THE CEO's LOVE 126 My Love

She wondered why he would think of that. Not every man is as loose as you... The statement was just at the tip of her tongue.

"You must be facing a lot of trouble, being alone."

"No," he was looking at her but she was looking straight.

"You got a new contract,"

She immediately looked at him. "You're really tracking me?"

"Yes. I just want to make sure you're protected at all time."

"By putting a tab on me?"

"Would following you around be better?" He probed. "Or like I offered in the past. You can choose to work for me, I'll pay you beautifully. You would never have to worry about anything."

"How many women are you paying?" She supported her jaw with her hand, looking directly into his eyes.

Zhaolin felt question marks pop out from his head. How many women are you paying? Why would he be paying women? "Zero," he heard her scoff. "Jiuwen was talking too much earlier on. Didn't give you the chance to eat..." He paused to examine her features. "Or you were shy in front of her."

She hesitated, trying hard not to laugh. "Now I agree you were really sick. It must have hit hard and affected your brain."

He reached for the rice, and scooped. Adding braised pork on it, he directed it to her mouth.

Xueyan pressed her lips tight.

"You don't want?" He asked. "It's delicious believe me,"

She watched him eat. She was really surprised by his sudden mood change. Just a minute ago, he was acting like a mute in front of Jiuwen. 

She stood up, "I'll be leaving now,"

He stopped chewing, "You reject the help I offer, but easily accept other people's own." His voice was deep, and reverberating. He sounded like wounded lion. 

She clutched her purse tightly. 

"Hmm?" He then turned to look at her. That stunning golden brown pupils seemed to have gone into hiding and a very dark one surfaced.

"I don't want your help," and just after the words slipped away she wanted to drag them back and keep her mouth shut.

"Why?"

"I... I... I can work, I'm still very young and active. I don't want to be spending someone else's money..."

"Someone else's?" He cut her sentence in half and when he stood up, he watched her take two steps back. "You think..." He stopped realizing he almost slipped. "Cancel your contract with Sheng Group of Company." It was more like an order than a request. "Four Wheels will triple the pay,"

"No."

"Why?" Did she really want him that far from her? "It's work too. It's just that we will pay higher than them. You want to work, right? I'm not offering you money now... I'm offering you a job."

"Which I don't wish to take. Give it to someone else."

"Xue?" Her body stiffened. He sure knew how to scare her with that expressionless face and black eyes. "You now hate me to the extent you're willing to work for a company that is trying to rival mine..." 

She said nothing, and was looking away.

"Xue,"

"Please, just stop calling me that." She took a deep breath. "I've to go now." Since she was at the end of the couch she turned round it, her eyes looked into the doork.n.o.b. 

He didn't want her to leave yet, so he came to stand in front of her. She stopped dead in her tracks.

"Zhaolin," she tried not to sound nervous.

"I'm really not good at anything else than making designs and making money. I'm sorry, I'm not putting enough effort in wooing you. But Xueyan, you should really stop rejecting me. My help... My love..."

Xueyan heart didn't miss a single beat. She felt the world spin around her.

"I promise to be better, to do better. Just give me a chance."

"Are you crazy‽" She finally asked. "Are you mad? How do you keep talking about loving me, when you're married? How do you keep talking about me accepting you when there's no promised future? You sure are dense. Do you plan on having a harem?"

He frowned. "I'm not married. And it doesn't really matter... All that matters is that I love you."

Xueyan, "..." He just denied being married? He was really shameless.

"You claim not to be married, but you also have a child."

Upon the mention of his son, he frowned. Took out his phone and immediately placed a call over to Jiuwen. When the call connected, "Have you picked Zhihao up from school?"

Xueyan mouth hung open. She couldn't believe this man. He loves his son so much but he's ready to deny his marriage anywhere, anytime.

She didn't hear Jiuwen reply, but felt the air lift and his frigid face loosen.

"Zhaolin it's very clear to the eyes that we can't work."

"Annul your contract, please," he chittered. The last thing he wanted was her working with his rivalries... He should have even tried and made sure Xiujun didn't get her. But he just wanted her to be happy... If working—would make her happy.

Xueyan only frowned in response.

"Please?" He pleaded.

"No!" The brute reply hit him hard and unexpected. "Zhaolin I really need to leave,"

"Give me a chance," the softness of his tone kept surprising her. She could feel the sincerity within it, but when she thought of Xiao s.h.i.+ya... Every softness in her heart disappeared.

He keeps talking about loving me but he's married to another woman. 

A frown marred her face. "Whatever you have in store for me, you should probably give it all to s.h.i.+ya. Besides, she's your wife. Think of taking of your family first..." She looked away, hiding the tears that was threatening to fall. How is this man able to shake her up, even after she decided to protect her heart. "Please excuse me,"

He made way for her... But was he just going to stand and watch her leave?

She took three steps forward but before she could take the fourth, he held her still and when she tried to shake his hand off, he pulled her with force and she fell onto his chest, as he quickly wrapped his arms around her. One holding firmly onto her waist, the other on her back so she wouldn't think of escaping.

His warm breath close to her ear tickled her fancy.

They stood there in silence and listened to their heart beat. The warmth radiating from his body quickly enveloped her.

She totally forgot their compromising position. Forgot he was married. Forgot about Xiao s.h.i.+ya. And neither did the thought of his son cross her mind. She felt extremely comfortable in his embrace. 

She felt like she would melt away from this closeness.

She really wants this man! She wants him all to herself. She wants him by her side. She wants him to look at her alone and say there will never be another woman after her... But then how can she dream of such an unattainable height? He was way high up... And she wasn't pure enough. He wasn't a saint either, but he was in a better position...

She didn't struggle against him, she just allowed herself to be hugged by him. One of the reasons was because she needed this. Second because it wouldn't happen again.

A minute or two pa.s.sed, with reluctance he let his hand slide from her back down to her waist.

"Xue..." His voice reverberated in her ear. She looked up, blinking as much as she could so the tears wouldn't fall.

"Zhaolin, please. Just stop."

He hesitated before replying, "How do I stop?" He wasn't sure he could. He moved so he could look at her face. Since he was close enough, he felt her body shake. "Are you crying?" He lifted her chin up so she could be looking directly at him.

Her eyes had little red veins in them. He held her face close to his and kissed her closed eyes.

'Xueyan what are you doing, flirting with a married man?' a voice in her head questioned.

She shook her, maybe it would make the voice in her head disappear. 'Xueyan, you keep forgetting he's married. Married with a child.' the voice came back with much force.

"Xue?" He called out, "What is wrong?" 

Her eyes shut open, "Nothing..." 

He was really dumb, he didn't know what to do or say to make her feel better. 

She pushed his hands from her face away and moved back.

He followed her motion, but instead of moving back, he moved forward. Blocking any form of escape she might have concorted. "Xueyan stop pus.h.i.+ng me away."

"Really? Then you're telling me to forget the fact that you're a married man."

He sighed. "I'm not married,"

This was the second time he was saying that. And she really wanted to believe that... To bask in happiness... To imagine herself together with him, but no. He was only saying that to get her.

"Explain," she waited with hope rising in her.

He shook his head. 

He didn't say anything, but with the simple gesture he made, it was able to make her heart drop to the pit of her stomach.