Chapter 14.2 (1/2)

Chapter 14.2

Silence briefly settled in the private room . In the darkness, no one could see the others clearly .

I knew that Yin Li sat on my left, close enough that if I turned my side I could reach him . I don’t know what overcame me, but I reached out in the dark and grabbed his hand . Then carefully, without making a sound, I turned and kissed him on the cheek .

The darkness seemed to have some sort of bewitching power which made me lose my senses . Amidst the inky blackness, I suddenly felt a desire to draw closer to him . It was like the emotional tossing and turning earlier also managed to rearrange my behavior .

He froze . I shook my hand, but unexpectedly his hand then tightened around mine, not letting go . Then following the curve of my cheek, he found my lips and kissed me deeply .

Wei Yan apparently felt that sitting in complete silence in the dark was rather awkward, so he broke the silence . “What other plans does Mr . Yin have for tonight? If you have time, we can all go to Shu Yu (舒雨, Leisurely Rain) Pavilion to sit around and chat . ” Shu Yu Pavilion was a tea house with a unique architectural design . Wei Yan obviously liked Yin Li’s company .

Yin Li was still kissing me, he apparently wasn’t afraid of arousing Wei Yan’s suspicions . Only after he was satisfied did he finally release me . “No need, I plan to head back immediately . My girlfriend doesn’t like me staying out too long . ”

Wei Yan laughed . “Mr . Yin, your girlfriend really is blessed . ”

After Yin Li replied to Wei Yan, he cupped his hands around my face again to pull me in for another kiss . My breath was becoming ragged, and the sound was growing more audible . Yet Yin Li didn’t seem to care . He continued to deepen his wet kiss . I could taste the red wine on his tongue, and it made me feel slightly tipsy and lightheaded .

When Wei Yan had made that remark, I could only miserably cry out in my heart, Yup, that’s right . Yin Li’s girlfriend is very blessed . Truly blessed indeed! So blessed I’m about to cry!

Wei Yan and Yin Li carried out a fragmented conversation like this, with Yin Li not letting me go the entire time . Only when the restaurant manager’s voice sounded in the large hall outside did he smoothly release me .

The lights suddenly flickered, then they all turned back on . My face burned bright red . I nervously played with the ends of my hair as I tried to look composed . The room finally returned to its previous brightness .

I glanced at Yin Li but then couldn’t avert my gaze . I could only stare at his right cheek in shock, like I had seen a ghost .

I glanced at Yin Li but then couldn’t avert my gaze . I could only stare at his right cheek in shock, like I had seen a ghost .

Holy f**k!! Can anyone explain why the h.e.l.l there’s a lipstick mark on his cheek?!

I thought the darkness was sufficient cover . Yet I didn’t think I would be leaving such an incriminating piece of evidence behind!

Luckily, I’d always been someone who didn’t fear death . In a post-apocalyptic world, I’d definitely be a hero . I immediately started furiously winking at Yin Li and repeatedly touching my right cheek . Yet he thought I was just acting coquettish . He drank a mouthful of wine and then, with the lipstick mark still on his cheek, calmly turned to Wei Yan and said, “Let’s just go along with Mr . DuPont’s suggestion for the last part of the contract . It must have been difficult for you as this is your first time negotiating, and I also want to return early . ” His bearing was as elegant as always . It was a pity that the lipstick mark immediately transformed him from a straight-laced individual to a lascivious one . It was an incredibly large demotion . Yet he didn’t seem to notice that his usual refined image now felt like a futile sham .

Wei Yan naturally had instantly noticed the lipstick mark on Yin Li’s face . His eyes bulged in disbelief as he looked back and forth between me and Yin Li . But in the end, he kept silent . His eyes darkened, but when he looked back up, he had already composed himself .

He decided to ignore the lipstick mark . In this setting, if he pointed it out to let Yin Li wipe it off, it would only make things awkward for all of us . Wei Yan could only pretend to be totally unaware, and of course, I conveniently1 followed his lead and didn’t make a peep .

1 顺水推舟: “to push the boat with the current” is an idiom meaning to take advantage of the situation .

1 顺水推舟: “to push the boat with the current” is an idiom meaning to take advantage of the situation .

Wei Yan turned and smiled at Yin Li . “All right . I’ll edit the contract make the changes to the purchasing rights that we’ve agreed upon . Once I’ve finished drafting it, I’ll mail you the doc.u.ment . ”

I suppressed a twitch of my facial muscles . Instead I watched Yin Li, who maintained his dignified and formal bearing, with the flaming-red lipstick mark on his cold, collected face . He gave a formal nod . “Very well . I’ll leave this matter in the hands of my a.s.sistant, Lin Qin . If there’s anything else you need to discuss, you can contact her . ” Then he looked at his watch . “Thank you for tonight’s dinner . I’ll be taking my leave first . ”

Yin Li then rose and took his jacket . He politely inclined his head to all of us, and left . Naturally, Wei Yan and I stayed behind to pay the bill . 2

2 In China it’s a common thing for businessmen to take each other out to eat as part of the negotiation process . I think the one who invites you is usually the one with a request, so they’re expected to foot the bill . (Correct me if I’m wrong!)

Ten or so minutes after Yin Li left, Wei Yan finally looked at me . He had a complicated expression and seemed to want to say something, but hesitated . Finally, his mult.i.tude of thoughts coalesced into one sentence . “Are you just going to let him go like this?”

It wasn’t until Wei Yan reminded me that I finally came to my senses and chased after Yin Li . Sadly, there was no trace of him in the large hall . I ran out to the entrance and searched around to no avail . Sulking, I could only return to the room .

Ten or so minutes after Yin Li left, Wei Yan finally looked at me . He had a complicated expression and seemed to want to say something, but hesitated . Finally, his mult.i.tude of thoughts coalesced into one sentence . “Are you just going to let him go like this?”

It wasn’t until Wei Yan reminded me that I finally came to my senses and chased after Yin Li . Sadly, there was no trace of him in the large hall . I ran out to the entrance and searched around to no avail . Sulking, I could only return to the room .

Wei Yan was smoking a cigarette, his expression inscrutable . When I opened the door he turned his head towards me, but through the smoke, I couldn’t discern his gaze clearly .

He flicked his cigarette . “Yan Xiao, I know you want to help me, but you can’t act like this . ” As he spoke, he seemed to very carefully consider his words . “In truth, it’s no big deal if these negotiations fail . Everyone needs to fail a couple times . This afternoon I was a bit puzzled, and felt that Yin Li’s att.i.tude towards you had some hidden undertone . At first, I had admired him . I thought he was untouchable, and was even devoted to his girlfriend . Yet I never thought him to be this sort of person . And you . I know your background is complicated but—”

My throat was parched from running around chasing after Yin Li . After grabbing a cup of tea and downing a large gulp, I finally regained my breath and explained, “Ai, relax . You can continue to admire him . And don’t blame yourself, to be honest I didn’t explain things clearly . I never told you that the girlfriend Yin Li was talking about was me . It’s no big deal . It’s only a kiss on the cheek, he won’t mind . ”