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While Qin Xiao waited for her, he didn’t dare park his car too close because it was too conspicuous. But he also couldn’t stay too far away, fearing he might miss her when she came out.
As a result, he stood here freezing like a block of ice.
But before he could even walk over, she had already run toward Dong Xu on her own.
He felt a bit self-mocking but had no intention of standing there to watch.
Su Ling was quite embarrassed by Dong Xu’s earlier gesture. Though somewhat oblivious to romantic feelings, she had always been sensitive to the opposite sex’s affection due to her striking beauty since childhood.
Realizing his unguarded moment, Dong Xu quickly smiled to prevent her discomfort: “The melted snow can easily cause a cold. Let’s get into the car. We’ll go pick up your assistant.”
Su Ling nodded. A teasing voice sounded behind her: “Where are we going?”
Dong Xu recognized the newcomer and was surprised: “Qin Xiao?”
Occasionally, people in Dong Xu’s circle mingled with those from Qin Xiao’s, as their families’ interests often intertwined. The Qin family was large and powerful, leading to frequent collaborations.
However, their relationship was only superficial—polite acquaintances who exchanged smiles upon meeting.
Dong Xu looked down on Qin Xiao’s vile character, while Qin Xiao disliked Dong Xu’s pretentious intellectual demeanor.
Qin Xiao clicked his tongue: “Director Dong, aren’t you going to introduce us?” His gaze fell on Su Ling, making her feel an icy chill.
She didn’t know what Qin Xiao intended to do, but knowing his smile that hid sinister intentions beneath, he must have seen the earlier scene.
Dong Xu frowned but couldn’t afford to break ties with Qin Xiao over this matter. Thus, he calmly introduced: “An actress from the crew, Su Ling.” Then, turning to Su Ling, he said, “Su Ling, this is Qin Xiao, the president of the Qin Corporation.”
Su Ling: “...”
Qin Xiao curved his lips into a smile: “What? Miss Su, do you look down on me? Aren’t you going to greet me properly?”
Su Ling was a bit dazed and instinctively followed his lead: “Mr.… Mr. Qin, hello.”
His eyes grew colder. Like hell he was doing well.
However, his face betrayed nothing as he casually asked Dong Xu: “Dong Xu, do you like her?”
Dong Xu: “...” What the hell! Although he did harbor some feelings, Qin Xiao barely knew him or Su Ling. Asking such a question would only make everyone uncomfortable.
Without denying it immediately, Dong Xu instinctively glanced at Su Ling beside him.
Su Ling’s eyes were wide open, resembling a cute, dumbstruck cat. She seemed equally stunned by Qin Xiao’s blunt and terrifying statement.
Qin Xiao maliciously smirked: “Ah… so he really likes you. What about you? Do you like him too?”
Dong Xu’s embarrassment reached its peak. He could only interject: “This has nothing to do with Mr. Qin. What brings you to M City?”
Qin Xiao ignored him. With a hint of wildness, he continued to look at Su Ling, repeating his question: “What about you? Do you like him, hmm?”
Su Ling furrowed her brows and then honestly shook her head. In situations like this, shameless people like Qin Xiao wouldn’t be embarrassed, so she tried to ease Dong Xu’s awkwardness: “Mr. Qin, Director Dong is a good director, and I’m just an actress in his crew. Please don’t speculate about our relationship like this.”
Dong Xu’s eyes dimmed slightly, and he became less polite towards Qin Xiao: “Mr. Qin seems to be meddling too much.”
Qin Xiao’s slender fingers interlocked, the sound of bones grinding echoing faintly. He sneered at Dong Xu. Meddling too much?
Fear crept into Su Ling’s eyes. Was this violent madman Qin Xiao about to lose control?
Qin Xiao had been observing her expression closely and found himself amused at this moment.
He put his hands back into his pockets; his legs were freezing. If anyone got close to him, they’d feel how icy he was, devoid of any human warmth.
With a rebellious glint in his eyes, he turned to Dong Xu: “She doesn’t like you. Did you hear that clearly?”
Qin Xiao found it somewhat amusing. He resembled those deranged villains from novels or TV dramas who come to break apart the main couple.
Dong Xu was provoked into anger: “Miss Su already said that our relationship is purely professional. It’s Mr. Qin’s filthy mind that assumes otherwise and projects that onto others.”
Qin Xiao smiled, openly admitting: “Yes, my mind is filthy.”
He turned to Su Ling, and she instinctively took a step back, frightened.
“If he doesn’t want to coerce you, I do. Consider me, hmm?”
Dong Xu’s face turned green.
Politeness aside, any man would lose his temper at this point. Qin Xiao wanted to punch him, and Dong Xu wanted to punch this crazy man too.
At this tense moment, Su Ling softly sighed: “Qin Xiao.”
Her soft, sweet voice made his heart tremble. Despite his sharp, blade-like gaze that seemed ready to flay Dong Xu alive and spank her hard, her call softened him.
