Chapter 70: “I allow you to kiss me.”

What shocked Cheng Yao even more wasn’t that. Looking at the expression of pure disdain Qian Heng wore toward the surrounding environment, she even felt a bit sorry for him. “Boss, is there some urgent matter you need me to handle? You can just email or call me. There’s no need to come here in person. This place… this place’s style is completely incompatible with yours after all…”

Xue Ming paused upon hearing this. “He’s your boss?” He rolled his eyes, then said with hostility in his voice, “Although work is indeed important, today is the weekend. Cheng Yao also has private time. After my date with Cheng Yao ends, I’ll go back with her and help her finish your overtime work.”

At this point Xue Ming shifted the conversation. He looked Qian Heng up and down from head to toe. “Besides, someone of your status and attire is really not suitable for eating here. The dishes here are probably all made with gutter oil. Your delicate stomach probably can’t handle it.”

Somehow, the usually mild Xue Ming also didn’t seem to get along with Qian Heng. Cheng Yao was afraid the two of them would clash if this continued, so she worked hard to play peacemaker. “Boss, this place is really too dirty, messy, and poor. It’s truly not suitable for you. I’m afraid it’ll get your clothes dirty too. They’re so expensive…”

“Not expensive. Only twenty thousand.”

“…”

Although Qian Heng’s contempt for the surrounding environment was visible to the naked eye, under the joint persuasion of Cheng Yao and Xue Ming he still stubbornly stayed put. This attitude meant he had no intention of leaving.

If it were anyone else, Xue Ming wouldn’t have endured it no matter what. But upon learning the other party was Cheng Yao’s boss, out of consideration for Cheng Yao, he could only be angry but not dare speak. Still, he had no intention of accommodating Qian Heng either. He simply started eating on his own, preparing to use the ignore method and treat Qian Heng as air.

“Yaoyao, since your boss is so free and wants to watch us eat here, just let him stay.” Xue Ming said through gritted teeth. “We’ll eat our own food. After we’re done you can go back and work overtime with your boss.”

Xue Ming ate the boiled beef one piece at a time while shooting a sidelong glance at Qian Heng, as if deliberately speaking for him to hear. “By the way, Yaoyao, I still haven’t asked you—what’s your standard for choosing a partner?” Xue Ming said this, then looked at Cheng Yao a bit sheepishly. “I just wanted to ask, what kind of guy do you like?”

“Ah? Me?” Cheng Yao was a bit surprised. She thought for a moment and was just about to answer when Qian Heng interrupted and seized the floor.

“She likes men taller than 185.” After speaking, Qian Heng looked down from above at the constrained Xue Ming. “You’re only around 178, right? See, you’re shorter than me by more than half a head.”

“…”

Cheng Yao was just about to explain when Qian Heng opened his mouth again. “She likes men with strong professional ability who are sufficiently outstanding.”

Seeing that Cheng Yao didn’t speak, Xue Ming assumed she had tacitly agreed to this standard.

Xue Ming’s eyes lit up again, a bit shy. “I was just rated as an outstanding work model this year.”

“Oh, the kind of outstanding she likes refers to those whose annual income exceeds a hundred million.”

“…”

“No no, don’t listen to my boss joking…” Cheng Yao hurriedly wanted to debunk the rumor, but Qian Heng gave her a warning glance. Although he didn’t speak, Cheng Yao had already tacitly read the subtext from Qian Heng’s eyes—

Do you still want your year-end bonus?

“…”

Cheng Yao, who had yielded to money, could only knowingly shut her mouth and let Qian Heng perform.

“She also likes men who look good in suits.”

Cheng Yao’s silence further deepened Xue Ming’s misunderstanding.

His eyes lit up again. He looked at Cheng Yao. “When I wear a suit, people at our company all say I’m pretty handsome.”

Qian Heng smiled. “Oh, I forgot to mention—men who look good in suits costing more than twenty thousand.”

