Chapter Forty-Three: So You Spanked Her?

"Xue Tian'ai, what are you doing?" The words struck Xue Tian'ai like Medusa's gaze, freezing him on the spot.

He turned stiffly, only to see a familiar, beautiful face—though now that peerless visage was contorted with fury.

Xue Tian'ai could never have imagined someone would walk into Su Jiaqi's office without knocking, let alone that the person would be his wife, Qin Mengxue!

Qin Mengxue had been upstairs, uneasy and worried that Xue Tian'ai might cause more trouble while apologizing. After some hesitation, she decided to come downstairs and check on things.

But as she approached Su Jiaqi's office, she heard the sounds of a scuffle.

Alarmed, she opened the door, only to see Xue Tian'ai grinning wickedly, holding Su Jiaqi in his arms and spanking her.

The crisp sound of the slap was perfectly clear to Qin Mengxue.

Yet Su Jiaqi, embarrassed and furious, seemed oblivious to Qin Mengxue's rage-filled glare, still shouting, "Xue Tian'ai, you bastard! How dare you spank me! Didn’t you say you’d pay in flesh? Fine, if you’ve got the guts, go ahead—ten, eight times, make me happy and I’ll sue you for assault!"

She screamed her threats while swinging her fists at Xue Tian'ai.

Frozen, Xue Tian'ai was left speechless by Su Jiaqi's words. Sister, could you say less? My wife is right here—why must you spout such nonsense?

But seeing Qin Mengxue's face grow darker, Xue Tian'ai hastily released Su Jiaqi, letting her drop onto the desk.

Su Jiaqi, suddenly freed, landed hard—the spot just struck by Xue Tian'ai now pressed painfully against the desk.

"Xue!" Su Jiaqi snapped, ready to lunge at him again.

"Good afternoon, President Qin!" But Xue Tian'ai ignored her, bowing respectfully to the dark-faced Qin Mengxue.

Su Jiaqi paused at his greeting, finally realizing another person was in her office.

"President Qin..." Su Jiaqi deflated instantly, her manner softening, though the blush on her cheeks remained.

"Xue Tian'ai, tell me what you were doing," Qin Mengxue asked, struggling to contain her anger.

"President Su tried to push me down, I was doing my utmost to resist! It’s called lawful self-defense!" Xue Tian'ai patted his chest, utterly serious.

Su Jiaqi, hearing Xue Tian'ai’s blatant lies, flared up anew. "Xue, if you dare keep spouting nonsense, I’ll kick your precious bits off and make sure you never have children!"

Qin Mengxue’s lips twitched at this. She was Xue Tian'ai’s wife, likely to bear his children someday—if Su Jiaqi made him childless, wouldn’t that mean she’d never have kids either?

"If you’re so capable, come on! Let’s see who wins!" Xue Tian'ai retorted, unwilling to let his prized assets be threatened so lightly.

"Go to hell, I—" If not for Qin Mengxue’s presence, Su Jiaqi would have attacked him again.

"Enough!" Unable to tolerate their antics any longer, Qin Mengxue snapped.

At her outburst, both Xue Tian'ai and Su Jiaqi fell silent, not daring to utter another word.

"Xue Tian'ai, come upstairs with me." Qin Mengxue’s eyes flared as she spoke. "President Su, please continue your work. I’ll handle this matter."

"Alright..." Su Jiaqi nodded numbly, surprised Qin Mengxue let her off so easily, choosing to deal only with Xue Tian'ai.

Xue Tian'ai, seeing Qin Mengxue’s ominous expression, dared not protest and followed her.

Qin Mengxue snorted coldly, striding out without a glance back. Xue Tian'ai hurried after her, but as he closed the door behind him, he flashed a universal gesture at Su Jiaqi, who rolled her eyes at him.

The door shut, but faintly, the sound of breaking glass echoed from Su Jiaqi’s office—a final casualty, the poor cup rescued by Xue Tian'ai, proved not so lucky after all.

Xue Tian'ai followed the grim Qin Mengxue up to the twenty-third floor. Neither spoke during the journey, even in the elevator, where Qin Mengxue offered only a stern back.

Yu Xiaoxiao sat quietly at her desk, cheeks tinged pink as she recalled Xue Tian'ai’s appearance. She felt a little fortunate; working with such a handsome colleague certainly lifted her spirits. Who knew what surprises the future might hold?

After all, Yu Xiaoxiao was twenty-one, at the age when girls loved to dream.

