Chapter 27
Shi Yu deliberately changed into a brand-new outfit. Recently, a series of tedious tasks kept coming his way, and he had spent several consecutive nights at the company, leaving his hairstyle a bit messy and disheveled.
After freshening up, he put on a neat white shirt and carefully tied a tidy tie with his slender fingers in front of the mirror.
Looking at his refreshed reflection, a slight smile curved at the corner of his lips as he headed to the location Jiang Shangwan had specified.
Led by a waiter to the terrace, Jiang Shangwan was resting her chin on her hand, slightly tilting her head upward, gazing sideways out through the transparent glass window at the dazzling riverside night view. She wore only a thin, sheer shawl over her shoulders, and the hem of her long skirt revealed a section of her fair, smooth calf.
The hazy night blurred the outline of her figure, and the dim light softened the surrounding edges, making her appear somewhat slender. Shi Yu quietly watched her gentle half-profile for a while before reluctantly following the waiter’s gesture to take a seat.
He lifted the corner of his lips slightly and greeted her lightly, “Good evening.”
Jiang Shangwan naturally heard his voice but did not immediately turn her head.
Her gaze drifted to the distant horizon, watching the river beneath the tall buildings, covered with reflections of light and shadow, silently boiling and rolling in the night. From this vantage point, the fading night scene of Jiangcheng—its decadent and dazzling nightlife—was spread out in full view.
“I have been waiting for an explanation from you,” Jiang Shangwan said calmly.
Shi Yu was slightly startled, he didn’t quite understand what she was referring to but subtly sensed a trace of annoyance beneath her calm tone, making him wonder where he might have gone wrong.
A moment of silence followed.
“I gave you the chance to come and explain on your own initiative,” Jiang Shangwan then slowly turned her body, but didn’t look at him. Instead, she methodically cut into her steak with a knife and fork until a streak of red muscle inside was exposed. The juice slowly oozed out onto the plate with each cut.
“But obviously, several days have passed, and you haven’t come to me to explain proactively,” Jiang Shangwan suddenly looked up and said in a deep voice, “Why?”
Shi Yu couldn’t help but furrow his brow. He had been busy these past days with the launch of Wish Come True and its subsequent developments. If anything could have upset her, it would be this.
“New tech elite,” Jiang Shangwan put down her knife and fork, pierced through the medium-rare strip of beef, and raised it high. “Why did you suddenly cancel our cooperation and, without any communication with me, instead turn to the Lin family?”
Only then did Shi Yu understand where the issue lay. Seeing her displeased expression, he lost all appetite and asked in confusion, “Since when did we cooperate?”
The clinking of the plate against the silverware made a harsh, grating sound.
To Jiang Shangwan’s ears, this was undoubtedly a provocation.
They had clearly discussed the share distribution and the subsequent promotion before the launch. He had even raised her share to show sincerity, yet he turned around and sought cooperation with the Lin family instead.
Without any communication, from her perspective, this was a blatant breach of good faith.
To be honest, Jiang Shangwan was somewhat disappointed in him. The person she remembered shouldn’t have acted like this. “What you’re saying is meaningless,” she said.
Shi Yu clenched his right hand into a fist, veins visible against his pale skin. “We really didn’t cooperate. I’ve said it before, I don’t need you to do anything.”
He had already completed the procedures to transfer the shares to her, the rest of the problems he could handle himself. He didn’t want to rely on her help for everything.
“Right.”
“You indeed don’t need me now. The Lin family’s promotion is very thorough. The Wish Come True hype is now known nationwide,” Jiang Shangwan said, her tone neither warm nor cold. “I suppose investor calls must be coming in so frequently you can’t even answer them all.”
“That’s not it,” Shi Yu vaguely felt that they were misunderstanding each other’s intentions. “From the start, I said I didn’t need you to do anything. It’s enough that you agree with my ideas.”
Jiang Shangwan had even arranged a decent meal, giving him a chance to explain himself face to face out of trust. But now, his careless excuses made her feel deeply uncomfortable.
