Jiang Liuyue retorted, "My face isn't red." Then she quickly added, "Still not as good as Song Hanzheng."
Cen Yuan was completely undone.
As he stepped onto the boxing ring, his foot slipped on the steps and he nearly fell.
After steadying himself, he couldn't help but turn his head and glance at Jiang Liuyue again.
This time, the anger in his eyes was genuine.
It was as if someone had poked the most painful scar.
Again with this!
How come he could never measure up to Song Hanzheng?
The four words "you're not as good as him" had followed him all his life, from his parents' mouths to his friends' mouths.
And now from Jiang Liuyue's mouth.
The next second, his fist slammed into the punching bag with a thunderous sound.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Each punch echoed like a muffled drum, reverberating through the boxing gym.
The bag swung violently, a scraping sound accompanying the motion.
He punched fiercely, his speed turning his fists into barely visible blurs.
Sweat soon dripped from his jawline onto his collarbones, then trickled down his firm arms to his sharply defined abs, glistening under the lights.
You've got to give it to him—Cen Yuan did have an impressive body.
His handsomeness was different from Song Hanzheng's.
Song Hanzheng gave off the cold, aloof aura of a noble flower high atop a mountain.
Cen Yuan, on the other hand, was like a poisonous poppy. Beautiful and alluring on the surface, but one bite could kill you.
Jiang Liuyue enjoyed the view openly and without guilt.
Since he was willing to show off, why not take a look?
After fifteen minutes of punching, Cen Yuan's anger gradually subsided.
He could feel that gaze behind him—focused, unabashedly fixed on him.
That feeling of being watched was like a warm hand pressed against his back, making every pore on his body involuntarily open up.
Suddenly, a strange and bizarre thought rose in his mind.
Jiang Liuyue had been staring at him the whole time. Maybe she thought he had a good body too?
Maybe she was a little bit interested.
She must be, right? Why else would she stare at him without even blinking?
Hypocritical woman. She said "it's okay" and "not as good as Song Hanzheng," but her eyes were honest enough.
A smile returned to Cen Yuan's face, his peach-blossom eyes curving upward.
He turned around, about to jump off the boxing ring and say, "Had your fill of staring?"
But when his gaze swept over, the bench where Jiang Liuyue had been sitting was empty.
Not a single person in sight.
He was stunned, his smile freezing on his face.
He turned to ask a few people wiping sweat nearby, his voice carrying an urgency he hadn't even realized himself.
"Where did your sister-in-law go?"
One of them answered honestly.
"She called a car and left just now. Said she has something to do tomorrow."
A flash of regret passed through Cen Yuan's eyes, vanishing in an instant.
Then he returned to his usual carefree demeanor and curled his lips.
His voice was low.
With a tone of gritted teeth mixed with an inexplicable thrill.
"Jiang Liuyue, sooner or later, I'll take you away."
...
Jiang Liuyue got home. Before she could change her clothes, her phone screen lit up.
Song Hanzheng was video-calling her.
She picked up.
His stern, handsome face appeared on the screen.
Sharp brows and starry eyes, deep features.
But tonight, a hint of tipsiness from the alcohol softened the usual sharpness between his brows.
He exuded a noble aura, yet with a certain indescribable allure.
"Liuyue."
His voice was deep and magnetic, carrying a lazy tenderness from his tipsiness.
"There was a cocktail party. As soon as it ended, I saw you called. What's up?"
Jiang Liuyue didn't answer right away.
Instead, she stared at him through the video call, her almond-shaped eyes filled with a smile.
She kept staring until Song Hanzheng felt a little awkward.
His gaze flickered slightly, his lashes dropping and then rising.
Almond-shaped face flushed with a faint blush on his fair skin—.
Without rushing, she finally spoke.
"Song Hanzheng, you look so handsome today too!"
Before Song Hanzheng could feel happy.
Jiang Liuyue dropped a bombshell the next second.
"Especially now, wearing that suit looking all serious but with your red, tipsy face."
"I just want to pin you down on the bed."
Song Hanzheng was first stunned, his deep eyes widening slightly.
Then shocked. Then at a loss.
His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, his lips parting and closing again.
His tone carried a soft, gentle scolding.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"I'm serious." Jiang Liuyue smiled and nodded, the corners of her eyes curving into two beautiful crescents.
She watched his shy expression grow even deeper.
That stern face now blushed as red as a boiled prawn, even the tips of his ears tinged with crimson.
She didn't have the heart to keep teasing him.
"Anyway, I originally called to ask for help."
"What's wrong?" Song Hanzheng looked nervous, his brow slightly furrowing.
"Cen Yuan. Today, for some reason, he took me to your boxing gym."
Jiang Liuyue paused, her tone taking on a playful, cheeky quality.
"Seems like he's trying to steal me away, huh."
Song Hanzheng's expression grew serious, his sword-like brows furrowing together.
Bewildered, he said, "What's going on? Doesn't he like Li Feile? I'm always confused by what's going on in Cen Yuan's head."
"Forget it. I'll handle it. Don't worry about him."
Jiang Liuyue nodded slowly, a curve lifting the corners of her lips.
Her voice was warm and affectionate.
"But I only like you, babe."
Her tone rose gently, dragging out the last word.
Song Hanzheng pressed his lips together, his thin lips forming a straight line, as if desperately suppressing some emotion about to burst from the corners of his mouth.
A little bit smug, but he held it back.
He looked away uncomfortably, his voice carrying a forced calmness he wanted to project.
"Didn't I tell you not to call me that?"
"Got it, babe." Jiang Liuyue replied without hesitation.
A look of helplessness crossed Song Hanzheng's face, mixed with indulgence.
He sighed, switching to a paternal tone.
"Anyway, tomorrow is your wrap party. I can't make it, so I've asked my assistant to send you a gift. Go to bed early tonight. Staying up late is bad for your health."
Jiang Liuyue propped her chin up with her hand, using her fingers to support her cheek.
She slowly adjusted the video angle.
The screen flickered, the camera shifting down a bit, revealing a sliver of her fair collarbone and thin spaghetti straps.
She was only wearing a flimsy silk slip nightgown with thin straps, the soft fabric clinging to her body.
The collarbones are prettily projecting.
Her jet-black hair fell over her shoulders and chest, making her fair, makeup-free face almost glow.
She tilted her head slightly.
Her voice carried a whiny sweetness, each word drawn out lazily.
"But I miss you already."
