Ye Qiu was about to follow Lin Jingzhi into the bathroom to experience the “more fun” she mentioned when—
A faint sound of footsteps came from outside the door.
Though the sound was subtle, it didn’t escape Ye Qiu’s ears.
Someone was outside?
A flash of cold light passed through Ye Qiu’s eyes, and he immediately said, “Lin, you go shower first. I’ll keep an eye on this out here.”
Ye Qiu pointed at the suitcase on the floor, as the top-grade red jade was stored inside it.
Lin Jingzhi clung to Ye Qiu’s hand, pouting playfully, “No way, darling, come with me. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you feel *very* comfortable.”
Her eyes sparkled with charm, her expression alluring, and combined with her coquettish tone, the fire within Ye Qiu burned even hotter.
Still, Ye Qiu restrained himself and said, “Lin, this jade is my betrothal gift to marry you. If someone stole it, how could I marry you?”
Lin Jingzhi’s face was full of astonishment. “What? You’re planning to use this top-grade red jade as a betrothal gift to marry me?”
Ye Qiu nodded. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m thinking.”
“No, absolutely not,” Lin Jingzhi said. “This jade is far too valuable. Using it as a betrothal gift would be such a waste.”
Ye Qiu gently tapped Lin Jingzhi’s dainty nose and smiled. “As long as I can marry you, it’s not a waste at all.”
“Darling, you’re so good to me.”
*Mwah!*
Lin Jingzhi stood on her tiptoes and kissed Ye Qiu on the cheek.
After the kiss, she even flicked her tongue lightly across his chin.
This small gesture instantly ignited the fire within Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu cupped Lin Jingzhi’s face and kissed her passionately.
It lasted a full three minutes.
Only when they were nearly out of breath did they part.
Gasping for air, Lin Jingzhi said, “Darling, you must remember, don’t use this top-grade red jade as a betrothal gift.”
“According to our Jiangsu-Zhejiang customs, a betrothal gift can’t be taken back. That means once it’s given, this top-grade red jade will end up in my parents’ hands.”
“This jade is worth ten billion. It’d be such a pity to give it to someone else.”
Ye Qiu burst out laughing. “Lin, they’re not just ‘someone else’—they’re your parents.”
“No way,” Lin Jingzhi said. “Something worth ten billion? I’d feel heartbroken giving it to them.”
“As for the betrothal gift, you don’t need to give anything too valuable. A couple of packs of cigarettes and two bottles of wine will do.”
“If you think that’s too little, buy them a couple of outfits as well.”
Ye Qiu was dumbfounded. “That… that’s way too little, isn’t it?”
Lin Jingzhi shook her head. “Not at all. I’m already yours. Even if you don’t give a betrothal gift, I’ll still marry you. They can’t stop me.”
Ye Qiu was stunned.
Was this the legendary “a grown daughter can’t be kept at home”?
“Lin, it’s getting late. Go take your shower!”
“Okay, darling, wait for me~”
Lin Jingzhi threw Ye Qiu a flirtatious glance and slipped into the bathroom.
Afterwards, Ye Qiu quickly inspected the room. Places like guesthouses were notorious for being fitted with hidden cameras by shady characters.
Sure enough, Ye Qiu found two pinhole cameras in concealed corners.
*Crack!*
He crushed them with one squeeze.
Then, Ye Qiu placed the suitcase under the bed, opened the door, and stepped outside.
As he left the room, he noticed two young men in their twenties at the other end of the corridor, whispering to each other.
Ye Qiu pulled out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and approached the two young men, smiling. “Mate, got a light?”
One of the young men took out a lighter and lit Ye Qiu’s cigarette.
Ye Qiu took a drag and then said, “Call Mr. Mu and tell him I’m willing to sell him the jade. We can negotiate the price.”
The two young men exchanged a glance, and one of them pulled out his phone from his pocket, about to make a call.
*Smack!*
Ye Qiu suddenly knocked the phone to the ground and crushed it underfoot.
“What are you doing?” the young man shouted.
Ye Qiu grinned. “So you *are* Mu En’s men. You’ve got some nerve tailing me. Looks like you need a lesson.”
*Slap! Slap!*
Ye Qiu delivered two swift slaps.
Instantly, the two young men were sent flying from the second-floor corridor to the ground floor, collapsing in pain.
“Go back and tell Mu En to stop playing these petty tricks. If he pisses me off, I’ll make him regret it.”
Ye Qiu snorted coldly and turned to head back to his room.
Just then, Qian Duoduo, who was staying in another room, opened his door and asked, “Cousin, what’s going on?”
“Mu En sent people to watch me, but I caught them,” Ye Qiu said, instructing, “Lin has already bought the tickets. We’re heading back to Jiangzhou tomorrow morning, and you’re coming with us.”
“Stay sharp tonight.”
“If anything seems off, sound the alarm immediately, got it?”
Qian Duoduo nodded. “Got it.”
“Rest early.”
Ye Qiu said, then returned to his room.
As he entered, he heard the sound of running water from the bathroom—Lin Jingzhi was still showering.
Whether intentionally or not, Lin Jingzhi hadn’t fully closed the bathroom door, leaving a small gap.
Through the misty haze, a graceful figure moved elegantly.
Ye Qiu sat on the sofa and watched for a while. The more he looked, the more his heart itched, as if hundreds of ants were crawling over it—an unbearably tantalising sensation.
Slowly, the fire within Ye Qiu flared up again, and his breathing grew rapid.
He stood up.
And walked toward the bathroom.
Just as he reached the bathroom door, with a *click*, the door opened, and Lin Jingzhi stepped out.
“What are you doing here?” Lin Jingzhi asked, surprised to see Ye Qiu at the bathroom door.
Ye Qiu felt a bit embarrassed and quickly said, “I… I was just checking if you needed shampoo or anything. I was going to bring it to you.”
“Really?” Lin Jingzhi, being as sharp as she was, wasn’t fooled by Ye Qiu’s flimsy excuse. She smiled playfully and said, “Darling, were you peeking at me?”
“No, no way… I’m a gentleman. How could I peek at you?” Ye Qiu’s cheeks flushed as he spoke.
“Oh, really?” Lin Jingzhi gave a charming smile.
Fresh from her shower, she was like a bamboo shoot after the rain, exuding a tender freshness. Her jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, loosely draped over her smooth, fair neck. Her already exquisite, beautiful face, now softened by the warmth of the hot water, carried a hint of alluring rosiness.
She was wrapped in a pristine white bath towel, her delicate collarbone exquisitely beautiful, and the curve of her chest was breathtakingly captivating.
Lin Jingzhi walked past Ye Qiu, leaving a trail of fragrance, then lay down. Her long, slender legs, as smooth as white jade, shimmered faintly under the light.
Lin Jingzhi suddenly asked, “Darling, there aren’t any cameras in this room, are there?”
Ye Qiu smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ve already taken care of them.”
“Good.”
Lin Jingzhi suddenly loosened her bath towel. Her captivating eyes sparkled with a seductive smile, and she beckoned Ye Qiu with a finger, cooing, “Darling, come here~”
