Chapter 44: The Young Miss's Kissing Technique

I had long anticipated this moment but hadn’t figured out how to respond.

Seeing my silence, Qin Ruhua lifted her head, her voice tinged with sadness as she said, “Brother Fan, do you like the chairman?”

I sighed and replied, “I don’t really know how to put it. Let’s not talk about this for now, alright? Whatever decision I make now wouldn’t be wise.”

Qin Ruhua stared at me for a moment, then softly said, “Brother Fan, I know you’re outstanding—so young, wealthy, and influential. You’re a good person, and I know the chairman surpasses me in every way. But I...”

Her voice faltered, and I was startled. When I looked over, she wasn’t crying; rather, she seemed a little wronged, perhaps feeling inferior to Ling Xuan.

I gently said, “Don’t think about it for now. What I can promise is to take care of you all my life, just like your brother said.”

Qin Ruhua was silent for a while, then nodded firmly. She lifted her head again, a faint smile blossoming on her flushed cheeks, utterly alluring, and said, “It’s the first time I’ve had feelings for a boy. No matter how excellent the chairman is, I won’t back down.”

Her words touched me deeply. I softly said, “Hua Hua, hearing you say that moves me. I will protect you all my life and never let you get hurt.”

Qin Ruhua smiled gently at me but suddenly lowered her head and whispered with a smile, “You’ve already hurt me once.”

Well, that left me speechless.

Suddenly, I heard her laugh softly, followed by a sweet scent wafting through the air, then a warm, moist touch on my face.

Qin Ruhua kissed me!

I turned my head to see her eyes shimmering with tenderness. She glanced at me, about to look away, then suddenly exclaimed, “Brother Fan, your wound!”

I looked down, smiled, and said, “It’s already stopped bleeding, don’t worry. I’m tough!”

If Ling Xuan hadn’t been right behind me at that moment, I believe I could have stopped the car and rushed over. Though I probably couldn’t do much, at least a hug and a kiss would have been possible.

Qin Ruhua came closer, gently pinched the tear in my shirt on my shoulder to check. Seeing the bleeding had stopped, she softly asked, “What about the wound on your hand?”

I showed her my right palm, which had also stopped bleeding.

She sighed in relief, looked at me a few more times, then let out a soft sigh without saying anything further.

Suddenly, an idea struck me. “Hua Hua, how about I give you ten percent of the shares? That way, your position will be different.”

Half of the two billion I invested actually came from Qin Ruhua, so giving her shares was quite natural. Besides, I no longer cared much about these things.

Qin Ruhua was shocked. “Ten percent? Brother Fan, how many shares do you actually have?”

Though I wasn’t sure about Dongshan Group’s exact valuation, it was definitely over ten billion. So ten percent was an astonishing fortune, no wonder she was so surprised.

I smiled and said, “Not that many, but I can still spare ten percent. How about it? Will you be with me, Hua Hua?”

She turned to scrutinize me, seemingly disbelieving. “You’re really going to give me assets worth billions just like that?”

“Last time I called you, didn’t you say you were willing to give me a billion?” I reminded her.

She chuckled lightly. “That was a joke. I don’t even have a billion. Even if I had a trillion, I’d give it to you!”

I smiled faintly. “Actually, it’s mainly because, in my eyes, billions aren’t worth as much as you.”

Qin Ruhua was taken aback, studying me carefully, then lowered her head without a word. After a pause, she softly said, “Brother Fan, that makes me happy, but I don’t want your shares.”

“Ah, what a pity.” I knew her character well and didn’t insist.

Not long after, we returned to the company to pick up Ling Xi. At this point, Ling Xuan handed the car back to Ling Xi and climbed into my car.

The three of us sat together, and the atmosphere was awkward. Except for me, neither of them spoke much, though the music playing helped ease the tension.

After arriving at Shangpin Community, we went to the house I had rented earlier. Ling Xi came along as well.

After tidying up Qin Ruhua, Ling Xuan, Ling Xi, and I returned to the villa.

Ling Xi, having sensed the unusual atmosphere, was quiet all the way and immediately said upon entering the villa, “Sis, uncle, I’m going to my room to do homework.”

Before I could respond, Ling Xuan said, “Xixi, don’t call him ‘uncle’ anymore. Call him ‘brother-in-law.’”

Huh?

Ling Xi and I were stunned.

Without expression, Ling Xuan grabbed my hand and said, “Come with me.”

She pulled me into her room.

Bang!

The door closed.

A pleasant fragrance filled the air. The room was clean and tidy, and with just the two of us, I immediately relaxed, sitting on the bed and smiling as I looked at Ling Xuan standing before me.

