Chapter 84: The Kiss That Lost Control

The man pressed her against the wall, almost flush against her, his warm breath brushing the tip of her ear, the posture intimate, his gaze heavy as it settled on her face, speaking word by deliberate word.

Meng Shutang froze for a moment, then shoved him away.

But walking to the other three elevators, she felt daunted at the sight of them, glanced toward the stairwell, and hesitated.

Nearly thirty floors—climbing up would cost half her life.

But entering the elevator again, the terrifying scene from just now surfaced before her eyes, and she couldn't help feeling a wave of dread.

In her hesitation, her wrist was firmly seized.

The man's face was still tinged an unnatural white, his breathing still carrying remnants of fear. Holding a phone in his other hand, he gave cold, low-voiced instructions.

"Notify all department heads—the meeting is moved to the first floor. Come down immediately."

After hanging up, he turned to look at Meng Shutang with a smile. "No need to be afraid, and no need to climb the stairs. I'm here."

With that, he pushed open the door beside them and pulled Meng Shutang inside.

Meng Shutang pulled free from his hand. Seeing this, the man gentlemanly held the door and stood to the side, letting her enter first.

Meng Shutang didn't stand on ceremony. The two of them entered the abandoned conference room one after another, and the moment she stepped inside, she froze.

This place… they had been here before.

That was not long after the wedding, when he had trapped her in this cramped space, kissing her with abandon, a single kiss lasting two whole hours.

Only when her body could no longer hold up did she think he should be able to let her go.

Who knew—the man's hands gripped her impossibly slender waist and lifted her onto the desk beside them.

The soft whimper still echoed, memories surging up. Meng Shutang turned, wanting to flee this place.

But Gu Yunci's emotions were on the verge of breaking through his restraint.

He grabbed the woman's hand, his Adam's apple rolling almost imperceptibly. "Do you still remember this place?"

Meng Shutang shook him off. The shadows from the window fell across her face. "I don't remember."

She subconsciously retreated half a step. "If you want to talk, just talk. Don't get handsy."

A dark light churned in the man's eyes, the corners of his eyes reddening inch by inch.

"President Gu, in here… ah…"

Several executives walked in and were instantly stunned.

This conference room was abandoned—dim all around, dust drifting lightly, desks and chairs worn and old, cobwebs woven across.

Executive 1: "Why are we having a meeting in a place like this?"

Executive 2: "President Gu, let's change locations. This place… is just too rundown!"

The man had found a rag from who knows where and wiped down the small patch where he sat, then tossed the rag onto the table. "The meeting starts in five minutes. If you don't like the environment, you can leave right now. His position will naturally be filled by someone else."

Those words fell, and the vast conference room fell instantly silent.

No one complained anymore. That rag found from who knows where became a hot commodity, fought over by everyone.

As soon as the meeting ended, Meng Shutang left.

She was afraid of being with Gu Yunci again and running into something like the elevator scare.

Back home, Xin Xin was drawing. Meng Shutang washed strawberries and blueberries and brought them over, popping a blueberry into Xin Xin's mouth.

"What are you drawing?"

She asked casually, but the moment she saw the person on the drawing board, she froze.

Xin Xin, however, was completely at ease. "My family."

The person she drew did indeed look quite like her—long hair flowing, confident and radiant.

The little figure in the middle was clearly Xin Xin, and to Xin Xin's left was a man.

The man was tall and handsome. Though his face was somewhat blurred, he strongly resembled… Gu Yunci.

Meng Shutang pointed at him. "Xin Xin, is this Uncle Shenyang you drew?"

Xin Xin shook her head. "Daddy."

Meng Shutang's chest tightened. "But Xin Xin, you've never met Daddy."

Xin Xin: "I met him in a dream."

At dinner, Meng Shutang chatted with Xin Xin about kindergarten. "Are you getting used to it these past few days?"

Xin Xin: "I really like this kindergarten, and I like Song Yilin too."

Meng Shutang smiled faintly. "I can tell. Song Yilin likes you too."

A child's world is very simple—when they say they like someone, it just means they play together with that person. It's that simple.

None of the twists and turns of adults.