“Alright.”
A nameless anger churned in her stomach. Jiang Shangwan tried to keep her composure until the very last moment. She wiped her fingers clean with a damp napkin, then picked up her elephant gray Birkin bag and stood up. “Well, enjoy your meal. Waiter, check, put it on my room account.”
Without waiting for his reply, she clicked away in her high heels without looking back.
Shi Yu watched her determined back, his throat tightening. Things were suddenly spiraling toward the worst possible outcome. He didn’t understand why this had happened so abruptly, but his instinct told him he had to chase after her immediately.
He quickly stopped the waiter from settling the bill, paid again himself, and hurriedly grabbed his phone to follow Jiang Shangwan.
But the red floor numbers flickered and changed, by now, Jiang Shangwan had already gotten off the elevator. Many couples elegantly chatted while waiting in line for the elevator going back up.
“Where’s the staircase?” Shi Yu frowned deeply, grabbing a waiter at random to ask.
“Ah…? Hello, sir. Go straight ahead, then turn left. The emergency exit is on the right.”
Almost sprinting, Shi Yu took two or three steps at a time, rushing down countless floors. When he reached the first floor, Jiang Shangwan was just stepping out the main door.
Ignoring all notions of decorum, he pushed through the crowd, blocking her from leaving further, and grabbed her slender wrist. “What do you take me for?”
The sudden skin contact startled Jiang Shangwan. Her wrist hurt slightly from his grip. She frowned and turned around to look, seeing Shi Yu—who had somehow caught up—flushed and panting, questioning her.
“What?” She didn’t understand what he was saying.
Shi Yu’s lips tightened. Without a word, he pulled her arm toward the shadow of a nearby wall, pressing her back firmly against it. “I’m asking you what you take me for.”
“It’s cold.” Jiang Shangwan was wearing something thin. Suddenly pressed against the wall’s icy surface, the cold was sharp. In front of her, his breath was hot—creating a striking contrast.
She hissed softly, “What are you doing?”
Shi Yu had no choice but to wrap an arm around her, placing it against her back to create some space between her soft body and the hard wall. But his other hand still gripped her wrist tightly, and with this posture, he even pulled up her entire arm, bending it and pressing it against the wall. He lowered his head and looked at her. “Tell me, why are you angry?”
“What do you take me for? A dog? You call me when you’re happy, and leave when you’re not.” Shi Yu’s voice was hoarse. He trapped her body with his own, leaving no chance for her to break free.
“Let go of me.” Jiang Shangwan struggled hard to escape. She hadn’t even gotten angry with him yet—what was he going crazy about?
“Answer me.” Shi Yu stared at her neck. Because of her struggling, her tendons showed, and her collarbone reddened slightly. The swan was blushing because of him.
This dark thought excited him a little. He loosened his grip on her wrist and instead caressed her fragile, delicate neck.
“Shouldn’t I be the one angry?” Jiang Shangwan felt, for a moment, as if she had never truly seen through the man in front of her. “You broke your promise first. I didn’t trouble you, and I even gave you plenty of time to come find me and explain yourself.”
“When did I break my promise?” Shi Yu didn’t understand. He had even handed over the most important shares into her hands.
“Let go of me.” For the first time, Jiang Shangwan realized the intimidating pressure of his height. She didn’t want to argue anymore. “I don’t want to talk.”
Shi Yu held her neck, so slender it seemed it could snap with just a pinch.
He could feel warm blood slowly flowing under his palm, and the clear pulse beating beneath. She was nervous.
“Am I your dog or not?”
“Hm? Master?” Shi Yu stroked her veins, muscles, and skin. “You want to run again. You just want to run.”
Jiang Shangwan didn’t understand why he suddenly went mad, but as she looked at his large hand gripping her—each long finger clearly defined, the broad webbing between his thumb and index finger, the bulging veins on the back of his hand, and the prominent knuckles—she inexplicably felt an urge to lick it.
