posture couldn’t be maintained for too long; no matter how good her lithe waist’s resilience, she would feel strain and fatigue.

Noticing her desire to adjust their position, Qi Zheng slightly slowed the pace. Just as she was about to pull back, Shen Zhibing captured her again. Qi Zheng then boldly swung one long leg over, bringing the two of them even closer. Qi Zheng’s breathing became more rapid due to the new heat source, and the feelings deep inside were thoroughly ignited.

When it came to kissing, both were somewhat experienced. Any difference in technical skill was only due to variations in practice times and partners. However, to proceed further was a test of inherent talent and comprehension. Shen Zhibing’s hands, after several attempts, only slid over Qi Zheng’s lean but captivating back. Separated by her thin, silky shirt, the sensation grew closer and closer to the experience in her dream.

Qi Zheng was also a little flustered. The initial impulse of the kiss gradually subsided, replaced by a different kind of deeper stirring. She was drawn by the warmth and soft breath she felt, indulging in repeated tastes as she desired.

This was a sensation she liked, a taste she liked, and even the touch was so unique that she couldn’t help but inwardly praise it. The always-leading President Shen had now given up the struggle; besides tightly embracing her, cooperating with her, and responding to her, she had no sharpness left.

But Qi Zheng’s passion wandered everywhere, a little disorganized, carrying her urgency and recklessness. Her lips were gently nipped and then sucked by Shen Zhibing, who seemed to revel in the back-and-forth light tugging. However, a thought suddenly popped into Qi Zheng’s mind: The road ahead is long, where is the end…

As someone who had been in a deep relationship, Qi Zheng naturally knew where the ultimate destination was. But back then, they were in a long-distance relationship, and because they wanted to truly take that step only after they could provide security for each other, by a twist of fate, they delayed until the end, and it turned out to be years of waiting in vain, ultimately benefiting someone else.

Qi Zheng was initially angry, but later she saw the silver lining and felt fortunate. After more time passed, she became indifferent to such things. Her heart had become still as water, and her body was even frighteningly dormant.

However, at this moment, she didn’t deny being attracted to Shen Zhibing; it was an instinct because her body wasn’t sending any signals of rejection. This was different from facing Lin Muyun. To this day, she still disliked that sudden assault at the bar.

Shen Zhibing enjoyed this interaction more than she did. She almost tirelessly and continuously savored the experience, working with Qi Zheng to push the surrounding temperature to new heights. Hot, very hot. There was a desire to break free from everything and bring them closer. Qi Zheng’s hand landed on Shen Zhibing’s white shirt; President Shen’s attire tonight had caught her attention several times already.

Shen Zhibing instinctively arched her waist, seemingly resisting and yet cooperating, releasing a wave of fragrance. Qi Zheng really liked her bath scent; it was from the same series as her own favorite perfume brand.

She never knew President Shen also liked TF; she always thought she’d prefer softer, more feminine brands. In a haze of passion, everything followed her instinct. Qi Zheng barely had time to contemplate the whys and wherefores, she was simply dazzled by the beautiful sight before her eyes.

Most ordinary people, when faced with such a beautiful sight, can hardly resist the temptation. However, Qi Zheng didn’t know that the temptation she presented to Shen Zhibing was even greater.

Her head was tightly embraced by Shen Zhibing, who almost wanted to suffocate her in her arms. The scent and heat made it hard to breathe. Qi Zheng gasped heavily but, driven by instinct, wanted to taste the deliciousness so close to her lips.

The kiss was very deep. Qi Zheng paused for a moment, then smiled silently.

In fact, the kiss came suddenly, and the response was even more sudden; everything was done out of instinct. Neither of them was fully prepared to interact with the other, nor were they deeply familiar with each other; it was just a moment where they followed their hearts, letting their true intentions take over, evolving into the scene they were now in.

Qi Zheng was the one to end the kiss first, gently catching her breath. Her breathing was irregular, blowing directly into Shen Zhibing’s heart, causing another wave of turmoil within her.

They gradually calmed down, their passion and the surrounding temperature dropping together. After the embrace, they had to consider how to face the aftermath.

Qi Zheng was still tightly held by Shen Zhibing, and her hands were still wrapped around Shen Zhibing’s waist. But at this moment, both were silent, as if waiting for the other to speak first.

Qi Zheng wasn’t sure when Shen Zhibing started having feelings for her, or why she would sneak a kiss. But she was very clear about her own actions today: it was purely instinctual attraction. She was indeed moved by Shen Zhibing’s invitation, and she felt very comfortable during the intimacy just now.

After all, they had never embraced for such a long time, and even their previous lip-to-lip contact was full of hostility. That moment, from surprise to tenderness, lasted no more than a minute, including the action they instinctively followed their hearts to do, which JJ never allowed to be described in detail.

