Psst! We're moving!
The world spun, and she collapsed onto the sofa.
For the first time, Qin Tang found the living room lights unbearably bright.
Her face flushed red, her eyes wet and clear as she gazed at the man above her. Her hands gently embraced his broad, muscular back, feeling the contours of his muscles. Jiang Chuan’s eyes locked onto hers as he sat up on her, swiftly pulling off his shirt.
The scars from his previous injuries were still visible—deep red, mingling with old wounds, exuding an indescribable masculinity that enticed her.
Jiang Chuan leaned down again, kissing her lips, her neck, her collarbone...
His hand slid down, gliding along her calf, then up her thigh. He pushed her skirt up to her waist, his large palm moving behind her to grasp her round buttocks, kneading them through the thin fabric.
Suddenly, Qin Tang pressed her hand against his. Jiang Chuan lifted his head, meeting her half-closed eyes, their corners slightly upturned, her thick lashes trembling faintly. “It’s too bright,” she murmured softly.
Jiang Chuan kissed her cheek, his voice hoarse. “Do you want me to turn off the light?”
She nodded obediently. “Yes.”
Jiang Chuan’s heart softened. He kissed her gently, then quickly stood up to switch off the ceiling light, leaving only the warm orange glow of a floor lamp by the sofa. The soft light bathed her fair skin in a honeyed hue, her red skirt bunched up at her waist, her long legs pressed tightly together—a sight both seductive and enchanting.
He took a deep breath.
His body quickly descended upon hers, his breathing heavy as he forcefully pulled the strap of her dress off her shoulder, leaving it caught at her waist.
In the dim light, he finally saw her clearly. Lowering his head, he bit and kissed the soft, pale skin beneath him.
Outside the window, all was silent; the only sound was his labored breathing.
Qin Tang ran her hands over his back, her nails slowly digging into his flesh as she breathed softly.
His hand moved from her buttocks to the front, gently stroking and exploring.
A suppressed moan escaped her lips: “Wait… wait...”
Jiang Chuan raised his head, his eyes black as ink.
Qin Tang, her face crimson, looked at him and called his name. “Jiang Chuan.”
“Mm.”
“Can you tell me who you really are?”
“...”
Jiang Chuan clenched his teeth, his jaw tightening as sweat dripped from his body. It was clear he could barely hold himself back.
“Do we have to talk about this now?” His voice was hoarse beyond recognition.
Qin Tang bit her lip, turning her head away but silently affirming her demand.
Sweat poured down Jiang Chuan’s face as he gritted his teeth, frustration boiling within him. He wanted to strangle the woman beneath him.
She had effortlessly tempted him.
If they didn’t clarify things, there would be no going forward.
Jiang Chuan lowered his head, biting her earlobe harshly. “What if I refuse to tell you?”
Qin Tang whimpered softly, “It hurts…”
Jiang Chuan took a deep breath, pressing his entire weight onto her.
This man was as heavy as a mountain, and Qin Tang squirmed uncomfortably beneath him.
“Still moving!” He pinned her down firmly. “Do you believe I’ll take you right here, right now?”
“...” She remained silent, her eyes fixed stubbornly on his like a defiant little animal.
Jiang Chuan’s eyes turned bloodshot. After a long pause, he sighed helplessly, rolling off her and shifting to lie beside her on the sofa. Pulling her close to the innermost side of the couch, his chest pressed against her back. In the next instant, he tugged down her flimsy undergarments.
Qin Tang panicked. “What are you doing?!”
Jiang Chuan bit her shoulder, pressing her legs together and positioning himself between them. She shivered at the sudden heat.
He moved slightly, and Qin Tang quickly realized what he was doing.
---
“Jiang Chuan...”
“Mm.”
“Are you afraid of death?”
“Yes.”
“Jiang Chuan.”
“Mm.”
“Do you value your life?”
“Mm.”
After a long silence...
