CHAPTER 323: CHAPTER 303: SO THIN-SKINNED

"Speaking with a sour tone."

"And you said you weren’t jealous."

He looked at the woman in front of him who was saying one thing but meaning another. He took the cigarette from his lips and flicked the ash into the ashtray a few times. "Let me teach you a trick."

She looked over. "What trick?"

"Go to the bathroom and look in the mirror."

She responded, "Huh? What do you mean?"

He smiled with his eyes, teasing her, "Don’t you know what kind of woman I, Bao Ye, like?"

"Just look in the mirror, and you’ll know."

Jiang Ruan was at a loss for words. Her round, bright eyes blinked, and it took her a moment to react.

She suddenly raised her head, meeting his deep, dark eyes. Their gazes locked, and the atmosphere was so charged it felt like it could almost materialize.

The bathroom.

He had brought her all the way here.

Pulling her along and wrapping an arm around her, lucky she wasn’t wearing heels, or she wouldn’t have been able to keep up with him.

The restrooms here were all single stalls, unisex. Everybody knew why.

He pushed open a door, guiding her in.

As soon as the door shut, he pressed her back against it and lowered his head to kiss her with scorching lips.

"Mmm."

The taste of smoke and alcohol filled her mouth, the sweet red wine overwhelmed her senses. He wrapped an arm around her waist.

The door made a noise as it was bumped into.

"How did you find me here?" In the quiet room, his voice was even huskier. He had been drinking all afternoon and evening, and it had taken a toll on his throat.

She thought it sounded particularly rugged and masculine.

She replied softly, "Chen Nan told me."

"I called you, but you didn’t pick up. You didn’t reply to my texts either. I was worried something happened, so I called him. He said you were here."

"So I came to see you."

With that, he lifted her up.

She squealed in surprise, quickly wrapping her arms around his neck, clinging to him like a koala.

Making it easier for him to kiss her.

His kisses were forceful and domineering, yet they carried an undercurrent of tenderness.

She instinctively followed his lead.

Her breathing unsteady, she asked, "Are you in a bad mood today?"

He replied, "No."

"Chen Nan said you left the office this afternoon and didn’t go back."

"Have you been drinking here this whole time?"

He acknowledged, "Mm."

But found her nagging.

She wanted to ask something else, but he silenced her with another kiss.

He nipped her lip. "Shut up."

"We’ll talk... after."

She widened her eyes. "No, I didn’t bring one. Did you?"

"What if I get pregnant?"

The question sobered him up instantly.

His expression darkened immediately.

Resting his chin on her shoulder, he took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "I didn’t."

Jiang Ruan chuckled. "Then it seems it’s a no-go, Mr. Bao."

She whispered it close to his ear.

"What if I get pregnant?"

"Getting an abortion is really harmful to the body."

He bluntly said, "Then don’t."

She was surprised. "What? You want me to keep it?"

She felt he was just drunk.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t say such things.

He had never liked children before.

His eyes were dark, and it wasn’t clear if he was completely sober or somewhat intoxicated. "Yes, keep it."

She argued, "No, not without a name or status."

"Are you going to let him be an illegitimate child?"

Those words pierced his heart deeply.

He felt breathless for a moment, his brows furrowed, his head pounding.

She was alarmed. "Bao Ye, what’s wrong?"

He gritted his teeth, enduring the discomfort, and slowly calmed down. His lips bore deep imprints.

He took a deep breath. "No."

"It won’t be nameless or without status, nor will it be a hidden illegitimate child."

He looked at her seriously.

"It will be my legitimate child, our child."

He will be showered with love.

Both mine and yours.

He will grow up surrounded by love, not resentment or indifference.

Perhaps overwhelmed by emotions, he felt his eyes heat up uncontrollably.

A tear fell from his eye.

Landing right on her face.

She was startled, raising a hand to touch the tear on her face. "Bao Ye, are you... crying?" she asked nervously.

She didn’t finish the sentence.

Out of respect for his pride.

Feeling embarrassed, he buried his head in her shoulder, mischievously wiping his tears on her dress.

She didn’t move, letting him have his way.

Her hands wrapped around his neck, gently patting his back to comfort him. "Alright, don’t be sad."

"You are Bao Ye, after all."

"What could possibly defeat you?"

Her soft hands gently patted his back, soothing his emotions. Her voice was gentle and proud, "The Bao Ye I know is a man who can achieve anything, a god I believe in."

Her words made him laugh.

His shoulders shook with laughter, and when he looked up, there was not a trace of tears on his face.

As if he hadn’t been the one crying just moments ago.

Even his eyes weren’t red.

"Really?" he asked.

She nodded without hesitation. "Of course."

His lips curled up as he teasingly said, "But right now, the god you believe in just wants to sleep with you."

She blushed, her heart softening. "Then let’s go home?" she suggested.

His heart skipped a beat at the word "home," and he held her close. "Alright."

He carried her out of the bathroom.

Since her clothes were still in the booth, they had to go back once.

She asked him to put her down because there were so many people, and she felt embarrassed.

But he refused, insisting on holding her.

Si Chen and Feng Meiling were back.

Having heard that she was here, and now seeing him carrying her back, they couldn’t help but tease, "Oh, Brother Bo, aren’t you and sister-in-law too lovey-dovey?"

She blushed bright red. "Meiling, Si Chen."

He held her with one hand and picked up the coat from the sofa with the other, saying to them, "We’re leaving first."

"Charge the bill to my card."

Si Chen agreed, "Okay."

And called after them, "Brother Bo, sister-in-law, good luck. Hope I get to hold my nephew soon."

He paused for a moment, turning back, "Alright."

Leaving Si Chen and Feng Meiling stunned.

They couldn’t find words to respond.

Watching them leave.

Not until they were gone did Si Chen rub his chin, "Something’s up."

"Looks like Brother Bo wants to have a kid?"

Feng Meiling slapped him on the arm, "What do you mean Brother Bo? If they have a kid, it’s the sister-in-law who’ll be giving birth."

"How could Brother Bo, a grown man, give birth?"

Si Chen rubbed his head, feeling wronged, "I know, that’s what I meant."

"Well, it takes both of them having a child together."

Feng Meiling, "Stop explaining, you were just wrong."

"Did your PE teacher teach you Chinese?"

Si Chen, "..."

She buried her face in his neck out of embarrassment, too shy to lift her head.

Only after they walked out of the club and he placed her in the car did she raise her head.

Her whole face flushed red, like an apple.

He chuckled and pinched her cheek. "Is your skin so thin?"