She thought maybe she was crazier than him, so she closed her eyes and refused to look. “Shi Yu, calm down.”
“I can’t.”
“I don’t even know what you’re unhappy about, why you’re angry. You don’t even bother to pretend to care or explain.” Shi Yu’s dark eyes stared at her gently lowered eyelids. “You hate me so much you won’t even look at me.”
That nameless anger flared up again inside Jiang Shangwan. What was there left to explain? Hadn’t she already questioned him in the restaurant? Why break the contract? Shouldn’t he know better than anyone?
As the investor, his project indeed had highlights that attracted her. Leaving aside that he handed it over to the Lin family without giving her the shares, and never communicated with her halfway, he contacted others directly. Only when the overwhelming advertisements for the project flooded everywhere did she passively find out he had switched partners.
This feeling of being deceived hadn’t come up for a long time. Jiang Shangwan had patiently given him chances to explain and plenty of time. But even when she approached him herself, he acted like a broken pot ready to be discarded.
How could she not be angry?
“Yes, I hate you.” Jiang Shangwan said calmly, a tone that hurt him even more. “It takes many efforts to build a good impression, but only one moment to destroy it.”
Shi Yu felt a dull pain in his heart like being pricked by needles, and a burning sting was rising in his stomach, provoked by her words.
Bitterly, he said, “I just want to know why.”
Jiang Shangwan refused to answer, only looking at him coldly.
Shi Yu released her hand and took a step back. He lowered his head, lips twitching slightly. “Alright, I understand.”
“If you hate me, you can sell the shares if you don’t want them. Or wait until the company stabilizes and grows in value before selling.”
“?” Jiang Shangwan was slightly surprised. “What did you say? What shares?”
Shi Yu thought she was still pretending to be clueless. “Your company shares—50%.”
“What?” Jiang Shangwan really didn’t understand him. “Aren’t you cooperating with the Lin family? What shares do I have?”
“They were originally meant for you. What does cooperating with others have to do with that?” Shi Yu tilted his head, as if suddenly realizing where the misunderstanding between them was. “The moment I received the materials your assistant sent, I immediately handled the equity transfer. You are the largest shareholder alongside me.”
A buzzing sound echoed in Jiang Shangwan’s mind, as if things had gone beyond what she had understood. “Then why didn’t you come to me for help? Why did you go to the Lin family?”
“I don’t want to rely on you for everything.” Shi Yu moved closer again. He cupped her face with both hands, lowered his gaze, and whispered, “I can find ways to solve problems on my own. Are men proud to spend a woman’s money? Hm?”
He leaned in even closer. “Or am I not a man in your eyes?”
His chest resonated against hers. Jiang Shangwan looked into his clear obsidian eyes—they were bright and pure, yet tinged with a silent intensity that seemed to ignite her from within.
Only then did Jiang Shangwan realize she had misunderstood him. When he said he had never really cooperated with her, he was stating a fact objectively, not mocking her in a resigned way.
He had given her a gift unilaterally.
“Are you stupid or what?” Jiang Shangwan’s cheeks began to flush again, warming with a physical reaction that came easily whenever she was close to him. “Don’t you know how important equity is? Who just gives that away as a gift?”
Chapter 28
“I know, it’s very important.” Shi Yu gently rubbed her soft cheek. “That’s why I’m giving it to you.”
Jiang Shangwan’s heart began to race uncontrollably again. A burning heat flared at her ear, spreading warmth throughout her body, as if she were caught in the center of a blazing storm.
Instinctively, she clenched the hem of his shirt, gripping the soft fabric tightly in her palm.
“When you’re angry, you really become distant. I’m afraid you’ll run away again, pushing me far away.” Shi Yu buried his head in her neck and sighed, “You can be my little dog, but only if you’re on a leash.”
Jiang Shangwan laughed at his teasing. After a moment of hesitation, her fingers lifted and gently stroked the loose hair at the nape of his neck. “You haven’t eaten a bite. Aren’t you hungry?”
