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His words were merciless—the quickest and most effective way for a man to reject a woman.
“...Can’t get hard?”
Lu Sha was stunned by his bluntness, sucking in a sharp breath. Her expression darkened as she realized he was staring straight ahead. Following his gaze, she saw nothing and turned back with a faint laugh. “You weren’t like this before. Is there something wrong with you?”
“That’s none of your concern.”
With Qin Tang’s figure completely vanished from sight, Jiang Chuan’s expression turned utterly cold.
“Do you have someone else in mind?”
“So what if I do?”
Lu Sha had already wiped away her previous expression, regaining her composure with a faint smile. “Jiang Ge, I know what you’re doing now. I can help you.”
Jiang Chuan’s expression remained eerily calm. “Help me with what?”
Lu Sha parted her red lips, speaking calmly. “I thought you’d understand.”
Jiang Chuan smirked faintly. “No need. I don’t plan to stay in Beijing. And even if I did, it wouldn’t involve you.”
He was deliberately sidestepping the topic. Lu Sha lowered her lashes, knowing his personality well. Their breakup years ago hadn’t been pretty, and she had been the one to make the first mistake, crossing his boundaries. Repairing their relationship would be difficult.
Jiang Chuan no longer spared her a glance, turning and walking away.
Some things required careful planning.
---
The charity banquet was held on the third floor.
Qin Tang didn’t wait for the elevator. Lifting her skirt, she walked up the stairs instead.
Jiang Chuan arrived at the elevator doors but found no one there. The elevator was still open, and someone inside asked, “Sir, are you coming in?”
Jiang Chuan glanced back and stepped inside.
Exiting the elevator, he stood outside the banquet hall but didn’t see her anywhere.
A waiter passed by with a tray of drinks. Jiang Chuan picked up a glass of red wine, leaning against the door. From the corner of his eye, a yellow figure slowly came into view. Turning his head, he watched her intently. Qin Tang gave him a brief, indifferent glance before walking in.
Jiang Chuan reached out from behind, grasping the hand she used to hold her skirt. “Wait.”
Qin Tang loosened her fingers, using her other hand to pry his grip off.
He didn’t resist, watching as her pale, delicate fingers pried his hand open one finger at a time. In an instant, he released her.
She lifted her chin, like a proud peacock, and walked into the banquet hall.
Jiang Chuan watched as she smiled gracefully at the people surrounding her. Clenching his jaw, he drained his glass of wine in one gulp.
He Cong’an observed everything from afar, then approached Jiang Chuan from the opposite side, standing in front of him. “Mr. Jiang.”
“Jiang Chuan,” he corrected flatly.
“Jiang Chuan,” He Cong’an repeated, gesturing toward the outside. “May I have a word?”
Jiang Chuan glanced at him, set down his wine glass, and nodded.
The two men stood outside the corridor, leaning against the wall. Jiang Chuan lit a cigarette, taking a light drag as he asked indifferently, “What do you want to say?”
He Cong’an still held his glass of red wine, gently swirling it. “Do you like Tang Tang?”
“Yes,” Jiang Chuan replied simply.
He Cong’an hadn’t expected such a straightforward admission. “I like her too. I used to see her as a little sister, but now I see her as a woman.”
Jiang Chuan chuckled faintly. “I’ve always seen her as a woman.”
“Is that so?” He Cong’an frowned. “How much do you really know about her?”
“Not as much as you,” Jiang Chuan replied calmly. “But does it matter?”
He Cong’an paused, then smiled faintly. “You’re right. It doesn’t matter.”
Jiang Chuan flicked the ash from his cigarette, watching as it burned down to the filter. Only then did He Cong’an get to the point: “Tang Tang had a very intense romance once. His name was Chen Jingsheng—he was my high school classmate. Handsome, carefree, he loved extreme sports, especially motorcycle racing. He was a professional motorcycle racer. Tang Tang followed him and learned to ride motorcycles, bungee jump, surf… Back then, she was young, in her teens, full of youthful energy and eager to have fun. Most of the time, she was happy with him. She attended many of his races, which were always dangerous. Each time, she stood by nervously, fearfully, yet also thrillingly waiting for him.”
He Cong’an suddenly paused.
Jiang Chuan’s fingers tightened around the cigarette, and he slowly asked, “What about Chen Jingsheng?”
“He’s dead,” He Cong’an replied. “He died during the Isle of Man TT race in Bangkok.”
The Isle of Man TT was known as the world’s most daring, spectacular, and dangerous motorcycle race, with average speeds exceeding 200 km/h and top speeds reaching 330 km/h. Some riders literally gambled with their lives.
Chen Jingsheng had lost that gamble.
Jiang Chuan curled his fingers into a fist, extinguishing the still-burning cigarette butt directly against his palm. His voice grew colder. “You investigated me?”
He Cong’an admitted without hesitation, “Yes.”
Though the investigation hadn’t yielded much detail, it was clear that Jiang Chuan had once been associated with Zhao Qianhe. Today’s auctioneer, Lu Sha, was his ex-girlfriend. Later, Zhao Qianhe had been imprisoned, reportedly due to Jiang Chuan’s tip-off.
He Cong’an felt the matter wasn’t so simple. Was Jiang Chuan good or bad? By instinct, he didn’t seem like a bad person.
But that wasn’t necessarily a good thing either.
“I don’t know what you’re up to now, but I hope you’ll stay away from her. A relationship as intense as that—once in a lifetime is enough.”
Jiang Chuan remained expressionless, saying nothing.
“She needs a stable life now.”
After a long silence, Jiang Chuan finally rasped, “Is that so?”
