Chapter 199: Chapter 199

The nearly half a month of personal care and tender nurturing had not been in vain.

「After dinner, the two came to Qi Longbing’s study.」

Qi Longbing sat on the sofa, cradling the beauty in his arms. He playfully patted her head with one hand. His lowered gaze fell upon her cheeks, now glowing with vitality again, and his heart filled with joy. "Xiao Mo, my lively and bouncing Baby Xiao Mo, you’ve come back to life!"

"Don’t you think we should really celebrate?" Qi Longbing gazed at her with a smile, his blue eyes shining with an indescribable light.

"President Qi... during this time, I should really thank you for your meticulous care," Hua Xiaomo said with a light smile, her shoulders not particularly resisting his embrace.

It was as if she had somehow become accustomed to his forward, clumsy habits.

"So... are you planning to offer yourself to me in gratitude?" Qi Longbing teased, patting her head again.

Her delicate face was simply too enchanting to tire of.

Hua Xiaomo’s face was still smiling, though now a bit uncomfortably, yet she still responded with a light smile, "I’m sorry, I’ve never thought about it that way."

"Oh? Then what are you thinking?" Qi Longbing looked at her, his perfect face smiling but restrained as he eyed the charming woman beside him.

"I’m thinking..." Hua Xiaomo met his gaze, her eyes curving into crescents, "shouldn’t you return my diploma to me by now?"

"..." Qi Longbing was surprised by her sudden mention of this, but he quickly smiled. "Since you’ll be living with me in the future anyway, why worry about your diploma being with me?"

The hell I’m living with you!

Her last sentence even had a slight, coquettish tone that made Qi Longbing’s heart race. His hand, which had been on her shoulder, moved to her palm, and he leaned close to her ear. "My Baby Xiao Mo... I really want to give it to you!"

Hua Xiaomo narrowed her eyes at that. This damn pretty devil...

His hand playfully stroked her waist, gradually moving lower... Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦·𝘯𝘦𝘵

Suddenly, Hua Xiaomo stood up abruptly, distancing herself from him, and put on a stern face. "I want my diploma! President Qi, will you give it to me or not?"

Qi Longbing looked at her, his gaze unfathomably deep. "You only want the diploma, but don’t you want me?"

Hua Xiaomo exhaled in frustration. "President Qi, my tastes are very simple... Besides, the agreed contract period is over. You should keep your promise and give me my diploma!"

"Coincidentally, my tastes are also quite simple! We’re a perfect match." Qi Longbing seemed to have heard only the first half of her sentence, completely ignoring the latter half.

Hua Xiaomo’s gaze intensified. She didn’t know what to say. This guy is such a rascal! she thought. He definitely won’t give me the diploma that easily.

Forget it. I’ll just have to wait another year to graduate, she resolved.

"Fine, let’s pretend I didn’t say anything," Hua Xiaomo said indifferently and was about to leave the room.

"You’re just going to walk out , planning to go around scrounging for money?" The words hung in the air, neither warm nor cold.

"..." Hua Xiaomo stopped in her tracks. She hesitated, then laughed. "Who said I need to scrounge for money? President Qi, you’re really funny."

"’Funny? I really don’t think so! You don’t need to hide it anymore; Wen Yajun has already told me everything." Qi Longbing had already risen from his chair and was walking towards her. "Hua Xiaomo, I really don’t understand you. Why didn’t you ask me for money if you’re so strapped for cash?"

"Xiao Mo, I don’t know what difficulties you’re facing, but if you’re willing to tell me, I’d be very happy and more than willing to help you," Qi Longbing said in a conciliatory tone.

Hua Xiaomo’s face was impassive, but she soon laughed again. "President Qi, we have nothing to do with each other now. Why should I ask you for anything?"

As soon as the words were spoken, she knew something was off, but before she could correct herself, he cut in.

"Ha... Are you implying that as long as we’re involved, you’ll ask me for it? Isn’t that very easy to arrange?" Qi Longbing said, moving two steps closer to her...

"What’s wrong? Isn’t that what you said? Let’s go... to the room. Or perhaps we could do it right here? The sofa feels pretty good too." Qi Longbing grinned mischievously as he grabbed her wrist.

"’Qi Longbing, don’t push me too far! I have nothing to do with you now! I must go. You can play by yourself!" Hua Xiaomo exclaimed angrily. She tried to shake off his hand, but he had a firm grip, and she couldn’t immediately succeed.

"What exactly do you want?" Hua Xiaomo looked at him, her eyes filled with a hint of helplessness.

He was the mighty president of the Qi Family; why did he have to make things difficult for her?

She had her life, her circles; why did he insist on intervening?

"I should be the one asking you that! My Xiao Mo..." Qi Longbing said with a smile, his eyes reflecting only her.

"’What have you done behind my back? Whose money do you owe? And what’s the reason? If you don’t tell me today, I will handle it in my own way," Qi Longbing said, his voice suddenly turning ice-cold. The smile on his face vanished in an instant.

Hua Xiaomo bit her inner lip. After a while, she answered with a faint smile, "President Qi, I already said we have nothing to do with each other. Why are you meddling in my business? Are you that bored? If so, please go to the restroom and relieve yourself!"

"Relationship... huh..." Qi Longbing let out a perfectly mocking laugh. "It seems you care so much whether we have a relationship or not. If that’s the case, then I won’t be polite anymore. I’ll deal with it my way."

"Let go of me! Qi Longbing!" Hua Xiaomo cried out, frustrated and annoyed.

"’Let go of you? You’re really too naive, Hua Xiaomo!" Qi Longbing said. He lightly patted her cheek, a smile fixed on his face as he looked at her, but his voice was laden with displeasure. "Do you realize how much effort I have put into you?"

Hua Xiaomo was so angry she could barely speak. "You’re really annoying."

Yes, he really is annoying. I never wanted anything to do with him. But somehow, this man has entangled himself in my life to the point where I can’t even take a breather. What did I do to him? How did I offend him for him to treat me ? I don’t like him at all. I care for Wen Xin; I only ever wanted to be with Brother Long. And I promised Brother Long that I would win, be well, and be with him. But now these feelings have caught me completely off guard. I don’t know what to do.