He panted behind her, nibbling at her ear. “Are you afraid I’ll die?”
“Mm...” She trembled faintly.
Perhaps it was a woman’s instinctive sensitivity. His refusal to let her go to Xi’an left her uneasy.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to happen.
Deep down, Qin Tang was afraid—afraid that the same tragedy might befall her once more.
Jiang Chuan touched her damp eyes. His pupils darkened as he realized these tears weren’t shed for him. His chest tightened painfully.
For a fleeting moment, he wanted to take her regardless of everything.
But a sliver of reason remained, and in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead, he punished her with relentless force.
This unconventional form of release lasted for a long while.
His hand trailed down her abdomen, exploring further.
Finally, Qin Tang trembled alongside him.
Jiang Chuan propped himself up on one elbow, looking into her eyes. “Qin Tang, listen to me.”
Her face was flushed, her eyes misty as she gazed at him.
Jiang Chuan lowered his head, kissing her cheek and nuzzling her ear. “I value my life, and I won’t let myself die easily.”
Then, with a touch of arrogance:
“If I’m going to die, I’ll die on top of you.”
---
Jiang Chuan carried her out of the bathroom and headed toward the master bedroom.
Qin Tang tugged at him, whispering softly, “Let’s sleep in the guest room.”
That was her domain.
Before fully accepting him, she didn’t want him to completely invade her space.
Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow but said nothing, carrying her to the guest room instead.
He lay beside her, his hand sliding to the inside of her thigh. She trembled slightly. “Don’t touch me—it hurts…”
Jiang Chuan noticed the various red marks on her shoulders, some large, some small. Feeling a pang of guilt, he gently consoled her: “I was upset earlier. Next time, don’t provoke me like that. If it happens again, I won’t hold back.”
Qin Tang bit her lip. “You have a choice.”
She had given him an option, but he chose to endure rather than speak.
“Next time,” he said. “I’ll definitely tell you next time.”
Jiang Chuan closed his eyes. Some things were hard to put into words—where to begin, how to explain.
That accident… A high school student, two college students.
And then there was Chen Jingsheng.
The man trapped in the driver’s seat—it was Chen Jingsheng.
The one whose right leg was injured—it was Chen Jingsheng.
Many things could be guessed.
The reason Chen Jingsheng died on the racetrack was likely due to the injury to his right leg.
Qin Tang didn’t say anything. She turned around and hugged him tightly.
During the night, she slept soundly, nestled obediently in his arms.
Jiang Chuan stared at her for a long time before leaning down to kiss the corner of her lips. He gently pulled his body away slightly.
---
The next morning, when Qin Tang woke up, Jiang Chuan was already gone.
She ran out barefoot, spotting him sitting in the living room. “I thought you’d left.”
Jiang Chuan smiled faintly. “Go put on your shoes and have breakfast.”
Qin Tang went back to put on her shoes and quickly returned.
At the dining table, she asked, “What time is your flight tonight?”
Jiang Chuan glanced at her. “I booked a train ticket.”
“Oh, what time?”
“A little after six.”
Qin Tang drank her milk and looked at him. “I’ll come see you off.”
Jiang Chuan chuckled. “No need.”
Qin Tang thought for a moment but didn’t insist.
They ordered takeout for lunch, and soon after, Jiang Chuan prepared to leave. Qin Tang walked him to the elevator door, her gaze quiet yet expectant.
Jiang Chuan knew what she was waiting for—she was waiting for his final explanation.
In the end, he said nothing.
---
Jiang Chuan arrived early the next morning and sent Qin Tang a message.
Back at the volunteer station, Aunt Gui had already returned with the breakfast cart. Lü An and Xiao Cheng weren’t around, but A Qi, Bai, and Xu Peng were in the courtyard sorting packages. When they saw him walk in, they jumped up in surprise. “Brother Jiang, you’re back!”
Jiang Chuan dropped his luggage. “Where’s Lü An?”
