Her hands clenched the bedding, unable to comprehend what made her inferior to Meng Jingwei. Why did so many people favor Meng Jingwei and not her?
What had she done wrong?
The man walking toward the door stopped for a moment, his hand on the bedroom doorknob. He pulled at his lips. "Xing..."
Before the single syllable of "Xing" was fully uttered, he closed his mouth again.
He likely had countless emotions and words of counsel in his heart, but seeing her so fixated, Qiao Ziqian felt that speaking further was futile. He walked out directly, closing the door.
He indeed liked Tang Wanxing, but he would never take advantage of her vulnerability, nor would he stoop to any despicable means to obtain her.
Qiao Ziqian admitted that the moment his skin touched hers, his body's primal instincts were beyond his control. Countless wicked voices in his mind screamed: Sleep with her, sleep with her! Once you sleep with her, she'll be yours forever!
His mind was a chaotic mess, but reason ultimately triumphed. He rationally pushed her away and left.
Qiao Ziqian exited the bedroom and, grabbing his coat, prepared to leave the suite. Standing at the living room doorway, he clearly heard a near-mad shriek from the bedroom, filled with despair and sorrow in its hysteria.
The familiar voice struck his chest like a dagger, a dull ache that choked him.
But...
He had truly done his best.
Leaving the suite, Qiao Ziqian walked out of the hotel and sat alone in his car. He opened the car window a crack and stayed inside, smoking.
Ding—
His phone vibrated.
He leaned against the seat and opened his phone. It was a WeChat message: [Will you still help me get rid of Meng Jingwei?]
A single message fully conveyed Tang Wanxing's obsession.
Seeing the message, he felt an inexplicable restlessness but did not reply.
Ding—
His phone rang again.
[I know you not replying means you default. Arrange to meet Meng Jingwei tomorrow afternoon; my people will fully cooperate with you.]
Still a message from Tang Wanxing.
He pressed the phone's lock button, extinguishing the screen, unwilling to see any more messages that agitated him.
However, the phone wouldn't quiet down and rang again moments later.
Qiao Ziqian held a cigarette between his fingers, bringing it to his lips to smoke. With his other hand, he picked up the phone and answered without looking. "Can you just listen to me for a moment?"
"Uh... Ziqian, it's me."
Silence from the other end of the line for two seconds. Qiao Ziqian realized something was amiss. He moved the phone closer to his face and only then discovered that the person on the other end was Meng Jingwei.
Meng Jingwei was worried about Qiao Ziqian's mood and had been waiting for his call. Since he hadn't called after more than two hours, she had no choice but to call him proactively to inquire.
Who knew that as soon as the call connected, there was a burst of roaring from the other side, inexplicably startling Meng Jingwei.
"Oh, it's Mengmeng."
Qiao Ziqian impatiently swept his bangs away from his forehead. Who knew if he said one more word, it might give him away. He forced himself to remain calm. "Sorry, that was a friend calling just now."
"It's okay, I just wanted to ask how you're feeling and if you want to have a drink?"
Meng Jingwei had just left Chaoyun Esports but, having slept all day on the plane, felt no drowsiness. She was energetic and wanted to ask him.
"I'm at the film studio. You're far away, there's no need to make a special trip." Hearing Meng Jingwei's words, Qiao Ziqian's mood grew even heavier.
From his recent interactions with Meng Jingwei, he knew she was a truly exceptional woman.
If he had to remove her as an obstacle to someone else's relationship, it would be too unfair.