Chapter 252 Kissing Another Man Right in Front of Me (1/2)

It might just be her imagination, but Zhang Mi could not help but notice that Xin Qing had been smiling since they left the party. While dropping Xin Qing off at Ying's residence, Zhang Mi finally caved and asked, ”Why are you so happy?”

”Huh?” Xin Qing stared back at Zhang Mi in confusion, her smile still adorning her lips since she had utterly failed to conceal it in time.

Young Master Shen opened the door for Xin Qing. ”Did Ah Cang...”

”No!” Xin Qing blurted. ”Look, it's so late. You guys should go home!” After that, she hightailed to the house.

She ran all the way up the stairs. She stopped by Wangwang's room first; the boy was sleeping as if he were a piglet. After that, she drew a bath for herself and then soaked herself in the bathtub. That was when she began touching her lips with her fingers and thought about Ying Qingcang.

So far, she knew one thing for sure: they had all been right. Ying Qingcang was being spied on. He could not speak his mind. The kiss tonight happened because she had deliberately seduced him. It also happened because he had been unable to keep his desires in check. Fear rose inside Xin Qing at the thought. How on earth did Ying Qingcang manage to maintain his cover before Rong Siman. Rong Siman must have heard the sounds of their kisses as well as Li Susu's voice tonight.

Rong Siman had indeed heard those things. She had listened to the recording when she got home. As someone who was well-versed in the birds and the bees, it would be impossible for her not to realize the kind of activity that would give rise to those pants and gasps she had heard. That was why she confronted Ying Qingcang first thing in the morning.

”Ah Cang, you ran into Xin Qing again at the dinner party, didn't you?”

Ying Qingcang, who was just about to head off to work, nodded when he heard her. ”Yeah.”

”Then?” Rong Siman just stared at him. ”What did you guys do?”

”I kissed her,” Ying Qingcang said smugly. ”Right in front of the eldest daughter of the Li family.”

Rong Siman had wanted to kick up a fuss at first, but she calmed down immediately after seeing the look on Ying Qingcang's face. ”Why did you do that?”

”Sometimes I really wonder if there's even anything inside your brain...” Ying Qingcang shot Rong Siman an exasperated look. ”I figured that being seen with her by anyone from capital would do the trick. If they see Xin Qing kissing another man, the news will get back to the Jiang family eventually. I didn't expect to be so lucky, though. We were seen by none other than Jiang Qianren's childhood sweetheart.”

Only then did realization dawn upon Rong Siman. ”That way, Xin Qing can forget about marrying into the Jiang family!”

”Now do you get it?” Ying Qingcang stood up. ”We can't let Xin Qing be affiliated with the Jiang family. It would be too disadvantageous to us otherwise.” ”Oh, and I'm warning you. This is a very crucial time for us, so it would be best if you stay put obediently and mind your own business.” When he finished, Ying Qingcang closed the door without even looking at her.

Having obtained confirmation about Ying Qingcang's situation, Xin Qing spent the following few days in a jovial mood; however, that only lasted until the end of the month when Jiang Qianren came back.

”Did you do it on purpose?”

Xin Qing had heard his cold interrogation before she even sat down.

”Hey, this place is too nice for you to be acting all grumpy!” Jiang Qianren had asked her to meet her at an upscale coffee shop. Not many customers were present at the moment, so the place was very quiet.

Jiang Qianren kept glaring at her. ”You allowed Ying Qingcang to kiss you?”

”Did your childhood sweetheart tell you that?” Xin Qing asked him in return and batted her eyelashes at him.

”Jealous?” Jiang Qianren smiled. ”I'm not interested in her. I only see her as a younger sister. You're the one I'm interested in!”

Xin Qing took a sip of her fruit juice. ”But I only see you as a younger brother.”

”Who says I want to be your brother?” Jiang Qianren was irked once again. ”I'm only two years younger than you.”

The man sitting across from her was now looking at her with deep, penetrating eyes. All that time spent in the military had rendered the man as hard as steel, giving him an undefiable austerity.

Xin Qing sighed. ”Qianren,” she said, ”I told you a long time ago that I don't love you. I don't love you now, and I won't love you in the future.”

”And I have told you as well that I will make you love me one day.” There was a faraway look in Jiang Qianren's eyes when he gazed at her now. ”Ying Qingcang betrayed you. He had repeatedly toyed with your feelings. Why are you still so hung up on him?”

Xin Qing set down her cup and looked at him seriously. ”I love him. No matter what kind of person he turns into, I'll still love him. Qianren, I see you as a friend, and I really hope that you can do the same as well. It will only make things difficult for everyone if you can't.”

A dark shade slowly took over Jiang Qianren's eyes and he released a bitter laugh. ”So that was why you dressed like that to attend the party. You were deliberately showing off how you would look like when socializing among men, deliberately allowing Li Susu to see you and Ying Qingcang locking lips.”

Jiang Qianren stood up. ”Xin Qing, do you even have a heart?” He said, grabbing Xin Qing's hand and placing it on his chest. ”Can't you feel it? Can't you feel that it's beating just for you? Why don't you want it?”

The sheer pressure Xin Qing felt on her wrist made her wince. She freed her hand from his grip with all her strength and said, ”I think there's no point in carrying on this discussion.” Xin Qing stood up, grabbed her handbag and headed for the exit. At the door, Jiang Qianren blocked her path.

”How do you know you won't be able to accept me if you don't try?” Then, before Xin Qing knew what hit her, he pulled her into his arms and covered her lips with his own.

Xin Qing's eyes went wide. Twice, she pounded him with her fist, though the act only made Jiang Qianren tighten his hold on her. She panicked and was just about to knee him in the groin when she heard a voice, one that was infused with mockery.

”Even if you want to make out, at least have the decency to avoid doing it at the doorway. You'll just be getting in other people's way.”