Plunder

Chapter 16: Chapter 16 I Like You Chapter 16: Chapter 16 I Like You Dominating and imperious.

As chilling as autumn wind sweeping the fallen leaves.

Qiao En didn’t refuse, she closed her eyes.

Lips met, that familiar scent of tobacco.

His hand was electrifying, sparking the hidden potential within her.

She was leaving, for one last time to have him.

Qiao En clung to his neck, her slim limbs, like an octopus, wrapped around his muscular body.

The narrow space inside the car was hardly suitable for such intense activity.

But this unique confinement added a different kind of thrill.

Both were the type to contain their emotions, but once the floodgates of desire opened, it poured out like a beast unleashed.

Soon, the Maybach began to shake violently.

Cheng Lu turned her back and walked away into the distance.

After a while, the car stabilized.

Qiao En quickly straightened her clothes and opened the car door to step out.

Jin’an leaned against the seat back, his deep eyes watching through the car window as Qiao En walked away.

He didn’t try to make her stay.

She didn’t say goodbye.

Throughout, he didn’t ask why she had to leave or even when she would be leaving.

To those leaving, every direction leads to an endpoint.

By the time Qiao En got home, it was quite late, and she quickly packed her suitcase.

Not knowing how long she would be gone or when she could return, she packed everything she could take.

The two giant suitcases were packed full, yet Qiao En still felt unsatisfied.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

Qiao En, in her slippers, walked to the door and through the peephole, she saw An Kexin standing outside.

“Miss An, why are you here so late?”

Qiao En opened the door but showed no intention of letting An Kexin in.

It was nearly midnight, her arrival was suspiciously timed.

An Kexin feigned forgetfulness, “Ah? Is it almost midnight already? I’m so sorry for disturbing you this late.”

Though she spoke as if to leave, she made no move to do so.

Her eyes, bypassing Qiao En, looked straight into the apartment.

She quickly noticed Qiao En’s two large suitcases.

“Secretary Qiao, are you going on a long trip?”

An Kexin looked shocked.

“Mmhmm.”

Qiao En responded indifferently, stepping aside to let An Kexin casually walk in.

“I heard from brother An that you resigned. Looks like it’s true. Secretary Qiao, you were doing well, why resign? Tell me the truth, did brother An mistreat you? If he was unfair to you, just tell me, and I’ll support you.”

An Kexin hooked Qiao En’s arm and sat down on the sofa, under the guise of defending Qiao En, but in reality, she was probing her.

Qiao En wasn’t fooled, and she showed her characteristic naive smile.

“Miss An, you misunderstand, it was my own decision to resign. You see, I have always dreamed of studying abroad. Over the years, with Director Zhou, I’ve seen a lot and realized the importance of knowledge. So, I wanted to go back to school and be a student again,”
The excuse was sufficient and reasonable.

An Kexin had no reason not to believe it.

“It’s good if brother An didn’t drive you away. I was just worried that Secretary Qiao might have been wronged. With your vast aspirations, you will certainly achieve what you wish for. Oh, and with how busy you’ve been, I’ve forgotten to ask, Song Lian hasn’t been bothering you, has he?”

An Kexin swiftly changed the subject.

“No, why would Mr. Song do such a thing?” Qiao En denied.

“He likes you, what a pity that you are not meant to be. But that’s okay, nowadays with the Internet and transportation so developed, a long-distance relationship won’t affect much. Secretary Qiao, you must have confidence in Mr. Song, he is a sentimental man, he will not let you down,”
An Kexin went on by herself.

Qiao En’s jaw almost dropped.

Song Lian liked her?

How could that be?

With his lecherous demeanor, sentimental?

An Kexin’s worldview, Qiao En really couldn’t agree!

Nevertheless, she realized that An Kexin intentionally wanted to link her with Song Lian.

Even if she completely split from Zhou Jin’an, An Kexin still wouldn’t be at ease.

What she wanted was for Qiao En to enter another man’s world.

