Chapter 19 She’s Such a Liar

Chapter 19: She Really Knows How to Lie

When Qin Shuyi arrived, Ji Xiuhang had already left. She was led by an attendant to their private room.

The room reeked of alcohol, with empty bottles littered everywhere.

She walked over, bent down, and prodded the man lying on the sofa. "Ling Jue, wake up."

The man's brow was furrowed, motionless, as if even in his dreams he carried a fierce aura.

Qin Shuyi abandoned her attempt to wake him and wasn't about to make things hard on herself. She directly told the staff to hoist him up and take him away.

However, before anyone could get close, Qin Shuyi's wrist was grabbed first. A powerful yank pulled her, sending her sprawling onto Ling Jue's chest.

The man mumbled her name, rejecting anyone else's touch.

She tried to get up but was pinned, unable to move.

A drunk man's strength was stronger than an ox's.

The staff stopped in their tracks, looking at her helplessly. "Miss Qin, what should we do?"

Qin Shuyi had no choice. Since Ling Jue wouldn't let anyone else touch him, she had to use every ounce of her strength to haul him up herself.

The man's arm draped over her shoulder, his entire weight pressing down on her. Qin Shuyi staggered, momentarily wondering if he was deliberately making things difficult for her.

However, when she slapped his cheek lightly and got no response, she could only assume she was overthinking it.

After a great deal of struggle, she finally managed to get him back to his recent sprawling penthouse. Fortunately, she had been there before and knew the passcode.

"Why did you drink so much?" she murmured, her fingers tracing the bridge of his straight nose as she settled him into bed.

Hadn't he just reunited with his long-lost childhood sweetheart yesterday?

Ling Jue had never voluntarily mentioned Tao Wangxi to her, but in their social circle, Tao Wangxi was everywhere.

She was like a bright, clear moon, her light shining on everyone.

Qin Shuyi believed Ling Jue wouldn't stoop so low as to deceive her or hide any ambiguous relationship with Tao Wangxi. However, he had never directly denied the rumors and teasing from outsiders.

At the very least, in his heart, Tao Wangxi was the least troublesome, most correct solution for him.

Playing a love game with her didn't hinder the cold, rational, interest-first approach of the Ling family's leader when it came to major life decisions.

She smiled slightly. Her relationship with Ling Jue was truly a perfect convergence of circumstances.

Two people, each with their own hidden agendas, wanted to experience the drama of love, sinking into it with clear minds, only to go their separate ways when dawn broke.

"Qin Shuyi."

He opened his eyes and suddenly pinned the woman, who had been admiringly tracing the lines of his face with her fingers, onto the bed, creating a dangerous position.

"You're awake?" she said. She had thought Ling Jue shouldn't be so lacking in vigilance.

Being dragged around by her, bumping into things, and yet showing no reaction at all.

"Does your head hurt?" she asked with concern, running her fingers through his hair.

Her tone was so natural, as if she had never uttered those words about breaking up, just like a genuinely caring, devoted girlfriend.

Ling Jue didn't answer her. Instead, he buried his face in the crook of her neck, nuzzling against her.

"Do you like my face?"

Qin Shuyi's tone was affirmative. "Of course."

No one could refuse such a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship.

"What else do you like about me?" He planted a trail of kisses on the side of her face.

"Many things," she replied.

Objectively speaking, even without the halo of his status, Ling Jue was a very charming man.

"Qin Shuyi, Qin Shuyi..." he murmured between kisses, his words slurred. "Do you love me?"

The man had been drinking all night. Qin Shuyi let him kiss her but didn't allow him to go further. She pushed him away slightly, her smiling eyes curved like crescents. "I like you. I like you."

Meeting those clear, sincere eyes, Ling Jue suddenly laughed.

Liar.

She really had a face that was good at lying.

"Qin Shuyi, Qin Shuyi." He held her tightly, his face pressed against her chest, over her heart, his expression unreadable. He called her name over and over, almost with a sense of hatred.

She had crafted a lie of deep love for him, watching him smugly pleased, watching him boast proudly, while she herself could turn and walk away at any moment.

He, Ling Jue, had never been played like this in his entire life.

Ling Jue was behaving very oddly today.

Even a little subtly frightening.

Qin Shuyi had initially thought he was somewhat sober, but now, muttering like he was talking in his sleep, clinging to her without letting go, holding her so tightly it hurt—it seemed like he was still lost in a drunken dream.

"Ling Jue, let me go." She struggled uncomfortably, trying to get off the bed.

But he only held her tighter.

"If you like me, why did you talk about breaking up?" he suddenly asked.

"It wasn't talking about breaking up, just posing the question," she said seriously.

"What if I said Tao Wangxi and I have nothing to do with each other?"

"But there will be in the future, won't there?"

This was the first time they had discussed this topic.

Ling Jue asked, "What if I married you?"

Qin Shuyi didn't speak.

She suspected he was being impulsive because he was drunk, saying whatever came to mind in his dream-like state.

Surely, he would recant these rash words when he woke up.

But in that brief moment of silence, Ling Jue learned the answer.

Even if he didn't want to marry Tao Wangxi, Qin Shuyi wouldn't be willing to marry Ling Jue.

Fine, all those sweet nothings whispered in moments of passion were lies.

He got out of bed.

Qin Shuyi breathed a sigh of relief. Sitting up straight, she was about to urge him to take a shower so she could leave when she was suddenly scooped up and hoisted over his shoulder.

"Ah, what are you doing?"

Suddenly finding herself upside down, Qin Shuyi let out a startled cry.

But his bloodshot eyes looked even redder. He ripped off his tie and tore at his buttons, tossing them aside, and carried her straight into the bathroom.

"You don't like the smell of alcohol on me. You're going to keep me company in the shower."

"No, mmm..."

Her protests were soon drowned out by the sound of the door closing and the splashing of water.

In the end, Qin Shuyi didn't make it home at the time her aunt had specified to go shopping with them. Instead, Ling Jue sent several sets of expensive dresses and jewelry suitable for the women in her family to her home.

Her family was at a loss.

As for Qin Shuyi, she was nearly tormented to death on the large black bed in the spacious room.

Ling Jue truly seemed intent on doing her in right there.

Several bright red bite marks now marked Qin Shuyi's chest, each one a testament to his force.

Even more humiliating were the repeated cries of "husband" he had forced her to utter.

They had never used that term in their daily lives or intimate moments.

Both had consciously avoided the word.

But on this day, Qin Shuyi had cried it out until her voice grew hoarse.

...

Late at night.

Ling Jue stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, lighting a cigar.

The bedroom was in disarray. The woman slept deeply, her nose tinged red, occasionally sniffling and whimpering softly.

Outside, the night was as deep as water; Ling Jue's eyes were equally cold.

He hadn't figured out how to deal with Qin Shuyi.

In theory, casual affairs were commonplace. It wasn't as if every woman adored him—far from it. More often, the emotions in their eyes were fear, covetousness, and greed.

But when the one who remained indifferent was Qin Shuyi, he couldn't simply let her go.

How much was genuine affection, how much was anger, and—though he refused to admit it—how much was reluctance to part with her?

That game of Truth or Dare back then, a spur-of-the-moment little diversion, he never imagined it would make Qin Shuyi the most troublesome problem in his life.

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