Night Fire Lingering

Chapter 169 Her eyes seemed to be seductive.

"He had something come up unexpectedly."

Jiang Xing immediately stood up, trying to appear respectful, since most people treated him with utmost deference—if one didn't want to stand out too much, one had to act like everyone else.

Lou Qi sat down on the sofa, casually crossing her legs. Her beautiful peach blossom eyes sparkled with light in that instant, and every glance seemed to bewitch people.

"He let you come by yourself? It seems he trusts you a lot."

This statement is somewhat nonsensical and doesn't seem to contain any obvious flaws, but the fact that it came from someone like Lou Qi, a playboy, makes one wonder—

Don't worry? What do you mean, don't worry?

Don't worry, he won't fall for her.

Or are you sure she won't succumb to the allure of his looks and money?

Is this overconfidence in himself, or malicious speculation about her?

However, Lou Qi didn't say any of these things explicitly, so Jiang Xing had no way to bring it up.

"Mr. Lou, I will wash the clothes and return them to you as soon as possible." Jiang Xing just wanted to leave quickly.

She reached for the paper bag containing the shirt, but the man stretched out his arm and pulled her back, leaving her grasping at empty air.

"Mr. Lou, what do you mean?" Jiang Xing's face turned cold, and he subconsciously glanced in the direction of the door.

Her little gesture did not escape Lou Qi's notice, and Lou Qi couldn't help but chuckle.

Is she worried that he might do something to her in the room?

If he really wants to do something, whether or not the door is closed, or when it is closed, is not important.

"Miss Jiang, let me see you out." Lou Qi stood up, carrying the paper bag, and gestured for her to leave.

He spoke casually, as if everything that had just happened was a misunderstanding.

Jiang Xing only breathed a sigh of relief after stepping out of the semi-enclosed space of the small conference room.

When Lou Qi handed the paper bag to Jiang Xing, his fingertips unintentionally brushed against her fingers.

Jiang Xing felt a shiver run through her; the paper bag was burning hot, and she instinctively put the hand holding it behind her back.

"Mr. Lou, there's no need to see me off. Thank you so much for your kindness. I apologize again. I will have my boyfriend bring the clothes back to you after they're washed."

Lou Qi looked at her with a half-smile: "Miss Jiang, you don't need to specifically emphasize to me that you have a boyfriend."

Even though the other person spoke in a gentle and deliberate tone, Jiang Xing still felt an overwhelming pressure, as if all her little thoughts and defenses could be seen through by Lou Qi at a glance, and that no amount of pretense could form armor for her.

Jiang Xing took a shallow breath and continued, "Mr. Lou, you misunderstand. I just have a very good relationship with my boyfriend. Mentioning him was just a subconscious thought of mine."

Not only did she deny that she was emphasizing it on purpose, she even reiterated that her relationship with Ying Kaian was very strong, deliberately telling him to hear it!

Lou Qi couldn't help but raise an eyebrow again.

That's really... clever!

"How long have you been with Mr. Ying?" Lou Qi asked, following her lead.

"It's been a few years."

Lou Qi nodded.

Without exposing Jiang Xing's true intentions, she already knew that this "several years" was just two years, and that Jiang Xing had spent one year abroad as an exchange student during those two years.

Thinking about this, Lou Qi suddenly realized that this was somewhat similar to when Wen Yan and Gu Yanci had just gotten married. They didn't have much time to spend together!

"So you know him very well?" Lou Qi asked.

“Yes, I understand.” Jiang Xing said fluently, “He is meticulous and patient in life, strict with himself at work, highly professional, and a very good person.”

"And what about emotionally?"

“He is very devoted to his relationships and treats me very well.” Jiang Xing looked up and met Lou Qi’s gaze. “We plan to get married next year after I graduate with my doctorate. If Mr. Lou doesn’t mind, we will invite him to a banquet then.”

Jiang Xing suspected that Lou Qi had feelings for her. She originally thought that if she said that, Lou Qi would be unhappy or disdainful.

However, his expression remained unchanged, as if he had only heard something he expected.

...Could it be that she was mistaken?

Lou Qi smiled and said, "Miss Jiang, don't have too much faith in men. Men all have flaws, and many times they are just good at pretending."

Jiang Xing asked without any attempt to hide his intentions, "And what about you? You're a man too."

Lou Qi was slightly taken aback, then shrugged. "I'm a respectable person, I don't pretend at all."

"Mr. Lou, may I go now?" Jiang Xing's patience was running out.

Lou Qi nodded mercifully, "See you next time, Miss Jiang."

As soon as Jiang Xing left, the smile on Lou Qi's face gradually faded, leaving only a nonchalant arrogance.

The secretary waited nearby, watching her boss's change of expression from beginning to end.

The secretary approached and whispered, "Mr. Lou, Ying Kaian did not refuse the Ms. Han introduced to him by the investors, and even agreed to have dinner with her. Although Ms. Han's family is not among the most prominent in the capital, they own shares in several companies and are in a very good financial situation."

Lou Qi was not surprised by this; it was all within his expectations.

He had looked into Ying Kaian and Jiang Xing. The two were college classmates. It was Ying Kaian who took the initiative to pursue Jiang Xing. Jiang Xing's parents were university professors. They weren't extremely wealthy, but they were the best option Ying Kaian could get to during their student days.

"Mr. Lou, human nature is the most vulnerable to temptation. Does Ms. Han still need to take the initiative?"

If they continue to take the initiative, Ying Kaian might just be using the opportunity to climb the social ladder. Then, when Ms. Jiang Xing breaks up with Ying Kaian, wouldn't their CEO be the culprit?

Lou Qi disagreed, looking in the direction Jiang Xing had left, and said, "If it can't withstand the test now, it won't be able to in the future either."

It's better to die sooner and be reborn sooner.

Ying Kaian wanted to start his own business, to rise to prominence, and to become a superior person. Sooner or later, he would face more temptations: money, power, beautiful women...

He will not be a third party.

He will act as a tester.

……

Jiang Xing took Lou Qi's clothes to the dry cleaners, intending to get them washed quickly and return them to him, so that they would never have any contact again.

"Madam, do you remember what's stuck on this?" The laundry worker took out the clothes, pulled out the red stain, and asked Jiang Xing.

"It should be lipstick."

The staff member looked at it, puzzled, and said, "Are you sure? It looks more like red wine to me. The material of your clothes is delicate, and the methods for cleaning red wine and lipstick are different."

Jiang Xing hadn't looked closely at the clothes at all; she'd been standing too far away in the hotel corridor that day to see clearly, and she hadn't looked at them today either. Only after a staff member pointed it out did she pick up the clothes to examine them—

It's definitely not lipstick!

Jiang Xing couldn't help but clench his fists.

Lou Qi deliberately lied to her!

Lou Qi is a rich young master who has seen and won over all kinds of women. He has no reason to be interested in a woman who already has a boyfriend.

Jiang Xing couldn't think of a second reasonable explanation besides treating her as a pastime.