A Miao basically didn't sleep the entire night. The moment she closed her eyes, all she saw was the man's chest and gaze when she left him.
"What should I do... What should I do?" The sky had just brightened when she rushed into the bathroom and looked at her inflamed lips in the mirror. It had already been a night but her lips had still not recovered.
She opened the faucet and washed her face with cold water. She patted her face. "Listen up! Just act like last night is a dream. Just act like you've been bitten by a dog..." That wasn't right! He wasn't a dog!
"Ahhhhhhh!" A Miao held her face in frustration.
That was her first kiss! Her kiss was gone just like that. What made her feel even more ashamed was the fact that she unexpectedly didn't feel disgusted or disgrace. She was merely angry.
"Okay then..." A Miao began to put on makeup on her eyes and told herself, "Forget about it. Pretend as nothing happened. Forget it! Forget!"
Out of fear of running into Shen Xinglan, she hid inside her room the entire morning until the housekeeper came to look for her at noon.
"Miss, are you alright?"
A Miao opened the door. "I'm fine. Shen... Where's your young master?"
"He has left a long time ago."
A Miao sighed in relief and went downstairs to eat.
She paid a visit to Song Baohua and Zhou Xiao's new home after finishing her meal. On their way there, Shen I looked as if he had something to say but hesitated. He didn't know what he should say either. When they arrived at their destination, A Miao got off the car on her own.
"Go home, Shen I. I'll stay here tonight to help them and go back to campus myself tomorrow."
Shen I, who had been wearing a strange expression all along, didn't question her as he usually would. He nodded and said, "I'll come over tomorrow noon to send you to campus."
Without waiting for A Miao's refusal, he started the engine and drove off.
When he returned to the Ji Conglomerate, he gloomily asked Shen II a question.
"How's our Boss?"
Shen I expressionlessly replied, "Speak as little as possible these few days. Were it not because our Boss worries that Miss A Miao would be uncomfortable if he gets someone else to attend to her, you would've long been tossed to Africa."
"I... I'm also doing it for their sake!" Shen I looked dispirited.
"What right do you have?" Shen I replied solemnly. "It's not up to us to agree on whoever Boss likes. Even if you find Miss A Miao to be good, you can't advise Boss on it. Where did your brain go?"
Early this morning, Shen Xinglan had gathered them. He packed a set of clothes and said he was going on a business trip. Thus, Shen I stupidly asked if they should inform A Miao. Saying these words were like poking at a hornet's nest. Shen Xinglan instantly kicked him down the stairs.
"Shen II." A cold voice came from inside the office.
Shen II cast Shen I a resentful glance. "I'll be accompanying Boss to Europe at noon. When you call us later, be careful not to mention A Miao."
Inside the office, the man loosened his necktie in frustration. He felt like he was going mad. When he shaved in the morning, he could feel an erection coming just by looking at his lips.
Right now, it got so outrageous that he would think of that woman and that kiss just by brushing across his lips!
"Damn it!"
That was the first time Shen Xinglan had kissed a woman. It felt so damned good that he couldn't stop himself. The feeling made him feel as if he was close to collapsing!
"Boss..." Shen II noticed how mentally unstable Shen I had been the entire morning and dared not to question him.
Shen Xinglan threw his necktie to the floor. "Get ready to leave. Right now. Immediately."
A Miao didn't know that Shen Xinglan had already left. When she returned to the campus, the program supervisor swiftly noticed her that she could go help out at the library. Her job would last from four pm to eight pm every day.
"80 yuan a day. I can even rest on weekends." A Miao was particularly happy with this treatment. This way, she wouldn't have to worry about her food expenses at all. She could even save a little money each month.
Her week had been especially serene yet bustling at the same time. What was serene was she herself. What was bustling was the campus. The different kinds of associations had begun recruiting new members. Every day, she would receive flyers while walking inside the campus.
After her classes on Friday, she boarded the car at the usual spot.
"How was your week, Miss?" Shen I was evidently trying to find a conversation topic. A Miao smiled faintly at him. "Not bad."
She hesitated for a little before deciding to voice her question. "Your Boss..."
"Ah?" Shen I's eyes glinted. "Boss is on a business trip and he's not back yet!"
A Miao immediately relaxed after hearing his words. Even her tone became breezy. "Send me to Auntie Song's place then. I've agreed to go shopping with Zhou Xiao."
Shen I didn't reply. Nevertheless, he still picked up Zhou Xiao at her home and sent them both to the business street.
"Miss, I'll wait for you at the underground parking lot at the junction. You must call me immediately if anything happens." Even though he couldn't play matchmaker for his Boss and A Miao, he felt like he should put protect her with all of his heart.
"Boss will definitely fall for Miss A Miao!" It wasn't known where he found the sort of confidence that not even the people involved possessed...
"A Miao, the cakes at this store are really good!" When they were tired of shopping, Zhou Xiao dragged A Miao into a delicately-decorated store. A Miao instantly regretted the choice when she stepped inside.
The two women sitting inside were none other than Ji Xue and Bai Lu.
Bai Lu was also astonished to see her but happily walked over to them. "What a coincidence, A Miao! Come and sit with us!"
"No thanks. I'm here with my friend." A Miao pointed at Zhou Xiao, who was busy selecting cakes. Zhou Xiao also noticed that someone was talking to A Miao and quickly came over.
"Is it your friend?"
A Miao was about to deny it when Bai Lu nodded. "Yes. You must be A Miao's friend. Why don't you sit with us and have a chat? It's my treat today!"
"Sounds good! Sounds good!" Zhou Xiao instantly agreed after hearing that Bai Lu would be treating. "The more the merrier! Isn't that right, A Miao?"
