Chapter 25 Skin-to-Skin Contact

The hotel delivered a pile of period supplies and changed the bedding. I curled up on the sofa, holding a cup of ginger tea, still wrapped in the soft pajamas Shen Jibai had just helped me put on. Taking a sip of the tea, I couldn't shake off the awkwardness.

Shen Jibai walked over with a kettle, frowning slightly."Drink more, my little ancestor," he said."Okay… sure… Mr. Shen," I stammered.

Although my first attempt ended in failure again, this time it was different.

After all, we had skin-to-skin contact!

As I sipped on the warm ginger tea, I couldn't help but replay every detail from earlier in my mind.

I wasn't afraid of him, nor did I reject him. I desired him, just like a woman in love would long for a man.

Both physically and emotionally.

This was a magical experience I'd never had in my 20 years of life.

I even had the urge to rush out onto the streets and hug everyone!

Could it be that my psychological barriers were just cured like that? Maybe, after this experience, I'd return to being a normal person?

Thinking about this filled me with satisfaction, and I sat on the sofa giggling to myself with the cup in my hands.

In just a few short weeks, the north had plunged into the depths of winter.

As expected, yet still somewhat surprising, Shen Heqing brought Song Yixin along to pick up Shen Jibai from the airport.

This was my first time formally facing Song Yixin. Girls from Hong Kong and Macau always seem to have an eye-catching sense of style. Coming from a prominent family, she didn't need to pile on jewelry to flaunt her wealth, nor did she need heavy makeup to boost her confidence. Her features were pleasant, her long, wavy hair meticulously styled with an airy texture—clearly, she had prepared carefully for this meeting.

In contrast, I was wearing a plain gray-white cropped T-shirt with loose, low-waisted jeans, baring my arms and waist in the early winter air. While I might have had the edge in youthful energy, I had to grit my teeth to suppress the shivering.

In the few seconds we stood face-to-face, the tension in the air was palpable.

The driver took our suitcases, and the equally tall Shen Heqing completely ignored me, walking up to drape an affectionate arm over Shen Jibai's shoulder in a show of elder-like benevolence."Jibai, how was the trip? Everything smooth?""Mm, it was fine," Shen Jibai replied indifferently.

"You know, my memory is terrible, Jibai. I almost forgot to tell you," Shen Heqing said as he pulled Song Yixin forward. "Today, Miss Song came to the company to discuss some matters. When she heard you were coming back, she insisted on tagging along to pick you up."

Before he could finish speaking, Song Yixin was already leaning toward Shen Jibai. Judging by her movements, she was aiming for a French-style hug, but since Shen Jibai didn't cooperate, she ended up just standing there coyly, looking up at him.

Shen Jibai glanced at her indifferently. "There's no need to be so polite, Miss Song."

"No, I couldn't wait to see you," Song Yixin said sweetly, her coquettish demeanor so natural it didn't feel like an act. She pouted and fidgeted, her every move smooth and seamless. "Brother Jibai, we have a meeting this afternoon, right?""Yes.""Then let's go to the company lunch meeting together. We can talk while we eat."

Shen Jibai remained calm, his expression giving nothing away. Just as he was about to reply, Shen Heqing chimed in, "Jibai, you've been away for quite some time, and there are several shareholders waiting for you. Joining them for lunch would be a good opportunity to catch up and prepare for the afternoon meeting."

Judging by Shen Heqing's urgency, it must have something to do with the recent project in France.

But what does the French project have to do with Song Yixin?!

I stood off to the side, ignored the entire time, like I was invisible.

Not far away, Lin Xi was waving at me.

Thankfully, I had the foresight to contact Lin Xi before takeoff and ask her to pick me up.

I lowered my head and sent Lin Xi a message, telling her to wait and not come over yet.

If the enemy ignores me, I'll stay put.

"As for Miss Jiang… it might not be convenient for her to join us. After all, she's not part of the company, and our lunch meeting…" Song Yixin's soft, slightly hesitant voice reached my ears, making it hard to fault her.

Standing next to Shen Jibai, she turned to look at me, as if I were the homewrecker intruding on their relationship.

Well, fair enough. She was here first, after all. In Shen Jibai's life, she was the reigning champion.

A woman's intuition is always sharp. I knew full well that the reason Song Yixin and Shen Heqing dared to act so boldly was that they didn't see me, a girl from a bankrupt family, as a threat. Nor did they believe I was someone Shen Jibai truly cared about.

To them, I was just a fleeting companion, someone to pass the time with—not a permanent fixture.

That's just how people from their world think. I used to think the same way.

I smirked, too lazy to argue with them."Shen Jibai, I'm leaving."

Before I could turn away, Shen Jibai quickly grabbed my arm. "Where are you going? Why are you leaving? I'll go with you for lunch before heading back to the company for the meeting."

I took the suitcase from the driver's hand and gestured toward a spot diagonally ahead. "Lin Xi! I'm over here!"

Lin Xi, pretending to have just noticed me, exaggerated her reaction with a dramatic gasp. "Oh my gosh, I've been looking for you everywhere!" She ran over, stopped in front of us, and looked up at Shen Heqing. "Uncle Shen, do you remember me? I'm Lin Hai's daughter!"

"Ah, Xiao Lin! Wow, you've grown so much!" Shen Heqing's expression softened instantly, a complete 180 from how he had looked at me earlier.

"Yes, Uncle. You're here to pick up my bestie. You guys go ahead and chat; don't let us hold you up!"

Lin Xi grabbed my suitcase and waved goodbye to everyone, including the driver—everyone except Song Yixin.

Shen Jibai seemed like he wanted to say something, but a work call interrupted him. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him frown as he answered the call, then take off his coat and stride over to me. He draped the coat over my shoulders and gestured for me to text him later.

Instant warmth.

On the way, Lin Xi asked me how it felt to date Shen Jibai. When I told her about my period incident, she laughed so hard she almost rear-ended the car in front of us.

"Tell me honestly, Jiang Li, do you resent us for not telling you the truth from the beginning?" she finally asked."Why would I resent you? It's not like you guys bankrupted my family," I said nonchalantly, waving it off. "Fate, you know? Whatever it gives me, I'll take. I've been a slacker my whole life; I don't have much fight in me. And look, after everything, you, Shen Jin, and a few others are still by my side!"

"So, what's your plan now?" Lin Xi paused. "Are you going to keep being Shen Jibai's obedient little girlfriend, constantly battling today's Song Yixin, tomorrow's Song Yixin 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and so on?"

Lin Xi was always clear-headed. Her mother had lived the life she just described, so deep down, she didn't trust any man.

"Me? Do you think I have the ability to fight them?"

I was being honest. I used to act tough, picking fights and standing up for others, but the idea of constantly scheming against other women? I'd rather die.

After all, the first rule of being a slacker: if you can lie down, don't sit up.

"So… what's your plan?" Lin Xi looked worried. After all, I no longer had my family's safety net.

I raised an eyebrow and gave her a sly smile. "Lin Xi, are you interested in a little collaboration?""What?""I overheard Shen Jibai on the phone recently. Apparently, the Shen family's old mansion is going to be acquired by the government to turn it into an art gallery.""Seriously? That land is priceless right now; everyone's been eyeing it!" Lin Xi's eyes widened in shock.