It wasn't early anymore. There were only light midnight snacks in the hotel. She wasn't picky and ordered a bowl of vegetable congee.
The living room of the presidential suite was very quiet. Jiang Li was wearing loose pajamas, her hair casually pulled up into a messy bun. She lowered her head and sipped the congee. The spoon clinked against the bowl, making a clear and crisp sound.
She was very relaxed.
What she didn't know was that the man lying on the big bed in the master bedroom had already woken up.
Xiao Yanzhi opened his eyes and felt that his eyelids were extremely heavy.
These days, he had been busy with all kinds of meetings and social engagements. The responsibility of being the heir of the Xiao family weighed heavily on him, leaving him no room for the slightest distraction.
Right after the last meeting, he immediately flew to Huacheng. There was even a trace of the cold wind from Beicheng on the corner of his clothes.
Even so, no one appreciated his efforts.
Xiao Yanzhi frowned slightly, picked up the cigarette case on the bedside table, and slowly lit a cigarette.
He exhaled a puff of smoke before feeling a bit more awake.
In his mind, Jiang Li's beautiful and clear face appeared in front of Xiao Yanzhi again.
When the smoke dissipated, his calm and indifferent face was revealed. His head was slightly lowered, making it hard to see his true emotions.
She must have taken this opportunity to slip away.
He pushed open the bedroom door. When he saw Jiang Li come into his sight, he was slightly stunned for two seconds.
She was sitting daintily on the chair, her plain face fair and delicate, exuding a gentle and lazy charm.
Jiang Li, holding the spoon in her hand, was also taken aback.
He's awake?
Xiao Yanzhi still had the cigarette between his fingers, looking extremely nonchalant. The smoke curled up from his fingertips.
"Why are you still here?" His voice was languid, with a hoarse note of exhaustion: "Didn't you say you didn't want to stay with me?"
Jiang Li felt a sudden tightness in her heart and immediately replied, "I was going to leave."
Xiao Yanzhi squinted his eyes and sized her up from head to toe: "You were going to leave, yet you've already changed into your pajamas?"
Jiang Li: …
Looking down at herself, dressed for bed, it was really hard to explain.
Jiang Li nervously rubbed her hands and started to make an excuse: "Well, you fainted in the hotel corridor. The hotel manager begged me to stay and take care of you."
"Is this how you take care of me?" Xiao Yanzhi's gaze fell on the half - bowl of congee left in front of her.
Jiang Li felt even more embarrassed and stubbornly said, "… Taking care of someone is tiring. Besides, I was brought here without having dinner."
It sounded a bit pitiful.
"Yeah, it's my fault." Xiao Yanzhi smiled silently: "What did you eat?"
Jiang Li blinked her eyes, feeling that the man was gentler than before.
"Vegetable congee."
She always ate very little for dinner. She could hardly finish half of the congee.
He walked over, stubbed out the remaining cigarette in the ashtray, and tapped the table with his fingertips: "Not going to drink anymore?"
"I'm full." Jiang Li answered honestly.
He sat directly opposite Jiang Li. His expression was very gentle. He directly picked up the bowl in front of her and started to drink the congee with the spoon she had just used.
The man exuded an air of nobility all over. Even though his shirt was a bit wrinkled, he still radiated an abstinent and lofty aura.
It was hard for others to get close to him.
But he casually drank up the congee she had left. When he put the bowl back on the table, there wasn't a single drop left.
Jiang Li said, "… Actually, you could have asked the front desk to send another bowl."
He didn't have to drink from the same bowl and use the same spoon as her.
Xiao Yanzhi said calmly, "No need. I'm not very hungry."
After saying that, he was about to light a cigarette. Remembering the incident when Jiang Li's throat was injured before, his fingers that were opening the cigarette case paused, and he put the cigarette case back into his pocket.
Only then did Jiang Li speak up, "The doctor said you were over - exhausted and needed a good rest. Have you been very busy recently?"
Xiao Yanzhi lifted his eyelids, and his gaze slowly landed on her face: "It's not your concern."
Jiang Li: …
She was just being redundant to care about him.
When two people don't see eye to eye, even half a sentence is too much. Jiang Li stood up and looked at the time. "Mr. Xiao, it's getting late. I'll go back to the guest room to rest first. I'll leave tomorrow morning."
She had taken a shower and changed her clothes. He couldn't possibly kick her out, could he?
She had accompanied Xiao Yanzhi on business trips before. Anyway, they didn't sleep in the same room, so she didn't think there was anything to worry about.
Xiao Yanzhi watched as she so casually arranged everything. His mood was a bit delicate, so he asked, "Who allowed you to stay here?"
Jiang Li's expression remained unchanged. She crossed her arms in front of her chest, imitating Xiao Yanzhi, and immediately put on a straight face: " 'Can't the presidential suite accommodate you?' That's what you said a few hours ago, Mr. Xiao."
She imitated him so vividly that Xiao Yanzhi couldn't help but laugh. He tried hard to hold back his laughter. "You're quite a good actor."
Jiang Li shrugged and said to herself, "So can I stay here for the night?"
"Yes." One corner of Xiao Yanzhi's lips lifted slightly, with an ambiguous smile: "Sleep if you want."
After getting his permission, Jiang Li walked towards the guest room cheerfully.
She had only taken a few steps when she suddenly heard steady footsteps behind her. Her heart sank, and she planned to run into the guest room quickly. However, the man's steps were faster than hers.
The next second, he grabbed her waist, turned her around, and pressed down on the back of her head.
His kiss came without warning, directly and recklessly colliding with hers. It carried the faint fragrance of congee and a hint of the bitter taste of tobacco that hadn't completely faded, intertwining with her tongue.
Jiang Li's face instantly turned bright red. She clenched her fists and pounded on his chest.
The man was unhurried. The more she waved her fists, the deeper he kissed, not even giving her a chance to catch her breath.
Jiang Li was almost suffocating. Her moist eyes were filled with tears, and she was almost choked by his breath.
When the man finally got enough of the kiss, he slowly let her go.
She gasped for air, and her lips were already a bit swollen.
He lifted her chin, and his thumb gently rubbed her lips. His eyes were filled with desire, and he seemed reluctant to let go.
Jiang Li took several deep breaths before looking at him expressionlessly: "Mr. Xiao kissed me so passionately. Are you planning to marry me and make me Mrs. Xiao?"
Xiao Yanzhi's voice was hoarse because of the surging desire, deep and magnetic: "Whether I have this plan or not depends on how hard you work."
Jiang Li pursed her lips. The burning sensation on her lips made her a bit uncomfortable: "No thanks. All efforts would be in vain."
She said it calmly and raised her hand to wipe the place where he had just forcefully kissed her: "To be Mrs. Xiao, one not only has to please you but also Mrs. Su and the old Mr. Xiao. It's too difficult. I know my own limitations."
Xiao Yanzhi was silent for a moment, his words carrying an implied meaning: "So you know all this in your heart."