“Not hungry.” Shi Yu said, “I’m full from being angry.”
“That won’t do.” Jiang Shangwan caught the clean, soapy scent from him again, a freshness that made her want to kiss him instantly.
Although it was a fresh scent, on him it turned into a tempting desire.
Near the dimly lit side of the stairs, they held each other closely again. Shi Yu softly brushed against her neck and suddenly wondered aloud, “Do you think there might be cameras?”
“No.” Jiang Shangwan smiled. “The angle here isn’t good for filming. And even if there were, so what? First, we haven’t done anything wrong. Second, even if we had, with me here, nothing would get out.”
“I don’t want others to see how I bully you,” Shi Yu whispered.
Every inch of her flushed with a rosy glow as the noble white swan buried her neck in his embrace. He wanted to leave countless marks on her, all his own.
“No way.” Jiang Shangwan patted his arm and pretended to pinch some flesh as a warning. “I’m the one who bullies you.”
Without any closer intimacy, they simply held each other and talked for a while. Shi Yu traced her beautifully delicate brows and eyes with his gaze, then suddenly said, “The company is called Ting Wan Technology.”
“Hm?” Jiang Shangwan hadn’t really noticed the company name, the media hype was all about Wish Come True. “Is it named after me?”
“Yeah.” Shi Yu let out a soft sound from his throat: (Note: 停晚 (Ting Wan) literally means “stop” (停) and “evening” or “late” (晚), which is the company name. Shi Yu breaks down the phrase into parts like a poetic or romantic sentence: “停 (Ting)” — “stop” or “park” “停车坐爱枫林晚” — This is a reference to a famous line from a classical Chinese poem by Tang poet Du Mu: “停车坐爱枫林晚” means “Stopping my carriage to admire the maple forest at dusk.” Then Shi Yu twists it into a flirtatious and teasing line: “Doing… love… Wan Wan.”)Ting— parking, sitting, loving in the maple forest at dusk. Doing… love… Wanwan.”
Jiang Shangwan: (speechless)
Why is he like this?
“I’m lying to you,” Shi Yu said. “The reason for creating Wish Come True started the moment I realized deep in my heart a wish belonged to me. My desire, the voice inside me, couldn’t be ignored. So I came running from afar, just hoping Wanwan could stop for me, leaving even the slightest trace.”
“That’s the origin of the company Wish Come True—Ting Wan.”
Fireworks exploded in her chest, and the young man’s low voice brushed against her fragile eardrum. She heard the signal of her heart stirring again.
“Are you confessing to me, little dog?”
“Yeah.”
Shi Yu lifted her chin with his hand and looked into her eyes. “I’m not in a hurry to get your answer, so it’s okay—even if you don’t give me a clear answer, as long as you can feel my affection, that’s enough.”
He hooked his index finger under her chin, teasing her. “I don’t want to pressure you too much.”
Jiang Shangwan caught that mischievous finger with her own and gently kissed it.
Her lips curved into a soft smile. “You’re really wonderful—so wonderful that you make me want to go back to my youthful college days.”
The closer she got, the more she was touched by him, glimpsing his burning heart. But their age difference was a real gap—like a senior and a former student—making it hard to cross that line and get any closer.
There was a hint of regret in her tone. Shi Yu caught the slight shift at the end of her words and asked, “Why do you want to go back to college?”
Because then I would be the same age and generation as you.
Jiang Shangwan didn’t answer, releasing his strong fingers. “It’s late. Let’s go back and get some rest.”
“No.” Shi Yu looked into her eyes. Her long eyelashes brushed a soft pink eyeshadow at the slender corners of her eyes. Her makeup was light, but to him, she looked irresistibly enchanting.
Suddenly, he pressed her against the corner of the wall, his voice muffled. “Are you going to push me away again?”
Jiang Shangwan gritted her teeth and finally spoke the fear hidden deep in her heart: “We’re not suitable. I’m 12 years older than you.”