Thus, she handpicked the worst possible man for Qiao En, hoping she would cling to this man and bind herself to him in marriage.

A chill spread through Qiao En’s heart, realizing An Kexin was far more terrifying than she had thought.

“Miss An, thank you for your kindness. Mr. Song is a man of distinction and a talent of the younger generation, I cannot match him,”
Qiao En tactfully refused.

She wasn’t foolish; she wouldn’t jump into a pitfall.

“Qiao En, don’t be impulsive.”

An Kexin’s tone became more serious.

“With Song Lian’s family background being so exceptional, if you were to marry him, you would immediately become a wealthy lady. Do you know how many people would envy you then!”

An Kexin said eagerly, while Qiao En listened, submissive and with bowed head.

If it were so great, why didn’t she marry him?

In this world, too many people like to do things under the guise of looking out for you, only to end up harming you beyond repair, all while treating you like a fool, expecting you to shower them with gratitude.

But how many people are actually fools?

Qiao En remained noncommittal, and only then did An Kexin stop talking.

“You should really think about it, if you miss this chance, there won’t be another shop down this village lane. Women are ultimately meant to marry, and men are our destiny. Marrying Song Lian would be no loss to you!”

“Thank you, Miss An, for your concern!”

Qiao En continued to smile naively.

When An Kexin left, her displeasure was evident.

Qiao En was uncontrollable, which annoyed her.

After leaving Chengnan Apartment, An Kexin drove to Chu Garden.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the estate, the butler stopped her.

“Miss An, the young master is unwell and has gone to bed early. Please come back another time.”

An Kexin was thwarted.

Before visiting Qiao En, she had sent an invitation message to Zhou Jin’an, which he did not reply to.

She called him, but he did not answer and hung up directly.

The informant reported that Cheng Lu had gone to the hospital, and also took Qiao En away.

Whether she met with Zhou Jin’an, An Kexin did not know.

But she was certain that Zhou Jin’an’s unusual behavior was related to Qiao En’s departure.

Someone about to leave still managed to affect his peace of mind.

That was too much!

“When Brother An wakes up, remember to tell him I was here,” said An Kexin, sweeping away the disappointment in her eyes as she turned the steering wheel and drove away.

The night was thick, and the streetlights were bright.

The whole city began to fall asleep.

After Qiao En finished packing up everything, it was already two in the morning.

The flight was at eight in the morning; she still had a few hours to rest.

But the more she tried to sleep, the more she suffered from insomnia.

As dawn approached, Qiao En had already gotten out of bed.

She pulled out a clean sheet and covered both the sofa and the bed.

As she finished, the ride she had booked online arrived.

She didn’t say goodbye to anyone, leaving quietly by herself.

As the car passed familiar streets, the regimented buildings receded.

A sense of reluctance took hold in Qiao En’s heart.

Especially when the car passed by the Nanchen Building, her gaze locked onto the towering edifice, unwilling to move away for even a moment.

In the airport’s waiting hall, Qiao En had just checked in her luggage.

Suddenly Zhou Jin’an called.

The familiar number flashing on the screen made Qiao En’s heartbeat speed up once more.

“Director Zhou, good morning,”
Qiao En greeted Zhou Jin’an, feigning cheerfulness.

“When are you leaving?”

“Today,”
“At what time?”

Qiao En glanced at the time, “In less than an hour.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone, and Qiao En thought Zhou Jin’an would say something.

Perhaps, “Have a safe journey.”

But, he said nothing and just hung up the phone with a “click.”

Qiao En felt briefly disheartened, but it was just for a moment before she returned to normal.

After a long journey to see someone off, partings are inevitable.

Leaving without a sound was quite alright.

As check-in time finally arrived, Qiao En left without lingering, not looking back.

But just after she had settled into her seat, her phone rang again.

Qiao En answered, and immediately, her mother’s voice, breaking down in tears, pierced her ears.

“En, something terrible has happened to your brother.”