Chapter 16: Tonight! Tonight Is the Night!

(Page 1 of 3)

Xu Tanxi adjusted her sitting position and added, “Besides, I didn’t see any trending topic like the one you mentioned.”

There was a trace of barely perceptible amusement in Shang Hejing’s voice.

“You really didn’t see it?”

“Of course not. Why would I lie to you about something like that?”

“Chief Xu, you’re not very good at lying.”

Xu Tanxi paused. “What do you mean?”

“If you hadn’t seen the trending topic, you should have asked what trending topic I meant just now—not why you thought I would misunderstand.”

“…”

Damn it. She had let that slip.

From the way Shang Hejing addressed her, Xu Tanxi had figured out that whenever he was being deliberately obnoxious, he called her “darling,” while whenever he was teasing her, he called her “Chief Xu.”

Even over the phone, Shang Hejing could clearly sense her speechlessness and embarrassment. He had no intention of letting her off.

“I’d love to hear your train of thought. No, wait—let me take a guess first. Chief Xu, you didn’t spend the whole night crying into your phone, did you?”

Xu Tanxi felt utterly powerless, as though she had no way to reach through the phone and hit him.

Listening to his careless, roguish tone, Xu Tanxi decided to tell him about the dream she had had the night before.

She merely chose to omit certain details.

“Shang Hejing, I had a dream last night.”

“What kind of dream?”

“I dreamed I suddenly became incredibly strong. You bullied me, so I kicked you in the balls and blew them apart.”

Xu Tanxi’s tone was perfectly calm, as though she were discussing the weather.

Shang Hejing: “…”

Hearing his silence, Xu Tanxi felt immensely satisfied.

“I thought you only had a thing for biting people. I didn’t realize you also liked kicking them. But it’s fine—since it was only a dream. As long as you’re not that violent in real life.”

Xu Tanxi toyed with a strand of hair. “That’s hard to say. If you provoke me, I might really do something like that.”

“But you’d be the one losing out.”

“What would I lose?”

Xu Tanxi had already entered the dressing room. Since she had arrived early, she was the only person there. She simply switched on the speakerphone and changed while listening to Shang Hejing.

“Aren’t you lusting after my body? If you destroy my balls, how are you going to enjoy your sexual bliss?”

“…”

Although she knew there was no one nearby, Xu Tanxi still hurriedly turned off the speakerphone.

“Shang Hejing!”

(Page 2 of 3)

“What?”

“When have I ever lusted after your body? Stop talking nonsense.”

“Oh? You haven’t? All right, then.”

His tone practically screamed, “Believe whatever you want, but you know perfectly well whether you want me or not.”

Xu Tanxi suddenly regretted answering the call. At the same time, she felt that Shang Hejing was incredibly childish. How could a powerful tycoon in charge of a major corporation enjoy bickering with her so much?

Remembering that he had initially said he wanted to explain something, Xu Tanxi changed the subject. “What were you going to explain? Hurry up. I have rehearsal.”

“I don’t know the woman in the photograph.”

“I know.” Her guess confirmed, the words slipped out before she could stop them.

She had known it. All those domineering-CEO novels had not been a waste of time.

“So you really did wonder what my relationship with that woman was.” His tone was certain.

Xu Tanxi rose to the bait. “Yes, I did. So what? Gossip is human nature, President Shang.”

“In that case, when I get home, I’ll tell you a little more gossip.”

“Sure.”

Xu Tanxi agreed readily. There was no point resisting gossip. Enjoying the spectacle was half the fun.

“Was that all you called to say?”

“Of course not. I called to ask for your ring size.”

“My ring size?”

“If you have time now, find something and measure it.”

Xu Tanxi said, “What do you need my ring size for?”

“Obviously, to make you a bracelet.”

Xu Tanxi thought he was talking utter nonsense. “Shang Hejing, have you been drinking counterfeit liquor? A bracelet requires your wrist size. A ring requires your finger size.”

“So you do know that finger measurements are for making rings.”

“…”

Xu Tanxi drew a deep breath and closed her eyes. Fine. There was no point arguing with someone as shameless as him.

She found a measuring tape, took the measurement, and told Shang Hejing, “Fifty-one point five.”

“Mm. Got it.”

“Why are you making a ring?” Xu Tanxi asked.

“My meeting is about to start. I have to go.”

The call ended as soon as he finished speaking.

Xu Tanxi never got an answer. He had caught her completely off guard. The more she thought about it, the more certain she became that Shang Hejing had done it deliberately. There probably was no meeting at all.

*

(Page 3 of 3)

The days passed amid grueling rehearsals. Every evening, Xu Tanxi returned home and fell asleep the moment she closed her eyes, with no time to concern herself with anything else.

Then a new week began.

As Xu Tanxi was leaving the house that morning, she spotted the black box lying by the wall and suddenly remembered something: her period had ended three days earlier.

Which meant…

The corners of Xu Tanxi’s lips gradually curved upward, until her smile became harder to suppress than an AK-47.

Tonight! Tonight was the night! She was going to lavishly indulge her little treasures!

The thought filled her with boundless energy.

She practically flew down the stairs and out the door. King was playing with a ball in the yard. The moment he saw Xu Tanxi, he happily ran over and rubbed against her, his movements unbelievably gentle and entirely at odds with his wolfdog nature.

Xu Tanxi had already been in a good mood, and King’s affectionate nudge only improved it. She reached out and vigorously ruffled his head several times, making strange delighted noises as she did.

“Ah, baby, baby! You’re the cutest doggy in the whole world!”

After thoroughly scrambling his fur, she got into the car in high spirits, slammed her foot down on the accelerator, and sped straight to the theater.

King was left standing there, his head spun into a furry gyroscope, wearing an utterly bewildered expression.

“?”

*

Desperate to get home, Xu Tanxi ended rehearsal an hour earlier than usual that day. The exhausted dancers, panting for breath, all teased Chief Xu for finally acting like a human being.

Every day when she entered the courtyard, the first thing Xu Tanxi did was greet King. Today, King had been waiting at the gate to welcome her, but Xu Tanxi walked straight past him.

The bewildered dog from that morning made a second appearance.

“?”

In the master bedroom on the second floor, Xu Tanxi switched on the projector’s dark galaxy effect. Soft, languorous music began to play, filling the bedroom with a hazy, seductive atmosphere.

After her shower, she emerged wearing nothing but a water-blue silk slip. She lay down on the bed and raised one leg, sending the soft hem sliding down her thigh before bunching around her waist.

Three little devices lay beside her. She casually picked one up. It was pink.

She adjusted her position and closed her eyes, preparing to begin. Then she suddenly realized that merely listening to music was not quite enough. Her eyes needed something enjoyable to look at as well.

She connected her phone to the projector and tapped a few times. A highly explicit scene appeared on the screen opposite her.

Meanwhile, downstairs—

Shang Hejing, having finished his business trip to Harbor City ahead of schedule and returned to the capital, opened the front door. The lights in the living room were off. He stepped inside and bumped into something.

When he turned on the lights, he saw a pair of black high heels lying overturned on the floor. The handbag on the cabinet had also been knocked over, clear evidence of how hurriedly their owner had returned home.

Shang Hejing bent down and set the shoes upright. Just as he was about to straighten, a strange sound drifted into his ears.

When he realized what it was, a playful expression spread across his face. He lifted his eyes toward the second floor.