Chapter 50: Moonlight

“Number 203.”

“Here,” Jiang Nai handed over the number card she had taken earlier. The lady at the counter took it. “Go to table 3.”

“Thanks.”

Jiang Nai entered first, while Li Qingji lingered at the door for a couple of seconds, looking inside before following her.

“Babe, I think this place is going to be really good…” the girl from the young couple murmured by the door.

The guy nodded, “I think it must be good if rich people are willing to line up…”

After sitting down, Jiang Nai took a couple of napkins and wiped the table again. She didn’t mind personally, but thought… Li Qingzhi might not be used to it. Fortunately, he was now sitting across from her with no sign of dissatisfaction.

“Their braised stew is really good.”

“Mhm.”

Jiang Nai ordered dishes based on online recommendations. After a moment, she remembered something. “Where’s Xiao Zhao?”

“He went to park the car.”

“Oh, I’ll order a bit more so he can join us.”

“Alright.”

After a while, Zhao Siyuan returned, standing at the door to confirm that his boss had actually entered this small eatery. Only then did he come in. He couldn’t believe it—his boss hadn’t complained at all…

As expected of Miss Jiang.

“Xiao Zhao, over here,” Jiang Nai raised her hand to signal.

Zhao Siyuan nodded and sat down. “This seems to be quite a famous old establishment.”

Jiang Nai replied, “Yes, I came in because it’s an old restaurant. Give it a try.”

Zhao Siyuan nodded, “Alright, thanks, Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Nai glanced at Li Qingji, “You eat too.”

Li Qingji picked up his chopsticks. Jiang Nai watched him take a couple of bites and, a bit expectantly, asked, “How is it?”

Li Qingji had never been to a place like this before, but honestly, the taste was decent. He nodded, “It’s good.”

Jiang Nai sighed with relief, “Good, I’m glad.”

The amount Jiang Nai ordered was just right, and the three of them nearly finished everything. As they were leaving, the young couple from earlier happened to be going in.

“Hi, Miss! Was it good?” the girl asked, sneaking a glance at Li Qingji and greeting Jiang Nai.

Jiang Nai nodded, “Pretty good.”

“Alright! Then we’re reassured,” the girl said as she passed by Jiang Nai, adding in a whisper, “Miss, your boyfriend is so handsome.”

Jiang Nai was momentarily taken aback, then gave a small smile, “Thank you.”

The three left the little restaurant, and Zhao Siyuan jogged off to the distant parking lot to get the car, leaving Jiang Nai and Li Qingji strolling along the road, waiting for him while letting their food settle.

It was an evening in the capital, a time just before the summer solstice, and the cool night breeze brought a hint of refreshment. When Jiang Nai lightly bumped into a passerby, Li Qingji took her hand, “Watch where you’re going.”

She leaned close to his side, “Oh.”

“Do you know those two from earlier?” he asked.

“Huh? You mean that couple?”

Li Qingzhi gave a brief nod, “She did speak to you, after all.”

“No, I don’t know them. She just asked me about the restaurant while we were waiting.”

“And what did she say when she came in just now?”

Jiang Nai turned to look at him, “Oh, she said… she thought my boyfriend was really handsome.”

Li Qingzhi glanced at her, half-smiling. “A handsome boyfriend, huh?”

“Yeah… is there an issue? Are you not handsome?”

Li Qingji tightened his grip on her hand, “You told her I was your boyfriend?”

Jiang Nai paused, only then realizing that he was focused on the title, not the compliment. “I barely know her; I never said that. Maybe she thought you were too handsome to be just a husband?”

Li Qingzhi: “…”

Jiang Nai chuckled quietly, then asked, “By the way, what time are you heading out tomorrow?”

Li Qingji replied, “I have a meeting at ten, then an afternoon project inspection. I’ll be busy during the day, so I won’t be able to accompany you. But I’ll be free the day after, so I can take you out.”

“I don’t need you to take me out to have fun. I never had that intention anyway. I actually want to visit the Forbidden City tomorrow—I’ve never been there before.”

“Tomorrow, let Xiao Zhao go with you.”

“No, thanks. I just want to take a walk alone, clear my mind. I don’t need anyone to accompany me.”

Li Qingji frowned. “Alright, but be careful and call me anytime.”

“Got it.”

They kept chatting here and there, and just then, they passed by a convenience store.

Li Qingji glanced over and stopped. “Hold on, let me grab something.”

“What?”

He didn’t respond but pulled her along into the store, stopping directly at the checkout counter. Jiang Nai realized his intent when she saw him pick up a pack of condoms. Her face flushed instantly, and she tried to pull her hand away to walk out, but he held her firmly.

“This is the same type you used to buy,” he said, showing it to her.

The cashier girl inside blinked as she watched them.

Jiang Nai’s face turned even redder as she bit her lip. “Could you buy it a bit faster…”

Li Qingji was unfazed, and since she didn’t take it from him, he put that box back and picked up another one. After checking that it was the style he wanted, he placed it on the counter.

