Meeting such a gaze, Cheng Yan felt as if she’d been scalded.
She pressed her lips together, her face pale, her eyes reflecting disbelief. She fell silent for a moment.
Jun Jianqing stood before her, saying nothing, as if patiently waiting for her choice.
To leave, disheartened? Or to stay, for the sake of her beloved senior.
In her calm, deadened heart, Jun Jianqing suddenly realized: no matter which answer it was, neither would bring her any joy.
Her deep, dark eyes fixed on the woman kneeling on the carpet, watching her struggle and agonize. The longer Cheng Yan struggled and agonized, the fiercer the fury simmering in Jun Jianqing’s heart grew.
Finally, as time trickled by, drop by drop, the expression on Cheng Yan’s face, there on the carpet, suddenly became calm. It seemed she had made her choice.
Jun Jianqing heard the words she wanted to hear from the other’s lips, spoken softly: “Aunt Jun, I am willing to stay and keep you company. I wonder if this price is sufficient.”
Cheng Yan lifted her head. Her amber eyes, washed clean by tears, were bright and clear. She pursed her bloodless lips into a faint, weak curve and said self-deprecatingly, “If even this won’t do, then I truly have no other way.”
Her eyes fixed intently on Jun Jianqing, seeking a definite answer.
And the person above did not disappoint her.
She heard Jun Jianqing say coolly, “Naturally, it will do.” Then she turned, walked back around her desk, and sat down again.
Receiving this answer, Cheng Yan slumped dazedly onto the floor.
Jun Jianqing watched her utterly despondent state, and the fury in her heart intensified.
Clearly, she had achieved her goal, gotten the woman who piqued her interest as she wished. Yet, at this moment, she felt not the slightest bit of happiness.
She pulled a stack of documents from her desk and said to Cheng Yan on the carpet, raising her eyes, “Come here.”
Cheng Yan came back to herself. She braced her arms and pushed herself up from the floor, then slowly walked to the desk, taking the documents Jun Jianqing handed her.
Looking down, it was a mistress contract, with detailed terms, clear benefits, and defined responsibilities.
Cheng Yan: “…”
Well prepared indeed. How long had this been in the works?
Cursing inwardly, her face remained a picture of fragile, pitiful innocence. The hand holding the documents trembled slightly, as if she couldn’t quite process it.
Jun Jianqing averted her gaze. Her cold demeanor held none of the warmth she had previously shown Cheng Yan. “Read it over carefully. If there are no issues, sign it.”
Silently, Cheng Yan flipped through the document. It was written clearly inside: Jun Jianqing was willing to inject capital into Xinghua, providing assistance. But Cheng Yan had to agree that henceforth, unless necessary, she was not to meet with Chen Shuhua again. Naturally, “necessary” would be defined by Jun Jianqing depending on the situation.
Cheng Yan furrowed her brow but didn’t raise any objection.
Further down, it detailed how much money Jun Jianqing would give her monthly, along with providing luxury clothes, shoes, bags. What she needed to do in return was spend three nights a week staying at the villa. Normally, she was not allowed to ignore Jun Jianqing’s summons, doing her best to be available whenever called upon.
That was fine; it didn’t say she had to be available instantly, always on call.
As for staying at the villa three nights a week… Cheng Yan’s brow moved almost imperceptibly, a thoughtful glint in her eye.
Flipping further, the overall benefits were quite comprehensive. There were no hidden traps; it could be considered generous.
As for the price of being kept… Cheng Yan wasn’t too clear on the market rate. Her focus wasn’t on that anyway, so she skipped it.
There was absolutely no hint of exploitative capitalist behavior in this contract.
The only thing was the duration at the end.
Three years.
It was specially marked: within three years, Cheng Yan had no right to terminate the contract, but Jun Jianqing had the right to end it at any time.
After three years, the contract became void, and Cheng Yan would be “free.”
Wasn’t this a little too long?
She was interested in President Jun now, but who could guarantee things in the future?
Cheng Yan hesitated slightly.
Jun Jianqing had been watching her expression all along. Seeing her hesitate, she asked, “Is there a problem?”
Cheng Yan spoke hesitantly, “Three years… isn’t that a bit long?”
Jun Jianqing’s grip tightened on her pen. She sneered, “Do you take me for some great philanthropist? Inject capital into Xinghua, and only keep you for a year? Half a year?”
“…”
Cheng Yan shut her mouth, only her face turning even whiter.
President Jun’s temper today was really prickly.
She had already agreed to stay; wasn’t this exactly what she wanted? Otherwise, why hint through Jun Lijiang?
Cheng Yan mumbled, “I have no further objections.”
Jun Jianqing lifted her chin. “Then sign.”
Cheng Yan nodded and wrote her name in the space for Party B.
The documents were placed back on the desk. She watched Jun Jianqing pick up a pen and write her own name in the space for Party A.
Then the contract was put away by her.
Cheng Yan paused, then asked, “Contracts are usually in triplicate. Shouldn’t I have a copy too, President Jun?”
From “Aunt Jun” to “President Jun.” Jun Jianqing noted the change in address and sneered inwardly. Fine. It suited her, as she had never liked that form of address anyway.
“From now on, call me President Jun.”
So saying, she handed her a copy of the contract.
Cheng Yan fell silent. “Yes, President Jun.”
Shua, shua, shua. The contracts were signed. Cheng Yan put away her own copy, stuffing it into her paper bag, and then stood there silently, like a wooden puppet.
Jun Jianqing looked up, noticing her damp hair and wet clothes, and said, “Go take a shower.”
Hearing this, Cheng Yan’s body stiffened slightly.
Jun Jianqing noticed she still hadn’t moved and said coldly, “What is it? Do I need to remind you again?”
