Ji Qinghe followed her gaze downward and chuckled, “Then why don’t you try?”

His voice was naturally deep, carrying the mature male’s characteristic low tone. Now with his voice hoarse, the sound seemed to emerge from deep within his chest, mixed with muffled low laughter, sounding exactly like he was in the middle of making love.

Shen Qianzhan was teased until her heart felt tender, her gaze looking through the screen toward the kitchen where shadows moved about, inexplicably stirring up a few traces of underground affair excitement and pleasure in her heart.

Her fingertips lifted slightly, barely hooking onto his lower back, the cool fingertips separated only by a layer of fabric, intermittently caressing the lines of his waist: “Seriously?”

As she spoke, her fingertips moved slightly, exploring from his waistband, threateningly scratching lightly at his V-line.

According to Shen Qianzhan’s script, Ji Qinghe should have sensibly admitted defeat by now, and she would achieve great victory, raising flags triumphantly, everyone happy.

However, reality always surprises people and makes them reflect.

After silently staring at Shen Qianzhan for several seconds, Ji Qinghe said with a half-smile, “When have I ever not been serious with you, hmm?” He lowered his head slightly, meeting her eyes level: “Try putting it in?”

The second half of his sentence had a rising intonation, his tone frivolous, not showing the slightest gentleness, his entire body radiating aggressiveness.

Shen Qianzhan had unique preferences. When Ji Qinghe was dignified and aloof throughout, she didn’t favor him in the slightest, but when he was improper like this, she was utterly captivated and enchanted.

Her heart trembled, and for a moment she couldn’t figure out whether this bastard was trying to provoke her or genuinely encouraging her to try… but inevitably, following Ji Qinghe’s sexually suggestive remark, she imagined the scene that would follow—truly arousing and stimulating, covered with eighteen-plus censorship codes.

Regarding verbal sparring, Shen Qianzhan’s self-awareness was incredibly accurate. She neither had Ji Qinghe’s quick wit nor his ability to remain unfazed when storms approached.

Though unwilling to retreat in defeat once again, Ji Qinghe’s psychological tactics were too powerful at the moment, and Shen Qianzhan didn’t dare truly disregard the current time and place. Just as she was about to create a graceful exit for herself, the sliding door of the kitchen opened to one side, and Meng Wanzhou came strolling over, chewing on a cucumber.

The sound of footsteps on the wooden floor was crisp, approaching from far to near.

Shen Qianzhan’s eyes changed slightly. Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, Ji Qinghe was one step faster, firmly pressing down her hand that was against the side of his hip: “What are you hiding from?”

His voice was extremely low, containing hidden laughter.

Shen Qianzhan watched as the smile in his eyes deepened from shallow, gradually brightening like a cluster of fireworks. She gritted her teeth and warned: “That’s enough.”

However, Shen Qianzhan, trapped in a passive situation, had even less deterrent effect on Ji Qinghe than an ant. The latter remained unmoved and even reminded her with great interest: “Listen, he’s walking over.”

As soon as his words fell, the sound of Meng Wanzhou chewing cucumber stopped, and he muttered: “Where did those two go?”

Shen Qianzhan’s gaze unconsciously looked past Ji Qinghe toward behind her.

Behind the screen, Meng Wanzhou’s figure gradually became clear. His silhouette looked left and right, seemingly searching everywhere.

She instinctively held her breath, trying to pull her hand from Ji Qinghe’s palm. But obviously, the strength disparity between them was too great; her little bit of strength couldn’t even be called struggling, with almost no resistance.

Shen Qianzhan inhaled slightly and reached out to pinch him.

She used considerable force, and caught off guard, Ji Qinghe hissed softly, lowering his eyes to look at her. That gaze was deep and dark, like burning hellfire, extremely dangerous.

The figure behind the screen moved.

Meng Wanzhou seemed to have heard some movement and suddenly turned to look in their direction.

Separated by the screen, Meng Wanzhou’s features were somewhat blurred, but one could vaguely make out his suspicious glances toward where the two were located. He hesitated, standing in place for a while, then was still driven by curiosity, biting his cucumber while lifting his feet, walking straight toward behind the screen.

