Chapter Eighteen: Then what about our relationship...

Auntie Qiao caught sight of this scene from the side, feeling a pang of sympathy for Jiang Shiyi. For a moment, she wasn't even sure if playing matchmaker between the two of them had been the right thing to do.

Auntie Qiao went downstairs, took Jiang Shiyi by the hand, and spoke to her warmly for a good while. "Shiyi, come upstairs with me and take a look at my paintings."

"I'd love to."

Jiang Shiyi followed her upstairs. Once they reached the study, Auntie Qiao showed her the artwork and then spent some time sharing confidences with her.

When it was time for dinner, the servants brought the food to the table. Old Master Xu was a man of many virtues, but he had a weakness for a good drink. After a few rounds, he became quite talkative, a stark contrast to his usual stern and reserved demeanor. He first expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Jiang Shiyi, then adopted the posture of an elder and lectured Huo Yixun at length.

The liquor was a sauce-aroma spirit—mellow and fragrant upon entry, silky down the throat, with a lingering sweetness at the finish. It was a fine brew, crafted by Old Master Xu himself and impossible to find in stores. As a result, Jiang Shiyi found herself drinking a bit too much.

Suddenly, the glass was snatched from her hand, and a steamed bun was stuffed into her mouth. Jiang Shiyi instinctively looked over to see Huo Yixun.

Huo Yixun’s expression remained neutral. "Didn't you come here to eat? Eat more food; the steamed buns Auntie makes are especially delicious."

Jiang Shiyi: "..."

With so many dishes on the table, did he really have to force-feed her a bun?

The meal finally concluded. Jiang Shiyi prepared to head home. Upon hearing she was leaving, Auntie Qiao immediately insisted that Huo Yixun drive her. He initially wanted to refuse, but thinking of how much the woman had drunk, he ultimately couldn't bring himself to leave her be.

After they left, Auntie Qiao began to scold Old Master Xu, asking why he kept plying a young girl with alcohol when he had invited her over for a meal.

Old Master Xu laughed. "You worry too much. We’ve watched young Huo grow up since he was a child; what else is there to be concerned about?"

Auntie Qiao didn't want to engage with the old drunkard, so she returned to the study to continue working on her paintings.

Elsewhere, a warm, large hand wrapped around Jiang Shiyi’s slender waist, and a low, lingering voice sounded above her head.

"A woman like you, out on her own, and you actually dared to drink yourself into such a state."

A magnolia tree stood at the entrance of the Xu residence. With the warm sun out today, the light filtered through the branches, casting dreamy, hazy shadows.

Jiang Shiyi tilted her head back slightly, catching a glimpse of his noble, profound features and striking, handsome face. His grip was powerful, holding her waist so tightly it felt as though he wanted to pull her into his very bones. Jiang Shiyi’s heart trembled, and she felt the blood in her veins begin to surge.

Suddenly, her thoughts drifted back to the "wardrobe malfunction" incident in the dormitory. That physique... Ahem. Jiang Shiyi realized what she was thinking and a faint blush crept up to the tips of her ears.

Huo Yixun opened the car door with one hand and settled Jiang Shiyi into the passenger seat. Just as he leaned over to fasten her seatbelt, Jiang Shiyi reached out and cupped his face.

Their eyes met. Her gaze seemed to hook into his, staring unblinkingly, her red lips slightly parted, looking indescribably charming and alluring.

"What are you doing?"

Jiang Shiyi gave him a sweet smile. "Nothing."

Her charming almond eyes curved into little crescent moons. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself forward to close the distance between them abruptly. Like a fluffy little kitten, she rubbed her face against his, the hot breath from her lips, tinged with the faint scent of alcohol, spilling over his ear. With a playful, ambiguous tone, she asked, "Director Huo, are you hoping I’ll do something to you?"

Huo Yixun froze, his heart beating faster with every passing second. Time slipped away in silence. Seeing no reaction from him for a long while, a flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes, and she loosened her grip.

Huo Yixun, truly at his wit's end, simply used the seatbelt to bind her restless hands. Seeing the sight before him, his gaze darkened, and even his breathing grew ragged.

During the drive, Jiang Shiyi, sitting in the passenger seat, called out "Director Huo" over and over again. A bitter feeling rose in Huo Yixun’s chest. This woman was truly bold—she didn't even know his name, yet she dared to press herself onto him so brazenly. Or was it that any man with a bit of family background was a target for her? Lin Yu was, and so was Huo Shaoqin. Thinking of this, he felt even more unsettled.

Half an hour later, the car pulled up beneath the hospital dormitory building. As it was a women's dormitory, it wasn't appropriate for Huo Yixun to take her up, but in her current state, she couldn't possibly walk up on her own. After a moment's thought, he decided to move her to the back seat and let her sleep it off before having her go up herself.

But the moment he picked her up, he found he couldn't let go of the warm, soft body in his arms. Huo Yixun’s breathing suddenly grew heavy, and he instinctively carried her into the back seat.

"Director Huo, you are truly handsome."

Jiang Shiyi slowly lifted her head from his warm embrace, revealing a captivating, alluring face. She knew better than anyone how to appear at her most beautiful; her features leaned toward the seductive, possessing a natural charm. In this slightly tipsy state, she was easily able to lead someone’s thoughts astray.

Huo Yixun’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he tightened his grip, struggling to restrain the illicit desires rising within him.

"Director Huo, I want to ask you—do you really hate me that much?"

Jiang Shiyi said this in a soft, sweet voice, looking at him with expectant eyes, the corners of which were tinged with a moving flush. She waited for a moment, but received no answer. She couldn't help but curse him silently in her heart.

On the surface, however, she took a deep breath, as if having made a monumental decision. "If you really hate me that much, then in the future..."

Before she could continue, her head was pressed back, and a softness descended upon her lips. At that moment, even breathing became a distraction. Realizing what he was doing, Jiang Shiyi’s gaze deepened. She squinted slightly, staring blankly at the man before her.

She didn't respond, instead biting down on his lower lip. She wanted to punish him. For being so hard to conquer.

Jiang Shiyi only intended a small punishment and quickly let go. Back in the passenger seat, she had made up her mind: today, she would capture this cold, aloof Director Huo! Her plan had been to feign drunkenness, speak her truth, and confess her feelings. If his answer wasn't what she wanted, she would force the issue and blame it all on a drunken frenzy afterward. She wasn't some delicate flower; to achieve her goal, she would stop at nothing!

But who knew Huo Yixun was such a closeted firebrand?

Huo Yixun licked his thin lips, as if savoring the lingering softness. He narrowed his eyes and pulled her closer, this time with a certain force, as if "retaliating" against her.

It happened so suddenly that Jiang Shiyi was caught off guard, once again imprisoned in his embrace. The cool scent of pine and cypress on his body, mixed with the man's burning, sunny heat, flooded her senses. The scent of pine and cypress now carried a feverish undertone.

As time dragged on, Jiang Shiyi found she couldn't quite handle it. Huo Yixun’s assault was too fierce; she felt as if her tongue was being worn raw. Because they were in the car, both were particularly sensitive, and what had started as a simple kiss threatened to spiral out of control.

Yet, Jiang Shiyi did not succumb. On the contrary, she was incredibly clear-headed.

She murmured softly, "So, what about our relationship now..."