Chapter 18: “You don’t want people to know you’re lying, do you?”

Author: Tu Ye Gong Updated: 2026/3/12 9:25:37 Word Count: 2084

"Gao Qinghe... right? Your top is quite nice, Hermes? I wanted to buy one for Lin Xi before." Xiang Bei sat opposite Lin Xi and Gao Qinghe, his fingertips pinching chopsticks, idly poking at the plate. "A spring limited edition, wasn't it? Pretty hard to get, right?"

'And 'Er Mo Zi'... that pronunciation is so pretentious.'

Gao Qinghe shook her head internally, but her mind couldn't help but become alert. Her almond-shaped eyes darted around as she looked down at her top, her fingers involuntarily brushing over the cuff.

"This... my cousin bought it for me. I don't really understand these things."

She could only spit out the backstory she had created for herself.

"Oh~ Cousin. So it was your cousin!" Xiang Bei drew out the "oh" meaningfully, nodding repeatedly.

"Gao Jingdong won some money from the lottery." Lin Xi picked a shrimp into her bowl, her chopsticks accidentally clinking against the rim. "Don't be so passive-aggressive. How she spends her cousin's money is none of your business."

"Yes, yes, after all, it's their family's money." Xiang Bei's tone grew even more meaningful, this time emphasizing the "their" as he turned to look at Gao Qinghe. "Since you have that kind of money, why bother staying at Lin Xi's place? Wouldn't a hotel be better?"

"...Could you not talk so strangely?" Lin Xi shot him a glare, put down her chopsticks, and looked at Xiang Bei with a somewhat serious expression. "Her family situation is complicated, and Gao Jingdong has disappeared who knows where. I thought I'd help if I could. You should be nicer to her too."

"Naturally." Xiang Bei nodded along, squinting at Gao Qinghe before turning back to Lin Xi. "Lin Xi, you're so kind-hearted. I'm really afraid that one day you'll be tricked by people who spout nothing but lies."

Gao Qinghe stared at Xiang Bei warily, her almond eyes wide open. Because she looked too cute, it seemed more like pouting than getting angry. She opened her mouth, her lips parting slightly, but no words came out.

"You just worry about yourself." Lin Xi naturally picked up some food for Xiang Bei. "I'm not an idiot. I can naturally tell who's good and who's bad."

"Cousin bought it, right?" A low, husky voice sounded from behind her ear, accompanied by a cool, woody perfume scent that enveloped Gao Qinghe. Xiang Bei's hands rested on the sink counter on either side of her, his body leaning slightly forward. His breath hit the side of her neck, the warmth like a feather lightly tickling, bringing a faint itch. "I didn't expect you to be such a good liar."

"What are you doing?!" Gao Qinghe's body jolted violently, almost dropping the bowl in her hands into the sink. She lowered her voice, trying to steady herself as she responded, the breathy tail end of her words trembling. "Are you crazy? What if I just tell Lin Xi what you're doing?"

Lin Xi was right there in the bathroom.

Gao Qinghe's hands were trembling, yet for some reason, she didn't dare break free, allowing herself to be encircled like this. She could even see the faint outlines of muscles on those strong arms beneath his shirt. A sense of oppression washed over her like a tide, making her heartbeat quicken involuntarily. Heat seeped in from her back, crawling down her spine, making her legs go slightly weak.

"Go ahead and tell her. While you're at it, explain why a piece of clothing I paid for was falsely claimed to be bought by your cousin." Xiang Bei's voice, roguish and husky, rasped by her ear. His warm breath followed the curve of her ear, drilling in like countless tiny electric currents crawling down her neck. His breathing drew closer, his lips almost touching her earlobe. His arms gradually tightened, his fingertips seemingly unintentionally brushing past the crook of her arm. The slight touch ignited like a spark, making her body tremble.

"...You!"

Gao Qinghe's breath hitched slightly, seemingly to mask her inner panic. She put down the bowl in her hands and turned to leave, but was suddenly grabbed by the wrist by Xiang Bei. He pulled her close forcefully, the distance between them instantly shrinking. His solid chest almost pressed against the curve of her figure beneath her thin clothes. Heat seeped through the fabric like a tide, the delicate friction of the material making her heart race.

He pulled her even closer, his strong physique pressing against her. The warm sense of oppression caused the fabric over the softness of her chest to deform slightly. The cloth stretched between them, creating fine wrinkles, as if a secret current spread from there, traveling down her spine, making her involuntarily shiver.

"See, you're enjoying this, aren't you?" Xiang Bei leaned down, his lips so close she could almost feel his breath. Warmth like a feather lightly brushed over her lips, making her lower lip tremble slightly.

His fingertips gently stroked her wrist, the pressure moderate yet carrying a hint of restrained tension, as if testing her limits.

"I knew it. You're just trying to get revenge for that Gao Jingdong, deliberately getting close to me, right? That explains everything."

Gao Qinghe's body trembled slightly.

She tried to pull away, but that warmth spread from her wrist like creeping vines.

Xiang Bei's breathing also grew gradually hurried, seemingly not entirely composed either. That handsome face was right before her eyes. The lingering scent of woody perfume entwined with her, mixed with a uniquely masculine tension, making the air thick and ambiguous.

Xiang Bei pressed closer again, that soft curve pressing against her once more. The friction felt like an electric current, tingling yet carrying a burning afterglow, making her breath catch.

"Admit it," Xiang Bei's breath lightly sprayed on the tip of her nose, the warmth coiling like silk threads. "You can feel it too. There's something different between us."

Gao Qinghe wanted to break free, but only felt her body go limp and weak, unable to muster strength.

She secretly hated this petite, delicate appearance of hers; it was just too easy to push over.

Her fingertips touched his chest, the warm pulse beating powerfully. The distance between them was like a fully drawn bowstring, ready to snap at a touch, yet lingering at the edge, so ambiguous it was almost suffocating.

Suddenly, she bit down hard on his lip.

Her teeth sank in, the salty, metallic taste of blood instantly spreading in her mouth.

Xiang Bei let out a pained cry, released her arm, and took half a step back. His fingers brushed over the bitten spot, blood staining his thumb.

"Xiang Bei... don't be so full of yourself." Gao Qinghe said fiercely, her chest heaving violently. Her voice was low, yet each word was clear, shedding its usual softness for a trace of firmness.

"Don't think the world revolves around you. It seems you're not just arrogantly confident, you're also a scumbag."

She spoke with relish, her tone crisp and decisive, leaving no room for sentiment.

Taking half a step back, Gao Qinghe's fingertips touched the edge of the sink. The cool, smooth sensation seeped into her palm, slightly cooling the heat in her heart.

Xiang Bei covered his lip, his deep eyes narrowing, filled with surprise and the unexpected. His brows were tightly furrowed in pain, but the fire in his eyes burned brighter. Pressing his thumb gently against the wound, the corner of his mouth lifted in a playful arc. His face still wore an expression as if he had found a treasure.