Now Shen Qianzhan didn’t even dare to breathe. She looked up, glaring at Ji Qinghe, silently mouthing: “He’s coming over!”

Ji Qinghe was unconcerned. He didn’t even glance at the screen, leisurely appreciating her dilemma of being caught in a difficult situation—it was truly rare to see such an expression on this woman’s face.

Most of the time, Shen Qianzhan maintained an air of detached elegance, a boss-like demeanor where nothing could enter her eyes.

Perhaps her early experiences were too painful; after returning to the peak from rock bottom, she always remained composed and calm when facing situations. Even if sudden torrential rain fell, she could walk through it as if she were on a runway, unalarmed and unchanged.

Like at this moment, trapped in his embrace, her eyes moist, full of rippling spring light—he had only been fortunate enough to witness this once last year.

Ji Qinghe’s heart stirred slightly.

From the moment she restlessly teased him, the accumulated tingling sensation exploded in an instant. That sensation traveled from his hip all the way to his heart. Looking at Shen Qianzhan, his gaze gradually deepened, as if on fire, that burning sensation spreading from his heart to his throat, with suppressed throbbing breaking out of its cocoon.

His Adam’s apple rolled slightly. In the sound of Meng Wanzhou’s approaching footsteps, he turned his face slightly and said in a low voice: “Kiss me once and I’ll let you go.” His tone was suppressed, like withered wildflowers, with very deep struggle breaking through.

Shen Qianzhan didn’t notice Ji Qinghe’s change.

Her attention remained on Meng Wanzhou, who knew nothing but was determined to explore the truth. Watching his silhouette projected on the screen gradually become clearer, those footsteps sounding like they were stepping on piano keys, growing deeper and more intense. Her heartbeat was like drumbeats, each one more urgent than the last.

Tap, tap tap.

One step.

Two steps.

Shen Qianzhan closed her eyes slightly, steeling her heart, just about to sacrifice her lips to exchange for brief world peace when, with a “tap,” the footsteps stopped outside the screen.

Her body also stiffened, nervously looking toward behind the screen.

Her overactive mind kept imagining Meng Wanzhou taking that final step and accidentally witnessing her intimate scene with Ji Qinghe, from surprise to shock, finally screaming out loud, alerting Elder Ji and Ms. Meng until everyone knew, and her carefully crafted perfect image would shatter completely, leaving not even dregs.

After that, forget about entering Time Hall—she herself would be too ashamed to face any related personnel again.

Meng Wanzhou’s body’s instinctive sixth sense gave him a warning. His last step hung in midair, and as he was torn about whether to put it down, Ms. Meng’s voice rang out from the kitchen like a bell across the sea: “Wanzhou.”

Meng Wanzhou quickly responded and turned to leave: “Coming.”

The moment he turned around, Shen Qianzhan released the breath she’d been holding. Before she could display a victor’s smile, Ji Qinghe’s hand that had been gripping her wrist loosened, instead supporting the back of her neck, calmly and unhurriedly lowering his head to press down.

She instinctively resisted, but before she could struggle, Ji Qinghe seemed to perceive her next reaction, completely closing in, pinning her against the cabinet. He reached out, slightly lifting her chin, leaving Shen Qianzhan with nowhere to escape.

His dominance was fully revealed in this kiss.

After a brief moment of bewilderment, Shen Qianzhan finally realized her situation.

In her field of vision, he closed his eyes and lowered them slightly, his brow and eye contours blurred, yet his lips kissing hers were exceptionally soft.

While unable to resist, she felt a tremor rising from deep in her heart. That trembling sensation was too familiar—it stemmed from her body’s submission to him. In that instant, like countless nights of reminiscing about the past, the empty vessel deep in her heart was gradually filled bit by bit. She blinked helplessly.

In the deepest part of her heart, a voice defied her will, letting out a soft but deeply satisfied sigh.

While she was still struggling and lost in thought, he raised his hand to gently cover her eyes, his voice low and naturally moving: “Close your eyes, be good.”