Seeing Xue Tian'ai return to the twenty-third floor, she perked up, about to greet him, but caught sight of Qin Mengxue’s dark expression and swallowed her words.

"Xiaoxiao, unless I say otherwise, don’t let anyone into my office."

"Okay… Understood, President Qin." Yu Xiaoxiao nodded, puzzled. Why had President Qin gone downstairs worried, and returned so icy?

She shot a questioning look at Xue Tian'ai. Feeling her curious gaze, Xue Tian'ai could only smile wryly and shrug before following Qin Mengxue into the office.

Once inside, Qin Mengxue sat in her chair, silent, stormy-eyed, staring at Xue Tian'ai.

She couldn’t believe that sending Xue Tian'ai to apologize had resulted in him cradling Su Jiaqi and spanking her—in the company, no less. Outrageous!

So Qin Mengxue decided to say nothing, waiting to see how Xue Tian'ai would explain himself.

Sweating coldly, Xue Tian'ai sat on the sofa, unnerved by Qin Mengxue’s gaze, and finally couldn’t take it anymore. "Wife, could you stop staring at me… I’m getting shy."

Qin Mengxue’s eyelids twitched, but she remained silent, still watching him.

"Um, wife, can’t we just talk things over… You looking at me like that makes me nervous…"

"Xue Tian'ai, don’t you think you should explain what happened just now?" Qin Mengxue decided silence wouldn’t do; otherwise, Xue Tian'ai might start rambling again.

"Just now? I was apologizing to President Su, as you asked!"

"Don’t play dumb! Is apologizing spanking a girl?"

For some reason, seeing Xue Tian'ai spank Su Jiaqi had vexed Qin Mengxue deeply.

"Wife, it’s all Su Jiaqi’s fault! I tried to apologize kindly, but she started hitting me—and seeing my good looks, she tried to push me down, so I resisted!"

"So you spanked her?"

"I told you, it was self-defense!"

"So you spanked her?" Qin Mengxue pressed, repeating herself.

"Wife, why are you so fixated on Su Jiaqi’s backside? Are you into girls?" Xue Tian'ai was bewildered by her triple questioning.

"Go to hell!" Qin Mengxue pouted, ignoring him and turning to her work.

Seeing she’d stopped questioning him, Xue Tian'ai felt bored and settled back on the sofa for some peace.

Meanwhile, Xue Tian'ai wondered why Gan Bingning wanted to treat him to dinner. If it was to thank him for saving her, he’d already been rewarded—after all, they’d slept together. Treating him to dinner seemed excessive. Was it because he was handsome, or because she fancied him for his prowess?

If she wanted him as a lover, should he agree? No—if it came to such services, Gan Bingning would have to pay for the hotel!

Though Qin Mengxue appeared to be working, her mind was in turmoil. She’d thought ignoring Xue Tian'ai would prompt him to explain and seek forgiveness, but he lounged on the sofa, legs crossed, wearing a lewd grin—who knew what he was thinking?

Qin Mengxue took a deep breath, calming herself, and coughed lightly. "Xue Tian'ai, go make me a cup of coffee."

Xue Tian'ai, lost in memories of his first night with Gan Bingning, didn’t hear her.

"Xue Tian'ai!" Qin Mengxue bit her lip, raising her voice.

Still, Xue Tian'ai grinned foolishly, eyes shining.

"Xue Tian'ai!" Qin Mengxue’s clear eyes were now bloodshot as she nearly shouted his name.

Startled, Xue Tian'ai finally snapped out of it, staring blankly at her. "Wife, were you calling me?"

"Yes, go make me a cup of coffee!"

"Me?"

"Yes, you. Is there a problem?"

"Isn’t that your secretary’s job? Why me?"

"From today on, it’s your responsibility!" Qin Mengxue said, suppressing her anger.

"Will my salary go up?"

"No! Are you going or not?"

"No. Why should I if there’s no raise? I’m a man!"

"You’re my husband by law, and my personal assistant! This is the company—you’ll do as I say, or I’ll send you to security!"

"Damn, you’re ruthless!" The word ‘security’ made Xue Tian'ai’s head spin.

"Hello, is this Manager Huang in HR? I’d like to change a position..." Qin Mengxue ignored him, picking up the phone.

"I’m going, I’m going! Put the phone down!" Seeing she was serious, Xue Tian'ai hurried out.

Watching his fleeing figure, Qin Mengxue felt a surge of satisfaction and smiled.

"Little rascal, you want to take me on?"