“So what?”
“Do you know what being a whole generation apart means? When you were just born, I was already in middle school. When you just became an adult, I was already middle-aged. There’s too much experience and distance between us. You’re still very young and might meet many others who captivate you more.”
“Besides, I once supported you financially, so I’m like another kind of teacher to you…”
Shi Yu smiled softly. His long fingers stroked her slender neck as he pulled her into his arms, then bit down hard on her collarbone, leaving a deep, bone-marking red mark.
“That kind of thing doesn’t matter at all. I don’t care about it, you’re just using it to bind yourself,” Shi Yu said as if punishing her, only letting go when he felt her soft hiss of pain.
Jiang Shangwan fell silent. Her moral conscience always made her feel that, as his senior, she hadn’t upheld the proper boundaries and had instead tempted him. Whenever she got close to him, her subconscious resisted, making her feel a strong attraction yet also a strong aversion to getting any closer.
She feared the feeling of things getting out of control, surpassing her limits, and even breaking the boundaries she had set for herself—it unsettled the deepest part of her soul.
“Look into my eyes,” Shi Yu said. “What does being twelve years older matter? Even if it were twenty, it wouldn’t stop me from being attracted to you.”
“Do you even realize how wonderful you are? Does age really matter in this? And if the roles were reversed—if I were older than you—would you be afraid too?”
Jiang Shangwan grabbed his tense arm and rested her chin on his shoulder. “I don’t know.”
“Did you drink tonight?” Shi Yu suddenly asked.
“A little red wine.”
“What’s wrong? … You didn’t drink too much, right?”
“Then are you sober now?”
Seemingly realizing the true meaning behind his words, Jiang Shangwan suddenly wanted to avoid his direct, burning gaze. Shadows flickered in her deep black eyes, she feared seeing her own reflection. Her throat tightened, and she suddenly didn’t dare to answer.
Shi Yu’s thumb gently stroked her hair. “You’re sober.”
“Do you want to kiss me?” he whispered seductively.
Beside her was only the scent of the boy and his tall, burning body. Jiang Shangwan saw his Adam’s apple move slightly above his neatly tied black tie.
Like a devil whispering, it stirred her trembling heart, pressing back and forth on the tip of her heart, tempting her to make a trembling mistake.
She clenched his shirt even tighter until she saw him suddenly tilt his head back and close his eyes.
That Adam’s apple became even more distinct and prominent. He was like nectar waiting to be gathered, tempting those who lust after beauty to reach out and pick it. The string called reason inside Jiang Shangwan trembled wildly in the dark. This time, there was no alcohol fueling her intoxication, yet she felt even harder to resist.
Hard to control.
She heard the sound of her reason breaking apart.
The silent confrontation in the dark night ended with Jiang Shangwan’s hand. It was as if she could no longer suppress her true feelings. Like giving up completely, she pulled at the neatly tied tie he had put on, loosening it and taking it off.
Shi Yu closed his eyes, feeling her every move, letting her do whatever she wanted to him without resistance. Suddenly, he felt a soft piece of fabric cover his eyes, and a light knot was tied at the back of his head.
Deep inside Jiang Shangwan’s soul, a fierce longing shouted out. What she truly desired was to get close to him, to approach him, to play with him. So, boldly, she tied the black tie over his eyes.
It was as if she had finally broken free from her restraints. At this moment, she only wanted to follow her heart. The hot blood surged to her brain, and a teasing, charming voice with a smile sounded in his ear: “Are you deliberately trying to seduce me?”
“I actually fall for this trick.”
The clean and handsome boy closed his eyes, lifted his neck, and gave her a look full of desire, like the strongest aphrodisiac. He didn’t move an inch, just waiting for the woman to take the initiative and push him into the abyss.
The fierce impulse mixed with strong desire wildly assaulted Jiang Shangwan’s nerves. She clenched her thighs, her body had already answered for her, and her clothes were soaked and ruined.
