Is not being able to do as you please also called rebirth?

Chapter 197 Eating Pomelos

On the way back, the driver raised the soundproof partition in the back seat.

In the narrow and private space, only the city's dazzling neon lights flickered on their faces through the car window.

Soft jazz music played in the carriage, but it was completely ignored, like background noise. A silent tension permeated the two of them, a hundred times more intense than it had been in the elevator or at the dinner table.

Li Qingning felt her heart beating rapidly. She didn't dare turn to look at Jiang Xun, and could only pretend to look at the light and shadows rushing past the window as if nothing was wrong.

Jiang Xun was also looking at her. The fleeting light from outside the window outlined her perfect features, from her straight nose to her slightly flushed cheeks, and then to her lips that were constantly pursing due to nervousness.

Beneath that deliberately relaxed demeanor lay an undeniable tension. The shrewd, capable, and meticulous business elite of the day had vanished, leaving only a beautiful, vibrant, and fatally attractive woman.

"Are you tired?" He broke the silence, his voice low and somewhat hoarse, shattering the deadly quiet.

"It's alright..." Li Qingning answered subconsciously, her breathing slightly rapid.

"Want to come sit at my place for a bit?" Jiang Xun's tone was very natural, as if he were just suggesting a drink. "The new place is too deserted, let's add some life to it. And...sober up a bit?" He shook the half-empty bottle of mineral water in his hand.

Li Qingning's heartbeat suddenly stopped for half a beat, then began to beat wildly, as if trying to break free from the confines of her chest.

To "add some popularity"? That excuse... she understood what it meant.

Reason screamed "danger!" but the almost tangible temptation permeating the carriage at that moment instantly overwhelmed the dam of reason like a tidal wave.

Alcohol and the subtle emotions accumulated throughout the day both contributed to the situation.

She didn't even know how she nodded; her voice was barely audible: "...Okay."

The car slowly drove into the newly purchased, uninhabited, super-large single-level luxury mansion – the “Starry Clouds” penthouse clubhouse.

The huge space was empty and cold, filled with the lingering smell of wood and paint characteristic of newly renovated spaces.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows lies a dazzling and unobstructed view of the Lujiazui skyline at night. The vibrant neon lights illuminate the room in a kaleidoscope of colors, yet only accentuate the tranquility within.

The two stood in the center of the huge living room, facing the river of lights flowing outside the window. Jiang Xun walked to the bar, found two bottles of mineral water, and handed one to her.

The cool bottle touched Li Qingning's warm fingers, causing her to instinctively flinch.

"The view from here... is truly spectacular." Li Qingning tried to find something to talk about to ease the pounding in her heart. Her voice was a little tight, and she looked out the window, not daring to turn around and look at him.

"It's not bad." Jiang Xun unscrewed the bottle cap, took a sip of water, but didn't move.

He didn't look at the night view; his gaze remained fixed on her slender back.

In the reflection of the window, he could see her long eyelashes trembling nervously, and the line of her snow-white neck extending to the slightly open collar of her coat, forming an alluring curve.

The air was eerily quiet.

The hustle and bustle of the city outside the window seemed to be isolated in another world by the thick glass.

There were only two people breathing, clearly audible.

An invisible, highly concentrated hormone permeates and warms the cold air.

Li Qingning has never been a coy person. She came here with Jiang Xun, so she naturally understood what was going to happen next.

Although she knew that there was not much affection between her and Jiang Xun, it was purely mutual admiration and hormones at play; to put it bluntly, they were both lustful at first sight.

But it must be said that Jiang Xun is the most outstanding and perfect man among all the people Li Qingning knows. Over the years, she has been indifferent to all other men, but she has an irresistible feeling for Jiang Xun.

So instead of being coy and pretentious, it's better to just openly do what you want to do.

After thinking it through, she took a step forward, almost pressing herself against Jiang Xun, and said in a slightly hoarse voice:
"Mr. Jiang, as your secretary, is there anything you need to tell me?"

Her eyes burned with intensity, and her sweet breath became hot. Her slender hand gently landed on Jiang Xun's bulging chest; she had long wanted to feel the chest muscles of this handsome younger brother herself.

"How does it feel?" Jiang Xun didn't answer Li Qingning's provocative question, but instead asked with a smile.

"Not bad." Li Qingning's pretty face flushed slightly, but she subconsciously tightened her grip again.

