Volume One, Chapter Eight: Intensely Sensual

“Auntie, Xu Mingxuan said he wants to break off our engagement. He said he’s fallen in love with someone else!”

If he didn’t want her to have it easy, then no one would.

Xu Mingxuan immediately released Xu Minyu and stepped forward to snatch Shen Qingqing’s phone. “Shen Qingqing, are you really going to make a big scene out of this?”

If their affair were to reach their parents’ ears, he would be finished for good.

Shen Qingqing had anticipated this. She took a few steps back and switched on the speakerphone.

Soon, Mo Lilian’s gentle voice echoed through the quiet backyard:

“Don’t listen to his nonsense! Auntie knows full well whether Mingxuan loves you or not. He’s definitely just throwing a tantrum, hoping you’ll comfort him…”

Then, her tone turned stern as she warned Xu Mingxuan: “Xu Mingxuan, you better behave. If you lose such a good fiancée like Qingqing, then get out of the Xu family!”

When the call ended, Xu Mingxuan’s face paled and flushed in turn.

This was exactly what he hated most about Shen Qingqing!

She had his parents completely wrapped around her finger.

Sometimes, he wasn’t even sure who their real child was.

Now she had gone too far—using his own parents to threaten him!

At that moment, Xu Minyu’s expression darkened as well. She glared at Shen Qingqing with a sinister look, as if she wanted to devour her alive.

The murmurs in the corridor gradually shifted:

“That was the call from Young Master Xu’s mother, our Mo Group’s eldest sister…”

“So it turns out Shen Qingqing is actually Xu Mingxuan’s fiancée!”

“Then who is that woman in white?”

All eyes turned to Xu Minyu.

Clenching her fists tightly, she stepped forward and grabbed Xu Mingxuan.

Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for everyone present to hear:

“Brother, don’t be so quick to judge. Qingqing always says she sometimes sees strange visions. Perhaps when she pushed us off the cliff last time, she was hallucinating…”

Xu Minyu knew well that if she didn’t act now, the label of mistress would become indisputable.

The onlookers eagerly picked up the new gossip:

“So she’s a daughter of the Xu family? I’d never heard of her before…”

“That’s not the main point! Did you hear? Shen Qingqing hallucinated and pushed someone off a cliff—that’s terrifying!”

“Yeah, working with someone like that is a life risk…”

Xu Minyu cast a sly glance at Shen Qingqing, a triumphant smile curling her lips.

Smack!

A figure moved swiftly, and Xu Minyu’s cheek was struck by a firm slap.

It was Shen Qingqing.

She had truly reached her limit.

The hallucinations she occasionally suffered from were only ever confided to Xu Minyu; not even Qin Fangni knew.

Her trust in Xu Minyu surpassed that of anyone else she knew.

And now Xu Minyu was spreading rumors that her hallucinations could cause harm!

Before Shen Qingqing could steady herself, she was pushed several meters backward.

Xu Mingxuan’s push was with all his might. “Shen Qingqing, have you gone mad?”

A sharp pain stabbed through Shen Qingqing’s ankle again.

Staggering a few steps, she lost her balance.

As she fell backward, she smiled despairingly.

She thought to herself, this ankle would never heal.

Suddenly, strong arms encircled her waist just in time, pressing her firmly against a chest.

Instinctively, Shen Qingqing clutched the arm around her side and tilted her head to see who it was.

It was Assistant Zhou.

Mo Lingcheng steadied Shen Qingqing and shot a fierce glance at Xu Minyu:

“Words can kill. Don’t speak recklessly without proof.”

Then, with a sidelong glance at the people in the corridor, he added:

“Rumors end with the wise. You elite employees should understand that before joining, you all underwent thorough physical and psychological examinations. If you still don’t trust Mo Corporation’s work environment, you’re free to leave now.”

The crowd immediately grew anxious and quickly dispersed.

“Little…” Xu Mingxuan just opened his mouth to speak but lowered his head and fell silent under Mo Lingcheng’s warning gaze.

Mo Lingcheng reminded him, “Whatever conflicts you have between you, don’t cause trouble here.”

“Understood.” Xu Mingxuan glanced at Mo Lingcheng’s hand resting on Shen Qingqing’s waist, wanting to say more but holding back.

Mo Lingcheng paid no mind to his look and continued:

“Do you Xu family members have nothing better to do?”

Xu Mingxuan pursed his lips and whispered, “I’ll return first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Leave tonight. Don’t delay your company’s morning meeting,” Mo Lingcheng curtly ordered.