“How dare you not call me Mr. Qin?” His tone was gruff.
Su Ling didn’t know why, but she felt a bit like laughing.
She genuinely laughed, her eyes curving beautifully, moist and adorable. Some of the snow on her head had melted, lightly dusting her hair again.
Her long lashes carried tiny snowflakes.
He stared blankly, entranced by her beauty, almost forgetting his anger.
“Qin Xiao, let’s talk somewhere else.” She then looked at Dong Xu with an apologetic glance, “Sorry, Director Dong. Mr. Qin and I know each other.”
Dong Xu’s face changed unpredictably, realizing he had been played by Qin Xiao. Judging by the situation, they were more than acquaintances. Qin Xiao had clearly come to snatch her away. His expression cooled slightly, but he still told Su Ling: “It’s alright.”
Feeling both embarrassed and guilty, Su Ling softly apologized again: “I’m sorry.”
Qin Xiao couldn’t stand her apologizing to others—it was him who caused the trouble, yet she was apologizing. He directly pulled her shoulder: “Alright, let’s go.”
She was half-dragged by him, aware that people were watching. Her face flushed red: “Let… let go, I can walk on my own.”
Qin Xiao chuckled and released her.
A flame that once burned within him now left only gentle warmth.
Su Ling found this scene both embarrassing and helpless. She didn’t dare turn around to see Dong Xu’s expression. She now regretted not exposing Qin Xiao earlier.
Though she no longer wanted to be like her past life, shielded by someone to survive in the entertainment industry, she also didn’t want Dong Xu dragged into this mess.
“Tang Zi is still in the car.”
Qin Xiao paused, raising an eyebrow: “Hmm?”
“She’s feeling unwell and can’t drive, so I went to ask Director Dong to take her back.” However, given the current situation, her already thin-skinned nature made her feel incredibly guilty. How could she possibly bother Dong Xu again?
His gaze was strange, making Su Ling stutter: “You… don’t look at me like that.”
He smiled, feeling the ice in his heart slowly melt. He hadn’t dared hope she would explain anything. After all, he thought this life was already doomed.
Whether she liked Dong Xu or even wanted to marry him, he wouldn’t allow it.
Some say the deepest form of love is letting go.
He always thought that was bullshit.
When love runs deep, it sears the bones and blood, slowly corroding a person until they rot in the dust. Breathing her scent, closing eyes to her voice and appearance—no one truly lets go.
Even if it meant degrading oneself, they would crawl step by step to her side.
Yet she really explained, even though it might have been a simple sentence to her without any intent to clarify. But he was grateful for it.
He clung to this tiny, pitiful warmth, desperately living on in her world.
This way, he wouldn’t go mad.
As long as she gave him a little warmth, he was willing to pretend forever. He wouldn’t lose his temper, bully her, or oppose her. He’d support everything and gently coax her.
He even learned to smile and say goodbye.
He had to give her the illusion of freedom to nurture the hope of love.
Qin Xiao averted his gaze: “Let’s go. I’ll help you take her back.”
Tang Zi was slumped in the car. As they approached, Tang Zi was horrified. Oh my god, wasn’t that Young Master Qin!
Just now… Tang Zi shuddered.
Young Master Qin could kill people… He was a devil… He nearly killed his own uncle and disowned his mother. Too terrifying!
But Qin Xiao walked over, tapped on the car window, and lazily said: “Move to the backseat. I’ll drive.”
“Yes, yes.”
Tang Zi saw Su Ling’s expression and secretly sighed in relief, thinking the situation wasn’t as bad as she feared.
Su Ling also wanted to move to the backseat, but Qin Xiao smiled: “What are you doing? Sit next to me and give me directions.”
In the end, Su Ling decided not to argue and sat in the passenger seat.
Tang Zi pretended to be dead in the backseat.
She felt like a ten-thousand-watt light bulb.
Qin Xiao wanted to help Su Ling fasten her seatbelt, but she refused, feeling shy: “I can do it myself.”
He insisted, bending over and leaning forward to buckle it for her.
Su Ling tried to push him away but accidentally touched his hand—it was terribly cold. She froze for a moment, then pursed her lips, deciding not to ask anything.
After fastening her seatbelt, Qin Xiao thought she was surprisingly obedient.
He wasn’t a talkative man and didn’t like to say much in front of Tang Zi. Without further ado, he drove them back to the hotel.
He drove very steadily, which was completely unlike his usual character. Tang Zi quietly marveled inside.
They soon arrived at the hotel.
Tang Zi silently got out. Su Ling turned her head to look at him. She also wondered why Qin Xiao had come to M City so late.
She wasn’t very afraid of him anymore, perhaps because he had indeed changed a lot.
In the past, he wanted to build a cage and personally lock her inside.
Now, if she said, “I’m leaving,” he would actually smile and say, “Alright.” This made her feel reassured.
She was a normal person. She disliked being forced and hated dramatic scenes of taking by force.
If he could act like a normal person, she naturally wouldn’t avoid him like the plague.
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