Chapter 091: Is This How One Falls in Love?

“I’m not just scolding you, I’m hitting you!” He Yunqing raised her hand and gave Jiang Yao’s smooth forehead a crisp, resounding tap.

“Ouch!” Jiang Yao clutched her head. “You really hit me?”

“No kidding!” He Yunqing shot her a glare. “Someone wrongs you and you just let them? You don’t even try to defend yourself!”

Jiang Yao pursed her lips. “So… you believe me?”

He Yunqing smiled, speechless. “You deserve another hit for saying that. I’m your boyfriend—if I don’t believe you, who will?”

Jiang Yao lowered her head, secretly smiling.

“All right, all right, hit me if you want!” She grabbed He Yunqing’s hand, theatrically tapped her own head a few times.

He Yunqing went along, gently rubbing her head.

“In the end, today’s trouble was my fault,” He Yunqing said sincerely. “I shouldn’t have dragged you into all this. Nana’s been pampered since she was little—she’s got a temper, but she’s not bad-hearted. Did she give you any trouble?”

Jiang Yao spread her hands. “Do I look like someone who’d be bullied? But… you and Miss Jin really grew up together? How come you’ve never mentioned her?”

“Are you jealous?” He Yunqing’s handsome face suddenly drew close, watching her with unhurried amusement.

Jiang Yao cleared her throat. “Who’s jealous? I was just asking. If you want to answer, fine. If not, forget it.”

He Yunqing straightened, acting wounded. “Why aren’t you jealous?”

Jiang Yao: “…Would you be jealous of Cheng Yanchi?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t I?” He Yunqing countered.

Jiang Yao: “…”

“I’ve known Nana since we were kids. We used to play together all the time. Our families even joked about marrying us off when we grew up. But later, Nana went abroad for a few years, and I got busy with work, so we didn’t see each other much,” He Yunqing explained seriously.

“Oh.” Jiang Yao nodded. “No wonder you were so anxious about her.”

“How did you see that I was anxious?”

“If you weren’t, why did you rush to do mouth-to-mouth for her? Out of everyone there, you were the first.” As she spoke, Jiang Yao unintentionally pouted.

He Yunqing paused.

“Look at your mouth,” Jiang Yao said, pointing at his lips. “You’ve still got Miss Jin’s lipstick on you.”

He Yunqing touched his own mouth, and sure enough, there was a faint smudge of lipstick.

“Ayao, it was an emergency. I had to save her,” He Yunqing said.

“All right, all right, you don’t need to explain,” Jiang Yao bit her lip. “I know, I know. Am I that petty? You really don’t have to say anything—I understand, really, I’m not angry, honestly I’m not…”

Before she could finish, his sensual lips pressed down, silencing her unfinished words.

He was domineering, wild, and yet deeply tender as he greedily took her sweetness, like a newly sprouted shoot drawing in the dew of spring.

Long after, he finally released Jiang Yao, gazing at her face, flushed and radiant, and asked softly, “Do you understand now?”

“Understand what?” Jiang Yao’s voice was low and husky.

“That was saving someone. This is kissing you. It’s not the same,” He Yunqing said gently.

Jiang Yao felt sweetness well up in her heart, but she turned her head obstinately. “I don’t understand.”

“Then let’s try again, until you do,” He Yunqing raised his brows, teasing.

Jiang Yao quickly covered her mouth, surrendering, “I understand! I understand, isn’t that enough?”

This man always knew how to make her surrender. Perhaps, from the very first moment she met him, she was destined to lose utterly.

Facing his clear yet unfathomable eyes, she could never truly be angry.

And strangely enough, even as she found herself so defenseless, she savored it…

“We’ve been up half the night—are you hungry?” He Yunqing asked gently.

Jiang Yao clutched her stomach; she really was a bit hungry.

The food at the He family was exquisite, but never quite filling.

“I know a great noodle shop nearby that's still open. I’ll take you,” He Yunqing said, pulling Jiang Yao along.

They arrived at the noodle shop and chose the most secluded corner to sit.

Jiang Yao glanced around; perhaps because it was so late, the place was nearly empty. She relaxed a little.

This was not abroad; He Yunqing was no ordinary man. Eyes were everywhere.

When the noodles arrived, the two ate with relish.

Maybe the noodles were really good; Jiang Yao accidentally got some sauce on the corner of her mouth.

He Yunqing saw the smudge, smiled warmly, and took out a napkin to carefully wipe her mouth clean.

Neither noticed that, across the street, a high-powered camera was trained on them…

The man holding the camera pressed the shutter, looked at the photo he'd taken, and nodded in satisfaction. “Finally caught a big story…”

Leaving the noodle shop, He Yunqing drove Jiang Yao back to the suburban villa.

After returning from Crescent Town, Cheng Yanchi had taken it upon himself to move all of Jiang Yao’s things back here.

Jiang Yao got out, waved goodbye to He Yunqing, indicating she was heading inside.

He Yunqing stood by the car, clearing his throat.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Yao asked, confused. “Let’s go?”

“Miss Jiang, is this how you date someone?” He Yunqing drawled.

“Isn’t it?” Jiang Yao was puzzled. “How should it be?”

All those years, she’d lived under the shadow of Zeng Qiwen and never had a proper romance.

She didn’t even read love stories.

He Yunqing looked at her helplessly, then pointed to his fair cheek.

Jiang Yao understood, glanced around like a thief, then walked up to him, stood on tiptoe, and lightly pecked his cheek.

Immediately, she lowered her head.

He Yunqing gently lifted her chin, and kissed her smooth forehead.

“Ayao, it’s all right. I’ll teach you, slowly.”

“You sound like you’re so experienced,” Jiang Yao teased, curiosity rising. “He Yunqing, just how many girlfriends have you had?”

“What do you think?” He Yunqing didn’t answer directly.

Jiang Yao counted on her fingers. “You’re so popular, surely quite a few.”

He Yunqing watched her little expressions and couldn’t help smiling, striding ahead.

“Hey, how many exactly?”

“Guess.”

Jiang Yao chased after him. “Come on, tell me—how many?”