A Qi hadn’t seen him in a while and was excited. “Brother Lü and Xiao Cheng went to handle transport jobs. Brother Lü picked up several orders.”
Jiang Chuan smiled faintly, suddenly remembering something. He bent down and pulled a delicate little bottle from his luggage bag.
“From Qin Tang.”
Perfume!
A Qi’s eyes widened, and she fidgeted nervously. “Didn’t I say I didn’t need it…”
But deep down, she was thrilled. What girl wouldn’t like such things?
“Take it if she gave it to you.”
A Qi finally stepped forward to accept it, looking up at him. “Brother Jiang, will Sister Qin Tang come back this time?”
Jiang Chuan replied indifferently, “No.”
Xu Peng, sitting on a stool, chimed in excitedly, “We saw her on TV and in the news the other day! We never expected her to really be Jing Xin’s daughter… And she’s the head of the An Yi Foundation too. She looks amazing on camera—super pretty!”
Bai added, “Even prettier in person, right?”
Xu Peng nodded with a laugh but paused, his tone tinged with regret. “It’s a shame that Sister Qin Tang isn’t coming back.”
A Qi clutched the perfume, her expression a mix of sadness and hidden joy.
If Qin Tang wasn’t returning, did that mean she could dream of being with Brother Jiang again?
Jiang Chuan ignored all this, took his luggage upstairs, showered, and changed clothes.
As he came back downstairs, he called Cao Yan. “Where are you now?”
Cao Yan: “You’re back?”
“Mm.”
“I’m keeping watch at Kunlun Group. Jiang Kun arrived in Xi’an last night. It seems he’s caught wind of something—the number of security guards outside has doubled.”
“What did you find in the development zone basement?”
“Just as you said, there is a basement, but it’s been cleaned out thoroughly. Other than the lingering smell of cigarettes and alcohol, there’s nothing left. It seems they got wind of our investigation and cleared everything out.”
Jiang Chuan frowned. “Tsk.”
Cao Yan sighed. “This Jiang Kun—he’s cunning and cautious. Taking him down won’t be easy.”
Jiang Chuan sneered. “Even the craftiest fox leaves behind a tail.”
“Anything new on your end?”
“Still waiting.” Jiang Chuan said. “Let’s meet up.”
After hanging up, Jiang Chuan headed straight to the agreed-upon location.
By the afternoon, Jiang Chuan checked his phone. Qin Tang still hadn’t replied to his message. Frowning, he dialed her number.
He waited a long time, but no one answered.
He tried several more times, with the same result.
Gritting his teeth, Jiang Chuan called Cao Sheng. Cao Sheng immediately contacted his subordinates to inquire about the situation.
“Qin Tang is at her studio.”
Jiang Chuan’s face darkened. She was deliberately ignoring his calls.
He pulled out a cigarette, lighting it. Cao Yan reached out. “Give me one too.”
The two leaned against the wall, smoking. Jiang Chuan frowned, thinking about last night. They had done everything except the final step, and now she was pulling this on him today.
He hadn’t realized before how many tricks she had up her sleeve.
Thinking back to last night, his kidneys heated up involuntarily. He took a fierce drag on his cigarette.
The next second, he choked on the smoke.
Cao Yan gave him a strange look and teased, “A grown man choking on a cigarette? You’re acting like a beginner.”
Jiang Chuan tossed the cigarette butt aside, stubbing it out with his foot. “I’m leaving.”
---
That evening, when Jiang Chuan returned to the volunteer station, A Qi was outside pouring water. Seeing him, she called out, “Brother Jiang!”
Jiang Chuan nodded slightly. A Qi ran over and whispered, “Someone else has come.”
Xiao Cheng heard the commotion and ran out as well, cheerfully calling out, “Brother Jiang!”
Jiang Chuan frowned. “Who is it?”
A Qi grinned. “A woman. Very beautiful.”