"H-here? Really?" Jing stammered, her cheeks flushing crimson. The word "here," uttered in the sterile, echoing hallway of a hospital, felt like a profound violation, a stark reminder of her powerlessness. What if someone saw them? Resistance was futile. Her fate, her very being, rested in his hands. He could crush her, destroy her, with a mere flick of his wrist.
"Don't you find it… thrilling? A stolen moment, a secret rendezvous… it's not something a 'good girl' like you would normally consider, is it? Especially with a… reprobate like me," Alex murmured, his voice a husky whisper against her ear. His hands moved over her body, exploring the curves beneath her clothes, his touch both possessive and teasing.
"Don't… don't put it like that," Jing pleaded, her voice barely audible above the pounding of her heart.
"The thrill is in the secrecy, the forbidden nature of the act. 'Sneak into the village, don't fire a shot'—mystery, tension, anticipation… it's intoxicating, isn't it?" He chuckled, his breath warm against her ear. "Look at you, Jing. Your cheeks are flushed, your heart is racing, your body is trembling…"
The sudden shrill ringing of Alex's phone shattered the tense silence, startling Jing. She instinctively clung to him, burying her face in his chest, desperate to disappear, to become invisible.
"Well, well," Alex murmured, his lips brushing against her hair. "I'm pleased to see you taking the initiative, Jing. It seems our… relationship… is starting to thaw. But don't worry, I wouldn't do anything… untoward here. I'm a gentleman, after all." He gently kissed her cheek, then stepped back, putting some distance between them.
"Who the hell is this, interrupting my… important business?" he grumbled into the phone, though he already knew who it was from the caller ID. He wouldn't have answered if it had been Grace. He wasn't in the mood for one of her interrogations.
Seeing him step away, Jing took a deep breath, the pressure of his presence momentarily lifted. She glanced nervously around the hallway. It was still deserted. She was about to make a run for it when Alex's hand shot out, gripping her arm, preventing her escape. She stood there, frozen, like a cornered animal, her body tense.
*I… I don't belong to you,* she thought defiantly.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is. Seems you've recovered from your little… heartbreak," a cheerful voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Speaking of which, she's standing right here. Surprise!" Alex said, glancing at Jing, who was looking around nervously, hoping no one would see them.
"Really? Just remember, a good horse doesn't go back to the same pasture," the voice on the phone teased.
"Horse? Do you think I'm a… farm animal? What do you want, Leon? Get to the point," Alex said impatiently.
Jing, overhearing his words, struggled to suppress a smile. Her trembling body, however, betrayed her amusement.
"I'm being transferred out of Beijing. Leaving next week. How about it? Free tonight? Come have a drink with your old buddy," Leon said.
"Transferred?" Alex asked, surprised. "What happened? Did you get… promoted?"
"It's a… strategic move. I…"
"Cut the crap, Leon. Up or down?"
"I don't know where I'm going yet. The level is about the same, but it's a stepping stone for… future advancements."
"Okay, I'm free tonight. I'll meet you at the bar after work," Alex said.
"Great! See you tonight!" Leon sounded genuinely pleased.
"Oh, by the way, do you know anyone at Friendship Hospital?" Alex suddenly remembered something.
"Not personally, but I can make some calls."
"Then do your old buddy a favor before you leave. I need a private room, the best they have, with the best doctors and nurses. I have a patient who needs a kidney transplant."
"Kidney transplant? What happened, Stone? Did you finally… overdo it?"
"Screw you, Leon. I could go for days without… you know. It's for a friend's father."
"Oh, right. Consider it done. I'll have it arranged within a few days."
"Thanks, Leon. See you tonight."
"See you tonight."
Alex hung up and turned to Jing. "Looks like our trip to the director's office was a waste of time. Your father will be transferred to Friendship Hospital within a few days. See? My connections are pretty useful, aren't they? And I'm even going to have dinner with a government official tonight, all for your sake. Aren't you even a little bit touched?" He couldn't resist teasing her, his usual playful arrogance returning.
"Really?" Jing asked, her eyes widening with hope.
"Lose the 'really?' Jing. You're questioning my integrity," Alex said, feigning offense.
"Integrity?" Jing chuckled softly. This man, talking about integrity?
"What's so funny?" Alex stepped closer, his gaze intense. This woman… he needed to remind her who was in charge.
"Mom! You're here!" Jing suddenly called out, her voice filled with surprise.
"Mom?" Alex turned around, looking for the woman Jing had addressed, but the hallway was empty. He turned back to Jing, but she was gone.
"Hmph. You talking about integrity is as laughable as Bush talking about world peace!" Jing's voice echoed from the stairwell below. While he'd been distracted, she'd made her escape.
"You… you tricked me!" Alex yelled down the stairs, his frustration bubbling to the surface.
"All's fair in love and war, Alex. And besides, didn't you say deception is a form of… intelligence?" Jing's voice, laced with amusement, floated up from below. Perhaps it was because he'd helped her, or maybe it was because he hadn't forced himself on her last night, but Jing seemed more… relaxed around him, more willing to show her true colors.
"I curse you, Jing! May you never find happiness with anyone but me! One day, you'll be begging me to put your name on my… family register!"
"In your dreams!" Jing retorted, then disappeared around the corner, heading back to her father's ward.
Alex stood there for a moment, fuming, then a slow smile spread across his face. He threw his head back and laughed.
"Hahahaha! It seems my skills haven't dulled with age. I'm still a goddamn genius, a master of seduction! Hahahaha!"
Why was Alex laughing? Hadn't anyone noticed the subtle shift in Jing's attitude? While she was still cold and distant, there was a flicker of something else in her eyes, something that wasn't quite the burning hatred of before. Even Jing herself wasn't aware of this shift, this subtle thawing of her icy demeanor towards Alex. And this, more than anything, was what amused him, what fueled his confidence.
Alex was playing a long game, slowly chipping away at Jing's defenses, using his actions to reshape her perception of him. To conquer someone, you had to find their weakness. And Alex had found Jing's—her unwavering devotion to her family. By helping her parents, he was creating a sense of obligation, a subtle dependence that would make her think of him when she was most vulnerable.
And then there was his shamelessness, his audacity, his unwavering persistence—qualities that few possessed. He had taken "thick-skinned" to a whole new level, making it an art form. It was almost admirable, in a twisted sort of way.
Many would scoff at his methods, his relentless pursuit, his blatant disregard for social norms. But they couldn't deny its effectiveness. After all, a man without shame was a force to be reckoned with.
A tree without bark is dead. A man without shame is invincible! Otherwise, all the good girls would be snatched up by men with even thicker skin. As the old saying goes, "A scoundrel always gets the beauty." Generations of men had learned this lesson the hard way.
And the battle between Alex and Jing had only just begun.
Poor Alex, still playing his little games…