Song Xinya's body trembled.
His lips were thin, but surprisingly soft against hers.
Her heart beat rapidly.
Surprise, bewilderment, delight, shyness, and the immediate, drowning indulgence she felt the moment his lips pressed against hers.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly grew heated.
The air grew thick, as if it had stopped circulating.
She was far too green when it came to kissing, having no idea how to respond.
Fortunately, Qin Yuhe had his own rhythm, sucking and kissing her lips time and time again.
Alternating between light and heavy, gentle and fierce.
Twenty seconds of lightness, forty seconds of intensity.
A gentle tide slowly washed over her lips, immediately followed by a fierce wave that heavily crushed and ravaged them.
The strength was quickly drained from Song Xinya's body, leaving her entirely limp.
If Qin Yuhe hadn't been cupping the back of her head with one hand and holding her waist with the other, she would have slipped to the floor long ago.
Unable to adjust her breathing, a sense of suffocation soon set in; she couldn't catch her breath.
Her lower lip was suddenly bitten hard by his teeth. She let out a soft moan, her lips parting slightly in pain.
Hot air rushed into her mouth.
Invading along with it was his tongue.
And, rolled in by his agile tongue, a strawberry-flavored hard candy.
As soon as it entered her mouth, there was a faint sweetness, like taking a bite of a freshly picked strawberry. It wasn't cloying or overwhelming; a tartness mingled with the sweet, melting on the tip of her tongue.
It started with a refreshing fruity scent, followed by a soft milky undertone. With a gentle sip, what she tasted was his rich, masculine scent that made her heart flutter uncontrollably.
The strawberry candy in her mouth was sought out and found by him.
Hooked away by his tongue, the candy was passed back into her lips once more.
A single piece of candy rolled back and forth between their lips and teeth.
Who knew how long they kissed; the strawberry candy shrank by half as it was pushed and pulled back and forth.
Their lips ground together repeatedly, their tongues tangling in a gentle yet dominant embrace.
Song Xinya panted, unable to catch her breath.
Her soft, white hands were pressed between them, her palms resting flat against his chest.
The feeling of suffocation grew stronger and stronger.
She struggled and pushed at him.
He didn't budge an inch.
Her meager strength was nothing to him—like a drop in the bucket, an ant trying to shake a tree, or a kitten's scratch.
She couldn't push him away at all.
His hot palm remained firmly cupped around the back of her head as he kissed her deeply, domineeringly, and powerfully.
Their breaths and tastes mingled.
She was nervous, excited, and trembling; her fingers shook continuously with the thrill.
Her consciousness grew dizzy and heavy, countless tiny fireworks exploding in her mind. Her clarity was burned away, leaving her on the verge of fainting.
She felt like she was going to be kissed to death by him!
A knock on the door suddenly rang out, followed immediately by Song Tingye's voice: Sis, brother-in-law, Grandpa and Grandma Qin asked me to call you out.
Qin Yuhe gradually stopped the kiss. His teeth crushed the remaining half of the strawberry candy. With a crisp crack, the candy was bitten in two.
Half was passed into her mouth, and half remained in his.
His thin lips rested quietly against hers.
Song Xinya's cheeks were crimson, and she was panting heavily.
Qin Yuhe was calm and composed, his breathing steady.
Comparing the two of them, she couldn't help but marvel in her heart at how incredible he was.
Even when it came to kissing, he was so completely in control.
Two pairs of bright, burning eyes were close together. She occasionally lowered her eyelashes, too shy to meet his gaze for long.
He stared at her with dark, heavy eyes, the fierce fire in their depths unextinguished, admiring the rippling charm and delicate, shy allure in her eyes.
Outside the door, Song Tingye knocked again: Sis, are you in there?
Song Xinya's breathing was a complete mess; speaking now would give everything away.
Qin Yuhe answered for her: Yes, she is still doing her makeup. She needs a little more time.
Song Tingye: What kind of makeup takes this long?
He urged, Sis, hurry up. Look at the time, there is no time to dawdle. Just finish it up quickly.
Qin Yuhe's deep voice replied, You cannot rush a woman doing her makeup, little brother. Do you not know this basic common sense?
Song Tingye scratched his face: Is that a thing? I had no idea.
Qin Yuhe: Now you know. You can leave.
Song Tingye: Alright then.