He Cong’an froze. Was it true? Everyone thought so, and perhaps she had once believed it too. But when it came to matters of the heart, feelings couldn’t always be controlled by logic.
He Cong’an knew Qin Tang didn’t have strong feelings for him—at least not at this moment. Though reluctant to admit it, he could tell that she harbored some concern for Jiang Chuan. This was the first time in years.
Before He Cong’an could respond, Jiang Chuan quickly regained his composure. “This isn’t something you need to convey to me. I’ll ask her myself.”
With that, his tall figure turned sharply, bypassing the banquet hall entirely and heading straight for the stairs.
---
Qin Tang had drunk quite a bit, her cheeks flushed as she stepped out of the car. She told the driver, “You can go back now.”
She stood downstairs for a while, letting the cool breeze sober her up slightly.
Walking into the apartment building, she pressed the button for the 12th floor.
Her hand brushed against her right earring, and she frowned slightly, realizing one of her earrings was missing.
When the elevator doors opened, she was about to step inside when a sudden force yanked her backward. Her body collided with a strong, warm chest.
Startled, Qin Tang was about to cry out when she caught the familiar scent of tobacco. She looked up abruptly and saw it was him. Instantly, she quieted down, her eyes slowly welling up with tears.
Seeing her like this, Jiang Chuan’s throat tightened, his voice trapped deep in his chest, unable to speak.
Qin Tang quickly wriggled free from his grasp and rushed into the elevator before the doors closed. She hastily pressed the close button.
Jiang Chuan reached out, prying the doors open just as they were about to shut.
He strode inside.
Qin Tang glared at him. “What are you doing here?!”
Jiang Chuan stood beside her, looking down. Without warning, he reached out and touched her remaining earring.
Her ear immediately turned red.
Qin Tang slapped his hand away, retreating angrily to the corner of the elevator. Pointing at him, she snapped, “Stay away from me! Yes, right there. Don’t come any closer.”
Jiang Chuan pressed his lips together, watching her silently.
For now, he didn’t move.
His towering figure loomed by the door, casting a shadow over the small space.
Qin Tang sighed in frustration, touching her ear again. Where was her earring?
“Ding dong—”
She pointed at him again. “Stay where you are. Don’t follow me.”
Her slender frame slipped past him as she hurried out of the elevator.
Jiang Chuan stepped out after her, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back in front of him. Leaning down, he stared at her silently for half a second before asking, “Are you jealous?”
Qin Tang: “….”
Biting her lip, she lowered her head, reflecting on her own behavior. Only then did she realize how extreme her reactions had been.
Tonight, she could have drunk less.
But she hadn’t restrained herself.
All these unusual actions indicated that something was clearly wrong with her.
And she knew it.
From the moment she’d seen Jiang Chuan with Lu Sha, she had felt uneasy.
She tilted her head to look at him. “And what exactly are you doing? Playing with me?”
As she spoke, she felt both angry and wronged.
Just days ago, he had been teasing her, pressuring her for an answer.
And now, here he was, cozying up to another woman.
“I’m not,” Jiang Chuan said in a low voice, his dark eyes fixed on her. “I’ve never been more serious in my life.”
Qin Tang bit her lip, staring intently into his eyes.
“Don’t you believe me?” Jiang Chuan asked.
Qin Tang lowered her head, sidestepping him to reach the shoe rack. Kicking off her high heels, she stepped barefoot onto the floor and fished out her keys.
Jiang Chuan, ignored, spun around and grabbed her hand. With a firm tug, he pulled her close, pinning her against the wall, his body pressing tightly against hers. “Hm? Answer me.”
Qin Tang took a shaky breath, tilting her head to look at him. “It doesn’t matter whether I believe you or not. My answer hasn’t changed.”
“Why?” His large frame moved even closer, their bodies flush against each other, leaving no space between them. “Do you dislike me?”
His presence was overwhelming, his advances relentless.
Qin Tang’s defenses were crumbling. Her breathing grew shallow, her face flushing redder by the second.
“Not answering means you agree,” he murmured.
She tilted her head back. “I admit I feel something for you. So what? Does that mean we have to be together?”
Jiang Chuan braced one hand against the wall behind her, his dark eyes piercing into hers as he leaned closer. “How much did you drink?”
She held her breath, turning her head to avoid his approaching lips. “It’s none of your business.”
Jiang Chuan lowered his head further, his masculine scent enveloping her. Qin Tang’s body stiffened, her back pressed firmly against the wall with nowhere to retreat. Her hands clutched at his shirt, trying to push him away.
The next moment—
He gripped her chin, tilting her face toward him. Slightly angling his head, he leaned down and kissed her. The kiss started gentle, a soft suckling, then grew firmer as he nibbled on her tender lips, teasing her tongue until her senses tingled.
Qin Tang struggled, but her resistance only fueled his intensity. His hand slid to her waist, lightly caressing, sending involuntary shivers through her body. Gradually, she gave in, unconsciously beginning to respond to his kiss.
The tip of her tongue flicked slightly, and the man paused for a moment before swiftly capturing it, sucking gently until her tongue tingled and her heart fluttered.
This sensation left her intoxicated, unwilling to come back to reality.
Encountering someone who made her heart race—how rare it was.
His lips slowly moved away, trailing to her right ear, where he placed a soft kiss.
She trembled uncontrollably.
Jiang Chuan chuckled softly, pulling something out of his shirt pocket. His rough fingers fiddled with her earring, his heated breath lingering near her ear.
Qin Tang breathed heavily, asking, “...What are you doing?”
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