Chapter Sixty-Nine: Today's Sunset Is Especially Beautiful

Qin Mengxue was indeed working, but she couldn’t help glancing at Xue Tian’ai every now and then, curious about what he was doing. The incessant chime of QQ notifications earlier had somehow piqued her interest.

It was well known that many young female employees at Menghua Group were eager to get Xue Tian’ai’s contact information, so Qin Mengxue found herself unable to resist stealing a look or two at him.

What she saw was Xue Tian’ai grinning at his phone, tapping away at the screen, clearly enjoying a lively conversation. This sight stirred a faint pang of jealousy in Qin Mengxue’s heart.

So, with a trace of plaintiveness in her tone, she asked, “Who’s the young lady you’re chatting with? You look so happy.”

Xue Tian’ai started at her words, staring at Qin Mengxue in surprise. Wasn’t this woman supposed to be absorbed in her work? How did she have time to keep an eye on him?

“Wife, are you getting jealous again?”

“As if! Who’d be jealous of you, you narcissist!” Qin Mengxue retorted, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink, making her seem all the more adorable and enchanting.

“Then why do you keep asking about my relationships with other women?” Xue Tian’ai was genuinely puzzled. Wasn’t jealousy something that usually happened between people in love? He didn’t think Qin Mengxue could have fallen for him in such a short time.

He was aware that, compared to other men, he did possess a certain charm. Still, he didn’t believe Qin Mengxue would be so easily ensnared.

“Hmph, I… I just don’t want you leading girls astray, that’s all. Don’t overthink it. I’m definitely not jealous!” Qin Mengxue huffed, turning her blushing face away, her voice lacking conviction.

In truth, it wasn’t just Xue Tian’ai who didn’t understand Qin Mengxue; she herself was baffled by her own reactions. Why did she care so much about his every move? Why did she feel that strange, sour ache in her heart and nose whenever she saw him bantering or chatting with another woman?

Could she really be falling for Xue Tian’ai? He was handsome, well-built, could cook, and apart from being a bit shameless, lewd, and extravagant, he was actually not bad.

No, no, it must just be the marriage certificate causing a bit of delusion and normal female possessiveness. She couldn’t possibly have feelings for him. After all, they’d only known each other for a handful of days. She was simply inexperienced in these matters!

Qin Mengxue tried to argue with herself, focusing on her documents, forcing herself to immerse in work and temporarily forget the image of Xue Tian’ai lingering in her mind.

Seeing her like this, Xue Tian’ai could only smile helplessly. Clearly, he still didn’t understand what went on in a woman’s mind.

He turned his attention back to his computer game, but just as he did, his phone buzzed gently. Having learned his lesson, he had switched it to silent and vibrate so incoming messages wouldn’t attract Qin Mengxue’s attention.

When he took out his phone and saw the sender, he paused—it was Gan Bingning.

He quickly regained his composure and opened the message.

“Tian’ai, do you have a moment later? Could you come to my office?”

“I can’t. Director Qin is here, and I can’t get away.” Even though Qin Mengxue probably wouldn’t say anything if he left now, it was out of the question—he still bore a few faint bite marks, which would be hard to explain to anyone. Best to stay put in the office for the day.

“Tian’ai, are you free tonight then? I’ll treat you to dinner.”

Xue Tian’ai chuckled and replied at once, “Are you treating me to dinner, or to yourself?”

Almost instantly, Gan Bingning responded, “Pervert! Is that all you ever think about? I just want to discuss your negotiations with Tianming Group.”

“Hehehe, tonight won’t work—I have to work late. President Qin’s orders. It might be very late. Let’s reschedule for another time!” Xue Tian’ai typed out his message, adding a few suggestive emojis before sending it off.

In reality, he didn’t have any overtime tonight. He was simply unsettled by the murderous aura he’d sensed that morning, and felt the need to stay by Qin Mengxue’s side. So, for now, he had to decline Gan Bingning’s invitation.

“If President Qin needs you, then there’s nothing to be done. But remember, you owe me a meal!” Gan Bingning, on the nineteenth floor, was a little disappointed by his reply.

