Volume One, Chapter 15: Do Not Mention Him

This was Shen Qingqing’s first time drinking alcohol. The cocktail was sweet, and she drank several glasses in a row.

She had thought she might have some tolerance for alcohol, but as soon as she stood up, dizziness overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t find her bearings.

Although the restroom was right beside the booth, she clutched her head and walked a long way, confused, and when she looked up, the restroom had vanished.

“Miss, where are you headed?”

Shen Qingqing heard a voice beside her, but her head was too heavy to lift.

She shook her head to ignore it and was about to take a step when an arm grabbed her.

“Oh, what a beautiful lady...” A few drunk men, seeing her face, grew more excited.

Shen Qingqing frowned slightly, trying to pull her arm back, but she had no strength at all.

“Get lost!” A deep voice sounded behind her, and a strong chest pressed against her back.

The hand gripping her arm was forcefully shaken off by the man behind her.

The drunk men were about to resist but looked up and sobered instantly.

The man behind Shen Qingqing didn’t need to fight; his height and presence alone were enough to intimidate the drunken ruffians.

Leaning her head back, Shen Qingqing looked curiously at the man behind her.

He happened to be looking down at her as well.

Their eyes met in the dim light.

Those black eyes gave Shen Qingqing an inexplicable sense of comfort.

“Are you Assistant Zhou?” Shen Qingqing blinked and tilted her head to ask.

Before Mo Lingcheng could speak, Shen Qingqing tugged at his shirt collar, twisted her waist, and turned around.

She stood on tiptoe, lifted her chin, and poked her index finger at Mo Lingcheng’s chest. “With such a foul face, are you the camo-clad person who took my necklace?”

A flicker of surprise flashed through Mo Lingcheng’s usually dark eyes before returning to indifference.

He raised his hand to grasp her finger and snorted coldly, “Not pretending anymore?”

“Huh?” Shen Qingqing looked confused, as if her hearing was malfunctioning.

As she leaned closer to hear better, a sudden bout of dry heaving came over her.

Mo Lingcheng reacted swiftly, immediately stretching out his arm to push Shen Qingqing away at arm’s length.

Startled by the sudden shove, Shen Qingqing’s hand flailed in the air and grabbed his collar.

What had been buttoned up neatly was roughly pulled open by her.

Two metal buttons clinked as they fell onto the polished floor tiles.

Shen Qingqing looked up in surprise, her gaze drawn to his deeply defined collarbone.

The graceful line beneath his bronzed skin was alluring.

Underneath his left collarbone was a small tattoo—a black emblem resembling a token or a four-pointed starburst...

Suddenly, hidden memories flashed through Shen Qingqing’s mind...

“Qingqing! You’re so brave...” Xiao Meimei’s excited exclamation came from behind.

By the time Shen Qingqing sluggishly turned around, Xiao Meimei had already been dragged away, her mouth covered by Zhou Cong.

“Mei... ah...” Shen Qingqing hadn’t even formed a sentence when Mo Lingcheng hoisted her onto his shoulder.

In the whirlwind, Shen Qingqing decisively grabbed the belt at Mo Lingcheng’s waist.

His abdomen tensed slightly; he squinted, gritted his teeth, and quickened his pace.

Drunken Shen Qingqing was obedient, neither shouting nor struggling, her body soft and limp on his shoulder.

But her long hair was unruly!

Her flowing locks brushed against Mo Lingcheng’s nape with his every step, sending tingling sensations.

He walked fast, his shoulders firm, and Shen Qingqing swayed on his shoulder, her head growing even fuzzier.

She pressed her burning cheek against his broad back, trying to find some coolness to keep her wits.

But the muscles beneath Mo Lingcheng’s back were no cooler; they burned even hotter than her cheek.

The pounding heartbeat near her ear was indistinguishable—hers or his.

Arriving at the big G, Mo Lingcheng took a deep breath and, not very gently, tossed Shen Qingqing into the back seat.

Then he settled beside her, closed the door, and signaled the driver to start.

No sooner had Mo Lingcheng sat down than arms wrapped around his neck, and a soft body climbed onto his lap.

Mo Lingcheng gasped sharply and harshly scolded the woman clinging to him: “Get down!”

Shen Qingqing opened her drowsy eyes, ignoring him completely, tightening her arms around him.

She leaned toward his collarbone with a look of sudden realization: “I remember now, you’re the person from my dreams.”

Mo Lingcheng didn’t bother to question what she meant but felt a flush rise from her warm breath against his collarbone.

Irritated, he pinched her waist and forcefully pushed her back onto the seat beside him.

But Shen Qingqing was relentless, persistently climbing back onto him.

After several attempts, Mo Lingcheng resignedly pressed the rear partition down and let her cling to him.

Having succeeded, Shen Qingqing began to absentmindedly stroke the tattoo on his collarbone.

Mo Lingcheng caught her small hand precisely, scowling and lowering his head: “Don’t get carried away!”

Unintentionally, his lips brushed lightly against her raised forehead.

An ambiguous scent of cocktails and hormones instantly filled the air.

“It’s seducing me!” Shen Qingqing lifted her finger to press against his lips, looking accusing.

Mo Lingcheng watched her slightly pouty red lips, his Adam’s apple moving involuntarily.

He turned his face away, reminding himself that she was drunk.

But Shen Qingqing grew bolder, cupping his face with both hands, staring straight at his lips and questioning, “Tell me, are you trying to seduce me again?”

She simply couldn’t get past his lips.

Mo Lingcheng laughed bitterly at her ridiculous behavior.

He gently stroked his forehead and muttered softly, “Who’s seducing whom, in the end?”

If he hadn’t seen her drink several glasses of “Home Everywhere” himself, he would have suspected she was deliberately flirting with him under the influence.

In truth, Mo Lingcheng didn’t know that Shen Qingqing was already struggling to restrain herself.

After recognizing his tattoo, her mind was flooded with shy images from that night.

Only she couldn’t distinguish whether she was dreaming or awake, so she tried hard to hold back.

Yet the opening and closing of Mo Lingcheng’s lips was a blatant invitation.

They openly tempted her.

After much hesitation, Shen Qingqing couldn’t help but lean in.

Just as she was about to kiss those two lips, a strong grip clamped down on her shoulders.

A low, warning voice sounded above her head: “Shen Qingqing, if you keep this up, I’ll call Xu Mingxuan.”

Hearing Xu Mingxuan’s name, Shen Qingqing’s anger surged immediately.

She grabbed Mo Lingcheng’s face and warned fiercely, “Don’t you dare mention him in front of me!”

Mo Lingcheng lowered his eyes to hers, his voice deep and cold: “Don’t forget, you’re his fiancée...”

These words were not only a reminder to her but also to himself.

Since she chose to maintain their engagement, she should be conscious of her role as fiancée, and he must keep his boundaries and behave like the responsible brother-in-law.

“Fiancée?” Shen Qingqing suddenly laughed.

She waved him closer and whispered, “Let me tell you a secret.”