Chapter 228 Try to Like Me (1/2)

”Xin Qing!” Zhang Mi ran inside. ”Mr. Special Forces is here again!”

A scowl formed on Ah Nan's face instantly. ”It's just been a month, and he has completed his mission already?”

”I know, right? His enemies must have been a bunch of noobs. How could they let him return alive!” Zhang Mi said with nothing but fury on her face.

Xin Qing looked at them with an amused expression. ”Hey, hey. The person you're talking about is actually a formidable person in the Capital. You'll most like rot in jail if it turns out that your curse is the cause of his death.”

”Not even bullets can kill me, let alone these two,” said a deep voice of a man. A uniformed man emerged from the doorway and walked straight towards Xin Qing, completely ignoring the fierce glare that Zhang Mi was giving him. ”I only have three hours. May I ask you to join me for dinner?”

Xin Qing smiled. ”Will I be thrown into jail too if I decline?”

”Nobody other than me would dare do such a thing!” Jiang Qianren's glistening eyes were fixed upon Xin Qing.

Two years ago, he had run into Xin Qing at a party. On that fateful night, his heart, which had never been so deeply affected by a woman before, had begun to race uncontrollably at the sight of her. For the first time in his life, he had used his position and status in the military to investigate Xin Qing and then forcefully insert himself into her life.

Xin Qing gave Ah Nan a subtle shake of her head. ”Mr. Jiang and I will have dinner. You guys should call it a day as well!”

Jiang Qianren had picked a quiet restaurant situated on a hilltop. The two of them now sat in a private booth facing the sea. The night breeze glided past, bringing with it a mild intoxicating effect to one's heart.

”Why don't you ever reject my invitations?” Jiang Qianren poured a glass of wine for Xin Qing before fixing his dark eyes gazed upon her intently.

Xin Qing tilted her head. ”Will it count as a valid reason if I say it's because Xin Enterprises has no intention of pissing off the world's youngest general?”

Jiang Qianren was born into an affluent military family. The Jiang family had produced as much as three generals across five generations. In his generation, Jiang Qianren had become the commander of an army at the mere age of 23. Apparently, he was also deemed as the most likely person to become the youngest five-star general in history.

The scariest part was that he had risen to his rank with his own abilities alone. The power and influence of the Jiang family had nothing to do with his success. For someone so young, his contributions to the military were outstanding! Indeed, Xin Qing did not wish to piss off a man like that, especially when he had the entire force of the Capital City backing him.

”Xin Qing, I'm going to say this one more time. Pursuing you is my own business and has nothing to do with my background or status.” Jiang Qianren frowned. ”I will not force you. I just hope you can give both of us a chance.”

Xin Qing stared at him quietly for a few seconds. ”I don't know why you've chosen me,” Xin Qing said in a serious tone. ”I'm older than you, and I have three children.” There was a brief pause, after which Xin Qing's eyes were filled with resolve and strength. ”Most importantly, I have a husband!”

”He is dead,” Jiang Qianren said, staring back at her with a look which conveyed the clear message that he had no intention of backing off. ”Do you really think that a man who is missing for three years could still be alive?”

Xin Qing stared right into Jiang Qianren's eyes. ”He didn't die.”

For the past three years, Xin Qing had become so much braver. She had tried to imitate Ying Qingcang's behavior, which made her look calm and aloof almost all the time. The only times when she would laugh and smile sweetly like she used to was when she was with Zhang Mi and the others.

”Mr. Jiang,” Xin Qing said slowly. ”As long as you're part of the Jiang family, you can never have the final say in your marriage. You claim that your pursuit of me has nothing to do with status or background. But will your family really allow you to be involved with a married woman?” Xin Qing reclined herself in the purple velor chair, her eyes sincere and clear.

There. There it was, that same look in her eyes. Jiang Qianren clenched his hands into fists. Back at that party two years ago, he had seen a girl sitting alone in the garden, speaking to an injured bird. The girl had been talking to herself, but the sparkle in her eyes had instantly captivated him. Not once had it crossed his mind that the girl was the legendary President of Xin Enterprises, the woman who had murdered her own husband in order to rise to her current position.

”All those are my affairs,” Jiang Qianren said, his tone laced with frustration. This was always Xin Qing's attitude whenever they were on the subject of their relationship with each other. Did she really think so little of him that she found him untrustworthy? ”As long as you agree to be with me, you can leave the rest to me.”

Xin Qing set down the cutleries she had been holding in her hands. ”But...” The corners of her lips lifted gently as she smiled at him wanly. ”I don't have feelings for you.”

”Ping!” Jiang Qianren's glass slamed down on the table. ”How do you know you won't ever have feelings for me if you've never even tried?” He stood up suddenly and walked over to Xin Qing's side before bending himself at the waist. Xin Qing was now trapped by his arms which were gripping the arms of her chair. They were in such close proximity that their foreheads were almost touching; once in a while, strands of their hair would become entwined as the breeze kept them afloat in the air.

”Let's just try, okay? You might actually find that I have very good qualities, too,” he said. The man was breathing right into her face. If Xin Qing raised her head slightly, their lips would touch. Jiang Qianren lifted Xin Qing's chin with a hand. Just when he was about to kiss her, his face suddenly fell. He turned his head and stared out of the booth.

The surrounding air had picked up speed some time during their conversation. A whirring sound, like some kind of fan, could be vaguely heard.

Xin Qing smiled. ”Looks like your time is up!”

A chopper appeared outside the booth where a young man dressed in combat fatigues gave Jiang Qianren a salute. ”We're here to fetch you, sir.”

Jiang Qianren had never hated the fact that he was a soldier more than he did in that moment. With a sullen look on his face, he grabbed the ladder that had been tossed down from the chopper. He turned his head around to face Xin Qing. ”I meant what I said. My words will never change,” he said. ”I hope you'll have an answer for me the next time we see each other!”

Only when the chopper became a tiny dot in the sky did Xin Qing allow herself to release the breath that she had been holding. She rubbed her forehead. Then, all of a sudden, a look of hurt flashed in her eyes and she pouted like a child: ”Hmph! Another man is about to snatch your wife away if you don't come back soon!”

Monica was playing a game with Wangwang when Xin Qing got home. Wangwang pounced on Xin Qing happily the moment he saw her.

”Mommy, kiss!”

Xin Qing picked up Wangwang and planted a few kisses on his face. Wangwang happily returned the favor, and Xin Qing ended up with her entire face covered in drool.

At the age of three, Wangwang was still a plump looking child; whenever he sat down, he literally looked like a white and fluffy ball. Nobody could resist the urge to pinch him upon seeing his face. It was for that reason that Wangwang hated crowded places.