The footsteps outside the door gradually faded away.
At this moment, Qin Yuhe's forehead was still resting against Song Xinya's.
He slowly straightened up, the hand around her waist never loosening, providing her with support.
Song Xinya leaned softly against his chest, taking deep gulps of air.
Only now did she dare to breathe heavily.
Just a moment ago, with their foreheads touching at such a close distance, every breath was filled with the other's scent. She had kept even her panting very light.
She was far too nervous.
This was the first time, in the truest sense, that she had kissed a man.
How could she not be nervous?
That time in the hotel a year ago with that unknown man had just been a fleeting, superficial kiss.
Seeing how tense she was, that man had just pecked her lips, pulling away the moment they touched. It was more of a comforting gesture than a kiss.
The experience last time and this time were completely different.
She thought that from now on, whenever she saw a strawberry, she would remember today's kiss.
Qin Yuhe placed his hand on Song Xinya's back, stroking it rhythmically to help her catch her breath.
Gradually, her breathing steadied.
Qin Yuhe held her shoulders, helping her stand straight.
He helped adjust her evening gown, using his palms to smooth out the wrinkles.
Song Xinya looked at him with moist eyes, asking in a soft, charming voice, Why did you kiss me just now?
Qin Yuhe lifted his eyelids to look at her. Husbands and wives kiss. Is that a problem?
Song Xinya: ...No...
What she actually wanted to ask was why he had suddenly kissed her today when he had never done so before.
Qin Yuhe: When you sent me that photo of you applying lipstick earlier, was it not because you wanted me to kiss you?
Song Xinya's face grew even redder. I just wanted you to see the lipstick shade.
Qin Yuhe finished adjusting her evening gown, straightened up, and looked at her. I was the one who could not resist kissing you, Mrs. Qin.
Song Xinya's face flushed deeper, and the corners of her lips curled into a smile.
Qin Yuhe asked, Can we head out now?
Song Xinya nodded and gave a soft affirmative sound. As she looked up, her gaze swept across his face.
Qin Yuhe started to step forward but she grabbed his arm.
He turned his head to look at her, his gaze sweeping over her as he waited for her to speak.
Song Xinya looked up at him and pointed to the corner of her own mouth. You have got some lipstick right here.
Qin Yuhe bent down. Wipe it off for me.
Song Xinya used a wet wipe to carefully clean it off bit by bit.
She asked him, Do I need to touch up my lipstick?
Qin Yuhe: No need. Your lips are red and swollen from my kisses; they look better than lipstick.
Song Xinya: ...
Qin Yuhe offered his arm to her.
Song Xinya raised her hand to link arms with him, her hand resting on his forearm, her fingers tightening slightly.
The two of them walked out of the dressing room together.
The moment the dressing room doors opened, the sounds of gift presentations, conversations, toasts, and the crisp clinking of wine glasses from the first floor all blended together, washing over them like a wave.
It was incredibly lively.
Qin Yuhe was entirely accustomed to such grand occasions.
But for Song Xinya, attending such a magnificent event for the first time, it was inevitable to feel a bit apprehensive.
Her hand, gripping his forearm, tightened again.
Qin Yuhe's long eyelashes drooped, sweeping past her curled fingers. Due to the force she exerted, her knuckles showed a layer of translucent white.
He leaned down towards her, bringing his lips close to her ear and said, "Did my kiss just now make you feel good?"
The teasing words, the blunt question, and the sudden tingling sensation on her ear abruptly interrupted Song Xinya's anxious and nervous mood.
"It was... just okay..."
"Just okay?"
Qin Yuhe lowered his brow, the creases of his double eyelids becoming deeper and clearer. As light and shadow fell into his eyes, his pupils appeared even more profound and pitch-black, exuding a captivating charm.
He said to her, "Since you think my kissing skills are just average, you'll have to practice with me more in the future. Let me kiss you more. Once I've kissed you enough, my skills will become superb."
"Tonight when we get home, in bed, let's kiss again."
"Don't misunderstand. I don't want to kiss you; I simply want to improve my kissing skills."
Hearing this, Song Xinya's ears grew hot, her face flushing with shy sweetness.
How could this man be like this? She wasn't a three-year-old child; she wouldn't believe the nonsense he was spouting.
She glared at him hard, her eyes filled with a coquettish reproach.
