When the Male Lead Finds Out I’m the Transmigrator Trying to Win Him Over - Chapter 35

Han Qi had always tied his own ties.

True, he had a personal assistant, but he didn’t need them to do too much. He had hands and feet, and many things he preferred to do himself.

Nor was he used to anyone being too close.

Between two men, tying a tie was already strange; if it was a female assistant, that was even more out of line. He always kept his boundaries, never crossing them. He didn’t want any misunderstandings.

This was the first time someone else had tied his tie.

Because of the difference in height, Han Qi had to bend down for Yun Ruo. The distance was so close that he could see the fine fuzz on her cheeks, and… feel her breath.

The air conditioning in the room was cool, yet when her fingers brushed past his neck and then rested against his chest, Han Qi’s breath caught. But seeing Yun Ruo’s serene expression made him ease up again.

He couldn’t scare her.

At least not now.

Yun Ruo, however, wasn’t as calm as she looked.

Han Qi’s build was incredible. His vest tightened around a narrow waist and pressed firmly against his broad chest. While making the knot just now, she had brushed against his chest, feeling the taut muscles beneath—first tensing from her touch, then softening again.

In this kind of atmosphere and relationship, it was tinged with a faint sensuality.

Yun Ruo lowered her gaze, pushed the knot up slowly, then stepped back: “Done.”

Han Qi straightened his waist at last.

But he didn’t move away. “Not finished yet.”

Yun Ruo blinked, puzzled. Han Qi pointed to his vest. The tie had to be tucked inside.

Now the one who looked composed and in control was him.

Finally, Yun Ruo’s eyes revealed a trace of nervousness. To tuck the tie inside, the vest had to be unbuttoned. Even if not fully undone, it had to be loosened. Should she really be the one doing this? Why had Han Qi put the vest on first? Could it be that he had expected this moment, deliberately? No… she had been the one who started it…

“What, don’t dare?” the man urged.

Yun Ruo suddenly stepped forward. “Why wouldn’t I dare?”

She had already done this much—might as well see it through. Her fingers touched the buttons, undoing them one by one.

This time, her fingertips brushing his chest was no accident. Every single time, they pressed against him. She could hear Han Qi’s breath deepen, and suddenly, she found it amusing. Just as she was about to go further, Han Qi caught her hand.

“That’s enough.” Han Qi extended his left wrist, the one with the watch. “I’ll do it.”

If he let Yun Ruo continue, they’d be late today.

Yun Ruo glanced at the time, tugged slightly at her hand.

For a moment, his grip tightened, then slowly loosened.

She touched her ear.

Outside, two assistants and a bodyguard were all frozen in place, staring.

The scene was so beautiful it made people want to scream.

Assistant Liu was already shipping them hard.

The bodyguard, however, went stiff. Great, if President Meng shows up, could he even stop him? He’d have to throw himself in front of Han Qi…

The day’s schedule began.

The morning episode seemed nothing more than an interlude. It didn’t affect Han Qi at all. At work, he was even more focused, leading the team effortlessly, without sparing Yun Ruo a single glance.

After a while, Yun Ruo began to doubt herself. “Could it be he doesn’t like women who take the initiative?”

Even the system was confused: 【Or maybe… he just likes other people’s wives?】

What you can’t have always seems alluring; once you have it, it loses its appeal.

Yun Ruo: “But he doesn’t seem like that kind of man. He’s responsible.”

【Then put on a performance. Cry, and ask him if you’ve overstepped. Tell him you’re willing to quit right away if so!】

“?”

【It’s called advancing by retreating.】

“What if he says I really did overstep…”

【Then just marry someone else. He just likes other people’s wives!】

“…”

Yun Ruo shut her eyes. What kind of rotten advice was that? Marriage and divorce weren’t things you tossed around so easily.

They had a quick lunch. The project involved a huge sum, so Han Qi was cautious, continuously checking information with his assistants. Yun Ruo didn’t interrupt, just did as told.

When the afternoon negotiations finally ended, everyone relaxed. The contract would be officially signed tomorrow. While it wasn’t yet time to pop champagne, Han Qi still invited the team out to dinner.

He was the boss. Since he had brought his people out, contract signed or not, he had to treat them. Better to be generous.

Assistant Liu immediately started clowning: “President Han, you’re the real domineering CEO. Those stingy ones don’t even come close.”

“I especially love it when you speak in that commanding tone.”

He was referring to Han Qi’s earlier line: “Let’s go. Dinner.”

Yun Ruo lowered her head, smiling quietly. She hoped that on payday Han Qi would say: ‘Take it. Bonus.’

That really was CEO-like.

Yun Ruo went back to the hotel first to drop off her things. Han Qi and the others waited at the entrance. She walked quickly toward the elevator.

But just as her fingertip pressed the button, a sudden force yanked her back, slamming her against the wall. She froze, face pale, thinking it was some assault.

But it was Meng Tingmo.

Repeatedly provoked by Han Qi, Meng Tingmo had finally broken. He had flown over at once, waiting in the lobby until she appeared.

He wanted to know if his wife had really gotten together with Han Qi. And how dare Han Qi do such a despicable thing behind his back!

What about morality, what about brotherhood?

“Meng Tingmo, what are you doing!” Pinned against the wall, Yun Ruo glanced around. Luckily the elevator was around a corner. No one could see what was happening.

“So afraid of being seen?” Meng Tingmo sneered, seizing on her fluster. He gripped her chin. “Or is it because you’re afraid Han Qi will see?”