Now that Zhou Xiao was already walking over to their table, A Miao had no choice but to join her. Ji Xue sneered at her before turning her head away, acting as if she hadn't seen her.
"So you grew up with A Miao!" Bai Lu and Zhou Xiao were already chattering like a pair of old friends. Zhou Xiao babbled on, telling everything to Bai Lu.
A Miao pushed the plate of cake to Zhou Xiao with a frown. "Stop chatting. You can't let the ice cream cake sit."
"Oh, right, right, right!" Zhou Xiao picked up a fork. "We'll eat first!" She had ordered the most expensive cake, after all.
Suddenly, Ji Xue nudged Bai Lu with a smile. "Don't you girls have a charity gala tomorrow night? Why don't you invite them?"
"Sounds good!"
A Miao's refusal was stuck in her throat. She secretly kicked Zhou Xiao.
"We have something planned for tomorrow night. Isn't that right?"
Zhou Xiao's eyes turned round. "What plans? They're inviting us! It'd be so rude if we turn them down."
"That's right!" Bai Lu looked especially overjoyed. "Come with us, A Miao. We're all young ladies of the same circle. We're of a similar age too. I'll introduce more friends to you."
A Miao shook her head. "I really have something planned for tomorrow. I'll take a rain check."
"Is that so..." Bai Lu lowered her head, finding it to be a pity. She seemed to have recalled something and fished out a pink invitation card out of her bag. "Here. I'll give you the invitation card. You can come over and play in case you're done with your business."
Ji Xue wore a contemptuous look. "Remember it's an auction. You need to bring something in."
"Then that's all the more reason for me not to go." A Miao looked at Zhou Xiao. Seeing the disappointment on her friend's face, she added, "I don't have anything worthy of being auctioned off."
Bai Lu gave Ji Xue a playful glare. "Don't listen to Xiaoxue's nonsense. The heads of families would typically be the ones responsible for putting up items for auction in an event like this. It's not our place to do so, so it doesn't matter if you don't have any!"
"Then let's take a look!" Zhou Xiao tugged on the hem of A Miao's shirt.
A Miao nodded helplessly. "Let's see how it goes..."
After leaving the store, Zhou Xiao began prattling as soon as they entered the car.
"A Miao, I want to go to the gala! I've never been to one!"
A Miao sighed. "Do you think it's some sort of fun event? Those wealthy people all have their eyes fixed atop their heads. What will you do if someone bullies you?"
"You're also a wealthy person!" Zhou Xiao looked at her. "Who in City S dares to bully you now?"
A Miao was rendered speechless by her friend's logic. It was Shen I who interrupted their conversation to say, "That's right! Go ahead and have fun!"
"See!" Zhou Xiao grabbed A Miao's arm. "Let's go! Let's go!"
A Miao made a last attempt to stop her friend. "How can we go when we don't have evening wear?"
"Don't you have any?" Zhou Xiao was in disbelief. "You can just lend me some."
"I don't have such things..."
Zhou Xiao harassed A Miao so badly that the latter had no choice but to agree. She mulled over it before asking Shen I, "Do you know where we could rent evening wear?"
The weekend. Under the glorious lights of the cruise ship by the sea.
"How beautiful!" Zhou Xiao stood next to A Miao. She was very pleased with the red evening dress that she was wearing.
A Miao heaved a sigh. "Let's go in."
"Don't be like this," Zhou Xiao couldn't help saying after seeing her expression. "Look at how plain your dress in. I might not be able to find you when we get in later."
Truth to be told, A Miao was beautifully dressed today. Her pale grey dress reached her ankle and the lower half of the dress was decorated in layers of gauze that would lift delicately with her every move. The upper half of the dress had no superfluous decorations, only simple sleeves that covered half of her arms.
"You refused when I told you to choose some jewelry. Look how you fade into the background now." Zhou Xiao was still complaining. A Miao casually smoothened the long hair that cascaded down her back.
"Stop complaining about me. You better stay put later and follow me closely. Do you hear me?"
Zhou Xiao curled her lips. "I know, I know."
The ship was already filled with guests, none of whom they both knew. Thus, they stayed in a corner.
"Try this, A Miao!" Zhou Xiao took two glasses of pretty-looking beverages from a waiter.
A Miao gave the drink a sniff. "Don't drink too much of it. It's alcoholic."
"Tsk. Can fruit wine be considered alcoholic?" Zhou Xiao disregarded her warning.
"A Miao!" Bai Lu rushed over to them. "This is great! I thought you wouldn't be coming!"
The woman in front of them was wearing a tailored white qipao. Her hair was piled high atop her head and her only decoration was a butterfly-shaped jade hairpin. Once again, A Miao secretly sighed with emotion.
Bai Youran's younger sister was indeed a woman who was very difficult to deal with. Not only was she good at adorning herself, but she was even more adept at packaging herself.
"Come, let's go over there. I'll introduce you to my friends!" Bai Lu reached out to pull on A Miao's hand. A Miao wanted to throw off her hand but Zhou Xiao gave her a push forward.
Thus, A Miao allowed herself to be helplessly dragged by Bai Lu to a group of women. The moment she raised her head, she froze.
"A Miao... Isn't that your fiance?" Zhou Xiao asked quietly.
That man was simply too eye-catching. He could capture everyone's attention just by standing in place. She looked at Shen Xinglan who stood not far from her. He was also looking at her, with emotion swiftly flitting across his pupils. Evidently, he was astonished.
However... He wasn't alone. Standing next to him was a beautiful woman who was smiling bashfully at him.