Chapter 57: Do Not Leave Tonight

Shen Xue turned on the television and handed a magazine to Zhang Jun.

Zhang Jun took a seat on the loveseat.

First, Shen Xue went into the bedroom to fetch a change of clothes, then walked gracefully toward the bathroom.

The shower and the restroom in her apartment were combined without any separation between wet and dry areas.

Zhang Jun listened to the splashing sound of water coming from within.

Though his eyes were fixed on the television screen, his mind wandered, entirely consumed by thoughts of how alluring Shen Xue must look at this very moment.

A lone man and a single woman, sharing the same room.

Anyone who claimed not to have any other thoughts in such a situation would be utterly abnormal.

Zhang Jun took out his phone to check it; the battery was running low, and the battery icon was flashing continuously.

He desperately wanted to turn it off, yet he feared his boss might need him urgently—especially after such a massive incident had just occurred!

Thus, he silently slid the phone back into his pocket.

Women certainly took their time when bathing.

A full half-hour later, Shen Xue finally emerged.

She wore a lace nightgown with a soft, comfortable texture, which accentuated her charming and graceful silhouette.

"Brother Zhang," Shen Xue tilted her head, wiping her damp, lustrous hair with a towel, and padded over to him in her soft sandals, offering a radiant smile, "could you help me blow-dry my hair? My shoulder aches a bit, and I shouldn't keep my arm raised for too long."

"Alright!" Zhang Jun answered as if under some hypnotic spell.

Shen Xue turned to fetch the hair dryer.

Her steps were light, her small, translucent feet seeming as though they were mounted on springs as she walked with boundless vitality.

The most breathtaking of all was her skin—fair with a rosy flush, translucent like jade, resembling a exquisite work of art.

Shen Xue found the hair dryer, bent down to plug it into the outlet beside the sofa, and handed it to Zhang Jun.

She sat down with her back to him.

Zhang Jun switched on the hair dryer and gently gathered her long hair.

The back of Shen Xue's nightgown featured a low-cut plunge, exposing her smooth, flawless back.

Across her delicate shoulders, there were no straps from any undergarments.

Zhang Jun’s imagination wandered to the enchanting scenery that lay before her front.

As the hot air from the hair dryer evaporated the shampoo, a subtle, captivating fragrance diffused into the air.

Shen Xue turned her head to say something, but the roar of the hair dryer drowned it out, and Zhang Jun could not catch her words.

He leaned closer and asked, "What did you say?"

Shen Xue replied, "Are you tired?"

Zhang Jun smiled. "How could I ever be tired drying a beauty's hair? This is the ultimate enjoyment."

Shen Xue flashed a brilliant smile, revealing her pearly white teeth.

***

After drying her hair, Zhang Jun turned off the hair dryer, and the room instantly fell quiet.

Shen Xue turned around, gazing at Zhang Jun with a gaze burning with passion.

Unable to restrain himself, Zhang Jun reached out and took her hand.

With a soft murmur, Shen Xue melted into his embrace, whispering, "Will you stay with me tonight? I'm so frightened."

Zhang Jun's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

He did not answer, but his warm, large hands had already begun to wander.

Shen Xue was so intoxicatingly fragrant, so soft and alluring.

Zhang Jun wanted nothing more than to drown in this beautiful dream and forget the rest of the world.

Yet, his phone suddenly rang.

Ever since he became a secretary, he had cultivated a habit of always being ready to answer calls.

The nature of his work dictated that he could not afford to miss a single important call; missing even one might spell the end of his political career.

Acting almost on pure reflex, Zhang Jun immediately released Shen Xue and pulled out his phone to answer it.

True enough, the call was from Ma Hongqi!

Zhang Jun gestured for Shen Xue to remain quiet, then pressed the answer button.

"Xiao Zhang, is everything alright over there?" Ma Hongqi's resonant voice came through.

"Boss, everything is fine," Zhang Jun stood straight at attention and replied respectfully. "I haven't followed up on the subsequent interrogation yet."

"Well, the reason I'm calling is to tell you: before going to work tomorrow, find out the progress of the interrogation. You must obtain ironclad proof of Gao Hai's death! Do you understand? This concerns both of our personal safety from now on. Since you've chosen to be my secretary, your destiny is bound with mine. We must figure out why Jin Dalong killed Gao Hai! Is he the mastermind behind the scenes?"

"Understood, boss," Zhang Jun said. "I'll make a trip to the Public Security Department tomorrow morning."

"Good, goodbye!"

"Boss, get some rest early."

As he hung up the phone, the illicit fire burning in his heart instantly vanished.

Ma Hongqi's words remained fresh in his mind; their destinies were now bound together!

If anything happened to either of them, the other would be inevitably implicated.

Should Ma Hongqi fall, Zhang Jun would undoubtedly be marginalized.

If Zhang Jun became embroiled in a scandal or corruption, it would likewise tarnish Ma Hongqi's reputation.

"Shen Xue, I'm going home," Zhang Jun took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm.

"Are you really leaving?" Shen Xue asked with reluctant attachment. "Can't you stay a little longer?"

Resolutely, Zhang Jun stood up and said, "I have very important matters to attend to tomorrow morning. There will be plenty of other opportunities for us to be together. It's just not appropriate right now."

A flash of disappointment crossed Shen Xue's eyes. "Am I not good enough? Not pretty enough?"

Zhang Jun hurriedly shook his head. "No, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

Shen Xue pouted and coaxed playfully, "Then hold me."

***

Before Zhang Jun could open his arms, Shen Xue had already thrown herself into his embrace.

Her burning red lips pressed tightly against his dry mouth.

Zhang Jun pulled her fiercely into his arms.

It was as though he wanted to crush Shen Xue into pieces and put her in his pocket to carry everywhere with him, so he could take her out for a glance whenever he missed her.

This kiss felt as long as a century.

His phone vibrated in his pocket.

The two of them finally parted.

Zhang Jun checked his phone; the battery had died and it had shut down.

He bid farewell to Shen Xue and walked out the door.

Shen Xue leaned against the doorframe the entire time, watching his retreating figure disappear into the stairwell.

When Zhang Jun reached the courtyard and looked up, he saw Shen Xue standing at the window, gazing down at him.

Both of them waved at each other simultaneously.

Zhang Jun's steps felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and the window above seemed to possess a thousand hooks trying to pull him back.

Yet, he walked away with resolute determination.

When he returned home, Liu Yujie was still awake.

"Zhang Jun!" Liu Yujie rushed to meet him, her face full of worry. "Are you alright? Let me look at you—so many people said they heard gunshots!"

"Yeah!" Zhang Jun covered his mouth and yawned, saying, "Go to sleep! I'm exhausted."

Liu Yujie twitched her nose and asked, "Why do you smell like a woman's perfume?"

Zhang Jun let out a cold hum. "Oh, right! I rescued a woman at the scene! I hugged her! That must be where it rubbed off on me!"

Stunned, Liu Yujie asked, "Who did you save?"

Without answering, Zhang Jun took out his phone to charge it.

Liu Yujie followed him inside, demanding, "I asked you a question! Which woman did you save?"

"Are you ever going to stop nagging?" Zhang Jun frowned and said. "A hostage! The hostage held by Jin Dalong!"

Seeing that he was angry, Liu Yujie did not dare to ask any further.

Zhang Jun grabbed his clothes and went in to take a shower.

At that moment, once his phone was connected to the power supply, it automatically rebooted, and a text message immediately popped up.

Curious, Liu Yujie picked it up and glanced at the screen. The message contained only four words:

"Brother Zhang, good night!"