The donation project should have ended a week later.

But after that meeting in the abandoned conference room, Gu Yunci added several more artifacts.

Which made things busy again during this period. Today, because of an ancient bead that Meng Shutang couldn't authenticate with certainty, Lu Shenyang had invited a venerable elder of the field to come over.

Gu Yunci also had some acquaintance with the venerable elder. The moment he heard, he came straight over as well.

After the matter was settled, they dined at a high-end restaurant in Zhonglin Dasha.

The venerable elder looked at Lu Shenyang. "Shenyang, you're not getting any younger. When are you going to bring a girlfriend home for me to see?

A person always needs a companion. You can't be alone forever."

Gu Yunci's heart clenched sharply. He was terrified that in the next second Lu Shenyang would seize Meng Shutang's hand and play out a scene of deep affection and ambiguity right in front of him.

He couldn't sit still anymore and was about to rise.

But he saw Lu Shenyang cover his lips and cough lightly, not taking the bait.

"I know you still harbor Yingying in your heart, but it's been so many years. It's time to let go.

Yingying's death had nothing to do with you. You can't guard over her for a lifetime…"

Hearing the old master's words, Gu Yunci froze in place.

The old master didn't notice Gu Yunci's reaction; his gaze fell on Meng Shutang beside him.

"Don't keep running over to Shutang's place all the time—helping her tidy up her home one moment, helping her organize materials the next.

Shutang is very independent. Carrying on like that will only make people misunderstand."

Lu Shenyang gave a soft hum and turned his eyes to glance at Meng Shutang.

Meng Shutang picked up the water glass beside her, not looking at him.

Gu Yunci sat back down heavily, his chest feeling as though it had been struck hard.

So...

They weren't together; they weren't living together.

She was still alone, just like him.

So all that suspicion and suffocation for so long had been a joke heaven played on him.

A breeze blew past, and he felt refreshed all over. Looking at Meng Shutang's cherry-red lips and the tight buttons below her neckline, he raised a hand to loosen his tie.

After the meal, they entered the elevator.

Gu Yunci deliberately stood on Meng Shutang's side, separating her from Lu Shenyang.

Aside from him, the four other people in the elevator knew nothing of his thoughts.

When the elevator stopped midway, a man entered and, seeing space available on Meng Shutang's side, wanted to stand behind her.

Seeing this, Gu Yunci stepped directly in front of Meng Shutang.

Just as four years ago, when he had protected Bai Cixian, he shielded Meng Shutang in his arms.

Meng Shutang felt both suspicious and suffocated. She furrowed her delicate brows and tilted her head slightly to look at him, yet had no way out.

Perhaps his claustrophobia was acting up again—she could only think this, otherwise she didn't know how to reasonably interpret the man's intentions.

Two more floors passed, and the man who had just entered got off.

Only then did Gu Yunci release Meng Shutang and step back to this side.

The old master saw this and, without batting an eye, turned to glance at Lu Shenyang. "I have to say, Yunci and Shutang do look quite like a married couple.

You two aren't carrying on a secret romance like those young people, are you? When you get married, remember to invite me to the wedding banquet."

Meng Shutang glanced at Lu Shenyang, then pushed Gu Yunci away and came to this side. "Old Master, don't joke. President Gu sets his sights above everyone's head—he wouldn't look twice at me."

Gu Yunci was about to explode.

She could hit him or scold him in anger and he wouldn't mind—but why did she look at Lu Shenyang to avoid suspicion and then walk away?

Could it be that she had fallen for Lu Shenyang and was afraid he'd misunderstand?

She was afraid of him misunderstanding, but not afraid of him misunderstanding?

He hung his head in grievance, looking as if he were about to cry.

The old master was taken to the airport by Lu Shenyang; they still had some matters to discuss.

Meng Shutang went to the underground parking garage. Just as she approached her car, an uninvited guest loomed over her—long fingers clamped around her waist, slamming her hard against the car.

Before she could struggle, frenzied kisses rained down densely upon her.

The instant their lips and teeth touched, he kissed her wildly and heavily, carrying four years of suppressed burning heat, as if he wanted to devour her bones and all.