Chapter 8 The Scent on His Body_1

"It's ironic? If it made you feel that way, I apologize." Qi Cheng sincerely said before calling over the waiter. The menu was placed in front of Ji Yunhuan. Qi Cheng continued, "Let's eat first!"

Ji Yunhuan didn't hesitate. She took the menu and casually ordered a few dishes.

The waiter listened beside them, clicking his tongue in surprise. He couldn't help but glance at her a few more times. Despite her unimpressive outfit, she certainly dared to order.

Before, other women had shared meals with Qi Cheng at this restaurant. They would always defer to Qi Cheng or choose simple dishes. But she...

However, Qi Cheng didn't seem to mind spending money. What surprised the waiter was Ji Yunhuan's attitude. When she first came in, she seemed insignificant. Now, sitting here with Qi Cheng, she fit right in without any sense of discord.

Seeing the waiter staring at her, Ji Yunhuan raised her head and glanced at him. "Is there a problem?"

The waiter quickly lowered his head. "No."

He took the menu and left.

If it were anyone else dressed like this in such a high-end restaurant, they'd be too mortified to dare to act so dominantly.

Qi Cheng couldn't help but lift the corners of his mouth as he watched her.

"Did you think about how to repay my favor by coming here today?"

"What if I say I haven't thought it over?" She hadn't contacted him. He had come looking for her himself.

"No problem. You can take your time."

The dishes arrived quickly, and Ji Yunhuan, who hadn't eaten all day, unceremoniously ate two large bowls of rice.

For her brother, she took on multiple part-time jobs daily, requiring a lot of physical strength. Today, she only had breakfast in the morning and had been busy with work since, finally getting a chance to eat but had to rush to the hospital.

However, even while eating, she remained elegant.

Although she was no longer the eldest daughter of the Ji Family, the grace she was born with hadn't been worn down by life at all.

No wonder his closest friend had fallen in love with her back then. Now, watching her like this, Qi Cheng found himself, as a man, almost enchanted by her.

Seeing him staring at her constantly, Ji Yunhuan raised her head. "Why are you staring at me?"

Qi Cheng asked, "Don't you feel like your life is very hard right now?"

Ji Yunhuan secretly clenched her fist. What if it was hard? She had brought it upon herself. The only thing that made her helpless was her brother in the hospital. She had only paid half of this month's hospitalization fees, and for the coming months, she didn't know how she would manage.

She said nothing and just continued eating.

She knew if she responded, Qi Cheng would likely say, "Be with me, and I can give you what you want!"

But abandoning her dignity to please him was more painful than killing her.

"Why aren't you speaking? Is that tacit agreement?" Qi Cheng asked curiously.

Ji Yunhuan's attitude remained cold. "I will repay your favor, but my life has nothing to do with you, Mr. Qi."

"Hah..." Qi Cheng couldn't help but laugh. She actually said that her life had nothing to do with him!

She would never know that her life had long been entangled with his!

The Ji Family's current situation was entirely his doing.

Of course, it was also because she indirectly caused his closest friend's death.

He had never softened his heart, thinking she deserved it...

Until he met her at the Ji Family, suddenly feeling some sympathy for her miserable situation.

He didn't understand why he sympathized with her. After all, she was his friend's past love. For his friend's sake, he shouldn't let her be bullied.

Now, her statement of "having nothing to do with him" seemed utterly laughable in his eyes.

He couldn't help but smile again.

Ignoring his laugh, Ji Yunhuan finished her meal and checked the time. "I'm getting ready to go to work. If Mr. Qi doesn't mind, you can wait until I finish."

She actually told him to wait for her!

"I said I don't like waiting for people."

"But I have no obligation to disrupt my life for you." Ji Yunhuan stood up, looking at the messy dining table. "Thank you, Mr. Qi, for the meal. I enjoyed it."

If he were interested in inviting her for meals every day, she wouldn't mind.

Leaving Qi Cheng behind, Ji Yunhuan walked out of the restaurant alone.

Ji Yunhuan worked part-time at a proper tavern, with her shift ending at eleven.

Qi Cheng indeed waited outside for her the whole evening.

He found he had an unusual amount of patience when it came to this woman. It could also be that he wanted to see just how desperate her current life was.

At eleven, as soon as Ji Yunhuan changed out of her work uniform and came out of the tavern, Qi Cheng's car stopped right in front of her. The driver said to her, "Ms. Ji, please get in the car."

This man...

It seemed he really wanted her to repay his favor, right?

She opened the car door, glanced at the person in the back seat, and sat down unceremoniously. "Mr. Qi, you have a lot of patience. Five hours, and you still didn't leave."

"I told you, I'm very interested in you." For five whole hours, she hadn't taken a break, and he had seen it all clearly from outside the tavern. Even now, sitting in front of him, she still refused to show any signs of fatigue.

No matter who she was with, she didn't want anyone to see her in a pathetic or vulnerable state.

For some reason, at that moment, Qi Cheng found himself feeling a ridiculous sense of pity for her.

When they reached her apartment building, he followed her upstairs while the driver stayed downstairs.

Ji Yunhuan took out her keys to unlock the door. Since the hallway light was broken, she had to concentrate to see the key and insert it into the lock. Standing so close, Qi Cheng caught a faint scent from her, unrelated to any perfume, just a unique fragrance that belonged to her.

It was incredibly alluring.

He stood at the side. His eyes adjusted to the darkness, allowing him to watch her as she focused on unlocking the door.

She soon opened it, walked in, and tossed her high heels aside after wearing them all day. Turning on the light, she said to him, "If you don't mind how cramped it is, come in."

He had been here before, so he wouldn't mind again.

His suit jacket was hanging by the window. She had washed and dried it, but she hadn't contacted him to return it.

She wasn't sure if he still wanted it, but while washing it, she had already decided—if he didn't want it, she would sell it!

In five years, she had transformed from a Miss Ji, who lacked for nothing, into a money-worshiper who saw only dollar signs.

The sofa wasn't big. After Qi Cheng sat down, there was almost no space left. Ji Yunhuan poured a cup of purified water in a disposable cup and handed it to him. A man like him probably wasn't used to such water. But it was just out of her courtesy.