Chapter 287: No, You're Just Too Kissable

In the end, Gu Shengsheng was on pins and needles after returning to her room. Something just didn’t feel right.

She couldn’t sleep, and a sense of guilt and unease gnawed at her.

She then opened her phone to mindlessly scroll through short videos, only to have a social news story pop up on her feed: A woman spent the night with a man and then refused to take responsibility, leading to the man’s suicide.

Gu Shengsheng: “…”

She had initially thought it was fine, that her situation wasn’t that serious. But now, all sorts of ideas were swirling in her mind.

Then, Gu Shengsheng thought about Lu Shijing’s self-deprecating smile from earlier and decided she had to explain things clearly.

‘But go knock on his door now? That would definitely be inappropriate.’

So Gu Shengsheng made the call. Lu Shijing picked up quickly but didn’t say anything.

Gu Shengsheng cleared her throat. “Are you asleep?”

“What is it?” His voice was cold, and she could hear the sound of a keyboard in the background. It seemed he was working.

Gu Shengsheng said, “It’s nothing. If you’re busy now, I’ll just tell you another day.”

“You won’t see me another day.” With that abrupt, out-of-the-blue statement, Lu Shijing hung up.

Gu Shengsheng had been fine a moment ago, thinking a phone call would be enough to ease her conscience. But hearing his words, she shot out of her room and knocked rapidly on his door.

Lu Shijing took a moment before opening the door. Before they could even exchange words, Gu Shengsheng burst in. “What are you planning to do? What did you mean I won’t see you?”

She spun around, searching the room, but found no sharp objects.

“I have to go to the company tomorrow, so I won’t be staying here anymore.”

Lu Shijing stared at her with a strange expression. He was wearing a black bathrobe, which gaped open just enough to reveal hints of his toned muscles. Gu Shengsheng couldn’t help but steal a couple of glances before nonchalantly looking away.

‘I’ve been so strange lately,’ Gu Shengsheng thought. She had clearly thought things through with Lu Shijing. There were too many difficulties for them to be together, and after weighing the pros and cons, she had decided they shouldn’t have any contact.

But now, here in Eagle Country, it was as if she had upset some kind of balance. Gu Shengsheng found her current self strange—awkward and weird. ‘I’m kind of like the malicious female side character in some brainless TV drama.’

Just as she was about to back out, Lu Shijing grabbed her wrist. “Wait,” he said.

Who would have known that in her panic, Gu Shengsheng would flail her other hand and accidentally pull his collar open even wider, putting more on display.

‘Well, I’ve certainly earned myself some benefits.’ Gu Shengsheng laughed bitterly on the inside; her expression showed she was in a mortifyingly awkward situation.

She tried her best to compose herself. “I heard what you said… that I wouldn’t see you again, so I came to see if something had happened. After all, you’ve saved me several times. I can’t just stand by and watch something happen to you.”

“Worried about me?” he asked in return.

“No,” Gu Shengsheng denied instantly. She could never bring herself to admit it.

“Then why did you barge in here like this? Don’t you know what our relationship is now? Aren’t we practically strangers? Can you just barge into a stranger’s room without a second thought?”

He then took a few steps toward her, forcing Gu Shengsheng to take a few steps back. She swallowed hard, at a complete loss.

Lu Shijing continued, “What if this stranger wasn’t me? Would it be anyone else? Huh? You’d barge in on anyone without hesitation?”

Gu Shengsheng thought for a moment, then replied with great seriousness, “Well, it wasn’t without hesitation. I stood at the door and hesitated for a moment. Then I knocked, and you opened it yourself.”

It was as if she were telling him to roll the tape and check the instant replay.

“Oh, so it was a symbolic hesitation before you came in. You’ve been plotting this for a while, haven’t you, Gu Shengsheng?” he continued to press.

This felt like he was twisting things around.

But she still wanted to explain, so she said, “Then what do you want to do? If you feel you’ve been wronged, should I go back to my room right now so you can come barging in too?”

Her words made Lu Shijing laugh in exasperation. His long fingers rested with restraint on her waist, and he let out a soft chuckle.

“Gu Shengsheng,” he said, “I never knew you had this side to you.”

Gu Shengsheng was baffled. “I’ve always been like this.”

“Sit down,” he said.

Gu Shengsheng was speechless. “How am I supposed to sit when you’re holding me like you’re afraid I’ll run away? I’ll just say what I need to and then I’ll go.”

“I feel like I still need to explain. About the other night, when I kissed you… don’t get the wrong idea.”

His pupils contracted. ‘The wrong idea?’ He worried she was about to say something hurtful, like that she didn’t like him.

He turned his head away, as if he didn’t want to hear it. “No need to explain.”

Gu Shengsheng found this amusing. ‘You tell me not to explain, so I’m not supposed to explain? Who’s going to listen to you?’

She said quickly, “It wasn’t a big deal. I just couldn’t control myself at the time. You were just… really kissable. Besides, I’d had a little to drink and was a bit out of it.”

“So, do you like me?” Lu Shijing lowered his head, pinning Gu Shengsheng into a corner. His voice was laced with a hint of delight.

The veins on his arms stood out as he tightened his grip slightly.

Gu Shengsheng said, “I don’t. The two are unrelated.”

Just as she was about to explain further, Lu Shijing pressed himself against her.

And then, their bodies intertwined.

When Gu Shengsheng came up for air, he said, “Such a liar.”

Gu Shengsheng tried to speak, but he instantly sealed her lips with his again, holding her tightly in his arms.

Then, his words muffled by their lips, Lu Shijing could be heard saying, “I have to kiss you back.”

“…”

About half an hour later, Gu Shengsheng finally came to her senses. Her legs felt weak as she started for the door, and after stumbling for two steps, she broke into a run.

She ran back to her own room as if someone were chasing her, slammed the door shut, and spent the rest of the night tossing and turning.

If her mind had been muddled before, if she hadn’t been able to figure out her own choices, now Gu Shengsheng knew. She liked Lu Shijing.

What’s more, she didn’t reject him at all.

‘Maybe… giving dating a try wouldn’t be so bad?’

She’d see how it went. If it felt right, Gu Shengsheng would pursue him. They could also start from scratch, from a different angle, and get to know each other.

As far as she was concerned, there was no rule that said the man had to be the one to pursue the woman.

‘Since I like him, I have to go for it.’

「

」

After Gu Shengsheng left, the first thing Lu Shijing did was take a cold shower.

After that, he couldn’t stop smiling foolishly.

He was smiling during his video conference, smiling while he worked, and even smiling while he drank his tea.

‘Progress… is much faster than I imagined.’

It was Lin Kai, however, who noticed something was up during the video conference.

“Boss, has Miss Gu started talking to you again?”

Lin Kai was thrilled. “You two have to get together!”

“Soon,” Lu Shijing said. “She’ll be your boss’s wife again soon enough.”

Clearly, Lu Shijing was in a very good mood. He had even decided that as soon as they got married, he would give all of his company shares and assets to Shengsheng.

It would take at least half a month to sort out and liquidate everything in advance. He could get started on that now.