Chapter 218: Chapter 218

His speed was also incredibly fast; in just a few bounds, he leaped past several utility poles and disappeared into the vast night.

Hua Xiaomo watched the distant figure in white until her expression became solemn.

"Xia Shuangming... if you’re afraid I’ll die in the ring, why do you force me to fight?" Hua Xiaomo leaned against the window sill, gazing at the moon shrouded in a misty haze. Her thoughts churned, and for a long, long time, she couldn’t find her calm.

In the following days, Hua Xiaomo became increasingly adept at her job at Qi Imperial Court.

With Qi Longbing’s care, her work went even more smoothly. Even if she occasionally made a mistake, Qi Longbing would just laugh it off and never scolded her loudly. This was unheard of at Qi Imperial Court, especially for someone working directly under Qi Longbing’s supervision. Clearly, not everyone received such treatment.

What kind of person was Qi Longbing? At work, he was a maniac and extremely harsh towards his subordinates. He never worried about sparing anyone’s feelings; he could scold people so severely, even without using profanity, that they would feel utterly humiliated. Of course, most of the time, the president preferred to use money to measure things and to punish inefficient employees.

However, his habit of holding meetings at lunchtime had changed considerably. What used to happen frequently now seldom occurred, though it didn’t mean such meetings were eliminated entirely. As a result, there were still plenty of complaints. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕·𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎·𝚗𝚎𝚝

"President Qi, I know you used to hold meetings during lunchtime often. Actually, that’s not very nice! Even if you don’t want to eat, others need to, right?" Hua Xiaomo teased him when she found him with some free time.

As she spent more time with him, she had gradually come to understand his temperament and habits.

After finishing reading a document online, Qi Longbing took the cup of coffee she had made and asked with a smile, "So, who has been whispering in your ear this time? Which department manager? Or is it Ms. Lin or Ms. Zhang?"

Hua Xiaomo’s eyes flickered. "Neither. It’s me. Whenever you have a meeting, don’t I always have to attend? It’s made me hungry quite a few times; I just haven’t mentioned it."

Qi Longbing chuckled, looking at her. Her face is truly adorable. "I don’t remember ever letting you go hungry," he said. "If you’re worried about me, just say so. Why beat around the bush?"

"Xiao Mo, my baby, I like you so much!" Qi Longbing held her hand tightly, his mood immensely uplifted.

Ever since their contract had ended and she had returned to his side, he felt a renewed vitality, as if he were a youth of seventeen or eighteen again.

All his innocence, naivety, sincerity, and affection were unreservedly given to this likable yet quirky girl before him...

"Who’s worried about you! President, you’re out of my league," Hua Xiaomo said with a soft laugh, turning her gaze away, something unreadable hidden deep in her eyes.

"If I’m out of your league, then I’m out of everyone’s!" Qi Longbing said with an indulgent laugh. His own attractive eyes sparkled with even greater joy as he spoke charmingly, "Baby Xiao Mo, when will you agree to our engagement?"

"..." Hua Xiaomo fell silent for a moment, yet a smile remained on her beautiful face.

It seemed she was genuinely happy being with him.

This time, Qi Longbing carefully observed her expression. "What is it? What are you smiling about? Or is it that you still haven’t decided about our engagement?"

"President, please stop teasing me..." Hua Xiaomo finally said with a laugh.

She didn’t want to confront this issue directly. Perhaps it wouldn’t even be an issue in the future. To be precise, in Hua Xiaomo’s world, such a thing simply didn’t exist! So, she hadn’t given it even a moment’s thought.

"Teasing you? How can you say I’m teasing you? I’m so serious when it comes to you... My heart—can’t you see it yet? Xiao Mo, my sweet baby, come on, smile, smile for me..." As Qi Longbing spoke, he took her hand and pressed it against his chest. "Feel that? My heart is beating faster just for you!"

This heartbeat will race for you, and only you, for a lifetime... he thought.

His words seemed to sear themselves onto her heart.

Who was it that had already left such an indelible mark on her?

Suddenly, a cell phone rang.

Qi Longbing glanced at the number displayed on his luxurious Vertu phone. Before he could say anything, Hua Xiaomo considerately took the phone for him. "Go ahead, take the call. I’ll go to my desk and work for a bit."

"Mhm. Good girl..." Qi Longbing smiled dotingly as Hua Xiaomo got off his lap. He then answered the phone, "Hello?"

"President Qi, our people have located Xia Shuangming," Yu Bao’s voice came through the phone.

"Oh?" Qi Longbing stood up immediately and walked over to the balcony of the CEO’s office, seemingly to deliberately avoid someone.

Hua Xiaomo, back at her desk, watched Qi Longbing, her gaze growing heavy.

Until now, whether he was on a call or doing something else, he had never deliberately turned away from her . Could something be going on?

After a while, Qi Longbing turned from the balcony. As he quickly walked from the balcony entrance, his voice carried through the air, "Later, send that person’s address directly to my phone. I’ll handle this myself."

With that, Qi Longbing hung up. Seeing Hua Xiaomo still working with her head down, he walked over to her and casually placed his luxurious Vertu phone on his own desk.

"Xiao Mo, I have a meeting later. You seem tired, so you don’t have to come. Just wait for me in the office, and we’ll have lunch together," Qi Longbing said with a smile.

"Okay," Hua Xiaomo replied, her face also wreathed in smiles.

Not long after, Qi Longbing left for his meeting, leaving Hua Xiaomo alone in the CEO’s office.

A few minutes later, the sound of a text message notification echoed in the office. Hua Xiaomo’s gaze fell on Qi Longbing’s phone, lying on his desk. A new message had arrived.

What could it be? She had clearly heard him ask someone to send an address to his phone, saying he would handle it personally. What kind of issue would be important enough for President Qi to deal with himself?

Hua Xiaomo couldn’t help but feel curious, though suspicion was an even stronger emotion.

After pondering for a moment, Hua Xiaomo walked over, picked up his phone, and checked the message.

"Isn’t this the address of Xia Shuangming’s old castle in the suburbs?" Her eyes darkened. She finally understood: Qi Longbing had been investigating this all along. He had never given up. Oh, this is so frustrating! This whole affair is incredibly complicated. No matter what, he intends to go personally. Yes, he can’t let anything unexpected happen to Xia Shuangming.