Wang Zhixin was right, someone was moving around. But they're still far away. The person must be by the front door.
"I'll go take a look. You stay here."
"No, I'm going with you."
"Then stay behind me."
Wang Zhixin and Jian Qingshan cautiously made their way through the living room and to the entrance of the office.
"President. Miss Wu."
"…"
"What's the matter, sir?"
Although Li Bai, by all appearances, trespassing, he doesn't seem to feel the least but guilty. Wang Zhixin, on the other hand, seems slightly shaken up.
"Zhixin, were you expecting Mr. Li?"
"Yes. I must have forgotten."
"Really? That's not like you, President. It must have slipped your mind because you were with Miss Wu. I can see there's no more reason for me to doubt you two now."
"What does that mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. You forgot about our meeting, so you thought I was a trespasser, right? Sir, I don't believe I've every seen you stand protectively in front of anyone like this before."
When Li Bai says that, Jian Qingshan reflectively looks up to Wang Zhixin. It was true, he was standing in front of her as if to shield her from the trespasser.
"I'd rather not stand around talking in the entryway. If you need to speak with me, come in."
"Of course, sir."
Inside the President's office.
"To tell you the truth, I wanted to drop by today because I was hoping to apologize to you. Please accept this wine as an expression of my regret."
"A dessert wine? This seems awfully sweet."
"I was hoping the two of you could enjoy it together. I came to apologize to the both of you, you see. As I'm sure you've noticed. I've been very suspicious of your relationship. President Wang has never shown any interest in marriage before."
"…"
"Still, an alliance between companies could benefit our business. I wanted the President to marry a nice young lady from a suitable family, but if the President already has feelings for Miss Wu, then I'm too late."
As they listens to Li Bai, Wang Zhixin and Jian Qingshan exchanges a look. It would appear that they've finally managed to win over the man who's been doubting them all this time.
"I've been terribly rude to you, Miss Wu. Please forgive me for doubting you in the beginning."
"It's ok."
"And thank you for what you did the night of the patron party. You used your wet dress as a way to escape that conversation. I was impressed."
Li Bai had saw Jian Qingshan stand up for Wang Zhixin at the patron party, that was probably when he had a change in heart.
"Well, I should get going." Smiling pleasantly, Li Bai leaves.
The two fake lovers sees the man off with smiles of their own, but a part of her is troubled, plagues by an intense feeling she can't seem to make it go away.
After bidding Li Bai farewell, Jian Qingshan and Wang Zhixin goes back up to his place.
"Want a drink?" He asks, holding up the bottle of wine Li Bai had given them.
"Is that Chateau d'Yquem?"
"They say it's the best 'noble rot' wine in the world."
"You should save it for a special occasion. I'd love to have some, but not tonight."
"Then we'll have to drink it together another time. I'll never be able to finish this on my own. It's too sweet. Li Bai seems to pick this wine out specifically for you. Besides, you seem like you'd enjoy sweet alcohol."
"You know, someone have told me that before, a very long time ago."
Smiling slightly, he puts the bottle away. Then, as he's casually starting up Amber, Jian Qingshan says something to him.
"Congratulations, by the way."
"What?"
"Mr. Li. We fooled him, we did it."
"Yea."
"And your acting earlier was Oscar-worthy, standing in front of me protectively like that. It looked completely realistic."
"You're the one with the acting skills, not me. Like Li Bai said, you stood up for me with Wei Li. That was what won him over."
The night of the party, when Jian Qingshan tried to protect the man and deal with Wei Li. If she had said one way or another, she meant every word she said. So she wonders, was the same true for him?
He may not have even been conscious of the way he was standing in front of her in the entryway.
Neither of them was consciously trying to act, but they managed to seem like a real couple. Jian Qingshan should be happy with the way this has worked out.
She did the job he hired her to do and fooled his executives into believing they're a couple. They succeeded. She should be celebrating but why does she feel a different way?
Their stilted conversation devolves into silence, and they both gazes at each other. They hesitates as if measuring the quiet. Just as they both were about to speak, Jian Qingshan's phone made a sound.
She knew that tone. It was a text message from Huo Qubing, the boss signaling her to head home.
"Is that important?"
"I have dinner plans with a friend. She's just getting on my case, telling me not to be late." She made up a believable lie without even thinking.
This was the way she has always operated, but for some reason, right now she felt guilty.
Wang Zhixin may not want to keep secrets from her, but she's done nothing but hide things from him and lie.
"I'm going to get going. I have plans tonight."
"Hold on. Amber, how's the weather?"
"There are strong winds blowing out of the south. Expect stormy weather tonight. Trains and other forms of public transportation may experience weather-related delays."
"Come, I'll drive you."
"Thank you."
Outside the window, clouds have rolled in out of nowhere, covering the sky, and powerful winds blow through the trees.
The sky looks ready to open up at any moment.
By the time they're in Wang Zhixin's car, speeding forward silently down the city streets, the weather had already taken a turn for the worse.
"I wouldn't think the CEO drives himself around."
"Well, I don't usually. The company would be liable if I caused an accident. It's too risky."
"So why'd you make an exception today?"
"I don't know. Because of the storm, I guess."
"What? That's not a reason."
Watching her laugh out of the corner of his eyes, Wang Zhixin focuses on the road. His face profile is as icy cold as ever, but she can see something in his eyes that wasn't there when they first met.
It's not that he's changed. That wasn't why he looks different to her. It was her who'd changed.
"Here is fine. I'm supposed to meet my friend nearby."
"It's really going to storm."
"It's ok. We won't stay out too late. Thank you for the ride."
"…"
"Zhixin?"
"It was specifically prohibited in the contract. So why did you let me kiss you?"
He was speaking so quietly that the sound of the rain nearby drowns out his voice.
His eyes shakes the scales of her heart, threatening to tip them in his favor. She bites down hard on her lower lip.
Why did she let him kiss her? It's obvious… it's because she likes him.
Looking back at the long, thin eyes gazing at her, she sense a subtle warmth in their depths. When they first met, she though he was a cold man. A heartless person, plotting to wreak havoc on the world, but his armor of indifference has been hiding a tragic past.
He hid his loving memories of his family both from the world and from himself. Jian Qingshan wonders, where is this man trying to go all on his own? This man who fixed her watch like magic, what was he trying to accomplish?
Although the scales may be tilted in his favor, she's not about to surrender her heart to him. Especially if he's planning on dirtying his hands by committing a crime.
For a long time she didn't say anything. It was him who eventually speaks up.
"You can't answer me?"
"I…"
"It's ok." His low voice abruptly softens, and a hand comes to rest on her cheek.
The touch was surprisingly gentle.
"If you can't say, then you don't have to."
He was smiling at her. When he looks at her this way, she—
"Nianzhen?"
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it.
She accidentally opens the box she's been keeping so tightly locked. And as that realization dawns on her, she's helpless to do anything but smile despite the urge she feels to cry.
She dares to say she loves Zhixin.