Qin Yuhe looked at her and smiled, his gentle, shallow smile carrying a hint of roguish wickedness.
His gaze once again swept over the hand resting on his forearm; the curled fingers had already loosened and stretched out naturally.
He raised his lowered gaze, pulled his lips away from her ear, and stood up straight. "Not nervous anymore?"
Song Xinya suddenly understood. He had been walking perfectly fine but suddenly leaned down to tease her just to make her relax and soothe her excessive nervousness.
"Thank you, Mr. Qin."
Qin Yuhe: "You're welcome."
Wanting her to relax was true.
Saying that he wanted to kiss her more to improve his kissing skills was also sincere.
...
First-floor hall.
It was finally the turn of Song Xuanli, Li Cuirou, and Zhang Yingying to present their gifts to Old Master Qin and Old Madam Qin.
It was a rare opportunity to attend the Qin family's banquet. In order to stand out among the many guests and win a chance to cooperate with the Qin family, Song Xuanli, as the head of the Song family, had already declared beforehand that the gift presented to the Qin family must be precious, with no upper limit on the cost.
Old Master Qin and Old Madam Qin sat upright in the center. Some guests who had already presented their gifts still lingered around them, reluctant to leave.
All just to leave a deeper impression on them.
Song Xuanli naturally harbored no goodwill toward these people who stood around and refused to leave, as they were business competitors.
He took out his carefully prepared gift, adopting a posture that meant to outshine all these people, and handed it to Old Master Qin and Old Madam Qin with both hands.
"Old Master Qin, Madam Qin, it is a great honor to meet you today. This is my gift to you both: an Imperial Green Jade Ruyi. I wish you both good fortune, peace, and boundless blessings."
This Imperial Green Jade Ruyi was something he had specially flown to the Sotheby's auction house in Hong Kong to buy. There was only one in the world—a priceless treasure, exceedingly rare and precious.
Song Xuanli had looked at the gifts presented by the people before him—enamel vases from the Qianlong era, traditional Chinese paintings by famous artists, Victorian jewelry—none of them were as expensive as his gift.
The Imperial Green Jade Ruyi he was gifting was worth a hundred million.
The moment this gift was brought out, both Li Cuirou and Zhang Yingying had faces full of shock.
Song Xuanli was usually very stingy, telling them every day to remember past hardships and appreciate the present sweetness, and that diligence and thrift were virtues.
If a grain of rice fell on the floor, Song Xuanli would make them pick it up and eat it.
He called it by a nice name: cherishing food, because it wasn't easy for the farmers to till the land.
When Zhang Yingying asked him for an Ice Berry Pink Porsche sports car, he said that as long as there was a car to drive, it was fine. He told her not to compare herself blindly with others, and that vanity and gold-digging were a disease that needed to be cured.
Now that Song Xuanli suddenly brought out such an expensive gift, they were both severely shocked.
It could be seen that in giving this gift, Song Xuanli had made a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve.
If Song Xuanli could win the favor of Old Master Qin and Old Madam Qin, it would definitely be beneficial and harmless to the mother and daughter as well.
Li Cuirou and Zhang Yingying stood beside Song Xuanli. All three of them held their breath and watched Old Master Qin and Old Madam Qin, anticipating their reaction.
Old Master Qin and Old Madam Qin remained sitting in a dignified and noble manner, waving a hand at the attendant beside them.
The two of them didn't even touch the Imperial Green Jade Ruyi. The gift was taken away by the attendant and placed among the pile of gifts behind them, instantly submerged.
A hundred million was given away, but it didn't even stir up a single splash.
Song Xuanli, Li Cuirou, and Zhang Yingying stood there dumbfounded, even forgetting to say the flattering words they had memorized by heart.
Old Master Qin and Old Madam Qin waved at the attendant again. The attendant understood and a loud voice echoed in their ears: "Next guest, please."
Anyone with discerning eyes could hear that this was an order to leave.
Song Xuanli, Li Cuirou, and Zhang Yingying walked back dejectedly, each wearing a sorrowful expression.
That was a hundred million!
A hundred million!
They couldn't earn that back even if they worked for fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, or ninety years!
Song Xuanli's heart was bleeding endlessly!
His sorrow flowed backward into a river.