Seeing that she seemed to have completely let go, Jiang Xun naturally had no reason to refuse. If there was something to do, the secretary would do it; if there was nothing to do, the secretary would do it anyway.

He whispered with a chuckle in Li Qingning's ear, "I also want to try it out."

Li Qingning's ears turned red. Although she appeared strong and capable, she really had little experience with men and women. At this moment, she suddenly became a little flustered until Jiang Xun reached out and put his arm around her soft waist.

His gaze was fixed intently on her, without the slightest attempt to look away.

Li Qingning trembled as she was burned by the naked flames in his eyes, and all her hesitation was instantly ignited.

A tremendous surge of heat, enough to overwhelm reason, rushed from the deepest part of my heart, instantly shattering all defenses.

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Xun had already reached out his hand, domineering yet slightly gentle, to feel the exquisite touch.

Their bodies were pressed tightly together.

Li Qingning subconsciously tilted her head back, her breathing completely out of rhythm. Her eyes reflected the neon lights outside the window, as well as Jiang Xun's deep gaze, which was filled with aggression and strong possessiveness.

She could clearly hear the roar of her blood rushing through her veins.

The next moment, Jiang Xun lowered his head and accurately captured her lips.

The frigid air seemed to ignite instantly.

Jiang Xun's kiss was domineering and aggressive, yet skillfully guided, easily breaking down Li Qingning's last line of defense.

All her thoughts and concerns were completely destroyed in that moment.

He was no longer the investment elite who strategized at the negotiating table, nor the reliable partner who helped him manage hundreds of millions of dollars with precision.

At that moment, she was simply a woman overwhelmed by an immense longing. She responded clumsily yet passionately, her arms instinctively and tightly encircling Jiang Xun's neck, as if a drowning person had grasped the only piece of driftwood.

Outside the window, the neon lights of Shanghai still shimmer like a ukiyo-e painting, and the Huangpu River flows with golden dust, reflecting this city that never stops.

But all of this became a distant and blurred backdrop to their passionate kiss. The huge living room, spacious enough to echo, was now filled only with the heavy, intertwined breathing of the two, the rustling of clothes, and their heartbeats so intense they seemed about to shatter each other.

Jiang Xun's hands, burning hot, roamed eagerly over her curvaceous back, tracing its astonishing curves through her high-quality cashmere coat and hazy blue sweater. The force carried an undeniable possessiveness, igniting a subtle electric current wherever it touched.

Li Qingning felt weak all over and could only hang her entire weight on him. Her mind went blank, leaving only the intense sensory impact.

She could only cling to him more tightly, her nails digging deep into his strong back muscles through his shirt.

After an unknown amount of time, just when Li Qingning felt she was about to suffocate, Jiang Xun finally pulled away from her lips slightly, his forehead pressed against hers, his hot breath spraying onto her equally burning cheeks.

His gaze was as deep as a black hole, burning with an undisguised flame of desire, locked tightly on her hazy, watery eyes.

"It's...too cold here." His voice was terribly hoarse, yet possessed a chilling magnetism; each word felt like a feather brushing against Li Qingning's heart.

He didn't wait for her answer, or rather, he didn't need her answer at all. His strong arms went under her legs, and with a little effort, he lifted her up in his arms.

Suddenly lifted into the air, Li Qingning gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

This princess carry completely stripped her of any control, and made her clearly feel the strength of his arms and the pounding of his heart beneath his chest.

Her cheek pressed against the warm skin of his neck, his unique, slightly sweaty scent enveloping her. A dizzying feeling of being forcefully controlled, unlike anything she had ever experienced before, washed over her.

Jiang Xun carried her and strode into the depths of this luxurious space.

He seemed to know the layout of the place by heart, and headed straight for the master suite.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows made the bedroom look like it was floating in the Shanghai night sky, but Jiang Xun obviously had no time to appreciate this expensive night view.

He carried her to the king-size mattress, which was not yet covered with bedding but was large and thick enough, and carefully placed her on it.

The soft mattress supported her body. Li Qingning looked up at Jiang Xun, who stood beside the bed, gazing down at her. His back was to the dazzling city lights outside the window, and his figure appeared somewhat blurred in the halo of light, but his eyes were astonishingly bright, like a black panther intently watching its prey.

She felt a sudden panic and instinctively tried to curl up, but was interrupted by his leaning down and pressing her down.