The cashier girl gave a small smile before asking, “Will that be all?”

Li Qingji looked at Jiang Nai. “Do you need anything else?”

He’s doing this on purpose, isn’t he?

She glared at him. “No!”

“Alright. Just this,” Li Qingji said. “Let’s pay.”

The cashier smiled. “Sure.”

After paying, Li Qingji didn’t take a bag. Instead, he casually slipped the small box into his pocket.

“Let’s go.”

Jiang Nai turned and walked out right away. They had only walked for a couple of minutes when Zhao Siyuan’s car pulled up on the side of the road, and they got in. Back home, Li Qingji went to shower first, while Jiang Nai sprawled lazily on the couch.

After he finished, he came down and sat beside her, casually trying to pull her into his arms.

“Wait, wait, I’m going to shower,” she said, jumping up from the couch. She went over to her bag to grab her underwear, realizing that in her rush today, she had only brought a change of clothes and had forgotten to pack pajamas.

“What’s wrong?”

“I forgot my pajamas.”

Li Qingji said, “There are some of my clothes in the closet. Just grab something to sleep in.”

“Is that okay?”

“Of course.”

“Thanks.”

Jiang Nai went upstairs to the closet, finding rows of shirts in similar colors, white tees, jackets, and so on. After scanning the options, she took a white T-shirt and went to the bathroom. Li Qingji knew she took her time with showers, so after she went upstairs, he casually picked up some files from the coffee table and started reading.

Surprisingly, she wasn’t that slow this time. In less than half an hour, he heard sounds coming from the stairs.

Li Qingji put down what he was reading and looked up. Her hair was loose, and she was wearing his shirt, which hung loosely on her body. The length was just enough to cover her hips, and since she didn’t have suitable pants, she’d used it as a nightgown.

Li Qingji’s gaze darkened slightly as he looked at her long legs. Jiang Nai didn’t look at him, instead searching her bag for a hair tie, realizing too late she hadn’t packed one. After rummaging around, she gave up.

“Is your hair dry?” Li Qingji asked.

“Just the tips are still a bit damp—never mind.” Jiang Nai walked over to the living room and sat down. “Is it already almost eleven? I knew it; I’m not sleepy at all. I slept so long during the day, now I probably won’t be able to fall asleep tonight.”

Li Qingji suggested, “How about a little red wine?”

“Sure, it might help me sleep.”

Although, last night, she had drunk over half a bottle and still couldn’t fall asleep. But tonight felt different. She wasn’t alone, so wine wouldn’t feel like a way to drown her sorrows. Li Qingji went to the wine cabinet, selected a bottle, opened it, and let it breathe before pouring her a little.

The floor-to-ceiling window curtains were still open. Beyond the lawn, the streetlights cast a gentle glow. It was quiet, with only the occasional sound of passing cars. They sat in the living room, dimmed the lights, and started a movie.

“Hmm… this tastes pretty good, but not quite as nice as the wine at home.”

Li Qingji said, “The ones at home were brought over by Lu Feng from his family’s cellar—one of his father’s collections. Of course, they’re better.”

Jiang Nai looked at him in surprise. “A collection? So they must be expensive?”

“Probably.”

Jiang Nai held back from saying that she had polished off a whole bottle yesterday, practically gulping it down. She enjoyed the flavor but, in hindsight, it felt pretty wasteful.

“Lu Feng treats you so well… even bringing you those.”

Li Qingji replied calmly, “He lost a bet to me. When he brought them over, his face looked as sour as a bitter melon.”

Jiang Nai was taken aback and then let out a soft laugh, imagining the scene. The movie continued to play as they clinked glasses lightly and took another sip. The storyline was engaging, and Jiang Nai became engrossed. By the time she’d finished two glasses, she was a little tipsy.

“If you ever have trouble sleeping or feel down and want to drink, just tell me. Don’t drink alone secretly.”

Jiang Nai’s gaze shifted from the TV screen to his face. “But that was because you weren’t home yesterday.”

“Well, as long as I’m here, don’t drink alone.”

She looked at him, her dark eyes gleaming slightly. “Mm… okay, I get it.”

Li Qingji glanced at her. “Really?”

“Yes, I got it.”

With that, he pulled her onto his lap. She was wearing his shirt; when she stood, it was just the right length, but now, as he pulled her close, the hem rose up, revealing soft white cotton underwear against her pale skin.

Li Qingji leaned forward and gently kissed her neck. “Let’s call it a day for now.”

Jiang Nai tilted her head. “Hm?”

“No more drinking.” Li Qingji raised his eyes to meet hers, staring intently. “If you keep drinking, you’ll end up completely out of it, and there’ll be no turning back.”

It was as if he exuded some kind of magnetic force. His gaze did too. At this moment, she was sitting on his lap, pressed close to him, her mind spinning and drifting, while the electric tingling of her nerves combined with the buzz of alcohol. Every sensation seemed to amplify tenfold.

“…No turning back for what?”

The hem of her clothes was gently lifted.

Li Qingji: “What do you think?”

