Look at what he’s saying, where did he get such absurd reasoning?
Qiao Xi sneered coldly, "I’m not hungry. Do you think I’m a pig, getting hungry the moment I finish bathing?"
Shen Dang furrowed his brow, "So I eat alone? I haven’t eaten much since coming from Hai City this afternoon."
He had rushed over immediately after receiving her tie, fortunately catching the plane, or else he would have had to wait another two hours.
Boss Shen had never hustled so much.
Qiao Xi smiled elegantly, "What’s wrong with eating alone? Surely Boss Shen doesn’t need company to eat hot pot?"
But Shen Dang couldn’t muster a smile and nodded gravely, "Yes, I need it."
Qiao Xi’s pupils brightened coldly, "Are you serious?"
"When have I ever joked with you?"
While Qiao Xi was still stunned, Shen Dang pulled her out of the room.
Being dragged along, Qiao Xi could only slap his hand, "Stop pulling me, I’ve already told you I’m not eating."
Shen Dang turned his head to her, "You said you stopped eating hot pot midway, so that’s why I ordered it, otherwise I wouldn’t have."
Qiao Xi hadn’t expected him to actually remember her casual remark.
"But I don’t want to eat now, and I’ll have to bathe again later, it’s too much of a hassle."
Qiao Xi was somewhat resistant.
And she could endure this level of hunger.
Shen Dang slyly smiled, "If you don’t mind, I could help you bathe."
Qiao Xi couldn’t help but say, "Shen Dang, you really are flirty."
Shen Dang’s slightly long eye corners lifted, his deep peach blossom eyes were originally captivating, and now his gaze was filled with an ambiguous playfulness, quite improper.
He said, "Is this what you call flirty? There’s even flirtier, want to experience it?"
Qiao Xi..., "Screw off!"
Typical of men, no shame at all.
"Come on, join me for a little more."
Shen Dang pressed her shoulders down to make her sit in the dining chair.
Qiao Xi looked up at him, indignant, "You said you were pursuing me, so why am I joining you for hot pot? You’ve got it backward, haven’t you?"
And you say you’re pursuing her?
Is this how you pursue someone?
Qiao Xi wasn’t inexperienced with being pursued; after all, she was already pretty young while everyone still looked scruffy, but she had never seen this tactic of pursuit.
Shen Dang sat across from her, pausing because of her words, "It does seem you have a point."
Qiao Xi crossed her arms and chuckled, "So you should just eat alone, I won’t keep you company." Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on ɴo(v)elFɪre.ɴet
"Putting other things aside, Teacher Qiao, please pity me and accompany me for this meal, is that acceptable?"
Shen Dang spoke somewhat pleadingly.
Qiao Xi’s mind was unavoidably affected, she smirked, "You’re breaking the rules a bit, aren’t you, Shen Dang?"
Playing the victim in front of her.
But he seems indeed to have fallen into his own trap.
Qiao Xi just happened to be someone who was amenable to soft approaches rather than hard ones.
Shen Dang clicked his tongue, "Isn’t it said online that eating hot pot alone is a lonely affair?"
Qiao Xi’s eyes carried a hint of surprise, "You know that too?"
By now, Shen Dang was leisurely boiling vegetables and meat, his long eyelashes shielding the color of his eyes, "While I seldom surf the internet, it doesn’t mean I don’t at all."
Qiao Xi’s gaze flicked to his collar; the dark blue tie she had given him had already been removed. Now he wore only a shirt and vest, several top buttons undone, looking nonchalant.
The joke about hot pot being seventh-level loneliness was already outdated... He probably didn’t know the online implications of the tie either.
Shen Dang placed the now-cooked vegetables into her bowl, "Hot pot feels more atmospheric when eaten together."
To avoid bringing up the matter of the tie, Qiao Xi picked up her chopsticks and joined Shen Dang in eating some more food.
Shen Dang ate quite a lot tonight, probably due to his hunger, finishing all the ordered vegetables and meat.
Qiao Xi stood up to pour a glass of water, and upon returning, leaned back in her chair, holding the cup lightly, "We’ve finished the hot pot, I’m going to rest now. The room next door is yours; Bei Bei hasn’t stayed there after you."
Fussy about cleanliness, isn’t that just typical of an Overbearing Boss?
"Understood, good night," Shen Dang’s voice lowered, showing a hint of tenderness, "Sleep early, sweet dreams."
Qiao Xi finished her water and then entered the bedroom.
Her heart felt somewhat uneasy tonight.
Even though there had been no real change between her and Shen Dang, just his declaration of pursuing her had caused her emotional turmoil, her heart gradually swaying with him.
Could this be a woman’s heart-poundingly for a man?
It felt somewhat strange. Qiao Xi covered her chest, still able to feel her rapidly beating heart.
She had played many roles in dramas where she fell in love with a man, and she performed them all too well, but in reality, she was timid.
Qiao Xi moved absently toward the bed, and before she even touched it, the scent of hot pot wafted up from her body.
Qiao Xi hastened to take a bath.
Bei Bei was still unaware that Shen Dang had come to Jiang City.
As a diligent little assistant, she came early to knock on Qiao Xi’s room door.
After waiting for a while with no response from Qiao Xi, she used a key card to enter.
To her shock, she raised her head to see Shen Dang walking out of the room.
His shirt unbuttoned, revealing his chiseled abs, nearly took her breath away.
What a stimulating way to start the day!
Bei Bei quickly averted her eyes, unsure where to look, feeling awkward and frightened.
Was this something she was supposed to see?
Bei Bei’s eyelids fluttered and she spoke rapidly, "Brother-in-law, I came to wake Sister Xi, I didn’t know you were here."
With his back to her, Shen Dang’s voice was rather cold, "I’ll take her to the film set later, you go on."
But all she could busy herself with was Sister Xi’s matters.
However, Bei Bei wasn’t about to dampen the mood, nodding repeatedly, "Alright, alright, I’ll leave then."
Bei Bei hurried out and closed the door behind her.
Oh Heaven, just now Boss Shen looked like a male siren seducing souls, she really didn’t mean to look!
Woe is me, she’s guilty.
After freshening up, Shen Dang made breakfast before waking Qiao Xi.
When Qiao Xi came out dressed, noticing that last night’s hot pot had already been cleaned up and there were two breakfasts on the table,
"Bei Bei just came by, I told her to go ahead with her tasks, we’ll eat breakfast and then I’ll take you to the film set."
Qiao Xi looked at him strangely, "You’re taking me to the film set?"
Shen Dang nonchalantly, "Is there a problem with that? Since I’m pursuing you, shouldn’t I show some real initiative?"
Qiao Xi laughed abruptly, "Well said, but next time, don’t just say it. You really want to take me, as if you’re afraid our relationship won’t be noticed by others."
Shen Dang’s dark pupils stared at her delicate, bright face, his expression deeply reserved, a mystery to decipher.
He asked, "Is my pursuing you something that ought to be hidden?"