“Wait, weren’t you the one inviting me? How did I end up owing you?”

“Tonight I’m treating; next time you have to treat me. Hmph!” Gan Bingning’s delicate fingers danced over the keyboard as she replied.

Seeing her petulant message, Xue Tian’ai smiled and replied, “Alright, no problem,” before slipping his phone back into his pocket. Feeling at ease, he launched his computer game and lost himself in its world.

…

Time slipped by unnoticed, and at last, the sound of the office bell echoed through Menghua Group’s building, signaling the end of the workday.

After indulging in computer games all day, Xue Tian’ai was in high spirits, almost giddy with pleasure. Most importantly, at lunchtime, he’d shamelessly used his faint bite marks as an excuse to persuade Qin Mengxue to fetch him lunch, which he ate right in the office. With food and entertainment, his mood was naturally excellent.

“Wife, do you need to work overtime tonight?” Xue Tian’ai leaned comfortably back in his chair, looking at Qin Mengxue.

“I can, or I can leave it. Why, are you planning to go out for dinner with one of your so-called friends again?” Qin Mengxue raised her brows, not looking pleased. This rascal had spent the entire day gaming in front of her and even made her fetch his lunch—he was really too much.

“How could I? With such a beautiful wife at home, why would I want to eat with anyone else? Of course, I want to go home and be with you. I was just asking, don’t get the wrong idea.” Xue Tian’ai quickly waved his hands in protest.

“Hmph!” Qin Mengxue snorted coldly, then said, “Wait a bit. I’ll finish this document and we can head home.”

“Hehe, alright!” With that, Xue Tian’ai stood up, walked over to the window of Qin Mengxue’s office, and gazed outside, falling silent.

Qin Mengxue focused on her work, paying little attention to what Xue Tian’ai was doing.

Time slipped by, and about half an hour after normal closing time, Qin Mengxue finally finished her paperwork. She looked around for Xue Tian’ai.

He was still standing by the window, staring out in silence. His dark eyes were cold, filled with murderous intent, and there was a faint, mocking smile on his lips.

“Xue Tian’ai, what are you looking at? I’m done, let’s go home,” Qin Mengxue called out, a trace of doubt in her heart. He’d been standing there for a while now—what was he watching?

“Oh, I was just admiring the sunset. Don’t you think tonight’s sunset is especially beautiful?” Xue Tian’ai turned, a gentle smile on his face.

Qin Mengxue glanced out the window. It was already dusk; the sun was sinking into the clouds, painting the sky in hues as if it had just drunk a glass of rose-red wine, casting its light and colors in a tipsy haze. It was indeed beautiful, yet the sunset always carried an inexplicable sense of melancholy.

“It looks the same as always! Are you coming home or not? Should I just leave you here to stare at the sunset?” she retorted.

“Let’s go, let’s go. Honestly, wife, you really don’t know how to appreciate beauty,” Xue Tian’ai said, ambling away from the window.

By now, nearly everyone in the company had left, so Xue Tian’ai didn’t part ways with Qin Mengxue; the two of them headed together to the underground parking garage.

As they approached Qin Mengxue’s sleek black Volkswagen Phaeton, she slipped directly into the passenger seat and tossed the keys to Xue Tian’ai, who was still outside the car.

“I’m tired. You drive.”

Xue Tian’ai smiled faintly, took the keys, and slid into the driver’s seat. He started the car and, with a press of the accelerator, drove out of the underground garage. In any case, he would have insisted on driving tonight even if Qin Mengxue hadn’t volunteered.

But as soon as they pulled onto the main road, Xue Tian’ai’s expression darkened, his eyes cold as he watched the rearview mirror in silence.

Qin Mengxue found his silence completely unfamiliar. Normally, Xue Tian’ai would be chattering away by now. She glanced at him—and that glance startled her.

His face was utterly devoid of emotion, as if he were wearing the mask of a corpse. At that moment, it was as if the person driving her home wasn’t alive at all.