Chapter 14 The Ultimate Tug of War

The sound of seductive, lingering kisses filled the air, tangling at the edges of my lips and ears. I could feel my face burning uncontrollably, the heat even spreading down my neck…

His initial touch was gentle, never forceful or invasive. Yet every slow entanglement of our lips struck directly at my sensitive nerves, sending shivers through my entire body.

I couldn't help but tilt my head slightly to respond, my fingers tightly clutching his shirt…

Perhaps due to the lack of oxygen, I felt my face grow hotter and the temperature in the car rise steadily.

His breathing began to deepen, and the grip of his hand on my waist grew firmer.

He wasn't hurting me, yet I couldn't help but let out a soft, uncomfortable whimper.

I swear, it was purely a reflex—I wasn't trying to imply anything!

But that single sound… how should I put it?

Even with my limited experience in romance, I could clearly sense the change in his body, the tension radiating from him, and the dangerous aura enveloping us.

Suddenly, he let go of me.

As I sat there, still gasping for air, his voice was already calm and composed as he called the driver. "Come back and drive."

The driver returned quickly, tactfully slipping into the car and starting the engine without asking any questions.

Shen Jibai sat beside me, his long legs crossed. Throughout the ride, he took an international work call, his posture relaxed as he leaned lazily against the seat, though his expression remained serious and focused.

I guessed he was dealing with the meeting he had missed earlier because of me.

Not wanting to disturb him, I sat quietly, staring out the window at the city's nightscape. The dazzling lights and shadows intertwined, and as I watched, I unknowingly drifted off to sleep…

When I woke up, the car had already arrived at the house. To my surprise, I found my head resting on Shen Jibai's shoulder. Though I wasn't fully awake, I quickly straightened up, embarrassed.

"I-I'm a bit tired. I'll head upstairs first. Goodnight."

Flustered, I scrambled out of the car without even waiting for him to finish saying goodnight. I bolted to my bedroom in a panic.

I distinctly remembered keeping my distance from him when I fell asleep. How had I ended up leaning on his shoulder? Could it be… that he had pulled me over while I was asleep?

That night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep soundly. The memory of that kiss replayed in my mind like a never-ending reel, from the initial coolness of his lips to the searing, suffocating heat. It felt as though his breath still lingered on my lips, tormenting my fragile heart over and over again.

Every time I woke up, I checked my phone, but there wasn't a single message from Shen Jibai.

The next morning, groggy and sleep-deprived, I finished washing up. Just as I was about to head downstairs for breakfast like usual, I suddenly stopped in my tracks.

Wait a minute. I was going to see Shen Jibai downstairs. Should I put on some makeup first?

Sitting down at my vanity with my messy hair, I decided that from today onward, I would turn over a new leaf and present my best self.

I meticulously applied a full face of makeup, taking my time to perfect every detail. Then, I spent ages picking out an outfit before finally heading downstairs.

Only to be informed by Aunt Ji that Shen Jibai had already left for the office.

"So early?"

So all my effort this morning had been for nothing!

"It's not early, Miss Jiang! Look at the time! Don't you have classes today?"

Oh crap. I'd spent over an hour dawdling upstairs!

It was currently the end of the semester at my university, and I had returned just in time to catch the tail end of the term.

Technically, I could have waited until after the Lunar New Year to report back to school. However, the university was currently preparing for a student arts festival, with big-name celebrities and major sponsors involved.

As a party enthusiast, how could I possibly miss such a grand event?

So, on a whim, I signed up to perform a Chinese dance piece.

To my surprise, I was selected as the lead dancer.

I would be performing a duet solo with a male partner during the interlude of a well-known singer's performance.

And today was the first rehearsal with the celebrity.

When I arrived at the rehearsal hall, the place was already bustling with activity. Crew members were setting up equipment, dancers were stretching, and the singer—a household name—was casually chatting with the director.

I quickly spotted my dance partner, a tall and handsome senior from the university's dance department. He greeted me with a warm smile, his confidence and charm immediately putting me at ease.

We began rehearsing the choreography, which was an elegant and romantic routine designed to complement the singer's ballad. The movements were intricate and required perfect synchronization, but my partner was patient and encouraging, making the process enjoyable.

As the rehearsal progressed, I found myself getting lost in the music and the flow of the dance. For a moment, I forgot about Shen Jibai, about the kiss, about everything else.

But that moment didn't last long.

During a break, as I was sipping water and chatting with my partner, I suddenly felt a chill run down my spine.

I turned around and saw Shen Jibai standing at the entrance of the rehearsal hall, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever.

What was he doing here?

Before I could process what was happening, he began walking toward me, his long strides commanding attention.

The entire room seemed to fall silent as he approached, his presence so imposing that even the singer stopped mid-conversation to glance in his direction.

"Shen Jibai?" I stammered, completely caught off guard. "What are you doing here?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, his gaze flicked to my dance partner, who was standing a little too close for comfort.

"I came to see how your rehearsal is going," he said finally, his tone calm but laced with an undertone I couldn't quite decipher.

My heart skipped a beat. Why did it feel like he was here to stake a claim?