“…”

Only when the conversation reached this point did Xue Ming realize. He finally reacted that Cheng Yao’s silence was probably the kind of being angry but not daring to speak in the face of power. He finally couldn’t endure it any longer. “What’s wrong with you? Even though you’re Yaoyao’s boss, aren’t you interfering too much in her private life?”

“I didn’t come today in the capacity of Cheng Yao’s boss.”

Cheng Yao no longer knew how to handle this development. What was wrong with Qian Heng today? Had he graduated from the Central Drama Academy and come to display his professional quality? What was he going to do this time? Continue causing trouble in the capacity of roommate? Had he gotten addicted to retaliating against her? Determined not to give her any chance to leave singlehood no matter what?

“I came today in the capacity of Cheng Yao’s quasi-boyfriend.”

See, he really started performing… Just as Cheng Yao was preparing to complain internally, she suddenly reacted.

Wait… wait… what quasi-boyfriend?

Cheng Yao looked up in shock at Qian Heng. The other party, after announcing such explosive news, still maintained cold composure, as if discussing today’s weather.

“Cheng Yao is chasing me.” Qian Heng declared without changing expression or heartbeat. “At first I refused, but now, after intense ideological struggle, I’ve thought it through.” Qian Heng looked at Cheng Yao and smiled slightly. “I allow you to chase me.”

“No no! Boss! You’ve got it wrong!!! Didn’t I already explain clearly to you just now? I’m not chasing you. That gift box was a misunderstanding?! Your recent memory is a bit problematic. Later I’ll buy you some Brain Platinum to clear your head!!!”

After this back-and-forth, Xue Ming was naturally driven away by anger. But after Xue Ming left, no matter how Cheng Yao explained, Qian Heng still didn’t express any stance. He only looked at Cheng Yao with dangerous eyes.

“Cheng Yao.”

After Cheng Yao’s mouth had almost gone dry from talking, Qian Heng, who had previously had a complicated expression and not said a word, finally opened his mouth.

His expression was still composed, his tone also calm to the extreme. “I am a bona fide third party.”

“Ah???”

“I’ve thought it over.” Qian Heng stared at Cheng Yao. “The relationship and fact of the wrong shipment between you and the factory—I, as a third party, was not aware of it. Therefore my misunderstanding was also a non-subjectively malicious misunderstanding based on lack of knowledge. Thus the adverse effects and consequences caused by the wrong shipment between you two cannot be used against the erroneous decision I, as this bona fide third party, made due to the misunderstanding. Consequently, the losses caused by my decision cannot be claimed against me by you either; you can only claim against the factory that shipped the wrong goods. My decision—you must cooperate in fulfilling it.”

Cheng Yao was completely foggy. “What?”

Qian Heng pressed his lips together. “I have already reluctantly made the decision to allow you to pursue me.”

Before Cheng Yao could react, she heard Qian Heng say righteously, “Therefore you must chase me.”

Cheng Yao: ???

“Because I am a bona fide third party.”

“…”

“My, Qian Heng’s, emotions cannot be wasted.” Qian Heng said righteously. “Since I have already been guided by this error to think for a long time and made a decision, then this decision must be executed. I must be worthy of my time that converts to 166.666… yuan per minute.”

“…”

Under extreme shock, Cheng Yao had already forgotten that she should first respond to the boss’s words. She subconsciously first considered the issue of the bona fide third party and argued on the basis of reason. “Bona fide third party is a concept in the disposition of property rights. What we’re involving here is personal relationships. Personal relationships cannot be forcibly enforced. You can’t force me to chase you like this! This is illegal! It completely runs contrary to legal principles!”

Qian Heng’s brows furrowed slightly. Facing Cheng Yao’s accusation, he remained very calm. He glanced at Cheng Yao. “I order you to chase me with your year-end bonus.”

“…”

This was completely abandoning reason and law and starting hegemonic strong-power politics…

“In view of the fact that you indeed did not subjectively intentionally cause my misunderstanding, in terms of time I’ll give you a bit more concession.” Qian Heng said coldly. “Three days.”