Li Cuirou: "The people of the Qin family are too hard to please. Throwing a hundred million into the water would at least make a splash, but Old Master Qin and Old Madam Qin didn't even take a single look!"
Zhang Yingying: "I originally wanted to take advantage of their good mood to mention the blind date with Qin Yuhe last time. I didn't get to see Qin Yuhe then, and I want to have another blind date with him."
The guests' seats were divided according to power and status. Song Xuanli, Li Cuirou, and Zhang Yingying were arranged at the very back, at the table directly facing the door.
Every time someone came in and the main doors were pushed open, a gust of wind would blow all over their faces and bodies.
Zhang Yingying was wearing thin clothes. Goosebumps rose on her skin time and time again, leaving her hovering on the verge of catching a cold.
She looked around the hall anxiously, searching for Qin Yuhe's figure.
She wanted to create a chance encounter to strike up a conversation with him.
Suddenly, a familiar figure entered her line of sight.
The young man was handsome and upright, his shoulder lines lean but not weak, and his limbs long and neat, like a straight poplar tree.
His body, wrapped in a haute couture suit, was at the crossroads between a man and a boy. Though not fully mature, it already exuded a somewhat sharp and capable aura.
Zhang Yingying: "Dad, Mom, look, isn't that Song Tingye?"
Li Cuirou: "It really is Song Tingye! Why is he here?"
Zhang Yingying: "He must have known that the Song family received an invitation from the Qin family, so he piggybacked on our glory to sneak into the banquet and freeload!"
Song Xuanli: "This is simply outrageous! Is the Song family depriving him of food or drink? To actually do such a shameful thing as freeloading!"
Actually, he really was deprived. Song Tingye was raised by Song Xinya, and Song Xuanli had never given them a single cent.
But Song Xuanli himself would never think he was at fault.
Song Xuanli: "Back then, I told him to stay in the Song family, but he insisted on following Song Xinya. Now look at him, following Song Xinya has left him unable to even afford meals. He's so poor that he has to resort to freeloading. What a disgrace!"
Li Cuirou covered her face and said, "Don't let Song Tingye see us. If he comes over and sits at our table, he'll drag us down and humiliate us too."
Zhang Yingying also covered her face. "What kind of older sister is Song Xinya? She can't even manage her own figure and is as fat as a ball, and the younger brother she raised is just as shameless."
The three of them covered their faces while secretly observing Song Tingye, terrified that he would come looking for them.
Instead, they watched as Song Tingye walked to the very front of the banquet hall and took a seat at the center table, the one symbolizing the utmost honor and status.
Song Xuanli, Li Cuirou, and Zhang Yingying were utterly dumbfounded.
Zhang Yingying: "How is this possible?"
Li Cuirou: "Why hasn't anyone kicked him out?"
Song Xuanli: "What on earth is going on?"
Suddenly, someone in the hall shouted, "President Qin is here!"
The lively banquet hall instantly fell dead silent.
Everyone turned their gazes toward the second floor.
Beneath the magnificent and intricate crystal chandelier, on the luxurious spiral staircase, Qin Yuhe, dressed in a sharp black suit, was slowly making his way down.
A woman in a red evening gown was linking arms with him.
The woman's skin was as white as snow, and her red dress was like fire.
Her facial features were breathtakingly beautiful, and her flowing gaze was captivatingly charming. The hem of her red dress swayed in a mesmerizing arc with her elegant steps. She looked like a cluster of brilliantly blooming flames, so dazzlingly radiant that nothing could compare to her.
Qin Yuhe had never brought a female companion to a banquet before.
This woman was the very first.
The crowd was astonished and overwhelmingly curious. Just what was this woman's identity?
Zhang Yingying's eyes nearly popped out of her head in fury: "It's this woman again! It's this woman again!"
Li Cuirou: "How did she get into this banquet too!"
Song Xuanli: "She clearly isn't part of the capital's elite circle. There is no such person among the wealthy and powerful families here!"
The host's loud and resonant voice echoed throughout the entire hall: "Let us welcome Mr. Qin Yuhe and Miss Song Xinya with a round of applause!"
Song, Song Xinya!!!!!!!
Zhang Yingying turned pale with fright.
Li Cuirou was left completely speechless.
Song Xuanli stood frozen like a statue.
Song, Song Xinya!!!!!!!
Was it her?
Was it the same Song Xinya that they knew?
That's impossible...!
