Chapter 98: A Small Dose of Public Affection (Bonus Chapter)

After a moment, the door to the room creaked open, and a small head peeped out. Lin Zhiwei obediently hopped onto the sofa, too afraid to look the man in the eye.

At that moment, the man was sitting there with his arms folded, as if turned to stone, the lonely chill in his eyes reflecting the neon glow beyond the floor-to-ceiling window.

Lin Zhiwei lowered her head and sat beside him, saying sheepishly, “All right, I was wrong.”

Making a sincere apology is the first step toward getting along with people, let alone with her own boss.

Besides, she had indeed failed to resist the temptation laid by those two idiots. If Mier had gone outside alone for some air... the consequences would have been unthinkable.

The girl had not yet removed her makeup. Though she had changed into reserved loungewear, every little expression still carried a captivating allure. She kept her eyes down, awkwardly rubbing her hands together; her slightly curled long hair fell softly over one shoulder, making her look especially lovable.

In almost an instant, Ling Ziheng drew her slender waist into his arms, and a hot, fierce kiss came crashing down. His palm brushed teasingly at her waist, and then a dense flurry of kisses landed on her collarbone and tender neck.

“Ah—Ling Ziheng,” Lin Zhiwei hissed through clenched teeth, only to feel a sharp sting at her neck. The man had actually bitten right into her most sensitive spot.

At that moment, there was only wild intensity in Ling Ziheng’s eyes. Tonight’s excitement was like poison and poppies to him, driving him into a savage edge. Yet with the girl’s radiant, lovely smile right before him, he could only force himself to hold back and not hurt her.

Lin Zhiwei cupped his face and kissed his lips lightly. Seeing the man’s expression ease somewhat, she asked, “Are you less angry now?”

“Hm.” The man, somewhat soothed, gave a low hum. Her lipstick had stained his thin lips a vivid red, making them deliciously alluring, cold and decadent, like a blood-drinking vampire. Lin Zhiwei could not help but laugh. What was she supposed to do? This great vinegar jar of a man... she had better coax him properly.

“It was my bad judgment,” Lin Zhiwei said earnestly, her gaze lowered.

In truth, Ling Ziheng had long since stopped being angry. He could easily guess that Nanyu and Liang Qisheng had been the ones stoking the trouble. What truly bothered him was his own regret that he had not arrived even earlier.

But one kiss could work better than countless miracle cures, and once he saw how well-behaved the girl was, there was no way he could stay angry.

He stroked her hair, soft and drifting like seaweed, his eyes full of stars. “Weiwei, I know that with your skills, dealing with a few small fry is no trouble at all. But next time you go out to have fun, remember to tell me. Having more people around to protect you can help prevent accidents.”

He held her in his arms and gently patted her back, speaking with deep tenderness. Lin Zhiwei felt warmth bloom in her heart. Ah, what was she going to do? She was liking this man more and more. He had been so angry just now, and yet he had held himself back and not lashed out at all. He was actually rather handsome like that.

She nestled in his embrace, breathing in the unique, faint fragrance of magnolia that belonged to him alone.

Ling Ziheng only felt the girl slowly encircle his waist with her arms, and his back instantly tensed.

“I know,” Lin Zhiwei murmured from within his embrace.

Ling Ziheng smiled faintly, helplessly. Rare enough for this girl to be so obedient; what else could he say?

“Then... can I still go out dressed like I was today?” Lin Zhiwei looked up, her face full of mischievous glee.

The sly smile at the corner of Ling Ziheng’s mouth paused. “Then I wouldn’t mind reminding you in a more intense way.”

Lin Zhiwei gave a dry laugh, feeling the man’s hand tighten at her waist, and quickly asked, “Heh, that outfit was a little... well, you know... but it still suits me, doesn’t it?”

The bright, teasing smile in her eyes and brows made Ling Ziheng unable to resist kissing her again. “Too beautiful... so only I can look at it.”

“Don’t forget, you’re still in your trial period,” Lin Zhiwei said, turning her eyes away to dodge his kiss.

Ling Ziheng tilted his head, his expression indulgent. “Then how many points would a hero rescuing a beauty earn?”

Lin Zhiwei lifted a brow. “Hmm, today I think... you can get full marks.”

Ling Ziheng’s eyes lit up. He pulled the girl into his arms so that only a few millimeters separated them; her warm breath and that wicked, playful smile were right in front of him. “Weiwei, are you serious?”

Lin Zhiwei smiled and nodded. Ah, what could she do? She had been utterly bewitched by this enchanting man. What else was there to do but surrender?

“Of course. I, Lin Zhiwei, always mean what I say. Worst case, I get assassinated by that Feather Girl; I’m not afraid. If you dare flirt with other women outside, I’ll wipe you out,” Lin Zhiwei declared with bold confidence.

Ling Ziheng shook his head and said helplessly, “With you, why would I need anyone else?” Just how little confidence did this girl have?

“Not necessarily,” Lin Zhiwei said, her eyes turning slyly. “But... the future is hard to say.”

“Then what orders does Madam have now?” Ling Ziheng’s low, husky voice carried a seductive charm.

“I’m hungry. Make me something to eat,” Lin Zhiwei said with large, innocent eyes.

“Okay.” Ling Ziheng patted her head and rolled up his sleeves to begin. Since Madam was hungry, he naturally had to bring out every skill he possessed and feed her first.

By the time Lin Zhiwei finished removing her makeup and came out, the fragrance of food was already drifting through the entire living room. She hurried into the kitchen at once.

Ah, such a sight was truly rare. The man had rolled up his sleeves and was leisurely simmering soup, his serious side profile already enough to be a feast for the eyes.

Three dishes had already been neatly arranged on the table, and all of them were her favorites. Meat and vegetables were paired beautifully, the colors bright and lively. The shredded potatoes were thin as cicada wings, proof of extraordinary knife skills.

Lin Zhiwei followed the man’s elegant movements with her gaze. “Ziheng, from the way you cook, you’re practically a master.”

Ling Ziheng focused on slicing the beef. “I know many things. Madam can discover them slowly.”

Lin Zhiwei laughed out loud. Only this enchanting man was so skilled at beguiling hearts.

They always said that to win someone over, you had to win their stomach first. Lin Zhiwei agreed. After sweeping through the entire table of dishes with the force of a storm, she was utterly conquered, comfortably curled up on the sofa, burping in satisfaction. “Ling Ziheng, your cooking is way too good.”

Ling Ziheng washed the dishes on the side. “Thank you for the compliment.”

After he finished tidying the kitchen, the two of them nestled together and read the books they each liked.

Lin Zhiwei especially cherished this moment. In truth, she had always been resistant to the very idea of being with someone. It was hard for her to imagine what life shared between two people, through meals and seasons, would actually look like.

She had seen many couples walking hand in hand down the street, openly flaunting their affection, but what she wanted more was someone who could truly step into her heart, someone with whom no many words were needed, because they would simply understand each other.

She had many odd little habits. For instance, after a meal she always liked to read for a while. If someone could discuss the contents of the book with her afterward, that would be ideal. Sometimes she even liked to leaf through obscure, difficult original texts, searching the weathered traces of age for the era in which the author had written them.

Without question, Ling Ziheng had easily dispelled her worries. They simply sat quietly together reading, chatting casually from time to time, and it was already more than enough to feel content. It was as though they were a couple who had known each other for years, needing no extra words and understanding each other perfectly.