Chapter 47: The Allure of That Kiss
"Wu Yifan, you still haven't finished your task, have you?" Ye Xiwen said, her tone light but with a hint of teasing.
"Boss Ye, I just bailed you out, and you're already on my case? No bonus? Not even a 'well done'?" Wu feigned offense, leaning against her desk. "I'm just a security guard, not a cape-wearing superhero. Cut me some slack. Give me more time."
"Infinity was closed for days—our profits tanked. We need to make that up first. As for your bonus… once business bounces back, you'll get it. Promise." Ye's lips curved into a small smile.
"'Once business bounces back'? When's that? Tomorrow? Next week? Next year? Let's hope it's within 20 years. I'd like to spend that bonus before I'm senile." Wu raised an eyebrow, but there was no real irritation in his voice. He knew Ye's吝啬 (stinginess) well—she'd probably count paperclips to save money.
Ye shot him a playful glare, her eyes lingering on him longer than necessary. "Afraid I'll stiff you? You're Infinity's hero now. I wouldn't dare. But seriously—everyone's working overtime to fix this. You can't slack off."
Wu's gaze drifted to her, and he found himself pausing. Ye was dressed in a light blue suit today, the fabric clinging to her curves in all the right places. Her hair was pulled back in a sleek bun, exposing a long, elegant neck. She looked… stunning. Not just beautiful, but *vibrant*—like the storm had polished her, making her shine brighter.
Ye noticed his stare, her cheeks flushing slightly. "What are you looking at? Never seen a woman in a suit before?"
"Not one who looks this good in it," Wu said, grinning.
"You—!" Ye huffed, but there was no heat in it. She found herself stepping closer, her perfume—soft, floral—wrapping around him. "Crude. All you think about is… is…"
"Is how amazing my boss is?" Wu finished, his voice dropping.
The air shifted.
Ye swallowed, suddenly aware of how close they were. Over the past week, she'd reevaluated everything—who mattered, who didn't. The hostesses who'd fled at the first sign of trouble, the sycophants who'd vanished… and then there was Wu. He'd stayed. Fought for her. For Infinity.
Zhou Tianming, her lawyer, had said it plainly: "You owe this to Wu and Song Mingjie. I just spoke the words. They did the work."
Why? Why would a security guard—earning 2,000 yuan a month—go to such lengths? Loyalty? Duty? Or… something more?
She'd dismissed the thought before, but now… his eyes were warm, intense, and for a heartbeat, she wondered.
"Tomorrow," she said, changing the subject, her voice a little too high. "I'll cook. For you. A thank you."
Wu's eyes widened. "You cook? Edible food?"
Ye's jaw dropped. "What's that supposed to mean?!" She stepped closer, tilting her chin up defiantly. "People *beg* me to cook for them. You're怀疑 (doubting) my skills? Fine. Offer's off. Your loss."
"I'm honored!" Wu said, holding up his hands. "Truly! I just… didn't peg you as a chef. Thought you lived on takeout and coffee."
"Ha. Shows what you know." Ye turned to grab a folder from her desk, but as she did, her shoulder collided with Wu's.
"Whoa!"
"Careful!"
They stumbled, Wu's arms shooting out to steady her—his hands landing firmly on her waist, her soft curves pressing against him. And in that chaotic instant, their lips brushed.
Soft. Warm. Electric.
Time froze.
Ye's eyes flew open, her breath catching. Wu stared back, equally stunned. He could feel her rapid heartbeat against his chest, hear her sharp intake of air. The scent of her perfume filled his senses, sweet and heady.
Neither moved. For two long minutes, they just stood there—lips inches apart, bodies touching—before Ye猛地 pulled away, her face flaming.
"Y-you—!" She stumbled back, tripping over her chair. Her cheeks were crimson, her eyes a mix of anger and something else—embarrassment? Confusion?
"I'm sorry! That was an accident!" Wu said, holding up his hands. His own face felt hot. He'd dreamed of kissing her, sure, but not like this—messy, unplanned, in her office.
Ye took a deep breath, composing herself. "I know it was an accident. But… no one else needs to know. Got it?" Her voice was tight, but she avoided his gaze.
"Your secret's safe with me," Wu said, his heart still racing.
Ye nodded, busying herself with the folder, her fingers trembling slightly.
Wu lingered for a moment, wanting to say something—*I've thought about this*, or *It didn't feel like an accident to me*—but decided against it. He turned to leave, only to nearly collide with Fu Junyao in the doorway.
"Officer Fu," he said, stepping back.
Fu's eyes narrowed, flicking between him and Ye—who was pointedly staring at her desk, her ears red. "What were you two doing?"
"Nothing," Ye said quickly. "Just… discussing work."
Fu didn't look convinced, but she let it slide. "Xiwen jie, I brought the paperwork—Qian's being charged with fraud, assault, the whole list. The DA says he'll get at least five years."
"Good," Ye said, relief evident in her voice.
Fu turned to Wu, her tone icy. "And you? Still loafing around? Shouldn't you be guarding the door or something?"
"On my way," Wu said, grinning. He shot Ye a quick, playful wink before leaving.
As the door closed, Fu turned to Ye, her hands on her hips. "What was that about? You're all flustered. Did he *do* something?"
"Nothing," Ye repeated, but her voice was weaker.
"Xiwen jie, be careful with him. He's a troublemaker. Remember how he talked to me? Arrogant, rude—"
"He's not like that," Ye said, surprising herself. "He… helped. A lot. More than anyone."
Fu scoffed. "Because he wants something. Men like him—"
"Not everything is about money,junyao," Ye said, cutting her off. She stood, walking to the window. "He stayed when everyone else left. Fought for Infinity when no one else would. What does that make him?"
"A opportunist? He's a security guard, for heaven's sake! What could he possibly want with you?"
Ye didn't answer.
What *did* he want?
She thought of the kiss—brief, accidental, but searing. The feel of his hands on her waist, the warmth of his breath…
"Xiwen jie?" Fu said, concerned.
Ye shook her head, forcing a smile. "I'm fine. Just tired. Let's go over the paperwork."
But as she sat back down, her mind kept drifting to Wu—his lazy grin, his quick wit, the way he'd stared at her like she was more than just his boss.
*Who are you, Wu Yifan?*
The question lingered, unanswered, as the afternoon sun streamed through the window. Some secrets, she suspected, were worth uncovering.