But what exactly was President Shen thinking? Qi Zheng wanted to ask her, but felt it was inappropriate. Although Shen Zhibing kissed her first, it was clearly she who took more advantage later on.

This contemplation of Qi Zheng’s delayed them a bit. Shen Zhibing hadn’t spoken, but what she was thinking was not Qi Zheng’s feelings, but her own experience.

It was indeed much more comfortable than in her dream. The feeling and touch of her hands left her deeply satisfied, and although some areas were still weakly calling out for more, it was already much more comforting than before.

She felt as if she had just visited a restaurant and tasted an exquisite delicacy, and she was already planning to frequently revisit the experience. However, she needed to carefully consider how to phrase this.

But she still hesitated; such an impulse was foreign and worrying to her. She knew that people at a certain age do indeed have different needs, but generating such strong desires when facing Qi Zheng made her a little uneasy.

If this continued, wouldn’t it become uncontrollable? Shen Zhibing feared emotional loss of control the most. For so many years, even when her affection for Lian Ao was deep, she maintained the necessary caution during their relationship.

She hadn’t expected that now, she would so easily let the real self in her heart jump out and take the lead. However, she still hadn’t figured out what to say to Qi Zheng to make everything seem reasonable and ensure it wasn’t the last time.

The silence in the room was broken by the doorbell. Shen Zhibing suddenly remembered that she had sent a message to Yun Fei earlier, asking her to bring over the branch company documents tonight.

She quickly stood up from the sofa, buttoned up and smoothed out her shirt, and casually tied up her long hair, reducing the look of disarray. In no time, Shen Zhibing had tidied herself up and even straightened the cushions on the sofa.

Qi Zheng was still lowering her head to adjust her clothes when she heard Shen Zhibing’s voice, now restored to a calm tone: “We’ll talk about what just happened later.”

The implication was that President Shen’s primary focus, for the moment, was still work.

Qi Zheng felt a sense of relief. If they had to discuss and resolve things tonight, she would indeed feel pressured. There were some things she hadn’t thought through yet, and being asked to state her position rashly would put her in a difficult spot.

Outside the door, besides Yun Fei, was Yu Xinyan. Only a faint flush remained on Shen Zhibing’s cheeks, but Director Yu’s keen eyes spotted it.

She carried the sweet soup she had just bought, following Yun Fei into the room, and teased, “President Shen, are you exercising in your room tonight? You’re even saving time from going to the gym.”

Shen Zhibing ignored her, calmly and indifferently taking the files Yun Fei handed her. Qi Zheng stood by the sofa, smiling as she greeted them.

“Since you’re here, let’s have some late-night snack together. This dessert place is famous, and I guarantee it will leave a sweet taste in your mouth.”

Sweet in the mouth? Qi Zheng subconsciously licked her lips. Even now, her mouth was quite sweet. She glanced towards President Shen, but only saw that Shen Zhibing was already earnestly flipping through the documents Yun Fei brought.

Qi Zheng found herself amusing, gathered her thoughts, and returned to her normal state, helping Yu Xinyan set up the desserts. Shen Zhibing’s gaze lifted from the documents, watching Qi Zheng’s back thoughtfully.

Yun Fei gave a rough account of the day’s situation at the branch company and then added, “I also heard that Boss Zhuang came to Hong Kong not long ago and also went to Macau. Although his stay was short, I think this matter is unusual.”

Boss Zhuang was the secret big boss behind Yongfeng. He wasn’t very old, but how he started his business remains a mystery to this day, and he himself rarely shows his face in public. But the wealth he possessed was real and abundant. Shen Zhibing had no interest in befriending him but was very keen on the industries he controlled.

“Find out as soon as possible who he met and what he did during his last visit to Hong Kong and Macau. We need to figure it out before our official negotiations.”

Yun Fei thought for a moment and suggested, “I’ll have the people at the Hong Kong branch handle things here, but for Macau, I’m afraid we’ll need to use Eric.”

Among the Shen Group’s industries, the only one they hadn’t entered was the gambling and entertainment sector. It was said to be because Old Master Shen loathed gambling, so he explicitly forbade family members from getting involved.

Therefore, the Shen Group, despite its vast capital, kept a clean separation from this industry, with no complicated ties whatsoever.

Shen Zhibing considered it and agreed: “Tell Eric to be cautious, don’t let them find out. Macau isn’t our territory; if something really goes wrong, it’ll be quite troublesome.”

Yu Xinyan called them over. When Shen Zhibing sat down, she noticed that Qi Zheng had sat directly across from her. She paused but didn’t say anything. Only Director Yu was left at the table, actively trying to liven up the atmosphere.