“Miss, you were right. I truly am a pig, not realizing your feelings for me and thinking you were just in a bad mood, inexplicably taking it out on me.”

Ling Xuan, who had been staring blankly, burst into a smile, her gaze softening. Then she swallowed her smile and sighed softly, “Who is that girl?”

I looked at her intently, admiring her smile, and said, “Her name is Qin Ruhua. She’s the sister of a close friend of mine and currently works in our group’s Glorious Women’s Wear Design Department.”

“Hmm.” Ling Xuan studied me, hesitated, then asked, “Do you like her?”

I didn’t know how to answer.

Ling Xuan said coolly, “Then I’ll fire her tomorrow.”

“Miss, that’s unnecessary!” I smiled, wanting to say it wouldn’t help anyway.

Ling Xuan glared, shouting, “What more do you want? Isn’t having me enough?”

Wow, she was both overbearing and straightforward!

I thought carefully and tried to be cautious. “Her brother asked me to take care of her, but she doesn’t know he’s already dead! He was a close friend of mine. I can’t just abandon her. Now that someone wants to harm her, I have to protect her fully. So we have to go to and from work together. I can’t fire her.”

As for returning to Shangpin Community, though I didn’t live with her, judging by the people in that van, they weren’t professional assassins—more like thugs or gangsters. They wouldn’t dare to kidnap someone in a high-security, upscale community.

Ling Xuan stared at me blankly, speechless.

I smiled inwardly and said, “By the way, don’t tell her about her brother’s death.”

Ling Xuan glared at me and said, “Fine, don’t fire her. Anyway, you’re going to be my boyfriend from now on!”

I was a little taken aback. “Miss, you’re so bossy!”

Hearing this, Ling Xuan blushed, glanced at me shyly and tenderly, then turned away and said softly, “I’m not bossy. Don’t listen to Qin Ruhua’s nonsense. I won’t randomly yell or scold you anymore.”

I thought she wouldn’t get shy, but she did. With her back to me, I took the chance to openly admire her exaggerated and seductive curves. Why was my gaze always lingering on her lower body? I even recalled the two times she straddled me and smacked me, causing an embarrassing reveal. Had Sister Yuan corrupted me?

After a while of silence, Ling Xuan turned back and pouted, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

I snapped back to attention and smiled. “Oh, of course I believe you. Miss is the gentlest in the world.”

Ling Xuan was startled, sensing my words were too insincere. She bit her lip hard in frustration and glared at me angrily. “Chu Bufan, what do you mean by that?!”

I quickly straightened up and said seriously, “Nothing at all! I really believe it!”

But Ling Xuan clearly didn’t buy it. She glared furiously. “Are you mad because I used to hit and scold you? So now that I confessed, you’re taking revenge?”

What a bizarre thought. Whoever would do such a thing must be truly strange.

I sat up straight, earnestly saying, “I absolutely don’t have such a childish, ridiculous idea. I really—”

Well, did I really believe it? Or if I kept insisting, would she think I was still lying?

As I hesitated, Ling Xuan suddenly exploded, glaring at me with clenched teeth and shouting, “Chu Bufan! You—”

Perhaps recalling she just said she wouldn’t yell or scold, her voice quickly softened. She stomped her foot in anger and turned away from me.

I felt a bit awkward.

Then Ling Xuan spoke passionately, “I don’t care whether you believe it or not. Just remember this: even when I hit and scolded you before, you never left. Now, I don’t care anymore. No matter how mad you make me, even if you hit or scold me, I won’t leave. I—” Her voice broke suddenly.

I was startled and deeply moved. My heart stirred, and I reached out to hold her hand, speaking emotionally, “How could I ever hit or scold you? I only know how to cherish you.”

Ling Xuan suddenly turned around and embraced me tightly. Her arms were strong, and she leaned in to kiss me.

I was stunned for a moment but quickly embraced her passionately.

What I hadn’t expected was that Miss Ling was utterly inexperienced at kissing. That would be fine, but her emotions were a bit intense, making her movements somewhat fierce.

Ow, that hurt.

After enduring a bit, I finally couldn’t bear it any longer and gently pushed her away, saying, “Miss, be gentle.”

Ling Xuan was taken aback, immediately releasing me and straightening up. Then I noticed her eyes were still moist but filled with both shyness and joy. She glanced at me a few times, suddenly burst into laughter, and fled to a chair by the desk.

She buried her face on the desk, seemingly too embarrassed to face me, letting out chuckles that were either from shyness or amusement.

I was stunned for a moment, touched my lips, opened my hand, and—damn—it was bleeding.