Coquettish

The moment he hugged her, she was stunned. Was Li Yan acting like a spoiled child with her?

He never made this gesture before. What was he trying to do now?

Just as she was about to push Li Yan away, he noticed her intention and tightened his grip on her waist.

"Just for a while. Please let me hug you." Li Yan's voice was weak. He had not slept well for a long time.

At first, he thought that he could let go of Ning Zhi easily by keeping Lu Yue with him. However, he realized he was wrong. Not only could he not let go, but he yearned for her.

He had not even slept well, let alone with Lu Yue constantly chattering around him. The scent of her perfume gave him a splitting headache.

Yet he still kept Lu Yue with him because he believed it would agitate Ning Zhi. He did not expect that not only did Ning Zhi show no reaction, but it was the sight of Wu Ming and her in the photo that bothered him.

Just now, in the office, he witnessed the entire conversation between Ning Zhi and the sales department. She exuded presence and aura.

Li Yan was astonished by her capabilities. He could not help but feel afraid that she had truly decided to leave him. Moreover, he knew that even if Ning Zhi left him, she would still be able to live well.

Ning Zhi could not break free, so she could only let Li Yan hug her. The scene she had once dreamed of was now happening, but she no longer felt the excitement.

Just as Li Yan was about to fall asleep, he was woken up by a phone call.

It was Lin Sha, Li Yan's fiancée.

"Hello, darling. I'm arriving tomorrow at five in the evening. Remember to pick me up!" A passionate and unrestrained voice came through the phone. Just from the voice, one could tell that she must be a beauty.

"Tomorrow? Isn't the engagement banquet scheduled for next week?" Li Yan immediately sat up. He was observing Ning Zhi's reaction.

However, Ning Zhi acted as if she hadn't heard anything, organizing her clothes and preparing to leave.

Li Yan grabbed her hand the moment she got up, silently signaling her to stay.

Then, he exchanged a few more words on the phone before hanging up.

"CEO Li, I think I've made it very clear. I'm not interested in being a third party. If that's what you want, there are many people eager to fill that role. Why do you have to cling to me?" Ning Zhi was truly perplexed. She couldn't understand why Li Yan would do so many things beyond her comprehension.

"There's no reason. I'm used to having you by my side, so I need you." Li Yan's words were unusually sincere, but Ning Zhi found them repulsive.

"CEO Li, don't you know that you can develop a new habit in 21 days? Besides, it has always been others who were adapting to you, not the other way round. The gentle and obedient Ning Zhi from the past two years was never the real me. The person you claim you can't live without is just the role I played as Su Heng. If Lu Yue doesn't play the role convincingly, plenty of girls in film schools can. There will always be someone you can adapt to, but that person won't be me."

Ning Zhi's words were resolute and ruthless. Then, before he could react, she shook off his hand and left the office.

Li Yan watched Ning Zhi leave the company until she got into a taxi.

"Hello, Secretary Liang." Li Yan thought for a moment and dialed Secretary Liang's number. "Help me investigate Ning Zhi's social network—her friends, family, and recent acquaintances. The more detailed, the better!"

Ning Zhi took a taxi to the nearest supermarket and bought some of her favorite food. After all, she had consumed a lot of energy today, and it was important to reward herself.

During the checkout, Ning Zhi also transferred money to the two different accounts.

[Sis, what are you doing?] A person with the nickname "Little Brother" responded almost instantly.

Ning Zhi: [This is your reward for helping me.]

Little Brother: [We're family. Isn't it only right for a little brother to help a big sister?]

Ning Zhi: [Then, isn't it only right for Big Sister to give money to Little Brother? Just treat it as the money from me to buy supplements for Grandma. Just accept it.]

Ning Zhi met this Little Brother during a business trip. He was a mischievous kid who had tried to pickpocket her.

Ning Zhi realized he was still young, barely 15 years old, so she didn't report him to the police. Later, she learned that he resorted to theft because his grandmother was seriously ill.

Ning Zhi instantly thought of her grandmother. She looked at the dirty little boy in front of her. Perhaps she had transferred her feelings for her grandmother to the little boy's grandmother, so Ning Zhi decided to help them.