Chapter 7 Playing the Emotional Card

De Ling had indeed been closer to him before, yet hearing his blatant teasing still made her ears flush red.

She cleared her throat. “President Ye, I came to discuss the cooperation we talked about last time.”

“Cooperation?” Ye Hongxiao raised an eyebrow, repeating the word with emphasis. “This is the first time I’ve seen such a way of cooperating.”

His eyes flicked down to the fingers clutching his sleeve, and with a knowing smirk, he said, “Or perhaps, Miss De, this has always been your way of communicating?”

Before De Ling could withdraw her hand, he gently pushed her back. “Or is Miss De trying to play the emotional card?”

Detecting the mockery in his tone, De Ling slowly released her grip. “President Ye, if it makes you feel better, say whatever you want. But after that, could you spare me five minutes to talk about the cooperation between our companies?”

“Sorry, I’m off duty today. No time.”

“I’ll only take a few minutes, please?”

Ye Hongxiao didn’t respond immediately; he studied De Ling silently.

Years apart had taken away some of her youthful awkwardness, replacing it with the allure of a mature woman. Now, she looked at him with a pleading expression, her eyes filled with hope—like a little dog he once cared for.

A flicker of emotion stirred in his heart but vanished just as quickly.

“No work during rest hours,” Ye Hongxiao said lazily. “Besides, I don’t think there’s anything left for us to discuss. I have a date. Miss De, feel free to do as you please.”

Seeing him turn to leave, De Ling gritted her teeth and caught up to block his path, forcing a smile. “Where are you headed, President Ye? I drove here and can give you a ride.”

His expression darkened; a sharp look passed over his eyes as he scrutinized her for a moment. Suddenly, he reached out and pulled her in front of him.

With a large hand, he wrapped around her waist, pressing her against his body. “Has your boyfriend ever seen you look so humble? Have you ever begged him like this?”

De Ling’s nose bumped painfully against his hard chest, and she muffled a groan.

She tried to push him away but could only touch the warmth of his skin. Her hand recoiled as if burned, while subtle changes in his body slowly registered in her senses.

Her cheeks flushed with heat. Embarrassed and annoyed, she shoved him hard and stepped out of his embrace. “This is my private matter. I came here today to discuss cooperation.”

She repeated her earlier words. “Wherever you want to go, I’ll drive you. Just please give me some time to talk about the cooperation afterward.”

“Not interested,” Ye Hongxiao scoffed. “Do as you please.”

His first sentence dismissed her claim of it being personal; the second rejected her offer to drive him.

Without waiting for her reply, he returned to his room.

De Ling lingered by the door, her gaze drifting over the room’s decor. Her heart trembled—years had passed since she last came here, yet every table and chair remained unchanged.

But the things were the same; the people were not.

Her eyes caught a small doll tucked into the corner of the sofa. She stared at it, a wistful expression clouding her face.

Ye Hongxiao emerged from his room and found her lost in thought. He followed her gaze and saw the doll.

“Do you like it?”

De Ling nodded instinctively. The brown Monchhichi was very similar to one Ye Hongxiao had once given her. When she moved out, she didn’t know where it had been left, and she had searched for it in vain.

“If you really like it, next time I’m on a business trip, I can bring you one. I have to buy some for Zi Gui anyway. They say if you buy ten, you get one free.”

With that, he had already stepped out the door.

Undeniably, the doll he meant to bring her was the free one gifted after buying ten for Song Zi Gui.

Song Zi Gui.

If she hadn’t just heard the name, De Ling might have forgotten she even had a nominal younger sister.

No blood relation, yet still a sister by family bond.

In Ye Hongxiao’s eyes, she was only worthy of the leftovers given to Song Zi Gui.

De Ling felt something inside her crack sharply, but she had no time to gather the shattered pieces of her pride. She followed Ye Hongxiao out.

In the elevator, she pressed a button, but the man behind her stopped her.

“Basement level one.”

Obediently, De Ling pressed it and explained, “President Ye, my car is parked outside the complex…”

Ye’s gaze shifted from his phone to her, cold and sharp. “Did I say I wanted to ride in your car?”

As the elevator dinged, signaling their arrival, Ye Hongxiao snorted and strode out.

Without hesitation, De Ling chased after him.

Ye Hongxiao unlocked the car, strode to the driver’s seat, and was about to get in when De Ling hurried forward and squeezed between him and the door.

“I’ll drive you, President Ye.”

Ye Hongxiao looked down on her with a dark expression. His gaze slowly drifted lower, finally resting on her neck.

Beneath the collar of her white silk blouse was a faint, red mark.