Xu Mingxuan nodded silently, unwilling to defy him.

Mo Lingcheng then glanced at Xu Minyu:

“Probationary employees who aren’t striving to become permanent can be moved aside.”

Xu Mingxuan grew anxious at that, “She is—”

Mo Lingcheng cut him off: “I just heard someone talking about pre-selection. Young Master Xu, does Mo Corporation have such a policy?”

“No.”

Mo Lingcheng nodded in approval. “Pack up and be on your way.”

Xu Mingxuan looked once more at the large hand on Shen Qingqing’s waist, then turned away in frustration and resentment.

Xu Minyu followed closely behind, whispering, “Brother, does Uncle Zhou know Shen Qingqing?”

Xu Mingxuan frowned and ignored her.

Shen Qingqing had never met Mo Lingcheng.

Mo Lingcheng had lived abroad since he was sixteen, focusing on expanding international markets and rarely returning home.

In recent years, with the international market stabilizing and their grandfather’s health declining, Mo Lingcheng had returned to take over the group.

Xu Mingxuan shook his head, deciding he was overthinking.

Mo Lingcheng was always disciplined and would never take an interest in Shen Qingqing, especially since he knew she was his fiancée.

Xu Mingxuan exhaled slowly and reminded Xu Minyu:

“Uncle Zhou always deals with matters impartially. Stay here and behave yourself. Don’t provoke Shen Qingqing or let slip Uncle Zhou’s identity. He must have important plans…”

“Brother, what do you mean by that?” Xu Minyu stopped, clutching her face in grievance, tears quickly spilling from her eyes.

Xu Mingxuan immediately turned back and gently took Xu Minyu’s hand, soothing her, “I was wrong. I warned her not to bother you.”

Xu Minyu reached to wrap her arms around Xu Mingxuan’s waist, wanting to continue acting spoiled.

He gently dodged and looked cautiously around, “There are too many eyes here. Let’s be careful.”

Xu Minyu’s empty hand clenched tightly in the air as she silently vowed: one day, she would stand openly at the very top of the Xu family.

Xu Mingxuan lightly patted her back, calming her while giving instructions: “Xiaoyu, I’ve told you, the matter in Bancheng is over. Don’t bring it up again. You know I can’t sue Shen Qingqing.”

Shen Qingqing was his future wife; they were economically and reputationally intertwined.

No matter their conflicts, he wouldn’t allow anyone to question her character.

Xu Minyu clenched her fists fiercely and whispered, “Okay.”

—

Only after Xu Mingxuan and Xu Minyu’s figures disappeared from view did Shen Qingqing’s anger begin to subside.

She then realized the hand still resting on her waist hadn’t moved; the person behind her remained silent.

That posture inexplicably reminded Shen Qingqing of a certain springtime dream.

She immediately stepped forward to break free from the grip behind her.

Looking up, she turned around with a professional smile:

“Thank you, Assistant Zhou, for helping me out.”

The softness in Mo Lingcheng’s palm vanished instantly, the scent of gardenia fading away.

He lowered his gaze to Shen Qingqing.

Her dewy cheeks flushed faintly; her slightly parted red lips looked so tender and inviting that it made one want to taste them…

Thinking this, he quickly withdrew his hand and clasped it behind his back, fingers gently rubbing.

Years in the military and endless overtime had left him little contact with women.

That was why this woman’s allure repeatedly unsettled his composure.

His expression darkened, his voice chilly and cutting:

“You’re still so young. You should be striving to improve yourself, not wasting time on love affairs!”

With that, he turned and strode away.

Leaving Shen Qingqing utterly perplexed.

She watched Mo Lingcheng’s departing back and muttered softly:

“He looks barely over twenty, so why does he sound like an old philosopher?”

Just as she was about to return to her room, her phone vibrated several times.

Looking down, she saw a message from Xu Mingxuan:

“Shen Qingqing, this man is beyond your reach. I understand if you want to get back at me, but don’t provoke anyone you shouldn’t.”

Shen Qingqing raised her eyes and saw Xu Mingxuan staring at her darkly through the glass across the hall.

She sneered and replied with a coquettish voice in a voice message:

“Assistant Zhou is tall, muscular, and truly manly. Just now, I took the chance to touch him a little—it felt incredible…”

She saw Xu Mingxuan open the voice message; his expression grew darker with every word.

Just then, a man’s harsh cough sounded nearby.

She turned slowly and saw Assistant Zhou standing not far away with a tall, thin man, both watching her.