Chapter 7: Mr. Bo, Please… Don’t Soil Yourself

The two of them tumbled from the doorway all the way to the vast sofa in the living room, the air thick with heady desire. Shen Ling reached into her pocket and produced something from within. She meant to say, let’s not leave behind anything that shouldn’t be, let’s not entangle ourselves any further. Yet her lips formed words of coaxing seduction instead: “Mr. Bo, don’t... dirty yourself.”

Bo Jinkan heard the retort laced with vengeance and a shadow flickered in his eyes. A cold smile touched his lips as his long fingers pinched the foil packet. “You really are the top saleswoman—so adept at this.”

Shen Ling acted as if she hadn’t heard the mockery in his tone. Seeing her closed lips and unwillingness to speak, Bo Jinkan felt a rush of nameless anger flare within him, almost enough to set him ablaze. In retaliation, his grip tightened as he pressed her down onto the bed with force.

Suddenly, the sound of the electronic lock code being entered echoed from outside the door. Both froze instantly. Bo Jinkan’s eyes still burned with unspent desire, but Shen Ling’s gaze was clear as water. She looked at him, raised her brow ever so slightly, a hint of a smile in her voice. “Mr. Bo, shall we continue, or will you answer the door?”

Bo Jinkan stared at her in silence for a long moment, then got up and left the room without a backward glance. Shen Ling relaxed her tense spine, watched Bo Jinkan’s retreating figure, frowned in discomfort, and leaned back against the headboard.

Bo Jinkan went to open the door. “Jinkan, I came to pick up the files—” Before Qian Ning even stepped inside, she began speaking, but her words trailed off as she caught sight of the disarray of men’s and women’s clothing scattered across the floor. She faltered only for a moment before regaining her composure, smiling and nodding at Bo Jinkan, who was sitting on the sofa. “It’s rare to see our workaholic home at this hour.”

Bo Jinkan merely nodded, then pointed toward his study. “The documents are on the desk. Help yourself.”

Qian Ning could tell at a glance that Bo Jinkan had no intention of keeping her any longer. Her gaze swept unobtrusively toward Bo Jinkan’s bedroom, then she shook her head apologetically. “It won’t be quick. Before I came, my father specifically asked me to discuss a few details with you thoroughly.”

Bo Jinkan was silent for a moment, then rose from the sofa. “Study,” he said.

…

Bo Jinkan was never careless with his work. By the time he and Qian Ning had finished going over every detail, more than an hour had passed. After seeing Qian Ning out, Bo Jinkan finally turned his attention to Shen Ling, who was still in his room.

Glancing at the late hour, he picked up Shen Ling’s coat and entered the bedroom. His steps, which had been casual a moment before, grew quiet and gentle as he caught sight of Shen Ling fast asleep in his bed.

She slept utterly defenseless, lying on her side, clutching the thin quilt tightly. Gone were the false smiles and sharp edges from her expression; she looked as obedient and gentle as Bo Jinkan remembered from the past.

He approached and noticed the obvious dark circles beneath her eyes. Clearly, she hadn’t been sleeping well these days—no wonder she could sleep so deeply in his bed.

Bo Jinkan sat down carelessly at her bedside. Without realizing it, the coldness in his features softened, and his gaze filled with a distant tranquility as he looked at her. After a long while, he let out a self-mocking chuckle. Years ago, she had betrayed and left him without hesitation for money, and yet he still found himself wanting to go soft on her?

His expression hardened once more, and he rose and left.

When Shen Ling awoke again, it was early the next morning. She pushed herself up from the bed wearily and, realizing she’d slept in Bo Jinkan’s room, sobered instantly. Had Bo Jinkan not returned all night?

As she pondered this, she caught sight of the contract documents, already signed by Bo Jinkan, lying on the bedside table. She was taken aback, but the feeling lasted only a moment. Quickly regaining her composure, she resumed her cold demeanor, gathered her things, and left the Bo residence.