Chapter Thirty-Two: Starting to Like You a Little

Luo Youcong and Shan Shan arrived late, squeezing through the crowd only to witness the general manager of the Lu Group, Lu Chengfeng, collapsed on the ground in utter disgrace. Mai Xijun tugged at Shen Yanlie’s arm, urging him to leave, but his gaze remained steady, unwavering, as he stood rooted to the spot.

Mai Xijun never deluded herself into thinking she possessed such allure as to captivate a business tycoon like him within mere days. Now, with nothing but helplessness at her disposal, she could only stand by as he repeatedly claimed her as his own.

“No one but me can touch you,” he said coldly, his dark eyes deep as a midnight lake, yet resolute.

The room instantly plunged into icy silence. Rumors about him had circulated, and they were not merely idle talk. It was said that even the seasoned Liu, a veteran of sixty in the business world, had once been defeated by him when he was just twenty-three. The incident was sparked deliberately by Liu, who underestimated his youth, only to face a dire outcome. The memory of Liu’s downfall lingered as a warning.

“Then punish him, if you must, but don’t resort to violence—if anything happens, it’ll be bad for everyone,” Mai Xijun smiled seductively, though awkwardness flickered in her eyes. Her hands clung tightly to Shen Yanlie’s arm, clearly on the verge of fleeing, though she forced herself to stay.

Her smile could not last much longer. Shen Yanlie scrutinized her, and she felt her face about to freeze, her legs trembling uncontrollably.

Shen Yanlie’s lips curled into a handsome arc. “Alright, whatever Little Mai says goes.”

With that, he twisted her hands behind her, interlaced their fingers, and walked straight out.

All of it happened so swiftly, and as Shen Yanlie and Mai Xijun departed, the crowd gradually dispersed after a flurry of whispers. The supervisor began to clean up and offer consolation, while Lu Group’s general manager was helped up by an assistant. Luo Youcong stood in a corner, his knuckles pale and taut from clenching his fists.

Mai Xijun was brought by Luo Youcong; she was his companion, and everyone saw it. Yet Shen Yanlie openly took her away? Wasn’t she supposed to be there on business, meaning Shen Yanlie had no right to take her? Now gossip would inevitably follow.

If Luo Youcong thought of this, so could others. He was the president of LOV, notorious for discord with Eurasia Trading, and now his companion was claimed by his rival and taken away in full view? Eyes turned toward him, but he could no longer concern himself and left the venue as well.

Mai Xijun felt her mind go blank, gritting her teeth as she leaned against Shen Yanlie for support, clinging to him so she wouldn’t collapse.

What surprised her most was Shen Yanlie calling her “Little Mai.” Not many called her that—her mother had always called her “Jun Jun” since childhood, and only Xue Lizan occasionally used “Little Mai” when being playful. Sometimes, strangers would ask her name and she’d smile, “I’m Little Mai,” but thinking of this, Mai Xijun frowned.

Shen Yanlie drove in silence, his face dark. The moment Lu Chengfeng kissed her, though the lights were dim, he had seen it clearly from the doorway, and it irked him deeply. Yet, he shouldn’t feel this way—he only wanted his necklace back. Nothing more.

The thought disturbed him. He disliked having his emotions steered by a woman, feeling like a fish on the chopping block—helpless and at someone’s mercy.

Mai Xijun also kept quiet, her face pale and tinged yellow under the streetlights.

The car stopped beneath her building, but the pain in her waist made her body stiff and unmoving.

Shen Yanlie frowned lightly, not as irritable as before. “Scared senseless?”

Mai Xijun blinked, but her legs wouldn’t obey her, and when she moved, she let out a muffled cry. Shen Yanlie’s face darkened, as if realizing something. “Are you a pig?”

Mai Xijun endured the biting pain, glaring back at him, but he ignored her and scooped her up in his arms.

Once again, he rescued her at her most desperate moment. After being thrown by He Jingjing, and then shoved at the banquet, she felt her waist might break. If she hadn’t clung to his arm, she might have collapsed then and there.

No one else could help her; she had to pull herself together first, then ask for his help.

“Don’t keep looking at me like that, or I might think you’re falling for me,” Shen Yanlie remarked coolly, though his words were arrogantly bold.

He carried her straight up to the third floor, but all the corridor lights were out.

Mai Xijun’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly turned her head away—did he have some kind of supernatural sight? The corridor was pitch black, yet he sensed she was watching him?

“It’s too late to look away—I’m already starting to like you,” Shen Yanlie added softly as they moved through the darkness.

“Tch!” Mai Xijun finally scoffed aloud, disdainful. If she could move, she’d push him away, never to see him again.

But had he investigated her? He knew where she lived, even her door number? What a pervert! Still, since he always cleaned up her messes, she wouldn’t hold it against him.

Mai Xijun rummaged for her keys, unlocking the door from his arms. She gestured for him to turn on the lights, and the sudden brightness made Shen Yanlie frown, glancing down at her flushed face.

“How old is this place? It’s like Jurassic Park. And do you always wander through hell before returning to your earthly paradise each night?”

Mai Xijun paused, confused. “What do you mean?”

Shen Yanlie shook his head in resignation, setting her down on the sofa and raising his hand. “Forget it, you’re truly a rare breed.”

Tch.

Mai Xijun pursed her lips, saying nothing. Did he mean the pitch-black corridor was hell, and her well-lit room paradise? What colorful metaphors—so meaningful, and his logic was beyond ordinary comprehension.