Scene1: QinChe'sThunderousMethods
AfterQinChereturnedtothecountry,hesatintotheofficewithagloomyexpression,hiseyesfilledwithcoldnessandanger.Hepressedtheintercom,hisvoicelowandicy:"CallShenManlinin."A fewminuteslater,ShenManlinpushedthedooropen,forcingasmileonherface,buttherewasaflashofpanicinhereyes.
"Ididn'texpectittobeyou."QinChestaredather,hervoice low,carryinganundeniablepressure.ShenManlin'sexpressionstiffenedslightly,forcingalaugh tohideit:"PresidentQin,whatdoyoumean?"QinChecoldlyobservedherreaction,alreadyconfirmingthatTaiyanghadnotrevealedthetruth theyknewtothem.Hesuddenlyslammedthedesk,hisvoicebecomingsharp:"Tellmeeverything!HowmuchhaveyoudonetoharmTaiyang!"
ShenManlinwasstunned,thenherlipscurledintoaself-mockingsmile,withahintofprovocation:"PresidentQin~~Youalreadyknow?"Shesneered,"Hah,Idon'tlikeher!Ialsohatehowspecialyouaretowardsher!For you,Iabandonedmyfamilybusiness,refusedtobeapresident,andbecamealawyerinyourcompany.Whatmakesmeinferior toher?"
QinChe'sfaceinstantlyturneddarkasapoton,angerflaring.Heabruptlystoodup,onehandgrippingShenManlin'sthroat,applyingjustenoughpressure tomakeherfeelhreatened,hisvoicehoarseanddangerous:"ShenManlin!Whodoyouthinkyouaretome?Canyoudecidewholike?WhetherIlikeherornotisnoneofyourbusiness!Andyou,alawyer,yetincitingcrime!"
ShenManlin'sfacewentpale, strugglingtospeak,butQinChe'seyeswereicy,unmoved.Justthen,theofficedoorwasopened, andseveralpoliceofficerswalkedin,holdingdocuments,calmlyannouncing:"Ms.ShenManlin,youaresuspectedofincitingcrime.Pleasecome withus."Ontheotherside,XuRuohanwasalsotakenawayforbeingaccomplice, andtheirconspiracywasfinallyexposed.
QinChewatchedShenManlinbeingledaway,hisangerstilllingering.Hesatbackdown,fingerslightlytappingthedesk, Taiyang'sfaceflashinginhismind,acomplexemotioninhiseyes.Then,hethrewhimselfintobusywork,tryingtoburyhismissingherwithworkload.
Scene2: MidnightLongingandRestraint
Meanwhile,faroverseas,Taiyangwasintense trainingandpreparationforthenextdrama《HeartbeatIntertwined》.Lateatnight,afterthesetnoisehaddieddown,shesat aloneonthecouchintherestroom,rubbinghershoulderswearily,yetastronglonging surgedwithinher.ShewantedtocallQinChe,shewantedtohearhisvoice,butwasafraidofdisturbinghim,afraidthatherweaknesswouldbeseen through.
Shepickedupherphone,hesitatedseveraltimes,butultimatelydidn'tdial.Instead,sheopenedthealbum,flippingthroughtheirphotos.Inthephoto,hehadonearmaroundherwaist, gazingatherwithadominantyetgentleexpression,asmileplayingonhislips.Herfingertipsgentlybrushedthescreen,hereyeslightlymoist,whispering:"QinChe...takecare..."
As shescrolled,herfingertipsuddenlystopped.Avideo thumbnailappearedonthescreen,showinganintimatemomentbetweenherandQinChe.Hercheeksburnedinstantly,heartbeatracing,gasping:"This...thisvideo..."ThethumbnailfrozeonherbeingpinnedunderQinChe,faceflushed,eyesblurred,shamewashingoverher.Sheremembereddeletingthisvideo,yetfor somereasonitremained.
Herhandtrembled,butshemysteriouslypressedplay.QinChe'slowvoicecamethrough:"Taiyang,begme.Letmehearhowmuchyouwant..."Inthevideo,shewaspressedonthebed,handsheldaboveherhead,legsweaklywrappedaroundhiswaist,herbodyquiveringwithhisthrusts,lettingoutbrokenmoansandpleas:"QinChe...Ican't...please...slowdown...ah..."