“But…”

“There is no but.”

“No, just…”

This time Qian Heng directly covered Cheng Yao’s mouth, not giving her any further chance to speak.

He looked at Cheng Yao calmly and said lightly, “Silence is golden.”

“…”

Although his expression was calm, Qian Heng’s beautiful eyes were written full of death threats.

“…”

Cheng Yao simply wanted to cry but had no tears. What the fuck was this ghost?! This was forcing a good person into prostitution! In this world, there was actually someone who forced others to have improper thoughts about himself!

“It’s decided. Let’s go.” Qian Heng slightly furrowed his brows as he looked around the small restaurant. “I really can’t continue staying in this place. My style is about to be polluted to the point of collapsing.”

“…”

Go?! Go where else? Cheng Yao thought. What dead end is this going toward?!

Heaven and earth bear witness—right now she only wanted to call Qin Qin and arrange a fight! Look at what kind of mess that broken gift box she recommended had caused?!

As a result, fifteen minutes later, Cheng Yao was brought by Qian Heng to the entrance of a movie theater.

Cheng Yao: ???

Qian Heng looked straight ahead into the distance. “Oh, let’s start counting from today.”

Cheng Yao paused before reacting. “Three days, starting from now?”

More than half of this day had already passed!

Qian Heng gave a word-sparing “Mm” and continued maintaining the posture of not looking at Cheng Yao.

“Then what are we doing now???”

“Generally speaking, the pursuing party will treat the pursued to a movie.”

Cheng Yao nodded repeatedly. “Okay okay. Whatever Boss says!”

For some reason—perhaps an aura problem—every time she was with Qian Heng, Cheng Yao would ultimately always lose in his powerful sophistry and twisted logic, unconsciously being led along by him.

In the face of Qian-style hegemony, she had unknowingly been poisoned and accepted this bizarre development.

Cheng Yao hurriedly pulled out her phone. “So Boss, what movie do you want to watch? Today’s showings include a Hollywood superhero film, a domestic youth romance film, a Japanese horror ghost film, and an Indian song-and-dance film.”

“Horror film.”

Cheng Yao didn’t dare hesitate. She immediately prepared to book the tickets.

“Use my card.” Just as she was about to pay, Qian Heng coldly handed over his bank card.

“Eh?”

Qian Heng’s voice was still calm and unruffled, only carrying a slight unnaturalness in the tone. “During these three days, the expenses caused by pursuing me—I’ll reimburse you.” Qian Heng cleared his throat. “After all, I’m relatively expensive. Ordinary people can’t afford to pursue me. In view of this situation, I’ll subsidize you.”

Once a person is poisoned, even their thinking is filled with toxins. Cheng Yao was completely led astray. She thought gratefully, Boss is so considerate!

“Thank you, Boss!” After thanking him, she remembered again. “Then, um, Boss, what’s the password for your card?”

Qian Heng concisely and directly reported a string of numbers.

Cheng Yao used the card to pay for the movie tickets, then hurriedly bounced back to return the card.

But Qian Heng had a new demand. He didn’t take the card back. He only lightly glanced at the young couple walking past while holding popcorn.

Cheng Yao wasn’t stupid. She immediately understood. She hurriedly took the card and bought a large bucket of popcorn, plus two cans of cola.

The two of them thus took their seats.

Although Cheng Yao knew this was a Japanese horror film, she had never expected that this horror film was also in 3D!

From sound effects, environment, and sense of immersion, this horror film was truly very terrifying!

Cheng Yao hugged the popcorn and trembled. The moment she got nervous she frantically stuffed popcorn into her mouth. Halfway through the movie, almost the entire bucket of popcorn had gone into her stomach.

She had no time to care about anything else. She only desperately suppressed the urge to scream. Occasionally she glanced at Qian Heng beside her and discovered that the other party, facing a screen full of ghosts and minced flesh and severed limbs, was still expressionless and extremely calm.

