Chapter Three: Romantic Night Sky

Xi Jingpeng said with a hint of awkwardness, "It's nothing urgent! I just happened to be passing by and brought Shang Qi a few resumes."

Luo Yichen glanced at Shang Qi beside him, his eyes veiled with displeasure. He had long known that Xi Jingpeng coveted Shang Qi. However, the Xi family were giants in the world of finance. If the Luo family wanted financing, they could not bypass them. Furthermore, the relationship between Luo Yichen and Shang Qi was highly discreet, leaving him unable to warn Xi Jingpeng openly.

Now that Luo Yichen was single again, he longed to pull Shang Qi into his arms and tell Xi Jingpeng: "Don't you dare touch my woman!" But the moment he lifted his hand, the evasive look in Shang Qi's eyes made him freeze. Knowing that some things could not be rushed, he let the matter drop.

Luo Yichen reprimanded Shang Qi, "What is the matter with you? It’s so late, and you’re still bothering Mr. Xi to deliver resumes! Have you forgotten all the company rules?"

Shang Qi knew he was just making an excuse to vent, but she had to swallow her frustration. She lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry. I will be more careful in the future."

She then turned to Xi Jingpeng and said, "Mr. Xi, I’m so sorry for the trouble."

After this scene, Xi Jingpeng could no longer insist on driving Shang Qi home. As he drove away, he looked in the rearview mirror and saw Luo Yichen staring at Shang Qi with a brazen gaze. Xi Jingpeng couldn't help but wonder about the true nature of their relationship.

Seeing his rival gone, Luo Yichen felt a sense of relief. He turned his head and chided her, "Why can't you just behave? How dare you provoke Xi Jingpeng!"

Wronged, Shang Qi flared up in anger. "What do you mean 'provoke'? I didn't ask him to come; he insisted on waiting for me."

"I get angry just looking at the way he stares at you!"

"Then you can just stay angry!" Shang Qi retorted sharply. What she loathed most was being falsely accused.

Luo Yichen knew she wasn't the type of woman to flirt around. He had merely been blinded by jealousy, leading him to lash out at her without reason. Never one to apologize to women, he shifted the topic and said, "I'll go get the car. Wait for me here."

By the time he returned, Shang Qi had vanished. Luo Yichen immediately set off in pursuit. He hadn't driven far before he spotted a familiar figure on the side of the road—it was Shang Qi.

"Beep! Beep!" The horn sounded.

Shang Qi looked up and saw Luo Yichen’s car, but she remained silent and kept walking.

Luo Yichen rolled down the window and said, "I doubt there are any buses left. Let me take you home."

Shang Qi acted as if she hadn't heard him and continued walking. Luo Yichen pulled the car over, grabbed her arm, and shoved her into the passenger seat.

"Let me out!"

"It's too late. It’s dangerous for you to walk alone!"

"I'm not a child anymore; you don't need to worry about these things!"

"You are my woman. How can I not worry?"

Shang Qi sometimes detested his arrogance. This man was used to having his own way and never knew how to consider things from another's perspective. In the heat of the moment, she snapped, "When did I ever agree to anything? If others find out that you divorced because of me, I’ll never be able to clear my name."

Luo Yichen’s face turned as dark as water. He drove in silence. Shang Qi felt the temperature inside the car drop to freezing, leaving her shivering. She began to worry about her own lack of restraint. Regardless of everything else, Luo Yichen was still her boss. With a flick of his finger, he could ruin her career.

Luo Yichen drove faster and faster. Looking outside, Shang Qi realized they weren't heading toward her home. A sense of dread washed over her. "Where are you taking me?"

Luo Yichen remained silent.

The temperature in the car plummeted again.

*Whatever,* Shang Qi thought. *I've already said it; let come what may.* Luo Yichen drove to a deserted area and pulled over. Seeing that there was no one around, Shang Qi grew anxious. It wasn't that she and Luo Yichen hadn't been alone before, but the intensity of their encounter in his office earlier that day made her mind wander.

Luo Yichen remained quiet. He unbuckled her seatbelt and reclined her seat. As his scent enveloped her, Shang Qi felt breathless and flushed with heat. Instinctively, her small hands pressed against his chest.

Turning her head away, she pleaded tremulously, "Don't..."

Seeing her shy demeanor, a fire ignited within Luo Yichen once more. He brushed his lips against hers with a fleeting kiss and then pulled her tightly into his arms. Shang Qi felt the man's intense desire beginning to consume her, and she fought back with her final ounce of strength.

After drinking in her fragrance, Luo Yichen pulled back and said, "It’s just a kiss. It’s not like we haven't done it before. Why are you so nervous?"

Seeing him speak so naturally, Shang Qi felt ashamed of her own "dirty" thoughts. But his next words left her completely speechless.

"Is the atmosphere here making you feel like something should happen? I’ve been ready for a long time!" As he spoke, his hand began to slide beneath her skirt...

Shang Qi broke free from Luo Yichen and sternly refused, "Don't you dare!"

Luo Yichen burst into laughter. "I just like teasing you."

Realizing she had been tricked again, Shang Qi was furious. Luo Yichen had loved her for years, and he was a normal man. To say he wasn't anxious about those things would be a lie. It was only because he cherished her so deeply that he couldn't bear to force her, choosing instead to restrain himself.

Luo Yichen reclined his own seat as well. He opened the sunroof and said, "Lie down and look."

Shang Qi lay back and gazed at the clear night sky through the roof of the car. It was mid-winter, and a cold breeze made her shiver. Luo Yichen pulled an overcoat from the backseat and covered her with it.

He said gently, "You didn't dress warmly enough. What will you do if you catch a cold? I'm warm—why don't I hold you?"

Shang Qi pulled the coat tight and ignored him. Just then, a dazzling streak of light cut across the night sky. She gasped, "Look! A shooting star."

Luo Yichen smiled with his eyes. "There's a meteor shower tonight. I arranged for you to work overtime specifically so I could bring you out tonight."

Shang Qi glared at him, clearly protesting the forced overtime. Luo Yichen reached out and pulled her into his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. Gazing at the vast night sky, he said sincerely, "Qiqi, give me a chance, won't you? Let's officially be together."

Shang Qi remained stunned, noncommittal about his proposal. She truly didn't know what the outcome would be if she became entangled with this man, who was as addictive as a poppy. Luo Yichen didn't press her further. In this moment, he only wanted to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the night sky with his beloved.

After a long while, Luo Yichen asked, "Are you cold?"