“Anyone would be afraid of being seen like this!” Yun Ruo struggled against him. “From the outside, people would think we’re filming some tacky short drama. I don’t want this on the internet.”

Meng Tingmo gave a cold laugh—excuses. “So how far have you and Han Qi gone? Kissing? Sleeping together? Really sharing a room?”

“Are you the Ten Thousand Whys? I’ve told you already—whatever step I take, it has nothing to do with you. If you couldn’t let go, why did you treat me that way back then?” Yun Ruo’s anger flared. She wasn’t endlessly forgiving. She wanted to move on, but her resentment clung, refusing to release her.

He Xi Tong and Yun Jia could reconcile, but not Meng Tingmo.

She hated him.

Meng Tingmo heard the hatred in her words, but he didn’t care. Without love, where would hate come from? He even felt a twisted joy. “Ah Ruo, you still can’t let me go, can you? I was wrong. Tell me what to do, anything, if only you’ll come back.”

“Can’t let you go? You wish.” When pushing him failed, she raised her leg to kick. When he held her leg down, she sneered, “Yes, I’m sharing a room with Han Qi. He’s so much better than you. Being with him showed me just how awful you are. If it weren’t for the mission, do you think I’d ever chase you?”

“He’s better than me?” Meng Tingmo ignored the last part. Mission? What mission? He and Yun Ruo were fated. They even had a child together!

She might have approached him for a mission, but she absolutely could not fall in love with another man.

Furious, he seized her face and kissed her.

Yun Ruo bit down hard.

Did he really think this was a short drama?

She turned her head. Meng Tingmo wiped the blood from his lip, looking at the red stain on his fingertip. He scoffed, unfazed. “You can keep biting. I—”

Before he could finish, someone yanked him away. He stumbled several steps before regaining his balance.

Yun Ruo was shielded behind Han Qi.

She had taken too long to come back, and her phone hadn’t gone through. Worried, Han Qi came to check—and caught Meng Tingmo harassing her.

“Sorry,” Han Qi first checked Yun Ruo carefully, twice, before looking at Meng Tingmo. “From the back I thought some horny bastard couldn’t control himself. Didn’t expect it was you.”

“Old Meng, how could you stoop so low?”

He was one step short of outright cursing. Meng Tingmo wiped the blood away and sneered. Han Qi was posturing. “Why do you think I did this? Don’t you know?”

“You say I have no class, but are you any better? If you were really a gentleman, Yun Ruo wouldn’t be standing behind you.”

“Is that so.” Han Qi was steady as ever. If it were someone like Feng You, he might feel guilty. But against Meng Tingmo, he felt no need. “I already asked you clearly before. You remember it well. You said first: ‘I don’t want her.’ I never forced you.”

“You!” Meng Tingmo choked. He suddenly remembered—before the divorce, at one gathering, Han Qi had said something similar. Those words had forced him to face how deeply he had hurt Yun Ruo, pushing him to let her go.

Realization dawned. “So you planned it back then.”

Han Qi spread his hands. “I was just standing up for her.”

“Good. Very good.” Meng Tingmo laughed bitterly. He had misjudged Han Qi, thought him a brother, when all along he’d been setting him up.

He looked at Yun Ruo one last time. She stood calmly behind Han Qi, eyes devoid of love. Unable to endure it, he turned and left.

But he would not give up.

After he left, Han Qi inspected Yun Ruo carefully. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” Yun Ruo shook her head. “It was just an argument.”

Then she noticed Han Qi staring at her mouth—or more precisely, her lip. She remembered she’d bitten Meng Tingmo hard just now.

Had blood gotten on her lips?

She quickly raised her hand to wipe it.

But Han Qi caught her wrist. His large palm cupped her face, tilting her head up. His thumb brushed gently across the corner of her lips, slowly wiping away the faint trace of blood.

His gaze was deep, unreadable. Once clean, he let go naturally and stepped back.

“All done.”

Yun Ruo: “…Oh.”

“Let’s go.” Han Qi pressed the elevator button. “We’ll put your things away together.”

The doors opened. Han Qi stepped in first. Yun Ruo had no choice but to stand in front of him.

She could feel his eyes on her.

Being watched like this… every muscle in her body tensed. His action earlier had been far too intimate—not something friends would do. That morning, she had fretted that he might dislike women taking the initiative. She could cross that thought out now.

Han Qi didn’t dislike it. He initiated himself.

So what exactly was their relationship now?

The favorability level was at 70%. That was already “liking.” But neither had tested the waters to see if they should move toward something more solid.

Yun Ruo felt it unrealistic, since their contact had been short. Compared to the five years before, she didn’t yet know Han Qi deeply. And Han Qi…?

She couldn’t figure him out.

Back in her room, Yun Ruo put away her things while Han Qi leaned against the doorway. “After tomorrow’s signing, Assistant Liu and the others will head back first. We’ll also move somewhere else.”

“Huh?” Yun Ruo turned in surprise.

“Once work is done tomorrow, it’ll be the weekend. We can rest. A friend of mine runs a resort outside the city, invited me to visit. I want to invite you, too. Tomorrow afternoon, we’ll go.”

Yun Ruo paused, then said “Okay.”

Han Qi had mentioned it before.

“Well then,” Han Qi opened the door, making a gentlemanly gesture for her to go first, “Miss Yun, I look forward to your pursuit.”

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