CHAPTER 354: CHAPTER 353: ABSOLUTELY A MOMENT OF IMPULSIVENESS

Qu Chaozong devoured the entire table of dishes, finally cradling the rich beef soup and gulping it down in a few sips. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and sighed in satisfaction, "Ah... full."

Zhang Xin leaned in, helping him wipe the sweat off his forehead, saying with concern, "No one’s competing with you to eat, what’s the rush?"

Qu Chaozong laughed, "I’m afraid someone might call me any moment."

Zhang Xin folded the napkin and wiped the back of Qu Chaozong’s neck, "Have you been exhausted these past few days?"

Qu Chaozong stretched his big hand and directly pulled Zhang Xin into his arms, "It’s fine, Shi Yang and the others are at headquarters, so they can’t tend to things here at home. Once they return in a few days, it’ll be better."

Zhang Xin lifted his chin, eyes meeting his, "Chaozi... honestly, you don’t have to work this hard. My mom left some money with my grandpa for me when she passed, meant to be my dowry. I sold the house last time just because I didn’t want to disturb my grandpa... you work so hard every day, barely have time to eat, just to earn a little money... seeing this makes my heart ache."

Qu Chaozong tilted his head, a faint shadow of something inscrutable in his eyes. He rubbed his face then let his hand fall, looking calm and carefree, "Oh, you feel sorry for your man now? It’s not even that tiring, it’s just this period is a bit unusual. Shi Yang and the others aren’t here, it’ll be fine once they’re back."

"It’s always like this in business; do you think you can just sit in an office and people will bring you money?"

"Besides, I don’t feel that tired."

"In the future, I’m going to marry you, and as a man of integrity, how could I rely on your dowry to live? When we get married, I’ll be responsible for earning to support the family. I’m your man, I will take care of you!... Don’t worry, your man can handle it!"

With Qu Chaozong’s character, living off a woman for comfort is not a real man. Since he plans to marry Zhang Xin, he will take on the responsibility of supporting a family and taking care of his wife.

Zhang Xin’s family is wealthy, which is something he cannot change, just as he cannot lock Zhang Xin away at home or disfigure her because she’s too beautiful. These two things are essentially the same principle.

Having a well-off family background is not a flaw. Since it exists, he should accept it with ease and use it to drive himself toward greater diligence and effort, making their lives better and better.

Zhang Xin didn’t leave that day, staying by Qu Chaozong’s side, watching him work with focus and intensity.

People would occasionally come and go in the office, each performing their duties. Besides nodding politely at Zhang Xin to acknowledge her presence, they came straight to discussing work matters with Qu Chaozong.

This was the first time Zhang Xin saw Qu Chaozong at work: composed and efficient. Even though he habitually raised one corner of his mouth in a slight smile, he no longer appeared as the roguish figure she remembered but exuded a crafty sharpness.

A man focused on his work is most charismatic; every move and gesture radiates his aura without reservation, completely different from his everyday attitude and expressions—both charming and alluring.

Zhang Xin sat quietly on the visitor’s sofa, observing the busy Qu Chaozong, her beautiful dark eyes filled with admiration and infatuation.

The light outside shifted from bright to dim, eventually becoming as dark as ink against the bright indoor lighting.

Qu Chaozong finished dealing with the last piece of material at hand, intending to stretch when a cup of warm milk was handed to him.

Qu Chaozong paused, his gaze following the cup upward until he met Zhang Xin’s eyes.

In Zhang Xin’s eyes, a black vortex swirled as she looked at him. Suddenly, she lowered her head, leaning much of her body into Qu Chaozong’s embrace.

Qu Chaozong hesitated for only a moment before decisively sweeping her up horizontally, placing her on the visitor’s sofa, and releasing her to lock the door.

Just as he moved, Zhang Xin wrapped her arms around his neck, "It’s already locked."

Qu Chaozong lowered his head and met Zhang Xin’s enchanting gaze.

Zhang Xin lay reclined on the sofa, her long hair fanning out like seaweed behind her. Her skin was very pale, her figure both slender and voluptuous. The contrast against the dark brown leather sofa highlighted her white skin, where delicate light blue veins were faintly visible, giving a strange feeling. Qu Chaozong stared intently before mumbling hoarsely, "You’re really a damn enchantress..."

Everything blurred and became chaotic before Zhang Xin’s eyes.

Looking down at her, Qu Chaozong’s gaze stirred a certain psychological sense of possession and affection within her.

Even as Zhang Xin’s soul drifted, she didn’t forget to ask, "Chaozi, do you love me?"

Qu Chaozong answered harshly and hoarsely, "Mm."

Zhang Xin asked another question, "Will you ever fall in love with someone else?"

Qu Chaozong was in a state of urgent, uncontrolled passion, and his mind could no longer think rationally. He lowered his head to kiss Zhang Xin deeply. As Zhang Xin struggled to seek an answer, Qu Chaozong’s sudden fervor completely overpowered her... Both were swept away... along with rationality and the unanswered question, buried under an overwhelming haze of mind-dizzying sensation...

Leaving the office later that night, Qu Chaozong drove Zhang Xin back to her grandfather’s house. The car stopped at the entrance, and he watched Zhang Xin enter her villa before turning the car around to leave.

The car hadn’t gone far, not even reaching the exit of the neighborhood, when he saw someone walking under the streetlight not too close or far away suddenly collapse to the ground. Had Qu Chaozong not glanced just then, he would have driven right past.

Qu Chaozong hesitated only momentarily before hastily braking, pushing open the car door, and rushing down.

Upon closer inspection, he found an old man with a head of white hair lying motionless on the ground, clearly passed out.

In a moment of impulsive decision, without thinking, Qu Chaozong squatted down, picked the old man up, drove him to the hospital.