Chapter 105: Focused Assault on Jue Zhang

The hurried sound of Lin Shuo’s steps rang on the staircase, and she, already used to that rhythm, sat up beneath her blanket and waited silently for him to knock.

He fumbled for his key outside the door, as if too excited to keep still, his palm trembling so that he could not make it fit the lock. Yet the door suddenly swung open from the inside. She flicked on the light, illuminating him: his hair was wet, flattened against his forehead, rainwater running from his handsome brow down to his chin. He straightened, and on that damp, cold, sleepless night, he gave her the warmest, brightest smile.

Xiaoxiao turned, skipping into the room like a delighted little sparrow. She grabbed a towel and rushed back to the doorway, gently tugging at the wet hem of his shirt. He leaned in and stepped across the threshold, momentarily at a loss, while she scrubbed at his wet head and face with the towel.

“Your clothes are soaked. Take them off at once so you don’t catch a chill,” she said, already helping him shed them.

“I won!” It was not the first time he’d beaten someone in business, but this time he was especially pleased—because it was on her ground.

“I know.” She kept working with her hands.

“None of them can stand against me.”

“I know.”

“I love you.”

“I—” She paused, heart fluttering, and looked up to meet his clear, unwavering eyes, soft as spring water. “I know,” she said. Before she could turn shy, his bare upper body had already drawn her close, enveloping her fully. He kissed her lips with full intent, his hands roaming over her body; rainwater had dampened her thin nightgown. She was ticklish and turned her head away from his kiss. “Stop, all that and we’ll both be soaked through.”

He curved one corner of his mouth in a wicked smile. “If you’re soaked, then take it off.” He lowered his head and began to lick her pale shoulder and neck. She tried to block him with soft, gentle hands, but he held the straps of her gown in a teasing grip and, with a lifted brow and a deliberately suggestive look, pulled her closer into his heat.

In the hush of midnight, she nestled against his chest and let her eyes half-close. “So Shundu is out already?”

He turned her over in his arms and held her against him, speaking with a calm steadiness. “It wasn’t as simple as it looked. I do have a score with Shundu, but that was only Li Qingjiang being clever in his own eyes. The two brothers have always run things separately. If I help Li Qinghai remove Li Qingjiang’s big burden, how do you think he’ll repay me? Besides, in the business world there are no absolute friends, but one does have to prefer that over one more absolute enemy. Everyone reaches a moment when they need alliances and intrigue. If someone is willing to step forward as the vanguard, why must we fight alone?”

“What will Li Qingjiang do?”

“He’s already making one mistake after another in his decisions. Do you think the shareholders will keep tolerating it?”

Suddenly she understood. From beginning to end, it had been a strategy within a strategy. Xi Mintang had believed that by joining forces with Li Qingjiang he could drive away the oncoming storm that was Lin Shuo. He had no idea Lin Shuo would turn the tables, secretly weaving with Li Qinghai an even larger net to catch them all at once.

Her lips trembled. “Isn’t this going too far?”

Lin Shuo gave a dismissive little hum. “I only play at cards when I’m going for the final hand. How could I be afraid of acting too decisively?”

Why, she did not know, his offhand remark gave her a fresh wave of gooseflesh. He leaned in and gently rubbed the mess of hair on her forehead with his chin, and together they listened to the rain tapping against the window.

It was already four in the morning when sleep overtook her. In the half-conscious blur she heard her phone ring. Too weak to rise, she gave only a few breathy sounds. Lin Shuo took the call. Sensing the shift in the air, she opened her eyes; his expression was grave. With a shiver she asked, “Is it the hospital?”

Lin Shuo nodded.