She grabbed Shi Yu’s nape and kissed his thin lips.
The moment their lips touched, it was like setting off a blazing fire. Jiang Shangwan gently ground her lips against his. His lips were soft, and she could feel the contours of their shape.
After a quiet kiss, Jiang Shangwan grabbed his hair and gently parted it, instructing him, “Open your mouth.”
A fresh, soft tongue slid in between his lips, prying open his tightly closed teeth, plunging into the warm, moist mouth until it met another soft tongue. The brief collision sparked countless tingles and shivers. Their two tongues immediately entwined, unwilling to separate.
She was teaching him how to kiss deeply.
Jiang Shangwan’s other hand slid under the hem of his shirt, feeling the firm muscles and smooth lines of his abdomen, sensing him trembling slightly beneath her palm.
Suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close, pressing tightly against him. The oxygen in their mouths was being rapidly consumed.
Jiang Shangwan released him, rested her forehead against his, and when the kiss ended, both were slightly out of breath. She leaned close to his ear and whispered, “You’re so sensitive.”
Shi Yu looked at her deeply. His thigh pressed tightly against hers. Although his eyes were covered and he couldn’t see her face, he could imagine her lips, already ravaged and bright red, still wet with faint traces of moisture and lingering silver strands.
“Have you learned?” Jiang Shangwan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she looked at him, reaching out to unbutton his tightly fastened shirt until his collarbone and a small part of his chest were revealed.
“So red, I really like it.” Jiang Shangwan buried her head in his neck, kissing him passionately, one kiss after another along his side neck, tracing over his moving Adam’s apple, lightly biting his collarbone, then grinding her teeth gently.
Shi Yu let out a low, muffled groan.
His voice was restrained, thick with hoarseness: “Do you like kissing me?”
“Yes.” Jiang Shangwan honestly admitted. Her body was as truthful as her words, she couldn’t deny the amazing experience he gave her.
Shi Yu pulled her soft waist closer and pressed down again, guided by instinct. Just moments ago, she had only known to stick close with her mouth shut dumbly, now, as if suddenly enlightened, she opened her lips wide, his tongue teasing and entwining with hers. Their breaths mingled—they seemed to merge into one.
The distinct sensation was overwhelming. Jiang Shangwan reached for his waistband, fumbling to undo his belt and button.
Shi Yu grabbed her hand.
“Do you want it?” Jiang Shangwan whispered softly in the moment they separated, a thin string of saliva stretching from her lips.
She heard his heartbeat pounding so fast it seemed to burst from his chest. His whole body felt flushed, growing more excited: “Be good. Let me help you, okay?”
She kissed his lips again, untied the black tie covering his eyes, letting him see everything before him. Her soft palm gently touched him.
Under her gentle touch, he completely surrendered. Jiang Shangwan nibbled lightly on his earlobe, feeling his suppressed, rapid breathing—an unprecedented mix of satisfaction and excitement.
His hand holding her waist trembled slightly. Large beads of sweat slid down his forehead, soaking even his shirt. His lowered eyes were full of unbearable pleasure. He was being led to experience a deadly sensation he had never felt before.
In the long, quiet night, filled with their heated breaths and warmth, Jiang Shangwan leaned against Shi Yu, feeling his chest rise and fall. Her hand casually brushed against her skirt as she softly kissed his cheek: “So good.”
She loved kissing him again and again, like a child playing, slowly teasing him over and over.
“Dirty,” Shi Yu said in a hoarse voice. His chest heaved violently, his brow furrowed: “Why are you rubbing your clothes? Why not rub mine?”
“Not dirty.” Jiang Shangwan blinked. “I like it very much.”
Shi Yu’s already flushed face turned even redder when he heard her say, “I like your scent.”
He turned his head away. Everything tonight, all the sparks and misfires, felt like a dazzling dream. Jiang Shangwan patiently zipped up his fly and buttoned his shirt.
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