Cheng Yan bit her lip. “Yes.”
She picked up the paper bag and left the study. The door closed softly. Jun Jianqing’s gaze fell on the patch of carpet where she had been, staring quietly, her thoughts unknown.
After Cheng Yan had finished washing up in the same washroom as last time and changed into the pajamas the servant had specially brought her—the same style as Jun Jianqing’s in the study, just a different color—she pushed the door open and went out.
Stopping a servant in the hallway, she hesitated, then asked, “President Jun’s room… where is it?”
The servant paused for a moment, her gaze quickly sweeping over the pajamas on Cheng Yan’s body. She lowered her head and said, “Second floor, stairs on the left, third door.”
“Thank you.”
With her dried hair cascading down, Cheng Yan walked to the room the servant indicated.
She knocked. No answer.
Then she pushed the door open and went in. Jun Jianqing’s room was decorated in shades of gray and white, understated and minimalist.
Cheng Yan swept a quick glance around and found a sofa to sit on.
Meanwhile, in the study, Jun Jianqing sat restless, unable to focus on her work. After waiting a long while and still not seeing Cheng Yan, she finally came out of the study.
After asking a servant and learning Cheng Yan had gone to her room, she returned to her own room and pushed open the door. As soon as she entered, she saw Cheng Yan sitting stiffly on the sofa, and the sight of her entering seemed to make Cheng Yan tense up.
Jun Jianqing’s cool composure nearly cracked.
Cheng Yan immediately stood up, eyes fixed on the buttons of Jun Jianqing’s pajamas, and said quietly, “President Jun, I’ve finished washing up.”
“…”
Watching her like this, Jun Jianqing’s throat moved.
She hadn’t had this intention originally, but now… it had arisen.
She restrained herself. “Well done.”
Cheng Yan lifted her head briefly to glance at her, then dared not look again.
Even as Jun Jianqing approached, her body remained rigid, not daring to move.
The atmosphere suddenly became subtle.
Jun Jianqing came to stand before her, just a few feet away. Cheng Yan hung her head, fiddling with the hem of her clothes, her thick, curled lashes fluttering constantly, betraying her inner turmoil.
Just as Jun Jianqing reached out, her hand about to touch Cheng Yan’s face, Cheng Yan bit her lip and said, barely audibly, in a tense voice, “President Jun, I… I’m a first-timer…”
She didn’t finish the sentence, but both knew what she meant.
The anger that had been suppressed in her heart all night eased slightly. The flames were finally not so scorching anymore. Jun Jianqing curved her lips, and her voice, compared to in the study, was finally gentler. “It’s alright.”
She finally touched Cheng Yan’s face, hooked her chin to make her look at her, then leaned in, seeming to want to kiss her.
—She met empty air.
Cheng Yan had nervously, instinctively turned her face away.
Seeing this rejection, Jun Jianqing’s grip tightened uncontrollably, a chill gathering in her eyes.
Feeling a slight pain in her chin, Cheng Yan seemed to realize only then what she had done.
“You are already mine.” Jun Jianqing warned, her voice icy.
Hearing this, Cheng Yan pressed her lips together. Looking at the coldness in Jun Jianqing’s eyes, she hesitated for two seconds, then leaned forward slightly. Her soft lips landed gently on Jun Jianqing’s, a touch-and-go peck.
“I… I know.” Cheng Yan’s voice trembled. “I’m sorry, President Jun. I was just a bit nervous.”
Jun Jianqing neither agreed nor disagreed.
But undoubtedly, Cheng Yan’s initiative just now had pleased her.
But it wasn’t enough.
She pinched Cheng Yan’s chin, tilting her face up, and pressed her own lips against hers with forceful action.
This time, it was nothing like the brief contact moments ago.
Their lips first met and pressed together, then came deeper, more intimate contact.
Because she had to maintain her current persona, Cheng Yan restrained herself, enduring Jun Jianqing’s kiss.
A few minutes later, the two finally separated.
A thread of silver glistened faintly between their abruptly parted lips.
A faint blush colored Jun Jianqing’s cold, pale face, clearly quite pleased by the kiss.
As for Cheng Yan…
She was in a bit of agony.
Because President Jun’s kissing technique… was truly terrible. It felt like being randomly gnawed on the mouth.
She lowered her lashes, appearing very tense and stiff.
But inside, what she was thinking was: If she took the initiative, perhaps both of them could actually enjoy it.
The air around them heated up degree by degree.
Their contact no longer stopped at just kissing.
At some point, the buttons of their pajamas were undone. The two tumbled onto the bed, skin pressing against skin.
This feeling of bare, intimate contact gave Jun Jianqing a sensation she had never experienced before.
Cheng Yan was no exception.
Jun Jianqing’s body was cool to the touch, yet Cheng Yan felt incredibly hot.
To be honest, it felt pretty damn good. Her acting almost slipped.
Lost in a haze of desire, they nuzzled and kissed each other’s necks and shoulders.
When Jun Jianqing flipped over, pressing down on her, Cheng Yan finally released the skin of her neck from her lips. Unable to hold back any longer, she suddenly seized the initiative.
Flipped over and pinned down by her, Jun Jianqing snapped awake from her daze. Her ink-dark eyes looked at Cheng Yan.
But those eyes, usually so deep they were frightening, were now tinged with desire, no longer intimidating.
Cheng Yan panted for breath, swallowed hard, her voice hoarse and strained, yet still carefully maintaining her fragile persona: “President Jun… may I take the lead?”
Jun Jianqing, caught off guard, was seduced by her in that moment of weakness and thus lost the upper hand in bed.
And so, that night, while a fierce storm raged outside, within the room, spring passion bloomed warmly.
