Chapter 3 A Minute-Long Kiss

Chapter 3: A One-Minute Hot Kiss

"Don't worry, since I let you in the car, I'll definitely let you get out safely." Ling Jue raised his dark brows slightly, released her hand, and started the engine, smiling.

He also recalled the first time he saw her.

After the memorial service ended, feeling the air inside was stifling, he stepped out for a cigarette. His eyes immediately landed on Qin Shuyi by the roadside, dressed in a black dress, her features clean and pure, holding a large umbrella as she stood in the drizzling rain.

Quiet, peaceful, earnest, yet distant.

He found himself watching her for a few more moments, drawn in for no clear reason.

Once the cigarette burned out, her ride arrived. He stubbed out the cigarette and turned back to say goodbye to the deceased's parents at the service.

He thought it was just a fleeting encounter, but the very next day, Qin Shuyi's personal information landed on his desk.

Those few glances of his hadn't gone unnoticed.

When Young Master Ling showed interest in someone or something, he never had to ask; those eager to please him would offer them up on their own.

The very sight of the file's cold cover seemed absurd and laughable.

Yet, after finishing his work for the day, out of boredom, he casually opened the document that should have gone straight into the trash.

Simple relationships, a clear life history.

Qin Shuyi, 24 years old, born in S City in Jiangnan, attended university in the capital, and after graduation, took a job at a high-end private funeral company as an embalmer, and had built a good reputation.

Her mother, Zhou Yunhe, is a Doctors Without Borders doctor. Her father, Qin Yuan, is a UN peacekeeping police officer. Both are often abroad for work. Qin Shuyi is their only daughter.

Ling Jue scoffed.

A family utterly different from the capital's bizarre extravagance and rampant power struggles.

The only tenuous connection was Qin Shuyi's aunt, Zhou Tinglan, who remarried into a third-tier wealthy family in the capital, the Jiang family, marrying its patriarch, Jiang Shiheng.

Jiang Shiheng has a son, Jiang Yuzhou, from his previous marriage. Zhou Tinglan also brought her own daughter, Qian Youyou, who was around the same age.

Since Qin Shuyi's parents were busy with work and often away from home, she had grown quite close to this aunt. She also got along well with Zhou Tinglan's daughter, Qian Youyou, and her stepbrother, Jiang Yuzhou, and would occasionally stay with the Jiang family in the capital.

Staying to work in the capital was partly because of this aunt.

Ling Jue closed the file.

This kind of rule-following good girl wasn't his type. The women he associated with came in all types, but without exception, they were fun, willing, and easy to walk away from. Qin Shuyi clearly didn't fit that profile.

However, just as he was about to forget that glimpse in the rain, fate brought them together again.

For Zhou Tinglan's birthday, her husband Jiang Shiheng booked a private estate in advance, planning to take her and the three children for a holiday celebration.

At the estate, they unexpectedly encountered another group of young heirs from wealthy families out for fun.

Seeing Ling Jue's gaze fixed on Qin Shuyi, a tactful member of the group naturally invited the two Jiang siblings and their cousin Qin Shuyi to join their party.

Even though the Jiang family was wealthy, the circle they encountered this time was beyond their usual reach.

The Jiang family didn't quite understand why, but when the other party extended an olive branch, they naturally had no reason to refuse.

Jiang Shiheng knew his place. He consciously left with Zhou Tinglan, saying they wanted to enjoy some time alone as a couple and let the young people have fun together.

Of the three younger ones, Jiang Yuzhou was outgoing, and Qian Youyou was carefree. They quickly blended in with the group. Only Qin Shuyi remained on the periphery, quietly sipping her juice—not enthusiastic, but not a killjoy either.

Someone interested tried to approach her but was discreetly elbowed in the side by a companion.

Couldn't they see who was standing behind the beauty?

The man, seeing Ling Jue behind Qin Shuyi, took one look and beat a hasty retreat.

Ling Jue chuckled softly, bent down to ask Qin Shuyi, "Tennis, want to play?"

He was so strikingly handsome that Qin Shuyi, unaware of his identity, took a few extra glances at his captivating peach-blossom eyes and nodded in agreement.

Thus, the group witnessed the Young Master, who usually looked down on everyone, not only actively inviting a woman to play but also clearly going easy on her.

Ling Jue's playing style, like the man himself, was aggressive, unpredictable, sharp, and dominant. His unconventional shots quickly overwhelmed Qin Shuyi, whose technique was conservative and strength insufficient.

She stopped herself. "I lose."

In competitive sports, as in social interactions, completely overpowering one side isn't interesting. The back-and-forth, the push and pull, is what makes it fun.

"I thought you wouldn't admit defeat." Ling Jue raised an eyebrow.

Qin Shuyi appeared gentle, but even knowing she was outmatched, she hadn't retreated for a second until the score was settled.

He thought she would grit her teeth and fight on.

Qin Shuyi wiped her sweat with a towel handed by a staff member, her expression calm. "Losing isn't a big deal."

Ling Jue was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. "Then you owe me a wager."

They had agreed before the match that the loser would grant the winner one request.

Qin Shuyi looked at his face. "A bet's a bet."

...

But she hadn't expected this wager to be called in so soon.

That night, in a dimly lit private room, on a spacious single sofa, Qin Shuyi leaned back. Her slender waist was gripped by a pair of long, elegant hands. The man's head was almost buried in the crook of her neck, his stray hair brushing her cheek. His voice was low, tinged with a hint of laughter.

"Miss Qin, lend a hand?"

Truth or Dare.

He had lost.

When the drawn slip demanded that Ling Jue find someone for a one-minute hot kiss, the entire room fell silent for a second.

Everyone knew Master Jue rarely played such childish games, let alone accepted such a public punishment.

More importantly, he had never lost before!

Everyone mentally cursed the person who suggested playing something more exciting tonight.

However, the table wasn't flipped. The man stood up and strode towards the sofa in the corner.

The previously gloomy faces went from tearful to stunned.

Only the Jiang siblings, Jiang Yuzhou and Qian Youyou, who had been grinning like idiots, instantly dropped their smiles, all trace of amusement gone.

The two who had jumped up like they'd been goosed didn’t even have time to speak before being swarmed and frantically muffled by the others.

Qin Shuyi had been momentarily distracted replying to a WeChat, and when she looked up, she found the room dead silent and saw a tall figure looming over her.

"Miss Qin, could you help me out?"

His voice was low, part negotiation, part coaxing.

She could push him away.

But before this, no one who had lost or been asked to assist with a punishment had ever refused.

Once you join the game, you can’t be a sore loser.

This was the unwritten rule.

She lifted her face, meeting his lazy, dark pupils.

"Is this a request?" she asked.

Realizing she was asking whether this favor could offset the bet from the tennis court, he curved his lips slightly. "Yes."

His lips grazed her ear. "I’m the one asking you."

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