Chapter 9 Don’t Mess with Him

"My dear little Lili, let me give you some advice: don't be so hasty to fall for someone. What if it's just a drunken illusion caused by dulled senses? What if you have to apologize to him later? That's Shen Jibai we're talking about! Do you think he's some harmless little lamb? Why on earth would you mess with him?" Lin Xi said earnestly, as she had never believed in love.

"I… can't I be serious about this?" I asked, feeling wronged.

"Girl, do you think being serious is enough?" Lin Xi's eyes widened like lightbulbs. "With your experience and his level, your age and his maturity—don't you realize you're no match for him?"

We sighed almost simultaneously.

Lin Xi looked at my melancholic face and softened her tone. "Do you even know about his family? Did you know he used to have a fiancée?"

I was startled. "A fiancée? Who? I've known him for so many years and never heard about this!"

"Exactly. Do you really know him? Marriages in wealthy families aren't about love; they're all about interests. Don't get yourself involved in this mess!"

I knew how realistic this social circle was because I was part of it. I understood the inner conflicts of those rich young men. They would embrace love with sincerity, just like any man in the throes of passion, but after the initial fireworks, they would start worrying—worrying about women who couldn't let go, about the troubles of breaking up, about being clung to.

But I wasn't an ordinary girl from a regular family. My dad was the CEO of a listed company. With the wealth my family had accumulated over the years, I was entirely qualified to stand beside Shen Jibai.

So, what was there to worry about? Our social statuses matched, our families were comparable. Even if he had a fiancée in the past, that was in the past, not the present—it had nothing to do with me.

To prove Lin Xi wrong, I stopped going to nightclubs for the next few days, turned down all dinner parties, and avoided shopping, beauty treatments, and celebrity-chasing.

I wanted to seize every moment to prove to everyone that Shen Jibai was truly special to me, that my feelings for him were absolutely not just a fleeting whim!

Everyone knew Shen Jibai was wealthy and aloof, disliking social engagements. Most of the time, he went home promptly after work.

So, as evening approached, I strategically prepared to make my move from upstairs.

At 6:30 sharp, his car drove through the gates as expected.

I timed it perfectly, bouncing downstairs with what appeared to be a casual, lazy demeanor, but in reality, every detail was meticulously planned.

The outfit I wore today had taken me an entire afternoon to pick out from my wardrobe. After several rounds of video discussions with Lin Xi and eliminating countless options, we finally settled on a soft, cute, and subtly s*xy loungewear set—a Morandi yellow spaghetti strap tank top paired with matching low-rise shorts, revealing a slender, delicate waist. Above the white floor slippers were smooth, fair, and toned legs.

I had casually tied my hair into a slightly messy yet energetic bun. Under the surprised gazes of the housekeeper Aunt Ji and Shen Jibai, I gracefully descended the stairs.

"Aunt Ji, is the soup ready?"

Feigning nonchalance, I deliberately ignored Shen Jibai and headed straight to the kitchen, even exaggerating my tiptoeing and hip-tilting posture while lifting the pot lid.

Ha, I refuse to believe my waist-to-hip ratio won't make you stare!

"Ah, the ribs soup smells amazing today!" I said, my tone soft and coquettish.

For a moment, I thought Aunt Ji shivered slightly…

She quickly walked over to me, then glanced at Shen Jibai behind her with a look of surprise and awkwardness. In a low voice, she explained, "Miss Jiang, this is fish soup."

Fish soup? Ugh, I couldn't believe it—I'd been so focused on that man that I hadn't even noticed the strong seafood smell…

But who cared what kind of soup it was? None of it was my concern. My only concern was the man sitting at the dining table—Shen Jibai.

I raised my head slightly and caught a glimpse of him elegantly loosening his collar with one hand. Then, unhurriedly, he picked up a fork. His long, strong fingers and the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt revealed the defined muscles of his forearms. The sheer masculine allure sent a jolt straight to the top of my head.

I couldn't help but glance at him again. His sharp jawline, the faint stubble that added a touch of ruggedness to his otherwise sophisticated demeanor, and the way his lips curved slightly upward as if he were amused by something—it was all too much.

"Miss Jiang, the soup will be ready in a moment. Would you like to have some?" Aunt Ji's voice pulled me back to reality.

"Ah, no, I'm fine," I replied hastily, waving my hand. My voice might have sounded calm, but my heart was pounding like a drum.

As I turned back toward the dining table, I found Shen Jibai looking straight at me. His dark, deep eyes seemed to see through every layer of pretense I had carefully built.

"Are you trying to seduce me, Jiang Lili?" he asked suddenly, his tone light but with a hint of teasing.

I froze, my mind going blank for a moment.

"W-What are you talking about?" I stammered, feeling my face heat up.

He leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp. "Your little act. Do you think I wouldn't notice?"

I clenched my fists, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed. "You're overthinking things. I just came downstairs to check on the soup."

"Is that so?" He raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a faint smile.

I wanted to retort, but the words wouldn't come out. How could someone be so infuriatingly calm and composed while making me feel like I was completely exposed?

"Fine, think whatever you want," I said finally, turning on my heel and heading back upstairs.

But as I walked away, I heard his low chuckle behind me, and it sent shivers down my spine.

Back in my room, I threw myself onto the bed, burying my face in the pillows.

"Why is he like this?" I muttered to myself.

It wasn't fair. I had put so much effort into this, and yet he had seen through me so easily.

But even as I lay there, frustrated and embarrassed, I couldn't help but replay the way he had looked at me, the way his voice had sounded when he called me out.

Deep down, I knew I was in trouble. Shen Jibai wasn't just any man—he was a man who could make my heart race with just a single glance. And no matter how much I tried to deny it, I couldn't stop myself from falling deeper and deeper for him.