Jiang Nai shivered slightly and wrapped her arms around his neck. For the first time, she moved in closer on her own, and asked softly, “Are you going to kiss me?”

Li Qingji looked down at her lips, his brow moving slightly. “Not just kissing.”

A hint of desire, ignited by the alcohol, suddenly flared into a full blaze.

She instinctively held him even tighter, feeling like, in this moment, he was her entire world. She felt that as long as he was there, her heart wouldn’t feel so empty. She wanted to be held, to be filled, to push all her loneliness far, far away.

The rich fragrance of the moment intermingled between their lips and teeth, and sweet nectar passed from one to the other. They kissed deeply, as if they wanted to devour each other entirely. It was just a kiss, but she felt a tingling warmth spread all through her body, down to her core.

In this lightly intoxicated state, the kiss alone was enough to drown her.

She could sense Li Qingji’s excitement too, his breath growing heavier in sync with the gentle background music from the film.

“Let’s move to the bedroom…”

Li Qingji’s voice was husky. “Here is just fine.”

Outside the living room’s floor-to-ceiling windows lay the moonlight and city lights. The transparent glass gave her a sense of vulnerability. In the distance, a car passed down the road outside the yard, its headlights flashing by quickly and then vanishing.

Jiang Nai immediately tensed.

Li Qingji hadn’t told her that the glass was designed to obscure views from the outside. At night, it was impossible for anyone to see in. He had done it deliberately, knowing she’d be nervous, just to tease her. He hadn’t expected her to be so on edge, and he nearly lost control himself.

After a moment, he murmured, “Relax…”

“Someone might see…”

“They won’t.”

“But you didn’t draw the curtains…”

“No one can see.” Li Qingji held her around the waist, his voice a soft murmur amid the rise and fall of their breaths. “Do you think I’d let that happen?”

—

Outside the window, the moon kept Jiang Nai company all night.

The next day, she awoke after a solid eight hours of sleep, finding it was already late morning. She had booked a visit to a nearby tourist site, so after checking the time, she hurried to get ready, rushing out without even stopping for breakfast.

It was all Li Qingji’s fault…

Dragging her sore body to the site in haste, she silently cursed him in her heart.

[Have some breakfast before you start exploring]—a message from Li Qingji popped up as she approached the entrance.

She took a picture of the scene in front of her, sending it to him along with a reply: [Already on the way]

Li Qingji: “Have you eaten?”

Jiang Nai: “Didn’t have time, I was in a hurry.”

Li Qingji: “Grab something on the way.”

Jiang Nai: “Alright.”

Putting away her phone, Jiang Nai wandered further into the site. She stopped by a small shop inside the tourist area and bought a bun and a bottle of water. Today, there were a lot of visitors, so she strolled through the large attraction slowly, taking her time. 

After she finished exploring, there was still plenty of time left, so she headed to a famous nearby food street, sampling treats from one end of the street to the other. She finally settled in a small pavilion, watching a few elderly men play chess.

After observing a few rounds, the sky began to darken, and Jiang Nai decided it was time to head back. She initially planned to go home and wait for Li Qingji, but a new idea popped into her head. She canceled her ride and messaged Zhao Siyuan instead.

Jiang Nai: “What time are you guys finishing up today?”

Zhao Siyuan: “In about an hour.”

Jiang Nai: “Send me the address; I’ll come by.”

Zhao Siyuan: “Alright, Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Nai arrived by taxi in front of an office building, surrounded by towering skyscrapers. She got out, entered the lobby, and found a seat in the guest area to wait. A receptionist brought her a glass of water and asked if she had an appointment. Jiang Nai said she was waiting for someone, and the receptionist left her undisturbed.

About twenty minutes later, she heard the elevator chime. The doors opened, and a group of seven or eight people walked out. When Jiang Nai saw the person leading the group, she raised her hand to greet him but quickly put it down when she noticed the unfamiliar faces around him.

“Mr. Li, it’s rare to see you here. I should at least treat you to a meal to show my hospitality,” one of them said.

Li Qingji glanced at the time. “Next time you come to Hengchuan, I’ll treat you to a meal. I have plans tonight, my apologies.”

“Oh, what a shame. Where are you dining tonight? Let me help make the arrangements for you.”

“Tonight…” Li Qingji’s words trailed off as he suddenly looked over toward the guest area. Everyone around him watched as he gave a faint smile. “I haven’t decided where yet. It’ll depend on what she feels like eating.”

With that, he started walking toward the guest area. Seeing that he had noticed her, Jiang Nai stood up. She’d originally planned to wait until he was outside, separated from his associates, before sneaking over to him.

“What are you doing here?” Li Qingji looked a bit surprised.

“I came to pick you up from work.”

“Pick me up from work?”

Li Qingji looked at her for a few seconds, seeming to find this idea novel. A slight smile appeared in his eyes.

Jiang Nai glanced at the people behind him and asked in a low voice, “Is this a bad time?”

Li Qingji chuckled, took her hand, and pulled her closer to his side. “How could you picking me up from work ever be a bad time?”

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