Shen Zhibing endured for five minutes before finally speaking: “Director Yu, are you interested in transferring to a new department, such as Public Relations or External Affairs?”

Yu Xinyan’s chatter stopped immediately. Her mouth twitched, and she indignantly refused.

The Public Relations department was utterly thankless, and the External Affairs department was only established at the beginning of the year and was also a tough job. How could she, the respectable Deputy Director of the Procurement Department, be exiled to a hellhole just for talking too much while eating sweet soup?

Qi Zheng had been silent the whole time. Yun Fei thought she was suffering from jet lag again. Although Hong Kong was much closer to Haicheng than the United States, seeing her prepare so many medications suggested that Qi Zheng was under considerable psychological stress.

“Xiao Qi, are you feeling unwell?”

Seeing everyone looking at her, Qi Zheng quickly shook her head: “No, I’m very comfortable.”

That answer sounded a little…

Yu Xinyan chuckled, saying meaningfully, “Feeling comfortable just eating sweet soup, Xiao Qi, you’re easily satisfied.”

Then she glanced at Shen Zhibing, pretending to speak casually, “Our President Shen likes ambitious people. Staying unsatisfied and striving for progress is what she favors.”

Shen Zhibing raised her eyes to look at her. Yu Xinyan immediately covered her mouth: “I didn’t say anything.”

After they finished eating, Yun Fei and the others initially planned to stay and continue discussing, but Shen Zhibing sent them away.

“I’ll look over these documents tonight. If I have any questions, I’ll discuss them with you tomorrow.”

Qi Zheng silently organized the documents on the coffee table by the sofa and took them away, only saying “Good night, President Shen” before leaving. Yu Xinyan followed her to Yun Fei’s door, watching her swipe the key card.

“Director Yu, your room is next door, did you get the wrong place?”

“No, it’s still early, I want to chat with you.”

Yun Fei stopped opening the door and said speechlessly, “About what?”

“Don’t you think President Shen was a bit strange tonight? Her attitude wasn’t normal, did you notice anything?”

Yun Fei had been by Shen Zhibing’s side for so many years and naturally noticed the abnormality, but she instinctively wanted to protect Shen Zhibing. Although she knew Yu Xinyan had no ill intentions, she didn’t want to continue the topic.

“Director Yu, with your power of observation and time, you’d better spend it thinking about how to find a breakthrough with Boss Zhuang.”

Yun Fei neatly opened the door, gave a brief “Good night,” and then closed the door, leaving Yu Xinyan by the door, touching her nose and smiling.

Still so cold and heartless… Yu Xinyan walked to the next room and opened her own door.

After they left, Shen Zhibing took another shower. She had felt sticky and uncomfortable earlier. Now, with more time passed, she felt even worse. She stood under the hot water, allowing her body to be soothed again, but it couldn’t compare to the warmth given by the other person just now.

The places where Qi Zheng had left marks were starting to appear, faint spots, all hidden where others couldn’t see. Shen Zhibing felt that the psychiatrist’s advice was correct; releasing herself and frankly confronting her true desires was indeed helpful for regulating her emotions.

After her shower, she stood in front of the mirror and dried her hair. The person in the mirror was still dazzlingly beautiful, but her eyes held a hint of tenderness. The trash can held what she had discarded again; President Shen felt no pain whatsoever for the limited edition lingerie she had bought.

However, the next time she wanted to kiss Qi Zheng, the method of a stolen kiss might not work. It was only now that Shen Zhibing realized that Qi Zheng’s sudden awakening might have been because she hadn’t been asleep at all.

So, was she testing her? Or had she already found out about the previous stolen kisses?

Shen Zhibing slowed down her hair-drying motion, recalling every detail from earlier. She wanted to use this to deduce Qi Zheng’s thoughts, but unexpectedly, she almost lost control again. Her legs felt a little weak. She gripped the sink, biting her lip in secret annoyance.

How could she be so easily provoked!

That night, Shen Zhibing didn’t dream and slept soundly until morning. Boss Zhuang seemed very proactive this time. Even though the second meeting for negotiations was scheduled for three days later, he still contacted Shen Zhibing every day.

Right after breakfast, Shen Zhibing received an invitation from Boss Zhuang: “President Shen, do you have time today for a round of golf?”

This type of private meeting could be used to discuss business or personal matters. They didn’t have much personal interaction, so Shen Zhibing guessed he wanted to play the ‘relationship card.’

“Sure.”

Shen Zhibing played golf well. Usually, Yun Fei accompanied her, but this time Boss Zhuang requested that she also bring the young person named Qi Zheng. He hadn’t met her in the US last time, and now finally got the chance in Hong Kong, Boss Zhuang was quite interested in Qi Zheng.