Jiang Xun kissed him again, this time with more tenderness and patience.

His kisses traveled from her lips down her sensitive earlobe, leaving a damp trail that sent shivers down her spine.

His fingers deftly unbuttoned her off-white cashmere coat.

The expensive fabric slipped silently down, piling up beneath her. Next came the dusty blue turtleneck sweater. When the cool air touched her skin, flushed pink with emotion, Li Qingning couldn't help but flinch.

Jiang Xun paused for a moment, then looked up and gazed intently at her.

His eyes held an unquenched desire, as well as an almost scrutinizing focus. "Are you cold?"

Li Qingning shook her head, then nodded, unsure of what she was trying to express.

A tremendous sense of shame and a desperate, all-or-nothing feeling of indulgence clashed fiercely within her. Her body moved honestly closer to him, her chest slightly puffed out, as if in a silent invitation.

This subtle movement is like a spark thrown into dry tinder.

Jiang Xun's eyes darkened instantly, and his Adam's apple bobbed violently.

Without further hesitation, his nimble fingers found the zipper on the side of her trousers.

A faint ripping sound was unusually clear in the silent room. Li Qingning closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling violently like butterfly wings, letting the last layer of fabric symbolizing her urban elite persona be stripped away.

The moonlight mingled with the city's neon lights, gently bathing her in its glow through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows.

Black lace encased her full, rounded breasts, slender waist, flat stomach, and long legs that gleamed like ivory in the dim light.

At this moment, she shed all her shrewdness and defensiveness, leaving only pure feminine beauty, with a breathtaking vulnerability and allure, which she presented to Jiang Xun without reservation.

Jiang Xun's gaze lingered on her as if it were a physical object, filled with undisguised admiration and a burning desire to possess her.

That gaze made Li Qingning feel like a pearl whose shell had been peeled away, with nowhere to hide. She instinctively wanted to cover herself, but as soon as she raised her arm, Jiang Xun gently but firmly grasped it, pulled it away, and pressed it to her side.

“Look at me.” His voice was deep and enchanting.

Li Qingning was forced to open her eyes, meeting his unfathomable gaze. In those eyes, she saw a turbulent sea of ​​desire, and also... something almost tender? She wasn't sure, but her heart trembled.

“You’re so beautiful, Qingning.” He murmured her name, no longer “Sister Qingning,” but the more affectionate “Qingning.” This address struck her like an electric shock.

The next second, his passionate kiss landed again, no longer confined to her lips, but like a wildfire, lingering on her smooth neck, delicate collarbone, and even the bra straps.

Jiang Xun's breathing became increasingly heavy.

He deftly unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it to the ground, revealing his well-defined, muscular chest and abs, the result of years of training.

Bathed in moonlight and neon lights, the scene exuded a powerful and aggressive masculinity. Li Qingning's gaze was completely captivated; she even forgot her shyness, leaving only a primal flutter of excitement.

……

The first rays of morning light, carrying the unique chill of Shanghai mixed with the scent of dust and metal, pierced through the massive, unobstructed 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling into the spacious and luxurious master bedroom of the penthouse duplex in "Starry Clouds".

The light cut geometric patterns on the expensive hardwood floor, illuminating the two people sleeping intimately in bed, though they looked slightly tired.

Jiang Xun was the first to wake up.

The dual satisfaction of body and mind had not yet completely faded, and the warm, soft touch on his arm reminded him that everything that happened last night was not a dream.

He lowered his head slightly, and Li Qingning, resting her head on his arm, slept soundly.

Shedding the sharp and capable edge she displayed during the day, her sleeping face, now unguarded, appeared exceptionally gentle, even carrying a hint of vulnerability.

His slightly wavy long hair was scattered messily across his chest and on the pillow, his long, thick eyelashes cast faint shadows under his eyes, and his full lips were slightly swollen and red, silently telling the story of last night's passion.

The morning light outlined the beautiful lines of her bare shoulders, extending into the blankets. Her sleeping posture resembled that of a cat that had finally found a safe haven and folded its claws.

Jiang Xun's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, with a hint of scrutiny and reminiscence.

This shining star in Shanghai's business world displayed a completely different, astonishing heat last night, enough to ignite hellfire.

A subtle sense of control and a desire to conquer arose in my heart.

(End of this chapter)