Chapter 54 I Am Your Man, Can't I Hold You?

This time, my conversation with President Qin went exceptionally well, and his attitude toward me had shifted dramatically.

As we parted ways, he even showered me with compliments.

"You're quite something. You're the only woman I've ever met who could drink me under the table. Impressive!"

"When do you have time? Let's have a rematch."

I was somewhat speechless and rather helpless. "Maybe next time when there's an opportunity."

Having finally shaken off the overly enthusiastic President Qin, I returned to the company with a page full of design concepts and feedback. Both Han Qi and Qian Yushu were waiting for me.

"Did you pull it off?"

Han Qi asked with just four words.

Although phrased as a question, his expression was completely certain.

I nodded, unable to suppress my smile.

"It's done."

"Congratulations, Sister Mu," Qian Yushu said, giving me a thumbs-up.

"This was a client the team leader originally secured anyway; I just went to gather some feedback, it's no big deal."

Had it not been for Zhou Zhizi making trouble, I would have already settled things with President Qin long ago.

"Anyway, regardless of how it happened, the progress is good, and we should celebrate."

Qian Yushu's proposal was promptly vetoed by Han Qi.

"Have you finished today's work? All you think about is going out to celebrate?"

Qian Yushu instantly drooped.

"Not yet..."

Han Qi immediately changed his tune. "However, we can go out to celebrate tomorrow night."

Qian Yushu came back to life instantly. "Since the team leader says so, I'm suddenly full of energy for work."

"Very well, then let's work overtime today."

The flame that had just ignited in Qian Yushu was instantly extinguished.

For any working professional, what is the most difficult and terrifying thing if not working overtime?

Especially this kind of last-minute notice!

I rubbed my chest, feeling that the joy of a successful negotiation had practically dissipated.

There was no help for it; when the team leader gives an order, you simply have to obey.

Working overtime until 10:00 PM, the two of us finally left the office like prisoners whose sentences had been fully served, embarking on the journey home.

The living room was pitch black. As soon as I stepped inside, I almost tripped over a pair of shoes by the shoe cabinet and flusteredly switched on the light.

Turning my head, I saw a figure sitting on the sofa.

It gave me quite a scare.

Zhou Chenyan was staring fixedly at me, expressionless and looking thoroughly displeased.

I couldn't be bothered to deal with him.

After working all day, my resentment was heavier than a ghost's, and I was thoroughly displeased myself.

To go upstairs, I had to pass the sofa, so I quickened my pace to walk past. Suddenly, my wrist was grabbed, and after a dizzying spin, I tumbled right into his arms.

I struggled to get up, but was forcefully held down.

"Are you out of your mind?"

Though the villa was very quiet right now, the servants' quarters were on the ground floor, and who knew if someone might wake up in the middle of the night for a drink of water or something.

I had no desire to be put on display.

"Let go of me."

"Don't you want me to hold you?"

His arms tightened around me, even forcefully intertwining his fingers with my struggling ones.

Our fingers were locked together in a deeply intimate posture.

I frowned. "What on earth are you trying to do?"

What kind of madness was he acting out this late at night?

"I'm your man; aren't I allowed to hold you?" He insisted on dwelling on those words.

I closed my eyes in forbearance.

"Speak."

Unhappy with that, he pinched my chin, forcing me to open my eyes and look at him.

I let out a cold laugh. "Asking a question you already know the answer to."

The hand pinching my chin tightened slightly, sending a wave of mild, stinging pain.

He leaned in, his exquisitely shaped thin lips drawing close, and the warm breath from his words brushed against the tip of my nose.

My spine stiffened.

"If you don't want me to hold you, whose embrace do you want? Han Qi's, or Qian Yushu's?"

"Anyone's, but yours."

I replied coldly.

Abruptly, he stood up, his left hand gently supporting my waist, and I was hoisted into a sitting position.

He sat on the sofa, his expression ice-cold.

"Whether it's Qian Yushu or Han Qi, keep your distance from both of them."

"We're colleagues."

Are you kidding me? Colleagues have to work together; how could we possibly keep our distance?

He stood up suddenly, his height towering over mine by a head and a half, exerting an intense wave of oppression.

I fought the urge to step back.

I couldn't retreat now; if I did, the other party would only push their advantage further.

"You only need to remember my words."

His hand cupped the back of my head, his lips coming close to my ear, his deep voice carrying a warning. "You have no right to refuse."

I clenched my fists tightly.

Lately, although Zhou Chenyan would occasionally act like a madman, it had made me forget his true nature.

Selfish, cold-blooded, overbearing, and tyrannical.

He permitted no one to resist him.

Having angered me to this extent, he sat back on the sofa as if nothing had happened. "Looks like you were in a good mood today?"

Psychopath!

I clenched my teeth, doing my utmost to maintain my composure. "My mood was indeed good."

Before stepping through this front door.

Before seeing him.

"It seems you've already handled President Qin." It was as if my lack of happiness put him in a good mood. "Aren't you going to say thank you?"

"Why should I thank you?"

I managed it based on my own ability.

He let out a light chuckle.

A chuckle that made my hair stand on end, leaving me with a persistent feeling that something I neither knew nor wanted to see had taken place.

I walked past him, intending to go upstairs.

He suddenly spoke up. "You must have guessed it by now."

My footsteps paused.

"You're that reluctant to admit that I helped you?"

"President Qin and I had a delightful conversation, and we even agreed to have dinner and drinks next time."

In short, our talk today went very smoothly, and it had nothing to do with Zhou Chenyan.

When I raised my head, I met his expression, which was half-smiling.

The anger in my chest surged instantly.

That look of his practically said, *Act, go ahead and act.*

I gritted my teeth. "Are you trying to say that the reason President Qin agreed to see me today was because you went over beforehand and put in a good word?"

"What else?"

"Why would you do that?" He had always disliked me; how could he possibly do such a thing for me? The only one who ever received that kind of treatment was Zhou Zhizi.

I hadn't changed my shoes when I came in and was still wearing high heels. My feet were starting to ache a bit, so I turned and leaned against the edge of a nearby table.

I looked up at the man on the sofa.

"Do you take me for a fool?"

I wasn't going to fall for such a clumsy lie.

"I have no reason to deceive you." His tone was remarkably deep, showing a hint of displeasure.

"If you say you didn't lie, then you didn't lie."

I turned to go upstairs.

He strode after me, blocking my way at the entrance of the stairs.

"Do you think I'm lying to you, or do you simply not believe that I would help you?"

"Is there a difference?"

"Of course there is." His eyes held a teasing glint. "The former means you don't trust me, while the latter... are you perhaps lacking that much self-confidence?"

Warm fingertips lifted my chin, and his gaze swept across my face.

It was as though he were genuinely appraising me.

"Although I have no interest in you, you are still my wife—nominally, at least."

The words were plain, direct, and deeply hurtful.

"I don't have to be." I placed my hand over the back of his hand.

Skin touched skin, the sensation unfamiliar and novel.

Though we were husband and wife, whenever he was sober, the most intimate thing we ever did was stand side by side.

*Slap!*

I knocked his hand away.

The back of his hand instantly turned red.

I said coldly, "The moment you agree to a divorce and sign the agreement, both of us will instantly gain our freedom."