1, 2, 3, 3, 5... An Changxian had almost counted to ten, but still hadn't heard the beautiful woman ask him to stay.
He suppressed his smugness and walked downstairs step by step.
Normally, the easiest women to hook would ask for his phone number at this stage. Perhaps this beauty had seen too many handsome men and was surrounded by heroes, so this deal wasn't going to be easy.
However, the more difficult it was, the more excited he became. Women who were harder to get were more rewarding. It was less interesting if they were too easy.
Not long after An Changxian left, the waiter brought up two large bags of groceries and wine. "Miss, here are the items you ordered. They're a bit heavy. Do you want me to help you carry them to your car later?" The waiter was also very attentive to the beautiful woman.
"Thank you, my friend doesn't seem to be coming, so I'll trouble you then," Quan Jiu said as she stood up.
The waiter repeatedly said it was no trouble and followed Quan Jiu with the bags.
An Changxian, hiding in the dark corner outside the wall of Mi Lai Qing Bar, saw Quan Jiu and a waiter come out. He quietly followed them until he saw Quan Jiu get into an Audi A6L. Only then did he leave with satisfaction.
Although it wasn't comparable to the million-dollar cars of rich women, a car worth five or six hundred thousand yuan was still not cheap.
He sent a text message: "Your turn," and then hummed a tune as he got into his own car.
...
Because she had drunk a little, Quan Jiu asked the waiter to call a designated driver for her. She arrived at Lijing Yuncheng just after eight o'clock.
After parking the car in her private parking space, the designated driver collected his payment and left.
Quan Jiu sobered up in the car for a while before swaying out of the back seat and turning to the trunk.
"Strange, I didn't drink that much, why is it hitting me so hard?" Quan Jiu mumbled to herself, bending down to pick up the packed meals and wine.
However, she felt dizzy and her limbs were weak. Her feet slipped, and she leaned forward, about to fall headfirst into the trunk.
Quan Jiu gasped reflexively. At that critical moment, a strong arm caught her waist, stopping her from falling.
Then, with a strong pull, Quan Jiu's back bumped against a broad and sturdy chest.
Her waist was still held tightly. Although Quan Jiu was dizzy, her consciousness was clear. She struggled, "Thank you, you can let go now."
"Who were you drinking with?"
A hot breath blew into her ear, and a deep voice with a hint of danger struck Quan Jiu's mind, making her entire body go numb.
That voice, so familiar to her bones, seemed to have a magical power, tightly entwining Quan Jiu's body, making her stiff and unable to move.
Chu Rong tightened his grip on Quan Jiu's waist and asked again, "Who were you drinking with?"
Quan Jiu bit her lip hard, took a few deep breaths, and gradually regained her courage. She tried to pry his hands off her waist, "Let go. What does it matter to you who I drink with?"
"You're my wife, do you think it matters?" Chu Rong pursed his lips tightly. With a turn of his hand, he instantly spun Quan Jiu around to face him, bringing them close enough that their breaths mingled.
Quan Jiu looked at the person so close to her. His deep eyes seemed to want to swallow her whole.
She frowned and struggled, "We're getting divorced anyway, why do you care so much about me?"
"I haven't signed," Chu Rong closed the trunk with one hand and then pressed Quan Jiu against it, leaving her nowhere to retreat.
"Let go of me, you... you bastard." Quan Jiu was both ashamed and angry, struggling with all her might.
However, Chu Rong moved even closer. When their breaths were almost touching, he smiled gently, his eyes fixed on Quan Jiu's pink lips. "If you struggle any more, I can't guarantee I won't do something bad to you."
His sexy, deep voice sounded like a master of seduction, and his charming, deep eyes locked onto Quan Jiu, instantly bringing back countless ambiguous nights.
Her face flushed with shame and anger. In her frustration, she bent her knees, attempting to kick him.
But they were too close, and her waist was pressed against the trunk lid, making it difficult to exert force. She could only flail around.
She didn't know what she had touched, but Chu Rong's breathing suddenly grew heavy, and his voice became dangerous, "Don't move around."
"Then let me go." Quan Jiu no longer dared to look at him. She could only close her eyes, tilt her head, and push against the weight in front of her with all her might.
Seeing her struggle like a startled fawn, Chu Rong couldn't help but curve his lips into a playful smile. He gently brushed his lips against Quan Jiu's, and after a long moment, he let out a barely audible sigh and said softly, "Don't drink and go home alone anymore. It's very dangerous."
His voice was so gentle, as if she were the most precious treasure in the world. It instantly pulled Quan Jiu's memories back to many nights in the past, making her dazed for a moment.
But in the next instant, it was as if a conditioned reflex kicked in. The coldness that followed the gentleness made her feel a chill all over. She seemed to hear that cursed phrase again: "Meng Ran, you'll have to work hard for her blood this month." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Two years of grievances and pain instantly crushed her again. Quan Jiu trembled all over, tears uncontrollably streaming from her eyes. She pushed Chu Rong away with all her might, her heart filled with fear, and ran towards the elevator.
Chu Rong stood stiffly, watching Quan Jiu flee, his heart suddenly aching, tighter and tighter.
Is this... is this the back of you leaving me back then? Were you so afraid, so terrified, so... disgusted?
...
Quan Jiu returned home in a daze, but the fear in her heart did not subside. She knelt by the door, trembling all over, as past memories invaded her mind uncontrollably, causing her immense pain.
Hearing the door open, Mimi and Tutu ran out.
"Mom..." Their voices stopped abruptly. Then, Mimi rushed forward, cupping Quan Jiu's face. "Mom, what's wrong? What happened?"
Tutu also hurried over and knelt in front of Quan Jiu, his face full of worry. "Did someone bad bully you? Tell me who it is, and I'll beat him to death."
Despite her heart full of grievances and sadness, Quan Jiu didn't want to show it in front of her children.
She forcefully suppressed her emotions, hugged her two children, and trembled as she comforted them, "It's okay. I just saw a snake downstairs and got a little scared. I'll be fine in a while. Be good, what did you have for dinner?"
"Are you really okay?" Mimi asked with some suspicion.
"Really okay." Quan Jiu forced a smile, stroking the children's heads. "You have to watch your step when you go downstairs from now on."
Both children nodded. Tutu clenched his small fists. "Mom, don't be afraid. I'm a big boy, I'm not afraid of snakes. If I see one next time, I'll catch it and use it as a jump rope."
Quan Jiu chuckled, "Alright, alright, go wash up and go to bed."
After finally coaxing the two children into their rooms, Quan Jiu dragged her weary body back to her own room. Once she was in her room, the past pain surged back like a tide.
Countless memories became clearer and clearer, and her heart ached with every passing moment. Quan Jiu cried silently under the covers.
She never wanted to love like that again, never again. If love brought pain, she would rather not love.