Chapter 26: Why Didn’t You Call Me?

"Xiang Bei, go grab a plate to dish out the food." Lin Xi stood at the doorway facing the living room, holding a large pot, looking helpless.

The doorbell had just rung. It was Xiang Bei's driver delivering dinner. Gao Qinghe had assumed it was just takeout, but it turned out to be a series of sumptuous dishes personally prepared by Xiang Bei's chef. The final main course in Lin Xi's hands was Spanish seafood paella—golden, plump grains of rice topped generously with shrimp, crab, and shellfish, artfully arranged on the plate.

And now, Lin Xi was holding that paella. Faced with such tempting food, there was no joy on her face, only exasperation.

"I told you to let our housekeeper handle it. Why are you plating it yourself?" Xiang Bei reluctantly got up, dragging his feet, his voice carrying its usual lazy tone.

Indeed, it wasn't just his driver who had come; two housekeepers had also arrived. The food spread across the kitchen island had been brought in by these two silent, well-trained women. Just as one of them was about to reheat and portion out the food, Lin Xi quickly took over and sent them both back.

"If it were just delivery, fine. But you, me, Qinghe—the three of us have hands and feet. Why have others wait on us?" Lin Xi's tone was far from friendly. "We're not slave owners. Why exploit people?"

"Oh, here you go again. Don't make it sound so dramatic."

Xiang Bei still looked relaxed. He shrugged, but then stopped walking and made no move to help Lin Xi. "Slave owners, slaves? Lin Xi, why do you always have to make everything so serious?"

"No, Xiang Bei, what do you mean by 'making things serious'? Were you born superior or what? I already told you I don't like—"

"Hey, hey, it's fine, Sister Lin Xi! I'll get the plates! You handle the rest!" Sensing Lin Xi's temper flaring, Gao Qinghe instinctively got up from the sofa and quickly walked to the kitchen cupboard.

Opening the cabinet door, she stood on tiptoe, her slender, graceful ankles straining slightly, the taut calf muscles showing a smooth, firm line. As she stretched her arms upward, the hem of her loose home short-sleeve lifted a good bit, revealing her light, loose-fitting shorts. The shorts were very short, barely reaching the top of her thighs, and the cuffs were slightly rolled up from sitting curled on the sofa, exposing large patches of fair skin.

With the slight sway of her body as she stood on tiptoe, her round, full buttocks trembled gently, quivering like two soft clouds blown by the wind, full of elasticity.

However, no matter how hard Gao Qinghe tried, she could only barely reach the edge of the shelf.

"Let me do it." Xiang Bei's voice suddenly came from behind, low and with a hint of a smile.

The next second, his whole body pressed up against her.

Whether intentional or not, Xiang Bei pressed tightly against Gao Qinghe's back. That familiar, cool woody perfume instantly enveloped her, and his body heat seeped through the thin fabric, the warmth causing her to tremble slightly.

His chest pressed fully against her slender back, the outline of his muscles clearly felt through his shirt against her spine. Each breath carried a heavy sense of pressure, as if he wanted to embed her into his embrace.

The back of her neck could clearly feel the heat of his exhaled breath. Each breath was like a feather gently brushing her skin, tickling, sending a numbness down her spine.

"Which plate is it?" Xiang Bei's voice was low, breathy, directly hitting the back of her head. "The blue polka-dot one? Or the white one?"

She could almost feel the vibration of his chest as he spoke.

The shorts were lightly pressed by Xiang Bei's legs, the fabric rubbing between them with a soft rustle. The soft, full curves were gently squeezed under the cloth, with a slight tremor, as if being tenderly supported, yet with a sense of pressure.

"...Grab the white set." Perhaps because Gao Qinghe's help had worked, or because she saw Xiang Bei finally doing something, Lin Xi's tone calmed down. She carried the pot to the other side of the kitchen, turning her back to them. "Hey, should I reheat this paella? I'm afraid it'll taste bad if it gets cold."

It seemed she hadn't seen their actions.

"Gao Qinghe." Xiang Bei's whisper came with a breathy voice, tickling her ear. Gao Qinghe was almost encircled by his arms, unable to move. "Why didn't you call me?"

He lowered his head, his lips almost touching her earlobe, his voice so low only she could hear. His tone had a hint of pleading, almost like a spoiled request, making Gao Qinghe's heart tighten.

The pot made a crisp clatter as it was placed on the induction cooktop, making her heart skip a beat.

Lin Xi was not far away, probably adjusting the heat.

Gao Qinghe wanted to break free, but feared it would look suspicious, so she stayed frozen.

The collar of her loose white short-sleeve was naturally open, and the Tiffany pendant lay quietly in the valley between her soft, full curves. Not knowing where to put her hands, she awkwardly clasped them in front of her chest, inadvertently pressing the pendant deeper between her two mounds.

"Ah, so you're wearing the necklace I gave you." Xiang Bei gave a low laugh, his hot breath directly entering her ear canal. His high nose gently, slowly brushed against the skin behind her ear, the motion seemingly casual but carrying a nearly possessive intimacy. Then he leaned by her ear again, his voice low and pleasant. "I'm so happy."

Xiang Bei's lips almost touched Gao Qinghe's earlobe. His hot, moist breath was like countless tiny electric currents, instantly striking her most vulnerable, sensitive spots. A strong wave of tingling numbness surged like a tide, from the base of her ear straight to the end of her spine, making her sway in a daze.

The thin skin of her earlobe felt as if gently licked by fire, numb and itchy, mixed with a hint of shameful pleasure.

"Xiang Bei...! You—" Gao Qinghe started, wanting to whisper a scolding, to make him let go, but a moan almost escaped her lips, carrying a coquettish, nasally tone.

Unexpectedly, he suddenly withdrew from her.

Xiang Bei naturally stepped back, steadily holding the three plates Lin Xi had asked for.

"Are these the plates? How were they placed so far back?" Xiang Bei turned away, his tone as calm as if nothing had happened. "Good thing I know your house well. Aren't you going to praise me?"

The tiny diamonds of the Tiffany necklace pressed into her chest, leaving a slight pain.

Gao Qinghe felt the lingering warmth from Xiang Bei. The spot on her back where he had pressed was burning hot and tingling, but as soon as the air touched it, it turned cold.