Volume One, Chapter 128: Presumptuousness

Afternoon.

As Song Qingyu headed to work, she happened to see Gu Yuandong. Today, he wore a black turtleneck sweater paired with a gray suit, his usual cold demeanor softened into a gentle warmth.

“Good afternoon, President Gu.”

“Good afternoon.”

The three of them stepped into the elevator together. After so many rides, Song Qingyu had grown accustomed to sharing the elevator with her superior.

He Shu Bai was reporting today's schedule to Pei Jingmo.

Don’t listen to improper things.

Song Qingyu’s mind drifted, and she paid no attention to their conversation.

Suddenly—

The elevator jolted abruptly, and Song Qingyu lost her footing, nearly falling.

Just as she feared embarrassing herself in front of her boss, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist. Once steady, a deep voice whispered in her ear, “Be careful.”

Looking up, she saw the masked face, and realizing their close position seemed somewhat intimate, her heart raced. She quickly pulled away.

“Sorry, thank you, President Gu.”

“It’s nothing.”

The elevator stopped on the twelfth floor. Song Qingyu stepped out first and bowed slightly to Gu Yuandong inside.

Once the doors closed, she anxiously patted her chest. Thankfully, only Secretary He had witnessed the moment—otherwise, if anyone misunderstood, she would never be able to clear her name.

Back at her desk, gossip buzzed around.

“Did you see? President Gu wore a turtleneck sweater today! A turtleneck!”

“So what if he did?”

“Come on, last night he drank oxtail soup, and Miss Lu went to pick him up. Surely something happened between them. President Gu’s neck must have had marks, which is why he’s wearing a turtleneck.”

Song Qingyu thought of the marks she had left on Pei Jingmo’s neck. When he worked at the construction site, would anyone gossip about him like this?

The workers there were busy and simple-minded; they probably wouldn’t think that way.

“See? Forget about his ‘first love’ nonsense—the one right in front of him is what matters. Looks like President Gu and Miss Lu are about to get together.”

Song Qingyu listened and recalled that President Gu had said he didn’t like Lu Rongrong.

But on second thought, his first love was already married; he couldn’t remain single forever.

Although she felt Lu Rongrong wasn’t worthy of President Gu, as long as he was happy, that was enough.

In the following days,

Once Pei Jingmo had broken their abstinence, it was as if some seal had been lifted.

Every night, he dragged Song Qingyu into bed exercises.

At first, Song Qingyu cooperated, but soon exhaustion took its toll, seriously affecting her sleep and work. She then returned Pei Jingmo’s pillow to his room.

“I’m going to rest properly tonight. You can sleep in the guest room.”

Pei Jingmo knew he’d been overbearing lately. After trying every tactic to placate her, it was time to cool down.

He stood by the door clutching his pillow pitifully. “I swear, tonight I’ll just hold you and do nothing else.”

“You said the same thing last night! Zheng Zheng was right—men can’t be trusted in bed!” Song Qingyu warned herself not to soften, then slammed the door shut.

Pei Jingmo was left speechless.

Lying in bed, Song Qingyu stared at the greenish-purple marks on her body, feeling miserable.

At first, he restrained himself from leaving marks, but the more lenient she was, the bolder he became.

Fortunately, it was winter; otherwise, how could she go out with a neck full of hickeys?

However, after being held to sleep by Pei Jingmo for some time, without him beside her, Song Qingyu suddenly found herself unable to sleep.

She tossed and turned for two hours without rest.

Taking out her phone, she sent him a WeChat message: “Are you asleep?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Thinking of you.”

“Hmph, smooth talk.”

“Not smooth talk, it’s the truth.”

Separated by only a wall, the couple chatted warmly over WeChat.

“Why don’t you come over and sleep here?”

Just as she sent the message, she quickly retracted it.

But then, the door opened. Pei Jingmo, pillow in arms, rushed in and climbed into bed.

His speed stunned Song Qingyu.

“You—”

“Retracting won’t help; I already saw it.”

He held her close, finally feeling at ease.

Looking at him in surprise, Song Qingyu asked, “You weren’t waiting outside my door all this time, were you?”

Because it was impossible to be that fast—less than five seconds.

Pei Jingmo smiled and kissed her forehead. “It’s late, sleep now, my dear.”

Song Qingyu was indeed sleepy and mumbled, “You have to behave tonight too.”

He chuckled softly. “Alright.”

True to his word, Pei Jingmo kept his promise, and Song Qingyu slept soundly until dawn, going to work refreshed.

“Hey, have you noticed Song Qingyu has been looking more beautiful lately?”

“A woman getting more beautiful can only mean her husband is treating her well.”

“She never looked this radiant even when she was with her husband before.”

“If it’s not her own husband, it must be some other man. With Song Qingyu’s beauty, a few men wouldn’t be surprising.”

Just then, Lu Yuan approached Song Qingyu. They exchanged a few words, and Lu Yuan smiled rarely.

“That Lu Yuan always acts cold and aloof to everyone but is so good to Song Qingyu. Could he have feelings for her?”

Sheng Yuru noticed Ma Dandan’s clenched fists and fierce expression, then raised an eyebrow with a smile. “Song Qingyu’s been in such good spirits these days; could it be she’s already won over Lu Yuan?”

Ma Dandan angrily stood and left her workstation.

Before leaving work, Song Qingyu habitually checked all the data. These days were crucial for updates, and she dared not slack off.

The Tianqi Group’s archive held many books and materials on game design. Song Qingyu planned to borrow a few to study at home.

Winter’s chill came swiftly. Song Qingyu turned on the lights and entered.

Most people had already left. Ma Dandan followed her in quietly and, once Song Qingyu was inside, blocked the door with a mop.

“Bitch! How dare you seduce Lu Yuan!”

Afterward, she clapped her hands as if nothing had happened and left the company.

Song Qingyu stayed in the materials room for half an hour. The books were so numerous and captivating.

A chill spread through the room. As Song Qingyu grabbed two books and prepared to leave, she found the door wouldn’t open.

She pulled hard several times, as if something was blocking it.

Someone had definitely done this on purpose.

“Is anyone there?”

Song Qingyu called out, but the room fell silent.

Night had fallen, and almost everyone at the company had left.

She hadn’t brought her phone when she entered, so she couldn’t call for help.

Suddenly, the lights went out.

Startled, Song Qingyu’s mind flashed back to when her mother had just passed away. Liu Yuer had accused her of wasting electricity and had removed the light from her room.

The nights were pitch black then. She had been terrified, with no one to help her—and Song Yan Feng certainly wouldn’t care.

Since then, she had disliked the dark, fearing the night more when alone.

The materials room had no heating. When she entered, she had thought she’d be out soon, so she hadn’t brought her down jacket.

Cold and dark, she fumbled her way to a corner, trembling.

Suddenly, she missed Pei Jingmo terribly and wondered if he had returned home yet.

If he was home and hadn’t heard from her, and she didn’t answer his calls, would he be as frantic as last time, so anxious his lips would burn and crack?

Would he think she was trapped at the company?