But Cheng Yao herself was almost scared to death!!! She gritted her teeth and clutched her coat.

Just as she was so afraid she was about to run away, Qian Heng leaned close to her.

His voice was low, still calm and composed, with a cool texture, yet because it was right by Cheng Yao’s ear, the airflow carried ambiguous warmth.

“Generally speaking, when watching a horror movie, the pursuer will take the opportunity to hold the hand of the person being pursued.”

Before Cheng Yao could react, Qian Heng’s hand reached over. “Oh, your hand is too short, so I’ll reluctantly hold yours.”

Then a warm hand grasped Cheng Yao’s.

Just a moment ago she had still been scared to death by the horror film, completely carried away by the atmosphere in the movie. Yet at this moment, because of this hand of Qian Heng’s, Cheng Yao only felt a wave of heat rising from the place where their skin touched. Her face also flushed along with it. Her entire person only felt a boom in her head. The atmosphere of the horror film from just now suddenly turned into a romance film—and the kind that made one’s face red and heart race.

What the second half of the movie was about, Cheng Yao almost didn’t know. She only focused on blushing, her heart pounding violently as if it was about to jump out of her chest. How could she still take in the plot?

She didn’t know if Qian Heng was the same. Cheng Yao didn’t dare look at him at all. Only that hand of his holding hers gradually grew scorching hot in the palm as well.

When the movie ended and the audience dispersed, Cheng Yao finally stood up following Qian Heng. She looked at Qian Heng uneasily and nervously, stammering as she asked, “Now… now that we’ve finished watching, do we… do we still need to hold hands?”

“Holding hands is an important progress on the successful path of pursuing someone.” Qian Heng said seriously. “Of course you should press the advantage.”

Cheng Yao nodded like a chicken pecking at rice. Qian Heng lightly pulled her. “Let’s go.”

The two of them had originally planned to eat dinner together, but unfortunately after Qian Heng took a phone call, the dinner plan had to be shelved.

“A client has a bit of an urgent matter that needs handling.” Qian Heng’s hand was still holding Cheng Yao’s. His ears were also a bit red, only his tone was still composed. “So you have no choice but to separate from me.”

“Looking at how sad your face is, I can send you home.” Qian Heng cleared his throat. “You can seize the time in the car to look at me more.”

Cheng Yao: ???

Is there a sad expression on my face?? She thought. I haven’t even sorted out my thoughts from the panic yet. Where would I have the free time to be sad!

Cheng Yao thus uneasily sat in the Bentley and let Qian Heng send her back downstairs.

The moment she got out of the car, Qian Heng called her again. “Cheng Yao.”

“Hm?”

Qian Heng rolled down the car window and slightly lifted the side of his face.

Cheng Yao: ???

“Generally after watching a movie together and holding hands, the pursuer will take advantage of the good atmosphere to kiss the person being pursued.” As Qian Heng spoke, he continued to slightly lift the side of his face. He hinted, “The moonlight tonight is pretty good. The atmosphere is not bad.”

What moonlight?! Cheng Yao thought. The moon hasn’t even come out yet, damn it!

“The atmosphere is very good.” Just as Cheng Yao was complaining internally, Qian Heng pressed his lips together and added, “So I allow you to kiss me.”

“No no no, Boss, I have no intention of offending you!”

Truly refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Qian Heng coldly glanced at Cheng Yao. “I’ll use the year-end…”

“I’ll kiss! I’ll kiss!”

Not only did Cheng Yao’s face turn red—even her eyes turned red. She rushed to the car window, leaned down, and quickly kissed the side of Qian Heng’s face once, then bounced away like a rabbit.

After kissing Qian Heng, Cheng Yao felt like she had completed a crime. Her heart was pounding. Even though there was an elevator, she still stupidly ran all the way up the stairs in one breath.

Even when she stood at the door of her apartment, her heart still hadn’t calmed down.

It’s over, she thought despairingly. I might have been infected by Qian Heng!